Reviews

Okimoto's second book in her island trilogy (after the award-winning The Love Ceiling) also features a strong, mature woman searching for happiness. Maggie Lewis's role as a caretaker was established early in life when her bipolar father killed himself, her mother's health failed, and her younger sister needed her. Now, at 65, after retiring from her job as an elementary school librarian, she hopes to kayak, read, and have time alone. However, Maggie can't ignore cries for help. Despite having a bad history with her neighbor, children's author Walter Hathaway, she steps in to watch his dog when Walter is injured in a fall. At the same time, Maggie's drama queen sister shows up, uninvited, but Maggie has a hard time rejecting her. VERDICT It takes time for readers to like the curmudgeonly Maggie and Walter, but eventually they will connect with this warm story of two lonely people finding each other late in life. Okimoto shows how mature characters can grow. Readers who like slow-paced, descriptive novels, mature characters, and women's fiction will appreciate this novel. [Founded in 2009, the publisher specializes in fiction and poetry for readers aged 50 and above.-Ed.]-Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.