Can you learn to trust again?

Synopsis

After the death of her abusive husband, Erica Masters returns to Perth, eager for a fresh start and the birth of her granddaughter. But when she learns her husband has changed his Will in favour of their son, leaving her with nothing, she flees to seek refuge in Pelican Crossing, the place she once called home.

Having sold his fishing boat after a bitter divorce which left him to bring up his two teenage sons, Jamie Whittaker has found success with his fishing charter business. Thrilled by the arrival of his first grandchild, he is stunned when his teenage flame, Erica, reappears in town.

As the pair reconnect, old feelings resurface, but Erica remains guarded after her painful past. Jamie, determined to win Erica’s heart once again, manages to break through her defences until a family tragedy turns their lives upside down.

With everything unravelling around them, can these two troubled souls build a future together?

If you enjoy emotional reads, you’ll love this gripping tale of love and second chances.

My review

After the death of her husband, Erika Masters initially believed that the worse would have passed. But less is true, as she discovers that not only her abusive husband changed his will and left it to their son, but also that the business that he has left behind is in a mess. With her daughter – in – law just having had a baby, Erika doesn’t see any issue with staying at her son’s place and give a helping hand. However, when her son Kieran seems to look to much after his father, Erika decides that it’s time for a fresh start, and makes the move to Pelican Crossing, where her brother still lives and the place that once was home for Erika too.
Home where her teenage love, Jamie Whittaker is still living. Jamie, who is enjoying his life, even after a bitter divorce and bringing up his two sons on his own. And he cannot be more happier since the arrival of his first grandchild.
With Erika and Jamie finding themselves being practically neighbours, they easily reconnect. But Erika is still scarred by her past, is still very wary and is not ready to let her defences down. Which make Jamie only more determined to win her over and show her that not all men are the same…
Will they find a way back together, or is it all water under the bridge?

I have said it before, and I will say it again, even if the characters in all of Maggie Christensen’s books are going through phases in their lives that I haven’t experienced myself (yet), it is always so easy to relate and feel for them.

Both characters are not complete strangers, yet it is always nice to get better insights in their persona.

And we already know what Erika has been through, but I found it even more heartbreaking to see how it scarred her and how the events still affects her. I can only imagine what it’s like to be in an abusive relationship, and it is also something I never want to experience myself. But it was also amazing to see how strong Erika has become. Already in the previous book of the series, Erika took an important decision by wanting to leave her husband.
But in this book she becomes even stronger and is ready to stick up for herself, when she realizes that perhaps her own son is more alike to her husband than Erika could ever imagine.

And I was proud of her when she made the decision to make the move to Pelican Crossing. Yes, it was perhaps weird to see how she was leaving her daughter – in – law behind, and her granddaughter. But on the other hand, Erika knows firsthand that you cannot force someone to take action. It must come within, seeing and realizing when a relationship may or may not turn into an unhealthy one.

Obviously, getting a fresh start is easier said than done, no matter how strong Erika has become. Because she is still wary of people’s intention. And the fact that everyone in Pelican Crossing knows her, and knows about her past (her recent past, and the fact that in her teenage years she dated Jamie), makes her feel uneasy at times. Which once again, is perfectly understandable.

But we see Erika also flourish, as not only she learns to stand on her own feet, but she also stands up for herself. She is grateful for the help she gets from her brother, but she wants her independence, she wants to make it on her own.

Making on his own is something that Jamie has learned. HIs marriage ended in a bitter divorce, and he has spend years (wonderful years, no doubt about it) raising his sons on his own. It wasn’t without trail and error, and he for sure has made some sacrifices for the greater good. But now his sons are grown up and he couldn’t be any prouder. And he adores his first grandchild!

Jamie never left Pelican Crossing, and is surrounded by not only people he has known his whole life, but also many friends. But just like in Erika’s case, everyone knows his business. So while he isn’t that sorry that Erika has returned, he could also do without the interference of everyone.

This isn’t a case of ‘with just one look they fall deeply in love’. But their shared history makes it easier for Erika and Jamie to become quicker friends than complete strangers would. Of course Erika’s reluctance is understandable. And I loved it how Jamie respected that and understood Erika. However, he won’t give up that easily. And no, I know that is may sound a bit too persistent or stalkerish, but it  truly isn’t. Because Jamie and Erika often meet by sheer accident, and Jamie is just the most perfect gentleman, understanding what Erika needs, but also knows that Erika may need a little nudge to find the courage to open up again.

Obviously both characters don’t just get together without any glitch. There are several ups and downs in this book, even a tragedy that may jeopardize all Erika and Jamie have been building. Although I have to say, the tragedy itself was for sure a scary one, the level of it was not what I expected it to be. Yet that made me happy, to see that it wasn’t what I expected it to be, even if a ‘surprise’ visit put everything at risk once again.

It was lovely to see how love can find its way back to people who have been through a lot but deserve a second chance. Maggie Christensen wrote once again a story about not only second chances, but also about finding a place where you belong. A place where you can feel safe, cherished and loved. What a wonderful read, once again!