Author: Patricia Scanlan
ISBN: 978-1-47111-077-1
RRP: $24.99
Patricia Scanlan is the author of many Number One bestsellers and this one is sure to join them in that list. I was not familiar with the author or her work before picking up With All My Love and I must say that I’m glad we have had this introduction.
I laughed, I smiled, I cried and I choked back the tears. I was heart broken and I was awash with the warm and fuzzies. This is a book that I wish I could have hidden away from the world with for an afternoon; with a large, hot coffee and a packet of chips. I think I would have devoured it in an afternoon if I had a distractionless one.
Much of the story is told in flash-back and memories of Valerie as we learn of the events leading up to the cataclysmic, and quite possibly catastrophic, discovery of a letter in an old photo album. I did find that the timeline of the story jumped around quite a bit so I had to really immerse myself to be sure I would know exactly where I was.
With All My Love beautifully demonstrates many of the different issues that women face in their role as mother, and the way that things have changed for women through the generations.
I really love the way that Scanlan explores the cyclical nature of history and the effect it has on her characters, and the follow on effects that carry through the generations.
The book begins with Briony and her young daughter Katie adjusting to some fabulous new lifestyle changes that have been thrust upon them due to economic uncertainty. Briony has always been a working career mum so when she is made redundant with a four year old daughter it is cause for many mixed feelings. This enforced unemployment has granted her the blessing of time with her rapidly growing daughter, a blessing that is irreplaceable and priceless – even though it means giving lots of extra analysis to every shopping choice and the placement of every purchase on the priority list.
Briony and Katie are helping Valerie, Briony’s mum, settle in to her villa in Spain when Briony comes across an old letter addressed to her. A letter that is set to change everything, but will it tear the family further asunder or begin to repair some of the cracks…
At this point Valerie loses her battle with the memories of the past and we follow most of the events that brought us to this point through those memories. The timeline shifts from the present rift between Valerie and Briony to the events that brought them to this.
Valerie’s memories transport us back to the early 1980’s in Ireland where it was a very different time, more liberated than the generations preceding Valerie’s but still a far cry from the freedoms we enjoy today. We see a young couple struggle through many of the issues faced by young people still today, but these days they don’t face the added societal pressures that were present in the early 1980’s.
If we didn’t already know a little about how things turn out, there are stages throughout the book that make you think it will all work out and everyone will get their happily ever after. The traditional happily ever after is out of reach but that isn’t to say that these strong yet vulnerable women won’t make a happily ever after all of their own.
Scanlan explores the insecurities and hidden vulnerabilities of these three women beautifully, capturing the beauty in even their brashness. I could look at each woman objectively and come to my own conclusions about their culpability.
Perspective is a beautiful gift and it is often a gift bestowed only in hindsight, as Valerie discovers rather painfully. Every action has consequences and if you don’t consider those consequences when you make your decision it could haunt you for a very long time.
There were times I could not bring myself to agree with the actions of any of the main characters but I could still empathise with them and feel where they were coming from.
Another major aspect of this book is one that my mother would absolutely love, but that isn’t for everyone. Scanlan has not really utilised traditional religion in With All My Love but she certainly addresses a more spiritual side of life. It is not something that is omnipresent throughout the entire novel because much of the story takes place in flash-backs where Valerie and Jeff were together and happily in love even if things weren’t quite perfect.
There is great emphasis placed, in relevant sections, on the fact that we aren’t alone and that those we’ve loved and lost aren’t gone from us forever. They remain around us and we will know they are there if only we pay attention to the signs. I love this way of looking at things but I know that not everyone holds the same opinion.
Immerse yourself in Rockland’s and Dublin, get to know Valerie and Tessa as you follow their trail of heartache and spite all the while cheering them on to what you can’t help but hope will be a happy ending.
I recommend you go out and get yourself a copy of With All My Love, it has so much to offer. The story is an emotional roller coaster with a little bit of intrigue and a lot of heart, it speaks to the protective nature of every mother and those of us who have lost someone close that need a quiet reminder that they are always near.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I was delighted to receive this book just in time to take away with me when I ventured off for a three day break. I thought that by the end of my stay away that I would either have the book finished or be close to it but I was very wrong. I had trouble with how much the book jumped from present day and then back in time and I found that even though I was on holiday I keep getting interuptions and I would have to go back and reread a few pages to work out exactly where i was in the story.
I found that the storyline made me feel very sad and very frustrated at times and i thought it was interesting to see karma come into play.
The book follows Valerie and her love for her daughter Briony and granddaughter Katie and opens with Briony finding a letter from her Grandmother that gives her information that she had no idea of and so starts the chain of events that rocks Briony and Valeries worlds.
