The great thing about having young children? Being awake with them in the middle of the night means reading time, forget the fact that this is the only reading time you get. Well I've finally finished Anna by Amanda Prowse. A lovely story of one woman's struggle to carve a place in this world for herself. After money and other material things the one thing we all want in life if to be surrounded by people we love, and those who love us back. Anna is a wonderfully written book full of rich and developed characters that'll have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Can't wait to read Theo's side of the story.

Great touching, thought provoking series. Absolutely kept me engaged throughout. Would highly recommend to others.

loved loved loved this, I adore amanda prowse and this was up there with her best wow, cant wait to carry on the story

Amanda Prowse has done it again with this wonderful duo of books. Wonderful story that's really well written and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to read this. Thank you for the chance and sorry my review is late.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

It is a rare book that makes me cry but Amanda Prowse did just that only a few pages in! Following Anna from her heartbreaking start through the trials and tribulations of her life was absolutely riveting. I could not put the book down as I was rooting for her to find the happiness she deserved. Amanda's books never fail to draw you in and have you caring for her characters as if they were real. I could have read about Anna endlessly and now I am finished I am straight onto Theo's story.

An interesting, cutesy read which I really enjoyed. The characters were well developed throughout and the writing style was basic but very readable. The kind of book which is just nice, emotional and warm to read.

ANNA (ONE LOVE, TWO STORIES #1) is a standalone contemporary romance novel by Amanda Prowse. This is the first of two books making up a whole love story, Theo being the second. Each book to provide a different viewpoint, of the relationship, an unusual but different concept. This is Anna’s story.

Anna's story covers different timeframes: Anna as a child with her mother, her time leading up to and leaving her in a children's care home, and her life with Theo. Anna is a well-developed character that is easy to like and believe. Despite her sad upbringing, Anna feels like your friend. The author has made Anna more accepting and real, by giving her both strengths and weaknesses.

Amanda Prowse’s easy style of writing, and family drama make this novel a pleasure to read…but have the Kleenex close at hand. Anna’s story is an emotional read, that will break your heart and stay with you for some time.

Many thanks to Head of Zeus via Netgalley for my digital copy.

Reviewing for NetGalley

I couldn’t help it adore Anna and Theo’s love story. Amanda Prowse is such an amazing and talented writer that she painted a picture of what Anna’s world was like. I can’t wait to read Theo’s story

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 shows the other what heartbreak feels like. This is Anna's story.
This story was decent. Anna is definitely a well-written character. This isn’t really the kind of story I can read very often though, as it’s not really the kind I tend to get into.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I was really intrigued by the concept of the book and the fact that it was a duo-logy with Theo being the counterpart, I have loved a lot of other Amanda Prowse books and this one did not disappoint. The story sucked me in pretty much immediately, it was a tad slow paced at times but enjoyable none the less.

Thanks for approval for this lovely book.

I really enjoy reafing Amandas work but would like to read the next two before giving a full review of the set.

Very much looking forward to them

Another wonderful novella from this great author. As I expected, Anna is a strong character that pulled on my heartstrings. When Anna was 13 years old her world as she knew it ended when tragedy strikes.

Lots of tears and I loved Anna. One Love.... Two Stories...... I look forward to Theo’s story.

I'd heard about this book and the plot intrigued me. So glad I downloaded. Seven year old Anna's happiness is destroyed the day her mother Karen dies of a heart attack. Ending up in the custody of her half brother Joe, it's a downward spiral, living in his world of drugs and despair. When he overdoses she finds herself moved to the Midlands to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin Jordan, who provides the only warmth in the otherwise chilly house which she eventually absconds from. Taken into care Anna's journey is a difficult one, but there's a strength in her character. She's determined to make something of herself and all the while she's searches for a cabbie called Michael; the only information she has about her biological father. Jordan moves to America and stays in touch and Anna finds security in a job in the City. Then she meets Theo and it seems as if from now on everything will be okay. Except it isn't because Theo is chasing his own demons and is carrying secrets..
This is a sad story of one young, determined woman battling to find her place in the world. When I reached the last page I felt the ending strange, but there's a sequel. Now off to download...

