Are you brave enough to follow another's heart

Author : Louise Jensen
Title : The Gift
Published : 16/12/2016
Format : Kindle
Pages : 354

     Jenna is given another shot at life when she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. Eternally grateful to Callie and her family, Jenna gets closer to them, but she soon discovers that Callie’s perfect family is hiding some very dark secrets…

     So the reason I picked this up was down to the authors previous book The Sisters. It was a book that kept me captivated the whole way through. And lets be honest who doesn't like a good psychical thriller. So it begged the question could the second outing for this writer be as good or would it fall flat.

    Most of the story is told from the perspective of Jenna. After she suffers from a near fatal heart infection she receives a heart transplant from Callie. Now Jenna is already starting to question her life before this. unlike most people after a life changing event things start to go really of the rails for our protagonist. The writer gives us a great insight in to Jenna's world. From the question of how much is another's life worth to her dogged search for the truth as to how someone else's heart comes to beating in her own chest. We also get to learn about Callie. Not only from her friends and family but also in her own words as small flash back dotted throughout the story. She comes across well as some one who is always trying to do her best and make the right decisions. And you can fully believe she is someone who would give her organ up for transplant in the hopes of giving some one a better life.

 

     Jensen has once again crafted a interesting yarn this time about the nature of self. Whilst still keeping you enticed  with a strong thriller narrative.  The way she moves you through the book always leading you to a point when you think you have things figured out. A red hearing or two never hurt any one. The plot whilst not over complicated does require a leap of faith on the readers part. More specifically to do with cellular memory. This is the thinking that if you transplant an organ it to a new person the previous owners memory's or in some cases personality traits follow with it. Now I know for some this would be a complete turn off for a book. But to be truthful she pulls it off well there is always the fine line between is Jenna just crazy or is she really expiring visions of what Callie went through.  The author also dose a good job of showing us what happens to a family torn apart by either death or illness. And the length we will go to for the people we care for.

     So the question has to be answered is this as good as her first. And my honest answer is not quite. But here's the thing about when you find an author you really enjoy. I believe the first book of there's you read will all ways be the best for you. Dose this mean you shouldn't read any more by them  absolutely not. It still a great book and I would happily recommend it to someone if they asked. So for an interesting Psychological thriller with the lightest touch of fantasy open the gift and see for your self.