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Since You've Been Gone
How do you learn to love again?
In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.
His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?
In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.
His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?
386 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
65 people are currently reading
2885 people want to read
About the author
Anouska Knight
9 books64 followersThe official bit:
Since securing the top prize in widely-publicized UK writing contest Racy Reads on ITV’s Lorraine show, Anouska Knight has become an international sensation with her debut novel, Since You've Been Gone, hitting both The Bookseller and Heatseekers bestseller lists and securing praise from the likes of Jackie Collins and Jenny Colgan.
Her books have since gone on to be published in twenty countries worldwide.
A former bakery owner, she has gone on to wide acclaim in her native England and now writes full-time, currently on her next novel for Harper Collins under the pseudonym 'Erin Knight'.
The really real bit:
Frazzled mum to three smashing boys, Rad, Loch & Jesse.
Wife to childhood sweetheart, Knighty.
Big fan of peanut M&Ms. And typing 'The End'.
Since securing the top prize in widely-publicized UK writing contest Racy Reads on ITV’s Lorraine show, Anouska Knight has become an international sensation with her debut novel, Since You've Been Gone, hitting both The Bookseller and Heatseekers bestseller lists and securing praise from the likes of Jackie Collins and Jenny Colgan.
Her books have since gone on to be published in twenty countries worldwide.
A former bakery owner, she has gone on to wide acclaim in her native England and now writes full-time, currently on her next novel for Harper Collins under the pseudonym 'Erin Knight'.
The really real bit:
Frazzled mum to three smashing boys, Rad, Loch & Jesse.
Wife to childhood sweetheart, Knighty.
Big fan of peanut M&Ms. And typing 'The End'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
September 19, 2014
2.5 Stars
Since You’ve Been Gone seemed like it would be a sweet romance, unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away.
Holly’s life is basically on autopilot the last two years, since her husband was killed. She still has dreams of her husband’s presence, vivid in longing. Holly owns a bakery and does a steady business, and she’s close to her sister who is about to give birth, but as far as moving on that’s quite another matter. A cake delivery to a posh estate/castle is about to change all of that. This is where she meets Ciaran Argyll, the rich son of property mogul, Fergal Argyll. Soon, last minute, high priced cake orders start coming into her shop. Ciaran also starts popping up everywhere and Holly doesn’t know how to handle the unexpected and unwanted attraction she feels for him. He’s the last person she wants to fall for, a seemingly spoiled (according to her prejudices) playboy with details of short lived romances splashed all over the gossip pages. However, Ciaran just won’t go away.
I had high hopes for Since You’ve Been Gone. On paper this is exactly my type of story. I love a multilayered romance with a quirky secondary cast, but this failed to meet my expectations. I did enjoy parts of the story, but my overall feeling at finishing was disappointment. Holly’s constant pushing and judgmental attitude towards Ciaran rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed like he was genuinely trying to help her out and Holly was suspicious and insulted at his efforts. Plus, it seems like she was ready and willing to believe the worst about him at every turn. I also had issues with what went down at the very end with Ciaran’s father and his ex-fiance! I had a hard time believing that his father just got through extolling his son’s value and saying how thankful he was that Ciaran kept it together for the years he was falling apart, and then that happened! It felt like it came out of left field and then was just swept under the rug. It seems Ciaran had no issues with his father’s behavior and everyone was a happy united family by the end. I felt that was hard to believe given how much his ex-fiancé had hurt Ciaran.
I’ve been in the midst of a reading slump so maybe this has some bearing on my reactions, and I even have a friend who enjoyed this book immensely; so take a look at the other reviews before dismissing this story altogether.
A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Since You’ve Been Gone seemed like it would be a sweet romance, unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away.
Holly’s life is basically on autopilot the last two years, since her husband was killed. She still has dreams of her husband’s presence, vivid in longing. Holly owns a bakery and does a steady business, and she’s close to her sister who is about to give birth, but as far as moving on that’s quite another matter. A cake delivery to a posh estate/castle is about to change all of that. This is where she meets Ciaran Argyll, the rich son of property mogul, Fergal Argyll. Soon, last minute, high priced cake orders start coming into her shop. Ciaran also starts popping up everywhere and Holly doesn’t know how to handle the unexpected and unwanted attraction she feels for him. He’s the last person she wants to fall for, a seemingly spoiled (according to her prejudices) playboy with details of short lived romances splashed all over the gossip pages. However, Ciaran just won’t go away.
I had high hopes for Since You’ve Been Gone. On paper this is exactly my type of story. I love a multilayered romance with a quirky secondary cast, but this failed to meet my expectations. I did enjoy parts of the story, but my overall feeling at finishing was disappointment. Holly’s constant pushing and judgmental attitude towards Ciaran rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed like he was genuinely trying to help her out and Holly was suspicious and insulted at his efforts. Plus, it seems like she was ready and willing to believe the worst about him at every turn. I also had issues with what went down at the very end with Ciaran’s father and his ex-fiance! I had a hard time believing that his father just got through extolling his son’s value and saying how thankful he was that Ciaran kept it together for the years he was falling apart, and then that happened! It felt like it came out of left field and then was just swept under the rug. It seems Ciaran had no issues with his father’s behavior and everyone was a happy united family by the end. I felt that was hard to believe given how much his ex-fiancé had hurt Ciaran.
I’ve been in the midst of a reading slump so maybe this has some bearing on my reactions, and I even have a friend who enjoyed this book immensely; so take a look at the other reviews before dismissing this story altogether.
A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2014
2.5 STARS
I really thought I’ve reached the zenith of my contemporary fiction book slump with this one. That point where there’s no other option but read with that forced jaunt of optimism. Because the alternative is learning a new way to say how disappointed you have been or how it was good.. until it went bad or, my personal favourite, how I liked certain aspects in the story but not enough to stave off the persistent wrinkle between my brows as I read along.
