The book begins in 2013, where we meet Liberty ‘Libby’ Allgood, who is in her mid-sixties and a writer for the local newspaper. She was married to Jim, who died seven months before. They have three kids (Eleanor – with daughter Ellie-Jo, 4 – and two sons Simon and Ben) and Libby lives with her cat – Cornflake.
On a solo trip to the theatre, she meets theatre director Monty Charles, who she knew decades ago at drama school. They begin a romantic relationship, but she is part of The Three Muscateers (though there’s now four of them) – a widows’ wine club – and the other members are a bit suspicious of Monty’s intentions.
Zelda is a widow, who lives three doors from Libby with her two Westie dogs. She owns a hairdressing salon and has a grandson Albert. There’s Janet Loveday who was widowed, but is now married to Alan and Viv – a professional gardener who has a boyfriend called Patrick.
As well as the wonderful women, I must mention The Olive Branch, the Greek restaurant owned by Nikos and Evelina that the Muscateers go to regularly. Nikos is very sweet and looks out for Libby. He was one of my favourite characters in the book.
I liked the short chapters and that we see events from each woman’s point of view. The story is easy to get into and I really liked all the great characters and the fun, witty writing style. I like older characters in novels too, as I find it easier to relate to them for me in my fifties, than characters in their twenties. I did find Monty annoying though and often wished Libby would have done or said things differently at some points in the story.
BLURB
Widows on the Wine Path
Viv, Janet and Zelda know all about facing the wobbly first year of becoming a widow as their friendship was forged when they ran away from the same dreary support group. Forming instead the much more lively widows’ wine club – The Muscateers – they welcome new member Libby with open arms.
Libby feels lost without Jim, her husband of more than thirty years, but the warmth, friendship and fun the women wrap her up in inspires her to begin to look to the future. When a solo trip to the theatre brings a blast from the past back into her life, things are looking up.
But as cravat-wearing, smooth-talking Monty Charles sweeps Libby off her feet, the women of the Muscateers smell a rat. They know only too well that the first year of widowhood is prime for making mistakes, and they’re determined to protect their friend. And as Monty soon finds out to his cost, never underestimate a Widow on the Wine Path…
Julia Jarman is back with her latest big-hearted tale of love and laughter, friendship and finding your feet. Perfect for all fans of Judy Leigh, Maddie Please and Cathy Kelly.
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/winepathsocial
Author Bio –
Julia Jarman has written over a hundred books for children, and is now turning her hand to uplifting, golden years women’s fiction. Drawing on her own experience of bereavement, female friendship and late-life dating, The Widows’ Wine Club will be published by Boldwood in June 2023.
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