Literally read this book in one sitting - Linda Green's writing is just so easy to read, and captivating.
This story was really interesting, it didn't particularly feel original - but the characters were written so well that the lack of originality in the plot didn't matter. The characters just felt so real. They were flawed, yet so likeable. I could relate to each of them.
The ending was slightly far fetched, but because of that it helped to wrap everything up nicely - even though it wasn't particularly believable.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and it was the perfect read for sitting in the garden on this sunny day!
Bring on the next Linda Green book!

“The Marriage Mender” is a story about – surprise, surprise! – a marriage mender. Alison’s job is to help other couples, to make them understand each other better, to help them to solve their problems, to help them to find they love again. She is married to Chris and they have a daughter, a nine – year – old Matilda, very resolute girl with a tendency to ask wrong questions at the wrong time. They are also raising Josh, Chris’s son from his first relationship. Everything looks brilliant, till the day when Chris’s ex Lydia re-appears and wants to renew contact with Josh, who she walked out on when he was a baby. Chris can’t forget her for this, and doesn’t want anything to do with her but right now it’s about Josh. Is Lydia going to mess up the family’s life? Did she change? Are her intentions really innocent?

Alison. I would say she is really good at her job and I also warmed to her and to her calm, quiet way. I liked her but there were moments that I felt really desperate with her and I wanted to shake her and yell at her, woman, stop being so understanding! Stop speaking all the time as if you were in your office, stop being the peacemaker for a while, make a mistake, say something wrong, and stop calling people “love” all the time! But yes, she wanted to make peace with everybody, I guess that in real life she would be a little grey mouse, not outstanding, sitting in a corner girl. I liked her composure in crisis situations, even if the situations were concerning her or her family, as it’s not so easy to keep your cool when it’s about your closest ones.

There were also the children that have brightened the book, the way Alison and Chris were dealing with them was really good in my opinion, although there were moments that they were treating them too much as partners and not as children. Sometimes I was up to my nose with Matilda, yes, she was a very resolute and clever girl but I had the feeling that the whole world is turning around her, she was the real apple of the eye of the whole family.

I totally enjoyed reading about Alison’s clients, they were like a breath of fresh air to the story and made the book much more interesting. It also happened that one couple that Alison was counselling is going to be much more significant than I have supposed and although some may say it was too big a coincidence, I enjoyed this part of the book and liked how the two stories intertwined. At the beginning of each chapter there were also some short snippets of notes from very different therapy sessions, I don’t know if they were real or not, but they were great and added much light – hearted feeling to the read. Some of them were really funny, some of them ridiculous, some of them make me roll my eyes at the thought of a people being so careless in their relationships.

As the story continues, it reveals many secrets that the characters keep. And while I understand that Chris was so hurt in the past, I really don’t follow his way of thinking and not telling Alison about such important things that happened in his life. They were great together, Alison and Chris, and it was a real pain to see them struggling to communicate, and I actually hated Lydia for spoiling their perfect little life. Although I must also ask myself, what with the hidden secrets, was their life really so perfect? In theory – yes, so again, why did Chris hasn’t opened himself to Alison earlier? My guess is it wouldn’t change her feelings to him.

Altogether, it was a really good read about some important issues that you can meet in your life, some very unexpected situations and how to deal with them. Written in a great, engaging way, Linda Green has for sure found her voice and gave us a great story. My only problem is the ending, which seemed a little too rushed and not as well polished as the whole book but it’s just a little thing that didn’t spoil the story. “The Marriage Mender” is a novel about people like us, with very realistic problems and the way the characters were trying to come to term with those problems seemed also very real and not too pushy. Truly recommended!

As I was reading this book I kept getting the feeling I’d read it before. After I finished it I discovered it was first published in 2014 so I obviously read it previously, It didn’t however stop me from enjoying this family drama. A very good story which kept me interested the whole way through this book.

I’m a big fan of Linda Green’s books and this one certainly did not disappoint.
Being a ‘marriage mender’ for other people and then having to work at your own relationship can prove very difficult.
The characters were drawn very well and the storyline raced along at a good pace. I found it a real page Turner and would thoroughly recommend.

WoW I just love the way Linda Green writes her books that are always so beautifully written and I am always hooked within the first few pages and I end up stay in my chair until i have finished the book on my kindle, This was was no different to the other two I have read,
The Marriage Mender by Linda Green was just Beautifully written and I loved it, especially as it was a easy read and the words just flowed and had a perfect ending.

I am a big fan of Linda's books now especially as this book kept me up all night reading it. So glad I don't have work today! These are so good.

Big Thank you to to Quercus Books, Netgalley and especially Linda Green for the advance copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

The Marriage Mender
I give this book 3.75 stars

Alison is a marriage mender. Her job is to help couples who fear they have reached the end of the road. So when her husband's ex Lydia arrives on the doorstep demanding to see her son, Alison thinks she can handle it. But what Alison doesn't realise is that Lydia is the one person who has the ability to destroy their happy family. And sometimes the cracks run too deep to ever be repaired .

A good,well written family drama. Down to earth characters that felt real.A storyline that delves into how our past effects who we are today,the struggles we endure and what family means to us. An easy to read,enjoyable book.
With thanks to Netgalley,Linda Green and Quercus Books

Told over three parts, from a happy family unit where cracks start to surface on the arrival of Josh's birth mother, to the aftermath of her initial return, followed by more heartache and family secrets uncovered. Alison, Josh's step Mum is a councilor who focuses on mending marriages, but will this help mend her own families troubles...

From the very first to the last, this story will keep you gripped on a rollercoaster of emotions on numerous counts. Another great read from Linda Green, look forward to the next book.

