1.5 stars

1.5 stars.

I was interested in reading this book. The cover and synopsis drew me in, but unfortunately, I found it difficult to connect to the story. The style of writing wasn't quite right for me.

I felt it should have been made clear, trigger warnings before reading it, and dealt with many sensitive issues that were triggering.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. This was an incredibly well written and deeply moving novel. Carter sensitively explored themes such as grief, PTSD, and life in and after the military with realistic, likeable characters who I felt deep compassion for. I absolutely rooted for Sarah and Carl.

I went out of my comfort zone when choosing this book (I normally enjoy WW1 and WW2 fiction but thought I'd try a more recent war fiction title) and boy am I glad I did.

What a fantastic book which kept the reader guessing right until the end as to who the 6th Poppy would be for. It had me on the edge of seat when life got a bit much for Carl but I was rewarded with a happy ending! Living in Yorkshire I particularly enjoyed his time at home and out on the Moors with the dogs as could picture myself there.

My only negative is that it would have been good to have learnt more about life in Camp Bastion and the patrols and work carried out by the Army.

I will certainly look for more titles by this author and would highly recommend this book to other. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and of course Lisa Carter for writing such a good book and allowing me to read an Arc copy.

Beautiful love story! I couldn’t get Carl or Sarah out of my head after I finished! Very beautiful love story. 5:5