Ten Little Words is an engaging story with a dual plotline which is perfectly executed. It has strong and likable characters which keep you invested with the plot. A really well crafted and enjoyable read.

I wanted to love this book but I just couldn't really engage in the characters. The duel storyline and time jumps worked well in this instance, but the ending seemed a little too unrealistic for me. Jude comes back and immediately all is forgiven? Given all the emotions that Ella has for Jude throughout the book, I felt the ending was a little too happy ever after. As well, I had a difficult time believing that Ella would change her behaviour and suddenly take off for Scotland in the first place. This book didn't really work for me but I didn't hate it, either.

When Ella was 5 years old,  her mother walked into the sea and was presumed dead. 30 years later,  Ella has still not forgiven her mother for abandoning her, especially when she always said "I am always with you. I will always be here." Ella has grown up shutting everyone out of her life because of her mother's betrayal. One day she comes upon a newspaper with those same ten words, she refuses to believe there is a chance her mother is still alive, but she cannot ignore it and decides to find out once and for all. 

I felt the book moved pretty slowly and there weren't really any surprises that I hadn't already figured out, however it was a nice story and I appreciated the way everything wrapped up. 
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC of this book.

I am always with you.  I will always be here. 

Ella’s mother would say those words to her ever night until one day she walked into the sea, leaving her when she was only 5 years old alone in the world.  Ella has spent her life angry and wondering why she would say those words to her and then leave her.  Then one day she opens up the paper to find the exact words printed in the classifieds. This leads her on a journey to discover what happened all those years ago.

Along the journey, Ella unearths pieces of truth that she patches together. Ella is surprised to learn the true meaning behind those words. Now that she had bright sunlight on the situation will she now be able to love and be loved? Will she be able to live with what she has discovered?

This was a very thought provoking story. Although it was not what I was expecting I truly enjoyed it. I think it highlights that words matter, especially when that is all you have to hold on to. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy.  The thoughts and opinions are my own.

After promising Ella in ten little words that she would never leave her, Ella’s mum Jude is dead. For thirty years Ella has felt betrayed. Even though she was adopted by her Aunt Carolyn she still feels there’s no place for her in this world. She lives alone with her cat, has the same lunch every day at work and never socialises - merely exists. But everything changes one day when she opens a paper and sees a ten word advert in the classifieds. She refuses to believe her mum is still alive but feels compelled to find out exactly what happened all those years ago. 

This book is well written with likeable characters and I found myself easily drawn into the novel. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

This is another hard book for me to rate because I have such mixed feelings about it. I think Mercer did an amazing job of capturing how much pain the characters were carrying, so much so that it was actually painful and frustrating to read at first. I really didn't like Ella at all even though I knew she'd had trauma I just thought she was kind of horrible. The writing style was clear and accessible making this an easy book to get lost in and I was invested in it. I did find though that in the second half everything felt a little too easy after starting out so painful. Overall a decent read.

Ella is a tortured soul. Her father died when she was a baby and her mother committing suicide when she was five, she has never been able to get past the grief and allow the world to come and let her live a happy life, holding everyone and everything at arms reach. She has lived with her aunt and uncle who have done the very best they could for her, but her almost savage belief that her mother was still alive meant that the love they showered upon her was rejected. Now she is 35 years old and living a life devoid of emotions and people, barely a shell of a person, until the day,  the anniversary of her mothers birthday when she sees the classified advertisement in a national newspaper with the words “I am always with you. I will always be here” – the very words that her mother would say to her before she fell asleep every night. After so many years of suppressing her feelings and desire for her mother to be alive, hope rises again. And then some letters addressed to her mother find their way to Ella’s keeping, which leads her to Bertie, who lives in Edinburgh but is afflicted with Alzheimer’s, meaning his memories are sometimes muddled. Bertie is a link to her mothers past, as he was, is still in love with Jude and wonders even now, over 30 years later, why she left him suddenly with no explanation. Interspersed in the chapters of Ella we read the back story of her mother Jude, the factors that lead to her life decisions that will have ramifications for everyone she leaves behind.  And the question that the reader cannot help but ask, can Ella make peace with her troubled past and find a new way to live a fulfilling life in which she welcomes people and love back in her life?

This book is sold as women’s fiction, which generally means it has a happy ever after ending, and this book follows that rule to the end. There is the happy ever after, but it leaves the reader with a glow that things work out the way they are meant to and our main character has some closure and life renewed with hope and contentment. Ella is well drawn in her shadowy self; we feel her hurt that she carries everywhere with her, we feel her loneliness. We also have the story of Jude and understand her happiness with the love of her life Bertie and then her horror at circumstances that separate her from Bertie forever, and the grief she spirals into before the fateful day she walks into the sea and drowns herself. All of it wraps around itself neatly and makes for an engaging story that will leave the reader satisfied.

Trigger Warning - Rape

This is the story of Ella and her mom Jude - Jude is the pier singer at hastings and is just waiting to go to London for fame and fortune as a singer. However she meets Bertie and London then takes a back berner, she moves to Scotland with him and is due to get married. A chance to go on tour with an up and coming band stops all wedding plans and Jude goes on a tour of all tours where she is noticed to be a star in her own right. 

