Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're diving between the epages of a Women's Fiction title by author Maria Murnane. It's not her first release and I certainly hope it's not her last (it's not, I checked...^_^) because when you're done with today's post, I'm pretty certain you're gonna have a new author on your must read list...I know I do. I started it on a lunch break the day before yesterday and continued reading in earnest on my day off. It was a crappy day, to be honest, but I was able to lose myself in the story of this fabulous trio and wouldn't you know it, turned my frown upside down. Ready or not, here comes today's ebook of choice...
by
Maria Murnane
9781477827413
Lake Union Publishing
About the book...
Daphne White is staring down the barrel of forty—and is distraught at what she sees. Her ex-husband is getting remarried, her teenage daughter hardly needs her anymore, and the career she once dreamed about has somehow slipped from her grasp. She’s almost lost sight of the spirited and optimistic young woman she used to be.
As she heads off to a Caribbean island to mark the new decade with her best friends from college, Daphne’s in anything but the mood to celebrate. But when she meets Clay Hanson, a much younger man, she ignores her inner voice warning her that she’s too old for a fling. In fact, this tropical getaway might be the perfect opportunity to picture her future in a new sun-drenched light.
With the help of her friends, Daphne rediscovers her enthusiasm for life, as well as her love for herself—and realizes that her best years are still ahead.
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Right from the start, I found myself really enjoying this second chance novel. You DO know what those are, right? The leading lady or man has been run through the ringer called life, only to come out on the other side gun-shy and unable to move on? Yep, those are the ones, but this one is turning towards that new beginning with style, lifelong friends, and....a younger man! *gasp* Hey, "second chance" novels imply older characters, not grandmother-age (although one might be...shh! I can't tell you!), but over 30...and before you go saying that's old, bite your tongue. I'm just saying. *ahem* Anyway, back to the story at hand....
Daphne is the one stuck in place at the moment....or rather for the past TWO YEARS...but it was a mutual parting, not a lover's spat, infidelity, or anything else that got between them. It was simply life and while that still sucks big time, it shouldn't be the end all to end all...right? Well, when you marry for better or worse and believe in true love, HEAs, and all that jazz, the shock value is pretty high. I get it, and though I've not been through anything remotely like it myself, the author certainly got us in her head-space. (FYI...the flip side of that was also my only "downside" about the read...a little TOO much time in her head, as in Daphne needed to break out of herself and be less internal with her confidence roller coaster.) We come to know her pretty well, as we do her besties KC (what a hoot!), and Skylar (woman of power with a playful streak), and in doing so, that's where the connection is cemented...with all three for that matter. We feel their sadness (marriage ending), celebrate their triumphs (Clay Handsome...I mean, Hanson!), and laugh along with them as youth shows how beauty can be wasted on them.
In the end, it was a refreshing walk in the ever cleansing rain perfect for a gal at any stage in her life journey. The characters were endearing, the setting oh so gorgeous, and the story filled with equal parts charm and depth. I'd sum it up as a great weekend escape that doesn't require a passport and a great reminder to reach for the possibilities in life. Let the world see you for YOU! Recommended read for Women's Fiction and Contemporary Romance fans alike.
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About the author....
A former PR executive who abandoned a successful career to pursue a more fulfilling life, Maria Murnane is the best-selling author of the Waverly Bryson series (Perfect on Paper, It’s a Waverly Life, Honey on Your Mind, and Chocolate for Two, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly), as well as Katwalk, Wait for the Rain, Bridges and International Book Award winner Cassidy Lane. At her speaking engagements Maria shares the “story behind the story,” an entertaining tale of courage, passion and perseverance that has inspired audiences across the country to follow their dreams—no matter what.
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Special thanks to author Maria Murnane for the eBook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing. The followup to this trios adventures, BRIDGES, is also available now (April 2017)...so feel free to grab a copy or hang around as I'll be reviewing it right here on the site!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
2 comments:
Definitely sounds like the kind of read to lose yourself in. Thanks for not only featuring what sounds like a great but also for sharing your thoughts.
This sounds like the perfect beach book!
Dianna
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