The author's recent The Laurentian Divide, led to a search for earlier books.

Unlike The Divide, this book was a real downer.

An underlying "theme" of being "skinned alive" is truly unwelcome.

The main character, Isobel, betrays her religion, her family, and her community in her pathetic efforts
to hold on to her one friendship by acting as a lookout while her friend takes a lover.
(truly a great friend who once outed a young man...)

Only the minor characters may draw readers in: Isobel's husband, Victor, her son, Thomas,
her friend's husband, Liam, and her daughter, Louisa. Yet these are thinly drawn.

Though plot is readable, too much is weak = not simply telling her husband of her fear of water,
Jack Reese coming across when Isobel met him as too-too perfect,
thinking it's okay to cheat and to protect cheaters when her character previously appeared much stronger,
improbable to believe she never tired of sitting for hours in a boat rather than returning to her shop,
home, and family.

As well, leaving the envelope unopened at the end was a real cop-out. ( )

This is a beautiful but heartbreaking story of friendship and loss. The writing was mesmerizing, the characters came to life, and time and place were well-written and a part of the story in and of themselves. Loved this book from beginning to end. ( )

I couldn't stop reading this until I finally reached the end and I was boo-hooing. Beautifully written, very moving story of one woman's life, her marriage and time of estrangement, a friendship and loss. Recommended. ( )

A woman matures in the 1930's. Her husband has taken their boys away for the summer. They'd been arguing and now she's left to mull her thoughts. She meets an unusual, wealthy, free spirited woman who has her own problems. ( )