Review: 'The Idea of You' by Amanda Prowse (2017)

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter dares to hope that she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.
But the reality of becoming parents proves much harder than Lucy and Jonah imagined. Jonah’s love and support is unquestioning, but as Lucy struggles with work and her own failing dreams, the strain on their marriage increases. Suddenly it feels like Lucy is close to losing everything…
I consider myself lucky to once again be one of the bloggers to have received an early review copy of author Amanda Prowse’s latest release. ‘The Idea of You’ promised to be another engrossing read by this author who has slowly but surely become one of my favourite women’s fiction authors, and it was definitely one of this month’s releases I was most excited about picking up. Over the past few years I’ve read and reviewed several other books by this author, such as ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘Another Love’, ‘A Mother’s Story’ and most recently ‘The Food of Love’, and one thing all of these books have in common is that I gave them high ratings. I was pretty sure this latest release would not disappoint, but you never know until you give it a try…!
It might have taken slightly longer than she initially expected but with her fortieth birthday slowly approaching, Lucy Carpenter seems to have everything she ever wanted. Well, almost everything. Jonah is a wonderful husband, she has a great job she enjoys, and together they have a lovely home. But there’s one thing that would complete their perfect picture and that’s a child of her own. However, this turns out to be slightly more difficult than both Lucy and Jonah anticipated. When Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them for the summer, Lucy is keen to make it an enjoyable experience for all of them, but the strain on her and Jonah’s marriage only seems to get worse, and before she knows it everything she worked hard to build up is at risk…
In this latest novel by best-selling women’s fiction author Amanda Prose ‘family’ and ‘parenthood’ are the two keywords. We are introduced to Lucy, who is at a wonderful stage in her life, having found her true love and trying to make a baby together. This, however, turns out to be the start of an incredibly difficult period; a period in which both she and her husband Jonah will be tested and will need to work incredibly hard to make it to the other side alive. Once again Amanda Prowse succeeds in portraying an ordinary woman, an ordinary family, and she takes the reader behind closed doors, where all kinds of emotions and pain are slowly taking over. The feelings are incredibly real, and with her easy-flowing but engrossing writing style she makes it a true challenge to not feel for the characters and what they are going through.
Amanda Prowse is an author that treats her readers to a new novel almost every six months, and while you would expect this to perhaps affect the quality of the books, I can honestly say it doesn’t; she really just is a born story-teller. Each read is just as well-written and touching as the previous one, and I can only applaud her for her consistency. While this particular novel isn’t one of my personal Amanda Prowse favourites (I thought it was just a bit slow-paced at times and I had some difficulty really connecting with the topic, perhaps because I don’t have any children yet), it was still a wonderful read. ‘The Idea of You’ is another absorbing and well-written novel that will make you feel all kinds of things; if you’re a women’s fiction fan and not yet familiar with this author, be sure to pick this up because you are really missing out on something!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: 'The Food of Love' by Amanda Prowse (2016)

A loving mother. A perfect family. A shock wave that could shatter everything.
Freya Braithwaite knows she is lucky. Nineteen years of marriage to a man who still warms her soul and two beautiful teenage daughters to show for it: confident Charlotte and thoughtful Lexi. Her home is filled with love and laughter.
But when Lexi’s struggles with weight take control of her life, everything Freya once took for granted falls apart, leaving the whole family with a sense of helplessness that can only be confronted with understanding, unity and, above all, love.
I don't even know where to begin to share my enthusiasm over the fact that there's a new Amanda Prowse novel and that I'm actually part of the blog tour today (with a big thank you to both Amanda and Simeon), celebrating that new release titled 'The Food of Love'! Ever since I picked up my first Amanda Prowse read, 'Will You Remember Me?', several years ago I've been a big fan of her work, and so far I've read several of her novels, such as 'My Husband's Wife', 'Another Love', and 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats', and have never been disappointed. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to giving this latest book of hers a chance! Be sure to scroll down to read my review of the novel and check out the blog poster to visit more blogs taking part in the blog tour.
Freya Braithwaite is one of the lucky ones. She's still crazy about her husband Lockie after nineteen years of marriage, they have steady incomes and a beautiful home, and, most importantly, their two amazing teenage daughters Charlotte and Lexi. But the bubble of Freya's perfect family life is rudely burst when they unexpectedly discover fourteen-year-old Lexi has been struggling with some serious weight issues, something she has hidden from her family for months. Before Freya and Lockie know it they are in the middle of a difficult and challenging battle; one that requires a lot of love, understanding, and strength in order to reach that one goal: saving Lexi, no matter what.
If you're a women's fiction fan and not yet familiar with Amanda Prowse, I kindly urge you to go out and pick up one of her novels. I can guarantee you there's a good chance you'll discover an author that will make you feel all kinds of things with her books, and read some stories that will certainly make an impression. I've been a fan of Amanda for a few years now and with 'The Food of Love' she has once again confirmed why I always look forward to her reads and why I'll basically read anything with her name on the cover without even having to check the blurb. This latest release is another emotional, realistic and heart-wrenching read that had me in its grips from start to end, and a read that made me both smile and shed a few tears. 
The novels tells the captivating story of the Braithwaite family who suddenly need to fight a challenging battle against an eating disorder. The book provides a realistic portrayal of this and shows how a disease like that cannot just affect one person's life, but an entire family. I especially appreciate how realistic Amanda Prowse has made this story, because Freya and Lockie are not perfect, and the way they respond to and deal with things also isn't perfect. What parents would know exactly what to do in this situation, and what is right and what is wrong? It'd be a challenge for all of us, and that challenge is put into beautiful words and makes for a read I won't quickly forget. With 'The Food of Love' Amanda Prowse has once again brought us a captivating, compelling and touching read; she's without a doubt one of the best UK women's fiction authors around at this moment, so I can't recommend this book enough; without a doubt worth the read.

