Kolm ja pool südamelööki

No Greater Strength #6

by Amanda Prowse

Kuidas toime tulla sellega, kui kolmest saab kaks?

Grace ja Tom Penderford on maailma kõige õnnelikumad inimesed. Neil on imeline suhe, mõnus elu ja ilus pisitütar Chloe.

Siis aga saab õnnetundest ühe hetkega meeleheide ja nende elu muutub igaveseks. Kui kolmeaastane Chloe haigestub ja sureb, on Tomi ja Graceʼi maailm purunenud. Kolmeliikmelisest perest saab kaheliikmeline ja nad peavad leidma viisi, kuidas parandada teineteise murtud süda… ning päästa abielu, kui nad seda suudavad.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2015

About the author

Previous Book: 'Swimming to Lundy', published th August 2024'.

Latest Book: 'This One Life', published 7th January 2025.

Next Book: 'Ever After' published 7th August 2025.

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose thirty-two novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.

A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.

Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...

Praise for Amanda Prowse:

'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan

'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail

'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!

'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun

'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan

'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat

'Magical' - Now magazine

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't an easy read, especially if you yourself have experienced an out of the natural order death, however I'm glad I read this.

The death of three year old Chloe turns the world dark for her parents Grace and Tom. Through their journey we feel the desperate lows, the miscommunication and the silence.

The grief representation portrayed in this book is as messy and debilitating as my own experience.  It's always great to see grief portrayed in the rawest form and not glossed over or prettied up.

Amanda Prowse most certainly has a way with words and it's great with describing emotions so well that they almost become your own.

At the time of posting this book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

[Jennifer (Jaye) (checking back in slowly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Bittersweet*

This book is incredibly gentle, raw, and touching, yet beautifully written. Be prepared for tissues.

Amanda Prowse has a remarkable talent for conveying emotions, whether they’re good, bad, or indifferent.

This is book six of six in the ‘No Greater Strength’ series. The series explores how people are challenged in their worst circumstances and how they cope with them.

In this particular story, we follow Grace and Tom Penderford and their lovely young daughter, Chloe. Grace is career-driven and hardly ever switches off, while Tom is the stay-at-home dad.

Chloe undergoes a routine procedure in hospital, but Tom is more apprehensive because he worries where everyone else are more relaxed choosing to see the positives. However, everyone breathes a sigh of relief when they take her home.

As Tom and Grace take turns watching over Chloe during the night, their world is suddenly torn apart when their family of three is reduced to two.

We witness how this tragedy affects them and how they try to navigate this devastating trauma. Each of them wants to blame the other, but the important thing is what they learn and understand about the condition that robbed their family. Will they ever be able to reach each other again? Can their marriage survive this? As the rift between them widens, can they find a way back to each other?

This book was incredibly emotional, and I couldn’t put it down. All the way through Amanda gives us facts and statistics about this condition and the signs to look out for.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
This is much more than just a story of a family devastated by loss, it’s a wake up call about a common and potentially life threatening disease. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Sepsis Trust.

Grace and Tom Penderford are very happy together and enjoy an up market lifestyle. Their lives were enhanced beyond measure when their daughter Chloe arrived three years ago. Grace has a high pressure job in the city, and the travelling is becoming a chore, tinged with a little resentment at the time spent away from her daughter, while Tom is more than happy to be a stay at home husband, looking after Chloe.

Chloe suffers from a recurring sore throat, so when the doctor advises a tonsillectomy Grace and Tom, after some niggling doubts, agree it’s for the best.

Knowing what’s going to happen doesn’t make reading about it any easier and the family is beyond shattered. Tom and Grace are traumatised, too wrapped up in their own unimaginable distress to be able to help themselves or each other. Their relationship is tested to the limits and I was never sure where the story was going, but loved how it ended. In such a horrendous situation I imagine you get through any way you can and the effects of grief and loss are explored sympathetically through the impact on every member of the family, all of whom are realistic and well developed. Amanda Prowse takes the reader through a whole range of emotions—denial, shock, despair and plumbs the depths of grief before slowly bringing the characters up from rock bottom, back to life and hope for the future.

The chapter headings give thought provoking information, clues and facts relating to Sepsis. Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats is a fictionalised scenario showing how easy it is to miss the signs if you’re unaware. Tom and Grace had no idea what they were dealing with.

