Today I am reviewing the last book in The Drumbeats Trilogy, Finding Jess, by Julia Ibbotson.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, the author and publisher for the invite to take part and for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly
Finding Jess
Single mother, Jess, has struggled to get her life back on track after the betrayal of her beloved husband and her best friend. When she is on the brink of losing everything, including her family and her job, she feels that she can no longer trust anyone. Then she is sent a mysterious newspaper clipping of a temporary post back in Ghana. Could this be her lifeline? Can Jess turn back time and find herself again? And what, exactly, will she find?
Finding Jess is a passionate story of love, betrayal and second chances – and of one woman’s bid to reclaim her self-belief and trust. It is a feel-good story of a woman’s strength and spirit rising above adversity.
My Review
It was quite sad to be reading the final part of this trilogy. I feel like I have invested a lot of time into getting to know Jess over the last couple of weeks. It has almost been like saying goodbye to a dear friend, someone you care about and wish only the best for.
In the last book Walking in the Rain. Jess is a troubled soul and I was really hoping that she would find some peace in her life. This didn’t appear to be happening until she makes a decision to go back to Ghana, a place where she worked during her gap year. I knew that if there was any way Jess could find contentment it would be back in the searing heat of Africa and I had always had my fingers crossed that she would return. Of course, the stunning cover for Finding Jess hints that it is a strong possibility!
The Drumbeats Trilogy is the story of a woman who comes close to losing everything, even her identity at times. However, she still endeavors to regain her own self-worth, which will enable her to love and trust once again. The books are atmospheric, emotive and inspiring. I particularly enjoyed the time that Jess spent abroad where the description of the intense heat and the drumming beat really bought Ghana alive to me.
A truly wonderful and reflective journey.
Author Review
Award-winning author Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and concepts of time travel. She read English at Keele University, England (after a turbulent but exciting gap year in Ghana, West Africa) specialising in medieval language, literature and history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. She wrote her first novel at 10 years of age, but became a school teacher, then a university lecturer and researcher. Finding Jess (2018) is her sixth book and the last of the Drumbeats trilogy (which begins and ends in Ghana). Apart from insatiable reading, she loves travelling the world, singing in choirs, swimming, yoga and walking in the countryside in England and Madeira where she and her husband divide their time.
Oh thank you so much for such a wonderful review today, of Finding Jess and of the whole trilogy – much appreciated. I’m so glad you enjoyed the books!