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Coincidences
Secrets, lies and coincidences abound in this story of a young girl looking for her father. Alice, now twenty-one years old, is determined to find her father who left home when she was just a baby, despite a warning from her mother that she should not look for him. Her mother's secretiveness over the subject is because of the guilt she feels about keeping the truth from Alice. It will take all of Alice's courage to persevere in her search. There are doubts and uncertainties at every turn. Coincidences is a story about following your dreams and staying on the path no matter how difficult the circumstances may become.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2001
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274 people want to read
About the author
Maria Savva
48 books521 followersWriter of novels and short stories, multi-genre. Maria's short stories have appeared in the BestsellerBound anthologies and the Mind's Eye Series of books, as well as the online magazine The Write Launch: http://thewritelaunch.com/
Maria is also a music blogger at the Real Rock And Roll blog: https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/
Look out for current news about her writing on her website: http://www.mariasavva.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 27, 2012
Well, I think it's fantastic, but I wrote it, so I'm biased :)
August 14, 2012
I'd been trying to get around to reading this for some time, after the synopsis caught my eye. I read it in 2 days, and found I couldn't get on with the other things I was meant to be doing until I'd finished it.
The author planted little clues along the way, so there were no great surprises for me, as I do like to be a bit of a detective, as I read, and I picked up on her clues. In other instances, my over-active imagination got me there and I was delighted to be proven right.
However, the crux of the story, not mentioned in the synopsis, I thought was brilliant and one I had not seen coming and also one I have not seen addressed by other authors I have read. Likewise, the ending, I hadn't guessed that.
The story is relatively simple and uncluttered, but it reminded me of what great chefs say about cooking. Keep it simple and often the simplest is the best.
You really feel for the mother, Stephanie and the daughter, Alice. Even when I thought Stephanie was being selfish, I still felt a little sorry for her. There are characters later in the novel, who quite frankly I would have liked to shake them and punch their lights out. And there's a shining beacon of a character, whose sunny disposition makes it all worthwhile.
I could imagine Alice's various meetings with her mother, Alice's visits elsewhere - you'll need to read it to see where! I could even imagine clearly the ensuing chaos.
The relationship with Stephanie's friend, Ria is also very important, although I did think the introduction of a key piece of info, was rather a late introduction, but believe me if that's my only quibble, Ms Savva has done an excellent job.
If there were half stars, I would have given this 4.5, as I think 5 stars is for something truly exceptional and can be overused. However, given the quality of the writing, I am happy to round this up to 5, rather than down to 4.
A wonderful tale which I was happy to discover. Am delighted that Ms Savva has so many other books for me now to go and get my teeth into.
The author planted little clues along the way, so there were no great surprises for me, as I do like to be a bit of a detective, as I read, and I picked up on her clues. In other instances, my over-active imagination got me there and I was delighted to be proven right.
However, the crux of the story, not mentioned in the synopsis, I thought was brilliant and one I had not seen coming and also one I have not seen addressed by other authors I have read. Likewise, the ending, I hadn't guessed that.
The story is relatively simple and uncluttered, but it reminded me of what great chefs say about cooking. Keep it simple and often the simplest is the best.
You really feel for the mother, Stephanie and the daughter, Alice. Even when I thought Stephanie was being selfish, I still felt a little sorry for her. There are characters later in the novel, who quite frankly I would have liked to shake them and punch their lights out. And there's a shining beacon of a character, whose sunny disposition makes it all worthwhile.
I could imagine Alice's various meetings with her mother, Alice's visits elsewhere - you'll need to read it to see where! I could even imagine clearly the ensuing chaos.
The relationship with Stephanie's friend, Ria is also very important, although I did think the introduction of a key piece of info, was rather a late introduction, but believe me if that's my only quibble, Ms Savva has done an excellent job.
If there were half stars, I would have given this 4.5, as I think 5 stars is for something truly exceptional and can be overused. However, given the quality of the writing, I am happy to round this up to 5, rather than down to 4.
