Look up reviews for this title and you will find that the star ratings go from one to five; clearly, each reader will have to decide if this title is for them. As for me, I was drawn to this novel by its cover, premise and title. I conclude that it is a three star for me.

This is a story that is set in Scotland. It is about two people who have faced loss and are navigating their lives. How will things go as they get to know each other? Can there be a good relationship for them after losing someone else?

This title is told from Greg’s point of view. I think another book by this author is told from Mallory’s point of view. Readers who like this may want to look for the other title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for this title. All opinions are my own.

Completely immersive. This author has such a way with words that puts you right there in the moment with the characters. Fantastic writing style.

This book was quite different from what the cover implies. It is surprisingly gritty and dark in places. I found it hard to get into it as it is entirely written from a male point of point.

A Year of Finding Happiness is a beautiful romance, and the type of one like I have never read before! And yes I know that is a bold statement! But this book fits it like none other. To start with, this whole story is written from solely from the male point of view, now I don't mean in response to the female point of view, no I mean solely from the male perspective, and I find that completely refreshing.

So let's get to the story; Greg's life has been full of pain, from finding the women he loved and married in bed with a man that was supposed to be his friend, to losing Mari, his seconds chance of love, and someone who was a free spirit, to a climbing accident. Now Greg is holed up in his cottage in the highland hiding from life. When a young couple buys the cottage next door, it makes Greg withdraw tighter into his shell. But then tragedy strike again, but this time not to Greg, Greg breaks his crusty shell and reaches out to help, but fate is not always on Greg's side! Especially when people from the past comes back to try and destroy his happiness.

A Year of Finding Happiness is such a beautiful story, though filled with pain, it totally proves that if you look for it, you can find happiness again. The book is very well written, and honestly and at some parts it made me want to go find my own little cottage in Scotland!

I give A Year of Finding Happiness 5 Stars and recommend it as a must read.

Unfortunately I really could not get interested in this book. It was well written but the story and the characters just did not grab my attention. As it was well written I am sure that other will enjoy this book all the same.

Sadly this book just wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the way it was written. This doesn't reflect on the writer it was just a personal opinion

Greg lives in the Scottish town of Clachan with his faithful lab Angus when Mallory arrives in his life. Greg is struggling, his girlfriend was lost and presumed dead in a climbing accident, without her body ever being found he has struggled to move on but in Mallory he finds a kindred spirit as she has also suffered loss....... can they help each other move on and find happiness again?

A good story and although I found Greg a bit hard to relate to at first it was refreshing to have the story told from a male point of view

This is not a typical chick lit, despite the cover. For one, it is written from a male point of view, and two, the whole tone and feel of the book isn't as sweet as the cover would lead us to believe.

It is quite gritty and at times rather explicit, and the first thirty per cent or so deals with heartache, death, and betrayal. There is a great deal of emotion in this story and it was refreshing that it came from a man. However, I didn't gel with Greg at all, and I skipped over the quite explicit sex scenes.

That said, it is an uplifting read and the message of hope is undeniable.

I would like to mention that my views on this book are completely my own and receiving a free digital copy does not influence my thoughts. So without further ado, get ready to hear my gushing over this book!
This is the story of a man named Greg who lives in a small Scottish town known as Clachan and is trying to deal with the grief of losing his beloved girlfriend Mairi who went climbing and though her body was never found, was presumed dead about six months later. Greg is a shell of a man as he tries to just get through the days with his faithful dog Angus as his side and trying to keep busy working at a local bar or doing odd jobs. The hardest part for him is not being able to properly deal with Mairi’s death because there wasn’t a body found and he’s not sure if that pain will ever go away. Then one day a beautiful brunette walks into the bar that he’s working at, he finds himself drawn to her and proceeds to make a complete idiot of himself by talking rather gruffly to her because he’s scared of his attraction and afraid to get close to someone again. Little does he know how that beautiful woman will turn his world upside down.

Mallory came to Clachan to live with her fiance in the hopes of making a home in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. She’s rather annoyed by the not so welcome greeting she receives from Greg but doesn’t let that stop her from trying to make a go at a possible life in Scotland with her soon to be husband at her side. Unfortunately, her fiance Sam gets into an accident on a rainy evening on his way to be with her and is killed which sends all of her plans out the window. Her friends and family rally around her to try to offer support as she tries not to fall down the well of despair. She finds an unlikely friendship with the rather gruff Greg who happens to find her wandering down by the shore one night in no shoes and at the point where she’s reached the limit of what she can take.

