The Art of Hiding was a good read. It's the story of a pampered wife who had the rug pulled out from underneath her when her husband dies and she realizes he jeopardized their finances to the point of destitution. She journeys back to her roots and begins anew. A great read for messages of perseverance, self-Evaluation, and appreciating all that you have.

Nice easy read . Fairly predictable plot, heart of gold sister and young boys coming in to their own after the death of their father and the collapse of the workd they have always known.

Absolutely excellent! 4AM my husband asked if I planned to sleep. My response was nope and I kept on reading. I admit the opening did not grab me. I kept waiting for the accident so felt I was on a cliff waiting for the main story to begin. The emotions I felt were wide ranging with plenty of tears. After I finished reading the book the first thing I did was ask my husband what secrets do I not know? The book was well done with well developed characters I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

The Art of Hiding is the latest captivating story by Amanda Prowse. I found The Art of Hiding to be a heartwarming and compelling story with both tears and laughter. Difficult to put down as you want to know what next happens to the main characters. I was given an early copy to review.

Lately I seem to be developing the same pattern in terms of my opinions regarding the books written by Amanda Prowse. In so much as I adore one of her books, am totally enthralled by it and can't get it out of my head as in Another Love (the best thing she has ever written in my opinion as I still can't get it out of my head a year or two after reading it) and The Food of Love. Then I find the subsequent book although a good read it just doesn't capture my imagination or hit me right where it matters as in My Husband's Wife or The Idea of You. This new book from Amanda The Art of Hiding falls into the latter category for me. It's not a bad book at all, the subject matter is topical as one has come to expect from this author. The writing is as brilliant as ever, again with numerous quotes I would want to take down and look back on so astute and on point are they regarding the situation our main protagonist Nina McCarrick finds herself in. You do find yourself rooting for a positive outcome but know it cannot be achieved without sacrifice and gaining some courage and determination.

But from the first few chapters I just felt I had already read this this type of story several times before – woman loses her husband, her life is turned upside down, secrets are revealed, the family have to start from scratch and try and build themselves up again. I saw a friend had felt the same about this book too. It all just felt too familiar although what does set it apart from other books is the way that it is written particularly the first half as the author does really get inside Nina's head and explores a myriad of emotions – anger, hurt, disbelief, pain, loss, heartbreak and anguish to name but a few. I felt the second half tapered off and it just felt that bit too run of the mill and slightly predictable you couldn't fail to guess the outcome although I was glad the romance element didn't become a cliché which I had feared that was the direction it was going in.

The author writes brilliantly on controversial topics and although the storyline here is not controversial rather more so emotional and life altering, it just didn't grab me in the same way as some of her previous books had. I wasn't a sobbing mess by the end and although Nina's route to climbing back from the very bottom is not an easy one I just didn't really get into her head all that much and it's not because I have never been in her situation before as I have never experienced most of what Amanda's characters go through it's just I think the story was too short compared to previous books and once a point had been reached it hadn't much further to go and the remainder was too obvious. Towards the end it felt rushed and just that little bit too easy.

The Art of Hiding really was a book of two halves for me. The first half was brilliantly written and I understood the desperation and incredulity the family and in particular Nina were feeling. The second half wasn't as strong and I began to lose interest ever so slightly. When we first meet Nina it's clear she leads a privileged life thanks to the success of husband Finn's construction business. Her own childhood wasn't the best and she believes she has now found the polar opposite and is living the life she had always dreamed of. She is happy, content and in love and raising two children - Declan aged ten and 15 year old Connor. Life is easy for the family. Nina has everything at her finger tips, anything she wants for the home or things the boys need are in more than plentiful supply. Basically the family has money and security yet behind all this there was a sense that Nina lacked confidence that once she had met Finn everything had been handed to her so readily and easily that she had forgotten how to stand on her own two feet. Yes she can run a household efficiently and bring up her boys but the question remains. If in the morning everything was taken away how would she cope? Would she crumble under the pressure and the feeling of the rug being pulled from under her or would she easily pick up the few remaining pieces and move on?

Well those questions are ever more relevant as Nina's life is torn apart as her beloved Finn is killed in an accident. Her anchor, her love, the father of her children is gone and it soon becomes apparent he was not the man she believed him to be and as is suggested by the title he was more than skilled in the art of hiding. The world that had been created was nothing more than a façade and everything she believed to be true was nothing more than lies. A mountain of debt is all that is left of Finn and soon the family are homeless and the upper crust school the children had attended is but a distant memory. There is nothing worse than losing a parent or a partner. It is something extremely hard to deal with and to rationalise so to discover the person you loved with all your heart kept so many things from you must be one hundred times worse. Your perception of the person must change immeasurably and above all else I would have felt anger. Nina does feel this and doesn't know how to deal with it. She is mourning for the man she loved yet in some ways she hates him for what he has left behind for her to deal with all on her own. Her grief is all encompassing and the writing here was fantastic. The scenes which followed were brilliant in particular where Nina hastily leaves the house at night in a bid to rid herself of her anger. Also the point at which the house was lost was incredibly raw and hurtful for all involved. Life for the remainder of the book becomes a balancing act and one in which Nina has to put on a front. She has to keep things going for her boys and create a normal life for them at a time when their reality is any thing but normal.

