Apologies for absence – I’ve just been on a lovely break down in Dorset, so things have been a little quiet around here for a while. But I’m now home once more, and delighted to be joining the blog tour for the latest book from the wonderful Jennifer Bohnet, Making Waves at River View Cottage, and sharing my review: published by Boldwood Books on 21st September, it’s now available as an ebook (free for kindle via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and also as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
Jennie’s perfect escapes and vividly drawn locations have made her quite a personal favourite over the years. This book was originally published in 2003 as Call of the Sea, and has been re-edited, revised, and expanded for its publication this time round – and, although I’ve been reading Jennie’s books for a long time, it’s not one I’d previously read. But you will find reviews of some of her earlier books here on Being Anne (A French Pirouette, The Little Kiosk by the Sea – loved that one! – and Rosie’s Little Café on the Riviera) and quite a few other features and guest posts too. It took me a while until I was able to catch up with her writing after she joined Boldwood, but I finally managed to fit one in with Rendez-Vous in Cannes – a total delight, and you’ll find my review here – and again with A French Affair which I equally enjoyed (you’ll find the review here). And then I caught up again with Summer at the Chateau – another lovely read, this time set in Brittany, and you’ll find my review here – and with Villa of Second Chances with its engaging and well-told story and French Riviera setting (you’ll find my review here).
So, let’s take a closer look at her latest…
Cassie Lewis, a widow for over 20 years has begun to realise there must be more to life.
In-between working at the family boatyard in picture perfect Dartmouth and raising two children, she wonders where the years have gone.
Both her children, Tom and Polly, have inherited their father’s love of sailing and currently Tom is preparing for a gruelling round the world race. When an accident forces Tom to pull out, Polly, to Cassie’s horror, insists she is capable of taking his place.
As Polly prepares for the race, Cassie unexpectedly finds herself with two keen and eligible men vying for her love.
With her BIG 5-0 birthday approaching Cassie knows she has some big decisions to make but will the worry over Polly’s safe return, cloud her judgement?
In the twenty or so years since she lost her husband in a sailing accident, Cassie has focused her life on her two children, Tom and Polly, and the day-to-day running of the Dartmouth boatyard owned by her father. She may have lost her own confidence as a sailor, but that’s certainly not the case for her children – Tom is about to undertake a round-the-world boat race, the preparations well in hand, when a freak accident prevents him from taking part, and daughter Polly (just 19, and perhaps a less experienced sailor) decides to take his place. The story then alternates between Polly’s gruelling voyage and her experiences along the way and Cassie’s life as she makes a few major decisions of her own, not least whether it’s time (as her 50th birthday approaches) to move on from the sadness of her loss and let love into her life again.
I know nothing about the world of competitive sailing – although I did watch every single episode of Howards’ Way back in the 80s! – but the author does a quite wonderful job of bringing the whole experience to life, along with the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the competition. I loved Polly – desperate to be taken seriously as a sailor, facing up to the immense challenges of the task she’s taken on, the day-to-day loneliness, the unexpected dramas, the exhilaration of success and the fear of failure. The story is really strong on the technical side, and I was very impressed by the author’s evident research and knowledge – with enough detail (never too much…) to bring the whole experience vividly to life.
But I was equally captivated by Cassie’s story – her constant and understandable concern for Polly, the challenges at home for son Tom and his young family, and her own decision to move on while making her choice between the two men keen to have a place in her life. She’s a particularly sympathetic character, her story particularly well-told and with a feel of authenticity – she does have a constant edge of sadness, but also an appetite to face up to her fears and take on the challenges of her future. The romantic content is gentle, and perfectly judged – this is always Cassie’s story, about what will bring her the happiness she needs and deserves.
I really loved this one – the focus on family and friendships, the strong characterisation, the drama at sea, the quieter moments at home, the way the story unfolded. It’s a book with real warmth, moving and uplifting – and very much recommended.
About the author
Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women’s fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.
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