A wonderful tale which I was happy to discover. Am delighted that Ms Savva has so many other books for me now to go and get my teeth into.
September 5, 2010
I'm already a fan of Maria Savva's work, so I was excited to win a free copy of Coincidences, and I wasn't surprised to find the story engaging, the characters believable and the action to move me from page one.
The story is one I related to on a personal level as what propells it forward is a young girl(Alice)'s search for identity as those around her attempt to protect her from reality. Alice is haunted and intrigued by a photograph of her father, a man who left his family when Alice was just a baby.
Savva creates a poignant portrait of Alice, who has fantastical ideas about her true identity and the secrets her family has kept. As Alice begins to uncover the secrets of her mother had tried to shelter her from, she undergoes an internal battle and must reconcile her desire for truth with the reality of what she finds.
I enjoyed this story, and the only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt that the prose, in places, became clunky and slightly distracting. As a whole piece, however, Coincidences was a remarkably strong work, and Savva's unique depiction of Alice's internal struggles and the consequences of her family's well-intended dishonesty made for a work that is idea-driven and profound. Its one that I would heartily recommend to anyone who thinks they know what's best for another person, who thinks that they can offer protection of this person if only they keep her sheltered. What Savva's story proves is that sometimes such shelters can cast a shadow that proves far more destructive than any reality.
The story is one I related to on a personal level as what propells it forward is a young girl(Alice)'s search for identity as those around her attempt to protect her from reality. Alice is haunted and intrigued by a photograph of her father, a man who left his family when Alice was just a baby.
Savva creates a poignant portrait of Alice, who has fantastical ideas about her true identity and the secrets her family has kept. As Alice begins to uncover the secrets of her mother had tried to shelter her from, she undergoes an internal battle and must reconcile her desire for truth with the reality of what she finds.
I enjoyed this story, and the only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt that the prose, in places, became clunky and slightly distracting. As a whole piece, however, Coincidences was a remarkably strong work, and Savva's unique depiction of Alice's internal struggles and the consequences of her family's well-intended dishonesty made for a work that is idea-driven and profound. Its one that I would heartily recommend to anyone who thinks they know what's best for another person, who thinks that they can offer protection of this person if only they keep her sheltered. What Savva's story proves is that sometimes such shelters can cast a shadow that proves far more destructive than any reality.
August 9, 2011
Coincidences (Maria Savva)
Alice never knew her father. Her parents were divorced when she was very young. Her mother never spoke much about him, accept that he left them. Now that she is 21 years old and at University , she is beginning to become more curious about her father. After a frightful dream, unexplained pains in her arm, and a newspaper article, she decides it is time to find her father. But what she finds is secrets, lies, fears of abandonment. She faces these fears and continues on a journey to find out exactly who she is, and why her father left.
Fantastic read. Full of emotion, secrets, twists and turns. A definite all night read. I have become a big fan of Maria Savva. This was her first novel and it is just as good as all of her other books. I highly suggest to all to check out her work. I was not disappointed, I look forward to more of her work.
Maria Savva
Alice never knew her father. Her parents were divorced when she was very young. Her mother never spoke much about him, accept that he left them. Now that she is 21 years old and at University , she is beginning to become more curious about her father. After a frightful dream, unexplained pains in her arm, and a newspaper article, she decides it is time to find her father. But what she finds is secrets, lies, fears of abandonment. She faces these fears and continues on a journey to find out exactly who she is, and why her father left.
Fantastic read. Full of emotion, secrets, twists and turns. A definite all night read. I have become a big fan of Maria Savva. This was her first novel and it is just as good as all of her other books. I highly suggest to all to check out her work. I was not disappointed, I look forward to more of her work.
Maria Savva
July 10, 2012
This is a revision of Maria Savva's first book of the same title, which had been released in hardcover more than a decade ago. The story follows Alice, a young woman who grew up never knowing her father. She sets out to learn why he'd walked away so long ago, and what she finds has her questioning her own identity.