Honestly in ways I felt Nina had become so protected and cosseted by Finn that she was at a complete loss as to what to do to move forward. Now that the never ending supply of money had dried up and things weren't as easy she had to face reality. She needed to step up to the plate and take action, become responsible for the future for herself and her boys. Memories of her husband are altering but now is the time to make new ones and start afresh even if it's the last thing in the world she would have ever have expected to do. I thought Nina was brave that she took the decision to return to Southampton where she grew up despite it holding bad memories for her. Although she didn’t have a brilliant relationship with her sister Tiggy,

I'm glad Tiggy was there for Nina when she needed help the most. Nina needed to come down from the pedestal that Finn had created for her and come in to the real world and with determination, courage and faith she might just begin to do that. The family had to plunge to a very low place full of worry, sadness, fear and agony before they could ever hope to reach a level they were comfortable with. One aspect of the story I loved was that character of Declan. He was so innocent yet devastated by what had happened but at times when things were tense he said something that would make you laugh, bring a smile to your face and offer light amongst all the darkness.

The Art of Hiding isn't my favourite book by Amanda Proswe but I am glad I read it. She is one of those authors I will read no matter what she publishes and as I have come to feel some I will adore and some will just be an OK read for me and that's what I found with this book.

Nina had it all and life was perfect. It is only when her husband is killed in a car crash that she realises the truth about that 'perfect' life. Amanda Prowse is a first class story teller and her characters always feel very real. Having read her work before, I set aside a full afternoon/evening as I knew once I started I would want to read to the finish. Me heart went out to Nina and her two sons as they had no time to grieve before having to move away from the family home with very few possessions. Nina had try to turn herself from a 'Stepford' wife into the sole breadwinner for the family. This is an emotional story and even when you can remind yourself that these are characters in a book you know for sure that there will be people who have experienced very similar events. For the record I managed to read this one without need for a tissue, but it was a close thing.

Both Nina and the boys struggle to adapt to their new meagre surroundings, none more so than Once again, I can count on Lake Union Publishing (and Net Galley) for a great book and a new author. Thank you for the e-ARC, which was provided in exchange for my honest opinion. this book made me think in a lot of ways...I was widowed (and this happens quick out of the gate, so this isn't a spoiler), but thank goodness I didn't go through losing everything at the same time. While Nina and her husband were in love, she starts to question their entire marriage. What was very unique and she captured perfectly was some of the feelings and anxiety that happens when you don't have money. I could completely identify with many of the things she wrote...not to that extent, but it rang true. What makes you happy? Sometimes it's not what you think. I loved this book, and I am going online right now to choose more of her books. Highly recommended.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse is a raw, powerful, and uplifting novel. It stirred a lot of my emotions and made them come out in a jumbled mess! It pulled at my heartstrings, made me think of my own happiness and life, and certainly opened my eyes. I very much recommend this book to fellow readers. It's a story about love, loss, and setting yourself free after the storm,.

4 stars

Nina McCarrick is enjoying a rugby match at the school where her two boys, Connor who is fifteen and Declan who is ten, attend. She receives a telephone call from the hospital that requests her presence immediately for her husband Finn has been in an accident. He passes away. Nina’s perfect life falls apart. Her two children are handling the problem in the only way they know how.

She receives the bad news that the school fees to the expensive private school her boys attend are two semesters behind in payments. This can’t be true. Contacting the management group that pays the fees Nina learns that there is no money to pay the fees. Going to the accountant, she learns that all has been mortgaged and there is absolutely nothing left. No money for school, the bailiffs are to turn up at the house soon and Finn’s brothers are unable to take them into their homes.

While going through Finn’s desk at home, something Nina has never done before, she finds an unfinished note that sounds suspiciously like a suicide note. Did he kill himself? Was it no automobile accident? Nina desperately tries to keep things normal for the boys, taking them to school, but how long until they can no longer go there? For the headmaster has given Nina the final notice.

After the bailiffs show up, Nina realizes that her life in the big, expensive house is over. She moves back to the Southampton estate of Portswood to a tiny apartment that her uncle owns. It is run down, the neighborhood is rundown and the neighbors are definitely not what the boys are used to. Nina feels her son Connor’s despair, but Declan is trying to make the best of it. Nina still is very angry at Finn for leaving them in this situation and cries frequently. She must get a job – and fast.

So find a job she does and things begin to look up. The boys are happier at school. Connor gets a tryout for the surprisingly good rugby team. Declan finds new friends. As does Nina.

