The Art of Hiding is about a young woman who is married with two children. Her husband dies suddenly and their lives are forever torn apart. She must now survive by relying upon her childhood poverty education.
Overall the book was good, but I felt that it lacked substance. Mostly it was all fluff...poor me, I was poor, married rich, and now I am poor again. It was also pretty cliched with the poor life is sooo much better than being rich.
The characters were cookie cutter and I felt they were too contrived.
I kept expecting the book to get better....it never did.

There is much to take away from this story. It is a story about a very fortunate and financially comfortable family that looses their financial provider. In addition to loosing the husband and father they love, there are additional reasons the family is plummeted into financial ruin. Engulfed in grief for the loss of their loved one, loss of their home, school and everything comfortable, they begin to rebuild and heal.

So many times I've heard the verse "the UHaul doesn't follow the hearse" and in this story we get to contemplate just that. What's really important and how much do we really need? These question often require a lot of soul searching, when living in a material culture where the haves and have nots are so divided.

This book took me back to an experience in my own life. After the loss of my husband, I was driving with my nine year old in the back seat of the car and overheard her gossiping to her little friend about what one of their classmates was wearing at school. We lived in northern California at the time. That year I made the decision to relocate us to NH where I felt the quality of life was better and simpler. Where kids wore sweats to school without any peer criticism. At the time children respectfully addressed their friends parents with the title of Mr. and Mrs. and children could go out and play and be kids without the pressure of the haves and have nots. A complete opposite lifestyle than what Northern California was offering.

Women tend to be caretakers in general and can lose themselves in this responsibility. Having a good balance provides stability and happiness for the soul as Nina discovers.

Excellent read.

Imagine having very little while growing up but finding your way into a nice life with nice things. A nice house in which you cook meals for your husband and your toughest choice of the day is your choice of tea, a nice private school to take your beautiful kids to in an equally nice car. Imagine suburbia heaven was your dream and you got it, until it turned into a nightmare.

When a tragic accident kills Nina’s husband Nina is not only left to support her two sons and pick up the pieces of her broker heart, but also to patch back together a semblance of a life after she learns her husband left his family in financial ruin and forcing her to go back to a life and people she had long ago left behind.

I'll be really honest. This is not what I was expecting nor is it in my regular kind of romance. I'm not even sure how it came up as a recommendation. That said, I liked the cover and summary, I also like the feeling of jumping into a book with some unknown aspect and then being pleasantly surprised. The Art of Hiding certainly achieved that as it is a beautiful tale of loss and self-discovery. It is heartbreaking, yet uplifting and thought provoking.

Nina has to live through the stages of grief, face adversity and make tough choices. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, a journey that requires strength and courage not just on Nina’s part but her sons as well. The story is well written and powerful in the fact that it rings very real and true and I found it to be very engaging because of it.

I seldom include personal tidbits in my reviews, but this one merits it. I’m a minimalist to the core. “Things” don’t appeal to me. I would much rather spend my valuable time celebrating a friend’s birthday by inviting them to dinner than giving them something they’ll likely never use. But this is not the norm and I’ve found the most people focus on “things”. This book addresses the importance of friends and family above material belongings.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

I have seen this author's other books for quite some time. That made me curious to give Amanda Prowse's "The Art of Hiding," a try. I am so glad I did experience first hand the storytelling of this amazing novel. What gives us the right to keep our loved ones in the dark of life altering misfortune perpetrated by our own hands? Are we really protecting them or ourselves? The premise of this novel begs the question of is it pure selfishness that drives us to keep secrets from the ones that depend on us most for their well being?

Nina grew up in poverty and marries into money, privilege, and is living the life dreams are made of. Her two beloved son's have attended a posh, expensive private school since they were both three years old. One ordinary day Nina is waiting for her husband Finn to join her watching their eldest son compete, when she receives the phone call we all dread. Life as she knows it will never be the same for her and her two son's.

