This is the first book I've ever read by Amanda Prowse and I'm now a huge fan!

The Things I Know is a story of a physically impaired woman, Thomasina, who has always been treated as if she were a freak. She has secret wishes and desires to be someone else, but never realizes she can be until Grayson Potts comes along.

Grayson and Thomasina fall in love and learn from each other that life can be so much more than what you were brought up to believe. He's the first person in Thomasina's life to stand up for her. He's the first to help her understand that she can make her dreams a reality.

This was such a sweet first-love story and I highly recommend reading it.

This review and others can be found at: Renee's Bookcase ( )

A few pages in and I thought, well, gosh, how come I haven't come across this excellent author and DS George Cross until now? I absolutely loved this.

Think TV's The Good Doctor: it's that show's main character in a police setting. An unusual, pedantic, literal, meticulous-attention-to-detail man: a man who is positioned somewhere on the spectrum. Irritating and exasperating to his colleagues, but undeniably a detective who, with dogged determination, gets results.

The plot is intriguing and a little complex. Just like DS Cross himself, who takes up the case of the death of a young recovering drug addict, whose mother disagrees with the verdict of suicide.

Twists, turns, dead ends move this along at a decent pace. And what a treat that it's set in Bristol, where I live.

Superbly written…intelligently and articulately…and I've already downloaded the two previous DS Cross novels. Cleverly, Sullivan has crafted these novels so that they can be read in any sequence. I anticipate I won't be able to get enough of DS Cross. ( )

I read The Art of Hiding by this author five years ago. When I sought out my review of it, I was reminded not only of how much I enjoyed it but also how much the story and its characters stayed with me long after reaching 'The End'. So I dived into this with great enthusiasm. And Prowse did it again. She left me with another wonderful story and characters that haven't yet vacated my head!

It's a marvellous story about two people who are very slightly disparate for different reasons, with no grand expectations about life or people—until they meet each other. It's a story about acceptance, hope and courage and I devoured every single word.

Prowse gives you a story heavy with emotion, empathy and characters you just can't help falling in love with.

This is a deliciously uplifting book that gives you hygge. ( )

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 stars!

Born a little bit different “like someone held the instructions upside down or lost a part when they opened the box”, Thomasina “Hitch” Waycott just wants to find love and be loved. Born with a cleft lip among other deformities, she learns at a very early age that words hurt. She lives on a farm/B&B with her parents and brother, who gets to experience things Hitch can only dream of. Until she meets a handsome stranger, just a little bit different.

You will fall in love with Thomasina as you see her struggle and grow. Your heart will break with her as you see kids and adults can be cruel. You will watch this caterpillar grow into a butterfly as she opens her eyes and finally sees the people around her. But, all the while, you will cheer for her to get what she wants. This book is full of wonderful characters, realistic situations, transformations all the way around. I hope this book makes you look at people who are different in a whole new light.

For me, this book is reminiscent of “Eleanor Oliphant” with its quirky characters. But this book was so much more relatable for me. Thoroughly enjoyed this read, my first by this author, and look forward to reading more of her books.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is mine alone. ( )

Thomasina "Hitch" is a very likeable character who was born some birth defects that has not allowed her to live a fulfilling life. She works on her family farm/bed and breakfast with her parents. The farm has been in the family for several generations and while she can see herself being a part of the farm forever, she also has a strong desire to leave. She dreams of touring the US and being free to live her own life. Then, one day a guest, Grayson Potts, comes to stay and her life is never the same. Does she try to live a life with Grayson, who has his own set of challenges, or does she stay on the farm? Maybe, she leaves it all and follows her brother to the US? This turned out to be a nice, heartwarming read. ( )