Customer Reviews

Second Time Around

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marcia Willett does an emotional exploration of the basic human desire for a sense of family. Whether related by blood or by circumstances, all humans have this unfailing desire to "belong."

Wealthy Mathilda Rainbird has lived her life alone and unmarried but in her last years seeks legal help (from James Barrington whom we met earlier in HATTIE'S MILL) in tracking down relatives she has never met. She bequeaths her rather sizable estate including a home on a scenic cove of England to three distant relatives her solicitor is able to locate. There is Tessa, a young single woman who has tragically lost her family and supports herself with a successful dog-sitting business. Tessa counts among her clients Kate Webster, a regularly recurring character in Willett novels, and it is her friendship with Kate that leads to her meeting Kate's son Giles. A cousin, Will Rainbird, is a widowed and retired diplomat living in Switzerland and the third relative is Beatrice Holmes, the recently retired matron at an all-male prep school, who is having a hard time adjusting to her new life. All are at points in their lives where this need to belong is acute, but can these three virtual strangers find a way to all live in harmony? Is blood really that thick? It is also the story of Matilda's companion in the last years of her life, the distraught Isobel Stangate, who seems to have paid a large price for her adulterous dalliance. Rejected by the husband she realizes too late that she still wants, and spurned by the daughter she has publicly humiliated, Isobel finds solace with Mathilda. Will she ever be able to make amends to her husband and daughter? Has she paid too dear a price for a reckless grab at happiness?

The novel is rich with the scenic beauty of the West Country of England, but it is the lives of Mathilda, Isobel, Tessa, Will, and Bea that make this book very special. Whether young or old, married or single, the need to bond is inherent and the road to friendship and love is often perilous.

Set in England, probably in the 1990's, this novel is a most sentimental look at the lives of five individuals, mostly middle-aged, in their mutual, yet unforced, efforts to restore happiness to their lives. The book first focuses on eightyish Mathilda Rainbird, a sharp and kindly yet taciturn woman living an ascetic life in a large house on a secluded, craggy cove on the coast of England with a cottage and a boathouse. She provides much needed reassurance to forty-something Isobel Stangate, a married woman completely devastated after destroying her family's life as a result of an ill-advised, extra-marital fling, when Isobel is hired to provide assistance while living in the cottage.

Unbeknownst to Isobel, Mathilda becomes gravely ill and, seemingly innocently, conducts a search for heirs for the estate. Three very distant relatives are found, all of whom have holes in their lives: Tessa, twenty-something, lost her family in an accident several years ago but has found some enjoyment as a live-in pet-sitter; Will, a sixty-something widower has been living in Switzerland; and Bea, a retired matron at a boy's school has found that she is now a outsider among her former associates. None knew any of the others and all are surprised at their joint inheritance, but more surprising is the contentment that comes to their lives as they adapt to each other and to the big house for shared living.

The tone of the book is decidedly low-key - no melodrama. Personal problems in this supportive atmosphere seem to somehow get worked out, from Isobel's estrangement from her daughter to Tessa's indecisiveness about marriage. The book is heavy with descriptions of the English countryside: sea, terrain, birds, plants, weather, and the like. The characters are likeable, though lightly drawn. The world as constructed by the author is idyllic to say the least. The book is comfort food, much as the characters are to each other.

Due to the splintering her family years ago, never married eighty-four years old Mathilda Rainbird has no obvious heir to bequest her large South Devon estate to once she dies, which the octogenarian knows is soon. As such with the help of barrister James Barrington she leaves her property including her seaside cottage to three nth degree cousins she never met and she believes never met each other.

After Mathilda passes away, the beneficiaries are stunned as none knew the late octogenarian nor expected the gift she bestowed on them. Twenty-two years old dog sitter Tessa Rainbird has felt alone ever since her parents and baby brother died; retired diplomat widower Will Rainbird has gotten used to being alone ever since his wife past away; and spinster retired school matron Beatrice Holmes has always been alone even when surrounded by her all male students and faculty. These three lonely-hearts move into the cottage as each seeks new beginnings. Also on the property is Mathilda's former housekeeper Isobel Stangate who resides in a smaller adjacent cottage while separated from her husband. None of the four want to share anything as each prefers hiding in shallow loneliness out of fear of being hurt; but soon family bonds begin to form as the quartet develop differing but caring relationships with one another.

