The Things We Do for Love

by Alice Peterson

Love may hurt, but not loving hurts even more . . .

January Wild loves her daughter, her dog Spud and her childhood home by the sea.

Single parenting is tough, but January has no regrets. She has a job she loves, a happy home, and the support of her beloved grandfather. The arrival of a new boss, however, threatens to shake up January's safe world.

Ward Metcalfe loves great sales results and a well-run office.

Everyone at her office Ward is a soulless, corporate slave driver. Even Spud, the company mascot, dislikes him.

A secret stands between them.

Yet over time January realises first impressions aren't always right. Slowly she unravels more and more about her new boss, things she couldn't possibly have imagined, nor expected...

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2015

About the author

At the age of eighteen Alice had been awarded a tennis scholarship to America when she experienced pain in her right hand. It was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and she hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since, a sadness that shall always be with her. The theme of disability features in her fiction, but there is nothing gloomy about Alice or her work. Rather this gives her fiction the added dimension of true poignancy.

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely story from this well known author Alice Peterson.
This author has a great talent in taking a person with situations that could be anyone with hardships or illnesses and weave them into a fabulous relatable story that readers with grip on to.

Just as I did.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

It makes me feel so good when I read a book that I enjoy so much that I can't put it down . For me personally I think that this is Alice Peterson's best novel so far. The story will take readers through many different emotions. I was upset for January having little girl,Isla with Cerebral Palsy. Isla stays with her dad every other weekends. With January being a single parent will she find love again? Now Isla it at school January has bills to pay and decided to back to work. Everything was going well for January in her new job until her boss leaves. A new boss takes over the property firm, he made me angry the way he spoke to his staff, he is a slave-driver with an unfriendly bossy manner. Over time January finds out more about her new boss.I recommend Putting The Things We Do for Love by Alice Peterson on your Christmas List.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...

Alice Peterson truly is a talented author who approaches each and every subject she writes about with the up-most respect, care, tenderness, and knowledge. Each book that I have previously devoured by Peterson has opened my eyes to aspects of the world that I perhaps hadn't given much thought to beforehand. One Step Closer to You and By My Side are the last two novels that I've read by Peterson and both were absolutely beautiful in how they were written, nurtured and told. The author has a wonderfully inspiring voice and style that are unique only to her, both of which I could read again and again and again. Peterson has a knack for reeling her readers in, myself most definitely included, and when I saw the announcement of The Things We Do For Love, I just knew that I had to read it as soon as I possibly could. The fact that I've only read two books by Peterson, yet admire the author as much as I do, pretty much speaks for itself. If I'm going to be completely honest, even if I'd just read one of the two books, Peterson would have won me over. She is now an author whose each book I will anticipate because she delivers each and every time, and creates the most exceptionally moving stories I ever did read.

In Peterson's latest novel, The Things We Do For Love, we're introduced to January Wild, a woman who has not had the most easiest of life-roads to traverse. After the death of her parents in a tragic car accident when she was just one and her brother Lucas was four, both went to live with their grandparents who then nurtured and cared for their grandchildren. It became obvious early-on that January had seen a ton of upheaval in her earlier years of life gaining my love immediately. Alice unravels January's story so neatly I became involved in it instantly. The author took me back to the past, where we meet a younger January, and we're invited to see how her life progressed from the moment she met her ex Dan and became pregnant. January's past was so concrete and believable, I couldn't fathom how real she seemed to me. As always, Peterson creates complex characters who have been through so much it's impossible not to admire them. Real life takes centre stage in Peterson's novels and that is very much evident in her latest when January is told that her daughter Isla has cerebral palsy. As a single mother, Peterson emphasised the struggles which January had to overcome, but at the same time, the sheer love that January had for Isla, and the strength to continue fighting for the best possible life that she could provide. The emotional depth of January's story moved me tears at regular moments within the novel, and I wanted nothing but the best for both January and her daughter Isla. Peterson's characters never fail to find a place close to my heart and the characters within The Things We Do For Love were no exception. Despite the fact that January's life had been nowhere near perfect, she's a hard worker, determined and strong, and a woman whom I'm sure we would all aspire to have the strength and determination of.

