It was crazier than I had imagined, had a strong Californian element I had not anticipated, and roared off in an entirely unpredictable direction but rather than these being turn offs for me, I loved the book. At least, I thought I did, because the story turned out nothing like I expected. I read the blurb on the back, looked at the cover art, and had a good idea what this book was going to be about. After all, while there are lots of four letter words she would associate with her family, love is not one of them. It's a tough jump from her happy life of a good job, a new boyfriend and a home of her own to return to the family life she left behind a long time ago, and Grace has to decide whether she can ignore the pull of her biological siblings once more or whether the time has come to let bygones be bygones. That's two lots of estrangement in just two generations of family, but a summons is a summons, and Grace soon finds herself dragged back into the heart of the family she deserted, working with the others to discover the many hidden secrets of the father who deserted them all. Grace is reluctantly participating in a 5k race when she receives the news: her estranged sister is calling to tell her their estranged father has had a stroke. When the going gets tough, the tough get going… far, far away from the trouble.

It's an easy, quick read but one that will have you thinking long after you've finished the last page. Summary: An unusual setting takes this book from the ordinary to the little bit special.

More Like Her by Liza Palmer