Clover Harrington might be sixty-one, but she’s still bossing it in the corporate world and can still run rings around her younger colleagues. And then she is made redundant….
Devastated and now suddenly the wrong side of sixty Clover doesn’t know what to do with her life or her corporate wardrobe! What does she wear if not red lippy and a power suit?! Rather than offer her any support, her partner, Jack announces he’s off on a golfing weekend, leaving Clover completely adrift.
Desperate to get away from it all, Clover decides to visit her cousin Zoe at her small taverna in the gorgeous Italian Lakes. There she can rest and recuperate and plan the next stage of her life.
Until Clover’s eighty-year-old mother, Eleanor decides to turn up for the holiday too! Instead of gentle ambles around the lake, Eleanor seems more interested in late night poker and swigging Prosecco and Clover can’t quite believe her mum is having more fun than she is. But as the saying goes – if you can’t beat em, join em!
But is Clover brave enough to live La Dolce Vita?
Published Date : 30 May 2023
My Review
Clover, in her sixties, expects a promotion but is instead let go from her corporate job, shaking her identity. With a tumultuous personal life including a selfish partner, Jack, and an unsupportive mother, she escapes to her cousin Zoe’s taverna in the Italian Lakes. Initially overwhelmed, she slowly adapts, embracing the local lifestyle and potentially a new romantic interest. Unexpectedly, her mother Eleanor shows up, adding zest to the adventure as she’s determined to live life to its fullest. However, when a job opportunity presents itself to Clover, both women must reconsider their future paths.
I was captivated by the characters in this novel. It was enlightening to witness the transformation in both Clover and her mother as they began to view life through a new lens.Clover’s life was consumed by the demands of her corporate job, leaving no room for personal connections. Meanwhile, her mother Eleanor felt trapped and discontented in a retirement community. Worried about her daughter’s well-being, Eleanor impulsively travels to Italy, intending to bring Clover back to reality. However, she herself becomes enamored with the Italian way of life and a captivating Italian gentleman.
Maddie Please’s prose brims with wit, vibrancy, and zest. Her characters pull you into their world, and I found myself completely engrossed in the plot. It’s an uplifting tale sprinkled with many laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, it is delightful and heartwarming romance story.
My Rating
My Sanctuary 