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In early 2016, I had a dream. Not an abstract, utopian imagining. A literal “I went to sleep and my brain made a movie” dream. A man and woman walked through my mind that night. I didn’t know their names or what they did for a living or if they had dreams of their own. The only thing I knew was that they wanted me to tell their story. A year or so later, after opening a Word document on lunch breaks and weekends, I finished the story of those two people. Personally, I would’ve stopped there. My brain had other plans. Two more people, another story, then another, and another, and another, until I had finished four 80,000+ word novels with another five still stuck in my head. I tried the traditional publishing route for about a year. Then, my husband convinced me to self-publish. Just put them out there and see how people respond. I’m legitimately not trying to get rich. I’m just trying to give you books that I love in the hopes that you love them too. I want you to see yourself in these people. I want you to care about their lives. I want you to fall in love with them. Because I did. They are a piece of me now. A piece of me that I’m sharing with you. Happy Reading!!
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
In Stolen Sunshine, Dani Donari weaves a gripping tale of mystery, murder, and betrayal that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. The story begins with a haunting image: a young woman's lifeless body is laid out in the reeds at the edge of Lake Pontchartrain on a boat — her wrists slit. Janae didn’t get back home after work and when Officer Reese Hawkings is entrusted with the case, she sets out to find her. On the surface, it looks like suicide. However, as Reese begins to unravel the tangled threads of this crime, she realizes that this is no ordinary murder. With the help of her trusted mentor and partner, Detective Alan Brenner, Reese sets out on a dangerous path across the country to track down Janae's killer. However, as the stakes grow higher, Reese faces danger, uncertainty, and the dark secrets of her past.
Stolen Sunshine is Dani Donari's first entry in the Reese Hawking series. It is a gripping crime thriller with elaborately written characters who are genuinely flawed. Reese is an intriguing, clever, and determined character. Her relationship with the victim’s mother and the victim is beautifully written and is at the heart of the skillfully imagined and flawlessly executed mystery. Even the supporting cast of characters is intelligently explored. Donari balances descriptive prose with sparkling dialogues to move the narrative forward, making it an engaging tale for crime mystery and thriller fans. This unnerving and propulsive tale delivers the entertainment I love in detective and crime fiction, with believable characters and tension that builds up steadily.
