It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of the latest book from Beth Moran, Always On My Mind: published by Boldwood Books on 28th March, it’s now available as an e-book (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance e-copy (provided via netgalley).
Beth really has become a particular personal favourite of mine – I first discovered her lovely books with Take a Chance on Me (you’ll find my review here), then loved We Belong Together (review here). My favourite of hers (so far!) followed, Just The Way You Are, so wonderfully life-affirming and beautifully written (you’ll find my review of that one here). And there can’t be many romance (and Christmas) lovers who haven’t read the wonderful Let It Snow (you’ll find my review here). Her last book, Because You Loved Me, was a re-release of Making Marion, the first book she had published (review here) – but this one’s brand new, and one I was particularly looking forward to…
Sometimes when you can’t see the way forwards, the best thing to do is to look back…
When Jessie left home at eighteen, she swore she’d never go back. But when life takes a turn for the complicated, she’s forced to move in with her twin, Isaac, and his two best friends. To her dismay, one of these is Elliot, the boy Jessie once loved, until his life was changed forever by a terrible accident that Jessie still blames herself for.
Cohabiting with three alarmingly unhouse-trained males was not in Jessie’s life plan so when Isaac, Elliot and Arthur offer her a generous rent discount if she’ll help them with their ‘Boys to Men Project’, designed to end years of disastrous dating, she reluctantly accepts the challenge.
As Jessie embraces the comfort of being home, revelling in her new job at her parents’ day centre full of people determined to grow old disgracefully, she realises her housemates aren’t the only ones needing to make some changes. And maybe, if she can finally forgive herself for Elliot’s accident, she can start to look forward to a future, with or without him by her side.
Elliot remembers little about the freak accident that caused him so many ongoing problems with his memory and confidence – but Jessie has struggled with guilt about her part in it ever since, while mourning the loss of their very special secret relationship. Ten years later, Jessie – on the verge of homelessness, the man she hoped to marry having gone on a trip to find himself, and having run out of options – returns to her childhood village, moving into her twin brother Isaac’s spare room. There’s a job on offer too – working for her parents as activities co-ordinator at their day centre for the elderly, perhaps also helping out Isaac with the weddings he organises there at the weekends. But she didn’t know that he shared the house with two friends – funeral director (and oh-so-socially awkward!) Arthur, and Elliot.
While life at home is initially awkward – although Elliot’s support dog Penny is particularly welcoming, and Elliot himself unfailingly warm and friendly – her work at The Barn is an absolute joy. The friends who spend their days there have become known as The Outlaws – they might be getting on in life, but they’re hellbent on living life to the full and enjoying every moment of it. Keeping things under some kind of control becomes a constant challenge, as they all thrive on behaving badly – and it’s all very funny and non-stop entertainment, but with a few very poignant moments along the way.
At home, in return for a reduction on her rent, Jessie agrees to be the men’s life coach – the Boys to Men project – getting them to move on from their distinctly teenage-style obsessions, to help Isaac and Arthur win the hearts of the women they love, and cheering from the sidelines (that doesn’t last long – she soon becomes his assistant) as Elliot takes over as coach of the under-nines football team. And all the while, Jessie is on her own journey – building confidence in her own abilities, discovering what makes her happy, and reaching the point where she can make decisions about her own future.
This book was just glorious – the most wonderful humour, all perfectly judged, but quite a few other moments that really moved me to tears. The characters are quite wonderful – and perhaps none more so than the totally lovely Elliot, facing real challenges as a result of his brain damage, unable to function without post-it prompts around the house, finding it difficult in noisy settings, struggling to control his temper, fierce in providing opportunities for others (I’m no football fan, but some of those scenarios were just fantastic), and the most caring and gentle man.
The whole story is filled with warmth and love and hope, the difficult issues are so sensitively handled, there’s a lovely focus on family and friendship, the romance gets everything absolutely right, and the author’s writing has never been better – and I have to say that I adored every single moment. Without question, one of my books of the year – and I recommend it really highly.
About the author
Beth Moran is the bestselling author of romantic novels including Christmas Every Day and Just The Way You Are. She regularly features on BBC Radio Nottingham and is a trustee of the national women’s network Free Range Chicks. She lives on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest.
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To date, of Bet’s books, I have only read “We Belong Together,” which I really loved. I shall def. read this x
And when you do, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it every bit as much as I did! xx
Gorgeous review of a wonderful book x
But you’d set the bar particularly high with your lovely review yesterday! This book was just wonderful… xx