Home? Where is Home?

 

Isabelle's mother is dying of cancer and she's in a crisis, but the doctor doesn't get there in time to save her, so Isabelle gets angry. 

Isabelle's father commits suicide because he is over-extended to the point of bankruptcy.  The man working for her father who was soon to become her fiancé leaves her reeling.  Isabelle gets angry again.  

Isabelle's sister is hiding a secret and when the truth comes out, Isabelle gets angry--but not with her sister.  She's angry with the boy her sister loves and his brother. 

Mark Henshaw is the doctor to Isabelle's mother and the brother of the boy Isabelle's sister is in love with.  He is also the target of Isabelle's anger. But, he gets angry at turns with his brother, with Isabelle's sister, and ultimately with Isabelle herself.  

Somehow Isabelle and Mark are destined to fall in love and marry, but not without a few ups and downs along the way.  It seems that they spend more time apart than in each other's company and what time they are together, they are angry with the other. 

Susan Anne Mason has brought this series to a rather unsuccessful climax. This novel is not a very satisfying read because of all the time wasted by the characters being angry. The epilogue ties all the loose ends up nicely in a bow and gives closure to the series which will placate the reader somewhat.  I just felt that this third novel in the series fell a bit flat.  

There were a few things that surprised me about the book.  It takes place during the waning years of World War II, but the draft wasn't mentioned at all in the book.  Especially when Mark's younger brother would have been draft-able.  He did eventually enlist, but not much was said about his time in the war.  However that's not a bad thing.  It wouldn't have added much to the plot if his Army service had been delineated. 

It's a three star  book for me, but that's not to say someone else won't enjoy it more. It just didn't hit the mark for me. 

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.