Save for the Kelly Clarkson ear worm I’ve had since starting this, my feelings towards this book roughly follows the same downward spiral it’s been taking so fondly these past few weeks with the majority of my reading choices. I was actually prepared to be embarrassed for liking such a cliched, predictable story early on, only to end up with the embarrassed and none of the liking by the end.
Holly Jefferson is a 27-year old widow who has been letting life pass her by since she lost her husband two years ago. So far, she has done a good job concealing her grief. She runs her cake shop efficiently, indulges her doting, elderly neighbor Mrs. Hedley and helps her sister Martha and her husband Rob prepare for their coming baby. But the ghost of her husband Charlie still haunts her in her dreams, in the empty echoes of their house. When she gets commissioned to make a divorce cake for real estate magnate Fergal Argyll, she never expected her deceptive idyll would get disrupted by his son, Ciaran, the well-publicized playboy who just seems to love spending his father’s money. After all, she lives in a world far removed from his and is quite content living her days in love with a dead man. Except Ciaran and his secret heartbreaking story and unexpected depth had other plans for her.
For a book with such a fluffy and light-hearted cover, this started pretty heavy on the feels department as it portrays Holly’s life in the aftermath of Charlie’s death. The narrative followed her during the bright and cheerful moments in the cake shop which contrasted well with the loneliness at home she’s fallen into a habit of embracing. In the rooms, the letters addressed to Charlie, the furniture he’d laid his mark on, seeing Holly lose her husband repeatedly and everyday in the most intimate ways easily earned her my sympathy. How she grips that pain close to her because she has nothing else left of him to remind her with, just made me yearn to witness her HEA.
Ciaran initially had all these tried and tested moves that are all too familiar in this genre. I’m going to carefully label their first encounter as insta-attraction, which is something I can get onboard with, I suppose. And despite Ciaran’s stalkery tendencies, I found myself looking forward to their next scenes together, wishing so hard to be swept away by something lovely and heartfelt between them.
There was rhyme and reason to Ciaran’s woman-hating tendencies and it never did get too out of hand for me to rage quit this early on. I thought there was a good balance in the kind of heartaches both were carrying.
But as the story took its predictable turns, this just threw one too many tropes that I’m not too big a fan of. Holly had insecurities that manifested as being judgmental towards rich people and while this was addressed and was even a point of evolution for her character, I can’t help but feel put-off by how these insecurities reflected on the vilification of certain characters for being attractive. It raised the opportunity to reveal Holly as an explicit slut-shamer and I had a very difficult time liking her as she got repeatedly rewarded and her hesitation soothed with platitudes and reassurances from family, friends and Ciaran alike. This also employed attempted rape as a plot point to clarify the questionable morals of Ciaran which is something I’ve grown tired of more than a point of argument, to be honest.
I appreciated how this paced Ciaran and Holly’s relationship in a near-believable manner despite the cliched circumstances surrounding them. I think the incorporation of the secondary characters in the storyline could have been better but I did like the insight offered by Mrs. Hedley. I did find certain aspects about Ciaran and his family rather disturbing, more because I felt it was an odd, disturbing fit for the kind of book I believed this was. The experience was a lot like finding a shoe inside your freezer or cake sitting on top of a vinegar-filled plate.
I’m still uncertain how I feel about because on the one hand I supposed it’s sweet but on the other, I’m not sure it’s something I’d like to be reminded of while you’re doing the McNasty. But I am pretty certain how squicked out I was by Ciaran’s dad in what can only be described as a last minute stop to Disturbia before an ending that anyone could see coming quarter of the way in this book.
I suppose the cutesy drunk talk, the Scottishing (Kilts! Sporrans! That damned accent!), the cake sex and the shirtless gratuity should count for something, and it did make this quite an easy read, even enjoyable at times. But for what I was expecting from how this started and what I got in the end, the discrepancy was just too glaring to ignore.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
”Some poor beggars go their whole lives not knowing what love feels like. We might never find it again, but at least we know what to look for.”
I really thought I’ve reached the zenith of my contemporary fiction book slump with this one. That point where there’s no other option but read with that forced jaunt of optimism. Because the alternative is learning a new way to say how disappointed you have been or how it was good.. until it went bad or, my personal favourite, how I liked certain aspects in the story but not enough to stave off the persistent wrinkle between my brows as I read along.
Save for the Kelly Clarkson ear worm I’ve had since starting this, my feelings towards this book roughly follows the same downward spiral it’s been taking so fondly these past few weeks with the majority of my reading choices. I was actually prepared to be embarrassed for liking such a cliched, predictable story early on, only to end up with the embarrassed and none of the liking by the end.
Holly Jefferson is a 27-year old widow who has been letting life pass her by since she lost her husband two years ago. So far, she has done a good job concealing her grief. She runs her cake shop efficiently, indulges her doting, elderly neighbor Mrs. Hedley and helps her sister Martha and her husband Rob prepare for their coming baby. But the ghost of her husband Charlie still haunts her in her dreams, in the empty echoes of their house. When she gets commissioned to make a divorce cake for real estate magnate Fergal Argyll, she never expected her deceptive idyll would get disrupted by his son, Ciaran, the well-publicized playboy who just seems to love spending his father’s money. After all, she lives in a world far removed from his and is quite content living her days in love with a dead man. Except Ciaran and his secret heartbreaking story and unexpected depth had other plans for her.
