Wednesday, August 27, 2014

What If? By Rebecca Donovan Review and Soundtrack reveal







A new novel by REBECCA DONOVAN the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Breathing Series

What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?

Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated more than a year ago.

Except this girl isn’t Nicole.

She looks exactly like Cal’s shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life infectious. The complete opposite of Nicole. Cal finds himself utterly fascinated –and falling hard. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer he comes to finding out what she’s hiding, the less he wants to know.

When the secrets from the past and present collide, one thing becomes clear: Nothing is what it seems.




4.5 Star Review by Jen Hagen

I adore the way that Ms. Donovan writes and is able to hold me hostage with the intrigue and angst  without me needing to read the ending before I’m done.  I seldom can make it through a book without taking a peek at the ending.  Throughout the course of this book I was constantly thinking ahead as to what the ending could possibly be…I scared myself with some of the scenarios because Ms. Donovan’s stories take on a breadth of emotions and you can never be too certain that the story will go the way you think.  

At one time there were 4 childhood friends that spent all their time together, but little by little their friendship dissipated and the only 2 left still speaking to each other are Rae and Cal.  Richelle and Nicole have taken their lives in a different direction.

While Cal was in high school he wasn’t a guy you would find yourself instantly attracted to, but now in his second year of college he has become quite the ladies’ man because of his looks and build.  Cal doesn’t stay for long in a relationship, breaking the hearts of many girls as he searches for the one that he can’t let go. 

As a child Nicole completed her father’s image of a perfect family.  She was told from a young age that she would attend Harvard upon graduation and nothing but excellence would be accepted from her.  She lived under tremendous pressure, always being the perfect daughter, but her best friend Richelle  had her back and wanted Nicole to know that she didn’t have to be perfect when she was around Cal, Rae and Richelle.  It was those moments that kept Nicole grounded and carried her through the years. 

One day on campus Cal sees Nicole in the eyes of Nyelle.  Is it possible that Nyelle is really Nicole?  Nyelle gives no indication that she is aware of who Cal is, and Nyelle/Nicole’s personalities are nothing of the same.

Nicole is a perfectly wrapped present tied in a nice neat bow.  And Nyelle is wrapping paper strewn across the floor on Christmas morning. 

Cal and Nyelle see each other at random times.  There is no schedule for Nyelle – she is on her own time and has her own agenda.  Nyelle is determined to live each day fully and make sure it includes fun and laughter.  She is one crazy girl!  Cal embraces Nyelle’s unique individuality and comes to terms with her evasion to any hints of her past.

To me, she’s always been Nyelle.  And whatever happened to Nicole doesn’t matter anymore.  Because I’d rather have this girl here…with me.

Can Cal truly let go without knowing for certain that Nicole is here with him?   Is Cal ready to hear the answers to his questions?  And the mystery of the last night that Cal saw Nicole still lingers with Cal…

What if I hadn’t walked away?...What if I’d been the friend she needed?

The majority of the story is told from Cal’s point of view, with occasional flashbacks to their childhood years told through Richelle and Nicole.  Now I’m not normally a fan of going back in time to relive the moments, but these moments are actually clues to help guide you in determining the outcome of the story.   About 70% I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen…a little while later I scratched that idea only to come up with another and at 92% I’m fist pumping saying “ I knew it!!!”  I wish you good luck using your detective skills to figure out the ending!  And DON’T PEEK!! 



Check out the soundtrack for What If? HERE


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2 comments:

  1. Loved the soundtrack just listened to it on spotify. Loved the Breathing series, so can't wait for What if.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can't wait to read this book I just know it will be a great one!!!

    ReplyDelete

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