Ignoring Gravity

What a treat. This first book in a new series from Sandra Danby was so different. It had a really intriguing premise and the story itself kept the promise well. Ms. Danby has offered readers an engaging lead character and I think this will be a long running series. There are many twists and turns in this well woven plot and they are not telegraphed by the author - so refreshing. The settings and dialogue are stellar and I am looking forward to the next book.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

It was great to spend time with this story of identity and family secrets. It is well written and Rose Haldane is an engaging character to tag along with as her world is turned upside down by family secrets that emerge after the death of her mother. In fact, the cast of characters are all a pleasure to get to know. This book is not only a chick lit romance, it is also a mystery thriller and, I am pleased to learn, just the first assignment for "Rose Haldane, Identity Detective." I can now look forward to the next volume in the series, and immersing myself again in another episode.

I enjoyed this story about a girl coming to terms with the fact that her mother lied to them and that she was adopted. I particularly enjoyed the investigations into her parentage and found there were some touching moments. I thought the dialogue with her sister was honest and realistic. At times I thought Rose was bordering on obsessive but of course she would be whilst seeking the answers... Her relationship with her father was somewhat amusing but probably not intended to be!!
I did like the supporting characters too - particularly her grandma Bizzie and Maggie. At times I wasn't sure if there was a need for the storyline with Nick but it created a diversion and made her a more likeable character.

I would recommend this book for an interesting read, particularly for those interested in adoption. Sandra Danby references the book by Nicky Campbell, my "favourite" adoption tale.

Rose Haldane is comfortable in her family until her mother dies when she is in her 30s and she finds out that she is adopted. It comes as a great shock to her as there has never been any mention of it before and so Rose suddenly becomes obsessed with finding out all of the details of her adoption and her birth family. It seems to make her turn against her adopted family and suddenly feeling as though she doesnt belong or fit in.

I found it a very interesting book as I come from a family where my older brother and sister were both adopted but were told the details from young childhood and have never tried to find their birth families, whereas with Rose she feels that she has been lied to all of her life and that her foundations are all a sham

I enjoyed this book immensely, having received a copy to review, I was delighted to be able to be so genuinely positive about it.

Rose and Lily have a complex, sisterly relationship until they discover a crucial fact while clearing out their mother's possessions following her death. The novel then develops into a fascinating exploration of some universal family questions. What does it mean to be a mother, sister, daughter? When is it OK to keep a secret within a family? What happens to relationships when the truth is exposed?

Interestingly, Sandra Dalby reveals a truth which needs to be seen from different angles, an idea supported by writing chapters from the viewpoint of the main characters in turn. This allows us to see their different standpoints, to explore the idea that one person's truth about a matter is not the same as anothers. This is a challenging way to explore a scenario yet it is true to life. We all tend to believe that OUR truth is THE truth. In fact there is usually a need to engage in a degree of 'triangulation' to find out what other people understand about a situation, before coming to a final conclusion.

The author leads us through this voyage of discovery, with a lightness of touch which makes this an easy, but far from lightweight, read. The characters, especially Rose and Lily, are well drawn and believable, with details of their lives being familiar and, at times, amusing. Especially true to modern life were sections such as Lily's stream of consciousness about what she is planning to cook, considering each food for it's health promoting properties and treating food almost as medicine. This felt very true to life to me. Equally the subsidiary characters are believable and realistic, providing further contrasts to the experiences of Rose in the course of the novel.

I found myself reading more and more slowly as I drew to the final part of the novel, as if savouring the last part of a delicious treat. As a result I am looking forward to reading more about Rose, her family and friends.