Coincidences is a story of hope and pain, secrets and lies, and, above all, love. We're taken into the heart of complicated family dynamics, where sometimes the wrong things are done for the right reasons. Savva has a beautiful way of stripping her characters bare and exposing the raw emotion beneath the layers of armor we wear for the world.
Coincidences is a story of hope and pain, secrets and lies, and, above all, love. We're taken into the heart of complicated family dynamics, where sometimes the wrong things are done for the right reasons. Savva has a beautiful way of stripping her characters bare and exposing the raw emotion beneath the layers of armor we wear for the world.
August 24, 2012
Maria Savva has skillfully woven a captivating, insightful story that revolves around a string of coincidences that set a young woman on a quest to find the dad she has never known. Page one pulled me immediately into the story, setting a riveting and even mystical tone for the revelations to come.
Stephanie Turnbull is a single mom who has raised her daughter, Alice, into adulthood. Alice has rarely questioned the reason that her dad left them, feeling loved and content in the close relationship that she has with her mother. The initial seed that triggers her quest is a frightfully real-feeling nightmare of a plane crash. The next morning, Alice is on London’s overcrowded Underground system heading to work when she sees the headlines relating details of an airplane crashing into the Atlantic. A second nightmare has Alice waking up screaming, gasping for air due to being underwater. The seed of wonder begins to sprout when the papers print a photo of one of the survivors, a young woman who looks a lot like Alice.
The resonance of the flow from scene to scene and encounter to encounter was so well integrated. The timeliness of the introductions of characters that became integral to the forward movement of this story was expertly scripted. It is the dialogues between mother and daughter and their individual thoughts that became so captivatingly rich to me. Stephanie’s fears of revealing secrets to Alice regarding her birth are profound as is the passionate urges that Alice has to find out the truth.
Who is the young woman survivor of that plane crash and what is the relevance of Alice’s nightmares? Does a Roger Forester, the name of Alice’s father, really exist? If so, what made him leave his daughter and never contact her again? Where is he now and will he want to get to know his daughter?
Readers will come to know the answers to these questions. Those answers, however, are intricately woven into a most extraordinary novel.
August 12, 2010
'Coincidences' is Maria Savva's first novel. This book presents a story about a twenty one year old Law student called Alice Turnball. Alice's father left home when she was two and her mother had to cope and bring Alice up on her own. Alice is very close to her mother and her friends are also very loyal to her. As a result of this the people in Alice's life have never actually let her down. Alice also has a developing romance with a boy called Andrew who is a fellow student. All could not be better until Alice decides to find her father. As Alice risks the steady relationships she already has with her friends and mothershe starts to hunt for the truth. Alice has never heard anything about her father since he left. Little does Alice know all in her life is about to change.I really enjoy reading Maria Savva's written work. The focus within Maria's writing is on the actual relationships emotions and interactions of the main characters within her story. There is also a distinct sociological perspective evident within this author's writing as well. This story is about events in real life that could happen to any one of us at any time.'Coincidences'by Maria Savva is one of those books that is really worth obtaining and taking the time to read.
July 24, 2012
I've read all of Maria Savva's books and I have never been disappointed - Coincidences is no exception. From beginning to end, I enjoyed its storyline, characters and 'reality'.
I never like to give spoilers, but I will say that the story picks on a subject that relates to many people and uses sensitivity and intelligence to make the point and deal with the relative issues. The author is able to 'get into the minds' of the characters in such a way that the reader cares about what will happen to them.
Even though it was a fast-paced book, I was impatient with my reading, as I wanted to know what happened - such was the cleverness of the writing.
Yes, I loved it, and would highly recommend this book.
I never like to give spoilers, but I will say that the story picks on a subject that relates to many people and uses sensitivity and intelligence to make the point and deal with the relative issues. The author is able to 'get into the minds' of the characters in such a way that the reader cares about what will happen to them.
