A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson

 

A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson

Published: 24th September 2015

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 501

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

The gift of a lifetime?

Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn't exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .

When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift - one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her - and her life starts to change.

But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?  

 

Review

Anna Browne is just an ordinary girl going out about her everyday life as a receptionist at the Daily Messenger a tabloid newspaper in London .She just hopes to blend in and have an easy life. But someone believes Anna deserves more from her life and soon beautifully wrapped parcels begin to arrive for Anna from a mystery sender. The parcels are beautiful and remind Anna of happier times from her childhood. With each new parcel Anna grows in confidence and her everyday life begins to get more exciting as Anna edges out of her comfort zone.

As Anna tries to work out who the mystery sender is she begins to come closer to two men in her life.  Straight talking next door neighbour Jonah Rawdon and flighty but handsome news reporter Ben McAra, both have feelings for Anna but does she have feelings for either? Will Anna find out who is sending the mystery gifts? Will she find out why?

A Parcel for Anna Browne is the latest enchanting tale from Miranda Dickinson, it’s a book I’ve been very much looking forward to reading as I’m a girl who loves getting parcels (even the ones I’ve paid for), so to read about someone receiving beautiful mystery gifts for no reason was very intriguing and an ideal plot for a good story.

I found the initial chapters a little slow as nothing much happens, but in these we get to know Anna and her everyday life with her friends and colleagues. Anna is essentially a “nice” girl, she doesn’t say anything bad about anyone, she avoids confrontation, she agrees with people just to keep the peace. At first I did find her a little boring as a main character but after the first parcel arrives she begins to change and gradually take steps out of her comfort zone she begins to believe she is worth more and that she matters. This slowly turned her into a stronger character, who is not afraid to stand up for herself and make herself heard, this Anna I liked very much. What made her endearing was she even when she was more confident she was still a good person who was able to forgive and see the good in people…well most people.

The thing I really enjoyed in this book were all the extra characters, each which have been given their own personality and felt very real. My personal favourites were security guard Ted and fellow receptionist Sheniece, I just loved the easy banter between them and they way they both obviously cared about Anna very much.

A Parcel for Anna Browne is a story which celebrates ordinary people and what makes them special. It is a novel full of mystery and intrigue with a sprinkle of romance and I loved the message it gives us. That each and every one of us has the choice to live our own life and be the best we can be. I think this is the perfect heart-warming, feel good read to curl up with this autumn. I’d like to thank Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the chance to review this delightful novel and I rate it 4 out 5.