Love and Marriage

Forgive and Forget #3

by Patricia Scanlan

*** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR ***Families in crisis, passion, tragedy, and the healing powers of love - Patricia Scanlan's brilliant and heartwarming novel re-introduces us to the characters in Forgive and Forget and Happy Ever After, and brings their story to a triumphant conclusion. With an unplanned baby on the way, a newlywed daughter whose marriage is already in trouble, a teenager who won't eat and doesn't think there's anything wrong with her, and hiding secrets from each other, Barry and Aimee are on a rocky road. When love flies in the window, ex-wives can cause a lot of trouble. And Marianna is going to cause as much trouble as she possibly can to make sure that her former husband is not going to waltz down the aisle with his new love.Warmth, wisdom and love on every page - if you treasured Maeve Binchy, read Patricia Scanlan. Number 1 bestselling author Patricia Scanlan is set to capture the hearts and enchant the minds of a whole new generation of readers who will fall in love with her sublime storytelling. A trailblazing women’s fiction author, all of her novels have been #1 international bestsellers, most recently With All My Love, A Time for Friends, Orange Blossom Days and A Family Reunion. She writes multi-generational family dramas with compassion and authenticity, and a hint of comforting escapism. ‘If you love Maeve Binchy, you MUST try Patricia Scanlan' Woman & Home 'Utterly magical and wonderful... warmth and compassion shine through' MARIAN KEYES 'Like being enfolded in a hug from the great writer warm, comforting and full of love' CATHY KELLY 'There can be little doubt that Patricia Scanlan is the prolific queen of contemporary Irish popular fiction' Sunday Times 'There is a heartbreaking authenticity in her observations' Irish Times 'The ultimate comfort read' Glamour ‘If you love Maeve Binchy, you will love Patricia Scanlan’ Mirror

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Ebooks

511 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Patricia Scanlan was born in Dublin, where she still lives. Her #1 bestsellers include Apartment 3B; Finishing Touches; Foreign Affairs; Promises, Promises; Mirror, Mirror; City Girl; City Woman; City Lives; and Francesca’s Party. She has sold millions of books worldwide and is translated into many languages. Patricia is the series editor and a contributing author to the award winning Open Door literacy series, which she developed for adult literacy.

Reviews

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I have to say smugly it was a very satisfying read and I enjoyed every last second of it. It is the last in the trilogy and this author just keeps getting better!
It took me a while to remember all the characters that played throughout the series but once that was achieved I just flew through it. The book deals with true to life events, the recession, marriage seperation, death, teenage anorexia and of course love.
I really looked forward to coming home after work and curling up with a coffee and having my daily fix of it....not sure what to do now it is finished!

Would highly recommend this book and it got a 10/10 for me!!!

[Susan Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely end to this trilogy. I’m going to miss the characters and keeping up with the ups and downs of their lives. As it ended on a happy note for all I’ll imagine that as they go forward they’ll all have more ups than downs. Reading this series has made me want to visit Dublin, ride on the DART and drink coffee looking out to the sea.

[Bingbong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Final book in the series

Just absolutely loved the whole journey!!

Patricia Scanlan is a master story teller, every single word is believable, one forgets that it is just a story you live their lives with them!! Every feeling and action and reaction is sooo real so true and so honest.

You dont notice the pages flying past!! I was totally invested in the characters!! She moves so smoothly from one MC to the next that everyone matures and grows simultaneously. Brilliant!!!!

Love the way the characters evolved and grew and even all the villains matured and in the end you felt sorry for them too.

The book has the perfect ending, not a happy ending for all but the perfect ending!!

Putting this book down is like saying goodbye to a dear friend

[Mariazita · Rating 4 out of 5]

E gostei bastante deste último livro, um final interessante para as personagens que acompanhei ao longo desta serie.
Uma serie sobre o ambiente familiar, com tristezas, ódios, alegrias ,arrependimentos, desculpas e de continuar em frente em busca da harmonia e da felicidade.A procura da realização pessoal,bem como a interacção entre as pessoas que nos são próximas.Procurar o melhor em cada um, tentar perdoar para seguir em frente com o sentido do dever cumprido.
Um serie que aconcelho a ler, que não é uma leitura aborrecida e que nos leva a pensar nas relações que temos com as pessoas que nos são próximas. e se de alguma maneira devemos repensar no nossos sentimentos e seguir outros caminhos que poderão levar a harmonias nas nossas vidas em comunidade.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this trilogy and this book in particular as it continued the stories of the Adams, Davenport and Baxter families and developed their links to each other. I don't know if there are any more books in this series planned but I would definitely read them if there is. The characters were well developed and you wanted everything to turn out well for them (apart from the nasty ones of course). All in all a very enjoyable read that had me hooked.

