Leaving behind my usual genres of suspense and thrillers, I chose to read this contemporary fiction and I’m glad that I chose to read it. At least, after I wiped away my tears, I was glad that I chose it. This book is about the ethical dilemma that a couple faces when Paige becomes pregnant and a rare heart condition becomes apparent. If Paige carries the baby to term, she could die and so could the baby. Nick is trapped; whatever he asks of Paige could cost him his whole world. This book was not an emotional rollercoaster, but rather a steep climb up a powerfully emotional mountain and a terrifying slide down the other side. The climb was the introduction of all of the characters influencing the young couples’ choice and the slide down was once the decision was made and the consequences that followed. Not knowing what was going to happen compelled me to continue to read the book. The plot itself was rather trite, but the development of the characters was fantastic and made me feel empathy for each one. The multiple viewpoints added realism to the tale, but it also made it hard for me to keep up with who was who. I finally figured out that I didn’t have to keep track of everyone; the author kept explaining in subtle ways the roles that each played in the lives of Nick and Paige. This book will definitely tug at all of your heartstrings and probably make you cry. I enjoyed reading it, but I don’t know that my heart could take the emotional turmoil of reading another book with such an ethical problem as this one tackles.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Paige and Nick are happy. They have a beautiful home, a loving family and, most importantly, they would do anything for each other. They are having a baby and it feels like all there dreams have come true. But you turns to despair when they discover that Paige has a life-threatening heart condition and they loose their longed for child. Just as they're coming to terms with their loss, Paige falls pregnant again. Page's heart is too weak to carry a baby to term. The couple have to make the impossible decision, Paige's life over the unborn baby.

What an awful situation to be in. How on earth do you decide? It's a beautifully written story with lots passion and feelings. Thecstpry is told in alternate chapters from Paige and Nick's perspectives. This is an emotional and heart breaking roller coaster ride. I was totally gripped by this story. There were a few parts I did not expect. It covers hopes, dreams, love, fears and heart break. Have plenty of tissues handy before you read this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Vanessa Carnevale for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘Our life, like the life of any couple, is filled with choices and decisions. Give here, take there. Surely we can find a way to agree on this one.’
I have read and enjoyed all Vanessa’s books (HERE) and was thrilled to read her third book, My Life for Yours. This latest offering is an exceptionally moving tale of the lengths we go to for those we love. Shining the light on motherhood and birth, this story asks the serious, sometimes life changing questions when faced with the heart wrenching decisions of saving a life. Yet scratch deeper and the real question revolves around acceptable sacrifice in the face of life threatening choices.

With these kinds of decisions there are often no winners as the choices are impossible to make. Without going into details, Vanessa presents a well balanced account so that the reader places themselves in the shoes of both Paige and Nick in their quest to become parents. Whatever they decide will have far reaching consequences for not only themselves and their marriage but also the close knit family and friends that surround them. Bottom line here really involves a mother’s love, devotion and selflessness when it comes to their un/born child.

‘I haven’t wanted to think about why Nick might be scared, because a decision needs to be made according to what is best, not what scares us. Best for whom, I wonder.’

The key to this story is relationships and interactions. That being said, Vanessa does an outstanding job of presenting alternating chapters from both Paige and Nick. The reader can see the emotionally charged scenarios for both the mother and father-to-be. Both so strong in their convictions that it could possibly tear apart and destroy their marriage. Then there are the viewpoints of other family members and friends who journeyed with the couple and what they were going through. I particularly appreciated the impact on Paige’s parents.

Slightly different from Vanessa’s other books, she skilfully presents thought provoking questions on what is a very complex topic. There will be moments of joy and moments of heartbreak. If family dramas, and particularly those surrounding starting a family, interest you then this is the book for you. In the pursuit of a dream what impact will it have on those you love the most?

‘Sometimes matters of the heart don’t necessarily always lead to the best decisions.’






This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This book is about what it means to be a mother. It follows Paige, a woman who dreams of being a mother but has a condition that makes pregnancy really hard on her body to the point that she may not live to see it through. So when she falls pregnant unexpectedly, she has a really tough choice ahead of her.

I found this book educational; I didn't know about peripartum cardiomyopathy until I read about it here.