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'My Husband's Wife' by Amanda Prowse (2016)

Once a week, Rosie Tipcott counts her blessings. She goes to sit on her favorite bench on the north Devon cliffs, and thanks her lucky stars for her wonderful husband, her mischievous young daughters, and her neat little house by the sea. She vows to dedicate every waking hour to making her family happy. But then her husband unexpectedly leaves her for another woman and takes the children. Now she must ask the question: what is left in her life? Can Rosie find the strength to rebuild herself? More importantly, does she even want to?

Ever since I read Amanda Prowse’s novel ‘Will You Remember Me?’ (click here to read my review), I’ve been a big fan of her work. In my opinion she’s one of the best women’s fiction authors of the moment and her novels are always emotional, realistic and heart-warming reads which I simply can’t put down. After having read several of her books, including ‘A Mother’s Story’, ‘Another Love’, ‘Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats’ and ‘Christmas for One’, I am both honoured and excited to share my review of her newest release, ‘My Husband’s Wife’ with all of you today! I just want to give a very big thank you to Simeon and Amanda Prowse for providing me with a signed review copy, making it possible for me to dive into this new story before the actual release date!

Rosie Tipcott is incredibly happy with the life she leads in the town of Woolacombe. Her job cleaning caravans at a local holiday park isn’t really her dream job, but being a mum to her lovely daughters Naomi and Leona and coming home to her husband Phil make everything worth it. There really is nothing else she would want from life. Until Phil comes home one day and turns all of that upside down by declaring he’s found someone else and is leaving Rosie. Rosie is completely devastated and can’t believe this is actually happening to her. She knows she has to find the strength to go on, even if it’s just for her daughters, but will Rosie be able to set aside the perfect life she thought she had and start afresh…?

As soon as I see Amanda Prowse’s name on the cover of a book, it’s already enough reason for me to want to pick it up. No matter the topic, no matter the description, I just know it will be a good read, and I’m happy to say that so far Amanda hasn’t let me down once. ‘My Husband’s Wife’ is her latest release and it’s once again a gripping and emotional story about a female character that has to show great courage after she has experienced something unexpected. While the basic plotline of this novel isn’t the most original one (female character is happy, husband unexpectedly leaves her for another woman), Amanda Prowse really managed to make it her own with her distinctive voice and writing style. I really love how she always takes the time to set the scene, to give the reader the opportunity to get to know the characters, so I felt myself really rooting for Rosie and feeling the same kind of emotions she was feeling after everything that happened to her and her family.

