When Amanda Prowse tells a story, be prepared to have your heart broken, and then put back together again ... a few times ... all in the space of a few chapters. Over and over again! She is the Queen of storytelling and she creates characters that you want to sit down and have a cup of tea and a good old natter with!
Merrin and her family are the loveliest people - salt of the earth - and you just want everything to turn out ok for them. But life isn't always like that is it, and they go through struggles and hardship along the way. I cheered for them at every single hurdle, and so will every other reader. This is a book to be savoured.

Amanda Prowse's writing is heartfelt, descriptive and relatable. To Love and Be Loved is Merrin's story. Born and raised in a small coastal town in England, she's devastated when she is left at the alter. She became a story, the girl left at the alter and everyone in the village pitied her. She couldn't live like that, so she moved away to start a new life. She missed her family, her village and her life as much as her parents missed her. It took 6 years before she was able to return, and only then when her dear father had died.

I loved this story. It is not a romance, which many identify it as, it is the story of a woman who has to find herself. She has to learn to live with what happened to her, and forgive those who were involved in that situation. She finds a man she thinks she loves, but it is not what she is looking for. There is some angst involving her sister and they have to come together to get beyond those feelings of anger, hurt and blame. This is more women's fiction to me. Amanda Prowse does a great job with the ending of this story. It isn't all wrapped up in a bow, but realistic and with the door open to let the reader imagine what happens next for Merrin. Thanks for the recommendation Misty, I certainly concur that this is one I will now recommend to others.

I have loved so many of Prowse books, but this one fell really flat for me. Not engaged in the characters or storyline.

A story about a close knit community, where we read about the Kellow family. They are humble and loyal but all families go through a rocky patch.
This is a heartbreaking story, about Love, deaths and truths.
Merrin is about to marry the man of her dreams, she is so happy and her family couldn't be prouder, however, it doesn't last long. She arrives at the church and the priest breaks the terrible news that her husband to be - Digby is not coming.
This changes everything....locals are talking about her and she wants to shy away so much, that she leaves her home town. It changes her personality and perspective on life!
She moves away and does quite well in her career, finally meeting someone new she's happy but the love just doesn't feel the same.
Life changing events happen back in her home town and she doesn't want to go back but she has no choice. Devastating news ripples through the family and harsh words exchange between the sisters. All the characters in this story need to find a way to deal with pain and heal in their own way.

I love how this family came together in the end. A very heartwarming story, with a wonderful ending.

This was a beautiful story! Merrin is the sweetest character. Her family, her life, and her journey are just so lovely, albeit emotional. I loved following them as time passed and watching Merrin change and grow as a person. The Kellow's experiences were so relatable. So many of us have lived through similar things that they are so easy to bond with.

As usual, Amanda Prowse sets the scene perfectly. I feel like I've been to Port Charles in Cornwall too. I really want to move there now!

Another absolute winner from one of my favourite go-to authors!

Amanda’s books are always ones that get you thinking about relationships and the emotions that they evoke. The setting and sense of a community was created well in my mind by the description and the characters were varied and likeable.
Merrin is part of a close-knit and well-regarded family in the Cornish fishing village of Port Charles. When she suffers a difficult life lesson, she runs away from those that she loves. Rebuilding an independent and detached life Merrin tries to numb herself to the feelings that the past whips up and throws herself into her work. She begins a relationship with Miguel who wants to give her the world and appears to be willing to wait until she recognises the same feelings of love.
When faces from the past reappear and tragedy strikes the family, Merrin is forced to finally face the past and decide where her future lies. She discovers that love takes many forms and just what a complex emotion it is.
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself feeling frustrated with Merrin at times and wanted to tell her to stop wallowing in self-pity. The revelations that came out about the sleepy Port Charles and its residents created an understanding of the actions that were caused by love.
I would love to see a sequel to this book. The ending was most certainly left open for one.
Many thanks to Amanda Prowse and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Young and desperately in love, Merrin had the whole world ahead of her. But just as her new life was about to start, the ground beneath her feet was cruelly swept away. Devastated by the humiliation, she ran far away from the beloved fishing village she had always called home.
It hasn’t been easy, but six years later Merrin has forged a new life for herself far from the sea, burying the impulsive girl she once was. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to return to the village she swore she’d never set foot in again.
Reluctantly back in the arms of her community, Merrin begins to realize what she’s been missing out on all these years. As she begins to remember the person she used to be, she is forced to make choices about her future, and to question the past.
This was an emotional read but be patient because it is a slow burn read.

