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The Vine Tree
Hayley may have escaped the sect that once held her captive, but that didn't mean life moving forward would be easy. A new baby, nightmares that haunt her and the trauma of it all, makes her fall into a dark place. When an unexpected admirer makes himself known, she only becomes more confused. Deciding how to handle him along with the failing relationship between her and Jesse, things quickly become complicated. Will she be able to survive? Or will hidden different forces once again pull her back in?Jesse finally has the family he always wanted.The problem facing him, is that he has no idea how to act after the love of his life escaped an horrific ordeal. Every time he tries to get close, it ends in an argument that pushes them further apart. Frustrated and with a new player in their lives, one manipulating their fragile relationship, Jesse finds it difficult to understand the truth. Will he be able to find the way back to her heart? Or will he give up under the weight of the lies that surround them? Having been through more than most, they have to decide if love really does conquer all?
- GenresSuspense
326 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2020
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
S.P. Dawes
6 books64 followersI'm a mum of three, married for 16 years, I own my own business and love writing mystery and intreague, romance thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 13, 2021
Absolutely fantastic read
Loved this book from start to finish. Excellently written, the storyline keeps you guessing and definitely wanting more. Fantastic build up with old and new characters, can't wait to read book 3. It's a must!
Loved this book from start to finish. Excellently written, the storyline keeps you guessing and definitely wanting more. Fantastic build up with old and new characters, can't wait to read book 3. It's a must!
March 23, 2022
I don't normally read anything as dark as this but like the first book this story hooked me in and I couldn't put it down. Haley has gone through so much but yet she stays strong and Jesse is constantly trying to keep her and Daniel safe even though he is going through his own battle. The suspense keeps you enthralled throughout and the challenges they both face have you wondering what will happen next. This is a well thought out story that I really did enjoy. Looking forward to book 3 The Vine Coda
March 1, 2020
Broken heart right out of the gate! Holy smokes! Didn’t see that one coming. But we don’t always see the twists and turns that real life has for us either. And this book has more twists and turns and suspense than the first book did!! And holy cliffhangers, Batman! What the heck was that ending???? Bring on book 3!! Soon I hope!!🤞
March 10, 2020
Brilliant! 😁
After surviving the trauma of the first book, you follow the characters as they encounter yet more exciting twists and turns! This book kept me gripped from the first page until the last page, making me eager to know what will come in book 3!
Excellent reading, highly recommend!
After surviving the trauma of the first book, you follow the characters as they encounter yet more exciting twists and turns! This book kept me gripped from the first page until the last page, making me eager to know what will come in book 3!
Excellent reading, highly recommend!
April 25, 2022
I read the first book in this series ages ago but I had no problems picking up where book 1 left off. Hayley and Jesse are at odds with one another. They are still very much in love with each but what happened to Hayley has come between them. Not only that, Jesse's brother, Rob is now interested in Hayley so there is tension there.
But this isn't the main problem. The cult want Hayley and her son back and they will stop at nothing to achieve this.
This is an edge-of-the-seat story that will keep you reading, even though it is the middle of the night and your eyes are sore.
I can't wait to read the third one now.
But this isn't the main problem. The cult want Hayley and her son back and they will stop at nothing to achieve this.
This is an edge-of-the-seat story that will keep you reading, even though it is the middle of the night and your eyes are sore.
I can't wait to read the third one now.
December 1, 2020
3.5⭐⭐⭐⚡
When I was was first given this book for an honest review, I had no idea that it was a sequel. But then whenI found it on Goodreads I discovered that there was at least one book prior to this one. So I read this as a stand alone. I don't think I would recommend for it to be read as a stand alone. But I am definitely interested in reading the the prior book. I'd like to get the whole story in full so that I can really understand the odd hierarchy within that family that caused all of the problems.
There was an awful lot of information crammed at you in the first few chapters. Told, not shown. But after that, it felt like normal story telling. The story is told well. Actually shown. It took me a little bit to realize that this takes place in Great Britain. Strangely enough, I'm not sure the dialog has been written with any type of accent. The words seem very American. But it's easy to understand. Hopefully none of this stuff actually ever happens in real life. Sick stuff.
Hayley had been abducted and abused by family members prior to this book. Jesse, her boyfriend and father of her baby is the cop who went looking for her while she was gone. I find it difficult to understand the full craziness that occurs in the fist book.
