Samantha Tonge

Forgive Me Not by Samantha Tonge is a 2018 Canelo publication.

Emma has returned to Foxglove Farm hoping to make amends to her family and atone for her many indiscretions. While she hopes everyone will be happy to see her and she will be accepted back into the fold like a prodigal daughter, the reception she receives is hardly welcoming.

The story flashes back to the months leading up to her decision to return home and the present day, where Emma struggles to gain her sister’s trust and show more forgiveness and take care of her mother who has Alzheimer’s. No matter how hard she tries, no matter what good she does, her sister simply can not find it in her heart to forgive Emma.

Yet, Emma is determined to forge a new life for herself, to care for mother, and do her part to help her family. However, there is a dark pall hanging over her head. A secret she hasn’t found the courage to own up to, one that is eating away at her more and more with each passing day. Will Emma find the strength to face her worst fears and do the right thing?

This novel took me by surprise. The first book I read by Samantha Tonge was a super, light-hearted romantic comedy, and her other books seem to fall into that same category for the most part.

Although the synopsis makes it clear this book has a more serious tone, that delightful cover led me to believe any uncomfortable subject matter would be handled with a light touch.

While the author does keep the atmosphere carefully balanced, she doesn’t pull punches or water anything down. As a result, I was stunned by the weight of this story. This is really an incredible story of a woman who is determined to get her life back together and hopefully make amends to those she hurt.

It is a realistic portrayal, which offers hope and redemption, but also remains pragmatic, emphasizing that recovery is an ongoing thing, that no matter what, there will be moments of weakness and denial and forgiveness can't always be an automatic assumption. Some cuts are simply too deep.

Although Emma originally set out to right the wrongs of the past, in the end her personal growth is what stands out. This is a cautionary tale, but it is also a powerful story of forgiveness, not only of others, from others, but of yourself, as well.

This is also a story of gaining independence, of standing up on one’s own two feet, facing one’s demons, and finding an inner strength you didn’t know you had. It's about growing up emotionally, accountability, and acceptance.

I must say I am deeply impressed with this novel. Samantha Tonge has proven her mettle, writing on such a deeply poignant topic and tackling big emotional issues, which up to this point has not been her usual style. If this book is any indication, Samantha is hitting her stride. She’s shown depth and range with this novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what path her career takes from here.

4 stars show less

One Summer in Rome by Samantha Tonge
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Mary Smith has never done anything adventurous! Mary Smith has never stood up for herself! Mary Smith has never allowed herself to be completely vulnerable, open, and honest in a relationship! Mary Smith is going to change all of that . . . .

Rome seems like the perfect place to turn over a new leaf, to make marked changes in her life, and to finally find happiness. One, one-way plane ticket and a bit of gumption is show more exactly what Mary Smith needs to start living the life she has always dreamed of, so when her boyfriend dumps her, and her wretched boss has finally crossed the line, Mary Smith is on her way to a brand-new life.

Rome is everything Mary hoped it would be from the ancient ruins to the bustling night life to the warm, friendly people. With a job and living space secured, Mary is ready to carve out a new, fantastic life wholly different from the one she left behind. Unfortunately, carving takes time and Mary has a lot to learn and sort out in her new world. Her Italian is only passable, her waitressing skills aren’t quite up to par, and the chef and lead waiter both thoroughly dislike her. Determined, for the first time in her life, to stand on her own two feet and stand up for herself, Mary dives right in with improving her conversational Italian, she asks questions about improving her waitressing skills, and she makes every effort to be polite and kind to the two men who dislike her most.

Only some of that effort goes her way . . .

As if happens, Mary isn’t the only one struggling. The family-owned pizzeria she works for is in the thick of a popularity contest that often determines their income for the next year. A new pizzeria has opened and is threatening their business. With nothing but good intentions, Mary sets out to help the family shake things up and get themselves right back in the running of the competition. With her newfound confidence, Mary delights in offering suggestions, baking new items for the menu, and seeing the fruits of her labor being received favorably by the family and customers alike. On the personal side, Mary finds herself dreadfully attracted to the chef who dislikes her and feeling complete compassion for the lead waiter who finds himself in a most dangerous situation. Emotionally, Mary is on something of a roller coaster ride, but it becomes a most liberating experience which allows her to reconcile with the demons of her past and move forward towards a bright future.

The Bottom Line: As promised, One Summer in Rome is a sweet read that will leave you smiling. Mary is a kind, generous soul who has had something of a difficult life. With change on her mind and courage in her heart, Mary leaves all she has ever known for the unknown. What I particularly liked about this read is the fact that Mary’s new life isn’t a given. She has struggles to deal with, obstacles to overcome, and very real emotions to manage. In many ways, stepping into her new life is the best education Mary has ever received. She learns that being vulnerable isn’t always bad, many people who seem happy on the surface have very real internal struggles of their own, and those who are angry and bitter may be trying, in their own way to reach out and ask for help. While it may seem as if there is too much happening in this read, it really comes together quite nicely and all the loose are tied up nicely in the end. What’s more, it isn’t just Mary who finds her HEA, but multiple characters! In all, this isn’t necessarily a light, easy breezy read, but it is a quick read with engaging characters and just enough drama to keep you interested. The heat level is relatively low and totally appropriate for the characters and storyline. show less

I have been meaning to read a Samantha Tonge book for a while now and what a superb book to start with. I have to say that the cover is stunning; it's very hard to tear your eyes away from it but, believe me, it's even better inside.

You would be forgiven (despite the book title) for thinking that you are about to read some lighthearted, hearts and flowers chick lit from looking at the cover of Forgive Me Not, however, that couldn't be further from the truth. Absolutely filled to the brim show more with heartrending emotion, I was surprised to find myself caring about every single character in the book and these feelings remained even after I had turned the last page. Samantha Tonge writes with such intense feelings that you can't help but become emotionally invested in the story and, with such high quality writing, I was more than happy to invest my emotions in the bank of Samantha Tonge.

Emma is our intriguing and complex main character. After leaving home under a cloud she returns to make amends, but the only welcome she receives is from the family's 3-legged dog, Dash. The reader is immediately drawn into the web of intrigue about Emma's past as you wonder what she did that was so bad that her family, friends and even the whole village don't want to know her. As the present day story plays out, the reader jumps on an emotional rollercoaster as we glimpse into Emma's past to fill in the blanks between then and now. When a family secret emerges that threatens Emma's recovery, she learns that forgiveness is a lot harder to give than she first thought, especially when you must also forgive yourself.

Forgive Me Not is a tremendously engaging, emotional and uplifting book. Emma's strength in adversity is both inspiring and heartbreaking as she carries so much weight on her shoulders and in her heart. It would be easy to turn away at the first hurdle but Emma shows great sense of character when she perseveres to show everyone that she has changed. They might not be able to forget what Emma has done but can they forgive her?

A deep and meaningful book that will definitely stay with you long after turning the final page. In fact, the final page just took the wind out of my sails and I can certainly say that I was completely blown away by Forgive Me Not.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

I adored this book because it was fun to read and at times very uplifting as you follow Jenny Masters on her journey of self-discovery. Samantha Tonge wrote one of those great books you want to read on the beach, when the sun is shining and the water is crashing nearby.

You know that woman who seems incredibly perfect, with the perfect life, perfect clothes, perfect hair, perfect family and you just want to smack her? Tonge gives you someone who gets all the perfect but is so nice that when show more her perfect becomes nothing but imperfection you actually feel pain as her world collapses rather than clapping with glee. Her characters are really put through some hell in this story but instead of just falling apart they show the positive aspects of helping each other through the tough times. Her character development will make you fall in love with her creations as their struggles and wins become yours.

Tonge managed to write the perfect summer novel but with unpredictability so you won’t just slide your way to the conclusion bored at having read a template of everything else out there. Instead you’ll wallow in the adventure and be grateful for the journey as it provides you a chance to examine what you know about yourself.

Spending so much time in their coffee shop made me wish I had something besides Starbucks in the area because it’d be nice to have a place the way Tonge describes. I highly recommend enjoying a decent cup of coffee while reading this book so you can fall into the story more. show less