Mothers And Daughters by Erica James @TheEricaJames #MothersAndDaughters @HQstories #BookReview

 

Since the sudden death of her husband, Naomi has steadily rebuilt the life they shared in the village of Tilsham by the sea.

Her eldest daughter, Martha, is sensible and determined – just like her father was – and very much in control of where her life is going. If she could just get pregnant with her husband, life would be perfect.

Willow, the youngest, was always more sunny and easy-going, yet drifted through life, much to her father’s frustration. But now, with charming new boyfriend, Rick, she has a very good reason to settle down.

The three women are as close as can be. But there are things Naomi has kept from her daughters. Like the arrival of Ellis, a long-lost friend from way back, now bringing the fun and spark back into her life. And she’s certainly never told them that her marriage to their father wasn’t quite what it seemed…

The Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James returns with this gloriously compelling tale of mothers and daughters, secrets and love.

Mothers and Daughters by Erica James was published in hardback on 17 March 2022 by HQ. The paperback will be published in July 2022.

A VERSION OF THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN S MAGAZINE IN MARCH 2022

Naomi was suddenly widowed a couple of years ago, but has remained in Tilsham by the sea, rebuilding her life and generally feeling content 

Her two daughters; Martha and Willow are like chalk and cheese. Martha plans everything meticously and is very like her late father. Willow is more of a dreamer, drifting through life, but has recently seemed to settle with new boyfriend Rick. 

Whilst the three women share a very close relationship, there are things that are kept hidden, especially by Naomi. Her daughters would like her to sell up and move to London to be near them. Naomi hasn’t told them about Ellis; a long-lost friend who has recently moved in next door and is fast becoming much more than just a friend.

Naomi has also never revealed the full details of her life when married to their father, fearing that this would destroy their happy memories. 

Martha and Willow are both dealing with their own secrets too. Relationships that appear to be wonderful on the outside can be very dark and damaging behind closed doors and keeping up cheery appearances when the one thing you long for isn’t happening can be exhausting. 

Erica James’ twenty-fourth novel is a wonderfully compelling family drama that touches upon some serious and fairly dark issues. Her characterisation is excellent, the setting is beautiful and the slow reveals are delicately and sensitively handled. 

Warm, escapist and ultimately uplifting. Erica James is on top form, writing about warm, believeable women who led sometimes very complicated lives. 

Erica James is the author of fifteen bestselling novels, including Gardens of Delight which won the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and Sunday Times top ten bestsellers The Queen of New Beginnings and Promises, Promises.

With an insatiable appetite for other people's business, Erica will readily chat with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. 

She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion. 

Erica now divides her time between Cheshire and Lake Como in Italy, where she strikes up conversation with unsuspecting Italians. 

www.ericajames.co.uk

Twitter @TheEricaJames