Customer Reviews

Forgive and Forget (signed)

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I am a huge fan of Patricia Scanlan. I particularly love how she creates characters that are truly three-dimensional. No one is cartoonish, completely good or completely evil-they are very very real. But I was surprised to see that a large chunk of the plot of this book is a rehash of a previous book, Francesca's Party. I know that writers often revisit themes, but this was so obvious and doesn't go in a new direction or provide new insights. Unless that is what the sequel is for...but right now I am disappointed. I'm not going to buy the sequel until I see some reviews.

Dare I say that this is Patricia Scanlan's best book to date? I think so. From page one I was drawn into the story and completely hooked. Not a dull moment. Pure joy all the way.

Not that the story itself is all bliss. Connie and Barry have been divorced for years. Barry is married again to Aimee and has 13 year old daughter Melissa in this marriage. Now Connie and Barrie's daughter Debbie is getting married and the event leads to a myriad of complications in the two families. One of them being Barry's renewed interest in his first wife, whom he left so many years ago.

Aimee is a tough, self-sentered career woman, with business trips abroad, designer clothes and no time for cosy family life.

First wife, Connie, is her opposite. A nurse, she has raised Debbie single-handedly and created a nice little home with a heavenly flower garden for the two of them. Neither money nor time has allowed for fancy clothes and pursuing a svelte body over the years. Connie appears a bit frumpyish and middle aged, and has seemingly lived in contented celibacy, until now!

There are other people and destinies to be met in this rich and fulfilling tale, which is not your regular chick lit but a wise story about life and love, regrets and new hope.

The book is excellently written and filled with humour. Always a bliss. A golden moment is young Melissa and her best friend Sarah's participation in Debbie's wedding, described with much insight and tenderness. Ah, to be 13 again, with your whole life ahead of you (and posters of Johnny Depp over your bed...).

The book is not neatly wrapped up in a happy ending. Expertly, new threads are being woven in and create expectations of joys to come. Joys we are invited to share, the last sentence being - To be continued.

I can't wait.