I love the idea of having a story split into two books. A love story told by both the main characters, in this case, Anna and Theo. I read Anna in one sitting and it really was like a movie, which if you have a read my previous reviews is a very good sign. We follow Anna from when she was a little girl, we get to travel with her as she grows and we see the harsh events that in turn shaped who she is as an adult. We know all her secrets and fears.

Amanda Prowse is unique in her writing style as she cuts out the noise. Often when I am reading women’s fiction I have to read through pages of drivel just to get to the point of the story. With Anna, I was aware whilst reading that everything was important and there was no wasted time on side stories or tangents on unnecessary nonsense. The beautiful writing and engaging plot filled up my senses, I cried with Anna ( a lot) and felt emotionally spent by the end of the book. But in a good way, it was like therapy without the hefty fee. The way Amanda Prowse creates her characters is out of this world. I see them all now in my mind, even those that were in Anna’s life for a short time, they are all so alive and vivid. It’s down to excellent descriptions and attention to little details.

I am an emotional reader, I need to care about who I am reading about and by gosh I really did with Anna. In the book we too meet Theo, he is unique in his own story of course. We get slivers throughout Anna’s story about his background. Enough to make the reader, intrigued and I desperately need to know why he is the way he is. I found him endearing one moment and incredibly selfish the next.

This was my first experience of Amanda Prowse’s work and I am delighted that I have a plethora of her other books to dive into.

Amanda Prowse takes us on an emotional journey of self-discovery with Anna. Jump into this adventure with gusto, you will not be disappointed.

Amanda Prowse has long since been a favourite author of mine. I have not read a single one of her books that has not reduced my reading corner to piles of snotty tissues. So it’s no surprise that when I was offered a pre-release copy to read and review, that I jumped at the chance.

I was desperate to devour her latest work the moment the book hit my doormat, the cover willing me to open the pages like the ‘ring’ tempted Frodo, but as it so often does, life got in the way a few times. I picked up the book and read the first page only to be hassled with daily chores and necessary housework. Kids nagging to be fed… husband demanding that I listen to him while he talks…

But thanks to Mother Nature, ‘The beast from the East’ brought her wrath for the second time and most of northern Europe was hit with warnings for extreme weather conditions.

Perfect! A day when I can’t leave the house and an excuse to make a large pot of coffee and snuggle under a duvet with ‘Anna’.

I am so glad I waited.

Why? Becuase it took three days for my eyes to recover from the tears, and a further 5 days for me to bring myself to write a review I feared would never do this beautiful book justice.

I never doubted for a moment that Amanda would ‘do it again‘ with her latest book, but I don’t think I ever manage to truly prepare myself for the rollercoaster journey she manages to take me on each time I delve into the pages that create her world.

Anna and Theo are destined to meet… we know this because their story is split in two. We know this because the cover of the books tells us so. One Love, Two Stories… so we know that Anna is meant to meet Theo. What we are not told, is just how much Anna will have to go through to meet her man. Or indeed warned that just because she meets him, it will go anything less than smooth.

Life doesn’t work that way does it?

And those who have read Amanda’s work before know that this woman is uniquely skilled at writing true to life stories. No rose-tinted glasses, no neat little bows. This is a life that you can relate to, with its ups and downs and a million shades of grey.

Her latest book does not disappoint.

What is the book about?
Anna is a beautiful young girl. She lives with her adoring mother and despite the lack of a father in her life, her world is not void of love. Her mother and brother are all she needs. But losing her mother takes her perfect yet simple life and turns it upside down.

