bytheletterbookreviews

Book Description:

From the million-copy bestseller Amanda Prowse, the queen of heartbreak fiction.

Amanda Prowse is the author of The Coordinates Of Loss and the no.1 bestsellers Perfect Daughter, My Husband’s Wife and What Have I Done?

In the early years, she was happy.

Romilly loved her stunning house, her kind husband and gorgeous daughter. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting – but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn’t fix.

But then 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…

My Thoughts:

Another Love is a story that alternates between Celeste and her mother Romilly. Through Celeste we get to see what it is like from a child’s point of view, living with a mother who is an alcoholic.

The chapters to do with Romilly, we get to see a young woman with everything going for her who then becomes reliant on alcohol and her world spiralling downwards.

I have to admit that I felt most for David in this story. Romilly’s long suffering husband. There is no doubt how much he loves his wife and seeing his constant battle with trying to steer his wife in the right direction and do the best for their daughter. It was awful to see the people closest suffering as much as the one who is an addict. As someone who isn’t reliant on alcohol or drugs, it is hard sometimes to understand what the appeal is as well as the pull towards it and the struggle that someone would have in giving it up.

Another Love is a look into the life of an alcoholic and how it not only affects them, but the people around them. It feels like a really raw read, with no airs or graces. The author doesn’t paint a pretty picture and at times I felt embarrassed on Romilly’s behalf as well as uncomfortable at the choices she made. I was totally engrossed in Romilly and her families story though and I felt like I was going through all the highs and lows with them. A compelling must read.

Another Love is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

An ex-KGB operative, a seedy English seaside town, a criminal underbelly.

Trouble has a habit of seeking out Konstantin Boryakov, whether he wants it or not. Starting from the moment he arrives in the seedy seaside town of Margate where he’s supposed to be in hiding from his Russian ex-employers. Konstantin has to overcome the drug dealer, the loan shark and Fat Gary, all round idiot. Then there’s the so-called good guys, the councillors and lawyers who are worse than the criminals.

All Konstantin wants is to be left alone. But it’s not to be. Enter Fidelity Brown, aka Plastic Fantastic, the dildo wielding dominatrix who has her own mélange of secrets and lies, and nightclub owner Ken who’s connected to all the wrong people. Both help the Russian with the heap of problems delivered to his doorstep.

Cue deception, murder, mayhem as Konstantin settles into his new life. Margate will never be the same again. And neither will Konstantin…

Meet Konstantin Boryakov, the enigmatic ex-KGB agent and tramp with a dark history and darker future in the start of a unique crime thriller series laced with a healthy dose of black humour. Pick up Russian Roulette to find out what all the fuss is about.

My Thoughts:

Not sure how I have managed it, but have read the rest of the books in the Konstantin series but for some reason I have never read the first, so of course I had to come back to the first one to see where it all started.

This is a relatively quick read at less than 200 pages on the kindle. It also has short chapters which entices you to keep reading just one more and before you know it, you’ve read several!

Konstantin is a man that always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Trouble certainly is never far away which ensures that there is plenty to keep the reader entertained. He is very much a man with a past of which, even though has hardened him, there are glimpses of a soft side also.

Russian Roulette is a dark and gritty read. I love the Margate setting as definitely don’t think I have read any other books, apart from this series of course, that has been set there. There is definitely lots if murder and mayhem and a very commendable start to a series.

Russian Roulette is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

From bestselling author Amanda Prowse comes a tale of a blissful life, a happy marriage, a beloved son…and a tragedy that destroys it all.

When Rachel Croft wakes up on her family’s boat in Bermuda, it’s to sunshine and yet another perfect day…until she goes to wake her seven-year-old son, Oscar. Because the worst thing imaginable has happened. He isn’t there.

In the dark and desperate days that follow, Rachel struggles to navigate her grief. And while her husband, James, wants them to face the tragedy together, Rachel feels that the life they once shared is over. Convinced that their happy marriage is now a sham, and unable to remain in the place where she lost her son, she goes home to Bristol alone.

Only when she starts receiving letters from Cee-Cee, her housekeeper in Bermuda, does light begin to return to Rachel’s soul. She and James both want to learn to live again—but is it too late for them to find a way through together?

My Thoughts:

I literally devoured this book in one day. Rachel’s story had me in tears, from beginning to end.

The author has a skill of the characters emotions flowing off the pages into the reader. The grief that the characters feel felt so raw and at times I thought my chest was going to burst with all the emotions I was feeling. Whilst I know that no one can truly understand that loss until it’s happened to them, I think with this book it comes a close second.

I had a box of tissues, well a roll of toilet paper, next to me throughout and kept having to have a break to control my feelings while wiping away the tears. It wasn’t just from the loss of Oscar but the break down of Rachel’s and James’ marriage. It was sad to see a couple who were experiencing the exact same things not be able to help each other.

Cee-Cee is a very special character and I loved her letters to Rachel. Her own past was so intriguing and I found it so endearing whilst getting to know her better. There are actually a few characters who stood out even though they only have a small role in the story like Rachel’s dad. They all just make this story even more heart warming.

The Coordinates Of Loss is a breath taking read of love, loss and relationships. It is a tough read in parts due to the nature of the story but I don’t regret one single tear. Whilst in parts it is sad, I found it also to be uplifting. A definite tear jerker which is high praise to the author that she can get such a reaction from her reader.

The Coordinates of Loss is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

All she wants for Christmas…

When talented artist Nee Sutherland returns to Butterfly Cove for her sister’s wedding, it’s only a matter of time before she has to face her own bridegroom – Luke Spenser – the man she impulsively married, then left in the middle of the night.

Nee hasn’t picked up her paintbrushes in months, a part of her is broken. She knows Luke might never forgive her, leaving him was the biggest mistake of her life – but could coming home for Christmas be the best decision she’s ever made?

Maybe all she needs is a little Christmas miracle…

A delightfully feel-good festive romance, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the Butterfly Cove trilogy.  It works well as  stand alone as the author gives plenty of background on events in the previous two novels. This is probably my only criticism with this book, in my opinion there was too much, meaning it detracted from Nee and Luke’s story and took me longer than usual to fully settle into the book. Other than that though, I really enjoyed it.

I have really fallen in love with Butterfly Cove over the course of the trilogy, so was great to be back there again and catch up with all the characters. The stars of the book, have to be Kiki’s children, even though they don’t play a massive role in this book, they are still so adorable and I especially loved the parts with them in. 

Each book concentrates on each sister, Having read and enjoyed Mia and Kiki’s stories, I was looking forward to getting to find out more about the remaining sister, Nee. As with the other sisters, I loved getting to know her as well as find out more about her past. It sure makes for some intriguing reading and I really enjoyed the connection between her and Luke. 

Christmas At Butterfly Cove was an enjoyable festive read, spent with characters, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know over the course of the books. It’s really made me look forward to Christmas and spending it with the people I care about. The romance is brimming over the pages and really gives you that warm, cosy feeling inside. A wonderfully heart warming read.

Christmas At Butterfly Cove is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

An irresistible festive treat from million-copy bestseller Amanda Prowse.

Amanda Prowse is the author of The Coordinates Of Loss and the no.1 bestsellers Perfect Daughter, My Husband’s Wife and What Have I Done?

Can you ever find love twice?

Bea doesn’t believe in second chances. As a widow, she feels like she will be alone forever. She buries her grief in hard work, and soon the deli she runs in Sydney, Australia, has a reputation for the best carrot cake in town.

But then an email from a cafe-owner in Edinburgh leads her to take a trip to Scotland in the depths of winter.There, transported by the twinkling lights and falling snow of a traditional Christmas, Bea is drawn back to a secret past – and a secret love – that she has long ago tried to forget…

My Thoughts:

The story starts of with Bea at her dying husbands bedside. It did make for some very emotional reading  but it drew me to Bea instantly and by the end of the story she felt like an old friend. 

I loved the story  being set in Australia, which is very different to what Christmas is like here in England. Bea lives in a flat above her business of which she loves listening to the hustle and bustle from below. Whilst it’s something that would probably put me off, the author totally sold me on Bea’s home and I could easily envision Bea sat there listening to the world go by.

Another character I really liked in the novel is Flora, Bea’s grand-daughter. She is coming up to fourteen and is struggling with life as a teenager. Wyatt, Bea’s son and Flora’s dad, I wasn’t to sure of to start with. He doesn’t seem to have much time for his mum and I felt for Bea as she makes the most of seeing Flora. 

I think this story is a great reminder of how we can become self absorbed and forget about our loved ones. It really makes you sit back and think and try to understand others more. There is also the romance aspect to do with Bea and her past and it makes for an engrossing read.

The Second Chance Café is a lovely heart felt read that I didn’t want to put down. I was entranced by the authors writing and loved getting to know Bea better as well as her friends and family. I enjoyed all the highs and lows with Bea and whilst I loved the ending to the story, I was also very sad to have reached the end. A lovely read that will leave you feeling all warm and cosy inside.

The Second Chance Café is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link). 

Book Description:

“Amore mio, Mikey,” Julia whispered. “He’s dead.” A cop is shot. A mother loses her son. A city is in mourning.What does that look like from the inside?The Funeral, a stand-alone novella or the epilogue to 10-33 Assist PC, brings us into the intimate world of those most closely affected in the days following the loss of one of their own. Written by a Real Detective, The Funeral walks us through to the end of watch in this poignant finale to a heroic life cut short in the line of duty. Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.

My Thoughts:

Firstly I would highly recommend reading 10-33 Assist PC by the author before reading this one. Infact I would say it’s crucial. To read this one would definitely be a massive spoiler.

This is only a short story and basically follows on with how things end in 10-33 Assist PC. If you have ever wondered just what happens at police officers funeral, then you will not want to miss this. 

It’s pretty hard to actually say too much about this story without giving spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read the first book. It does make for some emotional reading though and my heart broke for the officers mum. Definitely agree with the saying that no parent should ever have to bury their child. 

We only get a brief glimpse of Mike in this book, with the author concentrating on getting across to the reader just what goes on with getting everyone up to speed with what they need to do and getting everything in place. The press are their usual selves, trying to get some sort of scoop from events that led to an officer being down. I have to say I loved Mike’s mum in this and couldn’t help gloat at one part where she gives a journalist a proper stripping down in public. 

The Funeral is a short, informative and emotional read that had me hooked through out.  A good addition  to the series and am glad that the author dedicated a book solely to the funeral and not brush over it which is usually the case in so many crime books. 

The Funeral is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link). 

Book Description:

From the million-copy bestseller Amanda Prowse, the queen of heartbreak fiction.

Amanda Prowse is the author of The Coordinates Of Loss and the no.1 bestsellers Perfect Daughter, My Husband’s Wife and What Have I Done?

This is an unforgettable romance about what happens when two very different people fall in love.

Anna Cole grew up poor, but her mother’s love made her feel rich every day. Then her mother died, and Anna was sent to a care home. As a teenager, Anna vowed that one day, she would have children of her own, and create the happy, noisy family life she always craved.

Then, one day, Anna meets Theo Montgomery in a lift. Theo has kind eyes, but a sad past. His family were rich, but his childhood was full of neglect. Theo can’t imagine bringing a child into this cruel world, but he does want a soulmate. Someone to love him unconditionally; someone with whom he can share his family’s wealth.

Theo and Anna are two damaged souls, from two different worlds. Is their love for each other enough to let go of the pain of their pasts? Or will Anna and Theo break each other’s hearts?

There are two sides to every love story. This is Anna’s.

My Thoughts:

This is a story that is fully told between two novels. Anna’s story is the first book and then there is another one telling Theo’s story. This one will definitely have you running off to get Theo’s book.

Anna is just the most wonderful character. We get to meet her when she is just a little girl living with her mum and brother Joe. They don’t have much as a family but Anna is a loved little girl and she is happy. That all changes when her mother sadly dies. 

We are taken on a journey of what life is like for Anna as a child into adulthood. I loved seeing the woman that Anna turns into with all her hopes and dreams. She is quite a quirky character with her little traits which made me an emotional wreck.

So many times through out the story I kept having to take a breather as my emotions were overwhelming. I was so absorbed in Anna’s life and what was happening to her and like a parent, I just wanted the best for her and for her just to be as happy as she was as a young child. 

Anna’s story is an emotional page turner of a read. The characterisation was just superb and each character for me stands out in some way. It is definitely a book that will melt into your heart and stay with you. I can’t to wait read Theo’s story to see if the pair get their happy ever after. Brilliant book that wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

Anna is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link.)