Even though it was a fast-paced book, I was impatient with my reading, as I wanted to know what happened - such was the cleverness of the writing.
Yes, I loved it, and would highly recommend this book.
March 18, 2009
This is the first novel I ever wrote. The book is about Alice, a young girl, who is looking for her father. Her father left the family home when Alice was just two years old and her mother has been very secretive about the past. These secrets are, however, about to be uncovered by Alice when she wakes up one night after having a strange dream and then various coincidences occur which lead her to seek her father. Will Alice be able to live with the truth that her mother has kept from her for so long?
October 10, 2011
Nearly made it 4 stars. Loved the story but I prefer a less direct style of story-telling. I like to be shown feelings and emotions rather than be told.
March 7, 2010
"Coincidences" is a very interesting and thought provoking story centering around a young woman's search for her identity. Alice begins by merely trying, against the objections of her mother, to locate her father. He had abandoned them both when she was a baby. An old and haunting faded photograph of her smiling father holding her in his arms is one of the few bits of information she begins with. Little does she know her endeavor will lead her down a road of layer upon layer of deception and deceit. Just about when she thinks she knows who she is, she discovers a whole new realm of hidden truths.
One of the things I found interesting about this book is that there's no antagonist in the classical sense. All the characters involved have some depth of moral character, and no doubt would view themselves as "good" people. Nevertheless, they create a situation that turns Alice's life into a living hell. Their lies, justified in their own minds to "protect" her, only serve to disillusion and shake Alice's confidence in all her relationships as she slowly discovers the truth about herself. Like pealing away the layers of an onion, what will Alice find underneath it all? Will she even be able to deal with the reality of who and what she is, when she finally gets to the core? And will there be any silver lining to her investigations, or would she been better off to listen to her mother and never have started down this path in the first place?
This unusual work shows how people, though they may mean well, can create a web of duplicity that traps both themselves and all those around them. I admired Maria's honesty about how people think, and are constantly manipulating the truth to produce some desired effect. It's so automatic and fundamental to human nature that we may not even realize it as we're doing it. And more importantly, she shows how those "short-term gains" often come back to bite us, even if it takes many years. Maria's insight into human relationships is both entertaining and educational.
I found Maria's descriptions of the anguish Alice goes through to be so realistic it has lead me to question whether she has experienced these things herself, or through someone close to her. Alice's anxiety, self-doubt, wishful thinking and at times even her evasion of the obvious is very engaging. This is a down to earth and a very human story.
After reading this book, I'm going to have to read Maria Savva's next and more popular work, "A Time to Tell." I realize that most readers will have read that book first. I'm sure those who enjoyed "A Time to Tell" will enjoy "Coincidences" as well.
One of the things I found interesting about this book is that there's no antagonist in the classical sense. All the characters involved have some depth of moral character, and no doubt would view themselves as "good" people. Nevertheless, they create a situation that turns Alice's life into a living hell. Their lies, justified in their own minds to "protect" her, only serve to disillusion and shake Alice's confidence in all her relationships as she slowly discovers the truth about herself. Like pealing away the layers of an onion, what will Alice find underneath it all? Will she even be able to deal with the reality of who and what she is, when she finally gets to the core? And will there be any silver lining to her investigations, or would she been better off to listen to her mother and never have started down this path in the first place?
This unusual work shows how people, though they may mean well, can create a web of duplicity that traps both themselves and all those around them. I admired Maria's honesty about how people think, and are constantly manipulating the truth to produce some desired effect. It's so automatic and fundamental to human nature that we may not even realize it as we're doing it. And more importantly, she shows how those "short-term gains" often come back to bite us, even if it takes many years. Maria's insight into human relationships is both entertaining and educational.
I found Maria's descriptions of the anguish Alice goes through to be so realistic it has lead me to question whether she has experienced these things herself, or through someone close to her. Alice's anxiety, self-doubt, wishful thinking and at times even her evasion of the obvious is very engaging. This is a down to earth and a very human story.
