This is not my first time giving this author's book a go. They haven't really been my taste. But this description, well I just couldn't pass it by. And yet, it fell exactly in the same place her other books fell for me. Intensely good premise but not well executed. I wanted more to the plot than the description gave me. This book is almost like one of those movies that shows you all the interesting parts in the preview and then you watch the movie and feel like you really only needed to see the preview and save your time and money. This is almost like that. I mean, you have to stick around to find out the diagnosis, but everything else could have be told in a novella. And a lot of it seems far-reaching. In order to keep the pages coming, there is a lot of repetition and overwriting to get the page count up. But it doesn't keep the reader going. I found myself skimming just to get through.

This was a brilliant, emotional and thought provoking read. It had me hooked from the first page. I felt engaged and drawn in all the way through. 

Highly recommended and well worthy of 5 stars. 

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley.

This was a very emotional and thought provoking story.  It was very well written and will grab you at the beginning and not let go. 
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. This is a new author for me and looking forward to reading more.

A emotive captivating story of a mothers love and the lengths they go to for their children. Written beautifully and sensitively as its dealing with some hard hitting subjects.

As a single mum thats got 2 children with diagnoses and had dealings with social services, i could resonate with Madeleine a lot! The frustations and emotions are captured perfectly

I whizzed through this and highly recommend .

Published 15th july

If your child is ill and no one believes you, what would you do? Having to fight for what you believe is happening for the sake of your child....WOW! What a 5 star read this was!! It is my first by Sam Vickery, but will not be my last! Growing up, my mom always told me to follow your gut, your sixth sense, which is what Madeline does in this book! What an emotional journey this took me on....I loved it! 5 stars and I highly recommend! 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review

I loved the premise of this book as i have two grown up sons of my own and i know if they were ill how much i would fight to get them the medical help they needed.Madeline is pandering to Tilly's eating habits and retaliates by becoming over strict with her.
Laura Madeline’s long time friend and G.P tends to agree with him but he seems to have influence over Laura because of her hidden feelings for him.
As Tilly’s  condition worsens emotions run high between the adults. Madeline knows her gut reaction is that her daughter  is seriously ill and she never deviates from this path even when her own sanity is questioned by the medics..Adam i found was quite an irritating character who came across as a bit of a bully to his ex wife and daughter and Laura i found weak and influenced by her feelings for Adam.It was only when the secrets of the past surfaced that i had a tiny bit of empathy for her. On the other hand Madeline was likeable ,
devoted to her daughter and fought courageously to get answers for her.
Tilly herself was a sweet little character and it hurt to read of her suffering especially given the lack of support from her daddy.
This book was beautifully written and a truly moving account of a mother’s courage and fight for a child despite the doubts of everyone.
Without giving the plot away i was disappointed at the very end with some medical discrepancies re the diagnosis (I have this condition myself)but overall a lovely read.

4 and half stars from me
also reviewed on goodreads

# One Last Second # Netgalley 

What a emotional heartbreaking story of a mothers love to protect her child and hopefully to get her better. But when no one not even her ex husband Adam doesn’t believe Maddy. He just accuses her basicky of pampering  and giving into her. If her ex doesn’t believe her what chance as she got. Her best friend Laura as time goes on especially her being a doctor is stating to doubt Tilly is actually Il however maddy continues to fight to get her daughter treated she just knows deep down Tilly is ill. It’s a powerful book of emotional fight for a mothers love and fear for her child. It’s also about her best friend Laura Adam her ex husband. The dimensions of their friendship. Who both Adan and Laura Turn against Maddy regarding Tilly have you tissues ready because you will need them. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Fight for what’s right. What I noticed was how extremely true to life it was. I don’t want to put any spoilers but I genuinely think this is a book that every parent should read. It’s trike mesmerising with such powerful love of a mothers love. The relationship between mother and daughters is beautiful. Just a shame his no one brlivers her.

I "liked" this book, at first, but then I met the other characters.  I thought it would be a loving couple dealing with a sick child.  But, instead, we end up with a story of a divorced couple who has a sick child, an ex husband who thinks he can do no wrong and feels superior to everyone else and the Mother, who sees her child is ill but is brushed off by everyone including the medical field.  It was confusing to read as it bounced from THEN and NOW.  I read nothing of who had full custody of the child which would have simplified matters.  The Nursing staff was believable as I have come in contact with both kinds.  I felt sorry for Tilly, sick, unable to have a normal like and feeling she has to tell her father she's sorry when she's sick.  Thanks to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this for an honest opinion.

