I thought this would be a slice-of-life fic about daily dramas, of the type I usually hate. I was half-right: it is a slice-of-life story about daily dramas and I loved it. Michael’s secret is the type of thing that should never be kept secret, but the readers meet his wife before learning what is going on, and can well understand why he doesn’t want to tell Grace what has happened.

The writing is formal and slightly stilted, and in their book where no one can talk to anyone it fits the characters perfectly. There are some nice touches where it enhanced the story: when Grace first speaks I immediately wanted her to stop prattling, only for her husband to think the same thing a moment later!

Although there are other characters this is Grace and Micheal’s story, and they carry it brilliantly. Their differing concerns, and the unexpected depths they both show make them characters you can respect and rely on. Grace’s desperation to keep up with her social-climbing sister comes across especially clearly.

I am having a bit of trouble reviewing this, as it is short and anything I say would spoil it. This is the type of story to come to fresh, and enjoy as a quick read without knowing where it is going.

Literary fiction readers can enjoy the brilliant character portraits contained here. I will also say that Christian or sweet romance readers will probably love this as a tale of two married people discovering what truly matters to each other.