304 pages, Contemporary Romance.

Insightful, and based on personal knowledge of the areas covered in her writing, the author explores themes of academic snobbery, domestic abuse, insecurity, and the search for love in an uncertain world.

Having experience in both social care and academia, Barbara brings reality and honesty to this tale of the search for love after loss. There is a core of courage running through the book as well as humour, understanding, compassion, and a bit of sex.

The characters are very real people, friends you’ve met, people you know, but also some who inhabit a world most never enter. I found I could empathise with most. The addict is so well observed and drawn, I even found some connection with him, though such addiction is something outside my experience. I always need characters with whom I can feel the emotions described, I need to care about them. And this book certainly provides that essential connection.

All the way through I was hoping life would change, even improve for those trying to find their way through sometimes complex and often demanding situations. The denouement did not disappoint me.

[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]