Katie Fforde always makes me smile. She transports her readers to a different world (unless you live in the UK, in which case things might not be so different!) in each novel and subtly introduces us to an insider's view of a variety of professions. In A Summer at Sea (which, by the way, is not yet available in the U.S. as far as I know - hooray for Amazon.com used books!) we learn about both midwifery and running summer cruises in Scotland and, of course, there is a happily ever after for all (which makes this a romance). The thing about Fforde's romances is that they don't involve any bodice-ripping or sinking into each other's eyes. The characters, especially the women, are always involved in interesting pursuits and tend to be quite practical and self-sufficient.
Emily Bailey is a nurse-midwife in need of a short break. Conflicts with doctors and husbands who believe that germ-filled hospitals are the best alternative for giving birth have exhausted her, so when her friend Rebecca calls for a favor, Emily requests a leave, packs up, and commits herself to spending the summer in the islands west of Scotland, cooking for guests on a "puffer" steamboat owned by Rebecca and her husband, James. Rebecca, who usually does the cooking on the boat, is in the last trimester of pregnancy (so we suspect what's going to happen here!). Emily comes to love both Scotland and James' taciturn brother Alasdair, the local GP, but when an almost-too-good-to-be-true offer to run the new birthing center at the hospital back home comes up, what will she decide to do? Will Emily stay in England pursuing her new career, or will her heart take her back to Scotland and the people she has come to love?
As soon as this book is available in the US we will be adding it to our library collection. If you're a Katie Fforde fan who just can't wait, check out Amazon for a used copy. You'll be glad you read it!
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