I do have to say Rosie got on my nerves just a bit every now and again; I really wanted her to speak up more, to take some action, but I also appreciate the realistic nature of the story and the characters. Who knows what we readers would do when placed in the same situation? Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this novel from start to finish and was particularly happy with the ending (which I won’t give away, of course!). Amanda Prowse really is one of my favourite women’s fiction authors and I can’t recommend her work enough to other women’s fiction fans. Trust me, once you get started on her books you will want to read them all, so be prepared! ‘My Husband’s Wife’ is another fabulous read by Amanda Prowse; gripping, realistic and a story that will tug at your heartstrings… Is it bad to say I already can’t wait for Amanda’s next book?!
Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Another Love' by Amanda Prowse (2016)

In the early years, she was happy.
Romilly had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her kind and handsome husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix.
But then, as deep-buried insecurities surfaced, everything started to unravel. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Once, Romilly's family were everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love...
Today I am really excited to share my review of Amanda Prowse's latest release, 'Another Love', with all of you! A few years ago I was introduced to Amanda's work when I was asked to review her novel 'Will You Remember Me?' (click here to read my review). I was instantly blown away by this emotional and gripping story and since then I've had the pleasure of reading numerous of her novels, such as 'Christmas for One' (click here to read my review), 'A Mother's Story' (click here to reas my review), and 'The Christmas Cafe' (click here to read my review). Amanda's stories always manage to surprise and intrigue me (and shed a few tears!), and I was so excited when I heard about 'Another Love', which was released on January 16th by Head of Zeus. Thanks to the lovely Simeon Prowse for providing me with a review copy; I couldn't wait to see what Amanda had in store for us this time around!
Romilly can hardly believe how lucky she has been in her life so far: she has a job she loves, a beautiful family home in the suburbs of Bristol, a loving and handsome husband in the form of David and, to top it all, their lovely daughter Celeste. Of course, life can be diffcult at times, but there's nothing a glass of wine can't help with. Until that one glass of wine doesn't do the trick anymore and before she knows it, Romilly finds herself thinking about and longing for alcohol for most parts of every single day. She loves her family more than she can put into words, but this other love is slowly taking over and Romilly starts to realise it's going to take a lot of strength and determination to turn her back towards this new dangerous love she has found...
Every single time I pick up a new Amanda Prowse novel, there is a tiny bit of doubt in mind, wondering whether I will end up enjoying this novel as much as I did her previous ones. However, I think I finally have to stop doubting and just accept the fact that Amanda is a consistent and amazing author who continues to amaze me with her emotional and intense stories. 'Another Love' is another heart-breaking story that blew me away and will undoubtedly stay with me for quite some time to come. This time, the topic of the novel is alcoholism, something that also has a personal side to it for me, since it's something I've experienced up-close within my own family. Amanda has really managed to do a fantastic job, portraying both sides of the story, in this case mother Romilly and her daughter Celeste; I really felt for both of them.
This book is quite an emotional rollercoaster and I was so gripped by the story it only took me 2 sittings to finish it. Amanda Prowse really has a strong and authentic voice, one who continues to deal with challenging and emotional topics in her works, and she's one of my favourite authors within the women's fiction genre; I can't recommend her novels enough. This book has made quite the impression and I think Romilly's story will stay with me for some time to come. I don't want to give too much away, so just follow my advice and read the book yourself! 'Another Love' is a heart-breakingly gripping, emotional, and memorable novel that will make you feel all kinds of things, from anger to sadness to laughter; another great read by this simply great author!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The Christmas Cafe' by Amanda Prowse (2015)

Bea is fifty three, and she's just lost her husband after thirty years of marriage. To distract herself from grief, she throws herself into her work running the Reservoir Street Kitchen in one of Sydney's most fashionable districts.
But then an email from a cafe-owner in Edinburgh prompts her to take a trip to Scotland in the depths of winter. Her journey will be one of self-discovery, as she is drawn back to a secret past - and a secret love - that she has tried to forget.
Set between Sydney and Edinburgh at Christmas, this is a story of family ties, lost love, and the power of the past.
Over the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several of Amanda Prowse's novels such as 'Will You Remember Me?' (click here to read my review) and 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats' (click here to read my review). In December last year I read 'Christmas for One' (click here to read my review), which was a touching and simply stunning Christmas read, so I am really excited to have a new festive read by Amanda to dive into this year! 'The Christmas Cafe' was released by Head of Zeus and immediately caught my eye with its lovely cover. However, Amanda's name on the front is already enough reason for me to pick up the book, and I couldn't wait to get started on this latest one!
After 30 happy years of marriage, 53-year-old Bea Greenstock finds herself alone again after the death of her beloved husband Peter. Luckily, Bea has her own cafe in Sydney, the Reservoir Street Kitchen, to keep her busy, together with the troubles her teenage granddaughter Flora is having with her parents. When Bea is unexpectedly contacted via e-mail by a Scottish cafe owner, a new friendship develops and before she knows it she is on her way to Scotland; a quick trip to the other side of the world before Christmas, together with Flora. Yet this trip to Edinburgh ends up being much more to Bea than some special days spent with her granddaughter, especially when she is reminded of past times, including a past love she never quite managed to forget...
Another wonderful part of Amanda Prowse's 'No Greater Love' series, and a truly heartwarming and lovely festive read for this time of year. As with all of Amanda's novels, it was incredibly easy to warm to the female protagonist, Bea, and I already started the first chapter of the book with a few tears. As the story progressed, I was captivated by it and just wanted to continue reading to see what would happen to Bea and the other characters. I was intrigued by Flora, Bea's 13-year-old granddaughter who is having a difficult time, and loved reading about the characters at Bea's cafe, such as Nait, Kim, and Mr. Giraldi. There really is an interesting and warm group of characters at the centre of the book and there wasn't one of them I didn't like. 
The book has a great setting, partly taking place in Sydney and partly in Edinburgh. Next to that, I just once again fell in love with Amanda Prowse's writing. It's so effortless and almost feels like wrapping a warm and comfortable blanket around yourself. In contrast to some of her other novels, which are quite heart-breaking and deal with serious issues, this book focuses on finding true love, that idea of a soulmate, and Amanda has once again turned it into something quite wonderful. Overall, 'The Christmas Cafe' is a great read for the festive season; a heart-warming, lovely, and simply stunning story that will undoubtedly leave you with a smile on your face. 

