Title: The Space in Between
Author: Madeleine James
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Beach Read
Book Blurb:
The day Julia Salinger admits to her girlfriends she has a drinking problem, she vows to do something about it. Spending time in a recovery center helps. So does attending AA meetings and therapy. But the thing that saves her, day after day, is fixing breakfast for strangers.It’s routine. It gets her out of bed every morning.
While she and her husband, Mark, had dreams of operating their Old Louisville B&B together, her drinking put an end to that dream—and their marriage. And while Mark still shares in the business venture, the running of the inn is Julia’s responsibility.And all goes well until it doesn’t.
Despite therapy, Julia still wrestles with the cause of her drinking—her difficulty coping with the loss of their stillborn child, months of bourbon binges covering up her grief. But now that she’s sober, grief surfaces in other ways.
Her father pressures her to return to the family law firm. A friend from AA dies of an overdose. She hears a baby crying in the attic and is certain her Victorian era home is haunted. She craves the sweet oaky taste of bourbon and caves to a night of binge drinking. She doesn’t get up to fix breakfast the next morning.Mark gives her an ultimatum—get her act together or he’s taking over the B&B.
Julia decides her best therapy is the beach and heads to Tuckaway Bay for solace, healing, and her girlfriends. A secluded cottage at the end of the Sea Glass Inn Resort becomes her sanctuary, where she lets very few people into her life for weeks—except for the older man who fishes in front of her cottage every day.
My Review:
Julia struggles to stay sober, move through her grief, and heal. But when life gets overwhelming, she finds solace at the beach on Tuckaway Bay. Can she break free from the space in between to where she’s meant to be? The Space in Between is an emotional tale of a woman’s addition to bourbon and her life spiraling out of control. The hourly turmoil of an addict is brilliantly written through descriptive narration, deep POV, and the characterization of Julia. The other characters swirl around Julia, influencing and charting Julia’s reactions. The emotions bleed from the pages, leaving you forever changed. The Space in Between is simply unputdownable.
Let’s start with the characters. Julia is the main character, and her life is a mess. She’s a recovering alcoholic still brutalized by grief. She’s dealing with a lot but has a good support system. I connected with her right away. Her inner struggles tore my heart out. The way she deals with life sober throughout the story is simply heart wrenching. She stumbles but gets back up.
The six friends continue to grow and change but their friendship and devotion is their strength. No, it’s not perfect and yes, it is fraught with tension. Madeleine James details the closeness between these friends and it’s poignant.
If you’re looking for an emotional women’s fiction dealing with issues such as losing a baby, addiction, grief, and healing, you must read The Space in Between. It’s a book worth reading and will move you.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
BN Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-space-in-between-madeleine-jaimes/1146057066?ean=2940179836230
Author Biography:
Madeleine Jaimes is the women’s fiction pen name for bestselling romance author Maddie James.
While Maddie dabbles with cowboys and small town happily-ever-afters, Madeleine explores the real-life, complicated relationships of women, their friends, and their families. Maddie also writes mainstream romantic suspense as M.L. Jameson.
Maddie James and pen names have published over 70 romance titles worldwide, and in a variety of formats (ebook, print, audiobook, and more). Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense, so hop on for an exhilarating ride.”
Learn more at www.maddiejamesbooks.com
Social Media Links:
Website http://www.maddiejames.org
Bookstore http://www.maddiejamesbooks.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MJNovelist
Reviewed by: Nancy