My thanks to Netgalley for my copy of An Ordinary Life. I've long been an admirer of Amanda Prowse's work but I think this must be the most beautiful of them all. A really charming book which should be sold with an accompanying box of tissues because if you're anything like me you will shed many tears, both of sadness and also happiness. The plot would make a great television series.

The book starts with Molly, an old lady, in present day remembering her life and writing a letter to complete a promise she made to her beloved sister.

We then go back with Molly to the war years, where Molly is helping the war effort by translating documents for the Government. An invitation which is to change the course of her life comes from her best friend, and colleague, when she persuades Molly to come out for a drink with her and her brother after work. This then affect the course of her life.

Molly's war years are extremely hard, and like others she has to make enormous sacrifices, but some sacrifices are enough to test you to breaking point. Then Molly is asked to undertake a mission on behalf of the Government, and she accepts as she will do anything to help shorten the war, and thereby keep safe those she loves.

Molly's life goes through many ups and downs and hardships no one should ever have to face - unfortunately many did in those hard times. Still she comes through and looking back she had anything but An Ordinary Life.

Another fantastic book by this extremely talented author. The characterisations are perfect, with instantly believable and recognisable characters. Various parts of the story probably happened to many people at the time. The story was pacey, and interesting from start to finish, and I didn't want to put it down. The only part I would have changed was the ending but that's subjective. I would have liked her to complete a promise made.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough - and it's one I feel will appeal to a large audience.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3739936127

Molly certainly does not have an ordinary life! She is a remarkable and engaging character, who swiftly becomes under your skin. I simply could not stop reading this enthralling book and was blown away by the bravery and determination of Molly. Set in World War Two, she shows that she is an extraordinary woman who is willing to fight for what she loves, despite the terrible things that befall her. Her resilience is inspiring and on many occasions I found myself in tears for her and the difficult decisions she was compelled to make.
Such an emotional book, it was such a page turner and totally had me absorbed from the first page.
I love historical fiction and I love an emotional journey, this book ticked so many of my boxes for both of these, it’s brilliant!

Well didn't I choose to start the year off with a bang?!

An Ordinary Life tells the tale of a woman who was far from ordinary. Beginning in the present day when the protagonist, Molly, is 94 years old, we then flash back to her late teens, during World War 2, and watch as her life unfolds, filled with moments of joy, sorrow, heartbreak, terror and love. We see the choices she made during the war and how those choices go on to mould the rest of her life until we are brought right back to the present day again.

Elements of the plot were predictable but I think that's always the case with a story which chooses to start at the end and certainly, in the case of this novel, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment. If anything, it heightens the anticipation as you wait for the inevitable to happen. There are a couple of things which happen at the end of the novel, one of which I loved and one I can't decide if I liked or not. Part of me feels it was entirely the right thing to do within the story and another part of me feels it should have been done differently but I can't explain more without spoiling it, so I'll just say you'll have to read it yourself and make up your own mind!

If you like historical fiction with a dash of romance, a splash of action and a lot of heart, then this book is for you.

This book was a definite 5 stars for me!! This is a beautiful story of Molly's life. At 94 years old, Molly always liked to say her life has been ordinary. But, in reality her life has been anything but ordinary. The life of Marvelous Molly was brave and heartbreaking at the same time. I do not want to give any story spoilers here, other than to say READ IT! You will not be sorry.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. After reading this book I look forward to reading other books written by Amanda Prowse.

#AnOrdinaryLife #NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Amanda Prowse for an ARC to review.
5 solid spectacular stars! Amanda's writes characters who will stay forever etched on your memories. An ordinary life tells the tale of an extraordinary woman who lived a life so far from ordinary.
Molly a bright young woman who contributes to the war effort through her translation work and is looking forward to a career and a full life once the awful war is over. An after work dance changes her life's course forever.
Now 94 years old lying in her hospital bed, Molly recounts her life, her losses and her heartaches.
A splendid story about war, love, life, loss, selflessness and anything that's but ordinary!

I read this in ONE day, I could not put it down! I felt attached to Molly and my heart tugged and ached as I read about her present life and her past. I was completely captivated from start to finish. Amanda Prowse is such an amazingly talented author and has written a beautiful and emotional novel. I loved it!

A most wonderful book.nicely written, kept your attention. Made me cry several times. Taking you through a women’s life.

An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse
I was drawn into this book from about page three. I walked around my house tending to things but reading as I went along. I couldn’t put it down. It was very well written, the story very well plotted out, everything seemed to flow. I wanted to see how it was going to end very much from the beginning. I became invested in the characters and wanted to keep reading. If you are looking for a good book to pick up, this one won’t disappoint you. It has suspense, romance, danger……Great story.