For a book with such a fluffy and light-hearted cover, this started pretty heavy on the feels department as it portrays Holly’s life in the aftermath of Charlie’s death. The narrative followed her during the bright and cheerful moments in the cake shop which contrasted well with the loneliness at home she’s fallen into a habit of embracing. In the rooms, the letters addressed to Charlie, the furniture he’d laid his mark on, seeing Holly lose her husband repeatedly and everyday in the most intimate ways easily earned her my sympathy. How she grips that pain close to her because she has nothing else left of him to remind her with, just made me yearn to witness her HEA.
Ciaran initially had all these tried and tested moves that are all too familiar in this genre. I’m going to carefully label their first encounter as insta-attraction, which is something I can get onboard with, I suppose. And despite Ciaran’s stalkery tendencies, I found myself looking forward to their next scenes together, wishing so hard to be swept away by something lovely and heartfelt between them.
”I bet you’re just waiting for Prince Charming to come rescue you from your broken oven every night, huh? Before taking you away to your happy ending?”
“Happy ending? I’m not waiting for my happy ending, Ciaran.”
“Sure you are. You’re a woman. I bet you’ve got it all mapped out.”
There was rhyme and reason to Ciaran’s woman-hating tendencies and it never did get too out of hand for me to rage quit this early on. I thought there was a good balance in the kind of heartaches both were carrying.
But as the story took its predictable turns, this just threw one too many tropes that I’m not too big a fan of. Holly had insecurities that manifested as being judgmental towards rich people and while this was addressed and was even a point of evolution for her character, I can’t help but feel put-off by how these insecurities reflected on the vilification of certain characters for being attractive. It raised the opportunity to reveal Holly as an explicit slut-shamer and I had a very difficult time liking her as she got repeatedly rewarded and her hesitation soothed with platitudes and reassurances from family, friends and Ciaran alike. This also employed attempted rape as a plot point to clarify the questionable morals of Ciaran which is something I’ve grown tired of more than a point of argument, to be honest.
I appreciated how this paced Ciaran and Holly’s relationship in a near-believable manner despite the cliched circumstances surrounding them. I think the incorporation of the secondary characters in the storyline could have been better but I did like the insight offered by Mrs. Hedley. I did find certain aspects about Ciaran and his family rather disturbing, more because I felt it was an odd, disturbing fit for the kind of book I believed this was. The experience was a lot like finding a shoe inside your freezer or cake sitting on top of a vinegar-filled plate.
I’m still uncertain how I feel about because on the one hand I supposed it’s sweet but on the other, I’m not sure it’s something I’d like to be reminded of while you’re doing the McNasty. But I am pretty certain how squicked out I was by Ciaran’s dad in what can only be described as a last minute stop to Disturbia before an ending that anyone could see coming quarter of the way in this book.
I suppose the cutesy drunk talk, the Scottishing (Kilts! Sporrans! That damned accent!), the cake sex and the shirtless gratuity should count for something, and it did make this quite an easy read, even enjoyable at times. But for what I was expecting from how this started and what I got in the end, the discrepancy was just too glaring to ignore.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
February 14, 2018
Lately, I have been choosing light escapist fiction because life has been frantically busy and I'm too tired to concentrate on much else. Since You've Been Gone was part of a 3/$10.00 deal at our local Coles-Indigo bookstore, and was one of two novels that I chose featuring food fiction. I am a sucker for chef/cooking success stories - there is always magic in culinary finesse to me! - and these stories tend to include a romance a two. I'm getting a little long in the tooth for gamine love stories, but, hey, escapist they are - obviously happily ever after is the highest form of fantasy fiction ever created!
A smoochy, cute book... light for my need for fluff.
A smoochy, cute book... light for my need for fluff.
September 16, 2016
Inconsolable depuis la mort de son mari, Holly vit recluse dans son cottage ou bosse comme une folle dans sa pâtisserie, jusqu'à sa rencontre avec Ciaran qui va bouleverser sa routine et faire trembler les murs de sa tour d'ivoire.
Cette lecture n'est rien d'autre qu'une mignardise à savourer sans honte et en toute tranquillité. Je n'en ai fait qu'une bouchée. C'était trop bon !
L'histoire est dégoulinante de charme, de tendresse et d'humour. Il n'y a pas de folle passion ou d'aventures rocambolesques, juste une relation qui s'installe doucement, mais sûrement, en bousculant tout sur son passage.
Il faut dire aussi que Ciaran n'est que patience et attention avec Holly, si bien que toute lectrice ne peut que craquer pour lui ! C'est un écossais, en plus. ☺
Cette lecture fait un bien fou, dans le genre adorable et à fleur de peau. Soupir. «Le bonheur était tellement palpable qu'on aurait cru pouvoir l'attraper avec un filet à papillons.»
August 10, 2014
I enjoy well written Women's Fiction, especially one that’s heavy on romance. Anouska Knight delivers a winner as readers journey with Holly Jefferson through the pain and despair of grief to the extraordinary hope of a second chance to love again.
Holly lost her husband in a tragic accident. It’s been two years and she’s survived the heartache by putting all her time and energy into her business, Cakes. She’s managed to fool everyone into believing she’s finally going to be OK, and has become somewhat content herself with her lonely existence.
But everything changes through a chance encounter with rich, gorgeous, playboy Ciaran Argyll. He’s the total opposite of her late husband, a player in a world Holly will never belong….and yet, the intense attraction along with Ciaran’s gentle persistence, keeps knocking down the walls Holly’s erected.
One of the things I enjoyed most is Ciaran Argyll and his determination to bring fun and laughter back into Holly’s life; he’s perfect for her. The author also captures the essence of grief without keeping the reader in a constant state of melancholy throughout this tale. The secondary characters, especially Ciaran’s father with his Scottish accent and kilt, added many colorful as well as endearing moments. Perfectly balanced, I found this to be a sweet, fun, heartwarming romance and I look forward to reading more by this new to me author.
