May 15, 2018

The High Tide Club. Mary Kay Andrews


book cover
Published: St Martin's Press
Date: 8th May 2018
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 480
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
4.5 stars                   Add to Goodreads
When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

My thoughts banner
The High Tide Club was an entertaining read - lots happening, interesting and varied characters, a little bit of mystery and crime, and some life happenings that tugged at my heart.

I loved that it was a dual time story - usually I find those a little annoying, but this one is really done well and it all goes together seamlessly. It tells the story of Josephine, Milly, Ruth and Varina back in the day and how their lives intertwined and then they lost contact. Why? Josephine was a secretive lady but in my opinion she meant well. I liked her.  

The present day ladies called together by Josephine are Lizzie - related to Ruth, Felicity related to Varina who is still alive, and Brooke a lawyer daughter of Marie who is a daughter of Milly as it turns out.  I liked how they all developed and reacted to the various events, taking their time often to adjust. The last moments in the book are sweet.

Brooke is really a main character, she has a beautiful son Henry and a missing father for Henry that she still sort of wishes was still around. But its been three years, he doesn't know he is Henry's father and Brooke has found herself being courted by a lawyer she used to work with and now needs his help.

It kept me reading, even during a difficult time, so you might say its just the right kind of read to take your mind off real life.  A story of friendship, love, sadness and loss, forgiveness and new hope.

11 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you loved this books and I loved your review! I have read all of this authors books and she is one of my favorite authors!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved this book! I'm glad you enjoyed it, too. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's a good one when you're taken away somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I thought the dual storyline worked well - I loved reading both. That doesn't always happen. Yes, a good escape book. I agree. I'm glad it could take you away for a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved this one too. Glad it was a timely read for you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah another author I've wanted to try Thanks Kathryn!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've been struggling to get into a book lately and have had the best results with kind of women's fiction type reads with a bit of romance and this sounds like a perfect choice. I love when both timelines are really well done and that doesn't happen very often!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This title, cover, author and blurb all scream "Summer!" and "beachy read" to me. I've read a couple by her in the past and would be interested in picking this one up in the near future. Glad it was a good one for you, Kathryn.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is on my TBR list, and I have been enjoying lighter books that are easy to read and get through lately- this sounds perfect!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...