After reading this book, I'm going to have to read Maria Savva's next and more popular work, "A Time to Tell." I realize that most readers will have read that book first. I'm sure those who enjoyed "A Time to Tell" will enjoy "Coincidences" as well.
May 15, 2009
"Coincidences" is about a young woman, in her twenties, who wakes one night after having a very realistic, frightening dream about a plane crash. The next day, she hears on the radio, and sees in the paper, someone who looks exactly like her inside a story about a horrific plane crash that happened at the same exact time as her dream the night before. This sets into motion the feeling that she has some connection with the Plane Girl, but what, she cannot make clear.
"Coincidences" follows her through self exploration, and the strength of a mother, and the neglect of a father. Everyone is trying to do the "right" thing, but no one quite knows what the "right" thing is.
"Coincidences" is realistic in that none of the characters know what is best, but they are all trying to struggle through it all, and make everything work in the end. Life is much like this.
"Coincidences" was a very good plot. I was able to follow it, and Savva pulled the story together quite nicely. I felt eager to learn what was going to happen with the main character.
The first chapter was a great hook. I wasn't sure what to expect, but within the first few pages, the plane crash, the dream, the feeling of being "close" to someone that she's never met. All very intriguing!
Things I loved:
Savva knows how to write undesirable characters, as well as the ones that we like to cheer on. The "father" was almost unbearable and abrupt in the narrator's quest to find her roots. Stephanie (the mother) was nearly annoying at times too, trying to "protect" herself and her daughter- but for understandable reasons.
The old style English words that popped up ever so often. I'm American and use the "lazy" English- while Savva is English, through and through. I loved the old style spellings and words, even if for purely cosmetic reasons.
Things I couldn't get over:
The constant repeating of the characters' names. "Stephanie" this and "Stephanie" that.
The imminant forshadowing that caused me to know the ending at about 20 pages into the story.
At times, I just wanted people to leave the narrator alone, and let her make her own mistakes. She's in her twenties! An adult! Let her breathe, and fall, and pick herself up again!
This is Savva's first novel. Please take a look at her second, much deeper and more stylistic novel: "A Time to Tell."
She will surprise you, and keep you hooked til the end. Her name should be popping up all over the USA soon enough!
"Coincidences" follows her through self exploration, and the strength of a mother, and the neglect of a father. Everyone is trying to do the "right" thing, but no one quite knows what the "right" thing is.
"Coincidences" is realistic in that none of the characters know what is best, but they are all trying to struggle through it all, and make everything work in the end. Life is much like this.
"Coincidences" was a very good plot. I was able to follow it, and Savva pulled the story together quite nicely. I felt eager to learn what was going to happen with the main character.
The first chapter was a great hook. I wasn't sure what to expect, but within the first few pages, the plane crash, the dream, the feeling of being "close" to someone that she's never met. All very intriguing!
Things I loved:
Savva knows how to write undesirable characters, as well as the ones that we like to cheer on. The "father" was almost unbearable and abrupt in the narrator's quest to find her roots. Stephanie (the mother) was nearly annoying at times too, trying to "protect" herself and her daughter- but for understandable reasons.
The old style English words that popped up ever so often. I'm American and use the "lazy" English- while Savva is English, through and through. I loved the old style spellings and words, even if for purely cosmetic reasons.
Things I couldn't get over:
The constant repeating of the characters' names. "Stephanie" this and "Stephanie" that.
The imminant forshadowing that caused me to know the ending at about 20 pages into the story.
At times, I just wanted people to leave the narrator alone, and let her make her own mistakes. She's in her twenties! An adult! Let her breathe, and fall, and pick herself up again!
This is Savva's first novel. Please take a look at her second, much deeper and more stylistic novel: "A Time to Tell."
She will surprise you, and keep you hooked til the end. Her name should be popping up all over the USA soon enough!
