Friday 22 March 2013

Review - The Dream by Jill Rowan

Front cover of The DreamAnother incredibly pleasurable reading experience from Jill Rowan.

Ollie Kimpton had decided to take some time out from her job in a call centre in England and tour New Zealand, a place that for some reason she can't figure out, is close to her heart.  When she arrives, she finally realises that her boyfriend is not right for her so they part company and she goes off to explore the island alone.  Quite quickly she meets Mark, a man who she is not attracted to in a romantic way, but feels very familiar with and they both feel that they have known each other all their lives. 

That is until Mark seems to keep cropping up at times when she needs him most, and helping her, yet she has no way of getting in touch with him.  He's also really good at disappearing and saying that he'll see her soon.  That, along with her recurrent dream that she has had since she was a young girl, is concerning her greatly as she finds out more and more about why New Zealand is special to her and to her roots.  She eventually solves the problem and makes a number of friends along the way.

I was first introduced to Jill Rowan when I read and reviewed her brilliant book The Legacy which was absolutely fantastic. 

So, when Jill sent me a copy of The Dream, I couldn't wait to get started.  I really took to Ollie as a character, and had my suspicions about Mark right from the start as there was definitely something not quite right about him but I just couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

In both of Jill's books, there is a love story as well as a connection to another life.  I can't say too much as I don't want to spoil the plot for you. 

This book taught me a lot about New Zealand and actually made me yearn to visit there.  The way that Jill described the landscapes and the beaches definitely turned my head and has left me curious about the country that the book is based in.  

Jill writes really interesting books that just entice you in and you can't put down.  She's a great writer and her books are so easy and an absolute pleasure to read. 

The way that Ollie unravels the mystery in the book is brilliant and it really was an incredible book which I loved.  I started it one night and finished it the next afternoon.  For me, that's how I can tell whether its a good book or not.  It definitely captured my imagination and I became deeply engrossed in this lovely story of great family and lovely friends.

Jill Rowan was born in Hertfordshire, England, but now lives in the Shropshire countryside. She gave up a career in accounts to pursue her passion for writing. She has both a BA and a BSc. from the Open University, is a keen photographer and also enjoys natural history, walking, cycling, travel, and endless amounts of reading.You can find out more about Jill at her website here

You can buy The Dream via Amazon UK or Amazon.com
 

 

2 comments:

Claire McC said...

I look forward to reading The Dream, Kim, especially as you hinted towards a 'connection to another life.' I like love stories with a difference.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kim. I'm glad you enjoyed reading The Dream!