I really enjoyed this novel. The more I read the more I got pulled into this very realistic fall from grace. I loved the way Nina tried to shield and protect her two son's. Imagine being married with the very best life has to offer only to have the rug pulled out from under you. Do we truly ever know everything there is to know about our spouses? Sometimes we marry and put all of our trust and faith into our doting husband's and in Nina's case are unable to stop the fallout that visits us at the least expected times. Hopefully we can dig deep within ourselves to find redemption and rebuild our lives especially our children's lives as well.

Nina discovers that material things don't matter nearly as much as their cracked up to be. Protecting her son's she returns to the town where she grew up to start life anew. Leaving her beautiful home behind and starting fresh there is much rebuilding to do. Leaving behind a life of splendor her boy's view Nina's origins as abject horror. Will Nina and her two son's learn that all that glittered doesn't always equate with all that does not shine?

I was offered this digital copy from Net Galley, Amanda Prowse and Lake Union Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. Many Thanks to all for an inspirational reading experience

Publication Date: August 22, 2017.

This was a very compelling read ,a story of rags to riches and rags again .Nina finds out when her husband is killed in a car accident that her life is not what it seemed ,she is no longer rich and has to leave her mansion and most of her belongings behind and move back to the town of her youth .She has to struggle to survive with her two boys with the help of her sister .I found the book an emotional and uplifting story about love and loss and the real meaning of happiness.

Nina is your typical soccer mom in which tragedy strikes. The book was okay and the author has a way with words. There was just something missing from the book.

This is one of the best reads this year. The main character Nina and her family take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I was looking forward to reading this, I love getting stuck in with a new author for me. I really wasn't sure what to expect having not read any of her previous works.
​The writing is great, it's very well done and put together. I just had one niggle through the book.
​Nina. At times I felt for her, I could have opened my arms and given her a great big cuddle, and then as the book went on, by god she grated on me. Once or twice I could have happily given her a slap. But saying that, her life did change dramatically and it was interesting to see how she and her family coped. 
​Once past my dislike for her I began to really enjoy the book again. I guess for an author to have you feeling so strongly about a character, then they have done their job brilliantly.
​Nina, Connor and Declan really do go on a journey of discovery. Learning a whole new life after the tragic loss of Finn, Husband and Father.
I finished the book feeling proud of how everyone had changed. I especially liked Tiggy, she was a real Character. 
​This book really does make you think how different life could be, how things can change so quickly.
​It's safe to say I will read more from this author.

I guess I"m one of the few readers who isn't a fan of Amanda Prowse's work.. I found the characters to be flat and unoriginal, while the plot was extremely stereotypical, The opening chapters were quite dull and predictable, which made it a challenge for me to care about the protagonist and her grief-stricken sons.
I won't be posting a review online, since I was not interested in finishing the novel. Thank you for the opportunity.

Beautifully written. I laughed and I cried. When Nina loses her husband she realises that he had been keeping secrets. They were in substantial financial difficulty. Her life changes dramatically. This story is about love and finding the inner strength to survive and thrive when you have to. Amanda Prowse always writes beautifully. She has a wonderful talent for bringing characters to life. She brilliantly illustrates that money does not necessarily bring happiness. She creates characters you can empathise with and writes books that are memorable.

This story, just wow! Talk about emotional and making you FEEL with every fiber of your being.

The Art if Hiding is real life and it hits you hard. It makes you take a look at your own life, at yourself. It’s about loss, pain, grief, and healing. It’s about finding yourself, about strength, courage, hope, and love. It gives you perspective and appreciation. It’s humble, it’s raw, it’s beautiful.

Nina’s strength and courage is the rock and strength her son’s Connor and Declan needed. To see the growth of this family from the many hurdles they faced was heartwarming and beautiful. I smiled, I cried, I hoped. I was inspired.

The writing is so gripping that I felt as though I was living this story. It is so incredibly real and raw and my heart bled.

