The Donor | Lost in a Good Book

The Donor (Part Two) by Nikki Rae

Published: 22nd August 2014
Publisher: Self published
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/New Adult
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

[Disclaimer: This is a serial novella that will be told in parts about the length of a short story (20-30 pages).]

When Casey joined MyTrueMatch.com, she never imagined she would meet a man who not only helps her pay the bills, but has been nothing but a gentleman.

As the nose bleeds make way for worse symptoms, Casey can’t help the feelings she has for Jonah, despite how he may never return them. And he’s been keeping things from her. Big things. How does he make his money, and who is that girl in the picture?

With the clock ticking, can she find the answers she’s looking for?

Note: I was provided with a copy for review

This second installment in Nikki Rae’s novella The Donor doesn’t waver one bit from the interest sparked in part one. It is captivating and generates great curiosity, even offers a few more answers. The intriguing nature of the story gets you in and it is very easy to read, making it hard to drag yourself away from the story. Being so brief it does not take long to get through but despite being short, Rae manages to put a lot of mystery and interest into the story.

While there was a lot of unspoken things in part one, part two allows us to see more of Casey and Jonah’s relationship, as well as learn a bit more about Casey and why she went to MyTrueMatch.com in the first place. Flashbacks are again used in how Rae tells us about Casey’s life and her motives, but through clever dialogue and a creative narrative we are also given a few clues about the mysterious Jonah. Hints and clues are gradually dropped throughout but Rae does not spell anything out obviously.

I love how Rae is slowly revealing things to us, making us piece it together. She uses Casey’s thoughts, her conversations, and the events around her to tell us what is happening rather than giving the reader information just for the sake of knowing. The mystery is what makes this a great story and it keeps you guessing and makes you excited when you figure things out. So while we are learning a bit more about these characters but we are also given a puzzle to solve which is great.

In terms of style, Rae captures the uncertainty between the pair and the new, strange relationship they have with one another extremely well. Casey’s uneasiness and embarrassment about her condition are evident as you read, but you also see Jonah’s compassion as a result. The other complexities of Casey and Jonah’s relationship are expressed well and there is a nervous uncertainty coming from them both that gives the story a believable element. Rae uses these feelings to express great compassion from each character but also manages to draws it out from the reader as well.

Reading this story makes you realise Casey knows a lot more than the reader, she knows what she is doing and what she has gotten herself in for, and it is only slowly that the reader is able to find out. Rae does not write like Casey is telling us her story exactly, aside from flashbacks a lot of information is provided in dialogue or through Casey’s thoughts; we are mainly observers, having to piece it together ourselves. This is a great approach in my opinion, especially being a multi-part novella there is limited space and in focusing on the story there isn’t a lot of room or opportunity to stop and explain to readers, especially without ruining the surprises.

As evident with her Sunshine novels, Rae is a wonder at surprises and great, gripping narratives and this is another example of her skills. By the end you are hanging out for the third instalment and you are left excited and curious about where the story and characters will end up.

You can also now preorder The Donor Part Two from Amazon or buy a copy of Part One!

The Donor (Part One) by Nikki Rae

Published: 14th July 2014
Publisher: Self published
Format: ebook
Genre: Young Adult/New Adult
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

[Disclaimer: This is a serial novella that will be told in parts about the length of a short story (20-30 pages)]

Casey Williams and her family are poor. Her parents work non-stop and so does she, just so they can keep the trailer roof from leaking.

They’re getting by fine enough when the headaches start. Then there’s the nosebleeds. And the inevitable doctor’s bills.

Fortunately for Casey, there’s MyTrueMatch.com: an exclusive, quick, and almost easy way to pay it all back before her parents even have to know.

All she has to do is give a man she’s never met whatever he wants from her body.

Inside or out.

Note: I was given a copy by the author to review

As a novella that is to become a larger story, this is an excellent introduction. The Donor is a short read but it is also one that grabs the reader’s attention early on. Not necessarily with grand action or immense tension or suspense, but rather with intrigue and curiosity. I think the coupling of reader curiosity with vagueness and mystery in the story are brilliant ways to capture this story. There is something to look forward to, something that makes the reader keep reading, hoping for answers to questions and unprovided explanations.

Casey as a character is interesting. She is independent and loyal, willing to do anything for her family, even if that means keeping secrets from them. As we get to know her we are told about the trouble she and her family have been experiencing, and we also see how much she wants to help without creating additional burdens. I thought of her as a tad foolish in the beginning, not misguided necessarily but maybe a bit easily swayed. Having said that I also understand her actions, and even if I thought she was unwise in the early pages by the end I was more understanding and began to see her as a bit more as brave than foolish, especially after more is revealed.

Through this story Rae doesn’t try and sway readers into one particular opinion or view of Casey which easily could have occurred. A lot of how you see her comes from your own assessment of the actions and circumstances that are presented. There is no strong push to gain sympathy through language or long emotional character thoughts, though that doesn’t mean sympathy of some kind doesn’t form. Based on the information given, and how Rae seamlessly weaves it into the story, readers are free to make up their own minds and judge Casey accordingly.

What I thought was excellent was the way the story has been written and presented. In terms of narrative direction Rae leads you into thinking one thing, and even if you start forming your own alternate theories and expectations she throws you off course again with a simple sentence, something which Rae is extremely skilled at doing. There are flashbacks woven in with present events which draws out the mystery and the answers you are waiting for while also providing us with history and back story allowing the story to progress.

It’s wonderful writing, and writing that keeps you engaged while still offering surprises. This story is not written with a focus on constantly keeping you in suspense however, just under a slight blanket of intrigue as you read along. There is also a wonderful joy as you read and become caught up in clever writing and a very well laid out and very well told story.

With The Donor Rae entices you, surrounds you with vagueness, mystery, a brilliant narrative, and half given answers that leaves you demanding more.

Author Bio:
Nikki Rae is a writer who lives in New Jersey. As an independent author, she has appeared numerously on Amazon Best Seller lists and she concentrates on making her imaginary characters as real as possible. Nikki writes mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.

Nikki is also running a giveaway so if you are interested in entering click on the Rafflecopter link!