Six Days by Dani Atkins

 

He loves me... He loves me not... He loves me...

Gemma knows that she and Finn are destined to be together. They are soulmates. But then, on their wedding day, he never arrives at the church.

Gemma is convinced Finn wouldn't abandon her like this, even though he has disappeared once before. But back then he had a reason. She feels sure something terrible has happened, but no one else is convinced. Even the police aren't concerned, telling Gemma most people who disappear usually turn up in a week... assuming they want to be found, that is.

For the next six days Gemma frantically searches for Finn, even though every shocking revelation is telling her to give up on him. Before long, even she begins to doubt her own memories of their love.

How long can she hold on to her faith in Finn if everyone is telling her to let him go?

I can not remember the last time I sat down to read a book from start to finish in one sitting but that is exactly what I done when I opened the first page of Dani Atkins new book Six Days and became completely captivated in Gemma’s hunt for Finn.

Gemma is ready for her big day but there is one very important thing missing, the Groom Finn. She is certain there has to be some logical explanation for his disappearance but as the days after the wedding pass by and more clues and comments are revealed doubts begin to creep into her mind, has she been jilted at the altar?

Dani Atkins never fails to deliver a fast paced emotive novel that pulls you in from the first chapter. Her writing style feels so effortless which makes the storyline flow so easily and before you know it your half way through and still unable to stop turning the pages to see what clues Gemma will find next. I was certainly kept on my toes through this book as my thoughts and opinions on Finn chopped and changed one minute I was sure something must have happened to him and the next I thought he had definitely done a runner!

This book was more on the lighter reading side compared to Dani Atkins previous novels but there was still the trade mark splash of emotion thrown in too that all of us come to expect with her novels so fans won’t be disappointed.

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A Sky Full of Stars by Dani Atkins

 

He'd have done everything differently if he'd known she'd be gone so soon...

When Lisa married Alex, she gave his life meaning. She was a professional astronomer: a stargazer. And when she gazed at Alex, she saw that behind his tough exterior was a man she could love.

Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little universe. But when Lisa dies suddenly, their universe is destroyed. Alex is shattered by loss, and overwhelmed by the difficulties of being a single father to a six-year-old boy.

Then Alex meets four strangers. Two men and two women, who never met Lisa, but whose lives changed profoundly because she died. As Alex hears their stories, he begins to realise the world may not be as cruel and senseless as it seems. Perhaps, after all, the future is written in the stars...

Picking your first book of the year is always an exciting one but one full of pressure as you want to start the year of positively so you want that first book to be a memorable one which was why I chose to read A Sky Full of Stars by Dani Atkins as my first read. Dani Atkins is one of those authors who packs such raw emotion into her storylines and I have loved each and every one of her novels.

After a disastrous incident takes Lisa’s life leaving behind her six year old son Connor and beloved husband Alex she is set to change four people’s lives.

With Alex struggling to cope with his own grief now his path has been cruelly altered and trying to comfort and raise is son as a single parent, could the meeting of these four complete strangers be a comfort to him or is he making a big mistake?

Dani Atkins has broken my heart once again with this poignant storyline, from the start of the novel I had my heart in my mouth and felt the desperation and devastation that Alex was feeling as his world collapsed around him. If Alex’s grief wasn’t heart-breaking enough, we also have a dear little boy Connor who has lost his mummy and doesn’t understand why she isn’t coming back.

I want to be careful that my review doesn’t give too much away but the author explores the lives of those who have received organ transplants but she shows how blurred the lines can be if the family of the doners meet the receivers. It made an interesting storyline and definitely brings awareness to organ donations and the importance of talking to your loved ones about your choice if you opt to be on the register.

The four characters Molly, Mac, Barbra and Jamie were all strong grateful individuals who were all so worthy of the gift of a second chance they received. I loved each of their characters and was touched by the little hints of Lisa we see in them. They all formed an otherwise unlikely friendship and a love for a broken family in need.

Just as I felt my heart was mending the author threatened to break it again and again in events I couldn’t see coming. I loved that the author managed to keep a constant flow of intrigue with a will they won’t they scenario that kept me hooked.

This is one of those novels that doesn’t have a safe place to just put down and pick back up which meant I read this novel in one greedy sitting and es wrapped up in the characters emotions the whole way through. I loved the addition of the interest in Astronomy that united the family, I even found myself googling the Betelgeuse to see what they were trying to find so I think I was more invested in this storyline than I thought!

Dani Atkins fans will not be disappointed by A Sky Full of Stars, it will have you reaching for the tissues and pulling your family close.

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While I Was Sleeping by Dani Atkins

What if someone else was living your happy ever after? When Maddie wakes up in a hospital bed, she can't remember anything about what happened to her or what has changed.

She just remembers she was about to be married and had everything to look forward to.
But it seems life has become a lot more complicated while she has been asleep …

I am broken….

While I was Sleeping by Dani Atkins has taken me on such a heart-breaking journey and this is definitely her best book yet and one of my top 3 books of 2018.

With only days left before her Wedding day to Ryan, Maddie is running last minute errands when she feels that she is being followed. After a desperate phone call to Ryan he arranges to meet Maddie as she gets off the bus. As she catches a glimpse of the stranger as she disembarks the bus she is relieved to see Ryan over the road but as she makes her way to him the unthinkable happens.

