Reviewer Comments: The story opens with Max’s estranged son Zachary returning from India with his pregnant wife, Sarina. Max is convinced that he and his son will be able to mend their relationship especially since he is thrilled that he is going to become a grandfather. Hannah fears that her relationship with Max will be strained by the sudden reappearance of his son. Zachary is not only having trouble adjusting to being home, but also to the news that his father is now married to Hannah. Adrift, he is ignoring his wife and causing trouble for his father. Hannah steps in to comfort Sarina and finds herself drawing closer to Sarina and the baby.
In addition to the story of Max and Hannah, this novel also relates the newest happenings with the other women. Grace is struggling with her health problems and helping an Iraqi war veteran to adjust to life back home as he deals with PTSD. Amelia offers help to a woman fleeing an abusive relationship; deals with trying to find her stepdaughter find a husband and her difficult bickering with Hannah. We are also given glimpses into the lives of other people who live in the town of Covington including a group of conmen who are targeting elderly women and the drama surrounding the local pastor.
Ms. Medlicott has written a book that encompasses all the events in a small town. I found her prose to be easy to read and the complexity of the relationships to be well thought-out and developed. We learn a lot about these women and their interactions with each other. I think that it would benefit other readers to read all of the books in order. There was a lot of background that I did not have and occasionally people were mentioned that Ms. Medlicott assumed her readers would be familiar with. I think that readers of her series will be pleased with where she takes her characters in this latest book and that they will be delighted with the growth and depth that the characters display. As a new reader to the series, I had trouble understanding some of the dynamics such as why Max and Hannah do not live together despite being married and the exact nature of the relationship between Amelia and Mike.
This book is not a typical romance. The romance is subtle and not overt. We do not see the intimate moments that occur between people in love. Instead we are shown the enduring nature of love and the many different forms that it can take. We see Zachary’s inability to be the man that his wife and child need to be despite his love for them. We see the calm, quiet love that Grace and Bob have for each other despite their age. We see the love that binds friends together through arguments and blessings. This book reminds us that love occurs all around us.
