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just
On golden Mediterranean sands, maverick doctor Scott Langbrook falls recklessly in love with his team leader, Fiyori Maziq. If only that was the extent of his falling, but Scott descends into the hellish clutches of someone much more sinister.
‘Just’ is a story of love and loss, of terror and triumph. Set in idyllic Cambridge and on the shores of the Med and Cornwall, our characters fight for their very lives on land and at sea.
An unforgettable novel which goes to the heart of our catastrophic times, and seeks salvation.
‘Just’ is a story of love and loss, of terror and triumph. Set in idyllic Cambridge and on the shores of the Med and Cornwall, our characters fight for their very lives on land and at sea.
An unforgettable novel which goes to the heart of our catastrophic times, and seeks salvation.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2018
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Morton Potts
4 books64 followers Jenny Morton Potts was born in a smart, dull suburb of Glasgow where the only regular excitement was burglary. Attended a smart, dull school where the only regular excitement was the strap. Worked in smart, dull sales and marketing jobs until realising she was living someone else’s life.
Escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon who wanted to talk about The Da Vinci Code, wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England – and unlikely ever to leave again – Jenny, with assistance from loyal hound, walked and swam her way back to manageable health.
Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, partnered for 28 years, she ought to mention, and living with inspirational child in Derbyshire.
Escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon who wanted to talk about The Da Vinci Code, wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England – and unlikely ever to leave again – Jenny, with assistance from loyal hound, walked and swam her way back to manageable health.
Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, partnered for 28 years, she ought to mention, and living with inspirational child in Derbyshire.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 26, 2018
4☆ A Gripping Read
Just is the second book I have read by Jenny.
The start for me took a while to get into. I felt rather confused.
I'm so glad I stuck with it, as Just is a gripping read.
There is so much going on, there are several characters to make a connection with.
I'm not too sure what to write about as it's not an easy book to strip down and categorise.
What I will say, it held my attention the whole way through, it was gritty and real,
There are some pretty tough subjects within the story. Jenny doesn't hold back, she handles them with sensitivity and realism.
The Characters are flawed yet likeable.
I really enjoy Jenny's writing, it's always beautifully written, she draws you in, keeps you turning the pages.
I can't wait to see what's next for Jenny.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Just is the second book I have read by Jenny.
The start for me took a while to get into. I felt rather confused.
I'm so glad I stuck with it, as Just is a gripping read.
There is so much going on, there are several characters to make a connection with.
I'm not too sure what to write about as it's not an easy book to strip down and categorise.
What I will say, it held my attention the whole way through, it was gritty and real,
There are some pretty tough subjects within the story. Jenny doesn't hold back, she handles them with sensitivity and realism.
The Characters are flawed yet likeable.
I really enjoy Jenny's writing, it's always beautifully written, she draws you in, keeps you turning the pages.
I can't wait to see what's next for Jenny.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
June 26, 2018
4 Unique Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Well! This book has almost rendered me speechless, and that is almost impossible to do, LOL this is such a difficult book to describe and therefore such a difficult book to review... it touched on so many relevant yet disturbing topics including human trafficking, terrorism, betrayal, letting go of love, blackmail,envy, and even more! The story was real, raw, and gritty and held my attention from start to finish...
I must admit I was really confused in the beginning.... there are a lot of characters to keep track of and they are all over the world from Libya to England... but this is a book I’m glad I stuck with because the ending was quite uniqueLy amazing... now I need to go read something light and fluffy, this book was almost a little too real for me! And the characters while very real and relatable weren’t always terribly likable... I absolutely do recommend this very thought-provoking book, it will leave you questioning quite a few things!
*** many thanks to the author and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
Well! This book has almost rendered me speechless, and that is almost impossible to do, LOL this is such a difficult book to describe and therefore such a difficult book to review... it touched on so many relevant yet disturbing topics including human trafficking, terrorism, betrayal, letting go of love, blackmail,envy, and even more! The story was real, raw, and gritty and held my attention from start to finish...
I must admit I was really confused in the beginning.... there are a lot of characters to keep track of and they are all over the world from Libya to England... but this is a book I’m glad I stuck with because the ending was quite uniqueLy amazing... now I need to go read something light and fluffy, this book was almost a little too real for me! And the characters while very real and relatable weren’t always terribly likable... I absolutely do recommend this very thought-provoking book, it will leave you questioning quite a few things!
*** many thanks to the author and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
September 14, 2018
“We’re just on a wheel. Like hamsters. We work, we run. We stitch people up. We save who we can. But there is a purity in work.”
Honestly….WTF did I “just” read? (pun ABSOLUTELY intended) I have THE BIGGEST book hangover I have ever had in my life. I really wish I had more time to process it before writing this review. But, such is life and I’ll try not to slather this page with TOO much nonsense from my, still addled, brain.
This book. It was one of the single most unique experiences of my life. I will be honest. I spent the first half of the book so confused my brain hurt, screaming “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” You start off like Alice on the wrong side of the looking glass, looking at snapshots of happenings, shards of a story. Scott is finding bodies in Libya, then suddenly he’s home. He’s in love, he’s broken hearted…. What is happening in between?? What is this all leading up to?! And yet, I couldn’t put it down! It’s strange that these fractured pieces of lives can still cause you to get so attached to these characters the fights, the heartbreak, the terror… My heart was breaking even as I still felt like an outsider, and I couldn’t understand WHY??
The book was a puzzle that I had to put together. I just wanted to call it up on my computer and start cutting and pasting it’s pieces to find some sense…. Yet, it didn’t need my help. I only had to bide my time. Am I making any sense??
It’s a story full of people trying to make sense of their existence, they’re choices, their shit lives, their loves…. Who is a mother without her child? Who is a man without love?
There were many times that I felt I was starting so grasp something, then the characters would start speaking in riddles and nonsense, I felt, to confuse me,
“People who had been hoping, yesterday or just hours ago, to live. At the very least, to live.”
“Before she had finished her sentence, the tea was brought in on a tray. Cheerful mugs brought from homes. The detainee was given the one with a Kellogg’s cockerel. “Will you be mother, Suzy Marchant?”“You’re a brave woman, Doctor Maziq. I’ll give you that. Foolish, doubtless, but brave. You’ll take sugar? Yes, you must.” Marchant pushed the mug into Fiyori’s two eager hands. “I am here to help, Fiyori. This is what people fail to understand about our work.”“I blame the Government.”“I do.”“I used to have a cool uniform like yours, Marchant. We all did at The Revolution Generation School. Stripes too. Only ours denoted what year we were in.””
“The mother. Always the worst. Grab my chapeau will you, think I’m getting a frozen shoulder again.”She peered through the windscreen. “What colour would you say that sky was? Oyster water?”“You’re obsessed with the sky.”“Perhaps I shall paint when I retire.”“You’ll never retire. The sky can’t be oyster water. That’s too upside down.”“Upside down.”Renneker framed the sky between her thumbs and index fingers. “That’s what we’re about to do to her world. Take her pearl. Her treasure.”“Anyhows, you can’t get it twice, a frozen shoulder. You just get it the once.”