A big Thank you to my friend Heather, for leading me to this one.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley
Holly lost her husband in a tragic accident. It’s been two years and she’s survived the heartache by putting all her time and energy into her business, Cakes. She’s managed to fool everyone into believing she’s finally going to be OK, and has become somewhat content herself with her lonely existence.
But everything changes through a chance encounter with rich, gorgeous, playboy Ciaran Argyll. He’s the total opposite of her late husband, a player in a world Holly will never belong….and yet, the intense attraction along with Ciaran’s gentle persistence, keeps knocking down the walls Holly’s erected.
One of the things I enjoyed most is Ciaran Argyll and his determination to bring fun and laughter back into Holly’s life; he’s perfect for her. The author also captures the essence of grief without keeping the reader in a constant state of melancholy throughout this tale. The secondary characters, especially Ciaran’s father with his Scottish accent and kilt, added many colorful as well as endearing moments. Perfectly balanced, I found this to be a sweet, fun, heartwarming romance and I look forward to reading more by this new to me author.
A big Thank you to my friend Heather, for leading me to this one.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley
April 26, 2015
Just finished this wonderful, amazing story.
LOVED the characters, writing, and this author's voice!
What an awesome jem this story turned out to be.
In my opinion, this is probably one of my favorite books this year.
Full review to come;)
LOVED the characters, writing, and this author's voice!
What an awesome jem this story turned out to be.
In my opinion, this is probably one of my favorite books this year.
Full review to come;)
November 22, 2022
Una historia ligera sobre la pérdida, el dolor y los nuevos comienzos.
May 31, 2015
Quand les choses se passent aussi bien, la plus grande frustration c'est qu'on aurait aimé que ça dure plus longtemps. Oui, à la fin, j'en voulais encore. J'ai passé un moment excellent avec ce livre, avec ces deux personnages principaux qui font partager autant de moments joyeux que de moments attristants. J'ai ri, j'ai eu la larme à l'oeil et j'ai refermé le livre avec un grand sourire, dans un état d'esprit plus que positif. Si vous ne l'aviez pas deviné, il est temps de l'annoncer : c'est un joli coup de cœur.
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2015/...
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2015/...
March 8, 2015
Un librito sencillo, con una historia que tal vez la puden leer en un monton de libros mas, pero que a mi me encanto, lo disfrute muchisimo.
Nos habla sobre la muerte y sobre la vida y sobre como conjugar esas dos facetas cuando se entrelazan, y nos lo cuenta a travez de la vida cotidiana de Holly, una viuda de 27 años que trata de salir adelante por mas que la vida sola, sin Charlie, duela demasiado. Y en ese camino se cruza Ciaran un hombre joven y con un pasado tambien doloroso que comienza a relacionarse con Holly y van estableciendo una relación que parece complicada pero que es tan linda y dulce que me encanto. Cómo Ciaran empieza a formar parte de la vida de Holly sin negar el pasado, al contrario, incorporandolo, es muy lindo, Ciaran es muy tierno a pesar de su fama de mujeriego, es un amor. Pero en este libro no solo Holly y Ciaran se destacan, los personajes secundarios tambien, Fergal, Mary, Martha, Rob, Cora, Dave, todos hacen que esta historia sea mas divertida y encantadora, y tambien Charlie que es una gran parte de esta historia.
En conclusión, es un libro sencillo, lindo, tierno, que nos habla sobre el amor, las perdidas y las segundas oportunidades, a mi me encanto!!
Si tengo que poner un punto negativo seria la traducción, eso no me gusto tanto pero igual eso es un gusto personal, no se dejen llevar por mis obsesiones lectoras!! jijiji!!!
Nos habla sobre la muerte y sobre la vida y sobre como conjugar esas dos facetas cuando se entrelazan, y nos lo cuenta a travez de la vida cotidiana de Holly, una viuda de 27 años que trata de salir adelante por mas que la vida sola, sin Charlie, duela demasiado. Y en ese camino se cruza Ciaran un hombre joven y con un pasado tambien doloroso que comienza a relacionarse con Holly y van estableciendo una relación que parece complicada pero que es tan linda y dulce que me encanto. Cómo Ciaran empieza a formar parte de la vida de Holly sin negar el pasado, al contrario, incorporandolo, es muy lindo, Ciaran es muy tierno a pesar de su fama de mujeriego, es un amor. Pero en este libro no solo Holly y Ciaran se destacan, los personajes secundarios tambien, Fergal, Mary, Martha, Rob, Cora, Dave, todos hacen que esta historia sea mas divertida y encantadora, y tambien Charlie que es una gran parte de esta historia.
En conclusión, es un libro sencillo, lindo, tierno, que nos habla sobre el amor, las perdidas y las segundas oportunidades, a mi me encanto!!
Si tengo que poner un punto negativo seria la traducción, eso no me gusto tanto pero igual eso es un gusto personal, no se dejen llevar por mis obsesiones lectoras!! jijiji!!!
October 28, 2014
I have been gravitating towards books that focus on bakeries or any type of sweet shop. I find these stories charming and sometimes there are bonuses with yummy recipes in the back of the books. Well this book started out ok. I went along reading the book and got about half way when I was like what am I reading. There was no redeeming qualities about any of the characters, the storyline was nothing special and I was not feeling any chemistry between Holly and Ciaran what so ever. They were both off putting. Holly for being condescending to Ciaran and others that were of higher status then her. Ciaran for having the attitude of wealth and just thinking that he can make any comments he wants and get away with it. No thanks. I felt no need to continue with this book.
