I seem to have my nose in a book (aka kindle) most days now, I mean; what a great way to escape! This is the first time I’ve picked up a Mariah Stewart book, as recommended by Amazon I thought I’d give it a go.

It’s not unusal for me to read this type of story, but this time about a woman more my (ahem) age. I’ve been used to reading books of characters between the age of late 20s to early 40s, not by choice but by coincidence. Kit is a relateable character, she’s a simular age to me and has the same outlook on life. However, her lifestyle is very different to mine. She’s a grandmother and has adult children.

Amazon

Kit Porterfield is coping with the upheaval of her personal life when another shock blindsides her. Maxine Meadows, an aunt she never knew existed, has bequeathed to her a rustic campground in Maine. With it comes a long-buried family secret that Kit’s late mother took great pains to hide for her entire life.

When Kit arrives to tenuously claim her inheritance, she learns the town’s history and finds the lakeside sporting camp and its beautiful wooded acres in need of restoration to their former glory. But it’s Kit’s own history that compels her to stay, and she’s not returning home until she uncovers the secrets that tore two sisters apart so many years ago.

Kit soon discovers clues in old photographs and in the tale of a tragic and enduring love story, but the most startling revelations are yet to come. For Kit, they could be the path to understanding the mystery that defined her mother’s life—and her own.

Kit has her *** together, well we think she has until she discovers things about her family that she knew nothing about. All of a sudden her priorities change as her world is turned upside down, from looking out for her family to looking out for herself. It’s hard to become selfish, and it takes a big life changing occurance that makes that happen.

As a teenager I was fascinated with America, I was obsessed with New Jersey and Boston because of the books I was reading and the music I was listening to at the time. Tolerance sounds like an amazing place to stay, even if it is fictional. I imagine it’s very much like a smaller version of Portsmouth, NH. I have never been there, but it would definately be on my bucket list!

If you enjoy romance, complicated relationships, family drama with characters who seem determined to make their lives as difficult as humanly possible, then this is the story of story you’ll enjoy. Some parts of it can be slightly predictable, but that may because I’ve read (and written) stories and see the plot changes and recognise what can and could happen.

I do love that Stewart’s ability to mix emotional moments with humour. The story deals with serious issues, but it does not become overwhelmingly gloomy. Instead, there are lighter moments that gave me the chance to breathe. This balance makes the book enjoyable but I did feel at times like I was on an emotional roller coaster, I also felt frustrated that the characters weren’t either doing the ‘right’ thing or being ‘too predictable’.

Stewart’s writing style is easy to follow, which makes the book a comfortable read. The story moves along at a good pace and the combination of romance, drama and humour keeps things interesting. There are moments that are expected, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes I quite like knowing that everything will eventually work out (especially if I’m reading something before bed).

Overall, I would recommend Wake Up Calls to readers who enjoy contemporary romance with plenty of emotion and a touch of humour. Mariah Stewart creates characters who are imperfect, relatable and occasionally in desperate need of common sense. The book reminds us that life rarely goes exactly according to plan, but sometimes unexpected changes can lead to something better.