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats' by Amanda Prowse (2015)

Grace and Tom Penderford had a strong marriage, a comfortable home in the Hertfordshire countryside, and a healthy baby girl. They were happy. They were normal.
But soon after Chloe turns three, tragedy strikes. A disease called Sepsis claims the life of their daughter, devastating their little family. The Penderfords had never heard of Sepsis - a cruel, indiscriminate disease that claims a life somewhere in the world every three and a half seconds. Now, with their world crumbling, they must mend each others broken hearts... and try to save their marriage if they can.
To find out more about this tragic disease, please visit www.sepsistrust.org. All the proceeds from this novel will go straight to the Sepsis Trust. By buying it, you will help in their battle to save lives. Thank you for making a difference.
Over the past two years or so I've had the pleasure of receiving several novels by author Amanda Prowse for review, such as 'Will You Remember Me?' (click here to read my review), 'Christmas for One' (click here to read my review), and 'A Mother's Story' (click here to read my review). Amanda manages to write incredibly heartfelt and captivating novels and I always look forward to sitting down with another one of her works. On the 10th of September, her next book 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats' will be released by Head of Zeus and this is a very special novel. All proceeds of it will go straight to the Sepsis Trust and it was written to make more people aware of what sepsis exactly is. If you want more information, please visit: www.sepsistrust.org.
Grace and Tom Penderford have it all: a beautiful home in the Hertfordshire countryside, a loving relationship, and a wonderful baby girl named Chloe. Grace really enjoys her busy full-time job, but sometimes wishes she'd have more time to spend at home with her family. But then Grace and Tom's life is completely turned upside down when a disease called Sepsis takes three-year-old Chloe away from them. Both Grace and Tom had never heard of the disease, but are now suddenly forced to continue their lives without their beloved little girl in it. This is one big challenge for the both of them, and one that also tests the strength of their marriage.
Another stunning and powerful read by Amanda Prowse and undoubtedly one that will stay with readers for quite some time to come. Amanda decided to write a novel about the relatively unknown disease Sepsis which claims a life somewhere in the world every three and a half seconds. I also had never heard of Sepsis before I picked up this novel, but the emotional story has made sure I will never forget about it. Like in her other novels, Amanda's writing style is really descriptive and gripping and she manages to paint the perfect scene for Tom, Grace and their little daughter Chloe. The love between Tom and Grace was just wonderful and Chloe's actions and sayings made me smile each time. It was horrible to read how the couple suddenly loses their daughter and how they are forced to continue their lives without her in it.
Amanda Prowse's novels are always full with emotions and feelings and this one is definitely no different. As much as it made me smile at the start, just as many tears rolled down my cheeks as the story progressed. I don't even want to imagine what it would be like if something like this happened to me or my family or friends, so I want to applaud Amanda for writing a novel about this disease and spreading the word about it. The more people who know about it the better, so please pick up this novel and share it with those around you. 'Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats' is an incredibly emotional, powerful and heartfelt story about a family dealing with a tragedy; beautifully written and captivating, and a book with a really important message at its core.

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'A Mother's Story' by Amanda Prowse (2015)

Jessica has just had the wedding of her dreams, and now she's setting up a new home with her lawyer husband Matthew. Even better - they are expecting a child.

