This book is the second of Katherine’s books to be set in the same Cornish village, although you do not need to have read the first one to enjoy this. The characters from the first book are dotted around and feature in this one but the focus is on a married couple Jean and Petra. This story is told from Jean’s point of view and follows them through a turbulent time in their relationship impacted by a change in Petra’s working life. It is an age gap relationship which gives the opportunity to explore issues surrounding sexuality and gender identity whilst working through long term grief. It is beautifully woven into the story rather than it being force fed to the reader as sometimes books can.

Now, without telling you the gist of the story, this is an amazing book. I read it in one day because I just had to know what happened next. And I should have been working. There is a definite sense of foreboding following Jean through this book.  Her emotions became my emotions. I needed to know what was going to happen next but there were points in the story that I hardly dare turn the page. But I had to as I was so caught up in what was going on. I knew there had to be a happy ever after. I just could not figure out quite how they were going to get there at the point when they hit rock bottom.

I would compare this book, if I may, to Rekindling the Spark by Cynthia Dane /Hildred Billings, The Touch of her Voice by Sara Scott and A Whisper of Solace by Milena McKay. They all explore emotions in characters that are so well written. When I read them the characters and emotions were so vividly written they could not be contained on the page. They all left me thinking about the story and characters for some time afterwards.

You have to read this book. And then if you have not already – go and read the first one – The Summer We’ve Had.