A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was emotional and engaging and you are quickly drawn to the characters. I found this an easy read and often thought about the characters and what would happen next. There are several different threads going on throughout the story - dealing with grief, the love for our precious pets, learning to be a parent, trust, loyalty, the list goes on.

I would recommend this.

A heart warming story about finding family where you didn’t expect it.

Widow Gemma takes her friendly dog Bear into the children’s oncology ward at her local hospital. Its her way of giving back to the place who tried to save her husband.

Bachelor Dan is trying to impress daughter Casey, after missing most of her life till now.

Casey is just twelve years old but has a much wiser head on her shoulders. Facing treatment for a brain tumour matures you like that.

They all come together and teach each other about how to step up when it counts, and how to let love in when you need it.

An easy to read story with a lot of heart, I found myself quickly invested in the lives of Casey, Gemma and Dan (and I loved Bear the dog!). They have experienced loss in different ways, and find it hard to believe happiness is coming their way.

Alongside themes of loss and love, forgiveness also runs throughout. Gemma needs to forgive herself for wanting to move on. Dan needs to forgive himself for ‘betraying’ his father, and allow himself to be a better dad to Casey.

Ultimately a story about scary, messy, exciting love. A perfect holiday read, one to easily get lost in.

This is a wonderful read. The perspective of first person narrative, is a bit disconcerting; what's the real truth of love. I was hoping for love over adversity and the success of modern medicine - and I wasn't disappointed. Thanks to Pan Mcmillan and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

An emotional read.
Gemma meets Dan and feels a connection, but life is complicated for them both, and Dan's daughter Casey.

This book was generally uplifting and often emotional. I really enjoyed getting to know the vastly different characters. I did sometimes struggle with how slow-moving it was and lost concentration a few times, but that didn't take away from the story itself too much. I would definitely like to read more by Eva Carter.

Owner of a Lonely Heart by Eva Carter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

No spoilers

Eva Carters How To Save A Life was one of my top reads in 2021. I loved this just as much. Compelling and real from all 3 main characters POV - I found it very moving at times.
Highly recommended.

Bring tissues, loved this book. Gemma, recently widowed, volunteers at a cancer unit with her beloved dog, Bear. Dan, who recently met his 12 year old daughter at the first time, meets Gemma on a visit to try e unit where daughter Casey is undergoing treatment. This is a beautiful story about learning to love yourself; loving others, and taking a leap of faith to secure your future. I loved this book, cried buckets!

Owner of a Lonely Heart by Eva Carter

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Gemma is busy, busy, busy – trying both to rebuild her life after a personal tragedy and to start a family. She’d never admit how lonely she feels inside.

Dan is attractive, laid-back, and terrified of anyone getting to know the real him. He’s lonely too – not that you’d know it if you saw him out with his mates.

Casey is Dan’s twelve year old daughter – though they barely know each other. She’s undergoing treatment for a benign tumour, and is lonely and scared, but desperately trying to pretend otherwise.

I expected great things from this book but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. A quick but emotional read that just never really grabbed my attention. Eva uses the three main characters to tell the story to give varying details and emotion. Overall I will look out for future releases by Eva but this one just wasn't for me.

Rating 3/5

I've only just realised that I've read Eva Carter's first novel, " How to save a life". This book too did not disappoint. Complex characters, a story that will tug at your heart and resonate.

Having loved Eva’s last book How to Save a Life, my expectations for this were sky high. And, boy, did she deliver, serving up the perfect blend of heartbreaking and uplifting in this sensitively told story of human connections and new beginnings.

And what a cast of characters!

Meet 34 year-old Gemma. Still grieving the tragic loss of her young husband and clinging to the hope of a successful pregnancy with their last remaining frozen embryo, she buries herself in her work and volunteers with her therapy dog Bear at the local hospital.

Meet Dan. He’s got charm and good looks in spades, but he’s carrying a truckload of baggage from his unhappy childhood and is terrified of commitment. And, he’s just met his 12 year-old daughter for the first time.

