Swimming To Lundy by Amanda Prowse BLOG TOUR #SwimmingToLundy @MrsAmandaProwse @RandomTTours #BookReview

A poignant and inspiring story from multi-million-copy bestselling author Amanda Prowse about how it’s never too late to follow your dreams and find your way back to happiness.

Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming―every morning, no excuses, from March till September.

Daring to take the plunge with the ‘Peacock Swimmers’, Tawrie feels alive in a way she’s never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her―perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.

But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it’s never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done…

Swimming To Lundy by Amanda Prowse was published in paperback on 6 August 2024 by Lake Union Publishing. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour. 

It is a very long time since I've read a book by Amanda Prowse, but I am just so delighted to have discovered Swimming To Lundy. It was an absolutely perfect read for me, it came at the right time, it made me smile, it broke my heart a little and it made me want to immediately book a trip to Ilfracombe! 

I love a story with a dual time line, and this author cleverly weaves her two stories together. Our main lead character is Tawrie Gunn. Tawrie has lived in the small town for her entire life, she's never really felt able to leave, despite her desire to train as a midwife. Tawrie's Dad was lost at sea twenty years ago, and she's been the rock of the family ever since. She lives with her lovely Nan (her Dad's mother), and her fragile, alcohol mother. Working at her cousin's cafe, Tawrie appears to be a joyful, happy soul, yet she's beginning to feel stuck. So, she gives herself a challenge; she will swim in the sea, every single morning from March until September. Joining octogenarian couple Maudie and Jago, she becomes a 'Peacock Swimmer', and that daily dip invigorates her. 

And then Tawrie spots a man in a pink shirt, and something changes inside her. Never having felt like this before, she and Ed gradually get to know each other. Maybe, at long last, Tawrie's life is about to change. 

Throughout the novel, the reader is taken back to 2002, where we hear from Harriet Stratton; a mother of two young children who is facing up to the fact that her husband has been unfaithful. Harriet is devastated, and angry and feels embarrassed and let down. Uprooting the family to Ilfracombe felt like the right thing to do, but it's clear that Harriet's wounds are far too deep. 

Quite often, in a dual timeline novel, I prefer one over the other, but in Swimming To Lundy, I loved both stories so much. As each part ended, I felt a little bereft, only to become engrossed in the next part once again. For me, this is the sign of a very good author, one who can keep her readers engaged throughout. 

At first, it is difficult to understand why we hear from Harriet as she doesn't seem to have anything at all to do with Tawrie, but gradually the two stories weave together and it is really quite magically done. 

Amanda Prowse does not shy away from some very deep, emotional issues within the story, it is certainly not all sweetness and light. She expertly explores the effects of loss, the long-term damage that grief can do and the intricacies of discovering new love, and the shattering heart break that this can also bring. 

With perfectly formed characters, this is truly a love letter to Ilfracombe, with evocative descriptions of the town and the coastline, and a wonderful sense of community spirit and support. 

I enjoyed every single page and highly recommend this one. 

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty-nine novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart-topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.

Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles; 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022. 

Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...

X @MrsAmandaProwse

www.amandaprowse.com

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