Five Steps to Happy

This was a hard book to read in places, but the story of a young woman's struggle to get her life back after a life changing accident was compelling. Thoroughly enjoyed, thank you.

Having worked in prosthetics, I was really keen to read this novel about Heidi who has an accident and loses her leg. I expected some ‘theatrical license’ but there was none to be found! Instead an honest and insightful story into the journey which Heidi and her family have to go through after their lives were turned upside down. It definitely made me think about some things I had never considered. I really enjoyed this book, both laughing and crying at times. Definitely recommended.

"As I lifted the sheets, a strangled gasp escaped my throat. I wanted to scream, but I didn't have the energy. I threw the covers back down again. If I didn't look, maybe it wouldn't be real. It couldn't be real. Shock consumed me. I was going to be sick. Because where my right leg should have been, the blue blanket lay completely flat."

Heidi is a truly phenomenal character and her strength of mind following the freak accident that leads to her becoming an amputee at only 32 years of age is inspiring. Her sheer determination to overcome each new challenge that she is faced with makes this a really empowering story and one which I have found myself thinking back to regularly since reading the last page.

From the first chapter this book grabbed my attention and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen to Heidi after her fall. Seeing her friendships develop with Maud, her elderly companion whilst in rehabilitation and with Maud’s grandson Jack was so beautiful. There were so many moments when I laughed and also those when I felt really emotional imagining myself in Heidi’s position.

I really loved the end of Part 1 where Heidi came up with a list, her ‘Five Steps to Happy’ and then being with her on her journey to achieving these in Part 2 and 3. I found myself reflecting on the London scenes in particular at just how many small things I take for granted, being able bodied. It’s surprising just how much of a challenge they can pose to someone trying to navigate the world like Heidi.

For me, Heidi’s story has a powerful message of independence and the importance of following your dreams; anything is possible when you believe you can achieve it. The final chapter is uplifting, inspirational and really made me smile. Although this book is fictional, it is based upon the author Ella Dove’s own personal experiences and this true to life element really shone through. I think Ella and Heidi are both remarkable women and I hope you will enjoy this story just as much as I have.

This was honestly such a beautiful, uplifting read. Five Steps to Happy follows 32-year-old struggling actress Heidi, who has an unfortunate life-changing accident. Waking up in the hospital as an amputee, Heidi's only company is Maud - the elderly lady in the bed next to her. Of course, Maud has an attractive grandson called Jack, who befriends Heidi and tries to remind her that although it may not be the life she imagined, it can still be a good one. I laughed, I cried and felt incredibly uplifted. This is definitely one of my favourite books I've read in a while.

A stunning debut novel. Heidi has gone out for a run and seen Alexander a friend. She has just plucked up the courage to ask him out and she falls. As she tries to get up she realises something is very wrong with her leg. Alexander calls the ambulance and then disappears. when she wakes up in hospital she gets rather a shock. What transpires is a life changing event, that sees her change her outlook on life and not take things for granted as most of us do until something changes. The support of friends and family cannot be underestimated but underneath it all there is only one person who can make the difference and that is the person herself as Heidi soon realises. When life deals you lemons… make lemonade. An inspirational read of true grit and determination. Of finding happiness in things you never would have thought before hand and that small goals really do help you taking that first step forward. Of friendships you would never have made and relationships you thought were strong. Of our own determination in life and positive mental attitude. I have my own 5** award for those special reads,(about 10% of 200+ books per year). The ones that have that certain extra something. This one deserves it in spades A beautiful moving story that I will remember for a very long time. A brave, wonderful, uplifting read. One life- live it!
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This is a sad but inspirational story. Heidi is truly amazing. She had the strength to get back up again and change her life. Her strength and outlook on life makes this a compelling read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is one crazy and truly inspirational story that makes you step back and realise that nothing in your life can be taken for granted because it only takes a fraction of a second to change everything. This story is based on events that the author went through herself. It is an emotional journey of endurance, determination, adjustments and letting go of the past to take another road in life. A very different road, one with a lot of hills on it!
When Heidi missed her footing while checking out a fellow jogger, it resulted in the blood supply being cut off to her lower leg. When she woke in hospital, her leg had been amputated. This is Heidi's journey to reclaim her life. Not the life she had before but a new one. Everything had changed that day.
What an incredible journey this is as she is taken under the wings of the highly skilled dedicated nurses, doctors and specialised teams that will work with her at different stages of her recovery. How friends react and how she feels around them. But a lot of the story is also about the people on the same journey as her.
So many people, all different ages with different reasons they have lost a limb. Some through accidents, some through illness but all having to learn how to be independent again. There are some crazy characters with a lot of humour about them.
The story centres around five steps for Heidi. A bit like a bucket list, but one to improve her self confidence and life, not a wish list to do before she dies. What are the things we take for granted become her goals to overcome, with the help of someone special.
The effect on people around her is part of her story too as the changes in her life impact everyone, especially her family. A very honest and intense story from a determined woman that won't stay down and be counted out. A real winner in life. Truly amazing!
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have honestly reviewed.

