This is a book for mothers and sisters to read. Being neither of these, I think the emotions of the book were lost in my reading. I chose this #readnow option because I love reading novels set in England but never connected with the characters or plot. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel that would be a great #bookclub selection to discuss the different woman characters. 📚📚📚 #netgalley #netgalleyreview #amazonukreview #booklover #bookreview

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read and just what I needed. Whilst I can appreciate the more serious themes of the book, I did not feel like it was considerably memorable. The characters were great and very distinct, and I  liked how we could see their different personalities through how they lived their lives. However, I did not see the book as life changing or one I would insist on recommending to friends. I would recommend it to people needing a relief from the current situation.

The last piece is the story of a family where as the title suggests there is a missing piece. The three daughters all have very different characters and all have their own difficulties in life. As the plot thickens, the story does not develop as you would expect.
It is a nice summer read and easy going. The ending has an unexpected twist.

A nicely written book about a long-hidden secret and the aftermath of its revelation. Well-drawn characters and believable family dynamics showcase the hopefulness and the messiness of real life.

I really enjoyed this book.  Cecily travels to Greece without telling her daughters why.   
Cecily arrives in Kefalonia not sure what to expect.

The story is set around Cecily and her husband and their three daughters and their  lives.  Lots of twists and turns and the insight to each family and their love for each other.

I won't say anymore as I don't want to give too much away, just to say read the book and enjoy it as I have done.

What would you do if you unexpectdly received a letter summoning you to Greece for a week in order to  settle the past? Cecily finds herself at a Yoga Retreat meeting someone she has not seen in 50 years. 

The Last Piece by Imogen Clark is a wholesome family novel highlighting the importance that each family member brings to the table. Cecily loves to be surrounded by her three adult children yet still feels like there is a missing piece of her family puzzle. Cecily ventures on a journey of discovery which brings truth, tension, trouble yet ultimate resolution to her family life. 

The Last Piece is split into parts which flit between scenes in Greece and life back in England allowing the reader to see both sides of the story. Trigger content for readers may be feelings of emotional abandonment provoked by adoption.

The Last Piece is a family drama centering on the Nightingale family - dad Norman, mum Cecily and their grown-up daughters Felicity, Julia & Lily. The novel begins with Cecily going to Greece at short notice when she receives a mysterious letter, the reason for her departure unbeknownst to her daughters. What unfolds will change all of their lives.

I like Imogen's style of writing as the characters are very believable & relatable. Having two sisters myself, I could really understand the relationship between Felicity, Julia & Lily, their similarities & differences. The subject matter was obviously very well researched, as were the locations.

This was an easy, enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this novel if you like stories dealing with family relationships.

I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book! It was so well written, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, so much so that I basically devoured this novel in one sitting. The story line unfolded little by little, revealing small snippets and secrets along the way, which made it a total page turner. 

This was a story of a family, and long buried secrets waiting to be explored and revealed. Cecily is married to Norman and they have three daughters and are proud grandparents. The story begins with Cecily uncharacteristically leaving abruptly on a trip to Greece and her daughters wonder what their mother is up to. Cecily goes on a journey to confront her past and return home to share her truth with her family. This is the story of love, heartache, family, loss and new beginnings and endings, that will tug at your heart strings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. It was a gift to be able to read this story and share a review. I hope everyone will get a chance to read this beautiful story.

Cecily is the grounding force and heart of the Nightingale family. Mother to three daughters and granny to five grandsons, she leaves the family home to fly to Kefalonia on an urgent matter that only husband Norman understands. While there, she faces up to her past, a past that hasn’t left her mind in five decades. Once home, she must tell her family exactly what has happened – but it’s clear that she’s not the only person with a secret. The characters are endearing and warm and you feel for the whole family.

SeeI love Imogen Clark's writing style and this book is a winner. It is so well-written, with well detailed characters and a fantastic plot. A heartwarming family story that is filled with love, arguments, lots of family and a secret that threatens the stability of this big family. It centers on a mother who raised three daughters after having given up a baby girl as a teenager 50 years ago. I received the ARC this morning and just finished it this very second. It's that good of a book. The family dynamics and love will tug at your heartstrings. An absolutely enjoyable read.

