To Have And To Hold By Helen Chandler

[amazon_link id=”1444786776″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’To Have And To Hold’ is the latest book by Helen Chandler.

From the outside, Ella has the happy marriage, the cute kids and the comfortable home – inside, she craves something more. But giving in to temptation will stir up a whole heap of trouble . . .Imogen’s relationship with Pete was once fun and carefree but since they’ve become parents, everything is different. Then an accident provides the catalyst for a life-changing decision. Fifteen-year-old Phoebe is miserable at home and at school. And now her dad, who was always her ally, seems completely distracted by something – or someone. Maybe it’s time Phoebe took a stand, and took control of her own life. Imogen’s relationship with Pete was once fun and carefree but since they’ve become parents, everything is different. Then an accident provides the catalyst for a life-changing decision.

This is Helen’s second book and even though I did enjoy the story, I did find myself feeling a mixture of emotions that I did not enjoy and for this, I don’t blame Helen, I found it more of a personal opinion and morals.

The story is seen through the eyes of three unhappy women who can no longer keep on with the charades of their troubled lives. Ella feels her life is far from fulfilled, a mother of two she is bored with her stale routine and feels that a new baby will rectify the problems but her husband Greg has other ideas and completely objects to the proposal. Dissatisfied and unhappy, on a night out Ella runs into Cal, her first crush from when she was teenager. Delighted to see each other, they reflect on old times when Ella used to babysit Cal’s daughter Phoebe, who is one of the three unhappy women from the story. Phoebe, maybe the apple of her fathers eye, but it’s her mother who is wrecking her life. A former model, Liz regularly belittles her overweight daughter, harsh with a sharp tongue, she bullies not only her daughter but also her husband. A miserable house where there is no love, Phoebe hates it and finds comfort in eating much to the disgust of her mother. But, finally one day, she can’t takes anymore, Phoebe decides to make a decision that will change and finally there is Imogen who is Ella’s best friend. Mother of a little girl, she finds life hard as her partner is pretty much useless and she may as well be a single parent as he doesn’t help out at all.

The story tackles so many issues, infidelity, bullying, obesity as well as the consequences of betrayal and if it is possible to move on when this is committed. Out of the three main characters, I think Phoebe has to be my favourite, quiet with a kind heart, she longs for acceptance but since she is not the perfect size 0 she is bullied from not only her peers but also her mother, who is meant to be there for her and not judge her but instead she resents her. I disliked Ella, I found her selfish in her actions, her attitude annoyed me and this was probably the reason I wholeheartedly did not enjoy the story.

Well written with a cast of interesting characters and a cleverly structured storyline, ‘To Have And To Hold’ is an enjoyable story about the temptation of seeing if the grass is indeed greener on the other side and what happens after the vows are said.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”1444786776″ target=”_blank” ]To Have and to Hold from Amazon [/amazon_link] and is available to buy from good bookshops.