Ella was left with her aunt when her mom is believed to have walked into the sea. Ella is feeling she cant let anyone in and should lock the world out as she is not worthy. She has her dream job, but does not socialise with any of her work colleagues. Even her neighbour doesn't know Ella. All she wants is her mom to come back, but knowing that won't happen is eating her up and making her a bitter person. Then there is a personal message in the classified which says the 10 Little words Ella’s mom used to say to her.

What follows is a pure fantastic book which explores the emotions of family and what can go wrong when secrets are kept. The description of places is so good you can feel yourself on the beach front or in a cottage in Edinburgh. The characters are so lovable you want them for your family. I can honestly say I loved every page of this book and will be looking for more books by Leah.

"The past wasn't behind us, and it could never be laid to rest. The past was within us. We could barricade ourselves from the outside world as much as we liked, but it would still be there, lying dormant, just waiting for a chance to break into our lives again."

I finished this book within a day, I just couldn't put it down. In some ways Ella reminded me of "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine": she has a regular job and is happy on her own, she doesn't like to have to deal with people and enjoys to stay in and read. She tries to live a normal life without having to think about why her mother left her when she was just 5 years old. Her mother went into the water, but Ella rejects to believe that she died. After years hoping her mother will come back to to keep the promise of "I am always with you. I will always be here" Ella starts to give in and accepts her mothers death to protect herself from being hurt over and over again. But seeing an ad in a local newspaper saying the exact ten little words her mother always told her shook the foundation of her world. Could it be, that her mom hasn't died after all and tries to reach out? Asking her aunt about the details of her mom's disappearance leads to discovering her mother as an authentic person and not just the ideal she had of her in her mind all those years. I loved how the story deals with loss and how it haunts you years, even decades later. It was a beautiful story and I can't wait to read more of Leah Mercer's work.

Thanks netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book truly starts off with a bang when Jude goes missing. Flying back and forth through time with Jude and Ella, this novel takes you on an adventure that will warm your heart and knot your stomach at the same time. The book kept a good steady pace and although at times it seems a bit predictable, Leah Mercer has a great way of proving you wrong.

I really enjoyed this novel. Perking my interest from page one I whizzed through this book in a few hours, holding my interest all the way. That's one of my indicators of a great book. We all know there is nothing worse than getting to 50% and still not getting hooked into what we are reading. 

The book starts dramatically and grabbed me straight away, I had to know what happened.

The book is written from two perspectives over two different timelines, a mother and a grown daughter telling their stories that intertwine into an emotional narrative. Each character I connected with and got to know as I read, intrigued to know them and where the story was going. Jude, the mother and Ella, the daughter were written really well by the author in that you could connect and see them as real people. Plenty of emotions in this novel and a plot that in part surprised me and also confirmed for me where I thought it may go. 

As other key characters are introduced the novel just got more interesting. It covers love, loss, grief, regret, pain, anger, denial, fear and so many other human emotions. If you like novels that tap into flawed people and their mistakes, choices and consequences you will really enjoy this book. 

I was fascinated in following both timelines and hearing the voice of Mother and Daughter. Despite having a strong inkling of a key truth in the whole story it didn't distract or disappoint me by the time it was revealed. What was even better is there were still surprises in store. The plot is steady and the writing very readable. The only reason this didn't get five stars as I felt the ending was unrealistic and it had a sense of being rushed and put together that way to get the book to it's ending. The end encounters were just too easy and far-fetched as to happen the way it was portrayed in the novel. 

I loved the end outcome, just wish how it was delivered had more realism and depth. Not so flippant. Regardless,  I really enjoyed this book and the way it tackled how assumptions and presumptions can impact your choices and life direction dramatically. That's what this book really expresses, the outcome of decisions, some made in haste and the consequences of those. 

Leah Mercer has written a book that depicts the faults in all of us, taking flawed people and telling a story that keeps you wanting more of their individual tales that interlock at the same time. This was a good read and I would be really keen to read more from Leah.

I completely loved the dual story line. Leah Mercer done such an incredible job showing the effects of drama and loss from every point of view. I learned not to judge until I have all cards in front of me and even then, I have to look carefully and observe the big picture.
TEN LITTLE WORDS by Leah Mercer is a family drama with a perfectly crafted plot and characters that are so real, anyone can relate with. The more I read, the more I wanted and I tried to guess what happened, I tried to imagine Jude alive and asked myself why would she run away from her child. Also, getting deep into the story I judged both Jude and Ella for some of their decisions and changed my mind later on. Towards the end, it all made sense and I got to understand just how loss and drama will haunt and destroy your life, how a woman is able to sacrifice her life and happiness to protect her loved ones.

