Book Review : The Escape Artist by Diane Chamberlain.

Name: The Escape Artist
Author: Diane Chamberlain
No. of Pages: 464
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK
ISBN-10: 1447256735
ISBN-13: 978-1447256731
Price: 400 INR

About the Book:

When Susanna Miller loses custody of her eleven-month-old son, Tyler, she goes on the run instead of turning her little boy over to her ex-husband and his new wife. She dyes her hair, changes her name and escapes from Boulder, Colorado, leaving behind everyone she knows including Linc Sebastian, the man who has been her best friend since childhood and who knows her better than anyone.

Susanna lands in Annapolis, Maryland, lonely, frightened, and always looking over her shoulder for someone who might recognize her. Just as she's beginning to feel safe in her new surroundings, she stumbles across information that could save the lives of many people . . . if she's willing to take it to the police. But going to the authorities means revealing her identity, admitting her guilt and, worst of all, losing her son.

Book Review:

Seems like I am reading all the heart-wrenching books this summer. This book is the journey of Susanna Miller and her son Tyler. The book begins with Susanna Miller losing custody of eleven month old Tyler to her ex-husband Jim and his wife Peggy. Instead of handing over Tyler to Jim & Peggy, she runs away from Boulder as the thought of not being around Tyler every day scares her and she cannot go through the pain of losing her only family, her child Tyler. Thus starts the journey of a mother who wants nothing but to be with her son all her life.

Susanna has everything planned; she leaves behind her old life and starts her new life in a completely new city and as a completely different. While in Boulder everyone is in shock with Susanna’s move and her friends are initially disappointed as she leaves without informing anyone, but on the other hand support her decision. Peggy and Jim are determined to get Tyler back and leave no stone unturned to find Susanna; they register with the Missing Children Association and declare a cash reward for the person who would get them to Susanna. On the other side Susanna start’s her new life, making some new friends, and working and makes sure that she is around Tyler all the time. When she purchases a new computer for herself, she finds some files that the owner might have forgotten to delete; initialing ignoring the connection of the information has with her surroundings. But once she cracks the information down, she knows she has to come out of her secondary identity in order to save many lives around her. She is in dilemma, whether to save the lives of the innocent people or save herself and stay with Tyler her whole life.

The writing is terrific and the plot becomes more and more intense with every page turned. Up until the last page the author is able to hold the suspense of what comes next. Definitely one of my best reads of 2017.


Rating: 4/5/*

Buy the Book:

Amazon.com | Amazon.in

Book Review : The Circus by Olivia Levez

 

Book Name: The Circus.

Author: Olivia Levez.

No. of Pages: 288.

Publisher: Rock the Boat.

ISBN-10: 1786070944

ISBN-13: 978-1786070944

Release date: 4 May 2017.

About the Book:

Willow has staged runaways ever since she was a little girl. She has everything a young person should want: a rich daddy, clothes, money, a pony and a place at a prestigious boarding school. In reality, she has everything except the thing she really wants: a father who cares enough to find her.

Aged sixteen, on the eve of her father’s wedding, she ruins the bride’s dress and escapes through a window, determined never to return. Her missing mother was a circus performer, and Willow wants to follow in her footsteps. But the performers she meets don’t want her. When her last bit of money is stolen by Suze, another runaway girl she thought she could trust, Willow becomes really homeless. Then Suze comes tumbling back into her life and a desperate Willow has to decide whether to trust her all over again . . .

So begins their frightening, exhilarating odyssey though hunger, performance, desperation and dreams. Will they both survive and will Willow make it to the circus of her imagining?

Book Review:

Circus is about a teenage runaway named Willow. Apparently Willow has been running away ever since she was a little, she has everything a teenager can ask for a rich dad, a pony and she lives a prestigious boarding school. All she wants is a father who cares enough to come and find her.

Willow has planned everything this time and she runs away on her father’s wedding day. She hitchhikes rides to reach Hastings; she has a year’s savings and her Kit of Happiness with her. Willow wants to become a circus performer just like her mother. Once in Hastings she discovers that the pier got burnt down few years ago, but seems like there are circus auditions in the Art Café in Hastings.

Willow participates in the auditions but fails to qualify. Disappointed while roaming around the street she meets Suze, a street artist who performs tricks with fire. Willow is determined to learn those tricks and asks Suze to teach her thus starts her journey to become a successful circus performer. Suze agrees and they go to celebrate their new beginning to a restaurant, where Suze steals all of the money that was left with Willow. Willow now distressed and without a roof to sleep with no money is homeless and has to sleep on the streets of Hastings. After two days Suze returns just in time to save Willow from the drunkards who are trying to molest her. There and then Willow has to decide if she can trust Suze once again or can choose her own path. Their journey to make Willow a successful circus performer begins, Suze teaches willow the tricks that she knows and as Willow becomes better with every passing day. The journey of their survival and the determination to achieve the sole goal to make Willow a star is heartwarming and the relationship the girls share is commendable.

The Circus where Willow performs is my absolutely favorite part and the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was actually watching Willow right in front of my eyes. Her costumes designed by Suze have apparently become my favorite. I couldn’t keep the book down once I started it and throughout the book I was concerned for Willow when she was in trouble and was happy for her when she got into the circus. It was like I was living my life with Willow and Suze. The circus is a very much different read than the usual YA books and thus stands out.

Note: Thanks to the Publisher for sending me an ARC of the Book. 

Rating: 4/5*

About the Author:

Olivia Levez divides her time between teaching English and binge-writing in her caravan by the sea. Olivia likes hula-hooping, yoga and real ale, but not at the same time. She lives in Worcestershire with her husband, two sons and her real life Dog, Basil.

Connect with the Author:

Olivia Levez | Goodreads | Twitter  | Instagram