I loved this book. I would give it 5+ stars. I liked the historical storyline., and felt my heart hurt and rejoiced for Molly and the choices she chose to make over her life. What an inspiring character she is!!

My rating:

Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Women’s Fiction
Historical Fiction



Review:

An ordinary life starts of when Molly who at age 94 lies immobile in a hospital bed after a stroke and a fall. This book tells the beautiful story about a kind strong woman who has experienced it all, love and loss and hast a few skeletons in her closet. Her remarkable story starts as a young girl during the war determined to do her bit until the present day in her hospital back reflecting back on her life. The book is beautifully written, highly emotional and very touching. The plot is nicely paced and flows well. The main characters are kind and strong people they have real human traits and their actions were well explained. This made them realistic

Overall:

An interesting story about a woman’s life that is far from ordinary. The writing is vivid and highly emotional. The characters were nice and feel realistic. This is great book that grabs you and holds you captivated till the end.

Wonderful, wonderful story, another winner from Amanda Prowse. It's a heartbreaking story of a love taken too soon and a young life altered forever by WWII. It made you wonder how much sadness and pain one person could handle in a lifetime. Can one ever forget the ugliness of the war and the horrible losses it inflicted on the families of the young men lost to them forever? The story is about 94 year old Molly who lived anything but an ordinary life. How much do we actually know about our elders and the secrets they kept because they were seemed as being shameful. I loved this book, it kept you guessing until the very end as well. Just perfect, I loved every bit of it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Oh wow this book is really sad but also filled with happy pockets of joy.

When Geer didn't turn up for work that day I felt I knew why but it didn't want to be right.

Poor Molly has had so much heartache in her life from so young but she remains so strong.

I was so sad when Mollt told her mother what had happened, her mums reaction was so harsh, sometimes I think religious beliefs can be so cruel, I know it was a different time then but I just really felt for Molly.

It's a really exciting Novel that keeps you involved right from the beginning, there is. A new thing that happens in almost each chapter. It's so gripping and entices you to read another page and another and another.

I really enjoyed the layout of the book, how it went through the years of Mollys life and the friendships she has along the way. She remains true to herself and shes a fabulous character, shes the sort of lady I'd love to enjoy a cuppa with so she can tell you about her life herself.

I absolutely balled my eyes out at various points in this book bit the ending nearly floored me. What an inspiring book and so enjoyable.

A Nonagenarian Recounts Her Life
This is the story about a very eventful life of an English woman who lived into her nineties. The story is very much about the deep-seated sadness brought about by WWII. This woman, her family, and her friends dealt with such unspeakable tragedy. Beyond the sadness, our heroine becomes stronger and deals with life's blows with grace and clarity. This is an amazing account of the struggle through sadness and depression back into a life worth living. I received this ARC for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I can count on one hand how many times a book has made me cry hard. An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse is part historical fiction and part romance fiction. Our story begins with 94-year-old Molly remembering her not so ordinary life. Love found and love lost, the atrocities of WWII, and the sacrifices made by so many for the better good of others. This was a very well-told story and a reminder of a time when the world seemed full of madness and hope was in short supply. I hope when this book becomes available in February 2021, that you’ll take a moment and read it and remember those, like my father, who gave up so much so that we could live in a peace-filled world. What a lovely story. Thank you to NetGalley for this book but the review and thoughts are my own and without bias. @netgalley #netgalley @mrsamandaprowse #reviewer #wwii #live #sacrifice #historicalfiction #womanfiction #survivor #hope #anordinarylife #amandaprowse #reading #books #bookstagram #book #read #bookworm #booklover #bookish #bibliophile #reader #novel #booksofinstagram #booklovers #bookish lindaleereads2021 #mmdbookclub #idratherbereading #readinglife #mmd #modernmrsdarcybookclub #january2021

IG: @bookbimbo

This story about Molly living and working during WW II, is anything but ordinary. She made many sacrifices both for her family and with her contributions to the war effort. This book is very well written, and told through Molly’s eyes. There are some very heart breaking parts to the story; however, you can’t help but keep turning the pages to see how this strong woman’s life played out. This book is part historical fiction and part romance, and well worth reading. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

At 94, Molly has fallen at home and ended up in the hospital. She started writing a letter to her son and you are taken back to 80 years of a lifetime. Molly goes back to the day she met Jo, the love of her life and continues to remember her life, the good, the bad, the heartbreak and the joy. I found this to be a wonderful story of a life lived and reflected. There is laughter, there are tears and beautiful remembrances.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Prowse, and Amazon Publishing UK-Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this book for a far and honest review.

I received a free e-ARC through Netgalley.
The story of Molly who has lived to be 94 years old, but hasn't told her biggest secret yet. We go through her life during WWII as it changes drastically and then her many years after the war when she is still affected by the way. Some people in looking at her life, living alone in a small cottage might think she had an ordinary life, not knowing what lay beneath. A good read about how one moment can change everything after.

solid 3.5
A thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I have to say that there are not many books that get a 4 or 5 from me... So a 3.5 is a very good book in my opinion. I agree with some other reviewers - there are a lot of psychological thrillers out there recently so this was a welcome change of pace. I'm a fan of WW II historical fiction and if you are as well, you may be tempted to pass this one by as just another WW II story. I thought that was how I would feel...but you would be wrong. While WW II is the background and the starting point, its more than that. Is some of it a bit predictable? yes. however this is the story of what Molly thinks is her ordinary life. As others have said, her life is anything but. The author does an excellent job of describing scenes, emotions and taking on issues such as mental illness in a time where it would not be popular. without giving anything away, you are rooting for a certain type of ending. will you get it? you need to read it to find out. But you'd better have some tissues.
Strongly recommend this book

