This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kelly Allen
Harriet and her daughter, Florence, have never bonded as either
of them would have hoped; unlike Harriet and her three sons who are all extremely
close. When Florence has an accident at school and her blood type is brought to
Harriet’s attention, Harriet is on a one track mission to discover the truth behind
her daughter’s origins, but with shocking consequences.
Harriet believes that Florence is not the biological daughter of her husband, Oliver. She sends their toothbrushes off for DNA testing and the results show that not only is Oliver not Florence’s biological father, but Harriet is not her biological mother either. When Oliver discovers the truth, their relationship starts to deteriorate. Oliver begs her not to follow through on her discovery, yet her plans involve following her own heart by hunting down her biological daughter.
Zoey is Florence’s biological mother, and frankly she is a bit of a mess. Her tiny home is crammed with boxes for her shop, and her more organised and sensible daughter, Nell, keeps her afloat. When they discover they are not biologically related, Nell takes the news well, unlike Zoey, who worries she will end up alone. When both families meet, the least likely of people bond, but it is Oliver’s actions that threaten to ruin the entire family altogether.
Whilst Florence and Nell prove to be the most mature of the group, the only question that remains is whether Oliver and Harriet will ever be able to ever forgive each other for their actions and lies?
This story was very interesting and I was really intrigued with the character dynamics between the two very different families. I really felt a dislike towards the character Harriet, yet Zoey with her relaxed attitude to life and her content lifestyle really melted my heart. The children are so much more mature than the adults within the story, and Florence becomes a really strong person by the end of the book; a really inspiring character to read.
The story reflects the natural patterns of life and there is a clear insight into the tribulations each character must face. There are some very steamy scenes within the book that some readers `may find a little distasteful, but I just felt a little flushed by them! The descriptions of love and lust are very well written, then the pace slows when characters return to their normal daily lives merely reflecting on their actions; some with regret.
I enjoyed reading this book, yet the ending felt slightly rushed and the outcome seemed to just come out of nowhere which left me feeling a bit disappointed.
7/10