Sarah Needs Saving by D C R Bond

 Sarah Needs Saving by D C R Bond




Sarah Needs Saving by D C R Bond was published on 5th July 2023 by Prosperina Press.
My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Literally P R for inviting me to take part on the Book Tour.






What do you do when your neatly ordered life starts to topple?

Sarah never expected to be blackmailed, especially not by someone so close. Sarah hadn't expected to be receiving criminal hush money either. 
As a respectable Exeter University Professor's wife, neither were really the done thing. But super organised Sarah has it all under control. 
Or so she thinks.
Initially strong armed into silence, Sarah is gradually dragged deeper into the underworld, as she strives to protect her reputation and the lives of her friends and family.
 Set in rural north Devon, Sarah Needs Saving is an original and captivating spin on women's fiction with a thrilling edge, frenetic pacing, and confounding twists and turns.



My Review

First of all the cover on the book does not do justice to the story that lies within. I thought I was encountering a cosy read with maybe a few minor twists and turns along the way. What lies within the covers is certainly not that. There are some thought provoking issues covered within the story as our main character, Sarah, tries to steer herself through blackmail, a class based family who treat her as though she is something to be ridiculed , whilst also looking at the issues of looking after an elderly relative with dementia along with the problems related to inheritance laws and probate. 
once you become accustomed to the characters and your like, or dislike of them, the story starts to become quite dark and sinister, though I did want to shake Sarah on many occasions as both her and her actions really frustrated me.
For a debut novel the book covers a lot of issues that the " baby boomers" amongst us face today, however I did think there were too many issues going on within the book that didn't always seem to follow logically in the narrative and there are some moments when it was not easy to follow which character's narrative we were reading. This aside I would be interested to see how the author progresses in her next book.

I would like to finish my review with a quote from the "Thanks Page "at the back of the book. 

" We all face challenges in our lives but it is comforting to know we aren't the only ones battling along. If Sarah can overcome her obstacles so can we and I trust her journey reminded you of the power of love and forgiveness".







About the Author




DCR Bond (Debbie) was born in London, but grew up Jamaica, then Zambia, and dimensions of this international upbringing feature in her writing. As a child she was encouraged to write and wanted to nurture her talent and become a journalist.

She never did; instead, she studied law, then qualified as an accountant and worked for twenty years in the City. She’s not sure she ever really enjoyed that job.

Now freed from the shackles of the day job, DCR Bond has reverted to her childhood passion and loves her new career. Her women's fiction novels are light-hearted, visual, fast-paced, and easy to read, with strong credible and relatable characters.

When Debbie is not writing, she can be found playing tennis (badly), bridge (a little better), in the gym, walking her dogs on Exmoor, or tending her garden - she loves cooking her own produce for friends and family. She lives with her husband in rural Devon, surrounded by their miniature bull terriers and small flock of free-range hens.

Comments

  1. Debbie (DCR Bond)July 23, 2023 at 2:53 AM

    Hi Jill, just a quick hello! & a big thank you for your review, for being on the blog tour, for being prepared to give a newbie like me a chance for a read and review. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! I have found being on this, my first blog tour, a bit like having an advent calendar before Christmas, each day there's another little window to open with something nice behind the door! When someone has liked the book that's great ( I think the marketing people call it social proof - good reviews and all that) but as an author it's so interesting to see how readers, especially "experts", not sure that's quite the right word, but reviewers/bloggers are reading a lot, they know what they are looking for, can be objective from so many angles, plot lines, complexity, character appeal - so perhaps expert is the right word. Either way, it's helpful, crucial even, I certainly take note. To be honest I could go on for hours, but it's Sunday, I'm sure you're busy! But just to say, a big, big thank you, I really appreciate it. All the best, Debbie (DCR Bond)

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