After 50 years together Stan still adores his wife… so why is he dating again?
Bonnie and Stan are soulmates. They met during the Swinging Sixties, to the soundtrack of The Beatles and the Merseybeat scene. Now they’ve grown up and grown old together, had children and grandchildren. They are finally building their dream home, when disaster strikes.
Stan is running out of time, and can’t bear the thought of leaving Bonnie alone. Alongside his teenage granddaughter Greya, he forms a plan to find Bonnie a new love of her life. And she must never find out…
Bonnie and Stan by Anna Stuart Review
A Compelling Contemporary Read with Plenty of Tear-Jerking Moments
There is nothing I love more than a truly romantic read, especially when I usually read so many thrillers. I was so very looking forward to reading Anna Stuart’s first contemporary novel. Anna is no debut novelist, she has written and published a series of successful historical novels under the name of Joanna Courtney, but this is her first foray into writing contemporary romance, and I for one, can’t wait to see more.
Bonnie and Stan is a beautifully written novel about a true love that has already spanned the course of 50 years. Stan finally on the verge of retirement and, despite being in their 70’s, his ambitious and intelligent architect wife Bonnie is at last breaking ground on their dream home. Something they have planned their entire lives. What they didn’t plan on, is Stan getting sick.
Stan is being realistic about his prospects and putting plans into place for when he is no longer around, but Bonnie is determined that they will fight and win. As we walk through their lives with them, we are taken back in time to the 60’s when they first met. We watch as a young and naive Bonnie navigates a new world, set against the backdrop of fabulous music when The Beatles had just found fame and the world was abuzz with possibility.
I have to admit that I found it a little slow, to begin with. The emotion was right there from the very first page and I fell in love with Stan, but the pace is a little slower than most. Gentle really, a comforting book rather than a fast-paced action. Despite the story being centred around losing a loved one, it never felt morose or depressing. In fact, at many points, I was left with a feeling of joy and hope.
Stans dedication to his family and his determination to find a new love for his wife (with the help of his grandaughter) really touched the sentimental soul in me. The characters are so well drawn. It is a slower paced but that certainly did not impact on my love for the characters.
Bonnie and Stan is one of those books that you will make you quickly wipe a solitary tear from your cheek as you pretend to have a little grit in your eyes. It’s not a full-on snot fest, instead, it is a pleasurable read with raw emotions reminding you of just how precious life and love can be.
If you are looking for a gentle and steady read that will now and again sweep you off your feet with beautiful emotion and raw love, this is most certainly the book for you.
Many thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers and Trapeze for inviting us on this blog tour.
Published by: Trapeze
ISBN: 978-140917-763-0