October 30, 2012
A family drama which has you fighting Alice's corner
I'd been trying to get around to reading this for some time, after the synopsis caught my eye. I read it in 2 days, and found I couldn't get on with the other things I was meant to be doing until I'd finished it.
The author planted little clues along the way, so there were no great surprises for me, as I do like to be a bit of a detective, as I read, and I picked up on her clues. In other instances, my over-active imagination got me there and I was delighted to be proven right.
However, the crux of the story, not mentioned in the synopsis, I thought was brilliant and one I had not seen coming and also one I have not seen addressed by other authors I have read. Likewise, the ending, I hadn't guessed that.
The story is relatively simple and uncluttered, but it reminded me of what great chefs say about cooking. Keep it simple and often the simplest is the best.
You really feel for the mother, Stephanie and the daughter, Alice. Even when I thought Stephanie was being selfish, I still felt a little sorry for her. There are characters later in the novel, who quite frankly I would have liked to shake them and punch their lights out. And there's a shining beacon of a character, whose sunny disposition makes it all worthwhile.
I could imagine Alice's various meetings with her mother, Alice's visits elsewhere - you'll need to read it to see where! I could even imagine clearly the ensuing chaos.
The relationship with Stephanie's friend, Ria is also very important, although I did think the introduction of a key piece of info, was rather a late introduction, but believe me if that's my only quibble, Ms Savva has done an excellent job.
If there were half stars, I would have given this 4.5, as I think 5 stars is for something truly exceptional and can be overused. However, given the quality of the writing, I am happy to round this up to 5, rather than down to 4.
A wonderful tale which I was happy to discover. Am delighted that Ms Savva has so many other books for me now to go and get my teeth into.
I'd been trying to get around to reading this for some time, after the synopsis caught my eye. I read it in 2 days, and found I couldn't get on with the other things I was meant to be doing until I'd finished it.
The author planted little clues along the way, so there were no great surprises for me, as I do like to be a bit of a detective, as I read, and I picked up on her clues. In other instances, my over-active imagination got me there and I was delighted to be proven right.
However, the crux of the story, not mentioned in the synopsis, I thought was brilliant and one I had not seen coming and also one I have not seen addressed by other authors I have read. Likewise, the ending, I hadn't guessed that.
The story is relatively simple and uncluttered, but it reminded me of what great chefs say about cooking. Keep it simple and often the simplest is the best.
You really feel for the mother, Stephanie and the daughter, Alice. Even when I thought Stephanie was being selfish, I still felt a little sorry for her. There are characters later in the novel, who quite frankly I would have liked to shake them and punch their lights out. And there's a shining beacon of a character, whose sunny disposition makes it all worthwhile.
I could imagine Alice's various meetings with her mother, Alice's visits elsewhere - you'll need to read it to see where! I could even imagine clearly the ensuing chaos.
The relationship with Stephanie's friend, Ria is also very important, although I did think the introduction of a key piece of info, was rather a late introduction, but believe me if that's my only quibble, Ms Savva has done an excellent job.
If there were half stars, I would have given this 4.5, as I think 5 stars is for something truly exceptional and can be overused. However, given the quality of the writing, I am happy to round this up to 5, rather than down to 4.
A wonderful tale which I was happy to discover. Am delighted that Ms Savva has so many other books for me now to go and get my teeth into.
September 8, 2012
In London during the summer of 1997 there is a huge drama taking place in a family. This family drama proves that the past never disappears like a mirage on a highway. The past follows behind us like a shadow. It affects our present and future. Alice know this fact better than most people. All of a sudden she finds herself unable to walk in her present or future until she deals with the past. Stephanie, the closest person to her, tells her how to find her father. Most of the truth lies with her father and his wife. It is difficult to write about this emotional novel because I don't want to give spoilers. Around every corner there is a new surprise for Alice. All of a sudden it seems like every person close to her has lied to her and kept secrets from her. All of a sudden all close relationships are questionable. This important novel brings up issues like surrogacy. It's been years since I've heard much about parental surrogacy. This book made me aware of the ins and outs of the issue again.
