Saturday, 21 July 2018

Blog Tour Review: A Year of Finding Happiness by Lisa Hobman


A Year of Finding Happiness by Lisa Hobman
Published: 1st July 2018
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 382
Available on Kindle
Rating: 5/5

Blurb
Unlike lightening, it seems heartbreak can strike twice...the only cure is the healing power of time, and someone else who understand exactly what you're going through. A Year of Finding Happiness is a heart-warming romance, perfect to curl up with.

Poignant, heart-warming and gorgeously romantic, this is a love-story with pure, unadulterated happiness at its heart. A Year of Finding Happiness shows you that the little things in life can make you smile, even when you think you might never laugh again…

Happiness doesn’t factor on the deliciously rugged but utterly heartbroken Greg’s radar much these days. Only his beloved Labrador Angus seems to understand his search for a way to make sense of tragedy, until he meets new neighbour Mallory Westerman…

Instantly they know that the other understands how they feel, and over time, as romance blossoms, they dare to wonder if they might, one day, be truly happy again…

There are two sides to every story, and A Year of Finding Happiness is Greg's journey back from the darkest depths to happiness...

A Year of Finding Happiness was previously published as Bridge of Hope.

Review

A Year of Finding Happiness is the first novel I’ve read by Lisa Hobman and I loved it. This book is written from the point of view of Greg who’s still grieving for his love Mairi who died five months ago attempting to climb the mountain K2. He’s a lost soul without her, barley existing except to care for his faithful Labrador Angus. Until one day he meets his new neighbour Mallory Westerman and something is sparked inside him which he hasn’t felt for a long time. Mallory’s suffering from her own heartbreak but slowly her and Greg form a friendship and help each other through the dark days until Greg once again begins to feel happiness.
Initially I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book as for the first couple of chapters I found Greg a difficult character to connect with, maybe because I read so few books from a male perspective. But please bear with it if you feel the same this is a wonderful story once you’ve read a couple of chapters and Greg is a lovable character underneath all the gruffness and self-pity he starts out with.  Actually towards the end I was probably a little bit in love with him myself as he remined me of my husband, a complete softy once you crack the  gruffness of the exterior shell.
Greg’s journey to happiness was a joy to read about as it had many ups and downs and wasn’t just meet the new girl and happy ever after. His relationship with Mallory is a roller coaster of emotions as they both deal with their previous heartbreak. This is a book which did have me in tears at times but also had my laughing at the way Greg’s tried his best with Mallory but it didn’t always go to plan. One of my favourite parts was when Greg plans Mallory’s surprise birthday, that showed what a lovely caring man he was.
Both Greg and Mallory come across as very stubborn and reluctant to let go of their past relationships, but with their easy flowing banter, shared love of music and passionate arguments its obvious that these two are meant to be together.
This is a wonderful novel which examines the grieving process and moving on with your life. It’s a novel about letting go of the past and finding happiness in the present and the future but most of all its about showing that love really does conquer all, whether you want it too or not.  I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys romances which real feeling and emotion behind them, it’s a wonderful read not to be missed.
After reading A Year of Finding Happiness I’m desperate to go back and read A Seaside Escape by Lisa Hobman which gives Mallory’s insight into events which I know I will enjoy. I’m also looking forward to what this author comes up with next as she has a real talent for creating a meaningful story with well-rounded and deep characters.
Thank you so much to Aria for sending me a copy to review via Netgalley and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour.
About the Author

Lisa’s debut novel was shortlisted in the 2014 RNA. Her stories centre around believable, yet down to earth characters and the places in Scotland she has visited and fallen in love with. She is a happily married mum of one with two energetic dogs.

Follow Lisa

Twitter: @LisaHobmanAuth
Facebook: @LisaJHobmanAuthor

Buy now links:
Google play: http://bit.ly/2yblfJy

Follow Aria

Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction

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