I had to give this book 5 stars, because, by my own admission and standard, 5 stars is a desert island book.. And I “Just” need this book in a desert island because I feel that I could read it 5 more times and still be learning more and trying to figure things out.
I should say, my favourite movie is called “Southland Tales” (don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of it… I think that me and about 7 other people seems to be the only ones who have!) but, I think it’s why I love this book. I’ve seen that movie at least 10 times… But, if you asked me to explain what happens??? Well… Just, don’t. Ha ha!
Seriously, read this book for yourselves!! You will not regret it!!!!
Honestly….WTF did I “just” read? (pun ABSOLUTELY intended) I have THE BIGGEST book hangover I have ever had in my life. I really wish I had more time to process it before writing this review. But, such is life and I’ll try not to slather this page with TOO much nonsense from my, still addled, brain.
This book. It was one of the single most unique experiences of my life. I will be honest. I spent the first half of the book so confused my brain hurt, screaming “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” You start off like Alice on the wrong side of the looking glass, looking at snapshots of happenings, shards of a story. Scott is finding bodies in Libya, then suddenly he’s home. He’s in love, he’s broken hearted…. What is happening in between?? What is this all leading up to?! And yet, I couldn’t put it down! It’s strange that these fractured pieces of lives can still cause you to get so attached to these characters the fights, the heartbreak, the terror… My heart was breaking even as I still felt like an outsider, and I couldn’t understand WHY??
The book was a puzzle that I had to put together. I just wanted to call it up on my computer and start cutting and pasting it’s pieces to find some sense…. Yet, it didn’t need my help. I only had to bide my time. Am I making any sense??
It’s a story full of people trying to make sense of their existence, they’re choices, their shit lives, their loves…. Who is a mother without her child? Who is a man without love?
There were many times that I felt I was starting so grasp something, then the characters would start speaking in riddles and nonsense, I felt, to confuse me,
“People who had been hoping, yesterday or just hours ago, to live. At the very least, to live.”
“Before she had finished her sentence, the tea was brought in on a tray. Cheerful mugs brought from homes. The detainee was given the one with a Kellogg’s cockerel. “Will you be mother, Suzy Marchant?”“You’re a brave woman, Doctor Maziq. I’ll give you that. Foolish, doubtless, but brave. You’ll take sugar? Yes, you must.” Marchant pushed the mug into Fiyori’s two eager hands. “I am here to help, Fiyori. This is what people fail to understand about our work.”“I blame the Government.”“I do.”“I used to have a cool uniform like yours, Marchant. We all did at The Revolution Generation School. Stripes too. Only ours denoted what year we were in.””
“The mother. Always the worst. Grab my chapeau will you, think I’m getting a frozen shoulder again.”She peered through the windscreen. “What colour would you say that sky was? Oyster water?”“You’re obsessed with the sky.”“Perhaps I shall paint when I retire.”“You’ll never retire. The sky can’t be oyster water. That’s too upside down.”“Upside down.”Renneker framed the sky between her thumbs and index fingers. “That’s what we’re about to do to her world. Take her pearl. Her treasure.”“Anyhows, you can’t get it twice, a frozen shoulder. You just get it the once.”
I had to give this book 5 stars, because, by my own admission and standard, 5 stars is a desert island book.. And I “Just” need this book in a desert island because I feel that I could read it 5 more times and still be learning more and trying to figure things out.
I should say, my favourite movie is called “Southland Tales” (don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of it… I think that me and about 7 other people seems to be the only ones who have!) but, I think it’s why I love this book. I’ve seen that movie at least 10 times… But, if you asked me to explain what happens??? Well… Just, don’t. Ha ha!
Seriously, read this book for yourselves!! You will not regret it!!!!
June 19, 2018
Betrayal, human trafficking, blackmail, jealousy, unrequited love and super-lousy parenting - they're all in here. Added to what I'd call far from a happy-ever-after ending, and you've got a book that certainly wasn't fun for me to read. Every single character is flawed (save one who's too young to have been corrupted by the others, but I have no doubt her turn will come).
Although the description puts the setting in "idyllic" Cambridge and other lovely places, I respectfully submit that way too much of it for my liking takes place in godforsaken parts of countries like Libya, where a young doctor named Scott Langbrook is working for an organization known as Reach, which is charged with a task referred to as Dead Body Management. As one might suspect, it's not exactly a pleasant job - at least until Scott hooks up with Dr. Fiyori Maziq, the expedition leader. Problem is, she has more issues than Nike has swooshes.
Meanwhile, things on Scott's home front aren't going too smoothly either. He's got a shaky relationship with his mother, Lucienne, who's a dentist in Cambridge. Most recently, he's been living with his father, Eddie, and his second wife Susan (much to the consternation of Mom, who's been in a love-hate relationship with her ex for the past 10 years and has never met - nor ever wants to meet - Wife No. 2). Luci's good [platonic] friend and partner in the dental practice, Finlay Duff, clearly is infatuated with her, but apparently amid fear that he'll be rejected, he's never let her in on his secret.
As the story begins, Eddie is killed in a freak accident. Now, Luci is faced with really, truly never seeing him again - and worse, the possibility she actually may have to meet Wife No. 2. That her son is on a dangerous mission in an unfriendly country - and the awareness that if he makes it back home it most likely will be to his father's place instead of hers - just adds to her misery.
Then, come home he does - and the plot begins to thicken fast. If Luci thought her life was a mess before, she quickly learns she ain't seen nothin' yet. And for better or worse, this is where my narrative must end; to say more would spoil things for other readers. This is a short book as books go; my only complaint, as it were, is that the transition between chapter settings seemed on occasion a bit disjointed - meaning it took me a few paragraphs to realize where and about whom I was reading. For those who might object to such things, there are some sexually graphic passages; other than that, it's a well-thought-out, well-written story - and I thank the author for sending it to me to read and review.
Although the description puts the setting in "idyllic" Cambridge and other lovely places, I respectfully submit that way too much of it for my liking takes place in godforsaken parts of countries like Libya, where a young doctor named Scott Langbrook is working for an organization known as Reach, which is charged with a task referred to as Dead Body Management. As one might suspect, it's not exactly a pleasant job - at least until Scott hooks up with Dr. Fiyori Maziq, the expedition leader. Problem is, she has more issues than Nike has swooshes.
Meanwhile, things on Scott's home front aren't going too smoothly either. He's got a shaky relationship with his mother, Lucienne, who's a dentist in Cambridge. Most recently, he's been living with his father, Eddie, and his second wife Susan (much to the consternation of Mom, who's been in a love-hate relationship with her ex for the past 10 years and has never met - nor ever wants to meet - Wife No. 2). Luci's good [platonic] friend and partner in the dental practice, Finlay Duff, clearly is infatuated with her, but apparently amid fear that he'll be rejected, he's never let her in on his secret.