These two lost souls are from different worlds and yet they find a kinship in their grief of losing their significant others and a connection that slowly starts to deep the more they spend time in each other’s company. Both have gone through the kind of grief that no one should have to deal with and find support among the people in the small town in Clachan.

As their friendship progresses, they try hard to find their growing attraction for each other but can’t help growing closer particularly with Greg serenading Mallory with his lyrics at a bar they work at together and their understanding of the power of grief. Just when things seem to slowly be falling into place including Greg having a chance to become famous with his life long dream of being a singer, someone from Greg’s past will show up to throw a wrench in the monkey works and could tear the fragile connection of Greg and Mallory.

It will take courage, honesty, and the power of love to determine whether these two people are able to work past obstacles or for fate to choose to keep them apart.

This was truly a wonderful book and my heart ached for the grief Greg as well as Mallory were going through. I can’t even imagine how painful it would be to lose a significant other and I just wanted to see these two finally get some happiness.

I adored Angus who is such a sweetheart and seemed happiest at his Master’s side. I wanted to reach through the words and cuddle the very sweet dog who seemed to love everyone.

I also loved the variety of songs that were mentioned in this book and several of whom I hadn’t heard before. It was wonderful to be able to listen to the songs while reading this book and to imagine I was right there to see this story unfold and root for a happy ending. Also I could almost imagine seeing the beautiful scenery and getting caught up in the beautiful country of Scotland. It’s on my bucket list of countries to hopefully see some day.

I’m so very glad that I was given a chance to read this book and now I really want to read the other book which is called A Seaside Escape that was published before this story and is Mallory’s version of the events.

I absolutely loved this being told from Greg’s POV. Lisa Hobman’s characterization was impeccable, giving her readers such a raw and honest depiction of heartbreak and being on an emotional roller coaster. Greg initially tried to keep Mallory at a distance, then became completely invested in their friendship. However, once he became aware of growing feelings that were much more than friendship, thus began his internal struggle with feeling guilty about Mairi, the woman that he loved and lost.

Despite the back and forth and ups and downs between Greg and Mallory, Hobman also slowly but surely shows Greg reclaiming his life and his zest for living and doing more with his life than he had been. I loved watching these changes and was constantly rooting for Greg to find his happily ever after!

There are definitely some heavy issues in this novel involving the death of loved ones, depression, and the battle to overcome a loss. However, the main theme of A Year of Finding Happiness is much like its title in that the author provided us with a first-hand view of someone digging out of a hole of despair in order to discover the beauty of life, and to discover that it’s o.k. to let yourself be happy again, in spite of prior tragedy and loss. This novel left me feeling happy, hopeful, and full of love!

*Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Any tale which involves an animal has a head start with me. This is a lovely book with a good storyline and good strong characters. A must for a few hours escapism.

Greg has not been lucky in love. Alice his first love broke his heart with her betrayal and deceit, and Mairi loved adventure more than him and left him too. With only, Angus his dog and an ever-present bottle of Malt Whisky he is lost in grief. After such a bleak start the reader longs for light relief and the support Greg receives from the community and his meeting with Mallory provides this. A romance set in the Scottish Highlands and Isles is a treat and gives this story a unique feel.

Mallory's story features in the first book in the series 'A Seaside Escape'. She meets Greg at a pivotal time in her life and after a shaky start values his friendship but does she want more, or is that enough? This story reads well as a standalone, but I would like to read Mallory's story too.

Told from Greg's point of view it gives a refreshing perspective to grief and falling in love from the male perspective. His character is realistic and strangely endearing. Full of guilt and raw edges Greg pushes away Mallory because he feels disloyal. Mallory's hurting too, and you wonder if these two damaged souls can find solace with the other. Greg is so sad and broken you want him to find happiness and eventually, it seems he might but then the past rears its ugly head and happiness is just an illusion it seems.

I like the way music plays an important part in this story, Greg uses it to express his feelings and as a balm to his pain, this is believable and something we all do at various times in our lives.

A story of grief, friendship, forgiveness, healing and the power of love, realistic and romantic and lovely book to read.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I was really happy when I was approved for the eARC of this title. It was not hard to get into the story at all as it’s the same story as A Seaside Escape, book 1 in the series, but from Greg’s point of view. I ADORED A Seaside Escape (aka Bridge Over the Atlantic ARC REVIEW HERE ) and, like so many other readers, was keen to hear Greg’s side of the story.