August 12, 2019
hızlı ilerledi cidden, bazı şeylerin üzerinde durulmadan ve tam içine girilmeden kitap bitti.
ciaran'ın yaşadığı şeyler anlatılırken ben tam benimseyemedim, olaya giremedim. ya yazarın ya da çevirmenin dili yavan kalmış bu noktada.
jesse karakterini sevdim mesela ama onu da tam tanıyamadık ki.
ortalama bir kitapti kesinlikle. hatta benim için ortalama altı bile diyebilirim. çok da tavsiye etmiyorum.
ciaran'ın yaşadığı şeyler anlatılırken ben tam benimseyemedim, olaya giremedim. ya yazarın ya da çevirmenin dili yavan kalmış bu noktada.
jesse karakterini sevdim mesela ama onu da tam tanıyamadık ki.
ortalama bir kitapti kesinlikle. hatta benim için ortalama altı bile diyebilirim. çok da tavsiye etmiyorum.
February 16, 2015
Insieme come panna e cioccolato
“Ci sono alcuni poveretti che vivono un’intera esistenza senza nemmeno sapere cosa sia l’amore. Noi potremmo anche non ritrovarlo più, ma almeno sappiamo che cosa cercare.”
Un esordio straordinario quella di Anouska Knight, di quelli che ti accompagnano in un mondo fatto di amore e cose buone. Di quelli adatti ad essere letti il giorno di San Valentino, come tutto il resto dell’anno. Di quelli che prendi in mano, quando qualcosa non va per il verso giusto ed hai bisogno di un consiglio, una parola gentile, un abbraccio. Anche se scritto nero su bianco nella pagina, il messaggio lo recepisci e raggiunge il cuore, donandoti la speranza che tutto quello che va o è andato male, può risolversi o migliorare.
Le parole di Anouska Knight ti avvolgono in un abbraccio che trasmette calore e ti portano nel rifugio più tenero e sicuro che tu possa trovare. Nel condurti, ti allietano con l’evocazione dei profumi fragranti di una pasticceria.
La protagonista, Holly, ha 27 anni, è single e terribilmente sola. Ma ha trovato la sua strada: lavora in una pasticceria e usa la sua creatività e il suo talento per riempire il mondo di dolcezza, decorata come una torta. Ha trovato il modo di ricominciare dopo la più grande delle perdite. Chi meglio di lei può sapere che la vita è fatta a strati, proprio come una ricca torta, da farcire e da rendere la migliore delle prelibatezze. Holly è sola perché suo marito è morto e il dopo non ha più avuto l’ombra della vera felicità. È per questo motivo che si è rifugiata in una serena e pacata quotidianità, fatta di dolci e pasticcini. Si dedica solo alle sue dolci creazioni e a sua sorella. Però, nonostante la vita abbia deciso di strapparle una parte importante del suo cuore, può ancora trovare la forza per ricominciare ed accade quando, per lavoro, incontra l’enigmatico Ciaran Argyll, per il quale deve creare una torta indimenticabile. Le loro vite sono agli antipodi, ma è questione di dettagli, quando c’è l’attrazione, che tra loro si innesca dal primo sguardo. Lui le commissiona i dolci per una festa elegante che darà a casa sua, e Holly con il socio faranno parte degli invitati, anche per incontrare un’altra importante cliente: un’ottima opportunità per ampliare il loro giro d’affari.
DA QUANDO NON CI SEI è un esordio toccante, malinconico, dolce ed imprevedibile da assaporare lentamente e senza impazienza, come gustando una torta, farcita a strati, o corteggiando l’amore della vostra vita. Ciaran e Holly sono diversi, ma destinati a completarsi come la panna con il cioccolato in una torta cui è impossibile resistere.
November 19, 2015
Se avete letto Mentre Fuori Nevica e l'avete amato come la sottoscritta, Da Quando Non Ci Sei non può assolutamente mancare nelle vostre letture. Io l'ho adorato fin dalle prime pagine.
Questo romanzo parla di rinascita, in tutti i sensi possibili. Un nuovo inizio per molte persone che il destino ha voluto far incontrare, per dare una svolta alla loro vita.
Persone che hanno perso la fiducia nel prossimo, che hanno paura di legarsi di nuovo a qualcuno, che vivono nella convinzione che non amare sia la soluzione migliore per non soffrire più.
Ma quello che non sanno è che ciò che li aspetta cambierà per sempre le loro vite e permetterà a tutti loro di rimettersi in gioco. Abbiamo Holly, una giovane vedova che vive in solitudine e cerca in tutti i modi di mantenere vivo il ricordo del marito ormai perduto. Poi c'è Ciaran, un uomo il cui cuore è stato spezzato e che vuole tornare a credere nel vero amore. E cosa dire di Fergal, il padre di Ciaran, un uomo davvero particolare a cui mi sono affezionata subito. Un uomo che ha perso la donna della sua vita, e da allora si è arreso, sapendo perfettamente di non avere più la sua linfa vitale a sostenerlo. Infine, la signora Hedley, la donna dei tulipani. Una donna che si è pentita di non aver approfittato della sua occasione, di non aver donato il suo cuore ad un uomo che lo desiderava davvero. Un uomo che avrebbe potuto renderla ancora felice, se solo lei avesse voluto. Ma ormai il treno è passato, e l'unico modo che ha questa donna di redimersi è esortare qualcun altro a lasciarsi andare, a prendere quel maledetto treno che passa una sola volta nella vita. Perché per quel treno c'è un solo biglietto, e una sola occasione di usarlo.
