Someone once told me that groupings of objects should be displayed in threes. Three provides both tension and balance among items of varying size and heft. My sister’s accident made me an only child; my husband’s accident made me a widow. Part of me will always believe that Angel was the third, the one that left me with hope. After her husband’s unexpected death at the age of thirty-six, Gina Melrose becomes a “live-aboard” on his boat, docked at a marina in coastal South Carolina, near the home she and Ben once shared. In this temporary, borrowed existence on the water, she settles into numb survival. But Gina finds her life taking yet another dramatic turn late one night when a woman named Reese disrupts her quiet world. With Reese comes a daughter: a charming girl named Angel. After a rough start, Gina realizes that, strange as it may seem, she’s drawn to both Reese and Angel. Their sudden appearance shatters the stillness–and Gina is remade. She is fascinated by Reese, who seems both invincible and vulnerable–and whose past may hold the key to Gina’s future. Gina begins to realize that for the first time since Ben’s death, she’s getting her senses back. As both pain and joy reenter her world, Gina discovers that she is able to accept feeling in order to live fully once more. But the biggest surprise for Gina is her relationship with Angel. After the painful loss of her sister during childhood, Gina had decided that she would never have children of her own. Struggling through conflicted emotions, Gina’s finds her life unexpectedly transformed by the precocious little girl who may be Ben’s daughter. This tender, poignant novel movingly explores the bonds of family and the resilience of hope. In the accomplished tradition of the novels of Elizabeth Berg and Anita Shreve, Jean Reynolds Page’s Accidental Happiness is a lyrical, enthralling drama unafraid to examine complex relationships with a clear eye and an honest heart.
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"I stumbled upon this book and really enjoyed it. Not a big fan of her first book, but this one was a real page turner and kept me wanting to read more! "
— Jen (4 out of 5 stars)
" An enjoyable read. It's not earth shattering and is predictable in parts with mild surprises in others, but I did like it and would recommend it. "
— Ryann, 1/6/2011" The title says it all. Despite what happens in life, you can find or it will find you happiness again. "
— Debra, 4/12/2010" Enjoyable light novel about the former and widowed wives of a recently deceased man. The former wife's daughter brings both enormous joy. "
— Ahf, 2/23/2009" This would make a great beach read. Just enough content in the plot to keep you going, but not keep you up at night. "
— Mindy, 2/15/2009" Interesting story - I did have a little trouble with the excessive and unnecessary profanity. "
— Kathleen, 2/7/2009" I listened to this book during my commute. It's okay, I fast forward through most of the predictable parts. "
— Victoria, 2/1/2009" Kind of slow but a good read "
— Melanieslagle, 9/15/2008" I enjoyed this book. It is about a two women who were both married to the same man at different times, but this man dies. They hate eachother at first, but then the story takes an interesting twist and I honestly couldn't put it down towards the end. "
— Julie, 8/22/2008" Interesting change of pace from many of today's books. It had romance, but it also had many other life experiences, which could have different consequences if any one little detail had been handled differently. "
— Angie, 8/17/2008" This was a good quick read. "
— Jaime, 7/11/2008Jean Reynolds Page grew up in North Carolina and lived in Texas for ten years. She is the author of A Blessed Event. She worked as an arts publicist in New York City and has written about dance for numerous publications. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and three children.