… I am always with you. I will always be here... – these ten little words intrigued me and made me read this beautiful novel and I do not regret it one bit. Family find each other in time and love has always been the key

Totally recommend it

I enjoyed reading this book and really felt for Ella after losing her mother. Even thirty years later, she was still plagued by her departure and had trouble moving on from it. Her pain and anger created a barrier around her, as if to protect herself from more pain, but after reading a classified ad, she is left with a sense of hope that her mother might still be out there. She is torn with whether or not to pursue the possibility of her mother being alive, and what she discovers along the way is eye opening.

This book did a great job of showing how our experiences affect our every day lives and how they can in turn affect others. The way that Ella’s mother (Jade) left had such a huge impact on her life, and it all stemmed back to Jade’s painful past. It makes the reader wonder if Ella had been aware of what happened to Jade from the very beginning, would her life still have turned out the same way or would she be more understanding and empathetic of the way her mother felt all those years ago. It’s an interesting thought, and while I expected Ella to remain angry, I think the truth made her open her heart even more.

Overall great read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3329855562

Ella has spent most of her life believing her mother is dead until a newspaper ad and a meeting with an old man start to make her doubt it. Should she look for a woman who may not even exist and, if she were to find her, how would she feel towards a mother who abandoned her when she was only five? A little drawn out in places, especially at the end, but a good, thought-provoking and emotional read.

It was a tad hard to understand in the beginning but overall I enjoyed it.although I thought the story line was strange. I did not understand why a Mom would leave her daughter without making sure 100% that there was no issues. It is a beach read.

Thank you for providing me a copy of this book. 
Sorry I wasn't able to go on and finish this. 
It just didn’t work for me. 
I'll try again next time and leave a feedback.

A good family drama, well written with interesting characters and I can recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Ella believed since she was 5 years old that her mother walked out into the sea. But 30 years later, she sees a post in the newspaper with the ten words her mother said to her every day before she disappeared.

Ella starts to wonder if her mother really died or if she’s still out there. She finds letters addressed to her mother from a man, love letters written as if she had never died. She goes to Bertie and learns things about her mother. Along her journey, she gains this new confidence and no longer believes that she has to live a life all alone. But is her mother really gone?

I love books with two or more points of view. The chapters go back and forth between Ella and her mother Jude. You learn pieces of Jude’s history before she leaves Ella. You watch Ella gain confidence and learn to trust others. You see a one of a kind love story from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher/author for my advanced e-book copy! Keep your eye out for this one when it publishes in July!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for letting me read and review this advanced reader copy. 

Synopsis:

“I am always with you, I will always be here.” This is a promise made to Ella by her mother, a promise Ella believes until one day her mother walks into the sea and disappears, her body never found. Raised by her Aunt, Ella accepts that she lost her mother for good but thirty years later Ella spots something that could change everything. An ad in the newspaper, those ten words and nothing else. Ella’s memories of her mother soon flood back and she begins to question if she is dead afterall and begins a search for answers. 

Review:
I have read many thrillers lately so a woman’s fiction read was just what I needed. Both the book cover and description caught my attention and hinted that Ten Little words may be an emotional rollercoaster. The reviews for this book also looked very promising so I couldn’t wait to find out for myself. 

The opening instantly hit me with a wave of sadness and I instantly began to feel sorry for Ella and her mother a little. As I got to know the characters, I found that most were very likeable especially Ella. She was a strong character who had emotionally built up walls and I was looking forward to seeing how she would develop as some of the barriers she had built were knocked down. I also found Ella relatable due to the fact that she escapes from reality was books, just like mine. As the story progressed and you saw Ella begin to thaw out, some of those moments I found quite touching. 

Bertie was another character I connected well with, he was the perfect gentleman, despite me being quite sceptical about him at first, he won my heart and all I wanted for him was a happy ending. As for Jude, Ellie’s mother, I did feel for her in some parts but I felt her actions were not always justified, I felt my connect with her wasn’t as strong. 
The story is told from both Ella and Jude’s perspective which I enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to really get to know these women and be in their heads. The chapters were also very clear and easy to follow. However, I did feel the story moved a little too slow for my linking, there was quite a big build up and when we got to the climax it was quite frustrating to know that some of the events could have possibly been avoided, but there again if this was the case then we wouldn’t have a story. I also found that I was able to predict many of the events that would unfold which unfortunately didn’t leave me feeling the warm fuzz I would have liked.
 
Ten Little Words did tug on my heart strings at times, there were many tender and sweet moments with some lovely true sayings. It also did a lovely job of touching on the issue of mental health. When the story did pick up, there were little twists and turns that did sneak up on you which I liked. I honestly wanted a happy ending for everyone and the power of love was highlighted all the way through this read, without spoiling anything, I got the ending I wanted. So despite this read not giving the wow factor or a buzz, I did think it was a lovely little unique love story.

I received this book free from Net Galley  in exchange for an honest review. While the book was well written And a good story, it was also predictable. I liked that it gave two different perspectives (mother and daughter) but I wasn’t able to connect emotionally with either one. It was like looking through a window of someone’s house: sometimes you want to see more and be invited in. I gave it 3 stars because the book just didn’t draw me in.