6th February 2020 | Hardback £12.99 | Paperback £8.99 | Ebook | Audio
SYNOPSIS:
Prickly. Stubborn. Terribly lonely. But everyone deserves a second chance…
Missy Carmichael’s life has become small. Grieving for a family she has lost or lost touch with, she’s haunted by the echoes of her footsteps in her empty home; the sound of the radio in the dark; the tick-tick-tick of the watching clock.
Spiky and defensive, Missy knows that her loneliness is all her own fault. She deserves no more than this; not after what she’s done. But a chance encounter in the park with two very different women opens the door to something different.
A new life beckons for Missy, if only she can be brave enough to grasp the opportunity. But seventy-nine is too late for a second chance. Isn’t it?
Gemma's Thoughts:
This book 😍 you just cannot help but fall in love with Missy. When we first meet her she is a bit grumpy and standoffish but who can blame her? Missy is lonely, her son and grandson live in Australia visiting only at Christmas and her daughter, although not as far away in miles, have never had a strong relationship. Missy's fate changes one day when she takes a walk to the local park and spots a little boy who is the same age as her grandson. Observing them read a sign she gets caught up, along with other park goers, in the action of watching the transferring of fish from one lake to another. Suddenly Missy faints and finds herself laying on the floor being watched over by a lady and her two dogs. The lady, called Sylvie chats away freely to Missy and introduces her to some regular park users. Over the course of a few weeks Missy has befriended Sylvie, Angela and her little boy Otis and they become just the company she has been craving. As more doors of opportunity are opened up to Missy she finds herself doing things that she never has had the courage to do before.
What I particular love about this book is the dual timeline where we see a younger Missy and discover more about her dreams, love and family relationships. Having always put her husband Leo and her family first we suddenly see a Missy that can take risks and open her heart to let others in. Her story is heartwarming and endearing. I adored the characters in the story and how their acts of kindness and caring personalities saved an old lady from being lonely. If you love character driven novels then this is a must read. I laughed, I cried and I cried some more as I sat up until the early hours of the morning pouring over Missy's story. Morrey takes you on a journey of discovery with her fictional character Missy and leaves you feeling emotionally connected to life. I definitely found myself reflecting on my own life, reminding myself that it is okay to take chances in life, to always have hope, to be kind to yourself and to others. What a powerful message to be reminded of.
Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours and Harper Collins for inviting me to join the blog tour. A real gem of a book and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Maria's Thoughts:
Missy is nearing 80 and alone. She has children she rarely sees for one reason or another and rattles around in her large house. She is lonely.
Beth Morrey’s account of Missy is heartrending. I thought that Missy was ready to end her days quietly and sadly but Morrey had other ideas. This beautiful book takes you through Missy’s adventures. Making acquaintances who become firm friends, finding her love rekindled – even if it is for a dog and along the way we find out about her past, her secrets and her regrets.
An excellent read which warms your heart and makes you realise that so many elderly people are in the same position. If only they all had Missy’s outcome.
AUTHOR:
Beth Morrey is currently the Creative Director at RDF Television where she has been involved in numerous productions – she helped create The Secret Life of Four Year Olds series on Channel 4 and devised 100 Year Old Drivers for ITV.
She was shortlisted for the Grazia-Orange First Chapter competition back in 2011, had her work published in the Cambridge and Oxford May Anthologies, and was Vice-President of the Cambridge Footlights. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and dog.