5☆ A Powerful, Raw and Thought Provoking Novel that will stay with you for a long time!

One Last Second is a heartbreaking and poignant story about a Mother's fight to prove that her child is sick and she isn't going crazy!

When I read the blurb for One Last Second it instantly drew me in. 

Maddie is Mum to 6yr old Tilly. I'm not a mum yet, but I do know that Mums always know best and if your Mum is saying something isn't right they are not normally wrong.

But for Maddie this was the opposite, no one would believe that Tilly was really sick. Tilly's Dad (Maddie'sEx) , her best friend, or the hospital, all think Maddie is over reacting and there isn't anything wrong.

But can Maddie prove that Tilly is really sick before things start to spiral out of control.

Wow did my heart break for Maddie, I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to have a sick child that no one believes is really sick.
I have an invisible illness and it took me alot of fight to get listened to and diagnosed because of my age so in that respective I could relate.
Maddie was so strong and determined to fight for Tilly it just goes to show how much strength and protection mothers have.

The characters are superbly written and relatable.
I really liked that the story was told via past and present as you got to build up a connection with the characters stories.

One Last Second is a heartbreaking, powerful, thought provoking and raw novel that will get under your skin, take you on a whirlwind of emotions, and leave you contemplating long after you close the book.





Thank you to Sarah at BOTBS Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review 

Her child is seriously ill and no one believes her, not her ex-husband or her best friend not even the doctors. This is about  a mother fighting for her child before it’s too late. The story is an emotional page turner . The pain and frustration is real . 5 stars.

I loved this book.   It was an emotional roller coaster like no other I've been on.  This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from them.  It is a well written story that I was pulled into right from the beginning.  The characters made the story easy to read and they made the story pop.  I had no problem connecting with the characters.  This is a story about a mother determined to get medical attention to her daughter and the struggle she goes through to get what she wants.  It is a story of family and friendship as well.  I highly recommend this book.  It is a must read!

This book was just ok. I stayed with it until the end because I wanted to see the conclusion, but I felt it was page after page of how Maddie felt about Tilly's symptoms and when it was about Laura it was page after page about her feelings for Adam. Adam's character wasn't fully explained at all. This would have been better as a short story.

Wow!  What a heartbreaking and thoughtful book.  Imagine you know your child is ill and no one seems to take you seriously.  This is the problem faced by now single mum Madeline over her daughter Tilly.  Her ex thinks she is projecting and overreacting, while her best friend, a doctor, sides against her.  How do you save your child when no one will listen?

TRIGGER WARNING: this novel deals with child illness, mental health and eating disorders
Every parent's nightmare. A sick child. Tilly has been accused of being a fussy eater but now she is repeatedly vomiting and hospitalised. Her mother Maddie is convinced there is something seriously wrong with her, but Adam is adamant the symptoms are psychosomatic. The medical staff even begin to suspect that Maddie could be harming her daughter...
The plot is delivered through two timelines and two narratives, Maddie and her best friend Laura in the past and present. Tilly has been ill for a long time and Laura, a GP, was not able to diagnose her and it was getting in the way of her friendship with Maddie. Laura has always secretly been in love with Adam so this adds an extra dynamic to the plot and character relationships.
One Last Second was such an emotive book. I honestly had no idea whether to believe Maddie or if her mental health issues could be resulting in Tilly's illness. It was very easy to see both viewpoints and I could easily understand Adam's doubts and frustrations. Parenting is very tricky and getting the balance right is too! I worry about making too much fuss and being labelled as an overbearing mother, but also making too little fuss and being seen as almost neglectful.
I understand that social services are over pressured and have the best intentions but the majority of parents know and care for their child. Yet when two parents differ in their viewpoint and Adam genuinely hasn't seen Tilly being so ill, it is natural that concerns are raised so the plot was convincing.
Overall, One Last Second was a gripping and heartbreaking book, often uncomfortable to read due to the depth of emotions it inspired in me as a mother.