I felt there was a message in the book that was saying to stop and think before you do something….How would you feel if this was done to you?? Sometimes we do things and dont stop to think until something puts us in a place where a similar things is about to occur in our lives and only then do we think of any hurt or damage that we have caused.
Although I found that I needed peace and quiet to be able to fully absorb this book, i did enjoy it and even if I struggled to fully understand exactly where some of the main characters were coming from.
Certainly worth a read if you have a quiet time available to emerse yourself.
Reading All my Love took me on a journey which I thoroughly enjoyed, getting to know the characters, their stories the good times as well as the bad. It made me really think about how well we have things now compared to previous decades.
I could relate to the characters, coming from a family that has also been known to keep secrets hidden.
There were many ups and downs and I will most likely read the book again as it is one of those novels that has so much depth that you tend to not absorb it all in the first read.
A great book, thankyou!
This was my first introduction to patricia scanlans Novel. I must say I was quite impressed and really enjoyed her style of writing.
With All My Love transported me to the lives of three women three generations apart . I was on a roller coaster ride of emotions ,discovering how complicated the lives of women can be. We as women play an important part in this life and alot goes through behind the scenes of a womens life that cant be seen without a magnifying glass.
Scanlan took us on a fair few flashbacks of valeries life , I found that I needed to read the book continiuosly without interruption to fully comprehend the story between the flashbacks , however Ijust could not put the book down as Scanlan kept her readers guessing till the end , the mystery kept the story interesting.
I love how she had a lovely array of characters potrayed in the story,the proud tessa wasthe strongest character in the book in my opinion.
I quite enjoyed the love relationship between valerie and jeff and admire the simplicity of their love story , and often it made me think that how complicated realtionships can get in this era.
I quite enjoy reading this book and look forward topicking up more of Patricia scanlan’s novels . Thank you beauty and lace for giving me the opportunity and introduce me to a great author.
I honestly have to go against the rest and say I didn’t enjoy reading this. Which is probably why it has taken me so long to do this review. I didn’t enjoy the style of writing, it seemed to drag on and on. I just wanted to finish it. Whilst I can say this is true, I can also acknowledge that some of the characters had elements which I could see many readers relating to, particularily mothers/older readers.
LOVE this book. I actually could not put it down.
I did guess that there was an engagement ring in Jeff’s bag that his mother found but did not want to tell Valerie. A good feel good book and a good reminder that our actions would impact future generations.
I do agree with Sandra above that the writer did drag it on a little. But I guess that would be to do with her style of writing and story telling of what is essentially a “short” story.
Still enjoyed this read very much. Thanks again!
This novel is an interesting story of interwoven relationships of women of many generations. The characters are interesting, but I struggle with novels that are meant to portray women as strong but instead enforce the stereotype that women are highly irrational. I usually love stories about relaionships and I don’t need the drive of an active plot, but this novel is too cliche for me and too ‘girly’ in a way that I, as a real live, rational woman cannot relate to.
To be honest, when I began reading this book I thought it was going to be overly descriptive with far to many big words to concentrate on. That was the first impression I got, but as we delved into the story or Valerie’s past with Jeff it settled and I was drawn into their world, picturing their homes, their lives and their stories. I felt drawn to the characters. I really wanted Valerie to tell Tessa where to go and to mind her own business (which for the time it was set, was not going to happen lol).
Sometimes it was not an easy read – I felt a bit lost. But if I listened to the accents and felt their emotions, I could really immerse myself and I honestly ended up enjoying this book and will be sure to read it again.
For some to read it may be a bit much – sometimes we need to escape into a good book and the author can easily take us there, sometimes we have to pull ourselves into the story and help the author out. Probably not the book for easy escapism, although once involved, like I said I did enjoy it.
Wow such a heart felt book. Amazing as to what lengths some characters go to. I found my self reflecting on situations and now wished I had the strength to speak up a bit more on certain issues too. Very close to home. A great read.
I found this an absolutely fantastic novel and I really struggled to put it down. I found it very interesting and I cant say there was any ‘boring bits’! I will definitely be recommending it to others 🙂
Thanks Beauty and Lace for letting my read this wonderful book, With All My Love. It started out being Briony’s story but quickly turned back a decade or so to her mother’s story of teenage growing up and trying to break free from a hard father and a mother that didn’t or couldn’t stand up for herself or her child. The story progressed and held my interest with the in-laws and the kindness of the father-in-law and the stance the mother-in-law took until it is finally revealed, well you have to read the book for the hook.
Thoroughly enjoyed and would love to review another.