I would like to thank Imogen Clark, Amazon Publishing U.K. and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you, Imogen, for asking me to read this book pre-release.
 I hadn’t read any of Imogen Clark’s books before this one. as they weren’t the genre I usually chose; however, I was very pleasantly surprised by this one.  I liked it. Told from the perspective of Cecily, the mother, the story is told in present time and also dips back into the 1960s.  It begins with three sisters all wondering why their mother had taken off to Greece without forewarning them and in some instance not to their convenience. 
Who was to have Hugo that Monday morning, when Felicity goes to her high flying job; who would Lily, mother of 5 boys be able to phone every day for a comfort chat, and Julia, a busy GP, wondered who would be able to check on Dad to make sure he ate properly?  I liked that these characters were explained right at the beginning, , nothing worse than wondering who's who in a book, pages on..
As the story unravels, we learn of a secret past of Cecily.  This was in the 1960s and I think was well researched. because it .rang true.  
 I loved Cecily and Norman her husband, their characters were very sincere.  I liked their life style, comfortable with a home that welcomed all the family for Sunday dinners. Isn’t this what a lot of families of older parents are like, husband doing a never-ending jigsaws and the wife cooking dinners?
 I wanted everything to work out for her, I wanted her past to lead to a happy relationship, I was sad for her and felt her hurts, I wanted it all to end happily. And did it? Perhaps, but not in the way I thought it might. 
It was a book into which I was lost and isn’t that a good story, one that takes you out of your place and into theirs. I liked this book, I enjoyed reading it and recommend it  And I’m definitely going to read another Imogen Clark book.

This book is about family and how family life has changed. What is acceptable now, wasn’t always. But is it really acceptable now ........

Cecily has a secret. One that has been kept from her children. She has three daughters, Felicity, the oldest and twins Julia and Lily. When Cecily suddenly flies off to Greece, her daughters are shocked and even angered. Cecily was supposed to look after her grandson that day. Cecily never does anything out of character. 

I was drawn into the lives of Cecily, her husband and her children’s lives from the first sentence. 
Imogen Clark has expertly woven present day with interludes into the past. Attitudes have changed except sometimes they haven’t.

I’m not giving any spoilers, but I was shocked at how life was in 1968. Imogen has really researched this book.  I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too

IMOGEN CLARK – THE LAST PIECE

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

As it must be for an author, releasing their fledgling child into the big wide world for others to greet with warmth or tear apart, so too is it for an avid reader approaching the latest work of a favourite author, not wanting to be disappointed by the new-born, yet wanting to lend encouragement nevertheless.

Phew! Sweat flicked from the brow! I’m happy to report that not only is this child is fully fledged, it is an outright winner. More than equipped to fly the nest solo. It’s one of her best.

What more could one want in lockdown? A visit to the blue skies of Greece? Teas in Bettys of Harrogate? An interesting and likeable family to meet – three very diverse daughters, each with their own secret, a mother and father of whom anyone would be proud to call their parents… and a powerful spanner thrust into their happy nest.

It is this spanner, a bolt from the past, which starts the story, and sends Cecily, the mother, hotfooting it to Kefalonia, uncharacteristically tight-lipped about her mission to Norman, her husband, and the rest of her family. 

How each daughter reacts, and what Cecily finds when she gets there, form this page-turner of a story. I admit that I had to ration myself to two chapters at a time, otherwise I would have raced through it at one sitting – and I am a person who likes to savour the nuances of the journey rather than rush from point A to point B. And what a point B. Daring and unexpected and yet right. No spoilers here: read and enjoy!

If this doesn’t reach Number One – well, if I wore one, I would eat my sun hat. And when it does, perhaps treat myself to a Fat Rascal. (You’ll get that, when you read the book!). I know which is the better bet. Yum yum!

A well written, heartwarming family drama about a mother who raised 3 daughters and meets the daughter she gave up when she was a teenager.

I started reading Imogen's books with Postcards from a Stranger and have devoured the rest since then.

Getting an advanced copy of this was an amazing opportunity. I downloaded it last night, waited until I had uninterrupted time this afternoon and read the whole thing. I was utterly gripped.

The story is told from the perspectives of mum (Cecily), dad (Norman) and 3 daughters (Lily, Julia, Felicity) all taking place after Cecily suddenly gets on a plane to Greece without telling her daughters why.

I had an inkling of what the reason was but the explanation for the trip and the backstory when explained fully was heartbreaking and clearly well researched.

I already want to know more about Lily, Julia and Felicity after the events of the book!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.