I definitely want to read the first book.
When I was was first given this book for an honest review, I had no idea that it was a sequel. But then whenI found it on Goodreads I discovered that there was at least one book prior to this one. So I read this as a stand alone. I don't think I would recommend for it to be read as a stand alone. But I am definitely interested in reading the the prior book. I'd like to get the whole story in full so that I can really understand the odd hierarchy within that family that caused all of the problems.
There was an awful lot of information crammed at you in the first few chapters. Told, not shown. But after that, it felt like normal story telling. The story is told well. Actually shown. It took me a little bit to realize that this takes place in Great Britain. Strangely enough, I'm not sure the dialog has been written with any type of accent. The words seem very American. But it's easy to understand. Hopefully none of this stuff actually ever happens in real life. Sick stuff.
Hayley had been abducted and abused by family members prior to this book. Jesse, her boyfriend and father of her baby is the cop who went looking for her while she was gone. I find it difficult to understand the full craziness that occurs in the fist book.
I definitely want to read the first book.
September 1, 2021
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: The Vine Tree
Subtitle: (Vine series #2)
Author: S.P. Dawes
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 2
Best read after earlier books in series? Yes
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
We meet Hayley again now she has been saved from the sect that kidnapped her. She gave birth to a young son who she was afraid was the son of her kidnapper. This belief steals the opportunity to bond fully with her son. Until a paternity test proves Jess to be the father of her child. The trauma has changed Hayley. Will Hayley and Jess be able to pick up the pieces after the trauma? And what happens when bodies fall around them?
What I liked about the book:
The book was fast-paced, action-packed, and full of suspense.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I loved the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
How Hayley and Jess don’t give up despite the challenges they face.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I couldn’t wait to read the last in the series.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book is in its own league.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Maybe
Adult Yes
If you like books like suspense, this book may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Getting back to normal after the trauma of what they went through is harder than they thought and with the added hurdles of a new baby, jobs and family ties they're near impossible mission of spending a life together crumbles. With so much going on and with little to no support they start to feel the affects of what came between them in the first place, but when bodies again start to appear resembling those from before they must find out answers before its too late. But can the secrets that kept them safe the first time rip them apart indefinitely this time?
About the Author:
I'm a mum of three, married for 16 years, I own my own business and love writing mystery and intreague, romance thrillers
Basic Details:
Book Title: The Vine Tree
Subtitle: (Vine series #2)
Author: S.P. Dawes
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 2
Best read after earlier books in series? Yes
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
We meet Hayley again now she has been saved from the sect that kidnapped her. She gave birth to a young son who she was afraid was the son of her kidnapper. This belief steals the opportunity to bond fully with her son. Until a paternity test proves Jess to be the father of her child. The trauma has changed Hayley. Will Hayley and Jess be able to pick up the pieces after the trauma? And what happens when bodies fall around them?
What I liked about the book:
The book was fast-paced, action-packed, and full of suspense.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I loved the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
How Hayley and Jess don’t give up despite the challenges they face.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I couldn’t wait to read the last in the series.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book is in its own league.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Maybe
Adult Yes
If you like books like suspense, this book may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Getting back to normal after the trauma of what they went through is harder than they thought and with the added hurdles of a new baby, jobs and family ties they're near impossible mission of spending a life together crumbles. With so much going on and with little to no support they start to feel the affects of what came between them in the first place, but when bodies again start to appear resembling those from before they must find out answers before its too late. But can the secrets that kept them safe the first time rip them apart indefinitely this time?
About the Author:
I'm a mum of three, married for 16 years, I own my own business and love writing mystery and intreague, romance thrillers
March 30, 2023
TLDR: Loved this book and would highly recommend the series to anyone who likes a deep emotional connection to their characters.
Yes, I wrote a tldr at the start of this review, because to be truthful, I have a lot to say.
The book continues on from the first in the series, and we see Hayley and Jesse struggling to come to terms with what has happened. Theres a lot of miscommunication and a lot of crossed wires. Normally I’m not a fan of the trope “if we just talked everything would be ok, but we aren’t going to talk.” But in this case, with Hayley’s history and all her trauma, it’s very believable. My big worry was that the author would eek it out so long it would become unbelievable, but they do make solid attempts to communicate, it’s just other things keep getting in the way and mucking it all up.