[Sharon Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the other 2 books in this set, I was happy to get my hands on this book. I really could not wait to find out what was happening to the characters lives. I feel it wrapped up the characters well, and I enjoyed it. I can always rely on a Patricia Scanlan book, for a cosy comfortable read, and this did not disappoint. Recommended.

[Laura Mallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter picked this from my tbr pile, and to be honest at first I thought i would just be trying to get through it quick to get onto the next book. But I really enjoyed it! All the drama of normal lives, but written so well, you can really understand the characters and their motivations from Scanlan's ability to write real people. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Helen Bawden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book on holiday not because of it’s title but because of the writer whose every book I have enjoyed. I loved it! Loved getting to know all the characters and feeling a part of their stories and loved that it was as full-some a plot as they always are. I was sad when it ended, feeling I’d lost a friend.

[Ian Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Marriage

Fantastic book. I loved the characters and everything that happened to them. There was a lot of food description which made me wonder if Patricia was on a diet when she wrote it. It's a smashing book for women and so encouraging.

[Judy Spare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had known this was the last of a trilogy before I waas well into this book.

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, loved this trilogy. Completing the stories of Debby, Connie, Barry and Aimee, Judith, Lily, and friends this trilogy covered so many topics which anyone of us could experience.

[Kim Solleder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series of books to read, really enjoyed all three, as I reread them all again, Patricia Scanlan is one of my favourite authors, her stories are so heartfelt

[Margaret Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely holiday read about mostly nice people including an anorexic teenager. However I did find it hard to keep up with all the different characters in this family.

[Fiona Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice book. I didn’t realise it was the final part of a trilogy. I wonder if I would enjoy the first two knowing how it all ends…?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last in the series. Enjoyable quick read. Predictable except for maybe one character who shall remain nameless. One of my faves. So will give this author a bit of rest.

[Elizabeth]

Too simple for me, apart from the girl with anorexia the story was not catching and I skipped a lot of pages.

[Pam Coll]

Very satisfying read. Yes, as engaging as is Maeve Binchy - I've read all hers, and am now enjoying dipping into a similar style and storyline.

[Joana · Rating 3 out of 5]

não era bem o que esperava desta trilogia, foi agradável ler, mas não foi nada de especial.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Scanlan has now released the final part of her trilogy entitled Love & Marriage. The first two books were Forgive and Forget released in 2008 and Happy Ever After released in 2009.

We again meet the same characters and their daily struggles. Bryan and Debbie are now newly married and feeling the pinch financially. Their marriage is already looking uncertain and as things get harder Bryan tends to bury his head in the sand even more.

Connie who has done her bit for her daughter Debbie and son-in-law Bryan is celebrating a new man in her life. Drew is everything her ex-husband Barry wasn’t. Sadly, Drew’s ex-wife likes to make a habit of ringing and calling upon Drew in her hour of need which is not doing much for Connie’s relationship with Drew.

Connie’s ex-husband Barry re-married Aimee who is the ultimate career woman. Barry is ecstatic when he realises that Aimee is pregnant. This is his chance to be a better father the third time round. With his elder daughter Debbie and youngest Melissa the new addition is something to look forward to. Aimee feels differently and with the added stress to their marriage of their daughter Melissa’s eating difficulties things are looking tough.

Lily’s daughter Judith is recovering slowly from a car accident that left her in a coma. The good thing is that they are finally building a relationship. Judith has become a different person and wants to make the most of her life and together they start to enjoy life as mother and daughter.

Ken and Juliet Davenport have been married for many years. However Judith is sick of her surgeon husband expecting things to be done the same now as they were years ago. When Juliet decides to take action and make her own life for herself independently, Ken struggles to accept that their married life will change forever.

The first two books in the trilogy were as usual good reads, but if I am honest her second book was the weakest of them all. This final part to the trilogy was lovely, so easy to read and a typical curl up with a cuppa type of book! When I first started reading, I kept thinking “I’m sure I have already read this book” and then it finally dawned on me that it was a trilogy.

It didn’t take me long to catch up with the characters and their lives. It also didn’t take me long to detest Bryan who is possibly the most obnoxious character I have read in a long time.

The story itself is always turning and rolling into another part of the story which I loved. The characters are all linked somehow, whether they are family, colleagues or just friends. Patricia Scanlan dealt with the pretty serious issue of anorexia in this book but just like the last one this was dealt with sensitively. The story of Melissa and her eating disorder combined with trying to bond with other family members was very real. It made for a heart-warming read when you see the positive steps she takes in the book.

