"Soul warming"

When his much younger friend asked wealthy Warren Bancroft for a place to hide for a while, he arranges for investor Sam Butler to stay at Shelter Rock Cove, Maine. Warren also manipulated the staying at a nearby beach cottage of Annie Galloway. The widow struggles to regain her life ever since her spouse Kevin died leaving her with quite a debt and a loss of innocence.

Warren loves Sam and Annie and hopes by bringing these two deserving people together, a loving match will form. However, Kevin's mother Claudia refuses to allow Annie to move on feeling that would be an affront to the memory of her cherished son. She believes Sam cheated Annie with their real estate deal and is still interfering with her former daughter-in-law. As Sam and Annie begin to fall in love, Claudia is like a ghost from the past reminding Annie that Kevin was forever.

Barbara Bretton has written a powerful relationship drama loaded with angst and emotion as the past and the future clash within Annie with the catalyst being the key secondary characters causing the skirmishes that tear at her gut. The story line provides the audience with a poignant character study as readers travel deep into the souls of the lead couple and the support cast. Anyone who enjoys a passionate look inside the hearts and souls of the prime players will find A SOFT PLACE TO FALL a solid book to read.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 25, 2001