The meaning behind the title is only revealed towards the end and it’s shocking and tragic. It’s hard to believe this is my first Amanda Prowse book, so I think it’s time to check out the author’s back catalogue.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from reading the blurb that this was going to be an emotional book and I'm not going to lie, it was. I cried most of the way through it. I don't regret it though for one single minute. 

Each chapter at the start gives the reader a brief bit of information about the illness that Chloe in the story dies from. Like most people, I'm sure we will have heard of it but doubt a lot of us know much about it. Especially the symptoms and what to look out for. The book in general gives a lot of food for thought. Mainly that none of us know just when our time is up and that we should make the most of each day as well as our loved ones. 

When we meet Grace, Tom and Chloe, they are like the perfect little family. Grace and Tom are very much loved up and they absolutely adore their little girl. Chloe is just adorable. She is one loved little girl. I like how the author not only shows the devastation of how it effects the parents, but also the grandparents and other family members. It's such a massive impact on them all and each of them struggles in their own way. 

No parent wants to know what it is like to suffer with the pain of losing a child. We try our best to imagine but even then we know that without a doubt it will be one hundred times worse and more. You really get close though with how Grace deals with the loss of her daughter. My heart totally reached out to her.

Three-and-a-Half-Heartbeats is an emotional and heart breaking read. Yes you will need a box of tissues to get you through it, as well as wanting to grab and hold your kids, just so you can feel that closeness. The story is so much more though. It's about relationships, friendships, strength, weaknesses, unity, even hope. A story and characters that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. 

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-breaking storyline but very informative. Wonderful of Amanda to donate all profits to charity too!

[Sam “My Cosy Book Nook” · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first novel by this author, and not the sort of fiction that I normally read. But I was persuaded to do so by the subject matter. Tom and Grace Penderford seem to have it all: a happy marriage, a comfortable home and a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Chloe. Chloe is admitted to hospital for a routine tonsillectomy. But less than 24 hours later, she is dead. It is revealed - after a second post-mortem - that she died from sepsis.

Be honest. Had you heard of sepsis? And even if you had, did you know what it meant? I didn't. But essentially it's when the body's immune system responds badly to an infection by going into overdrive, to the point where it shuts down the essential organs. And yet it isn't rare. It kills more people in the UK than AIDS, breast, bowel and prostate cancer and road accidents combined.

The rest of the novel deals with how the grief at the loss of a child affects the remaining members of the family. Grace and Tom both struggle so much to cope with their own pain that they are unable to help, or even speak to each other. Grace's parents would love nothing more than to help their daughter, but simply don't know how. In despair, Grace flees to a remote holiday cottage on the Welsh border, where the owner Huw turns out to be still grieving for his wife Leanne who he lost six years ago.

Unfortunately, it was at this point for me that the story started to go downhill. The feelings that Grace starts to develop for Huw read at times like something out of a soap opera. Perhaps the author herself realised this, because at one point she even included the line "to have described it to an outsider would have made it sound tawdry, wanton, but it had been neither of these things". Well, sorry Amanda, but I'm afraid that's exactly how it did sound. A scene where Tom arrived at the cottage unannounced, and Grace had to scream at Huw to leave felt nothing short of farcical. And it meant that the emotional series of punches that I'd felt from the first ten chapters were soon almost forgotten.

That is until the epilogue, when the reason for the book's title is explained. It's so named because somewhere in the world, someone dies of sepsis approximately every three-and-a-half seconds.

Let me say that again. Every. Three-and-a-half. Seconds.

That's probably a little bit less time than it would take to read that last sentence out loud.

And that's why I was delighted and humbled to read that all proceeds from this novel have been donated to the Sepsis Trust (www.sepsistrust.org), which was founded as recently as 2012 and exists to raise awareness and improve understanding of this disease.

Rating this book is difficult then. Because as a novel, it gets three stars for being an easy and sometimes thought-provoking read, but rarely a mesmerising one. But as a tool to raise awareness of a disease that kills 37,000 people in the UK every year, and to fund research into it, it deserves at least a million.

I'm therefore going to end the review by asking everyone to ignore most of what I have said, and to buy this book and read it. Because the outcome could be that it might just save someone's life.

[Lost_in_her_bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you know what Sepsis is? What signs to look for?

