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.

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.