Another incredibly touching, heartfelt story by Amanda Prowse that completely swept me away!

The Art of Hiding is an intense story about love, loss, wealth, poverty and happiness. Nobody knows what's waiting around the corner.

Nina was taken from a life of poverty, into a life of luxury when she married Finn. They have two sons, Connor and Declan, who attend the best school that money can buy. Nina looks after their home and the kids. Finn makes sure that she doesn't have anything to worry about, until one fateful afternoon when her life is turned upside down.

When Nina learns about her husband's accident, she can’t imagine how she is going to cope. Her grief and that of her sons are more than she can bear. Then she learns that her life isn't what she had imagined. Her husband had mastered the art of hiding! She begins to wonder if she really knew him. The family is now facing the worse situation. They have nothing left. Nina has never worked and she has to find a way of keeping a roof over their heads and keep them fed.

Her sister, Tiggy comes up with a solution. Going back to her roots, living in a council house in a deprived area. From one extreme to the other. She has to find a way for them to somehow survive. Declan is fairly flexible, but Connor is resentful and bitter. Can Nina find a way to survive and keep her sons happy?

Despite her lack of experience, Nina shows her resilience and determination. She learns how to make ends meet whilst keeping the family as comfortable as possible. The most difficult and upsetting part of this story. Her tolerance and acceptance are applaudable. The gradual changes in Connor are refreshing. It shows that nothing can be taken for granted and adapting to new situations is not easy, but making the most of what's available is worth it. It's a potent and exceptionally well portrayed novel with some strong messages. Wealth doesn't always equate happiness, but money is a necessity of daily living. Highly recommended.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse.
This story is about a women called Nina who's husband dies in a car accident leaving her alone with 2 boys. His death reveals to her that her wealthy lifestyle is a lie and in fact she has no money left. Therefore she has to give up her house, most of her possessions, and removes the children from their posh school. She ends up moving back down to her home town of Southampton with the help of her sister who still lives there.
I enjoyed reading the story, as i often do with Amanda's books. I found it quite moving in some places and particularly enjoyed the characters of the 2 boys. The story was also as much about how Nina had become the person she had, shielded from the outside world by her husband and wealth. In particular contrast to that of her sister.
There were however a few little points i found unbelievable like when they knocked the wall down, instant wifi in the flat, and the mobile phone contract still available! Surely this would have been paid for by monthly D Debit, but how???!!
I was glad the romance with the son of the lady in the old peoples home went the way it did as the book had moments of becoming a little too cliched.
As i said i enjoyed the book but felt somehow things slotted into place for her a little too easily for real life.

While not my usual genre to read, this was a heartwarming story though sad at times. Interesting story and realistic writing. Well done.

Life changes for Nina and her two young boys beyond recognition, after the shocking death of her husband., the loss of their home, their friends and familiar surroundings.
This is a story of courage, strength and sorrow beyond imagining, while the family learn how to deal with what life has thrown them.

AMANDA PROWSE once again delivers a wonderful book, full of raw emotion with such wonderful characters.
Nina who learns how to survive and succeed in times of desperation; moody Declan dealing with teenage angst, as well as the loss of a parent and the affluent life he is used to ; the delightfully funny and resilient Declan, who with such innocence keeps Nina going; and Tiggy, Nina's straight-talking sister who helps her find her inner strength to build a new life for her boys and herself.

The family come to realise that material things in life are not important, but love and family are what gets you through. But it will also make the reader think too....... What if that were me...... How would I react...... Even when I wasn't actually reading it, the book made me think.

AMANDA PROWESE will take you on another emotional journey, tackling difficult subjects head on, with her usual brilliant insight. Another winner for me!
With thanks to Amanda Prowse, NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Every now and again along comes an extreme moment in life when push comes to shove and we are tested in ways that should break us and leave us for dead. It's during these moments when we find out what we are truly made of. It's then that we find the truest form of our real strength, during these most unlikely and unexpected of times.