Sepsis is a life threatening reaction to an infection. Symptoms include shortness of breath, confusion, no passing of urine, high temperature, mottled skin, lethargy, breathing very fast. Do not hesitate to take action and seek emergency help. It can be deadly.

Why am I telling you this?
Because that's exactly the purpose of Three-and-a-half Heartbeats.

Grace & Tom Penderford are living the perfect life with their tiny daughter Chloe. Then in a heartbeat, chloe falls ill and dies. Their entire lives have been ripped apart, and they have to learn how three becomes two in the most devastating way.

The story itself was very simple, easy to read despite the harrowing subject, and overall somewhat basic. I didn't feel I connected with any of the characters and found the story quick to jump from one situation to the next, without the normal wholehearted emotion from Prowse's writing. However, don't be fooled by my lack of enthusiasm for this story, because ultimately it was written to be remembered. If for a single second you feel that something is wrong, think SEPSIS. Around the world, someone dies of Sepsis every three-and-a-half seconds, approximately one death every three-and-a-half heartbeats.

Read, learn, remember Chloe.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already this year we have had three books from the lovely Amanda Prowse and now she is back with a novella Three and a Half Heartbeats which highlights the dangers of sepsis and brings to the attention of her readers old and new about a devastating illness which many people may not know even exists. At just over 285 pages and priced at only €1.89 (£1.19) on Kindle, this is fantastic value for such a stunning gut wrenching book. All proceeds from the sale of this story will go to the Sepsis Trust. Amanda Prowse is adept at highlighting issues or problems which need more attention through her skilful writing and once again this book demonstrated to me what a wonderfully talented author she really is.

I flew through this story in an afternoon not because it was an easy read (far from it) but because I was instantly drawn into what was to prove to be an emotionally charged read full of love, loss, trauma, grief and tentative acceptance. One which ultimately brought great awareness to sepsis and certainly opened my eyes. Amanda really gets to the heart of the matter in each of her books through her engaging writing style and this new release is no different. The story of Grace and Tom pulls at your heartstrings until you are left a sobbing mess attempting to keep reading this incredible story through your tears. You have been warned now that you will need tissues in abundance before you start this.

Grace Penderford is happily married to her soul mate Tom and although a little later than most to be a first time mother at the age of 36 she is deliriously happy with her now three year old daughter Chloe. Grace has the career she had always wanted although high pressured is not the word. The phone is never out of her hand and she can rarely completely switch off to just relax and enjoy the time she has with her daughter. Yes the ache Grace had for so long is gone now she has Chloe, but is she missing out on quality time through her long working hours whilst stay at home Dad Tom enjoys and reaps the benefits of these precious early first years? From the beginning it was clear Grace and Tom were destined for each other and had a deep connection and most of the time they were honest and open with each other and having a child only cemented these facts as Chloe is mentioned as being 'the creeping vine that bound them even closer together, covering their ordinariness with something beautiful'. Although just from the first chapter the reader senses Grace is becoming disillusioned with the daily grind and the constant strain to perform to such exacting high standards. Will something give?

The cosy domestic scenes in the beginning of the book are all the more poignant considering the reader is aware of what is in store for the family unit. Knowing what we do I embraced each scene and considered how Grace in the future would look back on how she viewed life in those carefree innocent days. Would she regret all the time she spent at work away from beautiful Chloe? Would jealousy set in as Tom had spent so much time with her little knowing how precious those times would prove to be? Chloe even though she was only three was adorable and stole every scene she was in with her funny mannerisms and outlook on life that only a young child can have. I felt the reader really got to know her personality and charming quirks.

Once tragedy strikes a torrent of feelings and emotions is unleashed and I felt every one of those with Grace and Tom. Amanda's writing is just mind blowingly good and I rarely cry at books but I was in floods of tears. The descriptions of the days following this event were raw, real and heartfelt. Bewilderment at initially not knowing the reason and bereft at such an unexpected turn of events from what should have been a routine everyday thing. Both Tom and Grace physically and mentally alter and fall apart and drift away from each other. They are barely existing and like ships passing in the night. 'There used to be a time when we would have sunk together.' But it's this line that most struck a cord with me really summing up how a lot of people feel about grief and for those who are left behind 'I wish I could fast forward forever'.