Throughout the progression The Things We Do For Love, Peterson fluidly switched from the present to the past, allowing the reader an insight into January and her brother's upbringing. It was so interesting to see how the two of them interacted and found their own different experiences in the move to live with their grandparents. I really do adore reading about siblings and family life, and January and Lucas's was no different. There was a clear contrast between the two of them, Lucas being the older and more understanding of the two of them in the circumstances that the two found themselves in. I absolutely adored their grandparents and truly felt for each member of the family as they became accustomed to their new situation.

As I mentioned earlier in my review, Peterson chooses subjects for her novels which I'm sure authors could find difficult to write about if it weren't for thorough research and gaining of knowledge in those areas. This, as always, was not an issue for Peterson. She writes with such care and respect for the subjects she chooses, and that was very much in place when she wrote about January's daughter Isla. My heart ached for mother and daughter, and brought me ever closer to the fact that these two were truly one half of each other. The love and bond between the two of them, as well as the surrounding characters in the novel, moved me completely. Peterson has such a striking ability when it comes to the intricacies of love and relationships, and she made the most of this ability in The Things We Do For Love. There were many moments of swimming vision and a racing heart which I've found to be common when reading Peterson's novels and it's an experience that I now couple with this author's books.

The journey which January and Isla tread upon in this novel broke my heart into pieces and then put it back together again. With the help of their ever-loving family and Ward Metcalfe, who January finds an unsuspecting friend and confidant in, The Things We Do For Love was just as moving, tender and beautiful as I had expected it to be. I try so hard not to have expectations of authors these days, but with Alice Peterson constantly delivering, it's almost impossible not to have them. I really cannot recommend this book enough, but I would definitely recommend that you have some tissues handy for when you come to read it.

Becca's Books is awarding The Things We Do For Love by Alice Peterson with FIVE GORGEOUS CUPCAKES! It was everything that I had hoped for and more, with that perfect dose of Peterson's style that I've quickly become so very fond of. A beautifully moving tale of a mother and daughter's love, and overcoming the past to make your future just as beautiful as it deserves to be.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, when picking Alice Peterson's book, that I am for few hours of utter reading joy. I think nobody can write better about love and feelings as Alice does. Her books always make me laugh and in the next moment cry, but there couldn't be more uplifting book as the one written by Alice. Her characters always fight with ghosts from their past, they have health problems and yet they feel so incredibly down - to - earth, and her stories are so true to life. And her newest release, "The Things We Do for Love", has all of this, and much, much more.

The blurb emphasises that the relationship between January and her boss Ward is going to be a priority in this novel, yet after reading the book I can state that it was secondary to the story. Yes, it was important, but the most part of the book is devoted to the story of January and her daughter Isla. Nevertheless, I truly loved how effortlessly and gently Alice weaved in the subplot of Ward, and the tempo it developed - it was truly just right, nothing happened too abrupt there, nothing was too obvious.

Usually when a story switches between past and present, it can be sometimes confusing. Especially when, as in "The Things We Do for Love", it gets us back to the different previous times in our characters' lives, and then switches the narration to the present. Nevertheless, Ms Peterson has probably added some kind of magic to her writing, as I not, for a single second, felt confused. I didn't have a problem to change the times, and I didn't have a problem to keep on track.

There is a small and exquisite group of characters in the book, and, as usually in Alice's books, she also didn't forget to add a lovely canine character, a jack russel terries, Spud. January is a woman who has experienced a lot in her life - she has lost her parents as a baby, and then her grandparents took care of her and her older brother Lucas. Lucas couldn't forget the whole drama and trauma, and we quickly learn that even as a successful adult he has still bearing a lot of grudges against his whole family, even though they did what they could to let him have the normal life. There were moments that I was truly shocked with Lucas and the way he treated his family, because I really didn't see any fault in the way they brought him up, but of course children's or teenagers' minds work a little different and he probably needed more time to process his past.
But January, for me, she was a woman that we should really admire. Life was really not easy for her, mostly putting skids under her from a very early age, and yet she stroke me as a strong, never giving up woman. Oh yes, she had her flaws, and she had worse moments, but altogether I truly liked her and admired her optimistic spirit. She learnt how to cope with being a single mum, and moreover, mum of a child with handicap, because, as usually in Alice's books, she doesn't spare the characters and this time it is the little Isla that suffers from celebral palsy. And again, the descriptions of Isla's conditions are very detailed, so those who are not familiar with this kind of disease quickly learn what it's about, but they are not too detailed or too raw, dry and theoretical for us to tell it's too medical. So yes, January's life was not all glamorous or exciting, as she was also working in an estate agents' office, but she was coping, and it was the most important thing, and among all the things that fell on her shoulders, she has not lost herself.

