Book Synopsis
Finding Marianne: A magical feel-good romance set in Scotland
A marriage that's fallen apart, friends who’ve drifted away, and a job she doesn't love… Marianne has realised she wants a fresh start in life.
Determined to heal, work out what she wants and find herself, she sets off on a road trip. She’s always felt called to go to Scotland, the homeland of her Grandmother.
The only thing she knows for sure is: She's never falling in love again.
When she meets Finn, she’s determined they’ll only be friends, or a fun fling, at best. Their worlds are too different, and they want different things.
The universe, however, has different plans…
Back in 1960, Nora, Marianne's grandmother, has grown up on a Highland farm. When she falls in love with handsome Tom, she leaves all she knows behind to go and live in England.
Discover the story of two generations of women, with a whole lot of romance and a wee bit of magic…
Book Details
- Publisher : J and S Romance Ltd (May 8, 2024)
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Language : English
- Paperback : 249 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1068603208
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
“I’d just lost my way a bit. I needed to find myself again.”This sentiment hit home deeply with me in Finding Marianne. The novel is genuine, candid, and sometimes raw at times. It addresses mental health in a way that will touch many readers, particularly those who can relate to the experiences of Marianne and Finn.
Marianne's journey through Northern Scotland, following her Grandfather Tom's footsteps with his old journal as her guide, was heartwarming. The vivid depiction of Scotland's beauty made me feel as though I had visited the place myself while using my five senses.
The romance in the story is magical in how the characters find each other, all because of a darling, red-headed little girl. While there is an open door scene with a low level of spice, the rest is not overly explicit but rather filled with so many emotions. I appreciated Finn's description of their relationship, "We haven’t known each other long, Marianne, but this has been an intense getting to know each other. I know we skipped past a few steps, but I know you. And you know me."
The interwoven stories of women from two generations within the same family were compelling. The novel felt like an emotional journey for both women, and I found the flawed yet resilient portrayal of the main non-perfect characters very inspiring. The author deserves praise for writing characters with mental health challenges and showing them seeking and receiving necessary support to heal from trauma. Marianne shared with Finn, “My therapist helped me a lot. She gave me some mindfulness techniques. She helped me to slowly start changing my behavior and getting on with living, instead of wallowing. It’s hard to force yourself to get help, and harder still to put the advice into action.” The theme of learning to love and accept oneself was shown prominently throughout the story.
I devoured this book in almost one sitting, entirely captivated until the early morning hours. This engaging novel has a brilliant blend of feel-good romance, genuine friendships, loving family dynamics, and the journey toward happiness and healing from the past. Sarah Louise Smith showcases a remarkable ability to captivate readers from the beginning and lead them on a touching voyage of love and renewal.
****Meet Author Sarah Louise Smith****
Sarah Louise Smith writes feel-good, modern romance stories. She lives in Northamptonshire, England and loves being outdoors and visiting new places. She loves to hear from readers, so follow her on most social media channels @iamsarahlsmith.
"A hidden gem, she really should be up there with Sophie Kinsella & Marian Keyes. Just a perfect read."
Sarah also writes and vlogs about mental well-being, personal growth, and spiritual topics, visit sarahlouisesmith .com.
~*~*~*~*Purchase Finding Marianne~*~*~*~*
HERE:
Paperback-https://amzn.to/3UVf4l6
Kindle-https://amzn.to/3Wy2PfJ
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