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A Love to Last a Lifetime
The one that she wants...
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...
The one that she needs...
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
From the author of the bestselling Before We Grow Old, Clare Swatman. A Love to Last a Lifetime is for anyone who had a first love, a lost love or a love that lasted forever. Perfect for all fans of Sophie Cousens, David Nicholls and Josie Silver.
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...
The one that she needs...
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
From the author of the bestselling Before We Grow Old, Clare Swatman. A Love to Last a Lifetime is for anyone who had a first love, a lost love or a love that lasted forever. Perfect for all fans of Sophie Cousens, David Nicholls and Josie Silver.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2023
184 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
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November 25, 2022
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This is my third book by this author. Having read and loved both Before We Grow Old and How To Save A Life I was so excited to get approved for this on NetGalley. Clare Swatman always seems to tug at my heartstrings. She has such a lovely way with words and putting feelings to paper. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I was happy and laughing at times and felt sad and angry too, it also made me swoon at the lovely dovey bits.
Everyone has heard of the one that got away, I even have one myself. This is the case for Erin, who is married to Greg, when her one that got away, Adam, comes back. I really liked the format of this book with now and then chapters. Funnily enough, I liked the now chapters more than the then. I usually like the before chapters more because getting to know the character's background is so much more interesting but in this case, I found Erin and Adam's current story much more engaging. I still really liked the then chapters, very much.
I have to mention that each chapter has the title of a song as its heading. Oh how I enjoyed being taken back in time. I was a teen in the 80s and my son was a teen in the 90s so the songs gave not only the characters memories but me as well. One chapter is titled Don't You Want ME Baby by The Human League and it reminded me of my son singing it as "Don't Chew On Me Baby".
I really appreciated how authentically the dementia patient was portrayed. My aunt had early onset dementia and the author did an amazing job making it realistic from both the patient's point of view and the family's as well. What a beautifully poignant read by an author who has become one of my favourites and an auto buy for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#ALovetoLastaLifetime #NetGalley
This is my third book by this author. Having read and loved both Before We Grow Old and How To Save A Life I was so excited to get approved for this on NetGalley. Clare Swatman always seems to tug at my heartstrings. She has such a lovely way with words and putting feelings to paper. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I was happy and laughing at times and felt sad and angry too, it also made me swoon at the lovely dovey bits.
Everyone has heard of the one that got away, I even have one myself. This is the case for Erin, who is married to Greg, when her one that got away, Adam, comes back. I really liked the format of this book with now and then chapters. Funnily enough, I liked the now chapters more than the then. I usually like the before chapters more because getting to know the character's background is so much more interesting but in this case, I found Erin and Adam's current story much more engaging. I still really liked the then chapters, very much.
I have to mention that each chapter has the title of a song as its heading. Oh how I enjoyed being taken back in time. I was a teen in the 80s and my son was a teen in the 90s so the songs gave not only the characters memories but me as well. One chapter is titled Don't You Want ME Baby by The Human League and it reminded me of my son singing it as "Don't Chew On Me Baby".
I really appreciated how authentically the dementia patient was portrayed. My aunt had early onset dementia and the author did an amazing job making it realistic from both the patient's point of view and the family's as well. What a beautifully poignant read by an author who has become one of my favourites and an auto buy for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#ALovetoLastaLifetime #NetGalley
March 1, 2023
In a Nutshell: Interesting theme. Irritating main characters. Heartbreaking focus on dementia. Nice ending. So if you can tolerate the characters, the journey is worthwhile.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
😍 Erin's mother has dementia, and the portrayal of how the illness affects a person is depicted realistically. It's heartbreaking to read.
😍 Erin's work as a music therapist provides some wonderful insights on how music is used in recovery and healing.
😍 Every chapter title is the mention of a song and the group it was sung by. For example, ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ by Verve, or ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper. The chapter content reflects the theme or the title of the song. It also helped enhance the musical elements in the story. The music lover in me loved this unusual approach, and enjoyed some lovely nostalgic musical memories.
😍 Erin's dad is by far the best character in the book, probably the only character I truly loved. He is the only one who came across as sensible, despite his tendency to hoard things.
😍 The book explores the dimensions of comfortable or familiar love vs. passionate or lustful love. While this isn’t as in depth as it could have been, the theme comes out well through Erin’s indecision and the romantic situation of another character.
😍 The ending was perfect, and more importantly, justified. Took the character long enough to use their brain, but better late than never!
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😕 A book is so much easier to enjoy if you love at least one of the main characters. Unfortunately, the central trio - Erin, Greg, and Adam - were equally aggravating. No common sense. No sense of integrity or loyalty. Concerned just about their own selves. I do like realistic characters, but these three were probably too realistic to be likeable. Erin was especially annoying as she was judgemental about others but couldn’t see her own errors in judgement.
😕 Erin’s friend Sam is the token homosexual character whose only role is to be the stereotypical gay friend. All he has to do is crack queer jokes (and I mean ‘queer’ in both its meanings), support Erin, and give advice. Such a clichéd portrayal!
😕 The contemporary timeline is quite repetitive, with Erin going back and forth between Greg and Adam in her thoughts and actions.
I had loved this author’s earlier work—How to Save a Life—and was hoping for a similar experience this time around. The story did have great potential, but the annoying characters with their repetitive and self-destructive behaviour were too idiotic for me to ignore. Hence the midway mark. (I was actually stuck on 2.5 stars for most of the book. The ending made me go higher.)
3 stars
My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Love to Last a Lifetime”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
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Story Synopsis:
Eighteen years ago, Erin was head over heels in love with Adam. But when he broke her heart, Greg was the one to help her back to normalcy.
Now, Adam is back, but with a difference: he has amnesia and doesn't remember Erin or their time together. However, Erin still has (or at least she thinks she has) feelings for him, despite being happily married to Greg for more than a decade.
Should Erin honour her marital commitment, or should she return to the love of her life?
The story comes to us from Erin's perspective, written in first person in the ‘Now’ timeline and in third person in the ‘Then’ flashbacks.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 Erin's mother has dementia, and the portrayal of how the illness affects a person is depicted realistically. It's heartbreaking to read.
😍 Erin's work as a music therapist provides some wonderful insights on how music is used in recovery and healing.
😍 Every chapter title is the mention of a song and the group it was sung by. For example, ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ by Verve, or ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper. The chapter content reflects the theme or the title of the song. It also helped enhance the musical elements in the story. The music lover in me loved this unusual approach, and enjoyed some lovely nostalgic musical memories.
😍 Erin's dad is by far the best character in the book, probably the only character I truly loved. He is the only one who came across as sensible, despite his tendency to hoard things.
😍 The book explores the dimensions of comfortable or familiar love vs. passionate or lustful love. While this isn’t as in depth as it could have been, the theme comes out well through Erin’s indecision and the romantic situation of another character.
😍 The ending was perfect, and more importantly, justified. Took the character long enough to use their brain, but better late than never!
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😕 A book is so much easier to enjoy if you love at least one of the main characters. Unfortunately, the central trio - Erin, Greg, and Adam - were equally aggravating. No common sense. No sense of integrity or loyalty. Concerned just about their own selves. I do like realistic characters, but these three were probably too realistic to be likeable. Erin was especially annoying as she was judgemental about others but couldn’t see her own errors in judgement.
😕 Erin’s friend Sam is the token homosexual character whose only role is to be the stereotypical gay friend. All he has to do is crack queer jokes (and I mean ‘queer’ in both its meanings), support Erin, and give advice. Such a clichéd portrayal!
😕 The contemporary timeline is quite repetitive, with Erin going back and forth between Greg and Adam in her thoughts and actions.
I had loved this author’s earlier work—How to Save a Life—and was hoping for a similar experience this time around. The story did have great potential, but the annoying characters with their repetitive and self-destructive behaviour were too idiotic for me to ignore. Hence the midway mark. (I was actually stuck on 2.5 stars for most of the book. The ending made me go higher.)
3 stars
My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Love to Last a Lifetime”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
January 24, 2023
3⭐
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now (1st person POV) and then (3rd person POV), musician, music therapy, amnesia, dementia, love triangle~ish, emotional cheating
Erin has been married to her 2nd choice Greg for 13 years. Their marriage is already rocky due to a big betrayal from Greg. The tension mounts when her old flame and love of her life, Adam comes back to town after 18 years.
Should Erin take it as a sign that Adam is back in her life and risk her marriage to help him? She is so drawn to him that she just can't help herself. Can't say I'm a big fan of the sneaking around.
Honestly I wasn't really rooting for either man ~ I didn't care for either one of them in the past or the present. Erin wasn't very likable herself either. And it was bugging me that she kept saying that she knew Adam ~ girl you haven't seen him in 18 years! That's an awfully long time to be apart and still think you know someone and they only dated for like a year too. I liked bff's, Sam and Rose ~ they were good friends to Erin.
Music plays a big part in this story. Not only is Adam a musician, but Erin uses music therapy to help dementia patients try to remember. She uses her skills to help Adam with his amnesia as well. All of the chapters are titled with a song too. It was interesting that just hearing a song could bring back so many memories for Erin ~ like how she was able to know where she was and what she was doing when she heard it last, that's a good memory right there.
Her mother has early onset dementia and I thought that was written well. Reading the pages when she visited her really yanked the heartstrings.
Overall, this was okay, but on the slower side with some repetition. I did figure out how it would end and I am happy with the choice she made although it was rather abrupt.
Side note ~ don't tell me you're working towards paying off your debt while you are on your 2nd bottle of wine of the night and you're heading to the pub every week. Put that money towards your debt dudes! At least they were eating at home and not eating out every other night though.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now (1st person POV) and then (3rd person POV), musician, music therapy, amnesia, dementia, love triangle~ish, emotional cheating
Erin has been married to her 2nd choice Greg for 13 years. Their marriage is already rocky due to a big betrayal from Greg. The tension mounts when her old flame and love of her life, Adam comes back to town after 18 years.
Should Erin take it as a sign that Adam is back in her life and risk her marriage to help him? She is so drawn to him that she just can't help herself. Can't say I'm a big fan of the sneaking around.
Honestly I wasn't really rooting for either man ~ I didn't care for either one of them in the past or the present. Erin wasn't very likable herself either. And it was bugging me that she kept saying that she knew Adam ~ girl you haven't seen him in 18 years! That's an awfully long time to be apart and still think you know someone and they only dated for like a year too. I liked bff's, Sam and Rose ~ they were good friends to Erin.
Music plays a big part in this story. Not only is Adam a musician, but Erin uses music therapy to help dementia patients try to remember. She uses her skills to help Adam with his amnesia as well. All of the chapters are titled with a song too. It was interesting that just hearing a song could bring back so many memories for Erin ~ like how she was able to know where she was and what she was doing when she heard it last, that's a good memory right there.
Her mother has early onset dementia and I thought that was written well. Reading the pages when she visited her really yanked the heartstrings.
Overall, this was okay, but on the slower side with some repetition. I did figure out how it would end and I am happy with the choice she made although it was rather abrupt.
Side note ~ don't tell me you're working towards paying off your debt while you are on your 2nd bottle of wine of the night and you're heading to the pub every week. Put that money towards your debt dudes! At least they were eating at home and not eating out every other night though.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
April 11, 2023
*Searching for Love*
From the moment a young Erin meets Adam Bowers at a student party that was it for her. The way he made her feel was indescribable. No one has ever made her feel like that before. Adam is well spoken and fresh from being kicked out from a posh school, he seems edgy, he’s in a band and there is the hint of a bad boy that she cannot resist
Waiting in the wings is Greg, he is Erin’s friend and she loves talking to him but he is stuck in the friend zone.
When Erin breaks up with Adam due to his often no care attitude and unexplained love bites she is heartbroken and Greg picks up the pieces. Greg knows the score, he is second best but fast forward nearly two decades Erin is married to Greg and their marriage is in trouble.
One day whilst out Erin hears and sees Adam busking, in her utter shock she runs away.
Soon she feels powerless as her senses disappears as she meets up with Adam, it is not the meeting she expected because Adam has changed from the man she knew and desperately needs her help.
To help Adam she knows Greg’s worse nightmare will be realised, or will risking it all be the right move… in making her choice the result even surprises Erin.
From the moment a young Erin meets Adam Bowers at a student party that was it for her. The way he made her feel was indescribable. No one has ever made her feel like that before. Adam is well spoken and fresh from being kicked out from a posh school, he seems edgy, he’s in a band and there is the hint of a bad boy that she cannot resist
Waiting in the wings is Greg, he is Erin’s friend and she loves talking to him but he is stuck in the friend zone.
When Erin breaks up with Adam due to his often no care attitude and unexplained love bites she is heartbroken and Greg picks up the pieces. Greg knows the score, he is second best but fast forward nearly two decades Erin is married to Greg and their marriage is in trouble.
One day whilst out Erin hears and sees Adam busking, in her utter shock she runs away.
Soon she feels powerless as her senses disappears as she meets up with Adam, it is not the meeting she expected because Adam has changed from the man she knew and desperately needs her help.
To help Adam she knows Greg’s worse nightmare will be realised, or will risking it all be the right move… in making her choice the result even surprises Erin.
January 17, 2023
2.75 stars//
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A Love to Last a Lifetime follows Erin, a psychologist living in a small town with her husband, Greg, who recently developed a gambling addiction. One day, Erin finds Adam, her international rock star ex-boyfriend, busking after not seeing him for eighteen years. When she finally approaches him, he doesn't seem to remember who she is due to a brain injury caused by a motorbike accident. Erin has to decide whether she wants to help Adam, the 'love that got away', regain his memories while trying to keep her past feelings at bay, or cut all ties with him and work on fixing her marriage with Greg.
The writing style of this book was pretty easy and light to read so I was able to finish this book in just a few hours. I loved how the author integrated music into the main themes of the book and portrayed it as a form of therapy for the characters struggling with their memories. I also really liked Erin's parents' subplot because ironically, her parents seemed to be more fleshed out characters than the main ones.
To be honest, I found Erin to be a really unlikable character. She is indecisive, selfish, and honestly really hypocritical. She would give Greg ultimatums when it came to his gambling addiction, while simultaneously meeting with her ex and lying to Greg about her whereabouts. It just looked a lot like emotional cheating to me, which can be worse than physical cheating. Rose and Sam, her best friends, were the only ones actually trying to knock some sense into her. Adam is also really manipulative, even without his memories ffs. He still made advances towards Erin even though he knew she's a married woman. He even treated Erin like complete shit during their relationship so I don't understand why Erin would be holding on to him EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER. Poor Greg worshipped the ground Erin walked on and is genuinely just a good guy struggling with a problem. I don't think he deserved the way Erin treated him or took him for granted most of the time.
There was so much repetition, LIKE SO MUCH REPETITION, which I found really bothersome. Adam's dialogues were always the same thing, just different wording. Even the events happening between Erin and her mother seemed repetitive to me. I needed more from this book in every way. The repeated events could've been replaced with something else adding to the plot. The ending was also unsatisfying because I didn't see enough character development and it was all wrapped up in a rush. If you're a fan of love triangles and morally grey characters, give this one a shot.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A Love to Last a Lifetime follows Erin, a psychologist living in a small town with her husband, Greg, who recently developed a gambling addiction. One day, Erin finds Adam, her international rock star ex-boyfriend, busking after not seeing him for eighteen years. When she finally approaches him, he doesn't seem to remember who she is due to a brain injury caused by a motorbike accident. Erin has to decide whether she wants to help Adam, the 'love that got away', regain his memories while trying to keep her past feelings at bay, or cut all ties with him and work on fixing her marriage with Greg.
The writing style of this book was pretty easy and light to read so I was able to finish this book in just a few hours. I loved how the author integrated music into the main themes of the book and portrayed it as a form of therapy for the characters struggling with their memories. I also really liked Erin's parents' subplot because ironically, her parents seemed to be more fleshed out characters than the main ones.
To be honest, I found Erin to be a really unlikable character. She is indecisive, selfish, and honestly really hypocritical. She would give Greg ultimatums when it came to his gambling addiction, while simultaneously meeting with her ex and lying to Greg about her whereabouts. It just looked a lot like emotional cheating to me, which can be worse than physical cheating. Rose and Sam, her best friends, were the only ones actually trying to knock some sense into her. Adam is also really manipulative, even without his memories ffs. He still made advances towards Erin even though he knew she's a married woman. He even treated Erin like complete shit during their relationship so I don't understand why Erin would be holding on to him EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER. Poor Greg worshipped the ground Erin walked on and is genuinely just a good guy struggling with a problem. I don't think he deserved the way Erin treated him or took him for granted most of the time.
There was so much repetition, LIKE SO MUCH REPETITION, which I found really bothersome. Adam's dialogues were always the same thing, just different wording. Even the events happening between Erin and her mother seemed repetitive to me. I needed more from this book in every way. The repeated events could've been replaced with something else adding to the plot. The ending was also unsatisfying because I didn't see enough character development and it was all wrapped up in a rush. If you're a fan of love triangles and morally grey characters, give this one a shot.
January 10, 2023
Love to Last a Lifetime by Clare Swatman is a story about choices and the one that got away.
Story Recap:
Erin is married to Greg, the solid dependable guy who adores Erin, their marriage is having some difficulties, but Greg still loves Erin as much as he did on the day they got married. Adam is the charming, love of Erin’s life who she let get away many years ago. Erin always believed that Adam was her soulmate, but after their tumultuous whirlwind romance, he left and never came back.
When Adam returns to town and needs Erin’s help, Erin still feels strongly attracted to Adam and feels like he’s better than ever. But, she’s still married to staid, dependable, Greg. What will she do?