Oh my goodness, what an emotional read this was. I raced through it hoping it would have a happy ending. Read it to find out . Highly recommended

One Last Second is about every mother's worst nightmare. Imagine knowing that something is killing your child and nobody, not even her father, is willing to believe you. Madeline's six year old daughter, Tilly, gets sick every time she eats. Tilly's father and Madeline's ex-husband, Adam thinks Madeline is being overprotective of Tilly's fussy eating. Even their best friend, Laura, takes Adam's side in this matter. But then one day, Tilly faints and is rushed to the hospital. The doctors however insist that she is fine with Adam and Laura agreeing with their diagnosis. Then another night, Tilly ends up vomiting so much that she is severely dehydrated and is again taken to hospital. Everything starts going downhill from there. The more Madeline insists that something is wrong, the higher the risk that Tilly will be taken from her. But Madeline knows in her heart that something is terribly wrong. After a while, Adam and Laura start thinking that things will be better if Tilly stays with Adam instead.

This book was intense for me to read as a mother. I honestly don't know how I would survive it if I was in Madeline's place. At six years old, you want your child to be happy and without a care in the world, not in pain every single time he/she tries to eat.

Tilly was beautiful though. She was just as fiercely devoted to her mother as Madeline was to her. Their relationship was lovely to read about. She loved Adam as well but due to his insistence that she was making up her issues, their relationship was very strained throughout the book. I did not understand Laura though. From the time she was introduced, I found myself wondering how Madeline could not have known how she felt. It was so obvious.

The story happened in two perspectives. The present and some recollections of the past at the beginning of Madeline & Adam's romance. The plot moved at a good pace and the character development was well done. I closed the book feeling quite satisfied by what I had just read.

Suitable audience: Older teenagers and adults who enjoy women's fiction

Recurrent themes: Motherhood. Fear. Sickness. Unrequited love

Violence: None. A character was escorted out of a hospital by police officers which may have been disturbing for some readers
Sexual Content: There was one scene of sex which may make some readers uncomfortable
Profanity: Instances of obscene language
Religious Themes: None
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Some of all three was done by different characters in some of the scenes in the past

I have thought long and hard before giving this book 3 stars. I think parts of this book are really well written and I can empathise totally with a mother’s fight to be believed when she knows that her child is ill. I liked knowing the history of Adam, Maddy and Laura’s relationship. 
I think though that Ehlers Danlos Syndrome could have been talked about and explained more. It is not as rare as the story says it is. Hyper mobile EDS has many different forms and severities. There is a lot of online information and support. I have EDS and whilst I am glad that it is being talked about more I feel that there should have been more information about the condition itself.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I loved this book. It is about a mother’s struggle to fight for her daughter when no one else believes her, even her ex-husband. As a mother I can fully relate to the story. The writing portrays the story perfectly. I would highly recommend this book!

Maddie, Aiden & Laura have been friends since school days. Maddie was the extrovert, the one to be found at the centre of things. Laura was quieter & tended to hang back, which was why she didn't go to speak to Aiden all those years ago & became the bridesmaid instead of the bride. She is now a G.P. never having the confidence to become the surgeon her father hoped she would be. Maddie & Aiden married & had a daughter, Tilly, who is now six. Much to everyone's surprise Maddie had decided their marriage was over & now Aiden just sees Tilly at weekends. One evening when she returns home she is violently sick & passes out. Maddie calls an ambulance. This is not the first time she has taken her to hospital. Tilly has always struggled with food. Aiden (& Laura) think it is just picky eating but Maddie is convinced Tilly is really sick- but how can she get her voice heard?

This was a hard read at times. My heart went out to Tilly, but at times I found it difficult to accept Maddie's actions. Although she was desperate to do the best for her child I felt her reactions must have made it harder for poor Tilly. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this thought provoking book.

This is actually a difficult book to review. Not because I didn’t like it, quite the opposite. I loved it so much that it’s difficult to describe quite how wonderful this book is.

Straight away I was totally consumed by this book. I was totally absorbed into the world of the characters. I literally sat all evening reading this, because I couldn’t put it down.

It’s so well written. It’s told from both Madeleine and Laura’s points of view. They’ve been friends for most of their lives, and the lives of them all, including Adam, are very intertwined. There are chapters which delve into the past, which give us a real insight into their relationships.

I couldn’t tell if Madeleine was a very over protective mother, or if her instinct was right. Poor Tilly certainly seemed very ill, but when we get Laura’s perspective on things, it casts a little bit of doubt. Either way, I really felt for Madeleine, you could feel her urgency and fear.

I won’t say too much about the plot, for fear of spoiling it, but it’s totally compelling and complex.

This is a book that will totally consume you and that won’t let you go. It’s one that will stay with me for a long time. Heart-rending and beautiful.