As an author myself (The Four Treasures of Eirean), I know how hard it is to create characters with real depth, characters with whom you empathise and root for, characters who become as real and dear to you as your best friends. In ‘Never Too Late’, author Jay Howard has achieved this effortlessly, creating a whole community of engaging, authentic personalities, all with their hidden skeletons and secret motivations.
Maggie McTavish is the main protagonist around which this community revolves. There will not be many women who fail to identify with some aspect of Maggie’s character. On the surface, she appears to have it all; the big fancy house, handsome successful husband, beautiful accomplished children, and limitless disposable income. But inevitably, not all is as it seems.
Marrying young, and devoting her life to raising her children, Maggie one day realises that life has somehow passed her by. Her children, James and Chloe, have grown and flown the nest. Her faithless workaholic husband, Iain, is hardly ever home, and somewhere along the way she has lost herself too. With no career to fall back on, no family around to support her, the future stretches long and lonely ahead of her.
However, she is galvanised into action when Iain is seriously injured in a car crash. Suddenly, she finds herself running her husband’s business. She discovers shocking secrets and betrayal, whilst dealing with various family crises and nursing her invalid husband back to health. After living such a sheltered life as a pampered housewife, and with her marriage teetering, how will she cope?
The strength of this story lies within its many characters and layers. It is a story of friendship, love, passion, human weakness, and compassion, a story which could be playing itself out in any community around us right now.
Its only drawback (if it can be considered a drawback!) comes right at the beginning, in that we are introduced to all of the characters in fairly quick succession during the very first chapter. This slows the pace a little, as one comes to terms with all the names and personal histories. However, such is the author’s skill, that we are soon drawn into their lives regardless.
This is a lovely account of family saga, village life and community, which I would recommend to anyone. The author is knowledgeable and writes well. I look forward to reading more in the future from this author.
(reviewed the day of purchase)