It is good to return to The Empty Nesters series by Ko Porteous. The Twenty Dates was published by All Ways Publishing Ltd on October 8th. You can read my review of Book 1, The Freshman Parents here
The kids have left, assuming love endures. But can yours?
Book #2 in The Empty Nesters Series
Claire’s marriage is in (total!) crisis. Her husband, Mark,
is distracted, presumptuous, and utterly clueless - smart scales for their 19th
wedding anniversary? Really? Perhaps she'd be better off alone. At least
there'd be less laundry.
When Claire suggests separating, Mark panics. He asks for
one last chance: twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, to prove
they're better off together than apart.
What follows is a series of adventures Claire never saw
coming - some mortifying, some exhilarating, and some that make her question
everything she thought she knew. About Mark. About marriage. And about the
woman she's quietly become while she wasn't paying attention.
As the dates tick down, Claire must decide: is
the spark still there - or has their marriage simply run its course?
My Thoughts
Claire and Marks' story is a real rollercoaster, full of highs and lows, humour and poignant moments. After twenty years of marriage, with their son off to University, Claire takes a hard look at their life and knows that something has to change. The resulting twenty dates, one for each year of their marriage, gives plenty of variety and some genuinely funny moments. It soon becomes clear that Claire's feelings about her son are complicated and that she is struggling with his new found independence. She has plenty of Mum guilty but also a feeling that she has more to do and ambitions still to be met.
This is a warm and uplifting story despite the doubts about their future. Communication and listening to each other are important lessons they have to learn. I found both Claire and Marks to be sympathetic characters and over the course of the story, they both develop as people. Mark understands Claire well and gives her the space she needs to work out what she wants, even if at times, he misses vital clues. His career has always been of great importance to him and this has led to him seeming unaware, in Claire's eyes, of how his actions have affected her. Although this is the second in the series, it is far from a replica of the first and stands on its own two feet with confidence.
In short: fresh starts and new hopes
About the Author
Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of
Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.
Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and
is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving
women navigating the messiness of mid-life. She has worked as a Research
Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.
As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and a
Funeral Celebrant.
In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel;
preferably all on the same day.
Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own
and is now navigating her own empty nest.
The Twenty Dates is Ko’s second novel and the second book in
‘The Empty Nesters’ series.
Book links: Amazon UK | Amazon US
You can follow Ko here:
Social Media Links –
www.koporteous.co.uk
Instagram: Ko Porteous Author
Facebook: Ko Porteous Author
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