24th bestseller on the way

Mothers and Daughters By Erica James, HarperCollins, $32.99 ..

.. .. .. .. .. .. Erica James has written 23 bestsellers so far and I can't recall having read any of her books. I thought the title was a little ho-hum as a topic, but I became really engrossed in her story. She tells a story well.

Naomi is a widow in her 60s. Her husband Colin died two years ago, leaving a big gap in her life. He was the life and soul of any party, a stalwart of the local sailing club and active in any venture in their little seaside town. He has left Naomi and her two daughters, both living and working in London. Martha, without doubt her father's daughter, is organised and adept in anything she takes on and Willow, is a bit of a dreamer and still finding her feet.

Ellis, an old university acquaintance of Naomi's, rents the cottage next door to her. Ellis, now a widower, has retired and moved from London to be closer to his mother who is in a nursing home. Naomi and Ellis renew their friendship and become close. This does not sit well with her daughters, more especially Martha.

This is a novel with a compelling message. No marriage is perfect and there are times when keeping the peace and thinking about what is best for the children is definitely not the best path to follow. I am expecting Mothers and Daughters to become Erica James' 24th best seller. It is a story about nice people hiding their problems, but in this story, all comes right at the end. —