Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing: An emotional and uplifting story of friends, family and second chances.
About the Book:
After the death of her abusive husband, Erica Masters returns to Perth, eager for a fresh start and the birth of her granddaughter. But when she learns her husband has changed his Will in favour of their son, leaving her with nothing, she flees to seek refuge in Pelican Crossing, the place she once called home.
Having sold his fishing boat after a bitter divorce which left him to bring up his two teenage sons, Jamie Whittaker has found success with his fishing charter business. Thrilled by the arrival of his first grandchild, he is stunned when his teenage flame, Erica, reappears in town.
As the pair reconnect, old feelings resurface, but Erica remains guarded after her painful past. Jamie, determined to win Erica's heart once again, manages to break through her defences until a family tragedy turns their lives upside down.
With everything unravelling around them, can these two troubled souls build a future together?
If you enjoy emotional reads, you'll love this gripping tale of love and second chances.
My Review:
Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing is the fifth book in the Pelican Crossing series. Erica Masters sought safety in Pelican Crossing a year ago when fleeing her abusive husband. Upon his sudden death, Erica returns to Perth, across the continent. She then learns that her husband shook things up at some point, cutting her completely out of his will, leaving her with absolutely nothing. One final slap from him to remind her who was in charge.
After finally being free of her controlling deceased husband, Erica makes the difficult decision to leave her son, daughter-in-law, and new grandbaby and return to Pelican Crossing permanently. With the changes in inheritance and worrisome changes in her son, she was not going to sit around and allow her son to treat her the same way.
Jamie Whittaker has always thought of Erica as the one who got away. They dated in their teens but that all changed when she went to Sydney to college, met and married another guy, and relocated to Perth. Her return the previous year was shrouded in mystery and his best mate and Erica's brother, Joe, kept her tight under wraps the entire time she was home, then she vanished again, back to Perth. Now that she's back in Pelican Crossing, there is hope from him and everyone who knows them, that they will reconnect.
I really enjoyed the realism in Safe Harbour in Pelican Crossing. The author delicately balanced domestic violence with care and compassion. So many people are victims of DV and I enjoyed reading about someone who is trying to get through the trauma while also trying to encourage and build up others who may be facing the same situation she had been in with her husband.
Erica's reconnection with Jamie is slow and fraught with trust issues, denial, and the inability to let go of the past. I understood Erica's hesitancy and resistance. I realize she was abused by her first husband, but Jamie's past isn't all rose petals and champagne. Both characters have emotional baggage and scars.
I absolutely love Erica through most of the book. The scene that almost changed my mind about her, though, happened during the misunderstanding near the end of the book. Jamie felt like he should apologize for something that he didn't do and wasn't his fault. Erica misread the situation and ran instead of dealing with it head-on, or at the very least, asking questions. Jamie's apology was NOT necessary and Erica should have made it clear that the situation and escalation were her fault, not his.
Jamie was very patient and understanding. I loved his character, too. Of course he was excited about Erica's return, but he didn't force himself at her. He didn't need to, really. The townsfolk took care of that quite nicely for the both of them. Small towns - am I right?! I grew up in one and everyone always knew everyone else's business.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the setting. I love the author's writing style and the other themes woven throughout the story. The story is written with realism, passion, and emotion. There were twists and turns, conflict, and a wonderful, mature romance.
I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not
affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own.
My Rating:
4.5 butterflies
Purchase Link:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
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