This is the first American publication of a late 1990s English relationship drama starring five strong characters (including the late Mathilda). Readers will feel they moved into the cottage due to Marcia Willet's trademark ability to bring her cast alive (see THE COURTYARD that contains a similar ensemble warmth story line). Fans will root for everyone to make it especially as a warm loving family who are there for each other.

Harriet Klausner

Second Time Around is a delightful read. Three women with secrets they harbor (don't we all!). Their lives intermingle in a heart-warming way and a little mystery is thrown in. Again...a delightful read.

I always try to use Better World Books when they have the book that I am looking for. They are concientious and always deliver the product quickly and professionally.

This was my first time reading this author and I enjoyed the story a lot. Great characters, lovely description of the area and an enjoyable plot. I was happy to find a British author that's new to me.

Isobel is broken-hearted. After leaving her devoted husband Simon for the passion of an affair with Mike, she realizes that what she really wants is her old life with her loving husband. Mike has left her, but she doesn't care. She yearns for Simon. It doesn't help that her daughter, Helen, will have nothing to do with her. As she hopes for reconciliation, she finds a new home at the English shore. Elderly Mathilda Rainbird lives in a big rambling home in a secluded cove. In exchange for Isobel's housekeeping and cooking, Isobel can live in the cottage on the property and use Mathilda's car for transportation. Isobel ekes out the meagerest of livings by working part-time at a bookstore, so she is more than grateful for the opportunity.

It doesn't take much time for Isobel to feel extremely close to Mathilda, teasing the older woman about her eccentric ways and playing Scrabble with her by the fire. The two share meals, over which Isobel confides in Mathilda about the mistakes she has made in her life. Mathilda is a good sounding board for Isobel's troubles. However, the older woman is less forthcoming about her own life. She doesn't discuss her life's one unrequited romantic passion, doesn't reveal that she recently has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and certainly doesn't discuss her plan to deal with her illness.

After Mathilda dies, Isobel is devastated and guilt-stricken, believing that she should have realized her friend was ill and that she should have been able to take some kind of steps to stave off the inevitable. Meanwhile, Mathilda's lawyer reveals that Mathilda has left her home to three distant cousins, all strangers to her and to each other. She has also made provisions that no matter what happens to her house, Isobel is allowed to remain in the cottage rent-free.

Young Tessa Rainbird is one of the cousins inheriting Mathilda's house. An orphan who lives with an uncaring aunt, she spends her time house-sitting other people's homes and taking care of their dogs while wishing that her long-time friend Sebastian will someday return her one-sided adoration. Tessa is flabbergasted to learn of her windfall. How will this work into her life? One look at Mathilda's home and the beauty of the cove is enough to make her fall in love with the place. But she certainly doesn't have the money to buy out the other two owners.

When Tessa meets her cousin Will, she feels reassured. She instantly feels the kinship of family with the widowed older man, who has put his own house up for sale and plans to live in Mathilda's home. The two can share the house comfortably, they believe. But they can't help wondering and worrying about Beatrice, the third cousin. Beatrice is a newly retired school matron living with an old friend. Unfortunately, she doesn't appear to have any interest in sharing Mathilda's house with her two cousins. Will they have to sell?

Author Marcia Willett has a gift for fleshing out characters until the reader cares deeply about each one. The very real people of SECOND TIME AROUND lead fairly ordinary lives that are illuminated by their relationships and situations, transforming their stories into tales that are emotionally moving and easy to relate to. This is the best kind of women's fiction, combining elements of family relationships, romance, mystery and coming of age (at any stage of life), while avoiding predictable outcomes. Happily for new fans (I predict there will be many), it appears that Willett is a prolific storyteller with many books published and more upcoming.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Dear Fellow Readers: It turns out, Marcia Willet
is a perfect match, for my taste. Upon reading
the 'covers' of her books, with the high ranking
phrase and compliment: Binchy and Pilcher genre.
Now after reading her books, by the way she
does respond most graciously on her website. I
enjoy and recommend letting authors know the
joy and meaning their books can share. I felt
after reading the Courtyard that I was geared
to 'take on the rest' of her books. It is also
a great pleasure to have an author that gives
you plenty to read but you still want more: I do.
Thanks for writing Marcia Willett.
Annie Nichols

This book was pretty inspiring to me in many ways, love the characters and the whole story but not the end at all, I expected more. Don't know why some writers are able to carry a great story and keep the reader interested and right at the end they practically kill the whole story.