Forgiving Nancy
Two marriages real bloopers, the third one is going downhill. Nancy went from just getting by to lady in a seriously wealthy household and threw it all away. Will Maxwell forgive her?
Left alone in London, finally Stella found a reason to move to Edinburgh. She tried to win Maxwell over, but to no avail. Will she find her love in the end?
One wrong decision a lifetime ago. Now Madam Melody chances upon her daughter in Edinburgh. Will she find forgiveness?
Forgiving Nancy draws pictures of rich Edinburgh and the poor parts of town. It conjures up images of scrumptious foods and homeless shelters. It weaves together the lives of people and will make you want to continue reading and, one day, visit Edinburgh and all its wonderful hotels, cafés, gardens, and, of course, the castle.
About Janice:
My Review:
Maxwell is a buttoned-up character, out of touch with his family, his emotions constrained by his status and the persona he’s expected to be, rather than what he might have wished to have been. Despite the luxurious life his fortune allows him, upon meeting his estranged family, he perhaps yearns to be a freer spirit, like Nancy. Things come easily to Maxwell. If he wants something, he buys it. We can’t help but think then, where at their wedding, “He exhibited Nancy like a priceless work of art, like a precious possession…” that he does in fact see Nancy as just that, a possession that needs its rough edges honing in order to fit elegantly into his lifestyle. Once the afterglow of the wedding has worn off, in attempting to mould Nancy, he is “clipping her wings”, dampening her spirit and her lust for life and love.
The differences between them soon become apparent, the gaps between them widening as Maxwell persists in treating her like child to be instructed or indulged. Nancy’s reaction is to rebel, to break free of the constraints of her marriage and seek the passion and love that fires her soul.
To say more would give spoilers. Ultimately, relationships are tested. New relationships are forged. Nancy is not perfect. Can she be accepted, forgiven? Can the love that was undeniably there at outset survive? Can Stella move on? Forgiving Nancy gives us a wonderful array of colourful characters and stunning descriptions of Edinburgh, from the castle “sat with an air of majesty, like a king on his throne, the sky wrapped around like a cloak of blue silk” to the “single white cloud sitting in the blue sky, undisturbed and entirely still”, the portrayals of the landscape and architecture are beautifully evocative. I’ve never been to Edinburgh, but I feel I know it intimately.
Keep safe everyone!
Lots of love,