My Thoughts:
This book is all about the love triangle between Erin, Adam and Greg. I felt for Erin and her indecision, and the book certainly is emotional. I enjoyed watching Erin grow and learn more about herself and what she really wants in life.
I also liked the flashbacks to young teenage Erin as it gave me a good insight into her life and how she felt about Adam and her life during that time. And I liked learning about Erin and Greg’s beginning as it also gave me some insight into their relationship and why they are having problems in the present.
The book did drag a bit as I was anxious to find out what Erin would decide, and it seemed that she was paralyzed with indecision for a lot of the book.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend A Love to Last a Lifetime to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Story Recap:
Erin is married to Greg, the solid dependable guy who adores Erin, their marriage is having some difficulties, but Greg still loves Erin as much as he did on the day they got married. Adam is the charming, love of Erin’s life who she let get away many years ago. Erin always believed that Adam was her soulmate, but after their tumultuous whirlwind romance, he left and never came back.
When Adam returns to town and needs Erin’s help, Erin still feels strongly attracted to Adam and feels like he’s better than ever. But, she’s still married to staid, dependable, Greg. What will she do?
My Thoughts:
This book is all about the love triangle between Erin, Adam and Greg. I felt for Erin and her indecision, and the book certainly is emotional. I enjoyed watching Erin grow and learn more about herself and what she really wants in life.
I also liked the flashbacks to young teenage Erin as it gave me a good insight into her life and how she felt about Adam and her life during that time. And I liked learning about Erin and Greg’s beginning as it also gave me some insight into their relationship and why they are having problems in the present.
The book did drag a bit as I was anxious to find out what Erin would decide, and it seemed that she was paralyzed with indecision for a lot of the book.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend A Love to Last a Lifetime to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 1, 2023
A Love to Last a Lifetime
Thank you Boldwood Books for inviting me on this Blog Tour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/23/23
Author: Clare Swatman
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Pages: 315
GR: 3.74
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated in a dual timeline, past and present tense in first person and third person POV. Erin let her first love go and fell in love with Greg for the last decade. Her first love, Adam, comes back to town after almost two decades. Swatman has a way with words and I really enjoy reading her books. Boldwood Books has some of my favorite authors. The past tense chapters does a great job of filling in the backstory on the characters. Gives a sense of how they got here. Swatman does a superb job at portraying the dementia of Erin’s mother, you can tell she researched this topic well.
The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, were emotional, and creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, humorous, connecting, and keeps you engaged. The author keeps the storyline light and it flows well with a great pace. The subplot with Erin’s parents was a brilliant spin in the book. While I could connect with Erin, I did not like her character. Her best friends, as supporting characters, were fabulous. While I can understand her attraction to her first love, she should have left Greg fully before starting anything with Adam. However, this was likely the author’s intent in writing the book. The book brought about many emotions, from laughing out loud, to sadness, and even tears, all qualities of a well written story.
I would highly recommend purchasing or borrowing this book. The audiobook would probably be really good too, especially with the past and current timelines. This book is already out in both book and audiobook format. The audiobook is listed on Hoopla (library).
Thank you Boldwood Books for inviting me on this Blog Tour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/23/23
Author: Clare Swatman
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Pages: 315
GR: 3.74
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated in a dual timeline, past and present tense in first person and third person POV. Erin let her first love go and fell in love with Greg for the last decade. Her first love, Adam, comes back to town after almost two decades. Swatman has a way with words and I really enjoy reading her books. Boldwood Books has some of my favorite authors. The past tense chapters does a great job of filling in the backstory on the characters. Gives a sense of how they got here. Swatman does a superb job at portraying the dementia of Erin’s mother, you can tell she researched this topic well.
The characters were well developed, fleshed out, had depth, were emotional, and creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, humorous, connecting, and keeps you engaged. The author keeps the storyline light and it flows well with a great pace. The subplot with Erin’s parents was a brilliant spin in the book. While I could connect with Erin, I did not like her character. Her best friends, as supporting characters, were fabulous. While I can understand her attraction to her first love, she should have left Greg fully before starting anything with Adam. However, this was likely the author’s intent in writing the book. The book brought about many emotions, from laughing out loud, to sadness, and even tears, all qualities of a well written story.
I would highly recommend purchasing or borrowing this book. The audiobook would probably be really good too, especially with the past and current timelines. This book is already out in both book and audiobook format. The audiobook is listed on Hoopla (library).
November 24, 2022
What can I say? I did not enjoy this book at all! Here on goodreads I will give a short review on my website I will review the book in more detail.
I rated this book 1 star and here is why:
I'm going to be honest, I had a profound hate for these characters. Erin, Adam and Greg, they all frustrated me so much. Characters are allowed to have their struggles, but there was nothing in this story that gave me hope for them, that made me love them. I wanted to care about them, but honestly couldn't care less.
The story itself felt off. It was repetitive and in the end I felt like it all suddenly moved a different way for Erin. There was no progress and I feel like things happened without reason and out of the blue.
In the end the story was suddenly done. I felt like this was not a good ending and it left me too confused to like this story.
I rated this book 1 star and here is why:
I'm going to be honest, I had a profound hate for these characters. Erin, Adam and Greg, they all frustrated me so much. Characters are allowed to have their struggles, but there was nothing in this story that gave me hope for them, that made me love them. I wanted to care about them, but honestly couldn't care less.
The story itself felt off. It was repetitive and in the end I felt like it all suddenly moved a different way for Erin. There was no progress and I feel like things happened without reason and out of the blue.
In the end the story was suddenly done. I felt like this was not a good ending and it left me too confused to like this story.
February 9, 2023
BOOK REVIEW: A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman
2023 Publication Date: January 23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
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"When you have a choice to make, don't forget to include the option to choose yourself..."
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
First Love... Lost Love... Love That Can Last For A Lifetime...
Romance novels are often a treat for anyone looking to get away from the stresses of daily life. But this book dives much deeper which is why I am categorizing it as Best Contemporary Fiction with strong contemporary romance themes.
In A Love To Last A Lifetime, Clare Swatman tells the story of Erin and Greg, a couple who have been together since university. But when Erin's first love Adam re-enters her life in desperate need of help, their relationship is put to the test.
It is a story about first love, lost love, and the kind of unconditional love that can last for a lifetime. It is a compelling read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of unrequited love or had their heart broken by someone they thought was “the one.”
Let’s take a look at this book and find out if it’s a perfect book match for you...
What Is The Book About?
A Love To Last A Lifetime focuses on the complex relationship and intricate secret history between Erin, Greg, and Adam. Throughout the story, Erin has to figure out what it means to be true to herself while also being faithful to Greg... all while being tempted by the memory of Adam.
It’s an interesting exploration of relationships, how they evolve over time, and how our perspective of memory is diffused by the veil of emotional attachment.
The book also touches on themes such as family dynamics, grief, and loyalty... with a fascinating exploration of the healing power of music. All these themes are explored through the characters in an engaging way that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The Characters
The main characters of this book are beautifully written and easy to relate to. Even though they are fictional, you can’t help but feel like you know them personally after reading this novel.
Each character has their own unique flaws and strengths that make them realistic and interesting to read about. The author does a fantastic job of showing us how each character has grown and changed over time without losing sight of who they really are at heart.
This is especially true for Erin who is forced to confront her feelings (since she was a young woman) for both Adam and Greg throughout the novel.
Greg is an affable everyman — he isn’t particularly flashy or exciting but he is reliable and devoted to Erin. He loves her with a quiet intensity that is both captivating and heartbreaking.
Adam Bowers is everything Greg isn’t — charismatic and confident with a rock star charm that draws people in like moths to a flame.
Both characters are fully fleshed out and believable — even if you don’t always agree with their choices or understand their motivations. Thankfully, the author makes character choices that create fully dimensional characters. Meaning there are no clear-cut villains or heroes in this love story. Just real people navigating the complexities of love as time goes by.
The Writing Style
Clare Swatman’s writing style captures the beauty of everyday moments as well as the intensity of pivotal moments in this couple's story. She does an excellent job of conveying her characters' emotions without resorting to overly sentimental cliches or purple prose.
Her story flows effortlessly from one emotion-filled scene to another without ever losing momentum or feeling rushed along its course.
I particularly felt like I was on a whitewater rafting adventure as I read. Finding myself often wondering "why am I even in this raft?" while simultaneously knowing how courageously authentic the writing is to explore the characters' journeys with such honesty... and rowing their raft with all their might. So yes... I picked up my oar and rowed as well!
♡ T.I.M.E. TIP ➾ This book is an example of why I love reading books... Just when you find yourself faulting someone's choices, you discover an undeniable honesty. Making you wonder whether you would be brave enough to admit it in your own life.
Thank goodness we have wonderful books and characters who are willing to take us on that journey... until we are brave enough to do so ourselves.
A Love To Last A Lifetime is an engaging read filled with poignant moments, heartbreak, and ultimately hope for those who believe in lasting love even if it comes at unexpected times or under unlikely circumstances... or in a form we least expect.
Perfect for fans of contemporary novels from Sophie Cousens, David Nicholls, or Josie Silver... Highly recommended!...✨😎✨
Pages: 315
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Best Contemporary Novels
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction | The One That Got Away Romance
Time Period: Present
Location: England
Publisher: Boldwood Books
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Before I Do by Sophie Cousens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Movie: Celeste and Jesse Forever
BOOK SYNOPSIS
A Love To Last A Lifetime follows the main characters Greg and Erin as they navigate the tumultuous seas of young adulthood and discover what it truly means to commit yourself to someone.
When Adam Bowers, Erin’s handsome teenage flame, unexpectedly reenters her life after all these years, Greg is forced to confront his own insecurities and confront the idea that he may not be enough for Erin.
The novel offers an intimate look at how people can make it through tough times together (or apart) and come out stronger on the other side.
A Love To Last A Lifetime is an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with complex characters and plenty of twists and turns along the way.
If you’re looking for a modern fiction romance novel that explores relationships in depth then this book is definitely worth checking out!
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
Communication is key in any relationship... make sure you take the time to really listen and understand what your partner is saying.
No matter how complicated things may get between two people, love can be the ultimate source of strength and courage.
What challenges did Greg and Erin face?... Greg and Erin faced a variety of challenges during their relationship, from trust issues to insecurity to communication barriers. They also had to grapple with the idea that life isn't always fair or simple, as well as how to handle difficult decisions and challenges together. They also had to learn how to balance their relationship with their individual goals and aspirations. Most of all, they had to overcome fear to take the leap of faith toward whatever their future relationship will be.
BOOK QUOTE
"It was a flip of a coin in the end, only this time, the coin didn't fall and show me the answer, but continued to spin, revealing all of its faces and all its endless possibilities as it hung there, suspended..." — A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman
--------------------
All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-...
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
2023 Publication Date: January 23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Contemporary Fiction Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2023
CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
"When you have a choice to make, don't forget to include the option to choose yourself..."
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
First Love... Lost Love... Love That Can Last For A Lifetime...
Romance novels are often a treat for anyone looking to get away from the stresses of daily life. But this book dives much deeper which is why I am categorizing it as Best Contemporary Fiction with strong contemporary romance themes.
In A Love To Last A Lifetime, Clare Swatman tells the story of Erin and Greg, a couple who have been together since university. But when Erin's first love Adam re-enters her life in desperate need of help, their relationship is put to the test.
It is a story about first love, lost love, and the kind of unconditional love that can last for a lifetime. It is a compelling read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of unrequited love or had their heart broken by someone they thought was “the one.”
Let’s take a look at this book and find out if it’s a perfect book match for you...
What Is The Book About?
A Love To Last A Lifetime focuses on the complex relationship and intricate secret history between Erin, Greg, and Adam. Throughout the story, Erin has to figure out what it means to be true to herself while also being faithful to Greg... all while being tempted by the memory of Adam.
It’s an interesting exploration of relationships, how they evolve over time, and how our perspective of memory is diffused by the veil of emotional attachment.
The book also touches on themes such as family dynamics, grief, and loyalty... with a fascinating exploration of the healing power of music. All these themes are explored through the characters in an engaging way that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The Characters
The main characters of this book are beautifully written and easy to relate to. Even though they are fictional, you can’t help but feel like you know them personally after reading this novel.
Each character has their own unique flaws and strengths that make them realistic and interesting to read about. The author does a fantastic job of showing us how each character has grown and changed over time without losing sight of who they really are at heart.
This is especially true for Erin who is forced to confront her feelings (since she was a young woman) for both Adam and Greg throughout the novel.
Greg is an affable everyman — he isn’t particularly flashy or exciting but he is reliable and devoted to Erin. He loves her with a quiet intensity that is both captivating and heartbreaking.
Adam Bowers is everything Greg isn’t — charismatic and confident with a rock star charm that draws people in like moths to a flame.
Both characters are fully fleshed out and believable — even if you don’t always agree with their choices or understand their motivations. Thankfully, the author makes character choices that create fully dimensional characters. Meaning there are no clear-cut villains or heroes in this love story. Just real people navigating the complexities of love as time goes by.
The Writing Style
Clare Swatman’s writing style captures the beauty of everyday moments as well as the intensity of pivotal moments in this couple's story. She does an excellent job of conveying her characters' emotions without resorting to overly sentimental cliches or purple prose.
Her story flows effortlessly from one emotion-filled scene to another without ever losing momentum or feeling rushed along its course.
I particularly felt like I was on a whitewater rafting adventure as I read. Finding myself often wondering "why am I even in this raft?" while simultaneously knowing how courageously authentic the writing is to explore the characters' journeys with such honesty... and rowing their raft with all their might. So yes... I picked up my oar and rowed as well!
♡ T.I.M.E. TIP ➾ This book is an example of why I love reading books... Just when you find yourself faulting someone's choices, you discover an undeniable honesty. Making you wonder whether you would be brave enough to admit it in your own life.
Thank goodness we have wonderful books and characters who are willing to take us on that journey... until we are brave enough to do so ourselves.
A Love To Last A Lifetime is an engaging read filled with poignant moments, heartbreak, and ultimately hope for those who believe in lasting love even if it comes at unexpected times or under unlikely circumstances... or in a form we least expect.
Perfect for fans of contemporary novels from Sophie Cousens, David Nicholls, or Josie Silver... Highly recommended!...✨😎✨
Pages: 315
Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Best Contemporary Novels
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction | The One That Got Away Romance
Time Period: Present
Location: England
Publisher: Boldwood Books
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Before I Do by Sophie Cousens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Movie: Celeste and Jesse Forever
BOOK SYNOPSIS
A Love To Last A Lifetime follows the main characters Greg and Erin as they navigate the tumultuous seas of young adulthood and discover what it truly means to commit yourself to someone.
When Adam Bowers, Erin’s handsome teenage flame, unexpectedly reenters her life after all these years, Greg is forced to confront his own insecurities and confront the idea that he may not be enough for Erin.
The novel offers an intimate look at how people can make it through tough times together (or apart) and come out stronger on the other side.
A Love To Last A Lifetime is an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with complex characters and plenty of twists and turns along the way.
If you’re looking for a modern fiction romance novel that explores relationships in depth then this book is definitely worth checking out!
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
Communication is key in any relationship... make sure you take the time to really listen and understand what your partner is saying.
No matter how complicated things may get between two people, love can be the ultimate source of strength and courage.
What challenges did Greg and Erin face?... Greg and Erin faced a variety of challenges during their relationship, from trust issues to insecurity to communication barriers. They also had to grapple with the idea that life isn't always fair or simple, as well as how to handle difficult decisions and challenges together. They also had to learn how to balance their relationship with their individual goals and aspirations. Most of all, they had to overcome fear to take the leap of faith toward whatever their future relationship will be.
BOOK QUOTE
"It was a flip of a coin in the end, only this time, the coin didn't fall and show me the answer, but continued to spin, revealing all of its faces and all its endless possibilities as it hung there, suspended..." — A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman
--------------------
All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-...
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
January 29, 2023
It’s difficult to enjoy a book when you don’t like any of the principal characters. And this love triangle didn’t stand a chance with me. All three sides were off-key. There are a lot of readers who seem to love this book, but unfortunately it was not for me. In my opinion, it was far from being romantic as it has been described.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this new-to-me author. It’s slow moving and has an overload of boring repetition from start to finish. Same ole/same ole on and on and on. And mostly all pitiful excuses or lying to oneself. These characters act like they’re in their late teens/early twenties instead of their actual ages of mid-to-late-thirties. Erin’s friend Sam is the only one who seemed to have any commonsense – and at times I questioned his actions as well.
Erin is downright self-centered and immature – and too old to be acting like such a fool. She lives in her own dreamworld. And if Greg had any sense, he’d run as far away from his cheating wife as possible. Of course, I’m not excusing his unhealthy habit either – but I’m wondering if Erin doesn’t a play a role in that as well. Adam is another matter altogether. He was her boyfriend eighteen years ago. He left her behind to pursue his musical career. He’s never done anything to show any real lasting dedication to Erin – much less love for that matter. Now years later he returns to their hometown -- and he has no memory of anything in his past life.
The only redeeming qualities in the story that I found was the music and the role it importantly played throughout the story. One of the lead characters is a musician (rock star), each chapter begins with the title of a song which was a nice touch and the musical therapy as it’s used for dementia and memory loss patients. I found myself caught up in the use of musical therapy as portrayed in this book. Erin’s mom was diagnosed with dementia and is in a group home. Those shared times between Erin and her mom are handled delicately and meaningfully and brought tears to my eyes -- the only true and honest emotions I felt throughout this story.
There really isn’t much more to say. Other than, I wasn’t the least bit surprised that the ending was a total blow-off.