All in all, this latest release from PS was as usual a great read. It’s not a ten out of ten with a wow factor, but there is something very comforting with her books as you know just the sort of thing you are getting. I look forward to the next one and meeting some new characters.

[Caoimhe Levins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Em Segredos do Teu Olhar temos o final desta trilogia em que acompanhamos várias famílias, cada uma com os seus problemas e as suas divergências, mas que se encontram ligadas de alguma forma. Neste livro acompanhamos os problemas que já vinham de trás e ainda mais alguns ligados à recessão que se viu na Irlanda há uns anos atrás.
A pouco e pouco vão-se resolvendo problemas, vão-se criando pontes e relacionamentos entre pessoas e onde não é possível que isso acontece há ruptura. Felizmente a ruptura que queríamos ver e que não tinha volta a dar, deu-se e vemos o mau da fita (se é que podemos chamar-lhe isso) sair com o rabinho entre as pernas e receber o que merece.
Esta trilogia não tem nada a a haver com o que eu tinha lido antes. Ou até poderá ter, mas com livros únicos onde acompanhamos a história de uma família, talvez duas ou três, mas não com tanta complexidade ou ligação. Nesta trilogia a história é bastante complexa, com muitas personagens cujo ponto de vista temos acesso, o que faz com que troquemos de opiniões várias vezes em relação às ditas personagens e às suas acções. Eu, pelo menos, vi-me por diversas vezes a mudar de opinião em relação a uma certa acção, consoante a perspectiva em causa.
Este sendo o último livro da trilogia, acaba por nos mostrar em grande parte da história finais felizes e pessoas felizes. Nisso tudo bem, afinal gostamos que uma história acabe bem. Mas por outro lado, a ausência de problemas numa parte ainda extensa do livro, fez-me desgostar um pouco deste livro. Nunca estamos satisfeitos, não é? Enfim, gostei dos finais dados às personagens mas acho que podia haver um maior desenvolvimento das dificuldades passadas por elas para chegar a esses finais felizes, ou uma maior descrição dessas dificuldades. Senti que a autora saltou muito por cima desses momentos difíceis, estendendo demasiado os tempos felizes.
Bem, esta é uma boa novela para se ler, uma novela bem contemporânea que nos concede muitos bons momentos de leitura. Recomendo. :)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the second in the series, but I found that it was quite dragged out but not about the enjoyable parts of the plot, more about the depressing financial sitatuations (it was as if she was trying to name as many companies etc. who had shares fall as possible) and I found half of Judith's storyline completely irrelevant (a chapter about her going to visit a therapist whom she finds completely unhelpful and ridiculous - did not move the plot along at all). However the last third of the book in particuar I enjoyed immensely.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and Marriage is the third in a series by Patricia Scanlan. I read 1 years ago, 2 late last year and now this one.

I love reading through an author’s entire body of work and thankfully, I still have a few left to go.

Love and Marriage follows a couple of families living in Dublin and tells the story of their lives interconnecting.

I love Irish fiction as the characters are all so real and there is no shying away from hardship yet there’s always a sense of hope. I loved this one as I always do and rated it 4🌟

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't my favourite of the books in the trilogy- but it was a great read. It was nice to catch up with the characters and see the storylines tied up. It deals with extended families and different ralationships.

Patricia Scanlan is one of my favourite authors and looking forward to picking up the other two waiting for me.

[brenda young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

The last book in this trilogy and I think the best out of the three, you have laughter, sadness and joy. Tackling issues such as anorexia ,I don't think can be easy but was handled very well in this book and the loss of a loved one too, brought back memories for me ,all in all a very enjoyable read.

[Karen Rufus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final part of a trilogy of two families set in modern day Ireland. Unfortunately I hadn't realised there were two previous novels when I read it. However, that fact didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story - it is a stand alone book with a story which I found engrossing. I may have to read the first two now so I can discover the background!

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a continuation of Patricia’s last book and the conclusion
of the series.
When I got to grips with this book, I did enjoy it, however there were
so many Characters, I had trouble remembering which is which, It was a
very long book, so I was glad to get to the end.

[Fátima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apesar de toda a série ser interessante (ainda que não arrebatadora) este livro foi um excelente desfecho.
O cruzar no final de todas as personagens e o "felizes para sempre" que se aguardava foi bonito.
Vou continuar a ler esta autora.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING!!!!!!! it was like reading someone's diary - where they write too many insignificant details because nothing's going on!!!!!!
how did it get to be a number 1 best seller?
maybe people like reading how boring other people's lives are because it makes their won feel more interesting!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read about family life.