As the story begins, Eddie is killed in a freak accident. Now, Luci is faced with really, truly never seeing him again - and worse, the possibility she actually may have to meet Wife No. 2. That her son is on a dangerous mission in an unfriendly country - and the awareness that if he makes it back home it most likely will be to his father's place instead of hers - just adds to her misery.
Then, come home he does - and the plot begins to thicken fast. If Luci thought her life was a mess before, she quickly learns she ain't seen nothin' yet. And for better or worse, this is where my narrative must end; to say more would spoil things for other readers. This is a short book as books go; my only complaint, as it were, is that the transition between chapter settings seemed on occasion a bit disjointed - meaning it took me a few paragraphs to realize where and about whom I was reading. For those who might object to such things, there are some sexually graphic passages; other than that, it's a well-thought-out, well-written story - and I thank the author for sending it to me to read and review.
September 14, 2018
This is a tricky book to catagorize. On the surface it seems like your standard thriller/ mystery but really it’s so much more. It’s actually a very powerful story about the atrocieties being carried out all over the world, violent acts of terrorism, and how it effects people, not just on a grand scale, but also how people like our characters are affected as well.
It is a unique story with not the most likeable characters but that is what appealed to me. Lucienne is a bitter divorcee with a scathing tongue but she is also whitty and loyal. I absolutely love her dialogues with Finlay.
I will say, it was difficult to get into this book at the start, because there is a lot of jumping around. It’s very much like a film that if you look away from the screen for just a moment, you can become hopelessly lost.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, and though it’s maybe not for everyone, I think many readers would appreciate the style and story of JUST.
Rating… B or 3.5 Stars
It is a unique story with not the most likeable characters but that is what appealed to me. Lucienne is a bitter divorcee with a scathing tongue but she is also whitty and loyal. I absolutely love her dialogues with Finlay.
I will say, it was difficult to get into this book at the start, because there is a lot of jumping around. It’s very much like a film that if you look away from the screen for just a moment, you can become hopelessly lost.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, and though it’s maybe not for everyone, I think many readers would appreciate the style and story of JUST.
Rating… B or 3.5 Stars
June 18, 2018
This is a difficult novel to categorise. It is described as a heart stopping thriller and at its basic core, that is what it is, but I felt it went beyond that. To me it seemed to be written very tongue in cheek which lifted it out of the general thriller genre and into something unique of of its own. Suffice it to say, this is very different to anything else I have read, to the point I can’t actually think of anything to liken it to, which is refreshing.
This is a book that takes a little while to warm up and draw you in and I think that is partly because it jumps around very quickly from location to location and character to character, so it takes a while for the reader to make a connection to the individuals in the story. The timeline is also jerky and disjointed, hopping from date to date in uneven leaps. The plot twists and turns and ends up in unexpected places and you need to do some work on occasion to work out how it got there. It is a book you really need to concentrate on to keep up with what is happening to each character at any given moment. It is not a particularly restful book, not for a lazy brain or a period of desired idleness of thought; it requires an investment of thought, a stretching of the cerebral matter but I think this is warranted and to be encouraged, given the subject matter and it is worth the investment of effort.
The characters are complex and, save for Scott, not necessarily particularly likeable but this does not prevent us being drawn into their stories, because they are realistically flawed and intriguing. I was left at the end still with some ambiguous feelings for a couple of them, but this just fitted in with the whole tone of the book. Nothing about fits into a neat and easy box that you can just close the lid on once you are done. It leaves you with as many questions as it answers and I was thinking about it long after I finished the final page.
The subject matter of the book is topical and very relevant, but does not make for easy reading and the author does not shy away from giving us the full visceral experience of the scenes she is describing. Some of the language is blunt and earthy and readers should prepare themselves for that but it is totally justified, not gratuitous and the author really brings the scenes to life, scenes which we may as people in our comfy, safe havens be aware of but shy away from imagining too vividly. The author isn’t allowing us to do that, she is slapping us in the face with some harsh and unpleasant realities that make for uncomfortable but possibly necessary reading in the current environment.
The main thing I loved about this book was her use of language. The author has a way of describing everyday sights in a succinct but novel way that you may not have thought of before but completely encapsulated what she was trying to say and I could immediately and very clearly picture what she was describing. I went through highlighting some of my favourite phrases: “the panic of real life locked back in their cars at the NCP”, “something of a busty Uriah Heep”, “The kind of person who would take the low offer on The Chase” (don’t you immediately despise that person?), “the frill of the sea”, “the contents scampering up the sides of the glass as his hand shook’, ‘gentle slopes of spices’, I could go on and on. The author is obviously having great fun with language and description and I delighted in her delight of it. My very favourite part involved an inexperienced person handling a baby, it made me laugh out loud with glee at how brilliantly she brought the experience to life.
This book is different, challenging, rewarding and will linger in my mind for a good while. I would recommend it as a very meaningful read.
This is a book that takes a little while to warm up and draw you in and I think that is partly because it jumps around very quickly from location to location and character to character, so it takes a while for the reader to make a connection to the individuals in the story. The timeline is also jerky and disjointed, hopping from date to date in uneven leaps. The plot twists and turns and ends up in unexpected places and you need to do some work on occasion to work out how it got there. It is a book you really need to concentrate on to keep up with what is happening to each character at any given moment. It is not a particularly restful book, not for a lazy brain or a period of desired idleness of thought; it requires an investment of thought, a stretching of the cerebral matter but I think this is warranted and to be encouraged, given the subject matter and it is worth the investment of effort.
The characters are complex and, save for Scott, not necessarily particularly likeable but this does not prevent us being drawn into their stories, because they are realistically flawed and intriguing. I was left at the end still with some ambiguous feelings for a couple of them, but this just fitted in with the whole tone of the book. Nothing about fits into a neat and easy box that you can just close the lid on once you are done. It leaves you with as many questions as it answers and I was thinking about it long after I finished the final page.
The subject matter of the book is topical and very relevant, but does not make for easy reading and the author does not shy away from giving us the full visceral experience of the scenes she is describing. Some of the language is blunt and earthy and readers should prepare themselves for that but it is totally justified, not gratuitous and the author really brings the scenes to life, scenes which we may as people in our comfy, safe havens be aware of but shy away from imagining too vividly. The author isn’t allowing us to do that, she is slapping us in the face with some harsh and unpleasant realities that make for uncomfortable but possibly necessary reading in the current environment.
