I'm delighted to welcome you today to my stop on the blog tour for the heartwarming and emotional To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse. Thank you to Kelly Lacey and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this gorgeous book.

About the book:

Young and desperately in love, Merrin had the whole world ahead of her. But just as her new life was about to start, the ground beneath her feet was cruelly swept away. Devastated by the humiliation, she ran far away from the beloved fishing village she had always called home to lick her wounds and escape her gossiping friends and neighbours.It hasn't been easy, but six years later Merrin has forged a new life for herself far from the sea, burying the impulsive girl she once was. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to return to the village she swore she'd never set foot in again.

Reluctantly back in the arms of her community, Merrin begins to realise what she's been missing out on all these years. As she begins to remember the person she used to be, she is forced to make choices about her future, and to question the past. What does she want from her life? Who is important to her? Who is to blame for everything that went wrong? And can she forgive them, let old wounds heal and finally be her true self again?

About the author:

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty six novels and
seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner', 'The Things I Know' and 'The Day She Came Back' have sold millions of copies across the globe.

A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on Channel 5's 'The Jeremy Vine Show' and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national independent Radio stations including LBC and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour.

Described by the Daily Mail as 'The queen of family drama' Amanda's novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award while 'Perfect Daughter' was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016.

Amanda's ambition is 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…

Praise for Amanda Prowse:

'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' – Piers Morgan
'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' – Daily Mail
'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' – Hello!'                                     A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' – The Irish Sun
'You'll fall in love with this…' – Cosmopolitan
'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' – Heat
'Magical' – Now magazine

Social Media Links:

Say hello on Twitter: @MrsAmandaProwse

Friend on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmandaProwseAuthor

Tag on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MrsAmandaProwse

Visit Amanda's Amazon Author Page: Amanda Prowse Author

Check out her website: http://www.amandaprowse.com

My Review:

I always know I'm in safe hands when I read a book by Amanda Prowse and her heartwarming and emotional new book To Love and Be Loved is no exception. Warm and moving, it's a story with family at its heart that tugged at my heartstrings, taking me through a rollercoaster of emotions as I read.

The book starts as Merrin is about to marry the love of her life. But then something happens to turn Merrin's life upside down, causing her to leave everything and everyone she loves behind her. Now, six years later, a tragedy brings her home and she begins to realise just how much she's missed her family and the small Cornish town she's always called home.

But will Merrin be able to forgive those who hurt her and find the strength to put the past behind her at last? Or are some wounds too deep for her to ever be fully healed? As she tries to come to terms with what happened to make her run away all those years ago, can Merrin finally become the person she was always meant to be?

I loved this book so much! Merrin is a character I couldn't help but fall in love with from the outset, her pain and humiliation palpable as her young love filled heart is torn to shreds. Amanda Prowse's writing is beautiful, capturing my imagination from the very first page as I was instantly captivated by, not only Merrin's story, but the story of her family and the larger than life, close knit community, of the small fishing town she calls home.

There's a warmth to Amanda's writing that brings her characters to life so vividly that you can't help but live and breathe every emotion right alongside them. To Love and Be Loved is a story with family at its heart that is filled to the brim with heartache, love, loss and new beginnings.

To Love and Be Loved is a gorgeous read that brings Cornwall vividly to life. With a heartwarming sense of small town community spirit, it is a beautifully written family drama that I know will stay with me for a long time to come. Amanda Prowse's writing keeps on going from strength to strength and To Love and Be Loved is quite possibly my favourite book so far!

A lovely but emotional read that I would highly recommend.

To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse is available to purchase now:

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