By Susan Baldani

What do two single mothers do when they find themselves with empty nests and no romantic prospects on the horizon? Well, the first thing is to plan a trip to Paris, and the second is to prepare for the unexpected.

In “Window on the Bay,” a 2019 novel by New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber, Jenna Boltz and best friend Maureen Zelinsky commiserate with each other about the struggles of mid-life. While reveling in their newfound freedom, they are also staving off feelings of loneliness.

Coming from failed marriages and still reeling from disappointments and betrayals, the two are wary of opening up to new people. However, while appreciating the love of family and cherishing their longtime friendship, they find there is something missing from their lives. Deep down, they both feel the absence of partners to share their lives with.

When a near tragedy leads Jenna to Dr. Rowan Lancaster, and job duties force Maureen to interact with rough-around-the-edges Logan, both women have a hard time ignoring their feeling, even though these men are not who either had in mind when thinking about possible future relationships. Jenna vowed to never get involved with another surgeon (her marriage to one was enough), and Maureen, a prim and proper wine and ballet aficionado, cannot imagine what she could possibly have in common with a construction worker who drinks beer ,drives a pick-up truck, and is a proud owner of NFL season tickets.

In “Window on the Bay,” Macomber shows that opening our hearts and minds to people who are different from us can lead to whole new experiences and put us on a path to happiness. By staying in our comfort zones, we may be missing out on worlds of new opportunities.

Through her excellent writing, we get to share in these women’s triumphs and heartbreaks as they traverse the uneven landscape that is life. We are shown that although our lives do not always follow our carefully laid-out plans, and certain dreams don’t always come true, the twists and turns that occur can sometimes lead to even better outcomes.

To find out more about “Window on the Bay” and other books by Debbie Macomber, visit her website at https://debbiemacomber.com/.

Written for The Felixstowe Magazine in the U.K.