The main thing I loved about this book was her use of language. The author has a way of describing everyday sights in a succinct but novel way that you may not have thought of before but completely encapsulated what she was trying to say and I could immediately and very clearly picture what she was describing. I went through highlighting some of my favourite phrases: “the panic of real life locked back in their cars at the NCP”, “something of a busty Uriah Heep”, “The kind of person who would take the low offer on The Chase” (don’t you immediately despise that person?), “the frill of the sea”, “the contents scampering up the sides of the glass as his hand shook’, ‘gentle slopes of spices’, I could go on and on. The author is obviously having great fun with language and description and I delighted in her delight of it. My very favourite part involved an inexperienced person handling a baby, it made me laugh out loud with glee at how brilliantly she brought the experience to life.
This book is different, challenging, rewarding and will linger in my mind for a good while. I would recommend it as a very meaningful read.
June 23, 2018
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After reading another of the author's books previously as soon as I saw that this book was available I jumped at the chance of getting my hands on a copy - and I certainly wasn't disappointed - it is a well written story that took me through a wide range of emotions as I read the book.
The characters all bring something to the story, they are well developed and work brilliantly with the plot. The book is hard to put in just one category for me so I'm not even going to try as I don't want to not do the book justice! I will say though that it was a thrilling read and I was gripped from the start to the end, it isn't a happy read with the topics involved, but it is a very intricately woven story.
Four and a half stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads - very highly recommended!!
After reading another of the author's books previously as soon as I saw that this book was available I jumped at the chance of getting my hands on a copy - and I certainly wasn't disappointed - it is a well written story that took me through a wide range of emotions as I read the book.
The characters all bring something to the story, they are well developed and work brilliantly with the plot. The book is hard to put in just one category for me so I'm not even going to try as I don't want to not do the book justice! I will say though that it was a thrilling read and I was gripped from the start to the end, it isn't a happy read with the topics involved, but it is a very intricately woven story.
Four and a half stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads - very highly recommended!!
June 20, 2018
Sometimes, you read a book and enjoy the story or the suspense in it. Some books have enough emotions to make you cry or contemplate. And sometimes, you are just floored by the writing style, the ability of the author to communication so well (read differently) with the readers that you never forget it. Just by Jenny Morton Potts is one such book. I shall render all the deets further in my review, but for starters, here’s the summary.
Scott Langbrook is a doctor who falls in love with his team leader, Fiyori Maziq. When Scott senses Maziq is in danger, he doesn’t think twice and does everything in his capacity to save her, hurting his own people in the process. Not until he gets to the very end does he realise that not only is he in mortal danger but the truth isn’t as simple as he had thought it to be.
Okay people. Let me begin from the beginning. When I started the book, for a while I was waiting for the story to take shape. You see, the story suddenly jumps from one character to the other, from one situation to the other and one location to the other. It’s only half way through the book that I could gather what was taking place. Towards the end though, everything is revealed in a simple, no-nonsense manner. I totally loved the way the story was told, so unique, it was unlike anything I had read before!
The gist of the story may well be described as intriguing but the narration method is what kept me hooked. Unlike her previous book Hiding, this is no psychological thriller hence, there isn’t any gripping climax but when the details come apart, that’s when all falls into place and the enormity of what happened descends on you like a big elephant.
I want to also mention the characters here. They are all very believable, not those “perfect” people. They are confused, emotional and totally relatable. I loved the rendition of the characters, it was like meeting real life people.
The story line was not something I appreciated, it lacked grip. Maybe I expected it to be something like the author’s previous book. Having said that, I really enjoyed the way the story was told. I already said that, didn’t I?
I love the cover on the book, it’s absolutely eye catching! Jenny’s previous book, too, had a cover that matched the intensity of the story inside.
I want to applaud the author’s imagination because I believe that to write a story in a different way, one needs creative imagination. And she has outdone it! Just is totally worth a read if you want to try something very unique and interesting. Definitely recommended.
Scott Langbrook is a doctor who falls in love with his team leader, Fiyori Maziq. When Scott senses Maziq is in danger, he doesn’t think twice and does everything in his capacity to save her, hurting his own people in the process. Not until he gets to the very end does he realise that not only is he in mortal danger but the truth isn’t as simple as he had thought it to be.
Okay people. Let me begin from the beginning. When I started the book, for a while I was waiting for the story to take shape. You see, the story suddenly jumps from one character to the other, from one situation to the other and one location to the other. It’s only half way through the book that I could gather what was taking place. Towards the end though, everything is revealed in a simple, no-nonsense manner. I totally loved the way the story was told, so unique, it was unlike anything I had read before!
The gist of the story may well be described as intriguing but the narration method is what kept me hooked. Unlike her previous book Hiding, this is no psychological thriller hence, there isn’t any gripping climax but when the details come apart, that’s when all falls into place and the enormity of what happened descends on you like a big elephant.
I want to also mention the characters here. They are all very believable, not those “perfect” people. They are confused, emotional and totally relatable. I loved the rendition of the characters, it was like meeting real life people.
The story line was not something I appreciated, it lacked grip. Maybe I expected it to be something like the author’s previous book. Having said that, I really enjoyed the way the story was told. I already said that, didn’t I?
I love the cover on the book, it’s absolutely eye catching! Jenny’s previous book, too, had a cover that matched the intensity of the story inside.
I want to applaud the author’s imagination because I believe that to write a story in a different way, one needs creative imagination. And she has outdone it! Just is totally worth a read if you want to try something very unique and interesting. Definitely recommended.
June 21, 2018
"Oh, what a tangled web she weaves"
This is the second book I've read by this author, and I found the first mesmerising too. Her style is unique, her characters are gut-wrenchingly authentic. The settings are ripped from today's headlines, yet there's a lightness of touch that encourages the reader to push on further and further into the tangled web. A challenging, rather than an easy read, but that makes it all the more satisfying when you reach the end. Many writers do 'light and fluffy', very few do 'thought-provoking' as well as this.
This is the second book I've read by this author, and I found the first mesmerising too. Her style is unique, her characters are gut-wrenchingly authentic. The settings are ripped from today's headlines, yet there's a lightness of touch that encourages the reader to push on further and further into the tangled web. A challenging, rather than an easy read, but that makes it all the more satisfying when you reach the end. Many writers do 'light and fluffy', very few do 'thought-provoking' as well as this.
June 21, 2018
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (authors, if you are interested in getting your book reviewed, you can check here) and thank her and the author for providing me an ARC copy of her novel that I freely chose to review.
I had read great reviews of the author’s previous book Hiding and when I saw that her new novel was available, I knew I had to read it. I’ve been lucky with most of the books I’ve reviewed so far. I’ve read many good books in recent times. Some have been well-written and entertaining genre books (and I love a good genre book. There is something reassuring and satisfying about reading a book in a genre we like. We know what to expect, and we can be pleasantly surprised when the book pushes the boundaries of the genre or is an excellent example of it), some I would count among some of the best books I’ve read on a topic or genre, some have managed to mix different genres, sometimes even genres that seemed hardly compatible and have pulled it off beautifully, and there are some books that have surprised me, because they seemed to keep wrong-footing the readers, challenging them, and demanding their attention. They are not for easy consumption and they do not reassure. But they can be very rewarding. Just is one of these books.