What a remarkable story told in Amanda Prowse’s indomitable style.
A tale of hope, courage and love narrated with emotion and as always realistic characters.
I loved this!
4.5 stars
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartfelt story of 94 year old Molly who, following a fall, remembers her life and love from war time through to her accident that finds her in hospital on Christmas Eve. It is beautifully written and draws you into Molly's life from being a young girl during the war and what she did to survive. Amanda Prowse has a style of writing that is descriptive and heart wrenching. Her characters and their lives are portrayed in a believable way that leaves the reading wanting more.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this novel

4.5 rounded up to 5

Another emotional read from Amanda Prowse. I can always count on going thru a few tissues when I read Ms. Prowse. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

Molly, our protagonist, ages from a young girl living with her Mother to a young woman in love, to a woman hardened by the choices she has to make to survive during the war to decisions later in life. This book will make you feel. Have tissues handy. Great characters, story can be a little predictable but story itself is beautifully written. Love the relationship between the siblings. This story will immerse you in the horrors of war, what people had to do to survive and how times have changed. I loved how Ms. Prowse would end a chapter with a major milestone in Molly’s life, then move on, knowing its effects, but not dwelling on it. Just as we must do, learn by it, move on, but never forget it.

Thanks to Ms. Prowse, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

This thoughtful work of historical fiction spans decades in the life of Molly Collway. Author Amanda Prowse does a marvelous job of examining the trials of a young lady coming of age during war. I was moved by our heroine, Molly and her brave journey through a life that repeatedly took an unplanned direction. At its heart this is a story of relationships, love and sacrifice. I wept with Molly even as I marveled at her stoic resolve to move forward and appreciate her life regardless of the heartbreaking struggles she faced. I highly recommend this beautifully told novel.

An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse a beautifully historic five-star read. I don’t want to go into too much detail as I wont do it justice but suffice to say this is heart wrenching and goes into great historical detail that will encapsulate you even if you don’t like historical stories.

Another brilliant read from Amanda Prowse.

We meet Molly, or M as she is affectionately known. A 94 year old lady, nearing the end of her full life, telling of her efforts during WW2, and the letter she is writing to her son, when she has a fall, and ends up in hospital. The story goes back over 70 years of her life, and is beautiful.

Another rollercoaster of emotions from the author, ( but then I wouldn't expect anything else )! Amanda draws the reader into every book she writes, as though you are sharing the lives with the characters!

Many thanks to Netgalley, and Lake Union Publishers for the Arc copy, in return for a true and honest review

A treasure of a read. Molly is at long last writing a letter. One she has been wanting to write for decades. She is frail and elderly and this letter matters very much to her. She falls and remembers her past life. In the war she worked as a translator and through a friend met Johan whom she instantly fell in love with. One thing led to another and she had a baby, leaning soon afterwards that Johan had been killed. After having the baby and keeping her secret well hidden until the very last moment she tries to return to work- who doesn't want her. Neither does her mother as it will bring shame on the family name- something that lived on in many for decades afterwards- we are in oh such a different world now. She is approached about some work and her boss highly recommended her. She wants to do the best not only for the war effort but also to bring her baby back home as he is currently being cared for by her sister and her husband. Molly is now Claudette and part of the resistance.
This is the second resistance book I have read and found them very interesting (the first being Resistance by Patricia Dixon- please see my blog for 5* review). Both show women of determination and an inner steele to overcome adversity whatever life may throw at them. A truly memorable book. I loved Molly. An inspiring and educational read. To those who tread so easily in this life, read on- life for some is not quite so straightforward. An ordinary life is all some crave. Brilliant.
(rest if links as part of blog tour)

Molly Collway is ninety four and she's delayed starting a very important task for years, she needs to write a letter and she’s running out of time. Unfortunately Molly takes a tumble on the night she begins penning her letter, she has a stroke, and she’s unable to speak and ends up in hospital on Christmas Eve. Lying in her hospital Molly’s body is frail and broken and her mind is still sharp. A life time of reflection, some of her memories are wonderful others are incredibly sad and you have no idea how her story will end.

Molly’s life hasn’t been ordinary at all, she crammed a lot into ninety four years and she enriched many people’s lives. As a young woman she worked as an interpreter during WW II, fell in love with her best friends brother Johan, joined the resistance in France, worked as a POW liaison officer during and after WW II and her last job was working in the records department of a large English hospital.

As you read Molly’s story the years go by, she grows old and her secret is always on her mind. The story revolves around Molly finding peace with her past, accepting that she made the right decision as a young woman and at a very difficult time for her. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of An Ordinary Life, I enjoyed the story, maybe it could have been a little shorter and three stars from me.

This was not your typical WWII book, there were many common themes as with other books, but the strength and independence of the main female character really set this one apart. I felt every emotion that Molly went through, her humanity and vulnerability allows the reader to really connect. I would highly recommend this book.

An Amanda Prowse book will never let you down and this one is no exception. A perfect escape to another persons story and another lifetime - this book was beautifully written and gripping right up until the final pages. This is a brilliant combination of historical fiction and contemporary romance.