More often than not authors can shy away from the cold hard facts but here Amanda Prowse lays bare the realities of loss and confronts a wide range of emotions head on. She uses such vivid, realistic descriptions detailing the breakdown of a family that I felt every bit of their pain but also their anger and confusion. Although I know Grace was suffering I felt she became quite selfish in her actions, I would have loved for her to have been more open with Tom and express what she was feeling. What she did to me seemed too much like the easy option and I was slightly uncomfortable with the later part of the book simply because I wanted the pair to work through their agony and anguish with their supportive family instead Grace ran away from the issue and I was worried she might do something she would later regret. I loved Tom and Grace equally and had my fingers crossed throughout for a happy outcome (well maybe more so acceptance considering the events) I never really knew if it was coming or not as Amanda took me on such a compelling journey I couldn't guess the ending.

I can't forget to mention what a genius idea to include a fact re sepsis at the beginning of each chapter, they proved insightful and only served to heighten even more awareness. The further I read the more the facts shocked and horrified me and to think not many people are have any knowledge of this illness. One thing that did bug me throughout the book was how did the title fit in with the story and it was not until the very last sentence do we find out and to say I was left open mouthed would be an understatement. Three and a Half Heartbeats is a book everyone needs to read, as I said it's not easy but is rather a frank and honest account where Amanda Prowse has definitely achieved the job she set out to do.

[Sammy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab as only Amanda's are

[Suzy Dansby · Rating 5 out of 5]

So poignant and well written. My first of this author and I will be reading more now.

[Naaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Margaret Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story of a couple who have everything until their daughter contracts sepsis. This is about the process of learning how to live again after tragedy.

[Jessica’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the audiobook version of this book today and it was such a great listen. It was truly heartbreaking but a well thought out story and great awareness for how quickly sepsis can kill. It was read by the author herself and it made for a great listen

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a touching and lovely family! Sepsis, quite familiar but never understood by many.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will definitely stay with me and has made me aware of the symptoms of Septis.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start by saying books do not generally make me cry and if they do it's a solitary tear. Three and a Half Heartbeats broke me; I was a soggy mess for a long time after finishing.

It is the story of Grace and Tom Penderford and their 3 year old daughter Chloe. They have the perfect life. Grace has the high flying career and Tom is the stay at home dad. Chloe is the centre of their universe.

Everything changes after Chloe has a routine tonsilectomy...she is struck down by sepsis and passes away. Grace and Tom are shattered and must learn to adapt to life without her. Can their "perfect" marriage ever recover?

All proceeds from this book go to the Sepsis Trust and I urge you to buy a copy.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, a lot. It was emotional, very touching and hard to read at times but it also kept me thinking. I felt a connection to all of the characters, and I enjoyed gaining an insight to their lives. I found the end a bit 'easy' (as my mum also said) and while I enjoyed the ending's resolve, I'm not a huge fan of the 'I'll write a book' direction that Grace went in. Overall, I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it to others.

[Philippa Mckenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible story from Amanda Prowse, who has fast become my favourite author so far this year. Not only is this heartbreaking story of loss and grief, it is also an eye opener regarding Sepsis and how this dreadful illness can strike without warning, leaving devastation in its wake.

[lisa gillingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and heartbreaking

This book will bring sepsis awareness to everyone who reads it and spreads the word about the book and author

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down.It was sad, but it also made you think. I loved all the characters too Brilliant ❤️

[Landles Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with a powerful message about sepsis. Superb.

[Tygrysica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czy istnieje ból większy niż ten po stracie dziecka? Ciężko odpowiedzieć na to pytanie, gdy nie doświadczyło się tego rodzaju cierpienia. Możemy jedynie spróbować sobie to wyobrazić, ale i tak będziemy dalecy od rzeczywistości. Jednak jedno jest pewne. Żaden rodzic nie powinien przeżyć śmierci własnego dziecka. Nie ma na świecie rzeczy straszniejszej niż to. Niestety los bywa okrutny i postanowił doświadczyć tym ogromnym bólem Grace i Toma Penderford. Szczęśliwą, kochającą rodzinę, której straszliwa choroba w ciągu niespełna jednej doby odebrała wszelką nadzieję na lepsze jutro.