I received this book from NetGalley.com in the kindle format. My words and opinion of this book are my own freely given. #AnOrdinaryLife #AmandaProwse #NetGalley


Description
From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a tale of love, loss—and one last extraordinary dance.
Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.
London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice, and when she’s brought to her knees by a daring undercover mission with the French Resistance, only her sister knows the secret weighing heavily on Molly’s heart.
Now, lying in her hospital bed, Molly can’t escape the memories of what she lost all those years ago. But she is not as alone as she thinks.
Will she be able to find peace—and finally understand that what seemed to be an ordinary life was anything but

AN ORDINARY LIFE by Amanda Prowse follows the life of Molly, a woman who lives through the stresses of World War II and life afterwards. Molly is the definition of a strong woman: refusing to accept her circumstances, refusing the live how society thinks women should, and forges her own path toward when others don’t support her. My favorite part of the book was seeing Molly evolve from her teenage years into an old 94 year old woman. Growing old isn’t a privilege and that is a sentiment that I’m reminded of today. The ending made me cry, get ready.

This book was a page turner and because you just want to knows what happens in Molly’s life next. A beautiful novel of strength, loss, love, and family.

Review posted on @polished_bookworm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJWICr9g1Wq/

Such a fantastic life which was celebrated on the pages of Amanda’s latest novel.
An Ordinary Life tells of Molly’s life during WWII, an incredible young lady, with her whole life ahead of her, yet fate dealt her a mixed bag.
Caught up in social prejudice of times gone by and the impact they have on family dynamics this book is beautifully written that the reader really invests in the lead character.
A slightly different read by Amanda but as always a book you don’t want to put down because you just need to know what’s going to happen next.
Loved it. A tribute to the many brave men and women of a bygone era to whom we should be forever grateful for their courage and sacrifice.

Once again Amanda Prowse has delivered a wonderful novel of hope against adversity. A wartime young girl who falls in love, gets pregnant and as she is about to tell the love of her life she learns he has been killed. What follows is the story of her extraordinary life. I devoured this book in two days and loved every second of it.

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Amanda Prowse, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

It seems that 2020 has helped me rediscover Amanda Prowse!! This is the third book of hers that I have read this year and I have not been disappointed. At all. Amanda's books are just lovely and what I need during these COVID-19 times. Her books are a well-written escape with beautiful fleshed out characters and settings. I was surprised that I really enjoyed this book as I said that I "was done" with WWII books. It was perfect, romantic, and real!! The only thing the title is a misnomer - it should really be "An EXTRAORDINARY Life"!!!

Highly recommend!!!

I could not put down An Ordinary Life, by Amanda Prowse. The story pulls at your heart strings as you follow Molly from the 1940s in London during the war to Christmas Eve of 2019. You’ll watch as she falls in love during a dark time in history, makes an unforgettable sacrifice, and helps the war efforts as she assists the French Resistance!

I adore Amanda Drowse and an author, and this one has to be one of my favourites. I loved the historical element. The characters had my sympathies and care. It was a suspenseful, thought provoking tale full of sadness, humour, and life choices. I highly recommend this book!

In An Ordinary Life, Amanda Prowse tells the story of Molly, an elderly woman who spends the novel looking back at the twists and turns of her ordinary life. However, it was NOT an ordinary life! From her time working underground in World War II, to her career in hospital administration as a single woman, she has lived quite an extraordinary life in which she has had to keep one huge secret, one of a sacrifice that almost broke her. Now, after a fall at the age of 94, she is unable to speak, but her memories are the basis of this beautiful and compelling novel that makes me want to reach out to her, just to sit, have a cuppa and talk.

Amanda Prowse has a way of setting a scene and telling a story so that you become so involved, when you close the book, coming back to reality is quite jarring. This is especially true in this novel, as you suffer through the bombing of London and sit in the bomb shelters with Molly, as you run with her during the French Resistance, and especially as you sit in her garden and smell the flowers and chat. I thank the author, Amazon UK and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. I've always enjoyed Ms. Prowse's work, but this novel is exceptional!

An old woman lies in a hospital bed after a stroke and accident, remembering her life. She worked during the war as a decoder and met the brother of a co-worker. They fell in love and planned to marry but he was called to fight. She was left alone, and tried to begin again as a courier for the resistance.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse
Amanda Prowse is such a great storyteller! This is a story of family, motherhood, war and love of country. She has such a way with words. She tells the story such finesse. You will literally not want to put this book down. You can relate to all of the characters.
Living through war can be hell !! A hell not all of us have been through. What if during the war, you find the love of your life? What if you discover you are pregnant? You hide the pregnancy from everyone so that you can continue working, bringing in money to the household and avoid the shameful looks from friends and family.
Are you willing to let your barren sister raise the child as her own for the safety of all involved? Are you willing to be a spy for your country? Think of the money it will pay, the future it could provide. But, in reality, we are all just striving for an ordinary life. To feel the sun on our faces. To work in our garden. To know the joy of being called “Grandma”.
This book is so beautifully written. The characters are so relatable. I felt all of their emotions, ups and downs, highs and lows. You will not want to put this book down!! Enjoy.

Another 5 star read from my favourite author , 94. Year old Molly has anything but an ordinary life . I don’t want to post any spoilers but she is brave heroic and has a lot of heartbreak in her life. I laughed and cried (big fat ugly teats) I didn’t want the book to end

Thanks netball for my copy of Amanda's latest novel. As always with her books i loved it and found it hard to put down. A beautiful story of family live loss and friendships.