Meet Casey, Dan’s daughter, who is staying with him whilst undergoing four weeks of treatment for a benign brain tumor. She’s spunky but scared and torn between the excitement of getting to know her father and loyalty to her bitter, angry mother.

Three people, all with lonely hearts. And all at a crossroads in their lives. When their paths intersect, their connection is immediate. But reaching out requires courage and trust; and both are in short supply.

Thanks to the multiple POVs, we get to know them all intimately: their fears, hopes and regrets, and the agonizing choices confronting them. Carter brings them to life so vividly, it’s impossible not to care for them; to sympathize with the duff hand they’ve been dealt, and to cheer them on as they tentatively navigate their way to something better.

Despite the difficult subject matter — grief, abuse, serious illness and mental health— the narrative Is infused with warmth and light touches of humor, much of it thanks to the antics of the lovable Bear. It’s an ‘all the feels’ story, and it left me emotionally spent.

More where this came from, please.

This is what I would describe as a 'beach read'. It was soft, light hearted and feel good. Eva Carter tells a fantastic story, with some tender and emotional moments. A book that you will fly through.

I absolutely loved this book!

I’m a huge crime read fan but it was nice to read something a bit ‘softer’.
The characters were relatable and also likeable.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Wow, what a lovely read, loved the story and the charecters, wasn't easy to put down, a real feel good story to read in the garden in the sunshine

Owner Of A Lonely Heart
I absolutely adored Eva Carter’s first book ‘How To Save A Life’ so when her latest book popped on to my radar I was SO excited.
‘Dan the man’ is a carefree man-child. He’s not had the best start in life but now he works hard, plays hard and enjoys the life he has worked hard for. Until he hears from Casey…
Casey is 12, not that you’d know it. The brain tumour she is battling is affecting her growth. Casey lives with her Mum, she’s never met her Dad. So when her latest treatment is planned in Bristol - her Dad’s stomping ground - she decides to get in touch and stay with him.
Gemma is a widow. Coming to terms with the loss of her husband, struggling to let go and move on. She and her dog Bear volunteer each week at the oncology unit.
This story of how these 3 meet and the relationships they form was wonderful. Plenty of secrets and surprises. Some likeable characters and some despicable ones. I really recommend this wonderful book.

Set in Bristol, this is a story of three people facing challenges and choosing the safe option of being alone. When their paths cross, it is an opportunity to ace the past and carve out a future. Individually they are not brave enough but together they can be strong. A little slow at times but very enjoyable.

In parts a beautiful book that deals with some really tricky subjects however I somewhat failed to connect completely with the book and the characters and found it lacking in some parts.

I really wanted to enjoy this book after seeing all the glowing reviews and felt like maybe I was the problem but I just did not like the plot.

I couldn't engaged or hold interest in the plot nor the characters.

The main characters Dan and Gemma don't have much of a personality for me to feel invested in them and their journey. I was not a fan of Casey as she seems ungrateful and I understand she is sick and a teen but it doesn't give her the right to be horrid to Dan her dad because he wasn't a good dad (because her mum never let him be one) and when he tries to be a good dad she berates him. I honestly found her description of Dan to be odd too like I've never heard girls describe their dads as fit with muscles and so cool and handsome. I don't know it just gave weird vibes. Angelica the mum is also annoying like again how can you be mad at a man for not being a dad when you didn't let him be like make it make sense.

I think the thing that just made me DNF and not like the book the most is the fact its written in first person POV for 3 different characters and I hate it in writing styles because I easily get confused.

I think there is an audience out there for this book but for me it was a miss.

I really enjoyed this book.
Eva Carter created such wholesome characters that I immediately connected with. It felt more than just a cosy chic lit - there was real heart behind it.

A quick and easy read, with lovely and tender moments, as well as deeply emotional ones. I read this in a day because I got really hooked by the storytelling. It was engineered and written really well, that I found myself gobbling it all up, pain and all. A great read.