Julia’s husband Patrick arrives from Chicago to try to win her back. She acknowledges, if only to herself, the continuing attraction to her soon to be ex-spouse. Millie, the dotty but delightful elderly boarder she has inherited senses that truth immediately.

Julia lets Patrick stay to repair her roof to save some money, but she seems sure she will not let him back into her life.

Julia finds her aunt’s journal, and reads it to find out more about the benefactor she never really knew and the circumstances of her death. She strongly suspects it was not an accident, despite the coroner’s ruling.

Aunt Miriam’s lawyer seems anxious for Julia to sell and move away. Millie’s nephew seems somewhat smarmy at first. And what’s become of Joey, an artist who sometimes boarded with Miriam? There’s a mysterious tie tack, an arson fire, and...

There are many twists and turns and the kind suspense that keep the reader on edge and very much involved. The many truths are revealed slowly, in completely logical, well-plotted fashion. The sense of danger is palpable.

And the romance is not one of puppy love, but rather new grownup maturity, It is complicated by Julia’s uncertainty about what she should do when she grows up, Patrick’s high-powered career, and a coworker from hell.

This kept me turning pages until the very satisfying ending. Jenyfer Matthews is a skillful writer. She has crafted a tale of romantic affection within a superbsuspense story. Recommended.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
March 6, 2007