Seven-year-old Jake's heart is failing and he doesn't want to leave his dad, Simon, alone. So he makes a decision: to find Simon someone to love before he goes.
Beth is determined to forget the past. But even when she leaves New York to start afresh in a Lake District village, she can't shake the secrets that haunt her.
Single dad Simon still holds a candle for the woman who left him years ago. Every day is a struggle to earn a living while caring for his beloved son. He has no time for finding someone new.
But Jake is determined his plan will succeed - and what unfolds will change all three of them forever.
I'd like to thank Niamh at Hodder Books for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for my proof copy of Unbreak Your Heart to review.
I love Katie Marsh's writing so when a copy of her latest book Unbreak Your Heart unexpectedly dropped through my letterbox I was eagerly anticipating an emotional read and I wasn't disappointed. And I'm sure I'm not the only one that started singing, and badly I might add, the Toni Braxton hit song when I read the title of the book changing the words to fit the title of the book!
Unbreak Your Heart features three incredible characters, Beth, Simon and his young son Jake who has a life-limiting heart condition but despite this he was an absolute champion and the star of the book for me. Both Beth and Simon have secrets and ghosts from their pasts that have deeply affected them and it's only over time that we discover their full stories and witness their emotional growth as they cope with everything that comes their way.
When we first meet Beth she's at her absolute lowest point emotionally and it's clear that she's escaping from something traumatic and if she wanted to make a quiet entrance into town then fate seemed to have other ideas for her. First her car with its rattling engine and smoke-ridden exhaust certainly announced her arrival long before you see her. As for her first encounter with Simon and Jake, it certainly was an eventful one that didn't leave the best impression which could be a problem when she moves in next door!
Simon has single-handedly brought up Jake since he was a baby and has sacrificed his career and dedicated his whole life to make sure that Jake is safe and protected. He hasn't time for a girlfriend and romance despite his son's matchmaking attempts. Jake was such a lively young boy who lived life to the full, despite his health issues, and his mischievous nature certainly creates some of the most memorable moments. I loved his spirited character and his attempts to give his dad a makeover as part of his plan to find him a girlfriend, I might have snorted and I'm sure my expression would not have been as concealed as Beth's at the outcome.
I loved the setting of the Lake District, the descriptions of the landscape that Beth and Simon see during their runs/walks really made me want to make a return visit as my last trip to this area was as a child. I remember everything seeming so vast but didn't really appreciate its serenity and beauty.
Unbreak Your Heart is another emotional rollercoaster of a read, it will suck you in and doesn't release its hold until you reach the final page. Bring on the next book, no pressure Katie.
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