Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber

Welcome!  The Pawful Truth by Miranda James is out today.  It is the eleventh A Cat in the Stacks Mystery with Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel.  Death in a Budapest Butterfly by Julia Buckley releases on July 30.  It is the first A Hungarian Tea House Mystery. 

Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber takes readers on a journey to Seattle, Washington.  Jenna Boltz just finished moving her youngest child into the dorm room at University of Washington.  After her divorce from her cheating husband, Jenna raised Allie and Paul on her own while working as an intensive care nurse as Seattle Central Hospital.  Jenna now has an empty nest and is looking forward to trying new things liked painting plus she wants to travel to Paris with her best friend, Maureen Zelinski.  Maureen and Jenna have been planning a getaway to Paris since they were in college and next spring will be the perfect time to go.  Jenna gets a call stating her mother has fallen and has been rushed to the hospital.  Jenna’s mother, Carol has broken her hip and Dr. Rowan Lancaster will be her orthopedic surgeon.  As Jenna gets to know Rowan, she admits that she is attracted to him.  However, Jenna is reluctant to get involved with another surgeon after the way her marriage turned out.  Rowan and Jenna begin dating and enjoy each other’s company.  Maureen accepts a date with with Logan who frequents the library where she works.  They may have books in common, but they seem to have little else.  Jenna begins dreaming of a future with Rowan when she learns something unexpected about him from her daughter.  What does the future hold for these two couples?

Window on the Bay is the latest novel by Debbie Macomber.  I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing.  I enjoy Debbie Macomber’s writing style.  She manages draw the reader into her world and hold their attention.  I like that the main characters are two women in their forties who now have empty households.  Jenna and Maureen are likeable and relatable women (which Ms. Macomber is known for creating).  It is great that the two women are close friends and are there for each other.  Both women are divorced and have spent the last twenty years taking care of their kids.  Now is a chance for the two women to “spread their wings”.  Jenna wants them to finally take the trip to Paris that they had to postpone after college plus she is thinking about taking a painting class.  We also get to see a different perspective with Jenna’s eighteen year old daughter, Allie.  Jenna is making changes at home, which upsets Allie.  Allie may want to live on her own and discover who she is, but she does not want things to change at home.  This provides balance to the story and a different outlook.  Maureen and Jenna have dated sporadically over the years.  But they have been burned by their husbands, and it is hard to open themselves up to love and to trust another man.  Dating is not easy as we see with Jenna and Maureen. Each person learns something about themselves through the process.  It is never too late to grow and change.  The path to happily ever after is bumpy, but well worth the effort.   I admit that I related more to Maureen with her love of books and dislike of sports. I enjoyed the light humor sprinkled throughout the story and I appreciated that is a clean story (no foul language or intimate relations).  Jenna’s favorite spot in her home is her window seat with the view of Elliott Bay.  I could understand how she finds peace from looking out at the water.  It was nice there was an epilogue to wrap up the book.  Window on the Bay is a heartwarming book with a happily-ever-after that will please readers and reading it is a lovely way to spend a leisurely afternoon. 

Window on the Bay is available at Amazon and other major retailers.  Debbie Macomber's next release is A Mrs. Miracle Christmas which will be available on October 1.  I appreciate you joining me today.  Cliff Hanger by Mary Feliz is planned for tomorrow.  It is the fifth A Maggie McDonald Mystery.  May you have a rewarding day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader