But I Smile Anyway…

A little while before Christmas, I received an email from an author, Amanda Prowse, requesting me to read one or possibly two new books of hers, with a view to receiving quotes about the book, to go on the paperback covers, and/or the author website.

I wasn’t sure initially, as I never know what time I have available, but then I thought, “Why not?”, and the thought that she had chosen me, among so many fantastic book reviewers meant I felt, I really wanted to do this!

And I did a little of my own research – to say I was honoured to have been asked by an author of Amanda’s calibre to read her books, would be a total understatement!

I mean she has books in real-life bookshops!!!! Check out the whole lot on the Waterstones website here!

(Not taking anything away from all us Indie Authors at all, but I was so flattered!)

So, a couple of weeks ago, a parcel arrived, with my special edition copy of Anna enclosed.

Anna is the first of a two-part love story.

The tag-line is “There are two sides to every love story.”

The blurb reads:

Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood and wants to find his soulmate.

Then, one day. Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo,

Each shows the other how to love. And each somws the other what heartbreak feels like…

This is Anna’s story.

What can I say? I had to get to it as soon as I could, and I was not disappointed!

I loved it!

I don’t want to give too much away, but here is a small taster and my review!

Anna is a young child, living with her single mother, and Joe, her older brother. She is surrounded by love, despite not having her father around, and can’t wait to get married and have children herself. She even names them, Fifi and Fox, and writes letters to them periodically.

Tragedy steals her mother away from her, and after a short while, her brother is taken from her too.

Anna spends time with an aunt who doesn’t really want her there, and ultimately ends up in care, after trying to find her estranged father. The only information she has is a name, a profession and the knowledge that she was conceived in love.

Life isn’t easy for Anna, but she pulls herself along, grasping opportunities and building a small but steady life for herself.

After one failed relationship, she meets Theo, a man from a totally different background. A man who loves her passionately, but who has his own past demons to conquer, and they ultimately colour the path of their love.

I was pulled into the life of a woman who had encountered so much tragedy, watched, and felt, her emotional turmoil as she battled from one disappointment after another.
I cheered when she found her Prince, I cried when that happy ending didn’t come…
The letters to Fifi and Fox were a genius addition, the build-up of hope from a small child, all the way to an adult who wants nothing more than to be a mother.
This is not a classic story of love, showing that not all endings are necessarily fairytale based, and happily ever after, but rather filled with a hope of something better to come.

And my rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Anna is available from March 8th, and you can preorder by clicking here right now! (I highly recommend you do, ASAP!)

I am really looking forward to reading the second book, Theo, which is out in April!

I was provided with a copy of the book in exchange for honest comments regarding the story.

About Amanda:

Amanda has always obsessively crafted short stories and scribbled notes for potential books, but it wasn’t until she was forty that she began writing full time. The result was Poppy Day, the story of an army wife, whose incredible love for her husband gives her the courage to rescue him from hostages in Afghanistan. This was followed by the number 1 bestseller What Have I Done? Amanda now has ten novels and four novellas published.

All of Amanda’s books in the No Greater Love series share common themes in that they are contemporary love stories, the main characters are women, just like you and I, who find themselves in extraordinary situations for love.

Her new series is the No Greater Courage series, tales of women facing the trials that life throws at them and having to dig deep to find the will and strength to succeed. This series includes the A Mother’s Story and Perfect Daughter, which continue to receive brilliant reader and press reviews.

Amanda’s ambition has always been to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…

Currently, Amanda lives in the West Country with her husband and their 18 & 19 year old boys Josh and Ben.

Follow Amanda on Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse, or join Amanda on Facebook.

Check out her website: http://amandaprowse.org/