„To zawsze będzie trudne, bez względu na to, ile czasu upłynie. To zawsze będzie cię bolało, szokowało i odbierało ci oddech, gdy obudzisz się w nocy i zdasz sobie sprawę, że to wcale nie jest tylko jakiś straszny koszmar. Nawet teraz zdarzają mi się dni, kiedy nie chcę wstawać z łóżka, nie chcę się z nikim widzieć, więc z nikim się nie widzę i czekam, aż dzień się skończy.”

Nie spodziewałam się, że lektura tej książki tak bardzo mną wstrząśnie. Nie przygotowano mnie na taką silną dawkę emocji. Byłam przerażona świadomością, że zaledwie w kilku sekund można stracić w życiu tak wiele. Dlatego jestem pod wrażeniem tego co stworzyła Amanda Prowse. Mam wrażenie, że nie czytałam drugiej tak realistycznej historii opowiadającej o stracie tak wielkiego kalibru. Autorka naprawdę dobrze zobrazowała świat i emocje rodziców po śmierci dziecka, jednocześnie uświadamiając czytelnikowi jak wielkim zagrożeniem dla życia jest choroba zwaną sepsą.
Zawiódł mnie odrobinę epilog. Jako całość był bardzo dobrym zwieńczeniem historii, choć brakowało mi w nim kilku detali. Mianowicie mówiąc chodzi mi o zaznaczenie przez autorkę czasu jaki minął od przedostatniego rozdziału do ostatniego oraz wyjaśnienia jak państwo Penderford ponownie znaleźli się w starej owczarni. Wiem, że dla fabuły ma to nikłe znaczenie, jednakże mnie doskwierał przez to pewien niedosyt.
Zachwycona natomiast jestem wspaniałą szatą graficzną. Nie spodziewałam się takiego pięknego wnętrza. Ilekroć rozpoczynałam nowy rozdział tyle razy zachwycałam się wspaniałą grafiką okalającą tekst. Na dodatek na początku każdego rozdziału pojawia się wzmianka z istotnymi informacjami na temat sepsy, które kiedyś mogą ocalić komuś życie.

„Dziś w Wielkiej Brytanii sepsa zabije około stu osób. Sto rodzin straci kogoś bliskiego. Rodzin podobnych do mojej, podobnej do Waszej...”

Amandy Prowse w swojej najnowszej książce porusza naprawdę ważne tematy, o których nie mówi się na co dzień, choć są niezwykle istotne. Już sam ten fakt powinien was skusić do sięgnięcia po tą książkę. Jeśli jednak to wam nie wystarcza to może przekona was poruszająca oraz niezwykle realistyczna historia o tragedii, która może spotkać każdego z nas. Przeczytajcie „Trzy i pół sekundy”.

Aleksandra
Wszystkie cytaty pochodzą z książki „Trzy i pół sekundy” autorstwa Amandy Prowse.

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[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...

I have to start by saying all proceeds from Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats will go to the Sepsis Trust, so please buy this novel. Not only is it a stunning piece of fiction, it’s going towards an important cause – and every sale will help that little bit more to prevent the tragic death and consequences Sepsis results in. Visit www.sepsistrust.org to find out more about this disease.

Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats is beautiful through and through. Knowing what was to come in this novel, knowing that the family of Grace, Tom and Chloe was going to be torn apart, had me reading the book right from the beginning with a lump in my throat. I’m a huge fan of Amanda Prowse’s books but there was just something about Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats that felt even more genuine, heart-breaking and moving than what I was used to. I think it was even more emotional for me because it wasn’t about the tragic health issues we hear about so often, it was something completely new to me and knowing very little about Sepsis as I did before reading this book, I then found every piece of information about the condition, the disease, to be devastating and horrible. Amanda has beautifully and yet with ease interlinked educating the reader about something they most likely have little understanding of with a stunning, important story. It’s a book everyone should read – for the information, for the message, for the great cause it’s supporting or just because it’s a heart-achingly wonderful novel. I couldn’t think of a better author to write this book than Amanda Prowse.

