Review: The Light of Hidden Flowers by Jennifer Handford

Synopsis:

Book-smart Melissa Fletcher lives a predictable life in her hometown, working behind the scenes for her charismatic father in a financial career that makes perfect sense. But when her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Missy is forced to step up and take over as his primary caregiver and the principal of the firm.

After her father’s death, Missy finds a letter from him in which he praises her for being a dutiful daughter but admonishes her for not taking any risks in life.

Devastated, Missy packs her suitcase and heads for Italy. There she meets a new friend who proposes a radical idea. Soon, Missy finds herself in impoverished India, signing away her inheritance and betting on a risky plan while rekindling a lost love.

The Light of Hidden Flowers is a deeply felt story of accepting who we are while pushing our boundaries to see how much more we can become. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue our dreams.


My Review:

A thought provoking tale of self discovery.

Melissa “Missy” Fletcher was always a good girl and her father’s pride and joy.  At thirty-five, she has a successful career as a financial adviser working with her father.  She doesn’t care for socializing after work or dating.  She prefers her predictable life as it is, working and then going home alone.  When she is introduced to Lucas, she decides to give him a chance and they start dating and get serious.  But there is one man that Missy will never get out of her head, Joe, her high school boyfriend.  What if they could have a second chance?

When Missy loses her father to Alzheimer’s, her world is turned upside down.  She starts second guessing everything in her life.  She decides to give into one of her biggest fears, flying.  She takes a trip to Italy, a place she always wanted to visit.  During the trip, she meets a young lady, Reina, who works for UNICEF.  When Missy learns what Reina does, it sets her mind in motion.  From Italy, Missy heads to India to meet with Reina again.   Together they make life changing plans for some underprivileged girls and Missy finally finds a new life for herself and one that would make her father very proud.

I thought the story was very well thought out and it is one that will stay with me for a long time.  I enjoyed the reunion between Missy and Joe and how well Missy got along with Joe’s daughter Katherine who needed a meaning in her life as well.  The only issue I had with this book was the ending.  I felt it ended abruptly and more could have been added to wrap up the story.