BREAKING THE CLOUDS

Author: Margaret Blake ISBN: 9780709085621 6/2008 SUSPENSE Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.

The move to New Zealand has suited Bronwen for she has a good job and a beautiful home. The only downside is her lawyer husband Jack, who is drinking too much and obviously unhappy with the move. What she doesn't need is a visit from her enigmatic cousin, Marged, a woman with whom she has little in common. However, it is with Marged's visit that Bronwen's life starts to spin out of control. She learns Jack was fired months ago from his firm, that he has abandoned his apartment in the city, and that most of her money is missing from her bank account. The only person who might know something is Job Tepi but Bronwen is not sure she can trust him...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Margaret Blake's suspenseful romance, BREAKING THE CLOUDS, is a wonderfully good, solid story. Told slowly, with the emphasis on interpersonal relationships, it feels like a sneak peek into a neighbor's life. It just feels real, like something that's happening to someone any reader would know. Yes, there's a murder mystery, but it's not so gruesome that it seems like a headline.

I had a suspicion who was behind the unusual goings-on, but never had any proof in my mind. When all was revealed, I felt excited that I'd figured it out somewhat. There was a glow of satisfaction in reading this story. And although I didn't agree with the heroine's final choice, I understood it. That's one of the things that I liked best about this book: the author so fully explained every character's thoughts and feelings I felt I knew them well enough to understand their choices.

A delightful way to pass a long afternoon, BREAKING THE CLOUDS is a highly satisfying read.

Kay James