This novel is told in the third person from a variety of points of view. We have women who cannot move on and let go (of past relationships, or their past and their families), and can at times seem pathetic and self-pitying, whilst at others, they will not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for those their love (at a great cost). We have men who are ridiculously devoted to women (a close friend they’ve known forever, or somebody they’ve worked with but hardly know anything about), hopelessly romantic, and willing to go to any lengths to “save” or “help” this women (who might or might not need saving). There are friends and relatives who will keep secrets that will cost them dearly. All the characters have very distinct voices, and the reader needs to pay attention at all times, as the dialogues are dynamic, and the author rarely uses tags, so it can be a challenge to know who is talking at times, especially when new characters are introduced.
I’ve seen some comments about the book that mention that none of the characters are sympathetic. Leaving to one side personal preferences and the fact that unsympathetic or downright unlikeable characters can be protagonists as well, as long as they engage our curiosity (why are they as they are?, can we connect with them at some level, even if we don’t like what they do?), in this case it is clear that the author has carefully chosen how to tell the story, and this contributes to the way we feel. Although the book is written in the third person (and that puts us in the role of the observer), we do see things from inside the heads of these characters, and, as we all are, they can be mean, cruel, egotistical, and truly annoying at times. Personally, I wanted to slap some of the characters sometimes, but there were some I quite liked, and by the end of the book, I definitely felt I had gained an understanding of most of them. As the book evolves we discover that we don’t know as much as we thought about all of these people, and only then do we realise how carefully constructed the novel is, and how its structure creates a whole that is much more than its parts.
The book touches upon important, controversial and difficult themes, both at a general, societal level (terrorism, emigration, wars, international aid and charities, adoption, indoctrination…) and at a more individual one (new models of family, friendship and love, letting go, romantic love, parenthood, family bonds…) and I doubt any readers will remain indifferent to the plight of the protagonists. When I finished the book, I felt I had gained insight into subjects I had read about or seen in the news often, but the novel managed to make them feel much more personal and immediate.
There are wonderful settings (from Cambridgeshire to Libya), and scenes (beautiful and poignant) that I won’t forget. (I don’t think I’ll be able to look at shoes again the same way). The book is not evenly paced, and there are some contemplative moments, and some when we are taken from one scene to the next and left hanging on, trying to make sense of what just happened. A lot of the book deals in serious subjects but there are some light moments and plenty of humour, some witty, some dark, that bring some relief while underscoring the gravity of the issues at hand. If some of the scenes might stretch the imagination and require suspension of disbelief (too romantic or contrived, or so I thought when I first read them), we are later obliged to re-evaluate them, we come to see them in a new light and they make sense.
I highlighted many sentences, but I thought I’d share a few:
Muduj had a weak stomach behind her strong heart.
Where once there were honey bees, now the metal drones buzz. Everything good has been replaced by manufactured evil.
Her body now was a foreign attachment to her head. Her heart was beating in her gums. Her eyes felt like transplants.
And so you don’t think it’s all very serious:
I always think it’s a worrying sign, when someone starts to read poetry.
I always recommend that prospective readers check a sample of the book to see if they feel it suits their taste, and this is especially true in this case. As I have warned, this novel treats in serious themes and is not a feel-good book (I will not discuss the ending, that I loved, but is not traditional, as it pertains such a book) for somebody looking for a light read. But if you are interested in discovering new talents and don’t mind harsh content (some sexual scenes as well) and are up for a challenge, this is a treat.
I had read great reviews of the author’s previous book Hiding and when I saw that her new novel was available, I knew I had to read it. I’ve been lucky with most of the books I’ve reviewed so far. I’ve read many good books in recent times. Some have been well-written and entertaining genre books (and I love a good genre book. There is something reassuring and satisfying about reading a book in a genre we like. We know what to expect, and we can be pleasantly surprised when the book pushes the boundaries of the genre or is an excellent example of it), some I would count among some of the best books I’ve read on a topic or genre, some have managed to mix different genres, sometimes even genres that seemed hardly compatible and have pulled it off beautifully, and there are some books that have surprised me, because they seemed to keep wrong-footing the readers, challenging them, and demanding their attention. They are not for easy consumption and they do not reassure. But they can be very rewarding. Just is one of these books.
This novel is told in the third person from a variety of points of view. We have women who cannot move on and let go (of past relationships, or their past and their families), and can at times seem pathetic and self-pitying, whilst at others, they will not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for those their love (at a great cost). We have men who are ridiculously devoted to women (a close friend they’ve known forever, or somebody they’ve worked with but hardly know anything about), hopelessly romantic, and willing to go to any lengths to “save” or “help” this women (who might or might not need saving). There are friends and relatives who will keep secrets that will cost them dearly. All the characters have very distinct voices, and the reader needs to pay attention at all times, as the dialogues are dynamic, and the author rarely uses tags, so it can be a challenge to know who is talking at times, especially when new characters are introduced.
I’ve seen some comments about the book that mention that none of the characters are sympathetic. Leaving to one side personal preferences and the fact that unsympathetic or downright unlikeable characters can be protagonists as well, as long as they engage our curiosity (why are they as they are?, can we connect with them at some level, even if we don’t like what they do?), in this case it is clear that the author has carefully chosen how to tell the story, and this contributes to the way we feel. Although the book is written in the third person (and that puts us in the role of the observer), we do see things from inside the heads of these characters, and, as we all are, they can be mean, cruel, egotistical, and truly annoying at times. Personally, I wanted to slap some of the characters sometimes, but there were some I quite liked, and by the end of the book, I definitely felt I had gained an understanding of most of them. As the book evolves we discover that we don’t know as much as we thought about all of these people, and only then do we realise how carefully constructed the novel is, and how its structure creates a whole that is much more than its parts.
The book touches upon important, controversial and difficult themes, both at a general, societal level (terrorism, emigration, wars, international aid and charities, adoption, indoctrination…) and at a more individual one (new models of family, friendship and love, letting go, romantic love, parenthood, family bonds…) and I doubt any readers will remain indifferent to the plight of the protagonists. When I finished the book, I felt I had gained insight into subjects I had read about or seen in the news often, but the novel managed to make them feel much more personal and immediate.
There are wonderful settings (from Cambridgeshire to Libya), and scenes (beautiful and poignant) that I won’t forget. (I don’t think I’ll be able to look at shoes again the same way). The book is not evenly paced, and there are some contemplative moments, and some when we are taken from one scene to the next and left hanging on, trying to make sense of what just happened. A lot of the book deals in serious subjects but there are some light moments and plenty of humour, some witty, some dark, that bring some relief while underscoring the gravity of the issues at hand. If some of the scenes might stretch the imagination and require suspension of disbelief (too romantic or contrived, or so I thought when I first read them), we are later obliged to re-evaluate them, we come to see them in a new light and they make sense.