Five Steps to Happy is one of those WOW books; it's a story that is so full of hope, encouragement and warmth that it leaves your whole body, heart and soul fuelled with emotion.

This is a story for anyone who's life has changed irrevocably whether through illness or circumstance. When our lives change a course we had never envisaged there are a whole host of emotions that run through our minds.

Ella Dove, the author, has written a story that will keep you transfixed. She has pooled all her own thoughts and feelings and drawn strength from her own experience and written from the heart. There's a rawness that you can feel with the depth of emotion that the author has drawn out of her characters.

Five Steps to Happy is Heidi's story; following a traumatic accident that was to change her life decisively Heidi's life was to become a battle she had never in her wildest dreams envisaged. Her dreams were put on hold for an undetermined time and she saw life in a different perspective.

When Heidi's life changed she made friends with people that wouldn't normally cross her path as the life she has been thrown has no barriers of age, sex or race. With her journey of recovery a new comradeship is born and you can't help but champion all of these warriors. I adored the new friendships Heidi made especially the one with Maud, they complemented each other perfectly and a bond that was so beautiful was made.

Five Steps to Happy is a story about loss and grief, it's a story of fight and encouragement, it's a story of hope and inspiration but ultimately it's a story of love; a love of your family, a love of new friends and new opportunities but most of all a story of a love of who you are. Five Steps to Happy will be a book you will devour and cherish and re-read. It's a perfect book for gifting for sharing and for loving.

Ella Dove has written a fantastic debut novel and I have high hopes of a glittering literary career ahead of her. I wish her all the best in all her endeavours.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley and Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to read this delightful story in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this a lovely 5/5 stars or 10/10. It's not that often that I give this score to the books that I read, but I felt it was justified in this instance.

A freak accident one day sees the life of Heidi, being torn apart as the changes to her life are life changing. At 32 Heidi feels that she is too young to be an amputee, her life hasn't even begun really. Her room companion while in hospital is an elderly lady called Maud. Maud has a different take on life and is at the other end of the age spectrum, having lived her life. However, Maud is determined not to let things beat her and in Maud, Heidi has the perfect room mate that will spur her on to face up to all that life has in store for her.

When Heidi meets Maud's grandson the attractive, but slightly stand offish Jack, while visiting his Grandma. It's not long before Jack begins to put a slightly different spin on things and he makes her wake up to the fact that while her life isn't over, she's just got to learn to live it differently. With Jack at her side, can Heidi take the steps that she needs to take, to make the changes to her old life and begin to live a new life?

I enjoyed this well written, feel good romantic read. Based on the true story of the Author, she will have drawn on some of the trials and tribulations that she has had to overcome in her life. Who among us could deal with such a life changing situation? It's not easy at all and I can speak from some experience when I say this, whilst I might not have gone through what Heidi did, I had a really bad foot and leg for several months and found that I was only able to mobilise in my home using a zimmer frame, I was weeks before I could weight bear on the foot and leg that had been the problem. I can only imagine the problems that beset someone who finds themselves in this position for whatever reason.

Some times books have a tendency to get under your skin in a good way and in my opinion this was definitely one of those books. Grab a copy when it's published on 11th July and see why it got under my skin.

This is a lovely story told by someone who must have gone through similar changes to her life. Heidi has an accident, just a silly small accident but the results are catastrophic.
The man who calls for an ambulance leaves Heidi after he has done so and this is the one thing from the accident that sticks in her mind. What is wrong with her that someone would leave her in that state?
Recovering from losing her leg in a hospital room shared with an elderly lady, Maud, Heidi finds it hard to come to terms with what her life will be like from now on.
Enter Maud's grandson Jack who brings some fun into Heidi's life. As we go through her recovery we find out that such life changing events don't only impload on the person experiencing them but also on close family and friends. Heidi is about to find out that she is not the only one who is suffering.
This is a lovely story and it definitely opened my eyes as to how amputees see the world and how hard it is for them to negotiate it.
We need to be more aware of people around us when rushing for buses or trains, when we bump into people and don't wait to see if they're okay, when we run up escalators instead of standing still. Not everyone we meet will be able bodied and it's not always visible.
A delightful story with a lovely ending.

This review will be on my blog on publication date.
www.bookswithwineandchocolate.blogspot.co.uk