Tutti questi personaggi, insieme, creano una storia incredibilmente dolce e commovente, ricca di speranza e di amore. Da Quando Non Ci Sei è un invito a cogliere l'attimo, un manuale per imparare a non arrendersi e a confidare ancora nel fatto che anche se un evento terribile ha sconvolto la nostra vita, c'è sempre un modo per andare avanti. Guardare al futuro, sapendo che quello che ci riserva potrebbe anche essere dolore, ma avendo la consapevolezza che se ci arrediamo prima ancora di sapere cosa avverrà, potremo pentircene per il resto della nostra vita.
Perché la vita è una sola e va vissuta al massimo delle sue possibilità, in qualsiasi occasione.
Leggetelo, ve lo consiglio con tutto il cuore.
Questo romanzo parla di rinascita, in tutti i sensi possibili. Un nuovo inizio per molte persone che il destino ha voluto far incontrare, per dare una svolta alla loro vita.
Persone che hanno perso la fiducia nel prossimo, che hanno paura di legarsi di nuovo a qualcuno, che vivono nella convinzione che non amare sia la soluzione migliore per non soffrire più.
Ma quello che non sanno è che ciò che li aspetta cambierà per sempre le loro vite e permetterà a tutti loro di rimettersi in gioco. Abbiamo Holly, una giovane vedova che vive in solitudine e cerca in tutti i modi di mantenere vivo il ricordo del marito ormai perduto. Poi c'è Ciaran, un uomo il cui cuore è stato spezzato e che vuole tornare a credere nel vero amore. E cosa dire di Fergal, il padre di Ciaran, un uomo davvero particolare a cui mi sono affezionata subito. Un uomo che ha perso la donna della sua vita, e da allora si è arreso, sapendo perfettamente di non avere più la sua linfa vitale a sostenerlo. Infine, la signora Hedley, la donna dei tulipani. Una donna che si è pentita di non aver approfittato della sua occasione, di non aver donato il suo cuore ad un uomo che lo desiderava davvero. Un uomo che avrebbe potuto renderla ancora felice, se solo lei avesse voluto. Ma ormai il treno è passato, e l'unico modo che ha questa donna di redimersi è esortare qualcun altro a lasciarsi andare, a prendere quel maledetto treno che passa una sola volta nella vita. Perché per quel treno c'è un solo biglietto, e una sola occasione di usarlo.
Tutti questi personaggi, insieme, creano una storia incredibilmente dolce e commovente, ricca di speranza e di amore. Da Quando Non Ci Sei è un invito a cogliere l'attimo, un manuale per imparare a non arrendersi e a confidare ancora nel fatto che anche se un evento terribile ha sconvolto la nostra vita, c'è sempre un modo per andare avanti. Guardare al futuro, sapendo che quello che ci riserva potrebbe anche essere dolore, ma avendo la consapevolezza che se ci arrediamo prima ancora di sapere cosa avverrà, potremo pentircene per il resto della nostra vita.
Perché la vita è una sola e va vissuta al massimo delle sue possibilità, in qualsiasi occasione.
Leggetelo, ve lo consiglio con tutto il cuore.
June 16, 2016
Une romance légère et sucrée qui n'en donne pas plus qu'on lui demande. J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture malgré les clichés qui se ramassent à la pelle ( à gateau ? ). Je savais exactement ce que j'allais trouver et apprécier, c'est ce qui fait ( ou non) le charme des romances (en plus des petits cottages adorables). L'intrigue sera vite oubliée mais restera le souvenir de la jolie histoire d'amour de deux personnages attachants.
August 6, 2017
I enjoyed this book a lot. Was totally in the mood for a book that I didn't want to put down. Was sweet, sexy, romantic. Great weekend read to escape into. Great chick lit romantic book when you are in the mood. Holly is a widow & meets Ciaran who helps her to re enter her life.
October 18, 2019
Aun y cuando me gustó la historia y me pareció algo tierna, siento que me faltó algo.
No se si en parte se deba a que lo leí en inglés, y no es lo mismo por los modismos, pero sentí algo flojo el romance, casi ni se sintió... pero a la vez entiendo el dolor por la pérdida de un ser amado.
No se si en parte se deba a que lo leí en inglés, y no es lo mismo por los modismos, pero sentí algo flojo el romance, casi ni se sintió... pero a la vez entiendo el dolor por la pérdida de un ser amado.
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August 21, 2020Kitap hakkında düşüncelerim oldukça karmaşık. Nasıl desem, bir an Charlie’nin o kadar canlı hatıralarını okurken sonra yeni bir adam. Ciaran bence harikaydı. Harika. Kitap realizm ile tatlılık arası sıkışmış gibiydi. Holly’i de çok sevemedim. Ama güzeldi.
April 21, 2017
sympa mais pas marquant
January 4, 2022
Bello.
L’inizio un po’ lento e doloroso, ma dopo si riprende per bene 😌 molto soddisfatta.
L’inizio un po’ lento e doloroso, ma dopo si riprende per bene 😌 molto soddisfatta.
December 28, 2020
4.5/5 💝
Dulce, divertido, romántico y tiernamente emotivo.
Me ha gustado mucho, empezando por la pareja protagonista (Holly y Ciaran son puro 💗) y continuando por el elenco de secundarios que no tienen desperdicio (Martha y Jess me han encantado, como arropan y apoyan a Holly protegiéndola pero a la vez "tirándola a la arena" 😂 🤭) .. 😍🍰🥧
Dulce, divertido, romántico y tiernamente emotivo.
Me ha gustado mucho, empezando por la pareja protagonista (Holly y Ciaran son puro 💗) y continuando por el elenco de secundarios que no tienen desperdicio (Martha y Jess me han encantado, como arropan y apoyan a Holly protegiéndola pero a la vez "tirándola a la arena" 😂 🤭) .. 😍🍰🥧
September 15, 2014
Originally on my book blog
Netgalley provided me with this book for an honest review
This book was very cute. It was light and fun. There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book. It had the perfect blend of sadness, happiness, humor, romance, characters, plot, and everything else that makes me like or dislike a book.