From reading Alice's story and meeting Stephanie, Ken and Miranda and Rita I learned that it's better to tell the truth than to lie. The truth can hurt us. However, lying to protect ourselves or other people is far more painful than honesty. It takes courage to tell the truth. I have learned while reading COINCIDENCES by Maria Savva to make truth telling my aim no matter how many friends or relatives I might lose along the way. It is the best way for all involved. In the end Alice and Jane became richer for the experience gained as I have become richer by reading about these characters.mariasavva
From reading Alice's story and meeting Stephanie, Ken and Miranda and Rita I learned that it's better to tell the truth than to lie. The truth can hurt us. However, lying to protect ourselves or other people is far more painful than honesty. It takes courage to tell the truth. I have learned while reading COINCIDENCES by Maria Savva to make truth telling my aim no matter how many friends or relatives I might lose along the way. It is the best way for all involved. In the end Alice and Jane became richer for the experience gained as I have become richer by reading about these characters.mariasavva
September 27, 2011
I was drawn to this book because it had a promising story line and great reviews. It was very hard to find, which made it even more intriguing. Finally, I found a used copy online and had it shipped from England. It stayed on my bookshelf for months tempting me and I kept putting it off just so I could keep the excitement going.
One chapter in and I could tell I was in for a huge disappointment. The 'coincidences' were ridiculously plentiful and contrived and the writing was amateurish at best. The transitions were poor, the conversations were stilted, the relationships were one-dimensional, the plot was completely unbelievable and the ending was absurd. The last page sent me right over the edge.
I do not like giving harsh reviews, but I cannot fathom how this book has a solid 5 star rating.
One chapter in and I could tell I was in for a huge disappointment. The 'coincidences' were ridiculously plentiful and contrived and the writing was amateurish at best. The transitions were poor, the conversations were stilted, the relationships were one-dimensional, the plot was completely unbelievable and the ending was absurd. The last page sent me right over the edge.
I do not like giving harsh reviews, but I cannot fathom how this book has a solid 5 star rating.
July 10, 2012
'Coincidences' is the heartwarming story of Alice, a young lady seeking the truth about her past. After waking in the middle of the night in a panic, she reads the next day of a plane crash and a young woman who survived. As she begins seeking answers to her past, she finds only more questions. 'Coincidences' follows Alice's journey to the truth, and the answers she may not yet be ready for.
The characters are very believable, because they are flawed individuals like the rest of us. Ms. Savva has imbued the story with emotions that makes her characters easy to relate to.
A highly recommended read.
The characters are very believable, because they are flawed individuals like the rest of us. Ms. Savva has imbued the story with emotions that makes her characters easy to relate to.
A highly recommended read.
October 18, 2012
This is the heartwarming story of Alice, she is seeking the truth about her past. Alice begins against the objections of her mother to try and find her father.He had left them both when she was a baby. All she has is an old faded photo of him holding her when she was a baby. Her endeavor leads her down a road of deception and deceit just when she thinks she thinks she knows who she is she finds more hidden truths. Will Alice ever find out the truth? Or should she have listened to her mother and left the past alone! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by author Maria Savva
October 7, 2012
Coincidences follows Alice, the main character, as she experiences a coincidence that turns into a journey to uncover many secrets. I think Maria has written engaging, believable characters and I wanted to know what happened next. The exploration of the theme of finding your identity is relevant and something many people can relate to. The only thing I would have liked to see developed a bit more was the romantic subplot. I found I was just as eager to find out what would happen there as I was to find out what would happen in Alice's search. I enjoy Maria's work and will definitely be buying her other books.
September 20, 2012
I did enjoy this book although I guessed the back story pretty much at the beginning. That didn't spoil it. There was a LOT of repetition and constant crying with a couple of the leading females in this and that started to bore me a little and so I got a bit bogged down around two-thirds of the way in.