Alison is a marriage counsellor. Her job is to help couples who fear they have reached the end of the line. But the trouble with spending your time sorting other people's problems is that you tend to take your eye off your own. Even when her husbands ex Lydia arrives, on the doorstep demanding to see her son, Alison thinks she can handle it.

Alison and her husband Chris have their lives up-ended when Chris's ex-wife Lydia turns up on the doorstep to dee her sixteen year old son Josh. Chris and Alison have a daughter, Matilda. Lydia left when Josh was just a baby. Things start to go wrong from the day Lydia returns.

This is an emotional rollercoaster read. The story covers; adoption, abandonment, missing persons, trust and alcoholism. We get snippets from Alison giving counselling to other couples. I felt Chris and Alison could be living in any house in any street as their story was realistic and relatable. I also liked Chris's mother Barbara who didn't take anyone's side. The only person I didn't really like was Lydia. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story which held my attention throughout.

I would like to thank #NetGlley #QuercusBooks and the author #LindaGreen for my ARC of #TheMarriageMender in exchange for an honest review.

The Marriage Mender is an absorbing read.
Alison helps couples to save their marriage, however, behind closed doors, hers begins to fall apart.
Alison's family consists of Chris (husband), Josh (Alison's stepson), and Matilda - (Alison and Chris's daughter.)
Alison's world begins to fall apart when Lydia - returns to Josh's life - upsetting the family dynamic.

The story moves between Alison and Chris's family to Alison's clients - this was a good contrast and kept the story entertaining.

The dramatics that play out on the page keeps the reader hooked and it was an easy read.

Brilliant. This was a well written book that I greatly enjoyed and already plan to recommend. Believable characters and an inticing setting. Some parts were perhaps a little lengthy, but maybe because I was impatient to reach the novels conclusion! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Marriage Mender is a fantastic read, the story and characters kept you engrossed and with lots of twists and turns it was a real page turner.
Another fantastic read from Linda Green and I highly recommend.

Alison is a relationship counsellor, married to Chris who brings a son from his previous marriage, Josh; and they also have another daughter, Matilda. Chris' previous marriage was a traumatic one for him, where his ex wife walked out on him, left baby Josh on his cot cried his lung out. Now, the ex wife comes back , trying to mend her relationship with her son. Unfortunately, more damages will happen and almost ruin the family.
It's an emotional roller-coaster of family drama, and I really don't expect the big surprise within the story. I am not usually a fan of family drama story, but this one really hooked me from the start, the story flows beautifully and engaging.

My excitement to read this book came from my previous experiences of reading work by Linda Green. An author who always manages to captivate me as a reader with stories full of excitement and intense suspense. The Marriage Mender was not any difference than what I had come to expect!

The way the author portrays Alison as a Step-Mother to Josh makes her a very likable character. Although she had not given birth to him, she loves him as her own and this is very plain to tell by the relationship they have. When Josh's biological Mother shows up suddenly, without any notice, on his 16th birthday, it paves the way for dramatic ramification's for Alison, Chris, John and their daughter, making this a classic page turner.

Linda Green creates a fool proof tense atmosphere, ideal for Thriller readers, leaving them wanting more, even after the final chapter ends. I highly recommend this book for those who love to read about family dynamics, revolutions of secrets and plot tension. If you haven't read books by Linda Green, this would make an faultless first!

I haven't read a Linda Green book before this one - but I'll definitely read more! This book has lots of aspects to make you turn the pages, perhaps most importantly the characters and wanting to know what's happening next! Well written, with characters you can picture. I recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was a little different and there was enough emotion and content to keep me turning the pages.

I am a relative newcomer to Linda Green's books, and have enjoyed every one that I have read. The great thing about being new to an established, superb author such as Linda, is that they have a back catalogue of work to enjoy, so I was delighted to read The Marriage Mender which is reissued from 2014. One of Linda's many talents, is that every book I have read of hers so far is completely different, she can turn her hand to any style, and yet I am confident it will be a success.
Alison is 'The Marriage Mender'. She works as a counsellor for couples who are experiencing difficulties. It is not something she envisaged needing for herself and husband, Chris, but with his ex-wife, Lydia, causing havoc when she appears on the scene after many years absence, Alison recognises that professional intervention may be necessary. Can Alison and Chris save their marriage? Will Lydia cause a permanent, irreparable divide between the couple? Will their family ever recover after Lydia's intervention?
I highly recommend this book to fans of Linda's work and those new to her writing.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic book by Linda Green, didn't want to put it down, read it in pretty much one sitting. Plenty unexpected twists to keep me reading
Alison is a marriage counsellor who is married to Chris who has a son Josh and their daughter Matilda. They are a happy family until Chris's ex and Josh's mum Lydia appears wanting to see him on his 16th birthday.
Lydia left when Josh was a baby and hadn't been in contact since.
Things start to go wrong and Chris blames Alison, can their own marriage be mended ?

I'm a massive fan of Linda Green - she never disappoints, and this one was no exception. The story tells of the relationship between Alison, a Marriage Guidance Counsellor and her partner. They have a daughter and also live with Josh, his teenage son from his previous relationship.

when Josh's mother comes back into his life, it's clear that she is very destructive and impacts on the family's relationships.

The tale is interspersed with accounts from other couples counselling sessions and weaves an insightful tale into relationships and what goes on behind closed doors.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love this Linda Green books and this one is no exception. I had actually read this when it was first released in 2004 but was a treat to re read it. The marriage mender was a thought provoking and emotional read. I think I actually enjoyed this more second time around.

Linda Green is a brilliant writer and she hasn’t failed here! A brilliant read, I loved the twists and turns in this fantastic story.