Because You Loved Me written by Beth Moran was a bit confusing to me. I truly wanted to love this book because I read a Christmas book by this author last year and enjoyed it, but I feel like i'm an outlier for this one. I've seen so many great reviews for this book, but I just couldn't get into the story. The first half was a bit of a sleepy douse, but the second half picked up somewhat. In my opinion, there were just too many characters to keep up with, I felt like I was losing my mind on who was who. The main characters were great, I loved them, but the multiple side characters kept confusing me. I recommend this book to anyone who loves finding yourself, coming out stronger in the end, slow burn, and finding your true family wether they are your blood family or non blood family. Don't let this review stop you from picking up this book, y'all might have better luck than I did, but this is just how I felt. The cover is so adorable, and the synopsis sounded so good, but once I picked up the book it kept putting me to sleep.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOLDWOOD BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Marion Miller is in dire need of a fresh start. Growing up in Northern Ireland, Marion's childhood wasn't easy in anyway. Marion's father passed away when she was at a young age, and her mother got lost in grief. Marion is now grown-up and her family relations are as tense as ever, Marion heads to England to find out about her father's mysterious past, and hopefully her extended family will lover her just as much as her father did. When Marion finally gets to England looking for the visitor center, she actually gets mistaken for someone else and lands herself a job at a holiday park in Sherwood Forest, which is run by Scarlett Obermann. Scarlett and her daughter, Grace run the holiday park together.

Scarlett welcomes Marion with opened arms, and a caravan to stay in while she works at holiday park. Once Scarlett learns that Marion wasn't the person who was supposed to be working there, Scarlett still welcomes Marion with opened arms. Once Marion stays for a bit and gets to know everyone, it isn't long before Marion finally understands what it means to find a home, wether it's with your blood family, or non blood family. A little while later, Marion still hasn't quite out run her past, but when Scarlett faces her own tragedy, Marion decides to step up a take care of everything the way Scarlett helped her. Marion soon realizes that you can't choose your family, but you can make your friends the family you choose.

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐

This books has got some good laugh out loud moments, (the chicken chapter made me laugh because it's my best friend in a nutshell) with some really heart breaking moments such as Marion's mothers. (that made me tear up)
Overall this was a really balanced book.

I have read and loved several of Beth's books and know I am starting an emotional journey when I start one of her books. This book was different from the others. It's hard to explain, unless you've read Beth's other books. It was still a good story, but perhaps because there was less focus on romance and more characters involved it felt less intense at times, although I did still well up at one point.
The main character Marion had been dealt some really bad cards and had a horrible childhood. I really felt for her. When Marion goes to England to try to learn more about her dad she ends up on Scarlett's campsite and Scarlett is just a wonderful character. Her campsite is full of people that have had a bad time one way or another and despite the crap she herself has been through she tries to look on the sunny side and teaches others to do the same.
I loved seeing Marion grow as a character and really blossom and at the same time also get to know all the other characters and what they were going through. Overall this was a heartwarming story with a little bit of romance added in.

Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, dual timeline, death of a parent, toxic mother, child neglect, selective mutism, attempted assault, slow burn, small town, found family, self discovery, clean romance to the max, no steamage

Marion is on a mission to find out more about her deceased father. She believes the town of Sherwood Forest might hold the answers she's looking for.

Overall, this one wasn't for me, but I did enjoy the following:
~ How Marion got herself out of a toxic situation.
~ How Scarlett was so accepting of Marion when she didn't even know her.
~ I found Valerie to be an absolute delight and I really enjoyed all the fun facts she had to offer.
~ How Marion and Grace slowly became close friends.
~ The growth of Marion was really something. She went from being timid and unsure of herself to a confident business woman.

Regarding the dual timeline ~ although it was pretty easy to figure out when we were in the past I do wish we were given a heads up before the transition.

Oh this book moved me so many times. I cried big ugly tears at one point and had to stop reading.
Initially it took me a while to get into the story, I wasn’t quite sure about Marion and where her story was going, but the more time she spent at Peace and Pigs the more she really started to blossom. Some very real and sensitive subjects are dealt with, not easy subject matter to write about but I felt they were approached very well and allowed me as a reader live in the moment and memories along with Marion. She really found her tribe with Scarlett, Grace and Valerie.

"Because You Loved Me" isn't exactly a romance novel. Yes, there is a romance plot part, but it doesn't really take hold until the last third of the book. It's more the story of a woman finding herself, making strong friendships and recognising her own strengths. It is a wonderful novel and quite challenging at times.

I liked the main character Marion, who flees to Sherwood Forest after her boyfriend proposed to her. She wants to find out what she can about her father, who died when she was a child. All she has is an envelope and lots of questions. She finds friendship, self-confidence, a job she likes, and she might even find her Happily Ever After.

