Give It Back by Danielle Esplin Published by Black Rose Writing on March 2nd 2017
Genres: Thriller, Psychological
Pages: 302
Format: eBook
Source: Author Danielle Esplin
This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella.
Lorraine:
Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.
Lexy:
Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.
Ella:
When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine.
But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is.
Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.
“The author is certainly talented. Great voice for the genre and skilled in her word choices. In fact, I deeply loved her sensory cues and her word choices. Great plot twists and turns throughout. I didn’t have any pacing issues. Great chapter hooks and suspense hooks.” - Writer’s Digest review.
Pitch Perfect Pick Winner April 2016.May 2016 Go Indie Now! Literary Award Winner.Chanticleer Writing Annual CLUE awards finalist
**Special thanks to Author Danielle Esplin for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
It’s always when paths collide that our perception of people and life becomes clearer. And just like at a crossroad, the lives of Ella, Lorraine and Lexy intersect.
Give It Back is one of those books that catches your interest once you read the blurb. Something about the cover of this book was mysterious to me…revealing nothing. And with the blurb talking about 3 intersecting lives… Well that did it for me. I didn’t read too many reviews. I was rather intrigued to dive into the book and find out for myself.
Ella is leaving her glamorous successful life for few days. Sensing the trouble in her sister’s voice, she’s finally going to see her sister Lorraine. Lorraine is suffering a serious medical condition. Ella, caught up in her busy life and living in a different city, had been reluctant before to take this trip. However, now after sensing the despair in Lorraine’s voice she feels so guilty.
Lorraine’s life had been so tough. After two divorces, Lorraine is now a single mum raising two kids. And to top all that, she’s now seriously ill. She had hired Lexy as an Au Pair to help her out.
Even before Ella arrives, the shocking news strike. Something terrible had happened. Once Ella arrives, she’s caught up in the entangled web. Two people are now missing. Ella is desperate to know what happened but the stories keep changing. Something is off.
Wow… Who can believe this is Danielle’s first book?! She’s such a talented writer. I couldn’t put this book down. Lots of twists and turns. So many secrets. The story is narrated by the three heroines, Ella, Lorraine and Lexy. Seeing things from each woman’s perspective added more layers to the story.
Give it back was so deliciously suspenseful. Such an excellent work from a very promising author. A highly recommended read for mystery lovers.
About Danielle Esplin
Danielle Esplin studied BSc Food Science with Chemistry at the University of Stellenbosch. She was one of the top students, and she got a full-ride scholarship. After almost three years of sleepless nights, working in the laboratories and experimenting with new food products, she realized that something was missing.
And that was writing fiction.
Without telling anyone, she packed her bags in her apartment, waved her twin good-bye, trudged down the street on campus and got on a bus. When she crossed the border, entering Namibia, she switched on her phone and sent her mother a text. “I dropped out of University,” she said and never looked back.
In Namibia, among the countless dunes that appeared like a half-closed girdle nestling the everlasting sea, her desire to write resurfaced. Danielle loves to travel, and she writes about her adventures on her blog exploringmyplanet.com.
Today she is an award-winning author who lives with her husband in Seattle. In her spare time, she likes to sing, read or spend time with family and friends