The aspect romance in this book is really brilliantly conducted. Firstly, there is Ward himself, married and always grumpy, but we, together with January, can feel that there is something more to this man, that he's hiding his softer version somewhere deep inside. Secondly, it was absolutely not too far - fetched, too obvious, it was not the kind girl - meets - boy - they - fell - in - love - immediately romance, no. There were a lot of problems and obstacles, and actually the falling in love process itself was incredibly gently written and it was in fact not so easy to spot. And also, there were more and more problems and we really can't be sure how this sub - plot is going to end, if there is going to be a happy end, if January and Ward are looking for new love at all?

This story is also a wonderful picture of family relationships and its dynamics, and Alice again writes how it really is, without any unnecessary dramas or twists. Families have problems, different sorts of problems, and she's not afraid of writing about them and making the characters' lives more complicated and not the easiest ones, and letting them to find their way to happiness, but only after making this way a little curvy.

What I so adore in Alice's writing is that she's telling the stories of her characters in such a normal, down - to - earth way, without adding any unnecessary dramas and complicating the plot. Her writing is also always full of respect to her characters, it's elegant, very gentle and it evokes all kind of emotions, so be prepared that you're going to laugh, and in the next second to be hit by such a touching scene that you're going to cry, gasp, shake your head and then smile again. The strength of the book lies also in the fact that it is so realistic, that I could easily imagine it taking place in real life.

There is only one word that occurs to my mind when you think about this book: beautiful. It's beautiful in an impressive way, and Alice Peterson has managed to write again a lovely, impossible to put down page - turner, a book full of characters that I was rooting for and kept my fingers crossed for them, with a story that felt so realistic. A story about love in literal meaning, about determination and about being open to everything that life is offering us. It is really incredible how much important issues, such as CP, bullying, grief or single parenthood Alice has hidden between the pages. She has did it again, gave us a fantastic read full of the most beautiful emotions, but also a modern story that many of us can relate to. I really can't wait so that the book hits the shelves and you can read it for yourself and become convinced how fantastic read it is - you are for a real treat with "The Things We Do for Love".

A short note to the publisher: the review copies for us, bloggers, were printed in - what I personally think, and I know not only I - a very small font. Please, take account our poor eyes next time, and I only hope that the finished copies are easier to read :)

Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always really enjoy Alice Peterson books and this one was no exception. She draws such wonderful characters and touches subjects sensitively. She always carries out extensive research which shows. She has a wonderful writing style.
January looks after her young daughter, who has cerebal palsy, on her own. She grew up with loving grandparents. The book switches easily from the past to the present. January lost her own parents when she was a baby.
There is also a wonderful dog character in the book- which I’ve come to expect to see in one of Alice’s books! I love canine characters in books.
A lovely account of family relationships full of love and romance which draws you in and makes you relax into the armchair with a lovely cuppa and the knowledge that you are reading a wonderful story.

With many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this beautiful book.

[Book-shelf Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of January who has had one relationship where she was literally left holding the baby. It seems that Jan's life is set on the hard path with loosing her parents at a very young age and a brother who seems closed off. Add into the mix a new boss who is harsh and demanding and a young girl who has CP.
Alice writes from the heart about things most of us know nothing, she touches on subjects that affect peoples lives daily and for always. Cerebral Palsy is something i have been very ignorant about and since reading this book am a little bit wiser. Alice brings home the realities of life and entwines them in a story that is not only heartfelt and entertaining, but also one which literally takes you to another world.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm knew to reading an Alice Peterson novel but I've seen good things about her down my Twitter newsfeed and on other blogs that I follow, so when I saw I had the opportunity to grab a copy of The Things We Do For Love I took that chance.

The cover, firstly, is summery and fresh and when you start reading about the Beach House it makes perfect sense.
Secondly, the synopsis had me intrigued... "A secret stands between them" it said and being the nosey mare I am I just had to read on...