It’s been a few months since I read the last book, but honestly, I was so invested in the first that I didn’t have any trouble sinking back into the story. Hayley is one of the most richly developed characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and I feel so much empathy for her. And Jesse is just perfect for her.
There were points in this book where I had to put it down and walk away, because honestly I got so swept up in the story and the drama, that I couldn’t bear to read on. To me that is the mark of an exceptional book. The plot is exciting and the drama is evened out with the comic relief of Martin, Jessie’s work partner. There were times I was screaming no no no at my kindle and I wanted to reach into the screen and punch certain characters! In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry at a fictional person before.
At around the 50% mark we see a shift in the story. Things go from bad to worse for Hayley and Jesse, and the drama ramps up considerably. The mystery deepens and the case seems like it is impossible to solve. As readers, we don’t know who to trust, and it’s difficult to predict the outcome of this story. All we can do is keep reading and hope for a HEA, but I’m not telling you if we get one… you’ll have to read it yourself!
This author is so very talented and I will absolutely be reading on!
Yes, I wrote a tldr at the start of this review, because to be truthful, I have a lot to say.
The book continues on from the first in the series, and we see Hayley and Jesse struggling to come to terms with what has happened. Theres a lot of miscommunication and a lot of crossed wires. Normally I’m not a fan of the trope “if we just talked everything would be ok, but we aren’t going to talk.” But in this case, with Hayley’s history and all her trauma, it’s very believable. My big worry was that the author would eek it out so long it would become unbelievable, but they do make solid attempts to communicate, it’s just other things keep getting in the way and mucking it all up.
It’s been a few months since I read the last book, but honestly, I was so invested in the first that I didn’t have any trouble sinking back into the story. Hayley is one of the most richly developed characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and I feel so much empathy for her. And Jesse is just perfect for her.
There were points in this book where I had to put it down and walk away, because honestly I got so swept up in the story and the drama, that I couldn’t bear to read on. To me that is the mark of an exceptional book. The plot is exciting and the drama is evened out with the comic relief of Martin, Jessie’s work partner. There were times I was screaming no no no at my kindle and I wanted to reach into the screen and punch certain characters! In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry at a fictional person before.
At around the 50% mark we see a shift in the story. Things go from bad to worse for Hayley and Jesse, and the drama ramps up considerably. The mystery deepens and the case seems like it is impossible to solve. As readers, we don’t know who to trust, and it’s difficult to predict the outcome of this story. All we can do is keep reading and hope for a HEA, but I’m not telling you if we get one… you’ll have to read it yourself!
This author is so very talented and I will absolutely be reading on!
April 30, 2024
Police find murdered boys. The details of the crime strike close to home for D.I. Jesse and the mother of his child and ex-ish girlfriend, Hayley. Before the events of this book, Jesse had saved Hayle from an abusive cult. Unfortunately, Hayley has to deal with the trauma of her abuse, which impacts the happily ever after between her and Jesse.
This book has a lot of potential with the suspense and the second chance romance, but these elements are being held back by the pacing and style.
First, the action of the story doesn't kick in until well past the 50% mark. Before then, a lot of conversations in the kitchen with too many descriptions of domestic tasks.
Second, the choice to write this in a distant third person POV makes it difficult to connect with the characters. This story has a lot of people whose mind the readers enter, so I don't really feel for Hayley or Jesse in the way that I should. Because of the POV issue, there are a lot of characters "looking" and "watching." It's clear from these verb choices that the wrong POV is occurring. The story needs to spend a chapter in a character's POV, not a paragraph.
The style has a lot of filter words, overly attributed dialogue, and overuse of adverbs. These choices make the actions and emotions feel less immediate.
However, a lot of the style issues fall away in the last half of the book, when the investigation takes off and the culprits up the ante.
I discovered this book because I like romantic suspense. My tastes would prefer more romantic moments between Hayley and Jesse. Of course, as stated before, the book doesn't get suspenseful until the last half.
This book has a lot of potential with the suspense and the second chance romance, but these elements are being held back by the pacing and style.
First, the action of the story doesn't kick in until well past the 50% mark. Before then, a lot of conversations in the kitchen with too many descriptions of domestic tasks.