As they paint the nursery and shop for babygros, she plans for the joy that motherhood will bring. But Jessica's experience is far from joyous. Why isn't she transformed by maternal feelings? Where is the all-consuming love she's supposed to feel for her child?

No-one told her that being a mum was so lonely and terrifying. No-one told her you don't always love your baby. Perhaps it’s best if Jessica keeps that dark secret to herself for now...

I’m really excited to be able to share today’s review with all of you! Last year I was introduced to author Amanda Prowse’s work when I was asked to read and review her novel ‘Will You Remember Me?’ (click here to read my review). A few months later, around Christmas time 2014, I got the chance to check out Amanda’s release ‘Christmas for One’ (click here to read my review), which turned out to be another wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable read. So, when I was contacted about Amanda’s latest release, ‘A Mother’s Story’ (which was released on the 26th of February 2015), I was already incredibly excited to have a new story of hers to look forward to. I had my fingers crossed for this release to be a great read and hoped it would not disappoint!

Jessica simply knows she and her new husband Matthew were meant to end up together. From the first moment she looked into his eyes, Jessica has been head over heels madly in love with Matthew, and luckily he feels the exact same way about her. The two of them are truly happy together, which is also why Jessica can’t wait to start their lives as wife and husband together. When Jessica unexpectedly gets pregnant at the age of twenty-three, Matthew is over the moon and can’t wait to go on this new adventure together. Yet, as soon as the baby is born after a complicated birth, Jessica can’t seem to find the maternal feelings and strong love she is supposed to feel. Instead, she starts to feel worse and worse and she can’t help but think about how her and Matthew’s life was supposed to be and what she could possibly do to make things better.

This novel deals with an incredibly sensitive and quite controversial topic, namely post-natal depression. Amanda Prowse is a wonderful author and she deals with this subject in an incredibly realistic and touching way. This novel really tugged on my heartstrings and I couldn’t help but feel for the characters and what they go through. Jessica is a heroine that really spoke to me; from the start it is obvious that she and Matthew make such a great couple and the love between them just warmed my heart. It was almost the perfect kind of love which is often portrayed in films and you somehow know something is going to come and ruin it all, which of course also happens to Matthew and Jessica. What they go through is told in an incredibly gripping and heartbreaking way, and I can’t even imagine what it would be like to go through something like this.

The story is told from the perspective of main protagonist Jessica, but in two different ways. On the one hand we see diary extracts from Jessica in the here and now, and on the other hand we get to see everything that has happened to Jessica in the past, mainly told from her own point of view. I personally thought the switches between these different chapters was very strong and really showed the development of Jessica’s character. The book has a lovely cast of characters which are all well-developed, such as Jessica’s husband Matthew and her best friend Polly. Amanda Prowse is a great author, there’s no doubt about that. This story really gripped me and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since I finished the book. If you’re looking for a feel-good read, this is not the book to pick up. But if you’re looking for a heart wrenching, gripping and well-written women’s fiction title, then ‘A Mother’s Story’ definitely won’t disappoint.
Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Christmas for One' by Amanda Prowse (2014)

As a child, Meg always dreamed of the perfect Christmas...
This year, she can make it come true for her own little boy. There will be turkey and all the trimmings, a glittering tree, and a stocking hung up by a roaring fire. Who cares if there's no devoted husband in the picture? She and Lucas will be just fine on their own.
But then a chance meeting with a stranger in New York unravels everything she's planned. Will Meg finally get everything she wished for? Or will she be alone this Christmas after all?
I was incredibly glad and excited when I was contacted about reviewing Amanda Prowse's latest novel, 'Christmas for One', which was released on the 2nd of November by Head of Zeus. I couldn't say 'yes' quick enough, since I read Amanda's novel 'Will You Remember Me?' earlier this year; a book which really touched me and one I really enjoyed (click here to read my review). I specifically liked the author's writing style, so I was already keeping my fingers crossed for another Amanda Prowse novel to end up in my mailbox. And then it turns out to be one with such a gorgeous cover; it's like a stunning Christmas gift I can't stop looking at. In short, I was really excited about 'Christmas for One' and couldn't wait to sit down with it!
Meg has never had the perfect Christmas she always wished for as a young girl. Now, she has her own son named Lucas and she wants to make sure he gets the Christmas she always wanted but never had. However, when she's on a business trip for her job at Plum Patisserie, Meg's life is unexpectedly turned upside down. While she's busy preparing the opening of their new store in New York, Meg meets a simply wonderful and handsome man who seems to be just as interested in her as she is in him. Meg and Ed spend a magical few days together, but then it's time for Meg to go back home. But she needs to make a decision: does Ed deserve a place in her and Lucas' life? Will this Christmas, after all those years, finally be the perfect one Meg has been hoping for...?
I was immediately grabbed by the story and its main protagonist, Meg, who was just lovely and I instantly liked her. I especially loved the fact that she works for Plum's Patisserie, a chain of French-inspired bakeries that sell the most delicious treats. The owners, Pru and Milly Plum, are actually characters from another Amanda Prowse novel, but you don't need to have read this other book in order to understand this one. Amanda Prowse has a great talent for painting the scene and her complete cast of characters just fit together perfectly and each of them added something to the story. 
I also loved the setting of the story, which is set partly in the UK and partly in New York City. The whole Christmas atmosphere made it all just that bit more magical, and I especially want to applaud the author's descriptions, because I could imagine everything so easily and perfectly in my head. The plotline was captivating and held my attention from start to finish, and I honestly just didn't want the novel to end. Amanda Prowse is a wonderful author with a distinctive voice and I already look forward to hopefully reading more of her work next year. 'Christmas for One' is a warm, simply stunning and delightful Christmas novel which I couldn't get enough of; the perfect gift for any women's fiction fan this Christmas!