January 23, 2023
Erin can't believe it when she spots her first love Adam, busking on a street. When she works up the courage to speak to him, she is shocked at what she finds out. Erin is also married. But things are getting complicated with her husband Greg. Is it a sign that Adam is back in her life? When he asks her for help, Erin knows she needs to tell Greg. But who is the man for Erin? Her first love or her forever love?
This was an easy flowing read that had me flipping the pages pretty quickly. I loved the supporting characters of Erin's best friends and her parents but didn't love a lot of the decisions that Erin made. After reading 90% of the book, you can bet I was pretty invested in the storyline hoping for an ending that would put a smile on my face but sadly this wasn't to be. The ending that was written left me speechless and also seemed too rushed. I am keen to read more by Clare Swatman though as I do like her writing style.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was an easy flowing read that had me flipping the pages pretty quickly. I loved the supporting characters of Erin's best friends and her parents but didn't love a lot of the decisions that Erin made. After reading 90% of the book, you can bet I was pretty invested in the storyline hoping for an ending that would put a smile on my face but sadly this wasn't to be. The ending that was written left me speechless and also seemed too rushed. I am keen to read more by Clare Swatman though as I do like her writing style.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2023
More women's fiction than romance, this British, second chance story about a marriage in trouble (gambling addiction from the husband) and an old flame who comes back into the picture unexpectedly needing help had a unique plot. I also really enjoyed the Alzheimer's storyline with the mother and the way music is used to try to refresh lost memories. Overall just an okay read (I didn't love the ending but that was more a me thing wanting a swoony HEA and not getting it). This was very relatable and real when I wanted something a tad more romantic and idealistic lol.
TW: abusive relationships, gambling addiction
TW: abusive relationships, gambling addiction
January 24, 2023
I love Clare Swatman books so I was excited to see this one. It is a story of Erin’s past and present and if she made the right choices. It’s told by Erin in dual timeline. What I loved about this book was Erin. Her honesty was refreshing and you could feel her struggling with her decisions.
This story is in no way a predictable womens fiction book. Erin is also loving with her mother’s dementia diagnosis and how it impacts her parents and their relationship. Add this book to your TBR and you won’t be disappointed.
This story is in no way a predictable womens fiction book. Erin is also loving with her mother’s dementia diagnosis and how it impacts her parents and their relationship. Add this book to your TBR and you won’t be disappointed.
December 3, 2022
* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.
I rarely give books 1 star because there’s almost always some redeeming parts. The description of this book gave me so much hope but really from the start I was shocked at how really sucky Erin is. Erin was in love with Adam and dated for about a year when they were younger, and he apparently sucked then!!! He really didn’t care for her based on all of his actions. Then she got together with her friend Greg. They have been together for 18 years by the start of the story and within the last year or so he’s had a terrible gambling addiction and is trying to got to things like gamblers anonymous to work on his addiction. Unfortunately, Adam comes back (with zero memory of his younger life) and Erin is immediately in love again. Honestly, she should have never married Greg and let him find a love with someone who deserved him. She never got over Adam and even said that on her wedding day she hoped that he would show up!! WTF! Once she finds out that Adam has no memories, she decides that she has no choice but to help him out even though she knows it would destroy Greg and her friends are entirely against it. I only liked her friends because they were pissed at her decisions about Adam and didn’t support her blindly.
Erin has zero redeeming qualities and is so extremely selfish.
Would not recommend this book.
I rarely give books 1 star because there’s almost always some redeeming parts. The description of this book gave me so much hope but really from the start I was shocked at how really sucky Erin is. Erin was in love with Adam and dated for about a year when they were younger, and he apparently sucked then!!! He really didn’t care for her based on all of his actions. Then she got together with her friend Greg. They have been together for 18 years by the start of the story and within the last year or so he’s had a terrible gambling addiction and is trying to got to things like gamblers anonymous to work on his addiction. Unfortunately, Adam comes back (with zero memory of his younger life) and Erin is immediately in love again. Honestly, she should have never married Greg and let him find a love with someone who deserved him. She never got over Adam and even said that on her wedding day she hoped that he would show up!! WTF! Once she finds out that Adam has no memories, she decides that she has no choice but to help him out even though she knows it would destroy Greg and her friends are entirely against it. I only liked her friends because they were pissed at her decisions about Adam and didn’t support her blindly.
Erin has zero redeeming qualities and is so extremely selfish.
Would not recommend this book.
December 4, 2022
I genuinely wanted to like this book. I’m a sucker for second chance romances and add in a compelling love triangle (husband and the one that got away) and I was excited. BUT, this one was not for me. I had a hard time understanding Erin’s motivations and just wanted her to make a decision. Speaking if decisions, I didn’t like anyone’s. But, the story was nicely laid out and well written, however the ending dropped it down a star for me. I needed more.
December 20, 2022
I really didn’t envy Erin in this story. She is torn between two men, Adam and Greg. Adam is her first love and someone she has never fully gotten over whilst Greg, her husband, there is no doubting she loves him but is it the same as being in love? Having Adam come back in to her life, Erin is at war with her heart and head as to whether she made the right decision all those years ago and more importantly has her questioning herself as to what she really wants in the here and now.
I think most of us would like to find that all consuming love that we see in the movies or even read about in books. To meet that one soul mate who makes you feel complete. Does that love really exist? And if so, is it enough? There are so many factors that we forget to take into account and will give food for thought. As if Erin doesn’t have enough on her plate with some tough choices to make, she also has to deal with her mum who is in a home having been diagnosed some years before with early on set dementia. Understandably, these parts were hard too swallow. If you have watched a loved one going through this horrible disease or similar, it truly is heart-breaking and my heart poured out to Erin and her family.
Though I felt for Erin to be in the situation she was in, my compassion went out to Greg. His position is not an easy one to be in and I could feel my heart breaking just that little bit more as there is no doubting his love for Erin and I surprisingly found myself torn as to what Erin should do and how I felt about both the male characters. Erin thankfully does have some good friends in her life of which I loved Sam especially. You can see how much they want what is best for their friend and I loved how they weren’t afraid to mince their words!
A Love to Last a Lifetime is a story that consumed me and was a lot deeper than I had envisioned. This isn’t just any love story, it is so much more. It is thought provoking and had my emotions in turmoil. Towards the end I felt some trepidation as I wasn’t sure how I wanted Erin’s story to end. Could there be such a thing as a happy ending when it involves three people? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how it did end and I have to applaud the author for getting it so right. For me, it was the perfect ending to what had been a highly emotive read. A heart-gripping read that blows other love stories out of the water!
My thanks to Rachel’s Random Reads for inviting me to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I think most of us would like to find that all consuming love that we see in the movies or even read about in books. To meet that one soul mate who makes you feel complete. Does that love really exist? And if so, is it enough? There are so many factors that we forget to take into account and will give food for thought. As if Erin doesn’t have enough on her plate with some tough choices to make, she also has to deal with her mum who is in a home having been diagnosed some years before with early on set dementia. Understandably, these parts were hard too swallow. If you have watched a loved one going through this horrible disease or similar, it truly is heart-breaking and my heart poured out to Erin and her family.
Though I felt for Erin to be in the situation she was in, my compassion went out to Greg. His position is not an easy one to be in and I could feel my heart breaking just that little bit more as there is no doubting his love for Erin and I surprisingly found myself torn as to what Erin should do and how I felt about both the male characters. Erin thankfully does have some good friends in her life of which I loved Sam especially. You can see how much they want what is best for their friend and I loved how they weren’t afraid to mince their words!
A Love to Last a Lifetime is a story that consumed me and was a lot deeper than I had envisioned. This isn’t just any love story, it is so much more. It is thought provoking and had my emotions in turmoil. Towards the end I felt some trepidation as I wasn’t sure how I wanted Erin’s story to end. Could there be such a thing as a happy ending when it involves three people? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how it did end and I have to applaud the author for getting it so right. For me, it was the perfect ending to what had been a highly emotive read. A heart-gripping read that blows other love stories out of the water!
My thanks to Rachel’s Random Reads for inviting me to be part of the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
January 23, 2023
2 Stars
Erin broke up with the love of her life, Adam, eighteen years ago. Since then, she married the boy next door and has had a pleasant life up until discovering Greg, her husband, nearly sold their home to feed his gambling addiction. Erin and Greg are trying to move past this hurdle when Erin stumbles upon Adam busking in the streets of their small hometown. Despite her friend’s warnings, Erin approaches Adam only to learn he’s suffering from amnesia after a motorcycle accident. Being that Erin is a psychologist who uses music therapy to help dementia patients regain memories, Erin yearns to help Adam. However, doing so will cause a rift between her and Greg, who knew he was always second to Adam in Erin’s eyes.
Swatman is a hit or miss author for me. Her novel Before We Grow Old was the first to make me cry in so long, but then her follow-up How to Save a Life was just mid. I’m sad to report this is my least favorite of hers I’ve read so far.
