I really enjoyed this novel. Perking my interest from page one I whizzed through this book in a few hours, holding my interest all the way. That's one of my indicators of a great book. We all know there is nothing worse than getting to 50% and still not getting hooked into what we are reading.

The book starts dramatically and grabbed me straight away, I had to know what happened.

The book is written from two perspectives over two different timelines, a mother and a grown daughter telling their stories that intertwine into an emotional narrative. Each character I connected with and got to know as I read, intrigued to know them and where the story was going. Jude, the mother and Ella, the daughter were written really well by the author in that you could connect and see them as real people. Plenty of emotions in this novel and a plot that in part surprised me and also confirmed for me where I thought it may go.

As other key characters are introduced the novel just got more interesting. It covers love, loss, grief, regret, pain, anger, denial, fear and so many other human emotions. If you like novels that tap into flawed people and their mistakes, choices and consequences you will really enjoy this book.

I was fascinated in following both timelines and hearing the voice of Mother and Daughter. Despite having a strong inkling of a key truth in the whole story it didn't distract or disappoint me by the time it was revealed. What was even better is there were still surprises in store. The plot is steady and the writing very readable. The only reason this didn't get five stars as I felt the ending was unrealistic and it had a sense of being rushed and put together that way to get the book to it's ending. The end encounters were just too easy and far-fetched as to happen the way it was portrayed in the novel.

I loved the end outcome, just wish how it was delivered had more realism and depth. Not so flippant. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and the way it tackled how assumptions and presumptions can impact your choices and life direction dramatically. That's what this book really expresses, the outcome of decisions, some made in haste and the consequences of those.

Leah Mercer has written a book that depicts the faults in all of us, taking flawed people and telling a story that keeps you wanting more of their individual tales that interlock at the same time. This was a good read and I would be really keen to read more from Leah.

I completely loved the dual story line. Leah Mercer done such an incredible job showing the effects of drama and loss from every point of view. I learned not to judge until I have all cards in front of me and even then, I have to look carefully and observe the big picture.
TEN LITTLE WORDS by Leah Mercer is a family drama with a perfectly crafted plot and characters that are so real, anyone can relate with. The more I read, the more I wanted and I tried to guess what happened, I tried to imagine Jude alive and asked myself why would she run away from her child. Also, getting deep into the story I judged both Jude and Ella for some of their decisions and changed my mind later on. Towards the end, it all made sense and I got to understand just how loss and drama will haunt and destroy your life, how a woman is able to sacrifice her life and happiness to protect her loved ones.

… I am always with you. I will always be here... – these ten little words intrigued me and made me read this beautiful novel and I do not regret it one bit. Family find each other in time and love has always been the key

Totally recommend it

I enjoyed reading this book and really felt for Ella after losing her mother. Even thirty years later, she was still plagued by her departure and had trouble moving on from it. Her pain and anger created a barrier around her, as if to protect herself from more pain, but after reading a classified ad, she is left with a sense of hope that her mother might still be out there. She is torn with whether or not to pursue the possibility of her mother being alive, and what she discovers along the way is eye opening.

This book did a great job of showing how our experiences affect our every day lives and how they can in turn affect others. The way that Ella’s mother (Jade) left had such a huge impact on her life, and it all stemmed back to Jade’s painful past. It makes the reader wonder if Ella had been aware of what happened to Jade from the very beginning, would her life still have turned out the same way or would she be more understanding and empathetic of the way her mother felt all those years ago. It’s an interesting thought, and while I expected Ella to remain angry, I think the truth made her open her heart even more.

Overall great read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3329855562

Ella has spent most of her life believing her mother is dead until a newspaper ad and a meeting with an old man start to make her doubt it. Should she look for a woman who may not even exist and, if she were to find her, how would she feel towards a mother who abandoned her when she was only five? A little drawn out in places, especially at the end, but a good, thought-provoking and emotional read.

It was a tad hard to understand in the beginning but overall I enjoyed it.although I thought the story line was strange. I did not understand why a Mom would leave her daughter without making sure 100% that there was no issues. It is a beach read.

Thank you for providing me a copy of this book.
Sorry I wasn't able to go on and finish this.
It just didn’t work for me.
I'll try again next time and leave a feedback.