Nina lived a posh life free from financial stress or worry. Happily married, mother of two brilliant boys with great futures to look forward to, Nina spent her days enjoying the luxury of her lifestyle and basking in the freedom of what it gave her. Then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, everything came tumbling down like the crashing rapids of a waterfall. Her husband gone and her life in shambles, Nina finds herself forced to reevaluate the life she's taken for granted. Gone are the money, the gorgeous house, the cabinets and a fridge brimming with high end cuisine, the flashy car- all the accoutrements of a wealthy lifestyle. With two boys to worry about, Nina quickly finds her priorities tilting and her with no real game plan to fall on. It's one of a mother's worst nightmares.

Her sons have never known a life outside of luxury, but Nina has. Her life wasn't always glamorous. In fact, it used to be downright abysmal, in the financial sense. It's a lifestyle she never even imagined for her sons, not even in her most horrible dreams. Yet, with everything they knew snatched away, Nina must resolve to dig deep- deeper than she's ever had to dig before, to find the strength and the confidence to make a new path for herself and her boys.

This was, by far, one of the best books I've read this year! The characters are endearingly realistic and their plight moving to the nth degree. A story of resilience and survival in the face of the worst odds, The Art of Hiding is as heartwarming and inspirational as it initially was devastating. Such a well written book that goes to show that money really isn't everything and you're never truly down and out until you say the word.

Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for this review opportunity. I sincerely look forward to reading more by this author.

Once again Amanda Prowse has produced a storyline that will hook it's readers. The plot makes the reader realise that how 'in the blink of an eye' a families world can be turned upside down & force the main character Nina to rebuild her life & question if she truly knew her husband.. The storyline had me 'hooked' & I couldn't wait to see how Nina coped with what life had dealt her. The ending left me wanting more

I have read all of Amanda's Books and each one is amazing. I love her style of writing and the gutsy way that she tells her stories as each time she brings the reader into the story emotionally. Any praise for this book cannot be enough as it is simply amazing. A family distraught over the sudden death of the husband/father and how Nina takes life from being rich to poverty and in the process her and the boys find out what life is really about not just surface skimming. The story is written in a down to earth manner and although some people could see the description of the poor people as condescending I found it well described. I could picture Nina and the boys in the situation and wanted to cry for them at the downfall. I also detested Finn at the start and suspected that he had committed suicide in order to escape the worries. Nina describes at the end how he did love her and how everything was to protect her from worries as that is what he had always promised. I have always told my children that money does not buy happiness and this book shows that so clearly. I would agree that not all rich or poor people are as described .here but stereotyping brings the effects to life with amazing clarity. Keep up the good work Amanda and keep writing.

An insightful study of tragedy and loss and the importance of family, inner strength and love over material possessions. Told in the first person we share Nina’s blindness to the imperfections of her apparently ideal lifestyle shared with her husband and children. Materialistically she has everything but her confidence and self-belief have evaporated. Faced with tragedy she finds inner reserves she did not know she still had and makes a life for herself and her children based on what is truly important in life. I was caught up in her journey to a different kind of happiness and enjoyed sharing, amongst other highlights, her renewed, loving relationship with her estranged sister. Ultimately a bit too ‘cosy’ for my taste, but I enjoyed immersing myself in Nina’s world very much.

I don't read Women's Fiction very often, but every now and then I enjoy a good, empowering book. This is my first book by Amanda Prowse and I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.

The story itself is quite devastating and even traumatising. A woman who, after a childhood spent in poverty, has everything: a rich and successful husband, two children who are doing well in school, and a big, beautiful house. It's quite scary to think that life can actually be so cruel and rip it all away away again... just like that.

I really enjoyed watching Nina grow and overcome the obstacles life throws at her, and I found myself rooting for her and her sons. Nina feels real and the book depicts loss, grief and redemption in a way that rings true.

The writing is crisp and engaging. I read the entire book during one sleepless night and couldn't put it down.