Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Career girl Becca Gates’ organized life is thrown into chaos when her mother, romantic novelist Pearl, announces her surprise engagement to Jack, a man she has only just met. 

Worse news follows when Pearl tells Becca she intends to leave London, quit writing, and retire to her new fiancé’s idyllic waterside home on the south coast. Becca is determined to prevent Pearl from making a disastrous mistake, but when she at arrives at Rivermede, more shocks await when she stumbles upon a familiar yet unwelcome face from her past.

As Pearl embraces her new life amongst the local sailing fraternity, Becca receives a grim warning that all is not as calm as it seems at picturesque Rivermede, and if she wants to keep her family safe, she should keep them away. 

But why should Becca trust the man who has betrayed her before, the man who broke her heart, the man who thinks he knows all her secrets?

My Review:

This was my first sampling of the crafty storytelling of Rosie Travers; she is quite the raconteur. I would classify the genre as an excellent example of Women’s Fiction as it consisted of several original and intriguing storylines that were slowly and carefully developed and dabbled in various genres including annoying family member drama, second chance romance, ironic humor, and elements of suspense. Ms. Travers cleverly tossed in a few sly twists at the end that I certainly didn’t see coming.

There wasn’t a tautly written edge of your seat or lip-biting tension, although there appeared to be a curiously well-maintained prickle of unease and uncertainty for the future that held fast throughout, as the main character of Becca was a worrier, and for good reason. Ms. Travers excelled in filling the history and skins of her characters with realistic foibles and peculiar traits; they were often selfish, maddening, and exasperating – as most families are – yet they also worried about, covered for, and cared deeply about each other. I admired the shrewd pacing and thoughtful consideration in bringing all the various elements and subplots together for a highly satisfactory conclusion before ambushing us with the largest secret of all. Rosie Travers is one slick customer.