Can new love be found with unfinished business?

Synopsis

Divorce lawyer Gill Dickson thinks she has seen it all, until she finds herself in the midst of her own acrimonious divorce and estranged from her daughter. Her one certainty is that the last thing she wants in her life is another man.

Pelican Crossing mayor Joe Harris has buried himself in his work after his wife’s death, finding solace with the companionship of his faithful dog, Coco. But when Joe needs Gill’s legal expertise for a family matter, he is unexpectedly drawn to her.

Can Joe break through Gill’s emotional barriers and earn her trust? And can these two lonely souls find the happiness they deserve in each other?

Set in the small Queensland coastal town of Pelican Crossing, this heartwarming romance will keep you captivated until the very end.

My review

As a divorce lawyer, Gill Dickson has seen a lot. But she never expected that her own divorce would be such a mess, as her hopefully – soon – to – be – ex – husband keeps on demanding more and more. Her pending divorce also caused an estrangement with her daughter.
So makes perfect sense that she isn’t looking for love at all.
And when bumping constantly into mayor Joe Harris, she initially doesn’t think much about it. Because just like Gill, Joe isn’t looking for love, and his main focus is his work after losing his wife.
Yet there is an inexplicable attraction that Joe starts to feel for Gill. And with Joe suddenly needing Gill’s legal expertise, more time is being spend together.
However, is Gill ready to let her guard down, especially as she still has so many worries and unfinished business in her own life? And will Joe and Gill find each other and find happiness again?

I always enjoy reading stories about another chance at love. And I find it so sweet to see that happening at an older age!
Just because the years have passed, and you have already been through a lot (the good and the bad), it doesn’t mean that love isn’t on the table for you anymore!

I don’t know who made my heart hurt the most. Was it Gill, who despite her successes as a lawyer, is fighting against her husband. It saddens me to read how people who once used to love each other, suddenly turn and want to hurt each other, take every possible dime available. Is it truly that hard to remain at least respectful towards each other?

Now, my heart didn’t really ache for Joe. And not because I didn’t sympathize with him, but his sister Erica’s story was the one that was a more devastating one…
Joe for sure is a bit lost ever losing his beloved wife, making him more focused on his job as mayor. Luckily he has a faithful and delightful companion in his labrador Coco.

Joe for sure has one of the kindest hearts, and perhaps also the most patient one…. Because being the mayor, even of a wonderful place like Pelican Crossing, can be a challenging task! Patience too, because he seems to sense what Gill needs. He knows when he can gently nudge her, or keep his distance.
Seeing how much he still loves his diseased wife is just so bittersweet. But also seeing him being ready to start again, was just sweet!

But Erica… while the focus and main story is absolutely Joe and Gill, Erica is perhaps the saddest character of the book. Getting away from an abusive husband isn’t easy, but it must be even more terrible if that also means that you cannot stay in touch with your son and daughter – in – law…
And being bullied for a long time also leaves its marks, and even when Erica got finally away, I knew that things wouldn’t be that straightforward.. And we see that clearly further along in the book, when Erica starts making decisions and choices that would bring her back to Square One.

Luckily she has Joe and Gill in her corner, both of them trying to make her understand that getting away is the only right decision. 

Gill for sure shows on several occasions that she is not only a good lawyer, but also a caring one. She isn’t the kind of lawyer that brushes of her clients, she makes time for them, gives them time and advice. And all that while her own life isn’t on the rails…
So of course I wanted her to get closer to Joe, give love a chance. But I could also understand her in a way. Because how can she think about moving on when there is so much still unfinished business? 

It may sound strange, but I admired Gill for not wanting to take that next step (you know which one I mean 🙂) as long as there is still so much to be taken care off. Shows once again the real character of Gill.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, as it shows how at any age people can find love again. Of course it never goes straightforward, but isn’t love worth the challenge? Especially with two so lovely characters as Joe and Gill! And of course seeing the characters of the previous books of the series was delighful!
Maggie Christensen for sure wrote once again an amazing, strong, lovely and even inspiring story!