Grace and Tom are married and it’s so early on that we can tell how suited they are for each other, how in love they were. I connected with them as a couple almost straight away to the level that I actually felt anxious about what was to come and how it could affect them. They have a beautiful, joyous daughter in Chloe who lights up their life and the pages in this novel with her innocence, her funny words and phrases, with the way she wraps both her parents and Grace’s parents around her little finger. Chloe was so sweet and realistically written, as I could just see her there in front of me and recognise the qualities she possesses, and I must say that if you have children, or have children in your family, which I don’t, then this book must be even more poignant and moving – which at times feels impossible because I wanted to cry before anything had even happened. Chloe has regular sore throats and her parents have come to the agreement that she should have her tonsils removed. It would be better for her, long term. Chloe gets through that day fine, the operation, her mum and dad learn, has gone well, but once she’s home, things begin to change. She’s shivery, hasn’t wet her nappy and she’s slurring the little words she has. Grace has a bug and so she thinks that must be it, and the hospital reassures her too. But mere hours later, the worst has happened.

This book destroyed my emotions. Tom and Grace were falling apart and I couldn’t blame them. Their grief was overwhelming and for both of them, in a way it was different. Anyone who has grieved, I think, could really identify with some of their feelings but at the same time, recognise how unbearable and unimaginable the loss of your child would be. I feared for the future for Grace and Tom – I really wasn’t sure how things would work out and that is because, though I expected one thing once I started this novel, Amanda made the story pretty unpredictable and this book could have ended up one of two ways. I liked not knowing exactly how things would play out and I think it helped me connect with this story even more, if that could even be possible, because I knew the ending I wanted and even though I would have appreciated it either way, I was willing and fighting for one particular outcome. I loved both Grace and Tom – I thought they were such strong characters and so likeable. You just have to see the way they spoke with and teased each other from the start, the way they cared for each other. You can see how much love is there and I don’t think at that point you could see things ever going wrong for them. But grief is all-consuming, and can alter everything.

I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’m wary of giving any more detail. As Grace and Tom are grieving, their lives separate. Tom was a stay-at-home dad with Chloe and so he suffers from having to lead that same life at home but this time, without his perfect daughter with him. Grace spent all of her time as a mum busy working, maybe not spending as much time with Chloe as she would like but working is understandably not something she is up to and she is seeking peace and comfort. I really wished Grace and Tom could communicate more, but mostly I just wanted them to be okay. I was completely drawn into their story and I felt sadness throughout a lot of this book but at times made to feel strengthened and though this is a touching story, I can’t say it won’t make you smile at times either. Amanda balances out the emotion and tenderness perfectly so the happy memories, and the love, still shines through and warms your heart.

My favourite aspect to this book was something so simple and that was just the style it was written in. Each chapter starts off with a sign, a symptom or a statistic about Sepsis which was such an incredibly thoughtful and clever way of informing the reader whilst building Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats as a gorgeous novel at the same time. I now feel like I know a lot about Sepsis, so much more than before, yet I’ve also been encouraged me to read more about the horrible disease. I appreciated how the learning aspect of this book wasn’t forced upon the reader, and it is still fiction, but with Sepsis being its poignant, well researched core. Everything about this novel was just spot-on for me. Amanda combines the right mix of everything, creating characters that were accurate, well-defined, creating a story that could be so startlingly real and that threw my emotions everywhere, building a plot that you can’t stop reading, despite how uncomfortably heart-breaking it is. What I always love about Amanda’s books are how honest they are and sometimes you might find yourself wanting things to be different for her characters but that’s because the happy-ending is something so many readers crave whilst Amanda always keeps things real. That being said, the last few chapters and the epilogue to Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats were flawless, to me. I don’t think there was a better way to end the book and I loved seeing where the title came from. Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats is moving, painful and poignant – a novel that sees you come out of the other side feeling more informed, more enriched and with that will to make something out of every day.


(review copy)

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Amanda Prowse book means I know I need to gear up for a shed load of emotion, and this was no different.
It is always the case when I read a story about the loss of a child...
And I don't mind admitting that I actually sat in the car, waiting for my son to finish his cricket training, reading this book, and had to wipe away tears...
Grace and Tom Penderfold have all they could want, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home and a precious child, with Grace bringing in the income, and Tom being the amazing house husband and daddy... until tragic circumstances rip their child, Chloe, from them.
A heart-rending story exploring the changes that loss can wreak upon couples after the loss of a child, and also a story of hope.
The added benefit of educating the readers about the dangers of a potentially fatal condition, Sepsis, makes this a truly gripping read.
Having had to have emergency surgery 13 years ago because of the possibility of septicemia, this hit home even harder.
Definitely a recommended read.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audiobook, and it was also read by the author Amanda Prowse, who was really good at doing the narration. It tells the absolutely heartbreaking story of two parents, Grace and Tom, and their young daughter Chloe. Chloe has a hospital appointment to have her tonsils out, a straightforward operation, but something so terrible happens afterwards, the night after she returned home. Chloe died from Sepsis, and from thereafter, Grace and Tom's world was turned upside down as they knew their lives and marriage would never be the same again. Each chapter was started off with the facts and figures relating to Sepsis and the number of deaths each year from it. I truly had no idea, and I think this this book will do more to raise awareness than anything else. After listening to it, I will now check out all the information as it is obviously causing more deaths than you realise. It's definitely a tear jerker. Yes, it's sad, but it's also good as it's clearly raising so much awareness. Amanda Prowse's books are always really good and this is no exception.

