One spark will light up both their lives
Alice is settling down. It might not be the adventurous life she once imagined, but more than anything she wants to make everyone happy - her steady boyfriend, her over-protective mother - even if it means a little part of her will always feel stifled.
Max is shaking things up. After a devastating injury, he is determined to prove himself. To find the man beyond the disability, to escape his smothering family and go on an adventure.
A trip to Sri Lanka is Alice's last hurrah - her chance to throw herself into the heat, chaos and colour of a place thousands of miles from home.
It's also the moment she meets Max.
Alice doesn't know it yet, but her whole life is about to change.
Max doesn't know it yet, but he's the one who's going to change it.
Review: This is just my second Isabelle Broom book, but, after reading it, I am determined to catch up on the others I have missed if they can match up to this one in any way. I admit that I was not instantly drawn into this story, but once it hooked me I was lost in the world of its strong and interesting cast.
The two main characters in the story are Alice and Max. Alice has begun to feel smothered by her over protective mother and even her long-term boyfriend, Richard. There is a girl inside who is longing for adventure and excitement, both of which are missing from her life. Much to the disapproval of others, she embarks on the holiday of a lifetime to Sri Lanka with friends Maureen and Steph to celebrate all of their 30th birthdays. Early in their trip, they encounter Max and his friend Jamal. One-time soldier Max was disabled while serving in Afghanistan, but has now recovered sufficiently to be seeking the same adventure from life as Alice. The two parties naturally join forces and we watch as friendships develop.
This is a really wonderful story, expertly told. The way in which Isabelle Broom describes the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka has the reader transported there. It has obviously been really thoroughly researched. We are taken up mountains, travel on all sorts of modes of transport, stay in lovely Sri Lankan houses with friendly natives, eat local dishes and finally rest by the ocean. There is even an encounter with elephants. If you had no inclination to visit Sri Lanka before, you certainly will after reading this book. Of course it isn't just a travel guide; there are the interactions between the characters. I really enjoyed watching as the relationship between Max and Alice developed and Alice began to appreciate how her life could change. Be warned though - it's not all fun and laughter; tissue box at the ready!
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