I am delighted to be taking part in the Publication Day celebrations for Samantha Tonge's latest novel, Forgive Me Not.
Forgiveness can be hard to come by… An unputdownable new
novel from bestseller Samantha Tonge
How far would you go
to make amends?
When Emma fled her home at Foxglove Farm, she’d let down and
hurt those who cared for her most. But now, two years later, she’s ready to
face up to her past; she’s ready to go back.
But Emma’s unannounced return causes more problems than she
could have foreseen. The people she knew and loved aren’t ready to forget, let
alone forgive. And the one person she wants to reconnect with the most, her
mother, can’t remember who she is.
Just as Emma starts to rebuild trust, an uncovered family
secret and a shocking past crime threaten her newly forged future...
Sometimes simply saying sorry isn’t enough.
Perfect for readers of Ruth Hogan or Amanda Prowse, this is
an extraordinary and unforgettable novel about running away from yourself – and
finding a way back.
My Thoughts
It was only after I read Samantha Tonge's blog post that I realised just how personal this book is to her. (You can read her post here). Forgive Me Not is a courageous piece of writing and deals with its subject matter in a clear- sighted but non-judgemental way. You build up a respect for Emma and wonder at her resilience which she shows she has, to keep going despite the rebuffs she finds in her home village. I don't want to talk in detail about her situation as that would spoil the read. Through a series of flashbacks, you learn about her struggle to get back to the person she wanted to be. The layers of her character are peeled back and, in the end, you get to see just who she is.
In addition to Emma's problems, there is the heart-breaking situation of her mother who can no longer remember who she is. Her sister cannot forgive her but is clearly barely managing. There is also a cast of other complicated characters who live in the village who have been affected by her previous actions. You get to see how Emma acquires the skills to help others through practical actions. I was not prepared for the reveal right at the end of the story which I had not seen coming but which left me wanting to know what happened next.
This is a real class act of a novel. It has hope and despair in equal measure and the author weaves a tapestry which portrays the fragility of everyday life.
In short: A gem of a book which challenges your perceptions and touches you with its honesty.
About the Author
Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and her passion,
second to spending time with her husband and children, is writing. She studied
German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at
Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.
When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and
drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s
magazines.
In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy
fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut
novel, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction
best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK
Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category.
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