Sharyn Heagle's book is a wonderful offering - a gripping story of a woman who lost herself in her marriage to an abusive man. Lacey Holmes is an artist, and she seeks solitude to help heal. However, the isolated cottage on the Maine seacoast still allows for her thoughts, a neighbour, and her ex to intrude.
The story is smoothy written, the kind of read you start off thinking you'll just sit down with for an hour or so, only to stand up and stretch hours later. Lacey is a likeable woman, neither too endlessly self-analyzing nor too shallow. As the former partner of an emotionally abusive man, I understand her feelings and they seem accurate, touching, lightly yet stunningly handled. The reaction of her kids to the separation is also true and heartbreaking.
Graydon Scott is perhaps just a wee bit too good to be believed, but why not? He makes me want to go hunting for him along the coast of Maine. Ben, Lacey's ex, is also perhaps too awful, but as with Graydon, we know these men exist.
The other characters in the story lend a believable and warm supporting cast, and the landscape itself stars and makes one long for an isolated cottage in a similar setting. Except for the scene where Lacey's ex comes to find her - so well written I still feel every part. I think an isolated cottage might be a bit scary, after all.
Highly recommended,

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released at Erma Bombeck conference