#BlogTour The Man I didn't Marry by Anna Bell

 It's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Man I Didn't Marry by Anna Bell.

About the Author

Anna Bell lives in the South of France with her young family and energetic Labrador. When not chained to her laptop, Anna can be found basking in the sun in the summer, heading to the ski slopes in the winter (to drink hot chocolate and watch - she can't ski) or having a sneaky treat from the patisserie - all year round!

Follow @AnnaBell_writes on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit www.annabellwrites.com, Buy The Man I Didn't Marry

About the book

What happens when the man she married can’t remember her?

Ellie has the perfect life: a happy marriage, a gorgeous daughter and a baby on the way. But when her husband Max develops amnesia, he forgets everything about the last five years . . . including their relationship.

Now the man she said ‘I do’ to has become a stranger, and she has no idea why. Yet Ellie is determined to reconnect and find her Max again – he has to be in there somewhere, right?

As they get to know one another afresh, Ellie finds herself seeing Max clearly for the first time. But then she discovers that before his memory loss, Max was keeping a huge secret from her. Will their new beginning prove to be a false start, just as it seemed they might fall in love all over again? 

Review

Ellie is a happily married mother of one with another on the way. She is married to her best friend's brother - a bit of a hunk. Everything is going to plan until her hubby suddenly without any reason appears to forget the last few years. He forgets their marriage, their child and many other things that keep their relationship ticking along.

The foundations of her entire marriage are cast into doubt, as self-esteem and issues of self-doubt rise to the surface with the new status quo between Max and Ellie. He doesn't remember falling in love with her, which makes her doubt he ever did. He doesn't remember his daughter or the child his wife is carrying. It's a bit like having to live with a complete stranger you have shared your most intimate moments with, but he doesn't remember any of them.

I thought it was really interesting how the author delivers or perhaps intended to deliver the story initially as a light-hearted read. Funny and awkward at times, painful and heart-wrenching at others. However what actually happens is that the story gets a wee shovel and starts to dig it's own depth along the way. 

The premise questions everything about a seemingly stable relationship and destruction of said stability by erasing memories. In doing so the simplest of actions, the smallest words and the most fleeting of moments are thrown into complete and utter chaos. It was a read that convinced me the further I read.

Buy The Man I didn't Marry at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ pub date 4 Feb. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. Hive. Bookshop org. Waterstones.

#BlogTour We Just Clicked by Anna Bell

Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour We Just Clicked by Anna Bell.

About the Author
Anna Bell lives in the South of France with her young family and energetic Labrador. When not chained to her laptop, Anna can be found basking in the sun in the summer, heading to the ski slopes in the winter (to drink hot chocolate and watch - she can't ski) or having a sneaky treat fo the patisserie - all year round! We Just Clicked is Anna's eighth novel.

Follow @AnnaBell_writes on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit www.annabellwrites.com, Buy We Just Clicked

About the book
Izzy Brown has always dreamed of being an Instagram influencer. So when her colleague and fellow Instagrammer Luke suggests they ‘fake date’ to boost their profiles, Izzy says yes – against her better judgement.

Now Izzy’s profile tells the story of a confident, glamorous thirty-something with the perfect boyfriend, and her follower numbers are shooting upwards. So what if Izzy can’t stop bickering with Luke, his habit of checking his quiff in every single mirror is driving her insane, and behind the scenes she’s hiding a secret heartache? Everyone tells a few fibs on social media, right?

But when Izzy runs into Aidan, the mysterious stranger who saved her the day her world fell apart two years ago, major sparks start to fly between them. Izzy’s sure she can have the online success she’s always dreamed of, whilst continuing to fall in love – and heal her heart – in real life. After all, Aidan doesn’t use social media… what could possibly go wrong?

Review
Izzy wants to be an Instagram influencer, the kind of influencer everyone flocks to and follows. At the moment her posts aren't getting enough traction, however she is certainly getting plenty of teasing from her friends and colleagues. She is obsessed, perhaps more because it has become a refuge after a tragedy in her life.

She agrees to be one half of a popular Insta couple to get lots of likes and sponsorship deals. What she doesn't count on is her fake relationship standing in the way of a possible real one.

I know this is a rom-com, but I have to say what really resonated with me was the storyline of loss and grief. The whole fake relationship story, love connection and obsession with social media and acceptance of self is good, but weaving the loss of a loved one into the tale takes the whole thing up a notch.

Bell does that really well without letting one thing overshadow the other. It gives the read a smooth flow and a subtle poignancy to the story. It's not only the moment where a small act of kindness gives comfort at the right time, it's also the way the grief ripples through the years and leaves its mark on every person it touches.

That might sound like this is a sad read, but it isn't. It's funny and relevant for the times we live in. Where worth is judged on likes, follows and popularity, even if it means faking it to make it.

Buy We Just Clicked at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ; pub date 16 April 2020. Buy at Amazon com.