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads   Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'Will You Remember Me?' by Amanda Prowse (2014)

Poppy Day is an ordinary woman. She’s 32 years old, an ex-hairdresser, now a stay-at-home mum for her two gorgeous children while her husband Mart tours with the army. She’s loved Mart ever since she was a girl, growing up poorly cared for in East London. Nowadays, her simplest pleasure is having her family together in a clean and happy home.
But Poppy is too busy caring for others to notice the fatigue in her body and the menacing lump growing on her breast. If there’s anyone strong and deserving enough to defeat cancer it’s Poppy. After all, she’s fought harder battles than this. But does life really work like that?
I was really excited when I was able to get a review copy of Amanda Prowse’s new release, ‘Will You Remember Me?’. I wasn’t familiar with Amanda’s work, but I had heard many positive things from other bloggers and readers and I couldn’t help but simply fall in love with the absolutely stunning cover of ‘Will You Remember Me?’ as soon as I saw it. The colours, the little lights/sparkles, the font... It’s all just right, making it one of my favourite covers of 2014 so far. I was quite curious to find out whether the lovely cover was a sign of how good the story inside would be, so I looked forward to sitting down with this book and check out Amanda Prowse’s work for myself!
Poppy Day is a 32-year-old mother who is happily married to her husband Martin, who works in the army, and together they have two lovely children, Peg and Max. As a family, they have been through quite a lot and Poppy is incredibly happy to have Martin back home, safe and sound, for the time being. However, while Poppy is busy taking care of her kids and making sure Martin enjoys his time back at home, she forgets to take good care of herself and suddenly finds a lump growing on her breast. Their comfortable and familiar family life is suddenly turned upside down. Everyone knows that if there is one person strong enough to beat cancer it has to be Poppy, but what if the disease just doesn’t want to beaten?
The main character of this novel, Poppy, already appeared in Amanda Prowse’s ‘Poppy Day’, a book which I had not read before starting ‘Will You Remember Me?’. Even though I did occasionally wonder about things that had happened to the group of characters in the past, you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone. I have to warn you though, this story will break your heart, over and over again. Wow, I can’t remember the last time I read a book with so much emotion in it! I don’t easily cry while reading, but I have to admit I shed a few tears while getting through this novel. The emotions in it are so raw and realistic and I think every reader will be able to imagine themselves in a situation like the one Poppy and her family find themselves in and imagine how horrible it would be. The topic of the book actually hits quite close to home for me, which made it an even more intense read, especially since the authors deals with it in a beautiful but at the same time really honest and realistic way.
Amanda Prowse is an amazing author and she really touched me with her writing. There’s a simply wonderful cast of warm and easily loveable characters at the core of this book. Poppy and Martin make such an amazing couple and their two children, Peg and Maxy, are the cutest. While reading, I felt like a part of their little family and I don’t think anyone would be able to read this novel without caring for and warming to these characters. There were quite a few beautiful and really touching scenes in the book, and Amanda made it really easy to picture it all in my head and feel like I was standing there in the room with the characters. ‘Will You Remember Me?’ is a simply heartbreaking, well-written and incredibly emotional read; a book I definitely recommend, but make sure you have a box of tissues ready when you start! Rating:

8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.