The House on Mountain Laurel Lane by Eileen Goudge is a contemporary fiction with a great romance. The book highlights the struggles after the death of a spouse and reminds us that we often need a village, especially due to the unpredictables in life.
Jo Meyers’ husband died, rather suddenly. She is struggling with raising her two girls living in a rundown duplex. She is lost and lonely and scared. Then a friend sends her a video that her husband made before he died and Jo realizes that she needs to move on or at least try.
Before she really knows it, she has bought a dream house, inherited a housemate of sorts, and revitalized her “village” of people who push to help her move forward. Even the thought of a date makes her feel upset, but she is willing (with a lot of pushing) to try.
I loved the character of Jo Meyers, a woman who is finding her path to move forward, despite or in spite of the difficulties with each step. I think her resident lodger and tattooed ladies are great characters to help her find her way. Maybe even Jo can find someone to love, in the midst of everything?
I very much enjoyed this novel and will look for others by the same author. The House on Mountain Laurel Lane by Eileen Goudge is a good read.