Second, the choice to write this in a distant third person POV makes it difficult to connect with the characters. This story has a lot of people whose mind the readers enter, so I don't really feel for Hayley or Jesse in the way that I should. Because of the POV issue, there are a lot of characters "looking" and "watching." It's clear from these verb choices that the wrong POV is occurring. The story needs to spend a chapter in a character's POV, not a paragraph.
The style has a lot of filter words, overly attributed dialogue, and overuse of adverbs. These choices make the actions and emotions feel less immediate.
However, a lot of the style issues fall away in the last half of the book, when the investigation takes off and the culprits up the ante.
I discovered this book because I like romantic suspense. My tastes would prefer more romantic moments between Hayley and Jesse. Of course, as stated before, the book doesn't get suspenseful until the last half.
October 4, 2024
A Tense & Gripping Sequel - Although Hayley and Jesse have a complicated relationship they’re trying to make it work for their son Daniel, despite other family members making it awkward. However things begin to unravel when Jesse investigates the murders of two boys. The circumstances of their deaths are very familiar. Soon Hayley’s past comes back to haunt her in a dramatic way that leaves the fate of one character uncertain and she’s kidnapped and tortured in the most shocking and sadistic way. Can Jesse save her again? And even if he can save her will their lives ever be the same again constantly looking over their shoulders? This is a tense and gripping read, the scenes where Hayley is kidnapped are truly shocking and eye opening. And the scenes between Jesse and Hayley are rather steamy. I was fully invested in the characters and I look forward to reading the 3rd book in the series in the future.
May 1, 2021
This is the second part of a trilogy centring on the main character, Hayley. Seemingly safe from the threats she faced from the previous part of this series, she now lives with her son, Daniel. Her relationship with Jesse is strained as she is unable to let him in.
The relationship between Jesse and Hayley does dominate the first part of this book until people from her past begin to resurface.
Jesse is involved with an investigation linked to Hayley. This is also intertwined with a subplot with Jesse’s brother, Rob.
This is well written and easy to follow. I recall I felt the first book on this series was a little rushed to start with but the author has got her pacing right on this one.
A good read which I’d recommend.
The relationship between Jesse and Hayley does dominate the first part of this book until people from her past begin to resurface.
Jesse is involved with an investigation linked to Hayley. This is also intertwined with a subplot with Jesse’s brother, Rob.
This is well written and easy to follow. I recall I felt the first book on this series was a little rushed to start with but the author has got her pacing right on this one.
A good read which I’d recommend.
October 23, 2021
Talk about a Nightmare
At first, Haley and Jesse were so frustrating that I didn’t think they would ever make it. They both kept letting their feelings get the best of them and refused to share how they truly felt.
Then everything went to hell. Haley was constantly in danger and Jesse continued to fight to keep her and Daniel safe.
The suspense in this novel is torture. But in a good way. There were definitely some twists that kept me guessing but in the end, I was happy and now I want more.
I love Jesse and Hayley and really hope they make it through whatever comes next. Because we know something is coming. I can’t wait to read the next one.
At first, Haley and Jesse were so frustrating that I didn’t think they would ever make it. They both kept letting their feelings get the best of them and refused to share how they truly felt.
Then everything went to hell. Haley was constantly in danger and Jesse continued to fight to keep her and Daniel safe.
The suspense in this novel is torture. But in a good way. There were definitely some twists that kept me guessing but in the end, I was happy and now I want more.
I love Jesse and Hayley and really hope they make it through whatever comes next. Because we know something is coming. I can’t wait to read the next one.
November 19, 2023
full of mystery and suspense
This is a great continuation of book one. The secrets are really buried deep and will shock you when they come to light. This one was a little hard for me to read. For me, it’s darker than book one. For a moment I didn’t know if I could finish it. I’m already invested in this story and I just have to know how it plays out. It pulls you in so much you have to know how it ends. I didn’t read the trigger warnings at the beginning. I just dove in. That was on me. I just skimmed over the screens that were too hard for me. I was glad Jesse got to do more for Hayley in this one. Now to the final book.
