I nearly decided not to review this book after reading the first book! See my review at https://mylittlebookblog.wordpress.com/category/reviews/. As a quick round up in a sentence of my review of the first book, I did enjoy it however the grammatical errors and lack of passion and intensity left me feeling a little cold. However, I had prematurely downloaded the second book, and seeing as the first ended so swiftly I thought that this book deserved at least a go! Despite my reservations about this book I did finish it and that’s why there is a review today! (Additionally, there are a couple of tiny spoilers in terms of the first book so don’t read on unless you want to know!) Enjoy (or not?)

It has been four years since Oakley, her mum, and brother fled to Australia. With the trials looming, she makes the decision to return to England. Oakley is desperate for closure so she can put the past behind her and move on with her life. How will she cope when she comes face to face with the two people that hurt her the most, and the one person that she hurt the most?
Her love for Cole never faded, but how will he react to her return after so long? Will they be able to put everything behind them in order to have a happy ending?

Unfortunately, Broken silence for me was not even as good as the first book. The book follows Oakley and her new life in Australia; without Cole. However, due to the impending trial Oakley returns to Britain and is re-united with Cole, her first love. However, a major downside is that Broken Silence lacks the layer of Oakley’s ability to speak. In the first book Oakley not speaking creates a sense of mystery and mystery and the unfamiliar. The relationship that her and Cole develop is only understandable through actions that are accepted through the two of them in their own personal relationship. However, in Broken Silence, this is lost, which I felt meant the book lacked focus and the depth that it gained during the first book. Although I understand the need for Oakley to talk in which to continue the plot line, the book lacked the depth that it created in the first book which was unfortunate. Additionally, the book relies on the impending trial *spoiler* of Oakley’s family member. The book revolves around Oakley’s fears and tribulations about the trial and although this is expected as this is a big decision for Oakley and she is in a very difficult situation, it seemed drawn out. Additionally, for me it didn’t seem as if the book had enough content to be a new book. It lacked the drive to the end that it needed and seemed to waver in limbo for too many chapters. I had assumed that due to the increase in drama, seen in the use of the trial, and the strain that appears between Oakley and Cole I thought that there would be an increase in feeling and excitement. Seems as a reader I was asking a little too much. However there were positives; the trial was handled extremely well and really showed the pain that was affecting Oakley. As with the first book it was handled this gently but showed the importance of family support and relationship that stand throughout everything. I thought this was done with a delicate touch and really helped to show what Oakley and Cole and her family were going through. The ending was also better, although was unfortunately clichéd and a little dated which was a shame; it could have ended with a open ending in which to make the book stay in the readers mind. However, the ending was a big improvement.

Overall I really didn’t enjoy this book and found myself just reading it for the sake of finishing it. I think it’s a real shame because the thought behind the book was strong, the characters had real potential and the plot had a brilliant premise. The problem was that the book wasn’t executed correctly and lacked precision and honest feeling in it’s writing. A number of extra interweaving character stories would have left the reader wanting more and reading forward to discover what was eventually going to happen and this would have lead to a more cohesive and interesting plot seeing as the plot seemed to dwindle for a number of chapters. Additionally, I thought that the book just lingered rather than really dealing with the issue that it had started and I felt myself feeling tired and bored towards the end of the book. However, the book did have a tidy ending and it did leave me feeling better about the book. I wouldn’t recommend this book as I feel I could have spent the time reading something else, however I would never tell people not to read the book, it just wasn’t right for me!