A Reason To Grieve by Mick Williams ★★★★☆

Published : 18th August 2016

Format : Kindle, Paperback

Genre : RomCom

Synopsis

Tom and Emma drift through life, both burdened with a heavy sense of grief. Both have suffered devastating loss and have closed themselves off to the possibility of happiness.

Then, at a funeral, their eyes meet and they feel something neither expected.

Supported by their quirky friends and a ‘right to the point’ pensioner, will they overcome their fears and find the solution to the pain within each other, or will they give up and go their separate ways?

In turns funny and sad, A Reason to Grieve is a romantic tale about two people fighting their feelings, about love and loss. And about funerals.

My Review...

Thank you so much Rachels Random Reads for this blog tour spot, and thank you Mick for this paperback copy with a lovely personal inscription.

This book grabbed me from the start. I wasn't sure what to expect as it was around funerals but I was pleasantly surprised and found the characters very easy to warm to, and i found it a very pleasant read.

You Meet Tom and Emma as they meet each other in not your average circumstances, both attending a funeral that either of them know who is even really deceased, but it is obvious there is an instant connection between them. what should start as a romantic encounter is actually quite tricky and diffulct as they both have there own personal issues to deal with that are holding them both back.

I adored Tom, he was extremely sweet and endearing, But I wasn't overly drawn with Emma, but loved her group of friends and co workers.

Toms group of friends was very funny and entertaining to read, like in most friendships, all different in many ways but that just adds to a stronger friendship.

Emma was quite frustrating but that is wholly down to her past and being betrayed so understood her reluctance.

Her father was adorable, He had also been betrayed in the past, but tries to make Emma see that life is to short to be holding out and to not take a chance on love when it presents itself, although he should take his own advice a bit more.

Finally onto my favourite character, Doris...

She is so adorable and by far the best character in the book, no one could not love Doris. I laughed and cried with her.

This is a story about heartbreak, loss, friendships and finding love in the most unexpected places.

It will make you laugh and cry.

Purchase Links..

Amazon

BookDepository

Meet the author...

Mick Williams is an English author, born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

He tinkered with short story writing all through high school, much to the dismay of his English Language teacher who stated that he had a vivid imagination, but didn’t mention whether that was a good or a bad thing!

His first attempt at a novel was a story about a fictional heavy metal band followed by a possessed groupie (which may be resurrected one day…the story, not the groupie) but family life and work prevented any serious progress.

In 2008 he met his wife Cathy and moved to Kentucky, USA. At a writing convention in Louisville (Imaginarium…it’s excellent, you should check it out) he was fortunate to meet many aspiring and published authors, who provided the inspiration to finally sit down to fulfil a life-long dream.

As a thank you to two of the authors at Imaginarium, he gave each a printed manuscript of a book called A Guy Walks Into a Bar, then went away to carry on writing. In 2016, he completed another book, a romantic comedy with a twist called A Reason To Grieve.

With no publisher, he dived into ‘the business’ and self-published it through Amazon. With help from a friendly Facebook following and lots of word of mouth, Grieve reached #6 in an Amazon chart and, with renewed confidence, he set to work to release A Guy Walks Into a Bar.

Eager to improve on Grieve, Mick asked author and publisher (and friend) Tony Acree for advice. Tony runs Hydra Publications, a popular small press from Goshen, Kentucky, and was one of the two people with a printed manuscript of the book. Tony suggested lunch (as you do in America). Mick turned up, expecting to eat a nice burger and have a productive chat, and left with a publishing contract! Many beers were consumed that night.

Two more books followed, both published through Hydra; an action/love story set in the fictional small town of Watkins Forge called Whatever It Takes, and an all out action/adventure called Exodus.

Exodus marks the first appearance of The Old Farts Club, a multi-aged group of military veterans with various ‘skills’, who are called upon to help a friend in danger. There are plans to make The Old Farts Club an ongoing series.

After almost a decade in America, Mick moved back to Staffordshire, England, with his wife and two needy cats, where he continues to write, listen to music, and enjoy his family.