Joyfully Retired

In 2010 I read a charming book by Jean Davies Okimoto, The Love Ceiling. (Click the title for my review.) It was filled with characters who came to life and made me care about them. I still think of them from time to time. I hated it when the book ended. It was set in the state of Washington and some of the time was spent on an island.

In this new novel, Walter’s Muse, some of the characters are back, and it takes place on the same island, Vashon Island. While The Love Ceiling was populated with four generations of characters, this one is a love story between people in their sixties. It’s heartwarming and so refreshing.

Here’s a brief summary from the author:

It’s the first summer of her retirement and librarian Maggie Lewis is relishing the unfolding of sweet summer days on Vashon Island: walking on the beach, reading the classics, and kayaking. But in June when a sudden storm hits the island, Maggie’s summer becomes about as peaceful as navigating white water. Not only does her wealthy sister arrive uninvited with a startling announcement; but Maggie finds herself entangled with her new Baker’s Beach neighbor, Walter Hathaway. A famous children’s author and recovering alcoholic, Walter has a history with Maggie they would each like to forget.

There’s something to love in each of the characters. Maggie, of course, is loveable because she’s a genuinely good person. It also helps that this former librarian is still reading some great books. Walter is grumpy but a big bear of a man writing children’s books. He was so endearing as well as sexy.

The summer spent on Vashon Island will change the lives of the characters. Spending time with the people in this novel may not necessarily change your life, but I’ll bet you’ll feel it’s been enriched.

GIVEAWAY

The publisher is offering one reader a chance to win a copy of this book. In the comments section, please let me know if you are interested. I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday.

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of Walter’s Muse and to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of it all.  To see other stops on the book tour, see the schedule here: TLC Book Tours