A good family drama, well written with interesting characters and I can recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Ella believed since she was 5 years old that her mother walked out into the sea. But 30 years later, she sees a post in the newspaper with the ten words her mother said to her every day before she disappeared.

Ella starts to wonder if her mother really died or if she’s still out there. She finds letters addressed to her mother from a man, love letters written as if she had never died. She goes to Bertie and learns things about her mother. Along her journey, she gains this new confidence and no longer believes that she has to live a life all alone. But is her mother really gone?

I love books with two or more points of view. The chapters go back and forth between Ella and her mother Jude. You learn pieces of Jude’s history before she leaves Ella. You watch Ella gain confidence and learn to trust others. You see a one of a kind love story from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher/author for my advanced e-book copy! Keep your eye out for this one when it publishes in July!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for letting me read and review this advanced reader copy.

Synopsis:

“I am always with you, I will always be here.” This is a promise made to Ella by her mother, a promise Ella believes until one day her mother walks into the sea and disappears, her body never found. Raised by her Aunt, Ella accepts that she lost her mother for good but thirty years later Ella spots something that could change everything. An ad in the newspaper, those ten words and nothing else. Ella’s memories of her mother soon flood back and she begins to question if she is dead afterall and begins a search for answers.

Review:
I have read many thrillers lately so a woman’s fiction read was just what I needed. Both the book cover and description caught my attention and hinted that Ten Little words may be an emotional rollercoaster. The reviews for this book also looked very promising so I couldn’t wait to find out for myself.

The opening instantly hit me with a wave of sadness and I instantly began to feel sorry for Ella and her mother a little. As I got to know the characters, I found that most were very likeable especially Ella. She was a strong character who had emotionally built up walls and I was looking forward to seeing how she would develop as some of the barriers she had built were knocked down. I also found Ella relatable due to the fact that she escapes from reality was books, just like mine. As the story progressed and you saw Ella begin to thaw out, some of those moments I found quite touching.

Bertie was another character I connected well with, he was the perfect gentleman, despite me being quite sceptical about him at first, he won my heart and all I wanted for him was a happy ending. As for Jude, Ellie’s mother, I did feel for her in some parts but I felt her actions were not always justified, I felt my connect with her wasn’t as strong.
The story is told from both Ella and Jude’s perspective which I enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to really get to know these women and be in their heads. The chapters were also very clear and easy to follow. However, I did feel the story moved a little too slow for my linking, there was quite a big build up and when we got to the climax it was quite frustrating to know that some of the events could have possibly been avoided, but there again if this was the case then we wouldn’t have a story. I also found that I was able to predict many of the events that would unfold which unfortunately didn’t leave me feeling the warm fuzz I would have liked.

Ten Little Words did tug on my heart strings at times, there were many tender and sweet moments with some lovely true sayings. It also did a lovely job of touching on the issue of mental health. When the story did pick up, there were little twists and turns that did sneak up on you which I liked. I honestly wanted a happy ending for everyone and the power of love was highlighted all the way through this read, without spoiling anything, I got the ending I wanted. So despite this read not giving the wow factor or a buzz, I did think it was a lovely little unique love story.

I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. While the book was well written And a good story, it was also predictable. I liked that it gave two different perspectives (mother and daughter) but I wasn’t able to connect emotionally with either one. It was like looking through a window of someone’s house: sometimes you want to see more and be invited in. I gave it 3 stars because the book just didn’t draw me in.

This book moved a little slow for me but I kept going because of all the positive reviews it got. Ill give it 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this completely blind, not even reading the blurb before starting as I know when I get a book by this author usually its going to be a cracking read and this one was amazing.

I was totally engrossed in Ella and Jude's story. I loved the fact that it's told from dual point of view and that you hear the back story which lead up to Jude's disappearance.

It was so cleverly written that I was constantly asking questions throughout the story and just when I thought I had it sorted another slight twist would happen and I was left guessing again. If I have one cristism about it is that maybe, just maybe, things were solved a bit too easily and I wanted Ella and Bertie to maybe hold Jude to account more at the end but even with that this story stuck with me.

This is a story of fear, trauma, hope and a love story that spans a long time. It is also a story that will stay with you long after it has finished. Thank you to the author and Net galley for letting me read this amazing story.