As a mother myself, I know what it's like to love your child more than life itself. It's hard to fathom having to choose between your life or your child's, especially so early in the pregnancy. I felt really emotional reading about Paige's thoughts and considerations. I also really felt for her husband, Nick, to be honest I think the decision might have been even harder for him.

I recommend this book, but would warn that the book might negatively affect someone who is anxious about miscarriage or pregnancy,

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the free eGalley of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

My Life For Yours is separated into three parts. The first part of the book deals with Paige and Nick and their joy over having a baby. You get to know each of them...Nick a Pediatric surgeon, and Paige who works in an assisted living/ nursing home. You also get to meet Paige's family, her mother, and father, who are loving and have been married forever and still in love, her brother Ryan, who lives away, and her sister Caitlin, that is in Paige's eyes living the perfect life with two kids and a husband, a house and a country home they are renovating. Paige and Nick are excited they are having a baby, it is something they have both wanted and planned for. The author takes you through their lives as they get ready for its arrival, from planning a nursery to arriving at the hospital. Only once it happens, it doesn't go well and Paige loses the baby, that they named Max, and also finds out she has heart failure.
Part two is one of those sections that will rip at your feelings. It is the two of them trying to navigate the death of their son, and get life back to normal if it can ever be that way again. And as much as Paige wants a baby, she has been told that now is not the time because of her heart, it could kill her or the baby, or even both. But she does find herself pregnant and it comes down to them having to choose between lives. Part three goes from there and tells of her pregnancy.
I don't want to say anything more than that, but the entire book is told in two POV's.. Paige's and Nick's. There is much conflict and you might find you need to grab a tissue or two. This is a very emotionally charged book, that will make you think, and wonder if you could hold up in the same situation. It deals with the heartbreak of losing a child, of choices that feel impossible to make, and of dreams the parents and families have.

Started this book early this morning and have just finished it now. Oh wozers what a super fabulous read this was. I honestly couldn’t put it down. Brilliant 5 star read.

Only thing to say is freakin fantabulous!! This book had me hooked at the beginning and I never put it down!!! I cried at the end!! That is all I will say!!! The author Vanessa Carnevale is a genius with the twists & turns you will not see coming!!
I felt the pain for Paige & Nick and the family because my husband and I were in a similar situation over 34 years ago! It’s a devastating decision! We made the same decision as Paige to go forward! However, what a roller coaster of emotions a person has to experience!!!
This is an amazing book and the author is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious awesome!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I am willingly giving my thoughts and opinions!

Thanks netgalley for allowing me an early copy of this book ,It was an emotional story and uplifting book about Paige who will do anything to become a mother.
Paige looses her first baby Max as during the end of her pregnancy she nearly looses her life as well as her baby due to her heart.
Max dies and Paige recovers, but she is determined to become a mother against advice and her doctors.
In becoming pregnant again she could not only lose her life but also her marriage.
Nick her husband is firmly against trying again fir another baby as he does not want Paige to die, and will also do anything to prevent another pregnancy.

Yes this was a great book, thanks.

Paige and Nick are a happily married couple who want to start a family. Paige works in an aged care home and comes from a loving family. Nick is a doctor and has a demanding job as a pediatric surgeon which takes him away from the family home a lot.

Imagine their joy when Paige falls pregnant - all is ticking along nicely until she reaches 33 weeks and then is rushed to hospital where the unthinkable happens, they lose their baby boy, but more importantly Paige almost dies as well due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition which puts her life in jeopardy. They are absolutely devastated but time marches on until one day Paige discovers she is pregnant again - she knows the risks but wants to have this baby.

It opens up a whole moral dilemma - should she proceed, should they terminate and what are the risks either way. Their marriage is tested and the whole family dynamics are thrown into turmoil with Paige's family and their friends.

I cannot say much more but I can say - go and read this book, it is absolutely amazing and just reinforces what a wonderful writer Vanessa Carnevale is. For me who does not cry at many books, its now 2 out of her 3 that have left me in tears, that's the sign of a great writer!!

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The title says it all. Paige would die for her unborn daughter. It’s not a figurative choice. It’s a decision she is forced to make.

Paige and her husband Nick, a busy pediatric surgeon, waited to have a baby until he was settled in his career. Both desperately want children but for different reasons. While Paige comes from a noisy loving family, Nick was raised by a single mother and watched his younger brother die. After months of trying, Paige becomes pregnant. However, a week before her due date, she is rushed to the hospital with heart failure, a life threatening, rare complication of the pregnancy and gives birth to a stillborn son. While dealing with that heartbreak, Paige learns that she cannot have another baby until her heart returns to normal. An accident pregnancy forces the couple to make a difficult choice.

Have the Kleenex ready. This beautiful written, emotionally devastating story will leave you drained. Paige, Nick and their families are so well described that you feel you know them. Vanessa Carnevale tackles tough subjects in My Life for Yours and makes you see both sides of all issues. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Vanessa Carnevale for this ARC.

This was an emotional and hearbreaking book and really makes you think about the heart wrenching choices some people have to make in life this is the first book I have read by this author and won't be my last. The characters are all very real and you can feel the raw emotion and love beneath the pages. Once I had started reading I couldn't put it down it is a brilliant story of two people's love and desperation for a child against the odds and the sacrifices and difficulties of life and death they face along the way. be warned Tissues will definitely be required.

Thank you Net Galley for granting me this book. It’s not the type I usually read but the synopsis sounded very interesting.

It was a very intense and emotional read on the subject of Paige and Nick who are happily married, decide to have a baby but unfortunately discover Paige has a heart condition which results in them losing their beloved child. Not long after Paige is unexpectedly pregnant again and yet they both know that with her heart condition her risky the pregnancy could be.
The story is broke into chapters of each character and their feelings of what the consequences and outcome of the pregnancy entail - I was totally absorbed and did not wish to put the book down, having different a miscarriage early on myself I felt compassion and empathy with both characters.

It was a lovely book about family relationships and love and it brought me to tears with an unexpected ending. I really loved this heartfelt book and would recommend.

This story of Paige and Nick follows them through some very challenging life events and life changing decisions.

It perfectly describes the koce a mother has for her child.

I connected to the characters very well, especially Paige. Because as a mother myself I found myself agreeing with everything she was thinking, and deciding. I knew that I would think and decide exactly the same way.

I also shed a tear at the end. And to me that always means a book like this has been good, and I have been really drawn in by the story and the characters.

You should not have to choose. That is the theme of this wonderfully written book by Vanessa Carnevale.
A parent should not chose to lose a child. A husband should not have to chose to lose his wife. This is the impossible dliemma that is explored in this story. Paige and Nick are delighted to become first time parents when the unthinkable happens. When Paige gets pregnant again, choices have to be made. How do you choose?

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Wow!!!! Paige’s life or the life of their unborn baby? What an amazing story, I like that this story is told from both Paige and Nick’s point of view, I found myself agreeing with each of them and disappointed with each of them. The author does a wonderful job capturing the reasons for the choices made, and the emotions of the resulting consequences. I cannot wait to read more from Vanessa Carnevale.....once I recover from this story,

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC. Thank you Vanessa Carnevale for this beautifully written emotional roller coaster.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had realized that I have spent most of the month reading and reviewing suspense/domestic thrillers and felt that I needed to explore some of my contemporary arcs. Because I enjoy torturing myself and creating swollen red eyes at the beach to match my sunburn, I decided to read My Life for Yours today. Australian author, Vanessa Carnevale's August contemporary will no doubt help many readers re-adjust the water levels of their town reservoirs.

Paige and Nick are a happily married couple living in the suburbs. She is a caregiver at a long term care facility and he is a successful pediatric surgeon. There are Sunday night dinners with Paige's immediate family and there are trips to Tasmania to spend time with his mother. They also have a really great circle of friends that are perfect support systems. Now the couple has decided to start their own family. But when Paige's pregnancy reveals a startling health condition, the couple is faced with great loss and also the warning that future pregnancies are to be avoided. But when Paige finds herself pregnant once again, she and Nick might not be the only people that won't survive the decisions they must make.

So this was one tough emotional battleground and I appreciate that Vanessa Carnevale really explores all sides of the ethical dilemma. In the beginning, I was thinking "wow, there are so many characters being introduced" but then as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that all those viewpoints- medical or emotional really have to be presented in order to give this novel a feeling of realism. Because those sides are all presented, I was constantly immersed in both Nick and Paige's viewpoints as well as that of the other characters. I LOVED this story even though it tore my heart out and also made me have an entire ethical debate in my head.


Excellent storytelling of a very difficult topic to tackle.


