Love in Seaview :

Rating:
Summary: Sequel doesn't stand alone
Review: Adrian Quest continues the story begun in his debut novel, A CERTAIN DISTANCE TO CROSS, of widower Tom Claasen in this study of the trials and tribulations of relationships.

Three years have passed since Claasen's beloved wife Natalie died in an automobile accident and he fled the Kansas plains for a deserted island off the coast of Maine. He returns to Kansas, his goal to bid Natalie a final farewell before he takes a step that has been coming for some time-asking Ellen to marry him.

Tom and Ellen seem to be starting off with an excess amount of baggage. The twenty-year difference in their ages seems to have a much greater impact on them than it does on most people of middle age. Tom's unemployed status-and the potential difficulty of an academic out of the field for three years being able to land a job-is a more problematic issue, as Ellen suffered an earlier relationship where she was compelled to be the breadwinner. The real problem, however, is why, knowing all this, Tom opts to leap into marriage before he finds work-any kind of work.

The other is that, despite Mr. Quest's efforts to make this sequel stand alone, it doesn't, really. Oh, there's sufficient backstory so we know what's come before. What is missing is the understanding of and relationship with the two main characters one presumably would have acquired by reading the first book. This is an unfortunate weakness, as there is nothing in LOVE IN SEAVIEW to engage the reader sufficiently with the characters to make their relationship dilemmas all that interesting.

It doesn't help that Tom's joblessness comes across as a plot contrivance to provide a major conflict for them. Much is made of his honorable behavior in refusing to have sex with Ellen before marriage, which makes his willingness to get married knowing he has no way of contributing to household living expenses-and that Ellen's income isn't all that dependable either-seem like a major personality contradiction.

So, although Mr. Quest has a great deal of skill with words and paints excellent landscapes both internal and external populated with characters who all have unique and reasonably interesting voices, the simple fact is that it is difficult to feel much empathy for two people old enough to know better who enter into an intimate relationship with all the apparent indifference to reality of teenagers.

Rating:
Summary: The perfect book to take along on your seaside vacation
Review: Reviewer: Shirley Roe
Will Tom ever be free of Natalie's ghost? Secluded on an island, unemployed and surrounded by Natalie's things, ex-professor Tom is struggling to rebuild his life. Can he and new love Ellen succeed in putting Natalie to rest? Ellen enters the relationship with issues of her own. Divorced, strongly independent and much younger than Tom, she loves him with all of her heart but will that be enough?

Love in Seaview explores the deep-seated emotions of losing a loved one and the aftermath of guilt, fear and letting go. Combined with the trials and tribulations of a second marriage, serious age differences and shortage of money, our couple faces some serious challenges.

The characters are easy to know through articulate, heart felt emotions and credible actions and reactions. Penobscot Bay is the setting for the story and although this reviewer would have preferred more in-depth scenic descriptions, they suffice in giving our characters a perfect location for their professional photographic adventures.

Love in Seaview is author, Adrian Quest's sequel to his first book, A Certain Distance to Cross. This book however can stand alone with good character introductions and a glimpse into the past. Quest began writing after the death of his only son and the emotional turmoil and devastation of facing this loss are reflected in his novel.

This book is a pleasurable romantic tale and a light easy read. It would be the perfect book to take along on a vacation to the seaside.