This is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story of love, heartache, fear, trauma and resilience.
Jude walked into the ocean one day when life became unbearable and did not come out.
She is survived by her five year old daughter, Ella, her sister, Carolyn, and a man named Bertie who truly adored her.
How do you choose and decide that "life" is too hard and to abandon your family?

How does a little girl ever accept that her mum has deserted her?
Ella learns to survive and to not get truly involved with anyone. It is safe and so much easier to depend only on oneself.
The world begins to change on the day of Jude's birthday when she sees an advert with ten little words that Jude always told Ella.
Could it be? Who placed this ad?
The search begins!
Well written, and truly kept me reading to find out what was happening for Ella and praying that she would learn to trust and love.

Thirty years ago deeply troubled Jude Morgan disappears and is presumed dead. She leaves behind a five year old daughter Ella, who is raised by her Aunt Carolyn and her husband Rob. This story is told in different timelines by Jude from the 1980’s and by Ella in the present day. Ten little words refers to two phrases her mother always said to Ella which remain of utmost importance to her.

Ella’s perspective is the most absorbing as it examines the devastating psychological impact of the loss of her mother. Her mum made her feel safe, so Ella wraps herself in a cocoon, which she then surrounds with impenetrable walls and lets no one in, not even her aunt who loves her dearly. She’s solitary because that’s safe, her only comfort is her cat Dolby. Her job is interesting as an archivist at a music museum in Hastings and through this she is also able to keep herself to herself. The Jude sections are interesting but less engaging although as her story unfolds it all starts to come together and sympathy builds. The characters are well portrayed, clearly depicting their personalities, capturing their moods especially Ella’s growing anger. I really like the setting too - I can never resist a seaside environment! There are some interesting elements to the story too, there’s mystery around Jude which deepens as the story progresses, there’s some intrigue and tension, and a strong love element. Although I think parts of the story are a bit predictable, such as the ending, I do like it even though it’s tied up a bit too neatly with a bow! I think we can all use some optimism and a happy ending at the moment.

Overall, an enjoyable, easy read. I especially like the reawakening of Ella and her shedding of armour against potential hurt and finally embracing life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the arc.

Ella believed since she was 5 years old that her mother walked out into the sea. But 30 years later, she sees a post in the newspaper with the ten words her mother said to her every day before she disappeared into the sea.

Ella starts to wonder if her mother really died or if she’s still out there. She finds letters addressed to her mother from a man, love letters written as if she had never died. She goes to Bertie and learns things about her mother. Along her journey, she gains this new confidence and no longer believes that she has to live a life all alone. But is her mother really gone?

I love books with two or more points of view. The chapters go back and forth between Ella and her mother Jude. You learn pieces of Jude’s history before she leaves Ella. You watch Ella gain confidence and learn to trust others. You see a one of a kind love story from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced e-book copy! Keep your eye out for this one when it publishes in June!

I enjoyed this book. Family based drama with well written characters. My first time reading this author. Would recommend.

'I am always with you. I will always be here."
Ella's mothers promise to her, but one day Jude walks into the sea and doesn't return, her body is never recovered, so she is pronounced deceased.
Ella is to be raised by her aunt Carolyn.
Moving to London helps Mia start to mend, she is still hurt and angry but begins to rebuild her life.
30 years on Ella sees something in a newspaper that throws her. The same 10 words her mother used to say to her are written in an anonymous ad, bringing Ella's memory flooding back to her mother's disappearance. She wonders if her mum is alive, if so, why did she fake her death and leave her.
I thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the Author Leah Mercer for allowing me to review this pre-publication novel.

A family based drama with a bit of mystery. The story is told through the different viewpoints of Jude (the mother) and Ella (her daughter). This worked well as the reader often had information that Ella, as the central character did not. You could feel the seething resentment behind Ella's detached facade and feel the change in her as the book progressed.

An enjoyable book, kept me entertained for a few hours during lockdown. I like books that are told from different perspectives.

A story about finding family, and the challenges that lay along the way. I was drawn in to the story by those ten words, and became more and more intrigued as bits and pieces were revealed. A novel that uplifts and gives hope.