Arthur Pepper, aged 69, is at a pivotal time in life. Recently widowed, he wakes every morning wanting little more than to slog through his daily routine with little contact with the outside world. He wakes at the same time, wears the same clothes, and cares for his only companion, Frederica the fern. Oh, and he attempts to avoid the well-meaning also-widowed neighbor who has adopted him as her current “lost cause” in need of fresh baked goods. On the one-year anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, however, he finds a beautiful piece of Miriam’s jewelry he’d never seen hidden inside an old shoe. Attached to a lovely gold bracelet are a series of charms, each of which holds a story that will lead Arthur on a journey to discover Miriam’s secret past.

This is quite a lovely story. It’s simple and sweet with believable and relatable characters. Arthur is quite charming in his own ordinary and initially naïve kind of way. When he starts off on his little adventure, he is a bit of a gullible pensioner out of his depth in a world he doesn’t understand, but as he opens himself up to new people and new experiences he’s able to connect with a self he never knew lurked beneath his rather ordinary façade. His new experiences open his eyes to the beautiful parts of his life to which he’s turned a blind eye. Grief is a vicious thing, and dwelling on the absence of the one we miss often blinds us to the wonderful people and things we still have surrounding us. Arthur’s relationship with his daughter, Lucy, is an especially touching part of this novel. I love how Arthur is able to open his own eyes to the pain of others. As people, I think we often get lost in our troubles and forget that those around us also have their own troubles. We all carry darkness that we try to hide from the world, and we don’t have to feel so alone.

Ultimately, this book is a testament to how our past can shape us but not define us. We have a choice in how little or how much we allow the past to alter the trajectory of our lives. Arthur could have seen Miriam’s secrets as a betrayal, but ultimately those secrets had nothing to do with him. In some part they led her straight to the place she was meant to be, each charm a stepping stone in the right direction.

Overall, this is a quick read with tons of heart and a teensy bit of mystery. It would be the perfect choice for a relaxing vacation read.

Published May 2016 by Harlequin Audio. ISBN 9781488201677. Runtime 8 hrs. 59 mins. Narrated by James Langton.