Rose Woodrowe has just got engaged to Tyler Masson – a wonderful, sensitive man who is head-over-heels in love with her. The only problem? This isn’t the first time for either of them, and their five grown-up children have strong opinions on the matter . . .
Like Rose’s daughter, Laura, who remembers her parents’ painful divorce and doesn’t want to see her mother hurt again. Or the twins, Emmy and Nat, who simply don’t trust the man their mother has fallen for. Then there’s Tyler’s children: Seth, too busy with his San Francisco sourdough bakery to get to know his father’s new partner; and Mallory, the aspiring actress, who is still wrestling with the issues of her own childhood.
Who to listen to? Who to please? Rose and Tyler are determined to get it right this time, but in trying to make everyone happy, can they ever be happy themselves?
MY REVIEW:
I was so looking forward to reading this book after attending the talk by Joanna Trollope last week. Having heard the background of how the story came to be, and about the characters, I couldn’t wait to get started.
Joanna Trollope’s books are simply wonderful. She creates such excellent stories, particularly when it comes to families. This book is no exception.
You can’t help but like Rose, the central character. She’s kind, personable, sensitive and has built up a good life for herself after her divorce.
She meets Tyler and falls head over heels in love with him, very quickly. Her children disapprove of the speed at which this has all happened, and are concerned for their mother’s welfare, but I also felt that they were rather spoilt and selfish, with their own interests at heart first and foremost.
Tyler’s children are also quite self centred, which in their case leads more to indifference to their father’s new relationship, rather than concern.
The family tensions and relationships are very well drawn. It makes for a really engrossing read.
As always, Joanna Trollope takes a very relevant topic, and brings it to life. As she said at the talk that I attended, more people are entering into second or third marriages these days, and this has consequences for the rest of the family, particularly for one’s children. Where money and inheritances are involved, we may see a different side to people. As Roses’ sister, Prue, says in the book, our veneer of civilisation is paper thin.
An excellent book. Highly recommended.
MY RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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