THURSDAYS IN THE PARK by Hilary Boyd is such an emotional
story.
Just because you become a senior citizen it doesn't mean you
stop living or
loving. Jeanie is married to George. They have been
married for many
many years. Ten years ago, George moved out of their
bedroom with no
explanation. They are right in the middle of making love
and George
announces that he can no longer do this anymore. That's it
and he just
walks away. After many sleepless nights, wondering and
crying, Jeanie
just gives up and lives with it. One day, while taking her
granddaughter,
Ellie to the local neighborhood park, she meets Ray and his
grandson,
Dylan. At first, they are friendly and just allow the kids
play with each other.
Over time, THURSDAYS IN THE PARK become very special to each
of
them.
When Jeanie gets back home one day, George tells her that
they should
sell their Victorian house and move to the country...after
all Jeanie is going
to be sixty next month. But she still has the store to run.
She isn't old, and
she isn't ready to retire and leave her granddaughter! She
is about to be
living two separate lives and she has to make the most
difficult decision of
her life...but who would be hurt?
While I was torn with Jeanie and her infidelity, I found
myself cheering for
her. She is starving for affection and it isn't something
she is going to get
from George. Jeanie and Ray's feelings for each other is
almost like first
love. Yes they are both in their sixties, but their story
is so romantic,
emotional, and moving. George has no idea of course, but
Jeanie's grown
daughter, Chanty and her husband Alex, start to suspect
something is
going on. What will Jeanie do? Will she confess her
feelings for Ray to
Chanty? Will she tell Ray she doesn't feel right and end it?
You are going to
have to read THURSDAYS IN THE PARK to find out because I
won't tell
you.
THURSDAYS IN THE PARK is my first read by Hilary Boyd. It's
a quick
read, but a very well written page turner. I love how
Hilary shows us that
love can find you at any age and if you are 16 or 60 is
still feels wonderful
and has the same effect on you. THURSDAYS IN THE PARK is
the story
of one woman's journey to finally find happiness. The
story covers a wide
range of issues such as abuse, secrecy and affairs but one
thing that it is
not heavy on (just in case you believe all you read in the
media) is sex.
Yes there are a couple of sex scenes but they are not
graphic or distasteful,
they are fitting with the story and do not make you feel
uncomfortable.
Called “a warm and well-written case for love affairs in
later life” (Daily Telegraph), Thursdays in the
Park was a runaway best-seller in the united Kingdom.
Boyd’s debut novel is a touching, romantic tale of new
attraction and old loyalties.
Jeanie is on
the brink of turning sixty, and the man she’s been married
to for more than half of her life has suddenly abandoned the
marital bed. When Jeanie’s husband George retreats from his
conjugal duties, she is deeply hurt and very confused: Has
she done something wrong? Is he in love with someone else?
Her pained bewilderment turns to anger as he remains unable,
or unwilling, to provide answers. The bright spot of
Jeanie’s week is Thursday, the day she takes her
granddaughter to the park. There, one day, she meets Ray —
age-appropriate, kind-hearted, easygoing, and downright
sexy. In short, he is everything that George is not. As her
relationship with Ray begins to blossom and she begins to
think that her life might hold in store a bold second act,
she begins to wonder if she has the courage to take a step
off the precipice of routine and duty and into the swirling
winds of romance.