This is a great continuation of book one. The secrets are really buried deep and will shock you when they come to light. This one was a little hard for me to read. For me, it’s darker than book one. For a moment I didn’t know if I could finish it. I’m already invested in this story and I just have to know how it plays out. It pulls you in so much you have to know how it ends. I didn’t read the trigger warnings at the beginning. I just dove in. That was on me. I just skimmed over the screens that were too hard for me. I was glad Jesse got to do more for Hayley in this one. Now to the final book.
February 23, 2021
I have never read this author before, and was told while this is a book2, it can be read as a stand-alone as the first book gets recapped. I felt like I was missing all the crucial details needed to understand and feel for these characters. There was no connection making them relatable to me, I felt like a got information dumped and had to jump in with whatever they were feeling without the details. Yes I was able to put the story together but The Vine Tree was a challenging read for me. While I should have read the first book first, the plot alone was not enough to tie me in.
March 11, 2021
A great continuation of Hayley and Jesse. We see more of what happens after they had split and were living separately. Jesse’s brother causes a lot of drama, but Jesse and Hayley are able to get through it. Frank and Demy show up again and cause trouble, but again Hayley is a true survivor. Both this book and the first book in the series are done in such a great way that you just can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Love seeing the books interconnect with the author’s other standalone books.
November 27, 2023
Intense…Nail Biting
This was so intense and nail biting. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout it. At times I was holding my breath as to what would happen & at one point I got so mad at a character, I did have to put my phone down so I didn’t throw it. If it had been an actual book, I might have threw it. I got past that part & it ended on a breath holding moment. Now to read the next ‚The Vine Coda‘ to find out what happens. Highly recommend this book if you are into intense & nail biting & exciting love stories.
This was so intense and nail biting. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout it. At times I was holding my breath as to what would happen & at one point I got so mad at a character, I did have to put my phone down so I didn’t throw it. If it had been an actual book, I might have threw it. I got past that part & it ended on a breath holding moment. Now to read the next ‚The Vine Coda‘ to find out what happens. Highly recommend this book if you are into intense & nail biting & exciting love stories.
February 24, 2020
This a book that goes more in depth about how the characters can survive the trauma of the first book, with added narrative of the on going story and whether they can come together to defeat their worse adversary.
March 5, 2021
This is the second book in this series, and the storyline continues to keep my attention I looking forward to the next installment to see how the characters and storyline evolve.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2021
Hayley and Jesse had been through hell. It finally seemed like they had chance to get their life together. They had each other, they had their beautiful boy, and they also had argument after argument until it seemed their love was no longer enough to hold the broken pieces together. Traumatised by what happened Hayley tries to get her life back together and move on. But being apart is the last thing Jesse wanted. Unaware that his attempts to reconcile with Hailey are being sabotaged, he vows to do whatever it takes to win her back, especially when a new case lands on his desk that feels a little too close to home.
The Vine Tree is the second book in S.P. Dawes The Vine Series. Having read the first book I was eager to find out where the next addition to the series would take us. watching Jesse and Hailey struggle, and the obstacles that they need to overcome from the guilt and regret they both harbour and the challenges they must face, both existing and new. I enjoyed watching events developed from the newest case that lands on Jesse's desk, to discovering answers to questions we've considered since the first book. Well-paced, intense, and engaging, the Vine Tree was the perfect sequel, and after some of the bombshells in book two I can't help but wonder where number three will take us. I started this book last night with the intention of reading just a few chapters, but instead I ended up finishing it at 3am.
The Vine Tree is the second book in S.P. Dawes The Vine Series. Having read the first book I was eager to find out where the next addition to the series would take us. watching Jesse and Hailey struggle, and the obstacles that they need to overcome from the guilt and regret they both harbour and the challenges they must face, both existing and new. I enjoyed watching events developed from the newest case that lands on Jesse's desk, to discovering answers to questions we've considered since the first book. Well-paced, intense, and engaging, the Vine Tree was the perfect sequel, and after some of the bombshells in book two I can't help but wonder where number three will take us. I started this book last night with the intention of reading just a few chapters, but instead I ended up finishing it at 3am.
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April 9, 2021So much more
This book picks up after book 1 and so much happens and is unveiled in this book. The ending had me happy for Jesse and Hayley.
This book picks up after book 1 and so much happens and is unveiled in this book. The ending had me happy for Jesse and Hayley.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews