First Love. First Loss. Last chance?

2005 was the most traumatic year of Emma Barron’s life. It was the year her mother died and the year she met Guy Duval. Eight years on, she’s an English teacher with a doting boyfriend and a young son. Life’s been hard but now it’s comfortable. She’s settled and content…so why would she risk it all for another chance with the man that broke her heart?

Guy’s an international renowned footballer newly signed to a top UK team. But behind the confident facade is a man determined to drown the horrors from his childhood with fame, success and money.

Unable to confide in her best friend, Ally, Emma tries to hold her life together as her heart is pulled apart. Did she turn her back on love too soon?

Neither of them know what really happened on 5 September 2005 and as events are slowly revealed can anyone cope with the truth?

First of all I would like to say congratulations and happy release day to Mandy Baggot. Do You Remember? is the latest release for Mandy (available from today) and I have to give it my full endorsement. I started reading yesterday and have just finished and I loved every minute of it.

It is almost like two stories in one. We are going through Emma and Guy’s present situation while learning at the same time of what happened in that summer back in 2005 when the pair first fell in love.

We all have things that have happened in the past that we wonder, what if? What if we had gone down a different route, would our lives have turned out better or worse or maybe we would have ended up in the same place just with a bit of a detour. I am a firm believer in ‘Everything happens for a reason’. I believe that when life throws its shit at us we either put our chins and and say screw you and keep going or we can lie down and wallow in self pity. Only one of these things is going to get you anywhere! Chin up.

Mandy displays this brilliantly in Do You Remember? Life hasn’t been plain sailing for either Emma or Guy. Both have had more than their fair share to handle. When Emma met guy she was grieving and struggling to cope after her mother dying and Guy had a very troubled home life. What started as a summer romance quickly escalated and the pair fell madly in love, making plans for the future. In one split second it all fell apart.

8 years later and Guy has made his name in the Football world and Emma is teaching her beloved English. A chance meeting throws the pair together and old feelings and animosities are brought to the surface.

A lot happened that summer in France with the pair but a lot happened for each the individuals that the other had no clue about so when they are asking Do You Remember? I am asking how do you remember something you never knew in the first place, and when you do know will you be able to forgive?

This was my second book from Mandy Baggot and I am delighted to say it is far from my last. You know me, I love to discover an author with a back catalogue to dive in to. Extrememly well written and very detailed. I loved how she was so knowledgeable about football and even tweeted her the same. Turns out we both support the same football club, Tottenham Hotspur. I knew I liked her ;D

Do You Remember? is not just a fluffy romance novel but a compelling tale. Dealing with a lot of emotional and deep issues and giving them their due sensitivity Mandy did an excellent job of delving into her characters innermost secrets and how they have been affecting them in the years since happening. It is a must read for all those that love a well written story!