Skip to main content

Featured

Magical Beginnings in Little Beaubrook by Bella Brightside #Review #Publication Day

  Happy Publication Day to Bella Brightside for her novel, Magical Beginnings in Little Beaubrook. It is published today by Naughty Beagle Publishing. I also have a great giveaway . Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. Some places are special enough to heal hearts… Welcome to Little Beaubrook  In a tiny English village hidden away for decades, the mists are parting to reveal a manor which glows gold and tumbledown thatched cottages that have been waiting for the right people to rebuild them.  On moving in day, a diverse group of new neighbours have only two things in common. Their hearts have been broken in some way, and they’ve all signed a contract with some very strange stipulations, including buying one of the cottages for a pound. As Chair of the commonhold association, Albie Curville hopes that by sharing his late wife’s rules for living he can bring these reluctant strangers together to fulfil her dying wish before he runs out of time… and...

The Girl I Used To Be by Debbie Howells #Review

 

 Today I am delighted to be featuring Debbie Howell's novel. The Girl I Used To Be on the blog. It was published by Boldwood Books on19th October.

Marie Kondo for the soul.

Anna and Will have been passing in and out of each other’s lives since they were just kids.

Now 20 years later, Anna is married - she has a lovely house, a step daughter in university and a husband with a good job.

What she doesn’t have is joy. When she runs into Will it sparks something in her, a longing for the Anna she used to be.

Together they embark on a journey to find what brings them joy, to discard what doesn’t and to become the people they always wanted to be.

But in finding themselves, can they also find each other?


 

My Thoughts

 This is an emotional read in many ways which takes you along and makes you feel as though you really know the central character. You meet Anna at different times in her life and gradually become acquainted with her and the choices she makes. You also realise that Will is a thoroughly likeable character but that so often in their lives, the timing is not right for them and other things get in the way. The love he has for his daughter and the responsibility he feels for her causes him to put his own desires second.

    Anna’s husband is one of those people who frustrates you with his self centred attitudes and lack of empathy. However he proves to have a redeeming side. I loved Anna’s relationship with her stepdaughter. Friendship is also important in giving people the space to take a risk. Anna faces some challenges but takes confidence from the people she knows. There are so many times that Anna and Will seem to miss their opportunity to be together but you always feel that their stories are linked. This is one of those books which lures you in and I was totally invested in their story. It would make a great film! 

In short: emotional but inspiring 

About the Author

 


Debbie Howells’s first novel, a psychological thriller, The Bones of You, was a Sunday Times bestseller for Macmillan. Four more bestsellers followed, including most recently The Vow, published by Avon. Fulfilling her dream of writing women’s fiction, she has found a home with Boldwood and her first title with them, The Life You Left Behind was published in February 2022.

 

You can follow Debbie here: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

                                            |  Bookbub profileNewsletter Sign Up

Book link: Amazon UK


Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out these brilliant bloggers!
 

Comments

Popular Posts