None of the main characters are very likable. Erin was incredibly frustrating to follow since she would always set herself a boundary (i.e. I’m going to tell Adam she can’t see him anymore), and then immediately break that boundary (i.e. get on a motorcycle with him and go on a joyride). I wanted to slap some sense into her just as badly as her two friends did! Adam was a massive jerk and Greg was the epitome of a toxic “nice guy” type, so there really wasn’t a point in this triangle that I was rooting for.
It also felt like not much happened in the book since it was quite repetitive. Nearly every time Adam and Erin would talk they would have the exact same conversation. I was wondering if this may be a symptom of his amnesia, but Erin never commented on it so I just have to think these two had nothing else to really say to one another. Also, whenever Erin would play music to Adam to try to retrigger his memory, it was only hers that was retriggered. In fact, anytime a song is mentioned in the book it seems to immediately take Erin back to a specific point in time, which just isn’t realistic and, again, becomes quite repetitive.
This is a tricky plot to tackle and I’m not sure if this was the best approach to it. I want to find that feeling that Swatman once gave me, but I couldn’t find it in this novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Erin broke up with the love of her life, Adam, eighteen years ago. Since then, she married the boy next door and has had a pleasant life up until discovering Greg, her husband, nearly sold their home to feed his gambling addiction. Erin and Greg are trying to move past this hurdle when Erin stumbles upon Adam busking in the streets of their small hometown. Despite her friend’s warnings, Erin approaches Adam only to learn he’s suffering from amnesia after a motorcycle accident. Being that Erin is a psychologist who uses music therapy to help dementia patients regain memories, Erin yearns to help Adam. However, doing so will cause a rift between her and Greg, who knew he was always second to Adam in Erin’s eyes.
Swatman is a hit or miss author for me. Her novel Before We Grow Old was the first to make me cry in so long, but then her follow-up How to Save a Life was just mid. I’m sad to report this is my least favorite of hers I’ve read so far.
None of the main characters are very likable. Erin was incredibly frustrating to follow since she would always set herself a boundary (i.e. I’m going to tell Adam she can’t see him anymore), and then immediately break that boundary (i.e. get on a motorcycle with him and go on a joyride). I wanted to slap some sense into her just as badly as her two friends did! Adam was a massive jerk and Greg was the epitome of a toxic “nice guy” type, so there really wasn’t a point in this triangle that I was rooting for.
It also felt like not much happened in the book since it was quite repetitive. Nearly every time Adam and Erin would talk they would have the exact same conversation. I was wondering if this may be a symptom of his amnesia, but Erin never commented on it so I just have to think these two had nothing else to really say to one another. Also, whenever Erin would play music to Adam to try to retrigger his memory, it was only hers that was retriggered. In fact, anytime a song is mentioned in the book it seems to immediately take Erin back to a specific point in time, which just isn’t realistic and, again, becomes quite repetitive.
This is a tricky plot to tackle and I’m not sure if this was the best approach to it. I want to find that feeling that Swatman once gave me, but I couldn’t find it in this novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2023
Do you love music as much as you love reading? Then A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman is a must read. She manages to marry the two beautifully as well as write a stunning story.
Erin, is a thirty five year old, grappling with her life choices. After eighteen years, she stumbles upon the love of her life. The only problem, he has amnesia and she is married to another man. Good thing Erin is a music therapist and willing to help. Will their relationship stay strictly professional, or will they rekindle the love they lost?
I absolutely loved the role music played in this book. Each chapter is titled after a band and song. All of the songs mentioned connect Erin’s past to her present. In essence, they are the soundtrack of her life.
While Erin sets out to use music to help others, it is ultimately the most beneficial for her. It unlocks not only the highs, but lows of her life. She discovers her mother and her have been living parallel lives and learns to break a generational cycle of putting other’s needs above her own.
This book was close to a five start read for me. My only issue with this book was the abruptness in which it ends. I loved the choice that was made, but needed more. An epilogue would have been ideal because it would have allowed Erin’s future to be expounded upon.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Erin, is a thirty five year old, grappling with her life choices. After eighteen years, she stumbles upon the love of her life. The only problem, he has amnesia and she is married to another man. Good thing Erin is a music therapist and willing to help. Will their relationship stay strictly professional, or will they rekindle the love they lost?
I absolutely loved the role music played in this book. Each chapter is titled after a band and song. All of the songs mentioned connect Erin’s past to her present. In essence, they are the soundtrack of her life.
While Erin sets out to use music to help others, it is ultimately the most beneficial for her. It unlocks not only the highs, but lows of her life. She discovers her mother and her have been living parallel lives and learns to break a generational cycle of putting other’s needs above her own.
This book was close to a five start read for me. My only issue with this book was the abruptness in which it ends. I loved the choice that was made, but needed more. An epilogue would have been ideal because it would have allowed Erin’s future to be expounded upon.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
January 13, 2023
Erin and Greg’s marriage is going through the motions, which isn’t good, but they’re not at a point to call it quits yet. Then one day Erin runs into Adam, her first love and the man who she never got over. Even on her wedding day she secretly hoped he would turn up and ask her not to marry Greg but to run off with him instead. Running into Adam has made Erin question all her life choices and even whether she wants to stay married to Greg. As she spends more time reconnecting with Adam, who has had a traumatic brain injury and doesn’t remember the past, her friends point out that she’s only remembering the lovey dovey bits and not the reality of the relationship. Erin tries to use her work as a music therapist to see if it helps him remember any of their past. While she deals with her feelings for Adam, she also has to deal with her crumbling marriage and what she wants to do about that. She needs her mum, but she has dementia so she doesn’t remember who Erin is most days so she can’t be of much help.
Overall, I liked the supporting characters more than the main ones. I feel like there needed to be a bit more resolution to the story once her decision had been made.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Overall, I liked the supporting characters more than the main ones. I feel like there needed to be a bit more resolution to the story once her decision had been made.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
January 29, 2023
Thank you at @rararesources and @clareSwartman for letting me part of this tour and revewing this book. I loved love to ladt a lifetime straight the way . The story just drew me in. I really like Erin and i felt sorry for her due to her dilemma with her husband Greg who gambles and meeting her old boyfriend Adam who has lost his memory plus her mum has dementia in a care home and her dad is hoarder. Its so lovely that Erin has Sam and Rose her two bestfriend who try and support her and guide her. I did keep wounder in the book who Erin would be with and who i wanted her to be with but i loved the ending it was very right for her. The story is beaufully written and very engaging. The story is written in dual timelines in past and present. I did like this. This is the first book i have read by Claire Swatman and i will definstly read more from her in the future 5 stars. If you love romance you will love A love to last a lifetime and its out now.
March 17, 2023
Once again Clare has written a book that touches every emotion. Like able characters, who make you feel involved in what they’re going through.
I laughed, I cried and I felt everything that Erin went through.
What would happen if your 1st love suddenly reappears in your life, but has lost his/her memory? Would you risk it all to help?
Is Erin looking back through rose tinted glasses as she remembers the good times?
Told in the then and now format we discover what happened between Erin, Adam and Greg. But also take a look back at her parents marriage.
Erin is a music therapist and uses music to help dementia patients regain lost memories. Can this work on Adam, who has lost his memory following an accident? Should Erin risk her marriage to try?
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title
I laughed, I cried and I felt everything that Erin went through.
What would happen if your 1st love suddenly reappears in your life, but has lost his/her memory? Would you risk it all to help?
Is Erin looking back through rose tinted glasses as she remembers the good times?
Told in the then and now format we discover what happened between Erin, Adam and Greg. But also take a look back at her parents marriage.
Erin is a music therapist and uses music to help dementia patients regain lost memories. Can this work on Adam, who has lost his memory following an accident? Should Erin risk her marriage to try?
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title
January 27, 2023
Erin’s marriage is limping along since her husband Greg got hooked on gambling, she is finding it hard to forgive him. When Adam, Erin’s love of her life suddenly appears after an absence of 18 years she wonders why. Penny, Erin’s mum has early onset dementia and is in a care home, her dad Michael is struggling with hoarding. Adam has been involved in an accident suffering a head injury and he can’t remember anything or anyone! Two stories cleverly woven together about family, love and what ifs! Beautiful, sad and haunting.
December 28, 2023
Engaging story with brilliant characters
January 12, 2023
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
I was immediately hooked once I started reading A love to last a lifetime. It's a story about the one that got away. Do you stay with the man you've been with for 18 years or do you have a second chance with the love of your life all those years ago?
I personally don't think it's a fast paced book. Parts felt like they took forever or that she was taking ages to make her decision. I felt so bad for her especially since she wasn't in the best situation when Adam showed up.
Wonderful read!
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
I was immediately hooked once I started reading A love to last a lifetime. It's a story about the one that got away. Do you stay with the man you've been with for 18 years or do you have a second chance with the love of your life all those years ago?
I personally don't think it's a fast paced book. Parts felt like they took forever or that she was taking ages to make her decision. I felt so bad for her especially since she wasn't in the best situation when Adam showed up.