As her love ones sit by her bedside willing her to come around from her coma time moves on but Maddie is unresponsive frozen in time.

How long would you wait for the one you love?

This storyline is going to touch each and every one of its readers with its heart wrenching storyline. I loved each and everyone of these characters, everytime I was swaying to anger or dislike towards someone I would then hear from their point of view and see what an impossible situation each of them were in. I found myself question what my actions would have been had I been in exactly the same situation and I even had the discussion with my husband about how long he would wait much to the amusement of a couple next to us eavesdropping!

The whole way through I was in the dark not knowing what lay ahead as this was an unpredictable storyline. There is so much love, trust and honesty as well as some regrettable lies.

This book has made such an impact on me and I will be telling everyone I speak to about it as it is such a tender and highly emotive read that is impossible not to love. This is the first book in a long time that I have read in one big swoop finding it impossible to put down and now I have left these characters behind I feel bereft. Massive praise goes to Dani Atkins who must have been emotionally exhausted after writing this book.

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This Love by Dani Atkins

Sophie stopped believing in happy endings a long time ago, but could this love change all of that?

Sophie Winter lives in a self-imposed cocoon - she's a single, 31-year-old translator who works from home in her one-bedroom flat. This isn’t really the life she dreamed of, but then Sophie stopped believing in dreams when she was a teenager and tragedy struck her family.

So, to be safe, she keeps everyone at arm’s length. Sophie understands she has a problem, but recognising it and knowing how to fix it are two entirely different things.

One night a serious fire breaks out in the flat below hers. Sophie is trapped in the burning building until a passer-by, Ben, sees her and rescues her.

Suddenly her cocoon is shattered - what will be the consequences of this second life-changing event?

One thing I have come to know and expect from Dani Atkins books is that they are packed full with emotion so I will always need a tissue to hand, so I was well prepared when I picked up This Love.

When Sophie Winters was fifteen her brother who she idolised tragically died. Sophie and her family have never properly dealt with their grief and so Sophie prefers to keep herself to herself and not let anyone in. One night when the downstairs neighbours party soon turns into devastation when it catches fire Sophie is trapped in her flat above with the fire threatening her life, there is only one way out… the window.

Ben catches sight of Sophie in the burning building and doesn’t hesitate in doing all he can to help this woman to safely escape.

The opening chapter of this book pulled me in right from the very first page. That first chapter was so fast paced and had me on edge already thanks to this eventful start as I felt Sophie’s desperation and fear flowing through the pages, a woman who was already broken now ready to shatter and I was willing her to make it through.

Ben is a chivalrous hero, he goes above and beyond to be able to help Sophie both during and after the accident, he was an easy character to love from the get go and I was hoping he would be able to help Sophie finally begin to let people in and for her to start truly living her life.

I had my theories as to what was to emerge through the storyline and although I guessed correctly at some it still shocked me when they were revealed and the great thing was there were also things that I never see coming either so there was still that element of devastating suspense. This book covers so much from romance and friendship to grief and self discovery there really is something for everyone in this book.

Each time I read a novel by this author I get completely choked up and I never expect that her next novel will ever be able to beat her previous but she continues to develop more heart-breaking plots and loveable vulnerable characters who capture my heart each time. I absolutely loved this book and know this will not disappoint those who have loved each of her previous books as it is truly a wonderful poignant read.

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Our Song by Dani Atkins

This is the story of Ally and Charlotte, whose paths have intersected over the years though they've never really been close friends. Charlotte married Ally's ex and first true love, David. Fate is about to bring them together one last, dramatic time and change their lives forever. Full of Dani's signature warmth and emotion, this is a gripping and emotional family drama. With breath-taking plot twists, Dani explores themes of serendipity, friendship and love. She fully engages the reader in the dilemmas faced by her characters. What would you do if your husband was the love of somebody else's life? And when faced with an agonising decision, could you put the past behind you and do the right thing?

Our Song is the first book I have read by Dani Atkins but it sure will not be the last as this book has just taken my heart and broken it in two, I haven't felt so emotional and overwhelmed whilst reading a book since I read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. 

At the beginning of Our Song we see the events which lead to Joe and David fighting for their lives in Intensive care, and as Joe's wife Ally is waiting in the relatives room for news on her husbands condition David's wife Charlotte arrives and with it Ally's past comes back with a bang.

I had been struggling to settle into a new book but as soon as I opened this book I was absorbed into the storyline right from the first page and before long I had finished all 500 pages and sat emotionally drained as though I had been waiting in those daunting four walls with Ally and Charlotte waiting with bated breathe to see what was going to happen to both of these gentle loving and caring brave young men. 

This book needs the big old Kleenex warning on the front, I'm not talking a lump in your throat I am talking about big loud sobbing and streaming tears as this storyline really is going to break your heart. The writing style was so easy to follow and pulls you in quickly and holds your attention all the way through as I sat on the edge of my seat eager for news. The raw emotion that this author has poured into this storyline is so believable and could be felt through the pages. I was a little unsure of how coincidental the situation was in the book but this was soon over shadowed thanks to the wonderfully engaging characters and the heartbreaking storyline.

There were a few hidden surprises along the way and having the suspense factor on top of the emotional feelings just heightened the emotional journey. 

I can not believe we are only just stepping into 2016 and yet I feel like I have already found one of the top 10 books of 2016. I can not wait to delve into this authors previous books now.

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