I highlighted many sentences, but I thought I’d share a few:
Muduj had a weak stomach behind her strong heart.
Where once there were honey bees, now the metal drones buzz. Everything good has been replaced by manufactured evil.
Her body now was a foreign attachment to her head. Her heart was beating in her gums. Her eyes felt like transplants.
And so you don’t think it’s all very serious:
I always think it’s a worrying sign, when someone starts to read poetry.
I always recommend that prospective readers check a sample of the book to see if they feel it suits their taste, and this is especially true in this case. As I have warned, this novel treats in serious themes and is not a feel-good book (I will not discuss the ending, that I loved, but is not traditional, as it pertains such a book) for somebody looking for a light read. But if you are interested in discovering new talents and don’t mind harsh content (some sexual scenes as well) and are up for a challenge, this is a treat.
June 22, 2018
Some authors have the knack for drawing the reader in to a world that is not only a whirlwind, but keeps your heart pumping. Jenny Morton Potts has the ability to do this - In her new novel, JUST, the author takes you to some exotic and not so exotic places. This is a family story, disfunctional at that, that breeds many emotions and trama.
There is alot going on here, and each character brings their own story and drama to the plot. From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering how this will turn out and can there be a happy ending at all. The characters are real and annoying at times, but that's life. This is a great beach read - so get your towel and suntan lotion for this new book. Recommend!!!
There is alot going on here, and each character brings their own story and drama to the plot. From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering how this will turn out and can there be a happy ending at all. The characters are real and annoying at times, but that's life. This is a great beach read - so get your towel and suntan lotion for this new book. Recommend!!!
September 12, 2018
Just immediately drew me in with themes of unrequited love, along with betrayal, blackmail and jealousy. It is a thrilling ride, that kept me hooked from page one until the end. Jenny Morton Potts has the ability to craft a tightly plotted novel, with brilliant misdirection, twists and turns, and something a reader has no choice but to get drawn into.
There are quite a few characters, and each are well developed. It did take me a little bit to get them all straight. That being said, they were very real, and not everyone was likeable.
This is one of those books that just needs to be read. It’s not easy to wrap up in a couple paragraphs. The themes are sometimes tough, but it is so worth a read. I highly recommend it!
*I received this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
There are quite a few characters, and each are well developed. It did take me a little bit to get them all straight. That being said, they were very real, and not everyone was likeable.
This is one of those books that just needs to be read. It’s not easy to wrap up in a couple paragraphs. The themes are sometimes tough, but it is so worth a read. I highly recommend it!
*I received this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
June 23, 2018
I've only recently discovered Jenny Morton Potts' books and I'm still absolutely flabbergasted at the outstanding quality of writing that was displayed in Hiding. This quality naturally continues in Just but, whereas Hiding is very much a psychological thriller, this book is more of a bone-chilling thriller. Not in the gorey and gruesome horror sense, but more that you could totally imagine it happening in real life.
Luci's son, Scottie, is a volunteer medic for the Reach charity which aims to identify the remains of bodies that wash up on the shores of the Mediterranean. It's so sad and too often in the news about these poor people who leave their homeland searching for a better and safer life, having no idea that they are stepping onto boats that will never reach their destination. Scottie's boss is the mysterious Dr Fiyori Maziq who Scottie ends up falling for. At first I thought Fiyori was the obligatory love interest but I couldn't have been more wrong!
Luci doesn't even notice that her business partner, Finlay, has feelings for her as she is still so very bitter about the break up of her marriage. Luci point blank refuses to even name the new Mrs Langbrook never mind see a photo of her or, heaven forbid, meet her. Luci might not be able to put this off for much longer when she receives the news that her ex-husband has been killed when his car hit an elephant in Botswana. Obviously, Scottie gets his sense of adventure from his father but just how adventurous is he and how far is he willing to go to protect his family?
Without going into any details and giving the plot away, I felt as if a game of chess was being played out and the characters were carefully manipulated into place against their knowledge. That really scares the bejeezus out of me; trust is something we give quite easily but it is also very difficult to get back once it is lost. Unless you have the ability to read minds, you will never know what another person is thinking and whether they are being honest or manipulative.
I admit to being a bit confused at the beginning of Just as the story jumped from Luci and Finlay in Cornwall to Scottie and Fiyori in the Mediterranean, but I know that Jenny Morton Potts is a hugely talented writer so I just went with the flow, confident that the mist would lift and it would all become clear. Indeed it does, but there is no sun waiting to come out as this frighteningly true to life story chills you to the bone.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Luci's son, Scottie, is a volunteer medic for the Reach charity which aims to identify the remains of bodies that wash up on the shores of the Mediterranean. It's so sad and too often in the news about these poor people who leave their homeland searching for a better and safer life, having no idea that they are stepping onto boats that will never reach their destination. Scottie's boss is the mysterious Dr Fiyori Maziq who Scottie ends up falling for. At first I thought Fiyori was the obligatory love interest but I couldn't have been more wrong!
Luci doesn't even notice that her business partner, Finlay, has feelings for her as she is still so very bitter about the break up of her marriage. Luci point blank refuses to even name the new Mrs Langbrook never mind see a photo of her or, heaven forbid, meet her. Luci might not be able to put this off for much longer when she receives the news that her ex-husband has been killed when his car hit an elephant in Botswana. Obviously, Scottie gets his sense of adventure from his father but just how adventurous is he and how far is he willing to go to protect his family?
Without going into any details and giving the plot away, I felt as if a game of chess was being played out and the characters were carefully manipulated into place against their knowledge. That really scares the bejeezus out of me; trust is something we give quite easily but it is also very difficult to get back once it is lost. Unless you have the ability to read minds, you will never know what another person is thinking and whether they are being honest or manipulative.
I admit to being a bit confused at the beginning of Just as the story jumped from Luci and Finlay in Cornwall to Scottie and Fiyori in the Mediterranean, but I know that Jenny Morton Potts is a hugely talented writer so I just went with the flow, confident that the mist would lift and it would all become clear. Indeed it does, but there is no sun waiting to come out as this frighteningly true to life story chills you to the bone.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 7, 2018
It took me a while to settle into this book. Admittedly after many false starts and even putting it down then coming back to the text again Just began to take shape for me. It's a bit like, suitably, a Bond book where characters flit across the globe and it took some doing to understand so many locations, perspectives and even jumps in time. If you want something straightforward, with simple characters and easy to understand motives you may have to look elsewhere. Just is also a massive disconnect from the other more traditional thrillers I've read from this author. I admire the decision to tackle more bold subject matter, with the same attention to writing personalities, especially women, in an authentic way.
I appreciate this realistic look at the horrors rippling under the surface. Certainly not everyone is written to be likeable or even relatable, but that is reality. Having lived a life like the Fiyoris or Qasims of the world, maybe their choices would make more sense. As readers, we aren't asked to forgive or understand anyone's actions but only to accept that this type of terror happens every single day to vulnerable people.
