Review of 'A meeting of a different kind' - Linda MacDonald

Print Length: 352 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1780883250

Publisher: Matador (1 Nov 2012)

ASIN: B009IT1RPQ

When archaeologist Edward Harvey’s wife Felicity inherits almost a million, she gives up her job, buys a restaurant and, as a devotee of Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, starts turning their home into a small eco-farm. Edward is not happy, not least because she seems to be losing interest in him. Taryn is a borderline manic-depressive, a scheming minx, a seductress and user of men. Edward and Taryn don’t know each other but they both know Marianne. To Edward, Marianne is a former classmate who sends him crazy emails. She is Taryn’s best friend, and when Marianne meets Edward, she tells Taryn how wonderful he is and that he is not the philandering type. Taryn sees a challenge and concocts a devious plan to meet him during a series of lectures he is giving at the British Museum. When Edward and Taryn’s paths cross, questions of friendship, loyalty and betrayal are played out against a backdrop of mental fragility and the destabilising effects of a large inheritance…

About the Author

                                                                              

Linda MacDonald was born and brought up in Cockermouth, on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria, England. She was educated at the local grammar school and later at Goldsmiths’, University of London where she studied for a BA in psychology and then a PGCE in biology and science. She taught secondary science and biology in Croydon for eleven years before taking some time out to write, paint and make jewellery. In 1990 she was lured back into teaching at a sixth form college in south-east London where she taught health and social care and psychology. For over twenty-five years she was also a visiting tutor in the psychology department at Goldsmiths’.

At the end of 2009, Linda broke her wrist very badly through tripping over a classroom chair. Reminded of the fragility of life and how time was passing with her writing dreams still unfulfilled, she decided to publish her first novel independently. Meeting Lydia was inspired by finding an ex classmate on Friends Reunited. The novel explores the effects of school bullying on later life, and the pros and cons of internet relationships from the perspective of a woman going through a midlife crisis. It was published in September 2011. The stand-alone sequel, A Meeting of a Different Kind, had already been drafted before Linda broke her wrist and was published in November last year. It continues the story from the perspectives of two different characters, looking at issues of friendship, loyalty and betrayal. Both books may be read independently and are being very well-received by a wide ranging readership of men as well as women. The third part of the series, The Alone Alternative, is about taking a second chance of love in midlife. It is now going through the publication process and is expected to be released in June.

Health issues in 2011 prompted Linda to retire from teaching in order to concentrate on her writing career. She hopes that with this new focus she can bring her books to the notice of a larger audience.

Lydia on Facebook

Twitter @LindaMac1

·      The Alone Alternative is expected to be released in June.

·      A Meeting of a Different Kind is on Kindle promotion while touring at the unprecedented low price of 99p

·       Meeting Lydia will also be on Kindle promotion £1.99

The giveaway is 1 x signed copy of The Alone Alternative (UK which will be delivered after publication) or e-copy (International).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Email fictionaddiction.booktours@gmail.com

My review

This second novel by Linda MacDonald can be read alone but I strongly recommend that you also read the first in the series, ‘Meeting Lydia’ as it gives you a much better idea of where the characters come from.  After reading this book you’ll want to read it anyway and personally I prefer to read books in order.

I enjoyed watching the relationships change between Marianne and her husband Johnny and between Edward and Felicity as the author uses her background in psychology to show how couples’ needs change as you get older. Throughout the book the reader is left wondering if either marriage will survive, what will happen between Marianne and Edward and when Taryn, Marianne’s manic-depressive best friend is thrown into the mix, she’s the catalyst that changes everything.

Personally I found it a pleasant alternative to read about older couples and how for both Marianne and Flick, the menopause is a time that makes them question what they want from life. This book is well written and is something a little out of the ordinary.

4/5