It's an interesting tale of a daughter trying to trace her father and learn more about where she came from but with more than a twist !!
It was set in 1997 and in one instance using the number 141 was mentioned which I hadn't thought was around then but I could be wrong and it's really a very minor thing to mention.
It's an interesting tale of a daughter trying to trace her father and learn more about where she came from but with more than a twist !!
It was set in 1997 and in one instance using the number 141 was mentioned which I hadn't thought was around then but I could be wrong and it's really a very minor thing to mention.
October 4, 2012
I downloaded this book on the recomnmendation of a Facebook friend and I'm so glad that I did. The storyline is so touching and beautifully written, exploring the emotions both of a mother desperate not to lose the bond built with her only daughter and the daughter's turmoil in discovering the circumstances of her birth. I was moved by the revelations throughout the story and felt real empathy for the main characters. The turmoil felt by the mother in trying to balance what she believes is in her daughter's best interests and her own need not to re-live past events comes across and is expertly handled by the author. A true gem of a story which I would happily recommend.
November 10, 2012
Coincidences by Maria Savva, is a thought provoking tale. It leaves one wondering about so many things. Does a twin have special abilities to sense or feel the others experiences? How often do people do things that turn out badly for others, believing that it is in everyone’s best interest because it is easier for them?
I loved this book, the style of writing and the story line. It delved deeply into the psyche of each of the characters bringing them to life for the reader and made it a joy to read. I am glad to have found a new author and look forward to reading many more of Ms. Savva’s books over the years.
Highly recommended.
I loved this book, the style of writing and the story line. It delved deeply into the psyche of each of the characters bringing them to life for the reader and made it a joy to read. I am glad to have found a new author and look forward to reading many more of Ms. Savva’s books over the years.
Highly recommended.
September 28, 2012
I thought the premise of the story was really strong, and the first chapter had me completely engrossed, wondering what would happen about Alice's dream and how the story would tie up. But ... the fact that it took Alice so long to figure out the truth about her family frustrated me. The clues were laid out in front of her very early on, and she still didn't get it.
That said, I managed to whip through the story quite quickly because I wanted to know what would happen next. There were some twists and turns that caught me by surprise, and I really enjoyed Maria Savva's writing style. :D
That said, I managed to whip through the story quite quickly because I wanted to know what would happen next. There were some twists and turns that caught me by surprise, and I really enjoyed Maria Savva's writing style. :D
March 15, 2013
What would you do if you found the opportunity to get enough money to travel the world by doing a favor for a couple who could not have children? As I follow the life of Stephanie, Alice, Miranda, Jane and Roger an old saying comes into my head. `Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.' If you want to know what I mean you will have to buy and read this book. Thank you Maria Savva for the chance to read your book called COINCIDENCE.
October 9, 2012
This was tough to finish since the book could have been completed in about 3 chapters. It just kept going on and on about the same thing that you, as the reader, already know is inevitablly going to happen. It's a shame, since the 1st chapter really had me and was making it seem that it could be really interesting.
July 25, 2012
I have read one other book of Maria Savva's, which i won from a giveaway. Maria was kind enough to send me this one as a surprise and i just finished reading it. I thought it was very interesting and kept wondering the whole way through. I would definitely recommend it!!!
October 12, 2012
I picked up this book from Amazon and while it was really easy to solve the mystery early on, I still skimmed through all of the chapters until the end. I think Maria Saava is talented and commend her on her first novel. It's a huge feat and it was high on the Amazon charts.
August 22, 2012
An enjoyable and engaging read.
November 4, 2012
Lots of twist and turns with this story, it kept me thinking the entire time. I enjoyed reading this book, and I liked how it ended.
September 30, 2012
Intriguing story that's hard to put down and gripping. It keeps you wanting more. I enjoyed reading this story :)
October 15, 2012
What a fantastic book this was. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Would recommend Everyone to read it!
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