I live for tragic stories. The boyfriend has gotten so used to me saying "I loved this book!" and his response is "how many people died?" It's weird. It's probably not normal. But that's just how it is with me. In this book, Holly's husband died two years earlier and she's still trying to move on from it. She hasn't gone on dates or tried to find another boyfriend since then. She's been too focused on her work and trying to keep her late husband alive. Then in comes Ciaran Argyll. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like him. He's the typical super rich guy that gets everything that he wants. He's also so much more than that.
I've come to realize that chick lit books that I've found rarely have insta-love and this is no different. I didn't feel like the relationship was forced. In fact, the one problem I had with the book was that it was at times a little slow getting to the romance. I was just like "KISS ALREADY" at least twice. But that's what made this book realistic. Holly was still heartbroken over the loss of her husband, so she didn't want to rush into anything. Ciaran didn't make her.
When the romance did come in, it was adorable. It was fresh. I didn't feel like I was reading about the same couple but set in a different country. I felt like this was a couple I had never read about before. They were strong together. They are good together. I loved them together. I liked Holly and I liked Ciaran and I loved Holly and Ciaran.
I think the strongest part of this book was that Holly still kept her business a main focus even after she was with Ciaran. How often do women get into relationships in books and then you never hear about their career again? Holly was a strong character for so many reasons, but this is one that really stuck out to me.
Netgalley provided me with this book for an honest review
This book was very cute. It was light and fun. There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book. It had the perfect blend of sadness, happiness, humor, romance, characters, plot, and everything else that makes me like or dislike a book.
I live for tragic stories. The boyfriend has gotten so used to me saying "I loved this book!" and his response is "how many people died?" It's weird. It's probably not normal. But that's just how it is with me. In this book, Holly's husband died two years earlier and she's still trying to move on from it. She hasn't gone on dates or tried to find another boyfriend since then. She's been too focused on her work and trying to keep her late husband alive. Then in comes Ciaran Argyll. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like him. He's the typical super rich guy that gets everything that he wants. He's also so much more than that.
I've come to realize that chick lit books that I've found rarely have insta-love and this is no different. I didn't feel like the relationship was forced. In fact, the one problem I had with the book was that it was at times a little slow getting to the romance. I was just like "KISS ALREADY" at least twice. But that's what made this book realistic. Holly was still heartbroken over the loss of her husband, so she didn't want to rush into anything. Ciaran didn't make her.
When the romance did come in, it was adorable. It was fresh. I didn't feel like I was reading about the same couple but set in a different country. I felt like this was a couple I had never read about before. They were strong together. They are good together. I loved them together. I liked Holly and I liked Ciaran and I loved Holly and Ciaran.
I think the strongest part of this book was that Holly still kept her business a main focus even after she was with Ciaran. How often do women get into relationships in books and then you never hear about their career again? Holly was a strong character for so many reasons, but this is one that really stuck out to me.
October 8, 2014
Since You've Been Gone
By
Anouska Knight
So...what it's all about...
Holly is a very young widow who owns a cool cake shop called...Cake. She is still living in her past with dead husband Charlie. She has a very pregnant sister, a good pal at work, a great dog and pretty much nothing else. She is closed off to people, friends and change. Then she meets wealthy playboy Ciaran who tries his best to change her life. And why? Because he loves her even though they have enough rocky patches to make love not happen.
So...what made this book fun...
The writing was great, the storyline interesting, and the characters were fun. There were just enough sexy juicy bits to make this story tantalizing. There was just enough of the mean jealous girl...Penny...to make the reader yearn for her comeuppance!
Readers who yearn for a touch of romance and fun in their reading material...should truly enjoy this one. It was serious fun without being too predictable!
By
Anouska Knight
So...what it's all about...
Holly is a very young widow who owns a cool cake shop called...Cake. She is still living in her past with dead husband Charlie. She has a very pregnant sister, a good pal at work, a great dog and pretty much nothing else. She is closed off to people, friends and change. Then she meets wealthy playboy Ciaran who tries his best to change her life. And why? Because he loves her even though they have enough rocky patches to make love not happen.
So...what made this book fun...
The writing was great, the storyline interesting, and the characters were fun. There were just enough sexy juicy bits to make this story tantalizing. There was just enough of the mean jealous girl...Penny...to make the reader yearn for her comeuppance!
Readers who yearn for a touch of romance and fun in their reading material...should truly enjoy this one. It was serious fun without being too predictable!
April 9, 2015
This was a good book to read between Christmas Day and New Year's Day when the craziness attempted to control my life. Holly Jefferson is a young widow whose life was on hold for two years after the death of her husband. Ciarian Argyll is an up and coming businessman who has depth. There were some confusing parts for me: at the beginning I kept thinking that Charlie was alive; for the life of me, I know the setting in Great Britain, but where exactly?
I don't think I would seek out this author again, but all in all, it was a good way to start the new year!
I don't think I would seek out this author again, but all in all, it was a good way to start the new year!
February 1, 2015
3,5★
Novela romántica cotidiana y tierna que entretiene muy bien durante unas cuantas horas. Tiene un par de tópicos y me ha faltado algún que otro giro, pero es ideal para desconectar, sonreír y emocionarnos con sus personajes bastante entrañables.
Novela romántica cotidiana y tierna que entretiene muy bien durante unas cuantas horas. Tiene un par de tópicos y me ha faltado algún que otro giro, pero es ideal para desconectar, sonreír y emocionarnos con sus personajes bastante entrañables.