Anna wants her own children, more than anything in the world. She is desperate to create a life that she recognises, filled with love and family… at least the family she once had. Annas life philosophy revolves around her strong belief in herself and her ability to achieve her dreams. In her own words “It doesn’t matter where you start in life, it’s where you finish that counts.”

But knowing that, and desperate to create a world that brings her joy, she finally feels her world is complete when she meets Theo. Despite all the pain, heartache and fighting to survive, Theo turns up and her world finally feels complete.

The only thing is… Theo doesn’t want children. Theo has his own baggage, and most of the time it seems so heavy he is suffocating by it. He can’t begin to imagine bringing a child into a world he feels is so cruel and cold.

Theo won’t open up, he can’t open up. But his reluctance to share and his insistence on a child-free life is tearing them apart.

These two damaged souls with so much love to give, find each other at a time in life when they surely can fix each other’s broken parts.

Amanda Prowse is skilled, of that there is no doubt. Her ability to seamlessly weave comical, humorous everyday life with heart-wrenching, guttural and painful moments is a testament to her. Amanda has carefully and expertly explored the true life of a child in care and how it can affect their life going forward.

The small notes of grief that are sprinkled throughout the book seem to sprout through the concrete at the most inopportune of moments. But isn’t that exactly how grief works? Popping up when you least expect it, with reminders and lessons when you are not even aware you are seeking them?

Throughout this book, I laughed and I cried. The air was sucked from my chest each time I felt the world fall apart around Anna and my heart soared each time I witnessed her triumph. Anna became my best friend, my confidant, my sister and my soul mate. And when I turned the last page, I died just a little inside… desperate to know how the story starts/ends/continues. I have questions, I have arguments in my head left unvoiced. I have pains left un-soothed and wounds left wide open.

But it’s ok… because I didn’t have long to wait … Theo was set for publication just a month after the release of Anna and I am settling down to read his side of the story.

Although I am left in no doubt that finishing that book will undoubtedly leave me with another book hangover, I am also certain that knowing Amanda, she has more than a few surprises up her sleeve and I, for one, can’t wait to dive right in.

Well done Amanda. I am, once again, utterly floored by your talent.

With every book I read by Amanda Prowse, I like her a little bit more. Her characters feel real, with all their imperfections and imperfect reactions to the things life throws their way. “Anna” is no exception. The premise of “Anna”, and “Theo” which follows, is that it is one love story that’s told from two points of view, that of each half of a couple. Anna is the first, and while it isn’t a first person narrative, we do see things from her point of view. Anna is a young woman who’s had an extremely difficult (and at times frightening) childhood, but nonetheless she’s able to maintain a positive outlook on life and the possibilities of the future. When she meets Theo she thinks she’s found the ideal man and that she’s stumbled into a fairytale, but despite coming from wildly different backgrounds, they’ve both had damaging childhoods that end up making their life together more difficult than they’d expected. I loved Anna’s optimism, and it broke my heart to see her struggle to maintain it. And as soon as I got to the end of her story, I went right out to find and read Theo’s story, in which we saw his background and his own struggles with life. I very much enjoyed both stories, and while there were inevitably parts that were repetitive, the difference in perspective helped that from becoming tedious.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Amanda Prowse is one very talented author. Absolutely loved reading Anna’s story and look forward to reading about Theo.

A heartfelt, roller coaster of a read with characters that you can’t help but like and want to follow their story.

Thank you

From the first two chapters I knew that this story was going to be a rollercoaster of a ride - I wasn't wrong! It kept me interested and I laughed and cried in equal measures. I was hooked and hoping that Anna found her happy ever after, after such a horrid and tragic childhood. This is the second book I've read by Amanda and I love her style of writing. She manages to draw the reader in and you always feel invested in the story and characters who are both believable and strong. I have just started reading the second story in the series Theo and I can't wait to meet Anna again in his version of their tale as I felt that this book just wasn't finished with how it ended. I hope Theo will tie up these loose ends for me when I get to the same part of the story.