The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate
Paperback, 352 pages
2009, Downtown Press
ISBN: 978-4391-0717-1
Synopsis
As 28 year old New York paralegal Rebecca Strand's widowed father lays dying, he confesses a secret: he had an affair 26 years earlier when Rebecca was just a toddler. Now he wants Rebecca to deliver the secret stash of letters he wrote, but never mailed, to the daughter he fathered. Rebecca's lawyer boyfriend, Michael, is adamant that she forget the woman exists. He's sure the woman will be an opportunist who will demand half of Rebecca's father's million-dollar estate. But Rebecca, now without any family in the world, can't help but wonder about her one living relative. With her relationship with Michael in tatters, Rebecca drives from New York City to Maine to find Joy Jayhawk, who operates a Weekend Singles Tour service out of an orange mini-van that her regulars dub "The Love Bus." Enter a cast of lovable, colorful characters, from Joy's eccentric mother to the singles on The Love Bus, and a sexy carpenter for whom Rebecca finds herself unexpectedly falling in love...
Review
I read the first chapter of The Secret of Joy, immediately put the book down and began figuring out the best time to sit down and really be able to immerse myself in the story. That night, I put the kids to bed and read the book cover to cover. I could not put it down. It was amazing and has instantly become one of my favorite books. The focus on love, doubt, expectations and disappointment were so real and raw. I'm not a crier but scene with Rebecca, Joy, Harry and the letter left me weeping. Utterly fantastic. I can't praise this book enough.
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I love the cover. What an interesting premise. Great review.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book I would love ~ thanks for the review!
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