Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Release Date: 30th November 2014
Genres: Romance, chick lit
Drew
Nelson did not plan to talk with anyone that morning. He did not plan to make a
new friend. He certainly did not plan to fall in love.
He
resisted all of Amy’s attempts to draw him out− at the hotel, at the airport,
on the airplane− giving hurried responses and burying his face in a pile of
papers. It was only when the flight attendant offered coffee, and a muscle in Amy’s
back twitched as she reached for it, and the cup tipped, and the hot liquid puddled
in Drew’s lap that they began to talk.
Earlier
in the year, each had lost a spouse of over thirty years. Drew’s wife had died
of a brain tumor, Amy’s husband when his small airplane nose-dived to earth,
the engine at full throttle − an accident, it was ruled.
They
live in the same city. Both have grandchildren. They are about the same age.
Consciously, or not, they both are looking to love again.
But
relationships do not exist in vacuums. Drew is wealthy, and Amy is middle
class. Amy is “new” in town – she and her husband moved to Charleston
twenty-five years ago – while Drew’s family has lived there for three
centuries. Drew lives below Broad, a
code word for high society, old families, power, and money. Amy’s home is across the river.
Class
warfare may be less violent than it was in the past, but when Drew invites Amy
to the St Cecelia Ball, battle lines are drawn. In a city in which ancestry is
important, the ball’s membership is passed from father to son, and only those
from the oldest families attend.
Family,
friends, co-workers all weigh in on their relationship and choose sides. Allies
are found in unexpected places. Opposition comes from among those who were
thought to be friends. Though they are gone, even their spouses − through
things they have done and things they have said − wield influence in the
conflict that follows.
Amy
begins to suspect that Drew is one of
them, the rich snobs who despise her, while Drew concludes that Amy neither
trusts him nor cares for him. As each questions the other’s motives, their
feelings for each other are tested, and Drew and Amy are challenged to consider
if they truly want to fall in love again.
To Fall In Love Again is a beautiful and gentle love story that just has to be read. Amy and Drew are slightly older than the conventional couples in romance novels, both with grown up children and young grandchildren. And, this was for me one of the wonderful things about this book. It was lovely to read about the blossoming romance between them and the hurdles they had to overcome. Whilst most of the characters in romance novels have over-protective parents getting in the way and interfering, Drew and Amy had overly protective children trying to make sure they didn't get their hearts broken. The issue of class divide was a subject matter that was tackled in this book too. David Burnett has created likeable characters who show that despite age, your heart can be broken, won and completely set a flutter! To Fall In Love Again is a charming and sensitive read and at times it did make me feel terrible sadness for the characters as they struggled to overcome loss and deal with their grief whilst trying to move their lives forward despite being absolutely terrified! This for me is a highly recommended read. After having previously read another book by David Burnett - The Handfasting, I knew I was not going to be disappointed in this one.
I live in Columbia South Carolina, with my wife and our blue-eyed
cat, Bonnie. I enjoy traveling, photography, baking bread, and the Carolina
beaches.
We have traveled widely in the United States and the United
Kingdom. During one trip to Scotland, we visited Crathes Castle, the ancestral
home of the Burnett family near Aberdeen.
My photographic subjects have been as varied as prehistoric ruins
on the islands of Scotland, star trails, sea gulls, and a Native American
powwow.
I went to school for longer than I want to admit, and I have
graduate degrees in psychology and education. I was formerly director of
research for our state education department.
We have two daughters and three grandchildren. To Fall in Love Again is my third novel.
This does sound like such a lovely read.
This story sounds as if it is a complex, but enjoyable read.
I love happily ever afters!
Good luck, 'To Fall in Love Again'!