It’s an absolute delight today to be helping launch the blog tour and sharing my review of the latest book from Samantha Tonge, A Single Act of Kindness: published today (23rd April) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), as an audiobook, and in paperback. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
There’s a small number of authors whose books I add to my reading list without even looking at the blurb – and Samantha Tonge is most certainly one of them, as her writing gets better and better with every new book. Her first book with Boldwood, Under One Roof, was an absolute delight, exploring the complexities of family relationships (you can read my full review again here): Lost Luggage followed, heartwarming and life-affirming, and I really loved it (you’ll find my review here). Then there was The Memory of You, with its themes of acceptance and belonging, filled with kindness and love (and one of my 2023 Books of the Year – you’ll find my review of that one here): and then When We Were Friends followed, with such wonderful writing, complex characters who were entirely real and lived on the page, wholly unexpected twists and turns of the story, and an exceptional degree of emotional engagement (you’ll find my review here). And now – well I couldn’t wait to meet Tilda…
Meet Tilda Wright…
Tilda has done everything she can to make her life neat, protected, tidy. No longer the girl who was scared of everything, whose family pushed her away, who hit rock bottom. Now she runs her life – as she does her successful business – with the utmost organization. As long as she keeps everyone at arm’s length, she will be fine. She will be safe.
But then a chance encounter with a man who’s fallen on hard times changes everything. Milo needs a break, and self-contained Tilda surprises herself by deciding she should help him. Just for a while. A few days at the most.
Maybe all he needs is someone to organize him, to help him clean up his act? She is sure she knows how to kick-start Milo into turning his life around.
What Tilda doesn’t know is that – with this single act of kindness – it might actually be her own life that’s about to change forever…
Tilda’s routines are how she keeps her life under control – the same breakfast every day (cereal flakes with fruit, five walnut halves, a small handful of raisins and two tablespoons of probiotic yoghurt on top), the same lunch (the sandwich cut in four triangles, a sliced apple, a pack of low-fat crisps and a glass of iced water), the same seven evening meals on specified days (fish and chips on Fridays…).
While she keeps her demons at bay, she runs a really successful cleaning business: she’s even (rather aptly) called her cat Dettol, but she likes to keep him at arm’s length, and she’s not sure they really like each other. In fact, she’d really prefer to keep the whole world at arm’s length – she’s shut herself off from her family (her mother treated her atrociously, and as for her last boyfriend…), and if she doesn’t let anyone get close there’s no chance of them hurting her.
But Milo gets under her defences – a homeless rough sleeper, he helps her out when there’s a problem with her washing machine. And when he needs her help – he’s attacked on the streets, and injured – she finds herself inviting him in, feeding him (yesterday’s leftover beef stew), and allowing him to sleep on the sofa (but only after she’s moved everything valuable). He’s hurt more badly than it looked, and he ends up staying rather longer – but she can put some work his way too, and she rather enjoys his company.
And although Tilda keeps some parts of her life (like her “special project”…) secret, it turns out that they have far more in common than it first appears – they share the same demons, although they choose to manage them differently. In fact, it turns out they rather need each other – the cat approves too – until he tries to bring about some well-meant changes in her life. But, as they grow closer, Tilda becomes more willing to consider alternative options – including a possible reconciliation with her famous footballer brother, helped along by his precocious (and entirely delightful) daughter Riley. But it really was the relationship between Tilda and Milo that entirely won my heart – both of them damaged, both slowly revealing their deeply hidden secrets and finding, in each other, their own paths to healing.
This is a book that deals with some pretty heavy issues – with a few real edge-of-the-seat moments, and not for the usual reasons – but balances them with a warmth, lightness, and humour that was totally enchanting. It’s a book that made me sob at times, sometimes in frustration – but there were so many other times when I found myself laughing out loud. It’s powerful and emotional, really broke my heart before slowly putting it together again, is filled with love, and I adored every single moment – and I really don’t think the author has ever written better. Without question, this will be one of my books of the year – quite wonderful!
About the author
Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of over 15 romantic fiction titles published by HQ, and most recently Aria. Her first book for Boldwood, Under One Roof, was published in February 2022 and her move to Boldwood marks a broadening of her writing into multi-generational woman’s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family.
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What a lovely review, I love Samantha’s writing, and really look forward to this.