Amanda Prowse is such a brilliant storyteller. She develops relatable characters in gloriously described settings. I loved this book from start to finish.

This book took me to the dreamy Cornwall. I am biased by two things in books Amanda Prowse and Cornwall. This book hit the bullseye. Loved Merrin, her love journey, personal growth, emotional personality and courage to make decisions for herself.
The story flows around the main character Merrin. The characterisation is strong and evolving.

Qotd: What would you do for love?

I’ve read several books by this author and have really loved them all. This one was no exception. It was an absolute pleasure from start to finish, I loved the character and the journey Merrin went on, just gorgeous.
Would highly recommend.

Amanda Prowse has such a gift. Her books are emotional journeys that will bring joy and heartwrenching sadness. Merrin’s story will pull you in an hold onto you as you experience pain and embarrassment. The characters are well developed and you are flooded with a variety of emotions as you turn the pages as fast as you can. Merrin’s growth and personal development are encouraging to see. Amanda Prowse does women’s fiction at its finest. I am never disappointed once I’ve read the last word, dried the last tear, and closed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Merrin believes she has the perfect life - she is engaged to the love of her life, living in the county she adores and has a wonderful close family and best friend. Then, on her wedding day, her dreams crash and Merrin moves away from those she loves and the life she knows.

Firstly, I usually love an Amanda Prowse novel, but this didn’t resonate as deeply as others. The main reason is Merrin. As the main character, I found her inability to move on with her life to be annoying. When she finally realised that the world did not revolve around her and she stopped being so selfish, she became a more likeable character.

I loved that this book was based in Cornwall and enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of such a glorious county.

Ruby (Merrin’s sister) and Bella (Merrin’s best friend) were the best characters in the book and I would have liked them to have played a bigger part.

It’s an okay novel, if you enjoy an easy read novel, it’s worth a go, but Prowse has better novels out there.

This is another beautifully written novel by Amanda Prowse. I am a huge fan of her books and this one did not disappoint. Very well written and a lovely feel good storyline of love, loss and family.

Definitely recommended and deserves the 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley.

I love Amanda's books and this one doesn't disappoint.Set in a beautiful location you can picture it in your head.The storyline was very believable and a nice read on my holidays.

This is an unforgettable, unputdownable read! It’s one that will instantly pull you in, wrap you up and not let you go until the last page has been reached. Prowse has a beautiful writing style and chisels her characters with flaws and captivating qualities.
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Merrin is a wonderful character and I instantly felt a connection with her. I felt her pain of being left at the alter, I felt her humiliation like it was my own. I felt her need to find herself and her happiness. I love having that deep connection with characters.
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The plot line for 𝑻𝒐 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 is penned beautifully. It’s life like, page turning and worthy of rereading! I love the messages of finding ones true self, of the meaning of loving and being loved. It’s definitely a 4 star read and worthy of recommendations!

I have heard only amazing things when it comes to this author, so I was very excited when I got this eARC.

Without spoiling the book, you will follow the story of Merrin who lives in a small fishing village. Her family is very well known in this town, and when a humiliating event occurs, Merrin leaves the village to avoid being haunted by this conundrum. Being away from her family strikes Merrin incredibly hard, and the overall themes of love, falling in-love, dealing with the heartbreak when that love is taken away and rebuilding yourself again after that was so relatable and heartwarming.
When tragedy strikes and she has to go home, and face her fears, it screamed bravery. I absolutely loved Merrin as a character.

I loved how she found the courage and strength to move on.
Beautiful, moving and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book.

Great new novel from the fantastic author Amanda prowse, I loved every minute of this as I always do her books.

Another fantastic read by Amanda Prowse. She has a knack for a great story. The description she uses help you really relate to the characters. Would definitely recommend

This story was very well written and so descriptive that I could picture the scenery and the setting entirely. That being said, it just is not my type of book. I loved the twist at the end, though!

Merrin is left at the alter in a small village and leaves to build an entire new life. She was humiliated and heart broken. 6 years later death brings her back and she remembers why she loved this coastal town. She's reverting into who she used to be but can she stay and weather the looks and gossip. A nice story that is slightly predictable. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.