Roxy makes a discovery that rocks her world. Her husband, father of her two children, is found to be behaving very badly with the next door neighbour. It is an even more difficult time for Roxy to be confronted with the sight as it is the day of her father’s funeral. It not only rocks fundamentally her relationship with her husband Dave, but makes her reconsider all the parts of her life as she has known them. She suddenly realises that the car that her father has left her, that she uses in her work as a driver for private clients, may offer an alternative  way of life. This is a story of a woman confronted by new experiences and a change of perspective in every way. While she appreciates her children, and her relationship with her now widowed mother, she is unsure as to whether she can forgive and forget her husband’s mistake. This is a book about the choices facing women in contemporary society, and individuals facing family challenges whatever their financial situation. This well written book shows great insight into life in the twenty first century, with some of the choices that people face. I was really grateful for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book.

Roxy and husband Dave, children Mica and Tom live in an pleasant house in Ireland. Together for many years, Dave runs his own plumbing business and Roxy has worked part time over the years. When her father falls ill, Roxy takes over his clients and drives an expensive car for clients keen to travel in comfort with a professional driver. She meets a variety of clients, ranging from an eccentric actress to a mysterious businessman called Ivo Lehane whose weekly routine of visits to a shabby area are strange and lucrative. When her father dies she is staying with her mother along with the children, and in view of Dave’s act of infidelity she opts to stay on for longer. She describes her indecision regarding her future as swinging between the option to return home and forgive and forget, or to stay away and try and make a new future for herself and her children. As she begins to explore her potential future she meets new people and possibilities. Her mother reveals a secret that makes Roxy reassess the basis of her knowledge of people, and question her choices. As her mother begins to make a new life, Roxy knows that she must work out what is truly important for herself and those who she loves.

This is a book which shows great insight into contemporary choices and lifestyles. It questions the nature of family love and loyalty and its implications for the future. I loved the lighter moments of genuine humour and family dynamics, and how what Roxy truly wants is not always what people expect. There is compromise and suspense as Roxy considers her options as events threaten to overtake her. Roxy and indeed the other characters are memorable creations,and the plot is realistic throughout. I recommend this book as far from being a straightforward romance, but actually a more subtle contemporary novel. 

I really enjoyed this book, which maintained several layers of suspense right until the end, as well as a few surprises.

Meanwhile we had a fascinating book club this afternoon, when we discussed Robert Harris’ “Enigma”, which I reviewed several years ago on this site. There was much talk about Bletchley Park and the way that even the most able women were relegated to more minor roles, as well as several admissions that the codes were a little tricky…