The book starts with a prologue introducing us to January, the main female character and her quest to find somewhere suitable for her and her unborn baby to live and U.S. Getting to know her instant dislike for estate agents!
We then jump to 2011, eight years later and January is off for a job interview. We a also introduced here to her daughter, Isla, who in herself is a massive character in the story.
The next few chapters jumps us back and forth to times over the last eight years as we get to understand January and Isla's story...
Without giving too much away, January is a single mum as Dan did a runner when she announce she was pregnant, over the first two years of Isla's life, Jan notices something different about her. After a battle with doctors and specialists, they finally get a diagnosis. Jan feels that a life changing operation for Isla is the only way for them to move forward and she relies heavily on the support of her grandparents whom brought her and her brother Lucas up after their parents tragically died.
Lucas is very shut off from his family and when Dan suddenly appears back in January's life she wonders if she really got over her feelings for him.

Fast forward, and January successfully gets her job and the book progresses in the present day. When her boss retires in comes Ward and there is an instant attraction between them but she can sense that he is holding something back and try as she might he won't budge on giving the details.

Eventually they talks it out and Ward confesses his marriage is over and the reason why, again I'll be vague as not to give it away. When January's remaining grandparent passes away he is a pillar of strength to her when her and Lucas fall out, her emotions running high and him keeping his heart under lock and key.

At the end of book there is a really humbling outcome involving January and Ward, Dan and Lucas when they attend presentation at Isla's school... I may have had a watery eye by this point!

The Things We Do For Love is a well written story with great details on places and locations, not to mention subjects including bullying and divorce.
Love and loss play a huge part in more ways than one but overall I found this a really enjoyable read and I shall certainly be looking out for more of Alice's work in the future

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

January raises her daughter Isla on her own. It isn't always easy to be a single parent with a daughter who isn't healthy, but January can manage. She loves her daughter very much and having Isla is the best thing that ever happened to her. January works for an estate agent. Her boss is a kind older man who's also a really good friend. Only it's time for him to leave the firm to retire. Ward, his replacement, is a challenge. He isn't as easy to deal with and there's tension between them. He isn't an open person. Will January be able to keep her finally nice and safe life or will there be too many changes all at once?

Alice Peterson is an emphatic author. She knows how to write about feelings in detail and her descriptions are always spot-on. Because of that I always feel involved when I'm reading her books. January and Isla are very close and I loved reading about both mother and daughter. They have a great outlook on life and even though a lot has happened to them they're still cheerful and open people. I liked that very much.

The Things We Do for Love is a beautiful story about love in plenty of different classifications and aspects. It's heartwarming to read about January and the people she cares about. I love how Alice Peterson writes romantic stories that have a lot of depth. There are so many layers in her book when it comes to relationships, history and feelings. The reader will read about every key moment in January's past and present and therefore gets the chance to know her through and through. That's what I liked most about this book, being able to come so close to the main character. The Things We Do for Love is a unique love story, it's special in countless ways.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did enjoy reading this and so glad I finally got to it, it's one that has always been on my radar. The 3 star rating is mostly to do with the fact that I wanted more romance from it, I thought it was pretty light on the romance and more a slice of life kind of book. Loved the characters, and the setting when it was at the cottage by the sea, beautiful story!

[Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/10...

One thing I love about Alice Peterson's books is that she always manages to create such unique and powerful stories that they stay with me for a long time afterwards and The Things We Do for Love is no different in this aspect. It made me laugh, it made my cry but, above all, it filled my heart with joy and hope. January Wild is one of those people who might seem quite ordinary at first sight but that when you start getting to know them, they blow you away with their strength, enthusiasm for living, and especially their love.

Thanks to flashbacks to the past, we discover January's past. Bit by bit, Alice tells us short chapters of January's past: her childhood, her upbringing by her grandparents after her parents deaths, her relationship with her brother, her pregnancy and more recently her struggles with single parenting her daughter, especially when she discovers that not everything is going as it should. With every new bit of information I discovered about January, I was more and more at awe with her. And soon I got why Alice chose this title for this story, love can really move mountains, especially the one from a parent to their child, or even a grandparent.

But despite all her baggage, January is finally where she wants to be: a job she enjoys, friendly colleagues, a nice house, a happy daughter... until her beloved boss retires and Ward Metcalfe enters her life. Their relationship doesn't get off to a good start but soon he becomes quite a big part of January's life, something she is not comfortable about. As January, I really was in two minds with Ward. He really seemed like quite a bad guy... but not all first impressions are true. One thing for sure I really enjoyed getting to know this mysterious man and even if he drove me crazy more than once, I ended up quite liking him.

But the star of the story was definitely January's daughter, Isla. Her story was one of those that need to be heard. I always feel like Alice Peterson opens my eyes on topics I don't have much knowledge and with Isla's story I learned so much. Alice handles the topic with care and tenderness, it make you care for her characters as if they were part of your own life. Something very few author accomplish.

The Things We Do for Love is an uplifting story, full of love that you cannot miss. Really worth reading, I can only praise it. If you already are an Alice Peterson's fan, you know you are in for a treat and if you haven't read anything by her yet, people you are missing out on great things.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.

Note: This ARC was provided by Quercus Books in exchange for an honest review.

January was such an inspiring female lead character, someone who was not at all perfect but tried to be the best possible woman, mother, granddaughter, sister, and friend she could be. Her wants and needs were simple enough but even those can become complicated when certain circumstances come into play. Yes, she makes mistakes, but she learns from them and she knows when to admit she's at fault. There's no need for her to pretend to be stronger than she is and she's able to lean on others without much hesitation. Her love for her family was touching, but it was her relationship with her grandparents that was most endearing, and when time caught up with one of them, I couldn't help but shed quite a few tears.

While I enjoyed January and Ward's love story, the book was really more of January's continuing life journey. She's had to fight and work for certain things in her life but she's also been blessed to have other things come easily to her--the love and support of her grandparents, the unwavering friendship of her best friend, the offer to work in Sherwoods. She rarely takes anything for granted and she knows when to fight for something and when to step back. This is, by no means, a quick read, but I got through almost four hundred pages on my e-reader in one sitting and time simply flew by. That's what happens when you're wrapped up in a book as good as Alice Peterson's The Things We Do for Love. It receives five-plus stars. ♥

[Ann Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little treasure! It's very emotional, funny and sad. I wasn't sure at first, when the timeline kept jumping around, but soon realised that the preceding chapter always explained where we were going. Once I got into it, I zoomed through it in a day!

January is a lovely woman, contradictory, funny and scared. Losing her parents at a very young age has affected both her and her brother Lucas. Their ability to trust has been severely handicapped, particularly with Lucas. Jan is more accepting of people although Dan really hurt her.

Isla is a lovely little girl and very down to earth, as most children are. I wasn't too sure about award, but as he mellowed, so did I. The gradual building of his relationship with Jan was extremely well written.

The few paragraphs had me laughing and crying at the same time. And the last two lines are magic! (No peeking!)n
And it might even change your opinions of estate agents!

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it made me smile, got me fully involved with the characters - and twice it made me cry! I have read some great books this year, but this is definitely my favourite.

January, daughter Isla and dog Spud make for great central characters. New boss Ward looks set to cause trouble - but we soon suspect there is more to him than meets the eye - and we are right. Great supporting cast from January's grandparents, brother and friends.

Loved the interaction of past and present as the way of telling the story.

I do think brother Lucas might need his own novel though! (Any excuse for a sequel).

[June Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story but came to an abrupt end! Was not keen on the writing style of going back in time then to present day!

[Bronte Tattersall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the first Alice Peterson book I've read, and it definitely won't be the last.

I have previously read 'One Step Closer to You' and I fell in love with the story and characters. So much so, that I ended up buying this novel on Amazon and it didn't disappoint.

January Wild hasn't had an easy life. She lost both her parents at such a young age, so she and her older brother Lucas were raised by their grandparents. In her twenties, she fell in love and got pregnant, only to be dumped by her boyfriend upon hearing the news and later discovers her daughter has Cerebral Palsy.

Years later, January now has a good life, with a good job as an estate agent and her now eleven-year-old daughter Isla about to start secondary school...at least until her new boss, Ward Metcalfe arrives, bringing tension to the once lively place. But January soon learns not to judge by first impressions...

I loved January as a character. She was brave, selfless and never let the tragedies that happened to her get her down. She was so relatable as a character and as a person that she had me rooting for her at the beginning. Isla was also a great character, bringing a bit of personality to the story.

I wasn't keen on the supporting cast to be honest. Ward never grew on me, I hated Dan in the flashbacks and found him boring in the present times and the rest of the cast was pretty forgettable. The only male character I liked was January's grandfather Timothy. He was so likeable and caring, after going through his own tragedy.

The person I liked the least was Lucas. I get it; he's grieving because he lost his parents at a young age, but he just came across as selfish and cold. I was so angry at how ungrateful he was to his grandparents after all they had done for him, giving up their own lives so he and January could have a roof over their heads. I wanted to shake him and tell the ungrateful bastard he should be more respectful after all they had done for him. I just didn't like him, at all. ):(

Aside from that, I loved this novel. Would strongly recommend. :)

[Clare Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has been on my shelf for sometime, I am so pleased this one spoke to me. It is the kind of book I immediately dived in from page 1 and you certainly didn’t want to put it down, so true from the blurb cover that love hurts but not loving can be even more traumatic and when you have certain behaviours it becomes a habit more than anything.

I immediately had a liking to January and brother, her parents died in an accident when she was very young and it fell upon her grandparents to bring them both up. It reminded me of my grandmother/ nan who did the same thing as my mother was pretty self contained and I was heartbroken when she passed in my late teens. I could draw so many similarities and the whole book is like a big welcoming hug.

January has an unplanned pregnancy and unfortunately the child has health issues, but she would not change her for the world and is a truly delightful little girl. January also needs to find a job and starts working for an estate agent as a personal assistant and really gets to grips with the work the interview is a nightmare but the older gentleman doing this has a real connection with January and she ends up pouring her heart out. As you can imagine she gets the job and later on when he retires a new younger person takes over and unbeknown there is a promise that he will look after January in the work sense, this is really where the story starts and is quite funny at times, I absolutely loved her colleagues great place to work, there is also the dynamic difficult relationship she has with her brother, great friends, grandparents and life in general. I think I may re read as in the rush to turn pages, sometimes it’s nice to resavour your favourite parts.

[Novelle Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars
I did enjoy this book and read it very quickly but to me the story had holes in it and areas which could have been developed more. January Wild is a single parent who has had it tough, she lost her parents as a child and got bought up by her grandparents. To her life is settled but when she gets a new boss things get shaken up. I did enjoy the way the book goes between the past and present but not too quickly. It is fundamentally a love story at the heart of it. To me the book could have gone into more detail about her parents and her brothers character could have been been gone into in more depth. I did love some of the quotes about strength which is in essence the best part of the book. It has also made me want to treasure my children more.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a couple of Alice Peterson books and I enjoy her writing.
Admittedly, this wasn't my favourite of her's but it certainly earned all three of the stars I have given it. In 'The Things We Do For Love', We meet single mum January (Yes.. For some reason, that is her name) and daughter Isla. Isla was born with Cerebral Palsy - not overly relevant to the story but an emotional touch. This is essentially a book based on January's journey through motherhood and the loneliness she experiences and eventually overcomes. Very sweet, very hopeful and a nice little read.

[Anna Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this a 5 because it was ok, and an easy read. I get annoyed that at least 3 books I have read lately like this one the parents were killed in a car crash. Can they not come up with any other scenario. I thought the woman's name January was a really unusual name, I have never heard it used before. The one aspect of the book I really liked was about her little girl's disability, and other people's perceptions, and sometimes downright ignorance and cruelty to said little girl.

[Khangelani Chili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any author who makes my heart sing with emotion is worth 5 (if not more) stars... enough said. Maybe it's because of my own life (and my own experiences with relationships), but I felt that Alice Peterson wrote from a real, genuine, and heartfelt place; it's almost as if she were writing an unselfishly healing autobiography.

[Mary Geraghty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensitive writing

I liked the characters in the book, the story flowed well. As a lover of Cornwall, I felt as if I was there! Good job also in tackling the difficult subject of bullying. Love is definitely the way forward.

[Julie Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story and last few chapters had me in tears but well worth the finish to a fabulous story of love, humour, grief and tears. Emotional but uplifting and strong story - what a page turner. Stunningly and beautifully written.

[Geraldine Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!


I recently discovered this author. I'm glad I did, as I greatly enjoy her delightful novels. Romance is not dead!

[Doris Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book but this author and I enjoyed it. Not a big fan of books that go back in time to tell the history of the characters.

[Judith Coley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid vacation read. Nice story with some interesting angles. Worthy of a spot in your beach bag.

[Kobby Gyampoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Synopsis
Imagine This: Life has given you too many blows to survive any further. First, your parents were taken away. Your grandparents did a great job raising you—then life has to take the one, most important thing closer to a mum you ever had.

A whirlwind romance ends abruptly with nothing but a pregnancy you have to face alone.
It doesn't end there. The doctors have more shocking news for you about your baby: cerebral palsy.

Frankly, if there's any reason to quit living this is it. Watching your child receive odd looks from competitive mothers, watching your child in pain during physio. But you never give up, you want to be the best mum your mother never had the opportunity to be.

With single motherhood, comes the subject of work. Working to pay the bills, working to afford the best treatment for your little girl. Years down the line you have been able to strike the perfect balance between your professional life and your familial one. Your boss is Great, gives you lots of time off. Your daughter is doing amazing, she's coping in a world of perfectly normal kids (and bullies).

But in comes a new boss. A new boss everyone doesn't take a liking to because he puts the, um, slave in the driver(?). A new boss who's moody, and heartless. Most important, a new boss with ghosts to deal with.

You have a chance of helping this new boss let go of the one thing that shattered his past (he's keeping a secret), so you can have your old boss in your new boss again. Everyone at work will be happy, and so will you.

But are you willing to? Is he willing to let you in? What if you get in too deep?


MY REVIEW.

I loved this book! So you know in my review I'd be yelling at you to go buy the hell out of it!

Great storyline. It's one of those things about Alice Peterson's novels you can't take away: the Heart. Her storylines are filled with so much heart you can't help but be engaged from start to finish. Cerebral Palsy explored in this writing gives the depth this book needs. Bullying, single motherhood, loss, painful relationships are also some of the tear-jerking worthy subjects explored in this storyline. A star!── ★

You'd adore January Wild. Funny voice. Great mother. Can't hold back the tears. Amazing worker. It's not hard not to relate to her with some of the above subjects explored in this novel. She's gone through so much, she withers from the image of the perfect lead attaining real human-ness of characters you can't help but ask the question: What To Do If I Were In Her Shoes?── ★★

Other characters are also spectacular! There's Lizzie, the humorous friend who offers lots of amazing insight into January's problems. There's also Granny, January's grandma/mother who gives our lead the support and the love she needs through the tough. January's Grandpa is also funny, and loving, and kind and would beat the life out of any man who hurts her granddaughter. There's Luke, the brother who's sort of moody recluse. Graham, the colleague at work who's always down with something. Lucy, another colleague who quite fancies the pants off the new boss while waiting for her boyfriend of many years to propose. Trust, lots of amazing characters I cannot mention for the length of this review. A star!── ★★★★

Humour is another one of those things you would love in this title. I am not sure I said this last year about Peterson's previous novel, but there's this quality her writing has—no suspense, no gripping-ness, it's all just relaxed and calms the reader as they take in the problematic life of her leads. Goes to show, you do not need suspense to keep the reader embroiled. Sometimes the ability of the novel to be satisfyingly moving can just do the trick. A star.── ★★★★★

I recommend this book to anyone who wants something touching to read this fall. Anyone dealing with a child of rare disability or not should go get this. All mothers (and not mothers yet) out there should go get this title. If you are in the mood for some good romance this title is for you too.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: this was such a lovely story and everything you would expect from an Alice Peterson novel. The reader is thrown right into the action with January and the novel continues to tell her past tell, how she came to be who she is today and her current situation. There are all sorts of twists for our lovely heroine, life definitely doesn't run smoothly for her but at the same time, you wish that things did. There were some points where the novel had jumped to the past and it to me a while to catch up with where we were and what the situation was, this is not a novel for switching off with,but I feel that because I concentrated that little bit more, I got more out of the novel.

I really liked January as a character. She is a strong lead and refreshing from some heroines who don't really know what to do with themselves or fall into tears at the first sign of difficulty. I liked that she was determined to be independent. She knows that she made some bad decisions but she acknowledges them and deals with them. I also really like the fact that, despite being a single mother with a very needy child, she still wants to and does work! Ward on the other hand was not a favourite of mine. I didn't like the fact that he had a real temper on him and was fairly cagey. The temper meant that he was always apologising and having to be forgiven for things and I think I would just eventually loose patience with h in real life.