[Shruti Bhandari-Kothari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three And A Half Heartbeat

Author- Amanda Prowse
Genre- Tragedy
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A book laced with grief and survival, of Grace who is a working parent for Chloe and her stay at home husband Tom.

When a routine tonsils procedure turns tragic for Chloe as she succumb to Sepsis and meets her tragic demise at the age of three, Grace and Tom are torn to bits and are struggling to survive.

A close knit family before this incident, the marriage is stretched to a breaking point, and Grace is making a run from the whole situation.

Will they survive? How do they handle the grief and how will the other side look for them?

Appreciation for the author to depict such painful and raw emotions with clarity.

#shrutis_book_love #tragedy #sepsis #sepsisawareness #threeandahalfheartbeats #amandaprowse #igreads #instareads #reelsinstagram #happytime #mummareads #readingwhilebreastfeeding #audiobooks #lovetoread #loveforbooks

[Susan and Nigel Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking.

This book tells the story of one family and how their perfect life was torn apart.
Grace and Tom are the proud parents of 3 year old Chloe. Tom is an architect, but he decides to be a househusband so that he can look after Chloe and give her the perfect childhood that he never had.
This book starts each chapter with facts about the devastating illness Sepsis, which claims the lives of more people than breast, bowel and prostate cancers every year. It is a work of fiction, but its aim is to educate you so that you can recognise the symptoms and maybe save a life by questioning if it could be sepsis. Rarely have I been as moved by a story as I was by this. It felt very real, so it could be very difficult reading if you’re in a fragile state, but for most people it will be a rewarding read. I highly recommend it.

[Em Yarnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a quick read for me. I read the hardback edition with the sepsis facts at the start of each chapter. I cried very early on. I cried a lot. It’s an incredibly moving story and I became very emotionally invested in all the characters. I found I just couldn’t put it down, I needed to know what happens to the whole family. I cried sad tears, I cried happy tears. I even found I was reading out the chapter facts to my hubby as I went along. The statistics are shocking and whilst I knew a little about Sepsis, I still found myself googling when I’d finished. It’s taken me a little while to find. Words to put together a review. This book is beautiful and very clever, written in such a sensitive and powerful way as Amanda Does so well. Being a mother myself, I think this book will haunt me in a good way for a while.

[Michaela in Bookish Wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a start to the year!
I have started listening to audiobooks whilst at work but this book didn't stop when my shift did. The story really pulled on my heartstrings from the get go with Chloe's bubbly personality and adorable speech! It made me think back to the cute and funny things my own children used to say. It also raises awareness on an important subject, I admit, I didn't really know anything about myself.

Books don't often make me cry but it was so hard to hold back the tears at times. I didn't realise the book would be narrated by Amanda herself and in ways, hearing the author read her own words made it that little bit more exciting and special to listen to. I honestly don't know how her voice didn't quiver in certain moments but she read it so beautifully.

Amanda is an incredible writer. I will definitely be reading more of her books this year.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

#4 READ A FICTIONAL BOOK ABOUT A LIFE EVENT: Three-and-a Half Heartbeats certainly fit this book challenge. Amanda Prowse's novels follow the theme of ordinary women in extraordinary situations and explore how human nature reacts when individuals are tested to the very edge of their limits. I was surprised at how the title came to be but it made complete sense. A very eye-opening quote was "...It made me realize that life can end just like that, whether you're old or young, or even the very young. And so I decided not to waste a single day...not one. And so far I haven't." ----and a good reminder!!! Amanda writes about women's issues----this is not her 1st book I've read...and it won't be my last! Highly recommend :) Kindle Unlimited