I appreciate this realistic look at the horrors rippling under the surface. Certainly not everyone is written to be likeable or even relatable, but that is reality. Having lived a life like the Fiyoris or Qasims of the world, maybe their choices would make more sense. As readers, we aren't asked to forgive or understand anyone's actions but only to accept that this type of terror happens every single day to vulnerable people.
July 23, 2018
This book has soo many great/bad things in it human trafficking, terrorism, betrayal, blackmail, and the list goes on. This is the second book I read by this author and her characters are authentic to me. I enjoyed this book very much as well. It was a thriller than had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed it! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
September 14, 2018
Just, is a very uniquely captivating tale where the characters manage to find love and form bonds amidst the most depressing and evil hearts of humanities not so finest. There is a lot going on with Just. It bounces around quite a bit, so at times it can get a little confusing, yet on the other hand when it clicks it's completely unforgettable.
There are a lot of characters, each one of a kind. Some I really liked, and some I got so extremely frustrated with. Lucienne, for example wasn't really my cup of tea. She's the first husband of a man who left her for an older woman (Susan, who's fantastic), and the mother of Scott, a young man who joins a dead body distraction crew in the Mediterranean. Lucienne is also the work colleague and best friend to a man named Finlay. Finlay happens to love her unconditionally despite her constant depression and all around crappy attitude toward life and obsession with her Ex- husband. A husband who died in the first chapter of the book, we really don't get much insight on him aside from random memories.
Now lets talk about Scott, his love life, and his 'job'. He's a doctor who despite both of his mothers (Susan and Lucienne) protest, he's determined to do his part in helping people in need during a civil war. What he finds in the Mediterranean is heart wrenching. The situations, stories, torture, death and heartbreak is at times hard to stomach, which actually gives the entire book one of those 'reality smacks across the face' type of feel. I really like Scott. I liked his charm, wit, sarcasm, confidence, and general outlook at life. He's a genuine guy, so when he falls for his instructor, Fiyori, I really wished I could pop my hand into the book and slap him across the face. The whole time I just wanted to shout at him and demand to know what in the hell he was thinking. The horrible situation he found himself wasn't a really big surprise, as he sort of walked right into it. However, it was a creative and layered situation with a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot. Jenny Morton was able to tie it all together flawlessly, and in a way that keeps the readers engaged and wanting more. I really liked the ending. Although less than ideal, it was fitting for the characters and I felt satisfied with it all.
It's practically impossible to explain any further withe giving away any spoilers so I'll leave it at that and let you decide. All in all it was a great read, I loved the writing style, and I'll most surely be reading more of Jenny Morton Pott's work!
There are a lot of characters, each one of a kind. Some I really liked, and some I got so extremely frustrated with. Lucienne, for example wasn't really my cup of tea. She's the first husband of a man who left her for an older woman (Susan, who's fantastic), and the mother of Scott, a young man who joins a dead body distraction crew in the Mediterranean. Lucienne is also the work colleague and best friend to a man named Finlay. Finlay happens to love her unconditionally despite her constant depression and all around crappy attitude toward life and obsession with her Ex- husband. A husband who died in the first chapter of the book, we really don't get much insight on him aside from random memories.
Now lets talk about Scott, his love life, and his 'job'. He's a doctor who despite both of his mothers (Susan and Lucienne) protest, he's determined to do his part in helping people in need during a civil war. What he finds in the Mediterranean is heart wrenching. The situations, stories, torture, death and heartbreak is at times hard to stomach, which actually gives the entire book one of those 'reality smacks across the face' type of feel. I really like Scott. I liked his charm, wit, sarcasm, confidence, and general outlook at life. He's a genuine guy, so when he falls for his instructor, Fiyori, I really wished I could pop my hand into the book and slap him across the face. The whole time I just wanted to shout at him and demand to know what in the hell he was thinking. The horrible situation he found himself wasn't a really big surprise, as he sort of walked right into it. However, it was a creative and layered situation with a lot of T's to cross and I's to dot. Jenny Morton was able to tie it all together flawlessly, and in a way that keeps the readers engaged and wanting more. I really liked the ending. Although less than ideal, it was fitting for the characters and I felt satisfied with it all.
It's practically impossible to explain any further withe giving away any spoilers so I'll leave it at that and let you decide. All in all it was a great read, I loved the writing style, and I'll most surely be reading more of Jenny Morton Pott's work!
September 14, 2018
Scott Langbrook is a young doctor working as Dead Body Management for an organization called Reach. The job basically sucks until he meets the team leader Fiyori Maziq. He falls in love with her but she has a whole host of problems. Scott cares for her and tries to help her out to the best of his ability.
But back at home in Cambridge, Scott’s family is a mess of its own. His mother Lucienne is divorced from his father and has issues with a lot of things. Scott’s father, Eddie is remarried to Susan and Scott spends most of his time with them which causes more problems with Luci. But then Eddie dies and stirs up the pot more.
This is an interesting story. There are several characters that start of all over the place and not really connected. But as the story starts to rush to the finish, you see how everyone is linked and not really going to get a happy ending.
The book is a little slow in the beginning and all over the place with the different characters. But if you just stick with it the books starts to make sense. This is a great read with some tough topics. It is definitely worth the read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
But back at home in Cambridge, Scott’s family is a mess of its own. His mother Lucienne is divorced from his father and has issues with a lot of things. Scott’s father, Eddie is remarried to Susan and Scott spends most of his time with them which causes more problems with Luci. But then Eddie dies and stirs up the pot more.
This is an interesting story. There are several characters that start of all over the place and not really connected. But as the story starts to rush to the finish, you see how everyone is linked and not really going to get a happy ending.
The book is a little slow in the beginning and all over the place with the different characters. But if you just stick with it the books starts to make sense. This is a great read with some tough topics. It is definitely worth the read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
September 5, 2018
Review to follow
October 5, 2018
I received this advanced copy for an honest review.
This was absolutely great reading and worth every star.
The character development is slow but full. By the end of the story you are so invested in them that you feel all the emotional struggles, both the highs and the lows.
The storyline twists and turns, surprises you when you least expect it and keeps you interested all the way through.
I would definitely recommend this well written, fast paced story without hesitation.
This was absolutely great reading and worth every star.
The character development is slow but full. By the end of the story you are so invested in them that you feel all the emotional struggles, both the highs and the lows.
The storyline twists and turns, surprises you when you least expect it and keeps you interested all the way through.
I would definitely recommend this well written, fast paced story without hesitation.
July 14, 2018
Having reached the end of this one, I’m stunned. Shockingly good, completely unexpected and, without a doubt, quite brilliant!