This book didn't make me cry, so if you've read Alice Peterson's other novels with a tissue in hand, don't worry you probably won't need it for this one. It was a still an intense read but nothing that had me weeping in public or anything! I read this fairly quickly and actually listened to the Audiobook performance! It was a good performance apart from the voice used for the little girl, this was just a little to infantile and made me cringe. I found myse,f trying to grab any opportunity to listen to this book though because I desperately wanted to find out what was going to happen. This was a heartwarming tale and definitely completely relevant to life as a single parent or even just a woman today.

[Kirsty & Erin Muir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to Quercus for approving me for a review copy of this beautiful book. I absolutely adored Alice’s last novel One Step Closer To You so I was excited to read this novel – even the cover is gorgeous.

The story is all about main character January Wild.

January is the narrator throughout the story and I absolutely loved her. She has an awesome strength, especially in the face of adversity and she has had more than her fair share of it over the years. Alice weaves the past and present together in this novel portraying January’s strength perfectly. I really thought this was clever because one tiny bit of January’s past unfolds a little at the time and doesn’t in the slightest show her being all “poor me”. Every time she faces a trial she picks herself up and forges ahead for the good of her family.

The story is both heart-breaking and breath taking from page to page. I cried more than once throughout the story as there was certain parts of January’s story that I could relate to personally. January’s life revolves around her daughter and caring for her. I loved January’s drive to provide for her daughter and how she continually put herself second to everyone else’s needs.

January’s relationship with Ward starts off as tenuous but swiftly changes as they recognise something in each other. Ward always felt a little out of reach or unobtainable due to his reluctance to share his own past. When he eventually does come clean it makes you see him in a whole different light.

Seeing the past woven into the story lets you truly appreciate “the things we do for love”, or things we can hope to do as January feels like someone you would want to strive to be.


Alice’s writing flows easily throughout the book and kept me hooked until the very end. I read the book over a couple of sittings and can easily see myself re-reading it again in the future. Alice completely captured my heart with this story and just like One Step Closer To You it is one of my favourite reads of the year. Amazing Alice, five beautiful stars.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and emotional novel, incredibly well written, that deals with some tough subject matter. As result of this book, I know a lot more about Cerebal Palsy than I did before, and that can only be a good thing, as its increased my understanding of this condition.

January Wild has not had an easy life, her parents died when she was one, her grandparents brought Jan and Lucas (her brother) up, and now January is a single parent to Isla. Isla is a wonderful, spirited 11 year old girl, who is the life and soul of this book. January loved her job too, until she gets a new boss and then everything changes.

Her new boss, is Ward Metcalfe and he runs an office in a different manner to the previous boss, and it takes a while for any of the employees to take to him.

In amongst the present storyline, we are often transported back to key points in Jan and Isla's past, and we learn a lot about how Jan grew up, and why Lucas isn't the warmest of big brothers. And we learn the story of Isla's early years, the reason Dan (her father) wasn't in the picture, and we learn of the immensely strong and scary decision Jan makes for Isla, to try and improve her quality of life.

I loved seeing the changing dynamic between Ward and Jan, as well as Jan's relationship with her grandparents. You could feel the love in this book.

Right from the start The Things We Do For Love will get under your skin, and make you want to continue to read on. If you have never read an Alice Peterson, then this is highly recommended as your first one. If you have read Alice Peterson before and loved her like I do, then I'd urge you to consider this book.

Thanks so much to Quercus and Netgalley for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.

[Sarah Thorogood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author and it doesn't disappoint. Alice has a way of telling unique and powerful stories that stay with you long after you have finished them. And it's not just the story, but the amount of research that goes into writing that story, the pain behind the character and the difficulties they have faced. January Wild (a fab name for a lead character!) is a single mum to Isla, who suffers with cerebral palsy. And January and her brother Lucas were brought up by their grandparents after their parents died when January was a baby. It all sounds so sad doesn't it? And in someways it is, but Alice has a knack of bringing out the best in her characters and there are laughs as well as tears in her stories. We learn about January's past through flashbacks, bringing us up to date with her story as she meets Ward. Yes, this is about January finding love, but also about what love does and how important it is and what we would do for those closest to us- the love between parent and child, grandparent and siblings. Alice writes characters with inspirational strength trough the hardest of times and that is one of the traits of her writing. I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future!