by Lisa J. LickelAnn Ballard is a wife with no husband. Hers has been missing for seven years. Is she a widow, or simply an abandoned woman? Her life goes on, set on automatic while Ann simply exists, putting one foot in front of the other, getting through one day at a time. Denied the financial benefits she should gain from her husband’s trust, she makes ends meet the best she can, lives in the house she once shared with a mostly disinterested man, and deals with a spoiled, resentful son who blames her for the absence of a father in his life.
When the son of a previous neighbor shows up on her doorstep—handsome, successful, and determined to win Ann’s heart despite their age difference—life takes on new meaning. Mark Roth awakens long-dead emotions and physical responses in Ann, who is very much aware of the social taboos involving this type of May-December relationship. Will the disapproval of a snippy sister, the snide disrespect of an unappreciative son, and the raised eyebrows of society cause Ann to walk away from the first thing that’s brought her happiness in more years than she cares to count?
As pressures build, Ann’s chronic migraines increase in frequency and severity. When she stumbles on the truth about her husband’s disappearance, her entire world is threatened, including her own health.
Mark wants to be there for Ann, but when she seems to pull away after a brief visit to New York, he wonders if their love stands a chance. What is bothering this woman that he loves, and will she ever get past the gap in their ages enough to enjoy the happiness he knows they could share? Or…did she find someone more suitable during her solitary trip out of state?
A catastrophic turn of events forces Mark to make a difficult decision. Stay or go? Give up or give his all?
A fascinating book that grips the reader from page one and never lets go. While relationships between young women and older men are at least somewhat accepted, when the genres are reversed, society considers it something ugly and reproachful—especially to the woman. Lickel offers a heart-warming love story based around such a relationship. Meander Scar is beautifully written, with sensitive handling of a delicate issue, and an absolutely fascinating storyline. The unexpected twist at the end comes right out of the blue, forcing the reader to keep turning pages. Masterful storytelling. Very highly recommended.
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