When I saw another of Beth Moran books on net gallery I had to to request it ! This book was an enjoyable read which kept you guessing throughout what would eventually happen as it raised so many questions. The only reason that I didn’t rate this 5⭐️ is that I felt that there was a lot that was left unresolved, including the life she left behind in northern island, her relationship with her mum and also the holiday park.

I will admit I ended up crying in the middle of the book as it made me completely heartbroken (not going to say as it will give it away !) I instantly fell in love with scarlet and I honestly would love her as an honorary, mum in my own life’s I can’t wait to read more of Beth’s books in the future as this is the second one I have seemed to really enjoy

Because You Loved Me is a heartwarming story of discovering who you truly are.

This book just draws you in. I couldn't believe how the world around me disappeared and time ceased to exist for me while I was reading this story. Now before I get into why I love this book so much, I feel like I should say that this book flirts with that "being a romance book" line. I don't know if I would truly call it a romance. There are some romantic moments in this book, especially the ending, but overall the story reads more like a beautiful fiction novel. I only say this because I don't want you to judge it based on whether it is a good romantic story.
Because You Loved Me is a heartfelt and emotional story about love, loss, and learning to live your life the way you want to. This book is going to take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Beth knows how to tug at her reader's heartstrings and have you feeling those big emotions. I definitely found myself reaching for that tissue box a few times while reading this book. But fear not; this book isn't all doom and gloom. There are plenty of heartwarming and laugh-out-loud moments that put a smile on your face. The story follows Marion, who has travelled to Sherwood Forest to learn more about her father's mysterious past. Marion's childhood is not happy; her father passed away when she was a wee girl, and her relationship with her mother is not good. Her mother was verbally abusive to her daughter, which caused Marion to become a selective mute for most of her childhood and teenage years. Marion's journey doesn't go as expected, and before she knows it, she finds herself an employee of Peace and Pigs Holiday Park, a local campground at Sherwood Forest. I loved all the Robin Hood references! It was refreshing to have an author use a different classic tale in their book instead of using Jane Austen or Shakespeare's works.
A lot is going on in this book. The main story focuses on Marion's quest to learn more about her father's history. And we also have several side stories that unfold as the main story progresses. Let's focus on the main plot right now. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Marion's father's past. It had way more twists and turns in it than I was expecting. It was well done. As Marion tries to learn more about her father, she meets people who help her heal and grow. Marion's journey is full of lots of ups and downs, and I loved how Beth used flashbacks of Marion's life to help us get a better understanding of everything she has been through. Marion is a likable character, and her experiences were heartbreaking at times and truly wanted her to find her own voice and have her happy ever after. I should warn that some sensitive topics are addressed in this book around abuse, addiction, suicide, and assaults. All of these topics are dealt with in a very thoughtful and sensitive manner.
One of the side stories that I want to talk about is Scarlett's story. I adore this lady!! She oozes wonderful energy, and I love the little life lessons she always preaches to everyone. Scarlett owns Peace and Pigs campground and always ensures that her camp is open to those who need a safe place to stay. I love the merry band of misfits that she brought together. She is the heart of Peace and Pigs Holiday Park. But even though Scarlett always seems to approach life with a "glass half full" attitude, she has her own struggles. Her relationship with her daughter Grace is often strained, and she struggles to figure out a way to communicate with her daughter. Scarlett also receives some heartbreaking news that takes her life in a direction she wasn't expecting to go.
Now even though there weren't a lot of romantic moments in this story, there were some. Marion's love interest is Reuben, the son of the Lord of the Manor, located right beside Peace and Pigs Holiday Park. For the bulk of the book, these two are friends. They have some cute and slightly embarrassing (for Marion) moments, but Reuben is off-limits because he is in a relationship already. The chemistry is there, and it builds up as the story progresses, but it's only in the last few chapters that those romantic sparks start to go off.
Because You Loved Me is a beautiful story that will have you feeling all those wonderful big emotions.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

NetGalley provided the advanced copy, opinions are my own.

Beth Moran deftly weaves a beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking, story of love, loss, and forgiveness. The story is focused on Marion, a young woman finally allowing herself to process a childhood void of the love and kindness, a relationship that is safe but unfulfilling, and a lifetime of making herself small. The supporting cast is eclectic and dynamic and wonderfully human. Marion's eyes are opened to what could be- what should be- as she slowly recovers and rescues herself.

"Because You Love Me" is simply fantastic. It took a few beats to be fully enveloped in the book, but the story was absolutely worth the wait. It's so skillfully written- it's rare to end a book with nearly a dozen characters' stories stamped on your heart, but Beth Moran manages to accomplish that feat.

FWIW- Based on other reviews, it seems readers are expecting something lighthearted and happy. Ultimately, we get the happy, but I shed more than a few tears on my way there.

TW: child abuse, neglect, death of a parent, alcoholism, and non-graphic sexual assault.

3.5* for this book. It took me a little while to really get into the story, but once I did I couldn't put it down. There is quite a lot going on within this book, lots of ups & downs, secrets, lies, love & loss with a little humour here & there, certainly a book to test your emotions. Definitely worth reading.