February 15, 2014
Liked this book, good holiday read. At times a bit predictive, but still enjoyable
March 29, 2018
2.5*
Holly è vedova da due anni, ha perso l'amore della sua vita e ora si limita a sopravvivere. Si butta anima e corpo nel suo negozio di torte e cerca di soffrire il meno possibile. Un giorno incontra Ciaran, erede del proprietario di una grossa impresa edile, ricco a dismisura. Sembrano agli antipodi ma l'attrazione è immediata ed entrambi sono molto diversi da come appaiono.
Questo libro mi ha attirato subito, per la cover così colorata e golosa. Quello che ho trovato invece è stata una storia che di allegro non ha nulla. È incentrato sulla perdita di Holly, sul suo dolore, sulla fatica ad andare avanti. La sua caratterizzazione quindi è completa ma annoia un po' soprattutto nella prima parte, è spesso molto ripetitiva e non lascia nulla. Di contro quando accadono le cose lo fanno velocissime. Ho patito un po' questo dualismo di ritmo nella narrazione, a volte intere pagine di sofferenze di Holly e subito dopo in mezza pagina succede di tutto.
In più si da poco peso al passato di Ciaran, lo si liquida in fretta.
Non sarebbe stato un brutto libro, l'autrice poi ha spesso un tocco di humor che ho apprezzato, però nell'insieme per me non ha funzionato bene e quando l'ho finito mi sono sentita sollevata.
La parte relativa ai dolci poi è marginale, la golosa che è in me avrebbe apprezzato qualcosa di più.
Holly è vedova da due anni, ha perso l'amore della sua vita e ora si limita a sopravvivere. Si butta anima e corpo nel suo negozio di torte e cerca di soffrire il meno possibile. Un giorno incontra Ciaran, erede del proprietario di una grossa impresa edile, ricco a dismisura. Sembrano agli antipodi ma l'attrazione è immediata ed entrambi sono molto diversi da come appaiono.
Questo libro mi ha attirato subito, per la cover così colorata e golosa. Quello che ho trovato invece è stata una storia che di allegro non ha nulla. È incentrato sulla perdita di Holly, sul suo dolore, sulla fatica ad andare avanti. La sua caratterizzazione quindi è completa ma annoia un po' soprattutto nella prima parte, è spesso molto ripetitiva e non lascia nulla. Di contro quando accadono le cose lo fanno velocissime. Ho patito un po' questo dualismo di ritmo nella narrazione, a volte intere pagine di sofferenze di Holly e subito dopo in mezza pagina succede di tutto.
In più si da poco peso al passato di Ciaran, lo si liquida in fretta.
Non sarebbe stato un brutto libro, l'autrice poi ha spesso un tocco di humor che ho apprezzato, però nell'insieme per me non ha funzionato bene e quando l'ho finito mi sono sentita sollevata.
La parte relativa ai dolci poi è marginale, la golosa che è in me avrebbe apprezzato qualcosa di più.
September 20, 2017
"Since you've been gone" was my first book by Anouska Knight and I have been looking forward to the book. The premise sounded great and I am a sucker for those chicklit covers.
The start into the book was a bit bumpy and I had some trouble getting into the story. After a while it got a bit better and I enjoyed the story a little bit more.
Besides a few funny scenes the book had too many flaws for me. One big point is the lack of emotion. I never had the feeling that Holly was still suffering from her loss, this was only metioned in and around her dreams, but that was not enough. The love story developed without chemistry between Holly and Cieran, without emotions and just felt too forced for me.
Another point is my missing connection with the charaters. They felt very distant and there was no chemistry between the couple.
The story itself was dragging and just couldn't keep my interest. The writing style itself was good and easy to read.
The start into the book was a bit bumpy and I had some trouble getting into the story. After a while it got a bit better and I enjoyed the story a little bit more.
Besides a few funny scenes the book had too many flaws for me. One big point is the lack of emotion. I never had the feeling that Holly was still suffering from her loss, this was only metioned in and around her dreams, but that was not enough. The love story developed without chemistry between Holly and Cieran, without emotions and just felt too forced for me.
Another point is my missing connection with the charaters. They felt very distant and there was no chemistry between the couple.
The story itself was dragging and just couldn't keep my interest. The writing style itself was good and easy to read.
August 30, 2017
Bought this from a charity shop. Read the first chapter and thought it seemed truly awful so stopped. Then realised it was a Mills and Boon. Decided to read others' reviews and on the basis of these and the absolutely appalling start, for the first time in a long time, I'm going to not bother to finish a book. My sense from what I did read myself, and from reviews, is that Mills and Boon novels have probably not changed in formula or sexism since I last read one in the 1980s. I'm pretty confident that reading it would make me feel annoyed and ranty (and I was starting to already).
January 18, 2023
Holly, the main character, a widow of two years, was likeable. She did have Olympic level skills in jumping to conclusions.
I never really believed in the romance, and there was a near sexual assault that was just brushed off as no biggie. That got on my last nerve.
Overall, I should have liked it more than I did. I have noticed that in some British romances, behavior that I would call borderline stalking is accepted as "romantic."
I never really believed in the romance, and there was a near sexual assault that was just brushed off as no biggie. That got on my last nerve.
Overall, I should have liked it more than I did. I have noticed that in some British romances, behavior that I would call borderline stalking is accepted as "romantic."
April 30, 2019
This is a DNF for me after 94 pages. I kind of skimmed through the rest, but it played out exactly as I expected. The awkward girl meets the rich guy thins is just overdone. I don't think there was really anything wrong with the book or writing. Romance just isn't a genre I like and I didn't give AF about any of the characters. It felt like a chore to pick up to read so I'm just going to move on. ✌️
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