A lovely read (There may be spoilers! )

 Every now and then I chose a book for comfort and this was an utter pleasure to read. I loved it!

It started with Veronica whose marriage to Spence comes to an abrupt and shocking end, when her husband tells her of his new love. She is more than surprised and suddenly finds herself in an apartment and needing a means to support herself.

She sees an advert, that asks for a companion by Mariah Ellsworth an Olympian, injured in a shooting, in which her mother was killed. Her mother, Rachel was a food writer, so Mariah wants to follow up on her mother's notes about cafes in London, Paris, Marrakesh and India, and needs help, both physically and to help write the book, that her mother had planned. It perfectly suits Veronica, as its over the Christmas period and her three grown up children are spending it with their father. 

And so the story of the complexity of their relationship through the countries they visit, starts.

Letters written by her mother lead them to the different cafes.

Henry a photographer who worked with Rachel joins them. I loved Veronica and although Mariah had her difficulties, they do bond and so do Veronica and Henry!

Like me you may be enchanted by the sights, sounds and colours of the places they visit and the food sounds delicious. 

Although I haven't visited India, I have Turkey, so I knew the sweaty feeling, the dust, the smells and markets described in the book. The trip should have been one of inspiration, relaxation and contentment, but it is not a journey of a gentle adventure, but plagued by personal trauma; Veronica is dealing with her divorce and a manipulative ex and Mariah is trying to put her mother's death behind her and deal with her constant physical pain.

As the story progresses you find yourself teetering between rocky moments and graceful landings, and wanting Veronica and Mariah to come to a place of resolve. 

I just loved it and it will stay with me for a while.. I've read Barbara O'Neal's books before, but this, her latest is in my view her best..it gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I need now and then.

I read it in three days, well I do need some sleep! 

Chrisxx