Wonderful read!
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 17, 2023
First of all thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this book for review purposes.
The first thing I want to say is that I love that it switches from the present to the past, this tool in writing makes so much sense to me, especially for this story. Other than that, Clare‘s writing is so easy to follow and I love that she ties each chapter together with a song if you feel like listening to those while also reading the chapters, personally I have my own playlist for when I read so I didn‘t BUT it‘s still nice to be provided with a soundtrack for the book. I have to say that at times in the book I was frustrated with Erin who is the MC of the book. I just don‘t like some of the choices she made at all but who am I to judge right?
I loved that this was a romance story but somehow also touched on so many other topics like friends, family, taking care of yourself and so much more. It‘s such a good quick read and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Description:
The one that she wants...
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...
The one that she needs...
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
The first thing I want to say is that I love that it switches from the present to the past, this tool in writing makes so much sense to me, especially for this story. Other than that, Clare‘s writing is so easy to follow and I love that she ties each chapter together with a song if you feel like listening to those while also reading the chapters, personally I have my own playlist for when I read so I didn‘t BUT it‘s still nice to be provided with a soundtrack for the book. I have to say that at times in the book I was frustrated with Erin who is the MC of the book. I just don‘t like some of the choices she made at all but who am I to judge right?
I loved that this was a romance story but somehow also touched on so many other topics like friends, family, taking care of yourself and so much more. It‘s such a good quick read and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Description:
The one that she wants...
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...
The one that she needs...
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away...
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
January 29, 2023
I just didn’t enjoy this book, I didn’t like Erin and as it was her story that was big problem for me. Her judgement of Adam in the end just made me sad. I think this book would be a good one for a book club debate and as mine seems to be the first review I don’t want to colour anyone else’s enjoyment of it but look forward to reading other readers comments
January 31, 2023
Thank you to @bookandtonic for this advanced copy of A Love to Last a Lifetime by @clareswatmanauthor in return for an honest review. Thank you also to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for organising another lovely book tour.
Description 🔖
The one that she wants…
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate…
The one that she needs…
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he’s better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away…
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin’s help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
General Thoughts 🤔
This was such a great book to scratch my romance itch. It was easy to read but had just the right amount of angst to keep me reading. I am a bit of a sucker for a ‘one that got away’ storyline so this did kind of play into my romance needs straight from the off, however it actually ended up being better than I originally thought it was going to be.
When I had read approximately the first half of the first chapter, I thought that maybe I wasn’t going to get along with the characters as I was given the impression that they were in their thirties but they seemed immature to me. That very quickly passed though and I felt like I was one of the gang.
Characters 👫👭👬
I loved the friendship between Erin, Sam and Rose. I appreciate this book is a romance and I should probably be focused on the people caught in this weird past and present love triangle, but I had to mention this friend group. They were there for each other no matter what, but they weren’t frightened to call each other out on their shit either. These are the types of friendships I appreciate in my own life, so I loved following their little group.
The burning question though, is was I Team Adam or Team Greg? Honestly I’m really not sure. I don’t think I was particularly Team anyone; both men annoyed me a little bit. Greg was a bit of a wet blanket in my opinion and definitely not a man I would find myself attracted to. Adam however was the bad boy and we all know that a relationship with a bad boy never ends well. Did I agree with the choice that Erin made in the end? Yes, I think she followed her heart and that’s what all of us should always do.
Writing Style ✍️
This is the first Clare Swatman book that I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing. The story was easy to follow, engaging and emotive. I wasn’t expecting to shed any tears for this book, however the side plot about Erin’s Mother really hit my heart. I liked that the whole story didn’t centre around Adam vs Greg.
The story was told via ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ chapters and I always really enjoy this structure. I like to see how the past catches up with the present. I do think there was potential to have a little plot twist thrown in towards the end; something that happened in the past we wouldn’t have seen coming maybe, however this wasn’t the case.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it went by in quite a whirlwind. I flip flopped between Team Adam and Team Greg and with any good ‘one that got away’ story, there were pros and cons to either choice. In the end, I think that Erin made the right choice and I was left feeling content for her. If you’re looking for an easy going romance with an emotional family side plot thrown in for good measure, then I definitely recommend this book.
Description 🔖
The one that she wants…
Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate…
The one that she needs…
Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he’s better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.
The one that got away…
Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin’s help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
General Thoughts 🤔
This was such a great book to scratch my romance itch. It was easy to read but had just the right amount of angst to keep me reading. I am a bit of a sucker for a ‘one that got away’ storyline so this did kind of play into my romance needs straight from the off, however it actually ended up being better than I originally thought it was going to be.
When I had read approximately the first half of the first chapter, I thought that maybe I wasn’t going to get along with the characters as I was given the impression that they were in their thirties but they seemed immature to me. That very quickly passed though and I felt like I was one of the gang.
Characters 👫👭👬
I loved the friendship between Erin, Sam and Rose. I appreciate this book is a romance and I should probably be focused on the people caught in this weird past and present love triangle, but I had to mention this friend group. They were there for each other no matter what, but they weren’t frightened to call each other out on their shit either. These are the types of friendships I appreciate in my own life, so I loved following their little group.
The burning question though, is was I Team Adam or Team Greg? Honestly I’m really not sure. I don’t think I was particularly Team anyone; both men annoyed me a little bit. Greg was a bit of a wet blanket in my opinion and definitely not a man I would find myself attracted to. Adam however was the bad boy and we all know that a relationship with a bad boy never ends well. Did I agree with the choice that Erin made in the end? Yes, I think she followed her heart and that’s what all of us should always do.
Writing Style ✍️
This is the first Clare Swatman book that I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing. The story was easy to follow, engaging and emotive. I wasn’t expecting to shed any tears for this book, however the side plot about Erin’s Mother really hit my heart. I liked that the whole story didn’t centre around Adam vs Greg.
The story was told via ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ chapters and I always really enjoy this structure. I like to see how the past catches up with the present. I do think there was potential to have a little plot twist thrown in towards the end; something that happened in the past we wouldn’t have seen coming maybe, however this wasn’t the case.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it went by in quite a whirlwind. I flip flopped between Team Adam and Team Greg and with any good ‘one that got away’ story, there were pros and cons to either choice. In the end, I think that Erin made the right choice and I was left feeling content for her. If you’re looking for an easy going romance with an emotional family side plot thrown in for good measure, then I definitely recommend this book.
February 11, 2023
3 1/2 stars
Having enjoyed this author's last book, How to Save a Life, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review her new release. Even though it didn't read as smoothly for me as the last one, it's still a good book. I think the important thing to remember when reading Swatman's books is that she writes women's fiction - - not romance. If you go into these stories, looking for a fluffy romance, you will undoubtedly be disappointed.
A Love to Last a Lifetime follows main character, Erin as she tries to sort out her struggling marriage and the inconvenient return of her first love after not seeing him for eighteen years. She's trying to figure out if it's a sign that Adam has returned right when things with Greg seem to be going so poorly. It's as if she's trying to find reasons for her marriage to fail. Truthfully, Erin wasn't likable and neither were either of her love interests for me. They were all very flawed - - to the point that I didn't feel that they were good people. But, you don't always like the characters you read about.
The redeeming parts of the book for me were Erin's two best friends. They both tried to reason with her when she went 'off the rails' after her first love, Adam came back into town. They constantly tried to remind her that things with him hadn't all been 'sunshine and roses' before the way she was choosing to remember it. They also didn't necessarily support her husband, Greg either as he was messing up things royally as well. They simply tried to point out that she needed to proceed with honesty and be up front - - which she wasn't doing. She was sneaking around behind her husband's back to see her former boyfriend for fear of 'upsetting him.' Yep....that's always going to end up well.
I also felt that the relationship between Erin and her mother was well done. Albeit, it was heartbreaking to read as her mother was suffering from dementia and often didn't remember things clearly but it felt real. The things that she learned about her own parents through some of those discussions with her mother also added to her own personal confusion but maybe helped her to grow as a person. I believe that for a good portion of her life, she simply had been floating along on auto without really putting herself out there. It was obvious that she fell into the relationship with her husband, Greg after Adam and she broke up years before. Whether or not that relationship was one of convenience or love was a big question that lied at the heart of everything for her.
Overall, I appreciated what the author was trying to achieve with this book. It had a good premise. There was just a bit of repetition and things moved slowly for me. I never truly was able to connect solidly with the characters. To really care about the outcome of the book, I at least needed to feel invested in the main character, Erin and I never really did. I think it was just a one off for me. I'll definitely continue to follow this author and pick up her next book. I think this was just a miss for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
Having enjoyed this author's last book, How to Save a Life, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review her new release. Even though it didn't read as smoothly for me as the last one, it's still a good book. I think the important thing to remember when reading Swatman's books is that she writes women's fiction - - not romance. If you go into these stories, looking for a fluffy romance, you will undoubtedly be disappointed.