Marion is in need of a fresh start. She leaves her life behind to follow what appears to be a wild goose chase (or rather chicken chase). Her search turns into a healing journey. This book will make you cry. It’s sad but uplifting. No character is all good or all bad. Everyone has flaws but everyone has goodness too. This is definitely a book worth reading. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

Love the title (same as a Celine Dion song which I love), so this book was a 'must read' for me. Well written and excellently told story.

This book felt incredibly confused. It tried to do so many things that I think ultimately when I finished, I was left feeling a bit disoriented, and not in a good way.

To start off, the book began very slowly, so slowly I nearly set it aside completely. When it began to pick up, I found myself invested, but as the plot unfolded and more and more curveballs were thrown in, I just couldn't bring myself to believe any of it. It felt less developed than other works I've read by Beth Moran, which actually makes sense considering this is her first novel republished under a different name, which I did not know until I was about 3/4 of the way through.

Still, I did finish, and I did find myself growing fond of some of the characters. Beth Moran's writing is nice and direct without being too simplistic. Overall, it wasn't something I necessarily regret reading, just not something I'd really have reached for either if I knew what it was going to be going in. I'd give it 2.5-3 stars.

I usually love Moran's books, and I enjoyed this one as well, but, in all honesty, it is not her best one. It gave me the feeling of being a bit "all over the place": a lot of characters, an incredible amount of things going on, baddies so bad that they end up being not very believable.
But I truly loved Marion's character evolution and the way she finds herself and a new non blood family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this ARC.

Going on the cover I was expecting a light hearted romance but this book is so much more. I felt like I went on an emotional rollercoaster, this book covers some deep topics including selective mutism, abuse, brain tumours, grief, forgiveness and learning to love when it’s hard. It has a fantastic cast of diverse characters and you can’t help but cheer for them and cry with them.

Favourite Quote: Life’s too short to sit on a dream.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley UK for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Because You Loved Me tells the story of a young woman’s journey to find her true self, and to be happy with who she is. Marion is looking for a fresh start when she arrives in England, after a tumultuous childhood in Ireland. She’s also trying to discover the truth about her father’s mysterious past. Along the way, she finds new friends who become her family, who help Marion by showing her to love and forgive. There are many layers to this story; layers of pain, jealousy, heart, and understanding.

Because You Loved Me by Beth Moran

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Marion Miller needs a fresh start.

Her childhood in Northern Ireland wasn’t easy, with a father who passed away when she was young and a mother who got lost in grief. Now grown-up and with family relations as tense as ever, Marion heads to England, to find out the truth about her father’s mysterious past – and hopefully an extended family who will love her as much as he did.

Scarlett Obermann runs a holiday park in Sherwood Forest with her daughter Grace, but what’s she’s best at is making people feel like they belong. With her merry band of waifs and strays, Scarlett welcomes Marion with open arms, and it isn’t long before Marion finally understands what it means to find a home.

As she tries to uncover her father’s story, Marion slowly blossoms, even daring to indulge in her crush on Reuben, the son of the Lord of the Manor, but she hasn’t quite out-run her past. And as Scarlett faces her own tragedy, it’s Marion’s turn to take care of everyone.

My Opinion

This has previously been released as Making Marion.

I have read a few books by Beth Moran now so I knew that I would enjoy this book before I started. This was more than I expected. This is a re-release of one of Beth Moran's first novel so you can see the difference in writing style but it was still al delight to read. Marion stops to ask for directions and ends up with far more.

This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster so be prepared.

Rating: 4/5

Marion leaves everything behind on a mission to find who her father was. It’s scary for her but it is something she has to do.

This book was actually the first book the author wrote. It is Marion’s story of finding who she is. The characters are wonderfully written and perfect for the story. I’ve read Beth Moran’s books before and this one was not my favorite. I enjoyed the plot and the characters but the title does not fit the book. This is a book worth reading along with Moran’s other books.

After a bit of a slow start, this was a great book. I really enjoyed the characters and how the storylines intertwined. It tackled some quite difficult topics but in a fun, enjoyable way!

A story of escaping the present to look for the past,
Leaving behind heartbreak and uncaring at last.
Searching for history of her beloved Dad
Now she's grown up and not sure she's so bad.

A story that's told by Marion Miller throughout
But both from her past and now sharing what her life's about.
It seems so fitting for Marion to be
In Sherwood Forest to discover what she can see!

What a delightful community at the holiday park
With welcoming friendships and many a lark.
Learning to fit in and to let others in, too,
Whilst searching to discover more about her Dad she'll do.

There are so many lovely characters in this book,
I highly recommend you give it more than a look.
Marion's childhood was awful, so very sad,
You keep on hoping now there'll be nothing bad!

I really enjoyed escaping into this read,
It is so emotive, just what I need.
There's life, laughter, heartbreak and romance
As Marion opens her heart to give love a chance.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.