Fiyori Maziq is the team leader of a group of medics who deal with dead refugees washed up on the shores of the med – refugees who have paid dearly for their passage without ever reaching their intended destination. Scott Langbrook, under her charge also falls under her spell and pursues her romantically. What results from this is mind-blowing and – it has to be said – quite unlike any other novel I’ve read!
I tend to take books as they come and enjoy the moment; ‘Just’ pulled me in to a smooth love story but I was fooled. This is a thriller of the highest calibre. I now understand more of the trade in transporting unsuspecting refugees eager to get to a better life and of the perils they face along their journey. I’m not going to give away the basis of the thrilling part of this story – it’s something which each reader has to experience for themselves but there are many twists along the way in this tightly plotted story and it would be impossible not to get drawn in emotionally. This is a skilfully crafted novel with sleight of hand misdirection employed perfectly. When the penny dropped I found my mouth hanging open in awe and wonder – and, it has to be said – complete admiration for the aplomb with which the author pulled it off! Would I recommend it? You bet I would. This is worth so much more that the five plump glittering stars I can award it and my only regret is that now that I’ve read it, I’ll never experience it for the first time again!
My grateful thanks to the author for my arc copy with no expectations of a return. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Fiyori Maziq is the team leader of a group of medics who deal with dead refugees washed up on the shores of the med – refugees who have paid dearly for their passage without ever reaching their intended destination. Scott Langbrook, under her charge also falls under her spell and pursues her romantically. What results from this is mind-blowing and – it has to be said – quite unlike any other novel I’ve read!
I tend to take books as they come and enjoy the moment; ‘Just’ pulled me in to a smooth love story but I was fooled. This is a thriller of the highest calibre. I now understand more of the trade in transporting unsuspecting refugees eager to get to a better life and of the perils they face along their journey. I’m not going to give away the basis of the thrilling part of this story – it’s something which each reader has to experience for themselves but there are many twists along the way in this tightly plotted story and it would be impossible not to get drawn in emotionally. This is a skilfully crafted novel with sleight of hand misdirection employed perfectly. When the penny dropped I found my mouth hanging open in awe and wonder – and, it has to be said – complete admiration for the aplomb with which the author pulled it off! Would I recommend it? You bet I would. This is worth so much more that the five plump glittering stars I can award it and my only regret is that now that I’ve read it, I’ll never experience it for the first time again!
My grateful thanks to the author for my arc copy with no expectations of a return. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
July 9, 2018
4.5 Stars. Having been impressed by Jenny Morton Potts’ literary quality prose and the suspense cultivated in the transatlantic thriller Hiding, I was eager to read her next offering. The diversity of Just's character set, the contrasting settings and the modernity of the plot is striking. Through entertaining and original character banter, Potts quickly conveys both the shared intimacies and individual histories that shape relationships. From the enigmatic intensity of Fiyori and Scott’s earnest idealism in Libya (‘where hell paved over heaven when the Civil War began’) through to his love-lorn mother Lucienne and loyal business partner Finlay in idyllic Cambridge (‘where Grantchester is filmed’), all have a part to play in this increasingly connected world.
Read full review >>
September 17, 2018
Link: https://klling.wordpress.com/2018/09/...
Just is somewhat of a hard novel to review, probably the one where I’m having the most conflicted feelings about in a while. I’m always a little cautious when going into romantic thrillers. Romance itself has some blurred lines in the modern novel sense and thrillers are just tough to nail down. I’m not sure that Just nails down both of these areas or creates a good balance per se. However, despite a slow start to the novel which frankly did begin a little confusing as it jumps a little timeline (unless I missed something and just lost track), as the ideas of the thriller solidifies and the pieces slide together by around the middle, the second half takes a nice turn that almost does make up for the slow beginning.
On one hand, I think that the thriller elements does truly come together in the second half effectively. The pacing definitely could be better. But the setting it uses and the whole idea when we see the whole picture does work out. However, the romance element here is also not completely convincing. On many levels, this book reminded me a little of reading The Casual Vacancy. The characters are quite flawed so they don’t quite have you connecting or backing with any of them in particular. However, their flaws for some of the characters particularly the mother Lucienne and her associate/best friend, Finlay is the ones I thought worked the best here. Their flaws made them feel genuine.
There are some good ideas here and the setting here works overall. It starts off slow and the pacing is a tad slow but give it time and the second half does deliver on the thrills.
Just is somewhat of a hard novel to review, probably the one where I’m having the most conflicted feelings about in a while. I’m always a little cautious when going into romantic thrillers. Romance itself has some blurred lines in the modern novel sense and thrillers are just tough to nail down. I’m not sure that Just nails down both of these areas or creates a good balance per se. However, despite a slow start to the novel which frankly did begin a little confusing as it jumps a little timeline (unless I missed something and just lost track), as the ideas of the thriller solidifies and the pieces slide together by around the middle, the second half takes a nice turn that almost does make up for the slow beginning.
On one hand, I think that the thriller elements does truly come together in the second half effectively. The pacing definitely could be better. But the setting it uses and the whole idea when we see the whole picture does work out. However, the romance element here is also not completely convincing. On many levels, this book reminded me a little of reading The Casual Vacancy. The characters are quite flawed so they don’t quite have you connecting or backing with any of them in particular. However, their flaws for some of the characters particularly the mother Lucienne and her associate/best friend, Finlay is the ones I thought worked the best here. Their flaws made them feel genuine.
There are some good ideas here and the setting here works overall. It starts off slow and the pacing is a tad slow but give it time and the second half does deliver on the thrills.
May 15, 2019
This is a very difficult book to review, only because it covers a lot of ground. The story revolves around Scott Langbrook, a doctor who has volunteered with a charity to help refugees in North Africa. There he falls in love with his team leader but soon discovers that the world she inhabits is very different from his own.
The book delves deep into both their pasts as well as following their stories in the present day. As they get more desperate both their worlds start to unravel and there seems to be no way out.
Covering subjects involving terrorism and people trafficking this is a fairly grim read, and fairly slow at times too. The characters are written well and the plot does take the reader to unexpected places - both good and bad.
However for me the whole didn't quite equal the sum of its parts. Some of the storytelling seemed a little disjointed with jumping between different times without any clear idea of the sequence or timing of events. But that doesn't detract from an intriguing read
The book delves deep into both their pasts as well as following their stories in the present day. As they get more desperate both their worlds start to unravel and there seems to be no way out.
Covering subjects involving terrorism and people trafficking this is a fairly grim read, and fairly slow at times too. The characters are written well and the plot does take the reader to unexpected places - both good and bad.
However for me the whole didn't quite equal the sum of its parts. Some of the storytelling seemed a little disjointed with jumping between different times without any clear idea of the sequence or timing of events. But that doesn't detract from an intriguing read
November 2, 2018
Just excellent
As ever with her writing a very original and entertaining piece of work. Would highly recommend it as a read
As ever with her writing a very original and entertaining piece of work. Would highly recommend it as a read
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