A Love to Last a Lifetime follows main character, Erin as she tries to sort out her struggling marriage and the inconvenient return of her first love after not seeing him for eighteen years. She's trying to figure out if it's a sign that Adam has returned right when things with Greg seem to be going so poorly. It's as if she's trying to find reasons for her marriage to fail. Truthfully, Erin wasn't likable and neither were either of her love interests for me. They were all very flawed - - to the point that I didn't feel that they were good people. But, you don't always like the characters you read about.
The redeeming parts of the book for me were Erin's two best friends. They both tried to reason with her when she went 'off the rails' after her first love, Adam came back into town. They constantly tried to remind her that things with him hadn't all been 'sunshine and roses' before the way she was choosing to remember it. They also didn't necessarily support her husband, Greg either as he was messing up things royally as well. They simply tried to point out that she needed to proceed with honesty and be up front - - which she wasn't doing. She was sneaking around behind her husband's back to see her former boyfriend for fear of 'upsetting him.' Yep....that's always going to end up well.
I also felt that the relationship between Erin and her mother was well done. Albeit, it was heartbreaking to read as her mother was suffering from dementia and often didn't remember things clearly but it felt real. The things that she learned about her own parents through some of those discussions with her mother also added to her own personal confusion but maybe helped her to grow as a person. I believe that for a good portion of her life, she simply had been floating along on auto without really putting herself out there. It was obvious that she fell into the relationship with her husband, Greg after Adam and she broke up years before. Whether or not that relationship was one of convenience or love was a big question that lied at the heart of everything for her.
Overall, I appreciated what the author was trying to achieve with this book. It had a good premise. There was just a bit of repetition and things moved slowly for me. I never truly was able to connect solidly with the characters. To really care about the outcome of the book, I at least needed to feel invested in the main character, Erin and I never really did. I think it was just a one off for me. I'll definitely continue to follow this author and pick up her next book. I think this was just a miss for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
January 8, 2023
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A Love to Last a Lifetime explores the territory that has crossed many people’s minds over the years: what if you ran into your first love many years later? Would there still be an attraction? Would the passion still be there? What if you’re married? What if you’re not? What would you do? It’s an interesting premise.
Erin and Greg are having problems in their 13-year marriage and 18-year relationship. He’s developed a gambling problem and put the couple in financial difficulties. Erin isn’t sure she can trust Greg anymore and is struggling. One day, she sees a man busking on the street and realizes it’s her first love, Adam, a man with whom she had a passionate affair when she was a teenager. Adam just up and left one day all those years ago after she discovered he cheated on her, leaving Erin heartbroken. But remembering the heat and passion of their relationship leads her to seek out Adam and find out what went wrong between them.
I have to say, most of the time I wanted to scream at Erin and her decision-making throughout the book. Adam had a motorcycle accident some time ago and can’t remember a thing, can’t remember Erin, his friends, his family, nothing. Erin, in her professional life, works with dementia patients like her mother, who had early onset dementia, by using music as a form of therapy. Since Adam is a musician, she thinks she might be able to bring back some of Adam’s memories with her therapy sessions. However, she does not tell Greg that Adam is back in town because they knew each other back then and Greg hates Adam. He’s spent the last 18 years always looking over his shoulder, wondering if Adam would reappear. Because he knows that if Adam comes back, Erin would most likely go back to him.
While I got frustrated sometimes with Erin’s decision-making, that usually means it’s a sign of good writing. Her friends from Uni, Sam and Rose, are her sounding board, and tell her straight up that she’s playing with fire and should stay far away from Adam if she wants any chance of saving her marriage. Does she listen? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Does Erin stay with Greg or run off with Adam? I will say that Erin’s decision at the end of the book was one I approved of wholeheartedly, but it seemed to come out of nowhere. It really is the way most books like this should end.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A Love to Last a Lifetime explores the territory that has crossed many people’s minds over the years: what if you ran into your first love many years later? Would there still be an attraction? Would the passion still be there? What if you’re married? What if you’re not? What would you do? It’s an interesting premise.
Erin and Greg are having problems in their 13-year marriage and 18-year relationship. He’s developed a gambling problem and put the couple in financial difficulties. Erin isn’t sure she can trust Greg anymore and is struggling. One day, she sees a man busking on the street and realizes it’s her first love, Adam, a man with whom she had a passionate affair when she was a teenager. Adam just up and left one day all those years ago after she discovered he cheated on her, leaving Erin heartbroken. But remembering the heat and passion of their relationship leads her to seek out Adam and find out what went wrong between them.
I have to say, most of the time I wanted to scream at Erin and her decision-making throughout the book. Adam had a motorcycle accident some time ago and can’t remember a thing, can’t remember Erin, his friends, his family, nothing. Erin, in her professional life, works with dementia patients like her mother, who had early onset dementia, by using music as a form of therapy. Since Adam is a musician, she thinks she might be able to bring back some of Adam’s memories with her therapy sessions. However, she does not tell Greg that Adam is back in town because they knew each other back then and Greg hates Adam. He’s spent the last 18 years always looking over his shoulder, wondering if Adam would reappear. Because he knows that if Adam comes back, Erin would most likely go back to him.
While I got frustrated sometimes with Erin’s decision-making, that usually means it’s a sign of good writing. Her friends from Uni, Sam and Rose, are her sounding board, and tell her straight up that she’s playing with fire and should stay far away from Adam if she wants any chance of saving her marriage. Does she listen? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Does Erin stay with Greg or run off with Adam? I will say that Erin’s decision at the end of the book was one I approved of wholeheartedly, but it seemed to come out of nowhere. It really is the way most books like this should end.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 26, 2023
This really is one of those books where the author gets everything absolutely right – the first love that you were convinced was so perfect that nothing else can compare, the real life compromise of marrying the supportive friend who adores you, then the emotional rollercoaster when that first love reappears just at the point when life is going less than smoothly in so many ways. But real life never is perfect – as well as Erin’s disappointment with husband Greg and the temptation from a newly-vulnerable Adam, she’s also coping with her mother’s early-onset dementia and her father’s mental health issues. Every single character is beautifully and sympathetically drawn, each with their different foibles and failings – and your main thought as you grow to understand the ramifications of the decisions Erin needs to make is “what would I do?”.
It’s a story in which memory figures large. There are the flashbacks, where we find out more about Adam and Erin’s former relationship and Greg’s being there to pick up the pieces – and a deeply hidden secret in Erin’s parents’ past that adds intrigue to the storyline. But the elements of memory are also deeply woven into the story – Erin working as a therapist using music to unlock the past and ease suffering (something that really hit home with me, having witnessed it in action with my own mum), Adam’s own present day issues and the possibility of being able to help.
The whole construction of the story is extremely clever, tied together by the music that might trigger the individuals’ memories – as a rather older reader, I did find myself making regular visits to Spotify to extend my musical education (Blink-182 and the Pixies rather passed me by…) but that was something I rather enjoyed.
But what I enjoyed the most was the book’s emotional impact, and the portrayal of the different aspects of love that you feel at your core – these were real people living their lives on the page, and when they hurt, I hurt too. The portrayal of Erin’s mother’s decline was painfully authentic, but so sensitively handled – but I felt a deep sympathy for so many of its characters, every one of whom had a place in my heart. And then, after weighing up her options, Erin has a personal decision to make, one of the most difficult possible – and the book’s uplifting (and, for me, rather tearful) ending was everything I wanted it to be, and perhaps the greatest love of all.
I couldn’t recommend this book more – a moving and compelling story, tremendously engaging, emotionally complete perfection, and totally unforgettable. I can’t wait to see what this very talented author does next.
It’s a story in which memory figures large. There are the flashbacks, where we find out more about Adam and Erin’s former relationship and Greg’s being there to pick up the pieces – and a deeply hidden secret in Erin’s parents’ past that adds intrigue to the storyline. But the elements of memory are also deeply woven into the story – Erin working as a therapist using music to unlock the past and ease suffering (something that really hit home with me, having witnessed it in action with my own mum), Adam’s own present day issues and the possibility of being able to help.
The whole construction of the story is extremely clever, tied together by the music that might trigger the individuals’ memories – as a rather older reader, I did find myself making regular visits to Spotify to extend my musical education (Blink-182 and the Pixies rather passed me by…) but that was something I rather enjoyed.
But what I enjoyed the most was the book’s emotional impact, and the portrayal of the different aspects of love that you feel at your core – these were real people living their lives on the page, and when they hurt, I hurt too. The portrayal of Erin’s mother’s decline was painfully authentic, but so sensitively handled – but I felt a deep sympathy for so many of its characters, every one of whom had a place in my heart. And then, after weighing up her options, Erin has a personal decision to make, one of the most difficult possible – and the book’s uplifting (and, for me, rather tearful) ending was everything I wanted it to be, and perhaps the greatest love of all.
I couldn’t recommend this book more – a moving and compelling story, tremendously engaging, emotionally complete perfection, and totally unforgettable. I can’t wait to see what this very talented author does next.
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