A Year of Finding Happiness did not disappoint me at all. The cover shows the beautiful Scottish landscape so crucial as a backdrop to the story and which really lures readers in. Greg and Mallory are each dealing with the aftermath of loss in their lives, Greg mourns the loss of his wife Maire and Mallory is nursing her wounds from a breakup. I am the kind of person who prefers to go through book series right from the start and thanks to Lisa J Hobman and publisher Aria, I have been able to do that for this series.

If you have not read the first book (A Seaside Escape or Bridge over the Atlantic), I strongly recommend you do to get the full backstory of the characters and setting. That said, if this were a standalone novel I don’t think it would alienate the reader thanks to its rapid pace and wonderful attention to the quality of the detail and settings in the book as well as the extemely well-fleshed out and highly realistic characters. Greg is wonderful but he can be a little grumpy and loves to swear, other than that he’s a compassionate and caring as well as fun guy and his dog is adorable. Mallory and all the characters are likeable too.

Don’t be fooled by the idyllic cover. The wonderful scenery is just a (very vivid) backdrop to what is an emotional rollercoaster of a book. There’s love, loss and the struggle to fight for what you want.

Thanks to Lisa J Hobman and Aria for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review and the opportunity to take part in the blog tour for this title. 5 stars!

The Blurb :
Happiness doesn't factor on the deliciously rugged but utterly heartbroken Greg's radar much these days. Only his beloved Labrador Angus seems to understand his search for a way to make sense of tragedy, until he meets new neighbour Mallory Westerman...
Instantly they know that the other understands how they feel, and over time, as romance blossoms, they dare to wonder if they might, one day, be truly happy again...
There are two sides to every story, and after A Seaside Escape fans in their droves clamoured for Greg's side of the story - and Lisa Hobman was only too happy to write the book they wanted!

My Thoughts :
After reading A Seaside Escape, and reading Mallory’s story, I couldnt wait to get started on Greg’s side of things.
I really love Greg and Mallory so it was refreshing to see a deeper side to Greg and that is why you just cant help but fall in love with him. We got to really feel his emotions and get inside his head from his POV.
I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing them both come to terms with grief and loss.
Once again Lisa Hobman, draws you right into the heart of the story and has our emotions everywhere. With such beautiful surroundings and vivid descriptions, I cant imagine anyone who wont fall in love with this story.
Yes we all make mistakes, but life is about learning from them. Such a refreshing story that will leave you with a tear in your eye and a smile on your face.

Uplifting, poignant and an absolute joy from start to finish, if you are looking for a book that will move, enchant and captivate you, then look no further than A Year of Finding Happiness.

Happiness is for other people – that’s what Greg has been telling himself for the last couple of years. The victim of a horrible tragedy that had changed his life forever, Greg has retreated into himself, cut himself off from everyone and everything and is perfectly content hiding behind the walls he has erected around himself and not feeling a single ounce of joy and contentment. Still grieving and still trying to make sense out of all that happened, Greg’s misery and anguish show no sign of abating or diminishing. The only thing Greg has let penetrate the barriers he had built around him is his beloved Labrador, Angus. But little does Greg realise that things are about to change – thanks to a determined and resourceful woman who is going to turn his world upside down. But is Greg ready to stop living in the past and take a step out into the light?

Mallory Westerman is immediately intrigued by her new neighbour, Greg. Mallory can sense that Greg is a deeply troubled soul still being held hostage by old ghosts and wounds that have never healed. There is an immediate connection between the two and a psychic bond that unites them. As a tentative friendship quickly gives way to something more, an attraction immediately develops between the two of them, but are they ready to take a leap into the unknown and grasp this unexpected chance of happiness with both hands? Or will they continue to let the past control their future?

Is Greg ready to be unshackled from the depths of darkness? Is Mallory the woman who will give him a key to the cage he has been trapped in? Or has Greg been through too much to ever be happy again?

Lisa Hobman is a writer of extraordinary talent and prowess. She has the wonderful knack for exploring the human heart, soul and spirit with depth, compassion and sensitivity and she writes about tragedy, despair, darkness, hopes and triumphs without affectation or sentimentality, but with great care, honesty and humanity.

A Year of Finding Happiness is a terrific novel that is poignant but uplifting, dramatic but feel-good, emotional and realistic. This outstanding tale of new beginnings, second chances and healing from the past held me spellbound from start to finish as I fell in love with Mallory and Greg and enjoyed every moment of their emotional roller-coaster of a journey.

Lisa Hobman is a writer able of spinning an unforgettable yarn that will touch your soul and make you believe in all that is good in the world. A writer whose books, in my opinion, stand shoulder to shoulder with those of Jojo Moyes, Julie Cohen and Rowan Coleman, Lisa Hobman is a phenomenal writer of contemporary fiction who should be on everyone’s auto-buy list!

I really enjoyed this book. Greg has lived with the devastation of loss and has agreed with himself that “this is it now for me”. Then Mallory arrives and there’s a connection, a spark, a hint that there could be more. And Mallory has her own story to tell
I love how this book unfolds their story with both sides being told from their own perspective. It’s heartwarming, feelgood and thoroughly enjoyable

//MY REVIEW IN ENGLISH//
First of all this is Greg's point of view about his love story with Mallory, which is also told in the first book of the series, A Seaside Escape (or Bridge Over the Atlantic). I must say I didn't like that book so it was highly probable I don't like this one either. The story is simple, about second chances and falling in love when you're heartbroken and lonely. But for me was a cheesy one, with a very lovely MC (don't forget Mallory's point of view is in the previous book) who's always blaming himself for something (he always says the wrong thing, he always makes Mallory cry, he shows his true feelings and makes Mallory cry...). He's also grieving the lost of his soul mate (like Mallory) and he's a mess but I couldn't stand his eternal guilt. He's a great guy! And a very funny one. I loved him in the previous book and in this one but, oh boy, always crying, always having so deep feelings... Well, like I said, too cheesy for me. It sure is my problem, I don't like that kind of stories. The book is sweet but for me it really doesn't have anything special. And since you already know what's going to happen there's no surprise.
I think Lisa Hobman created a very special story but with less sugar and in condensed in one book it would be better.
It's about tastes, of course!
[Sorry for my poor English, there's my Spanish review]
//MY REVIEW IN SPANISH//
Siempre que leo una historia contada desde un único punto de vista suelo tener mucho interés por conocer el otro de vista. Y muchas veces conocerlo es quitarle encanto a la historia original (ay Kellan...). Pues si ya la historia original no me hizo mucha gracia, ni os cuento.
El único interés que tenía aquí era conocer más a Greg, el principal atractivo del primer libro. Es verdad que ya ahí parecía un moñas encantador y, efectivamente, lo es. Bastante moñas, de hecho.
Al ser la misma historia, arrastra los mismos fallos de la primera (tantas idas y venidas, tantas lágrimas...). Puede que a quien le guste una historia dulce y emotiva le guste este libro. A mí me gusta la emotividad sin que lluevan flores de cerezo (es un decir porque es algo que pasa en muchos animes y siempre lo asocio a moñismos) ni se esté llorando cada dos por tres al expresar los sentimientos, que es lo que pasa aquí.
Lo mejor es la primera parte, cuando Greg conoce a Mallory, los sentimientos que le provoca... Pero vamos, que ya sabes lo que va a pasar y el libro no te da ninguna sorpresa.
Un libro simplón y que no destaca especialmente por nada. La historia podría haber dado para mucho más.

A Year of Finding Happiness is a very well written novel. I enjoyed the plot and the well developed characters. This author is new to me and I enjoyed her writing. I have not read the previous book and that didn’t cause any problems with following the story. I highly recommend this book

I have given it 5 stars.

I LOVE Greg!!! Each time I meet him, I fall a little but more in love with his character. He's far from perfect, he's a man with Demons in his past that threaten to derail his future if he doesn't face them head on and with the help of Mallory, he does just that! Slowly piecing his life back together and finding happiness in the least likely of places.
As with all Lisa J. Hobman books she broke my heart into a million tiny pieces and then slowly pieced it back together one by one as Mallory and Greg found their way through their grief together.

There is always an air of believability to Lisa J. Hobman's books, aided by the use of rich and vivid descriptions of absolutely stunning locations. Her characters are always so real with actual flaws, that make them incredibly easy to relate to. Lisa really is a talented author.

This is not a light-hearted summer read per say, it's raw, it's turbulent and it's emotional. Lisa will have you reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion.
Again Lisa has created yet another beautifully written story that had me laughing and crying right along with these beloved characters.

Greg and Mallory are both grieving and dealing with life after the death of their beloveds. Neither is looking for romance so when their friendship begins to grow into more.... I had not read the first book but I don't think that was a problem as this tale is told from Greg's point of view. He loved Mairi and didn't expect to find love again so soon. Both Greg and Mallory are nicely drawn and feel very real. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is well written and a quick read and, best of all, it does tug at the heart.