The Things I Know - by Amanda Prowse

The blurb: 

Thomasina ‘Hitch’ Waycott loves living and working on the remote family farm and B&B. But she also wants more. To see the world. To own her own home. To fall madly in love.

But those are fairy tales, and if her life is a fairy tale, then she’s the ugly duckling. Her deformed lip, her crooked limbs and her weak heart have kept her from taking chances. But that’s about to change.

When Grayson Potts comes to stay, he’s unlike anyone Thomasina has ever met. He’s aloof, eccentric and exceptionally kind. He’s also totally unconcerned with the physical flaws that have always defined Thomasina.

The two form a bond that neither has had before. It’s possible that it could become something more, but Thomasina also wonders if it’s too good to be true. By putting her heart on the line, Thomasina may open herself to heartbreak. But she may also open herself to so much more.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

I have loved Amanda Prowse’s book for years now and was really excited when I got the chance to read this book!

Thomasina has always been a bit different and special. She is used to her life on the farm, with her parents and welcoming guests into their B&B. Of course she also has dreams and wants to see the world. 

One day Grayson Potts comes along as a guest and they instantly have a deep connection. Grayson has always been a bit different as well, and he is very sweet and kind. Is it too good to be true?!

Well, I think Amanda Prowse created two wonderful characters here and the atmosphere of the whole story is beautiful. It actually took me some time to properly get into it and I somehow struggled a bit with how the story progressed. It’ still a heart-warming book, but not my faveourite of her.

All in all, it was very moving and authentic. I just loved the two main characters together!

Rating:

Amanda Prowse on Twitter: @MrsAmandaProwse

Website: https://www.amandaprowse.com

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

The Art of Hiding – by Amanda Prowse

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

What would you do if you learned that the life you lived was a lie?

Nina McCarrick lives the perfect life, until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

This book follows Nina McCarrick and her family and starts with a real tragedy. Her husband Finn is killed in a car accident and now now is left alone with her children Connor and Declan. Of course these boys suffer as well and they miss their dad a lot.

Things get worse, because Finn had a secret. They have to move out of their family home, the boys have to leave school and Nina has to find a job. That’s not easy though and most people are not on their side. With her sister Tiggy’s help they fin a way, but they have to move away.

Tiggy’s and Nina’s relationship is not easy, things have been tense ever since Nina met Finn. The two of them finally get to talk properly and Tiggy opens Nina’s eyes. Nina grows with every chapter and learns a lot about her past, but also things for her future.

This is a very poignant story about love, family, grief, loss, friendship and much more. I really enjoyed reading about Nina and her sons, these scenes were by far my favourite.

This is not my fave Amanda Prowse book, but I still loved it! She always manages to include all the feelings and emotions, it’s close to life and she touches controversial and delicate topics every single time.

Another touching story, wonderfully written and full of heart!

Rating:

Amanda Browse on Twitter: @MrsAmandaProwse

Website: http://amandaprowse.org

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

The Idea of You – by Amanda Prowse

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

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…

Heart-wrenching and poignant, this latest work by bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: what does it mean to be a mother in today’s hectic world? And what if it’s asking too much to want it all?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Lucy Carpenter is happily married to Jonah; all they need to top their happiness is a baby. It’s not easy though, becoming parents is hard tough. Their journey through it is heart breaking and touching. From miscarriages to misunderstandings, there is everything.

On top of that there is Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille, who makes life for Lucy really difficult, until she confesses something to her. Lucy herself has another secret, all the flashbacks at the end of the chapters are connected to that. So this story also includes some mystery as well.

All this puts Lucy’s and Jonah’s relationship on a test and it all gets really emotional and touching. Amanda Prowse’s writing is sensitive and poignant. I really liked how the plot developed and it just flows beautifully.

Make sure you have a box of tissues close by, you need them.

The characters in this book are authentic and real and I really liked the mixture of them. Camille added another spark and even though I didn’t like her at the start, I really warmed up to her.

This is a complete page turner! The way Amanda Prowse includes these touching topics is incredible, another fantastic book by this author! This lady is SO TALENTED!

Rating:

My possible cast:

Lucy

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

The Idea of You was inspired by Amanda’s own experience with miscarriages—one of which occurred while her husband was on tour in Iraq. Amanda maintains that the pain of losing multiple pregnancies has brought her family closer and made her appreciate her sons for the gifts that they are. Amanda is available for interview / to write about her personal story.

Amanda Prowse is a bestselling novelist with an incredible 148K followers on Twitter. The Idea of You is Amanda’s seventeenth novel and follows her trademark style of writing about ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love while being tested in ways they never imagined.

See www.amandaprowse.com or connect with Amanda Prowse on Social Media:

     Twitter:  @MrsAmandaProwse

     Facebook:  www.facebook.com/amandaprowse

     Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mrsamandaprowse