This book is very well written and plotted. It is filled with precious memories, and some not-so precious. It is filled with good time and bad, joy and pain and most of all growth. The boys – and Nina – learn that having money is not as important as she once believes. Rather, it is the relationships that give freedom. It is the freedom to be who you are and the freedom to choose. This is a heartwarming novel; a feel good book that will make the reader’s day.

I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Press for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book to read.

This is a beautifully written story of heartbreak and loss. It's insightful and sad. After Nina loses her husband, she loses everything else. She somehow finds the strength to try overcome the situation she and her children find themselves in. It's a powerful story that will make you think about your life and loved ones.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion of it.

An outstanding read that I couldn't put down and finished from cover to cover in one day. A beautifully written heart wrenching story that has you emotionally gripped from page one. I only wish it hadn't ended and that there is a sequel on its way. Highly recommended.

If you have ever lost someone or know someone who has, then this book will open your eyes to the hidden struggles, the pain behind the eyes and the sense that the world as they know it has ended. It will also show you that possessions mean nothing and that what really matters is people and family. It will make you question your choices in life and Amanda has a way of telling you all this with beautiful writing, raw emotions and a friendly hug at the same time.

At the beginning Nina believes she has the perfect existence-family, large home opulent life style having escaped from an impoverished and troubled childhood. Her wrk disintegrates with the death of her husband who has hidden from her the actual state of their finances. She is left penniless and homeless shunned by her so called friends . She leaves Bath and returns to her Southampton roots and the friendship of her older sister. There with her two boys she has to build a new life. There is a sense of realisation that her life it's he husband was superficially fulfilling but she had given up her own dreams and ambitions to look after this family. Now she had to stand on her own two feet . She and the boys have a lot of readjusting to do and find out who you can rely on when the chips are down.
Carefully portrayed believable characters pepper this book and mad it a really god read.

THE ART OF HIDING. by Amanda Prowse. A smell, as though her husband was near, though he was to be at his son ball game. Then came the call husband was in hospital. He had been on the other side of town, not coming toward the game. Everything was left to her, what's with the
deliquent bills, to a tune of 8 million pounds. Trust, after twenty years, to be left with nothing, why did he put it all together. What about her and their family. Great plot, of her deciding what to do next, and coming to terms of what Finn did. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

THis book just wasn't for me. It was strongly written and the story is - I'm sure a timely relatable one - but I had a difficult time relating to the main character.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse is one of the most believable tale I've read. A story of loss, love, and hope. The loss of a father and husband, losing their home, and moving to a new place. Plus, a single widowed mother dealing with a teenager who seems like he's connecting with her anymore. A you're son who loves her still but is also wanting to be like his big brother. Sweet, heartfelt, and realistic.

The title, The Art of Hiding, fits well. I was amazed at how well the mother holds onto the little she has. Her sons. Going after a career, a new home, and a new area can place a lot of stress and emotions on a family that has already lost so much. But with time, there's hope and maybe even some healing. I was throughly entertained with this book. Every page was exciting. Something always caught my attention and held it there until the ending. Amanda Prowse is a talented writer. This, was the second novel of hers that I've read. Enjoyable, easy to follow along, and great characters to love. Overall, I recommend this novel to all.

Well-written, and observed. Amanda Browse gives a heartfelt view of a riches to rags story with all that entails. Ninna and her two boys are devasted when their husband and dad dies in a car crash. But worse follows. He died owing eight million. The bailiffs turn up and they are suddenly homeless. Moving from Bath to a dingy flat in Southampton is difficult and demoralising. Nina has no idea how to cope let alone get a job. What she and the boys find out is that family and love are worth far more than a big house or private school. Good observations but I would have liked more angst from the oldest lad Conor and thought getting a flat was rather too easy. Overall a good read.

When Nina’s husband dies in a car accident, her life falls apart as she realises that not only has she lost her lovely partner Finn, but that his business is bankrupt.
Finn has been keeping his money troubles secret from her and now, without warning, she is evicted from her beautiful home. Without friends, money or any qualifications, she needs to find some way to provide for herself and her two young sons.
The Art of Hiding is a solid, no frills discourse on survival even in the direst circumstances, and on the power of money to buy friends and acquaintances who may not be there when you really need them. The ramifications of this sort of event are many and varied, but Amanda Prowse has chosen the aspects on which concentrate wisely. There are some happy coincidences, and Nina is blessed in the forbearance of her children, but just as much realism peppers the pages of this book.
Especially welcome is the lack of arrival of any new love interest to make it all better.
I am grateful to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy.

A good example of contemporary fiction aimed at the middle class family woman, this does what is expected by an author who is an expert in her field. In fact it is somewhat helpful and reassuring for those of us who can relate to the problems and situations that can occur to us and our friends. Amanda writes about women and family situations with a lovely easy reading style and you can whizz through the novel whilst enjoying a good story. This type of read fits nicely between silly chicklit and literary fiction without trying to be anything it isn’t, well done Amanda you write just what a lot of us need.