Thursday, July 24, 2014

Thursdays in the Park by Hilary Boyd FIC Boy

Jeanie didn't understand why her husband had suddenly decided to begin sleeping in the spare bedroom. She had always thought he would confide in her and come back to their bed. Now, ten years later, and with her 60th birthday just around the corner, Jeanie is beginning to feel confused and stifled by her controlling husband. George, retired by a few years, looks at Jeanie's milestone birthday as the catalyst for dramatic change in their lives. He decides they should purchase a country home, sell his family home in a London neighborhood, and that Jeanie should sell her health food store and retire, now that she's old. Despite Jeanie's protestations that she doesn't want the country life, is not ready to relinquish her business, and doesn't want to be so far away from their only child and grandchild, George goes ahead with his plans.
Jeanie, meanwhile, sticks to the course, gives notice to the tenant in the apartment above the store so she will have a place to stay when she does come to work at the store, and continues her Thursday afternoon outings to a favorite park with her 2-year-old granddaughter -- where they meet Dylan and his very attractive grandfather, Ray. Oh, there are issues with the son-in-law,  the daughter seems to be in cahoots with George on all of his decisions, and yes, Jeanie finally finds out why George abandoned his marital duties. But the meat of the story is Jeanie coming to grips with the reality of her life and the disconnect between what she has and what she really wants (or needs). Pick this up for an enjoyable read.

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