#MyLifeforYours #NetGalley
Goodreads review published 21/08/20
Expected Publication 07/08/20

Thank you to netgalley, Bookouture and Vanessa Carnevale for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows Paige and Nick. Tragedy strikes when page is in late stage pregnancy. Will they try again for another child? What are the risks? Will it come down to a My life for yours situation. Read this one and find out. It's an emotional and nerve racking one. You will ask yourself what would I do.

Vanessa Carnevale has written an emotionally charged story that will have readers asking themselves what they would do in this life altering situation.

Paige has been advised not to fall pregnant until her health improves but when she accidentally falls pregnant it causes major family upheaval and a conflict that may cost her her marriage.

Told in the alternating points of view of both Paige and her husband Nick, we get a rounded view of the emotional upheaval the pregnancy has caused for both of them.

I don’t want to give too much away with the plot but the story is strongly focused on a mother’s love and how far you will go for your child.
Vanessa Carnevale made it very easy to put myself not only in Paige and Nick’s shoes but also Paige’s mother Evelyn’s. Each character had their differing ideas on what Paige should and shouldn’t do and I felt for each of them.

My Life For Yours is a compelling and heart-wrenching read. A story of lost dreams and hopes. Of a love that defies all reasoning. I had no clue as to how this story was going to pan out. And I loved that! It kept me eagerly reading.

My Life For Yours is a heartrending story told with compassion and candour. It had me reaching for the tissues a few times whilst reading.

What a beautiful, thought provoking book I loved everything about it, so well written and it was a brilliant page turner.

The characters were so well described I felt as though I knew them all and wow what an ending absolutely brilliant.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book which I can thoroughly recommend, you will not be disappointed.

I look forward to reading more from Vanessa in the future, another new author for me to follow.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'My Life For Yours' by Vanessa Carnevale

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I am definitely looking forward to reading more!

I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing title & blurb. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 55 chapters and an epilogue which are a nice length so that you can read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is written from the perspectives of Nick and Paige. I always enjoy reading books written from the perspective of more than one person as you get to know how each character is feeling and more of what's going on giving you the bigger picture.

This book is seperated into 3 parts:

Part one focuses on Paige and Nick's long await for Paige to become pregnant, the grief of losing Max and how they build up their strength and relationship again. It is extremely emotional to read especially as a mother myself. I believe how Paige was during the grieving process paints an accurate picture of how a mum who has lost her child may feel and behave. Thankfully I have never had to go through this myself.

Part two focuses on the fact that Paige becomes pregnant again and the effect it has on her relationship with Nick and the rest of her family. Again, Paige seems to paint a true picture of what a woman in this position would feel like. I believe that how Nick behaves is very much what my partner would feel like in the same position.

Part three I shall leave a secret for you to discover yourself. Don't want to spoil things for future readers now do I?

Wow!! What can I say!! Such an emotional roller-coaster!! As a mum to 3 boys this storyline definitely hit me hard and it felt like I was going through the turmoil of emotions with Nick and Paige. I was even in tears before the WOW (cannot say more as I don't want any spoilers) ending!! I cannot remember the last time I cried while reading a book and yep there was ugly crying!! Not a good look at all!! So thank you very much for that Vanessa!!!

The book itself was very well written although I did get confused at certain points due to the jumps in time with no prewarning but not enough for it to spoil the story. I was hooked from page one and it left me thinking about it a long time after also. It is always good when you find an unforgettable book and I think this was one of them. I love the fact that it promotes awareness of Peripartum cardiomyopathy and it is obvious that the author did alot of research on this subject.

The characters were all very strong and all with their different beliefs and reasons behind their opinions. I adored both Paige and Nick and it was good to see this plot particularly from the perspectives of both the mum and dad as it gave me alot of different things to think about especially as a parent myself. I also loved reading about the rest of the family members who were also very believable and how they felt about everything and what they were going through.

Overall an extremely emotional book, a true page turning tear jerker. I think fans of Jodi Picoult would enjoy reading this. I would normally give 4/5 rather than 5/5 for the time lapse confusion but 4/5 for me is 'I enjoyed it' but this book I loved so it gets a 5/5 from me!!

Genres covered include Literary fiction and Drama.

I would recommend this book to fans of anyone who enjoys an emotional read, a good book in general and fans of Jodi Picoult

349 pages.

This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I loved it) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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