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Life Happens: A perfect escape to Cyprus with this contemporary novel about friendship and a secret past
She was always the beautiful outsider, the one who yearned to have the handsome husband and the perfect family. But she let the love of her life slip through her fingers and from then on, happiness was always just out of reach.
Rachel Holland married an Air Force officer on the rebound and lived a life on military camps that made her feel like a fish out of water. When her husband takes early retirement, she begins to live again. She starts her own business and finds her independence. But when she goes on holiday to Cyprus with her two best friends and their husbands, secrets and lies begin to emerge which will change her life and the lives of everyone she holds dear, forever.
She must now face up to her past and confront her new present. Will her marriage and her friendships survive the revelations? Can she forgive herself, move forward and find the happiness she craves?
The novel is about the powerful bond between three women and one woman's enduring love. If you enjoy women's fiction set on a beautiful Greek island with plenty of drama, you'll love this first book of the 'Life Series'.
Rachel Holland married an Air Force officer on the rebound and lived a life on military camps that made her feel like a fish out of water. When her husband takes early retirement, she begins to live again. She starts her own business and finds her independence. But when she goes on holiday to Cyprus with her two best friends and their husbands, secrets and lies begin to emerge which will change her life and the lives of everyone she holds dear, forever.
She must now face up to her past and confront her new present. Will her marriage and her friendships survive the revelations? Can she forgive herself, move forward and find the happiness she craves?
The novel is about the powerful bond between three women and one woman's enduring love. If you enjoy women's fiction set on a beautiful Greek island with plenty of drama, you'll love this first book of the 'Life Series'.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2023
About the author
Sarah Catherine Knights
18 books15 followersSarah Catherine Knights writes heartfelt women's fiction celebrating hope, second chances, and the beauty found in life's unexpected turns.
Her emotionally rich stories often transport readers to the sun-drenched island of Cyprus, a place that captured her heart during her time there in the 1990s and continues to inspire her writing.
Sarah is the author of The Aphrodite Trilogy (Aphrodite's Child, Now Is All There Is, and Shadows in the Rock) and The Life Series (Life Happens and Life's Complicated), both set against Cyprus's evocative landscape. Her standalone novels, Love Is a State of Mind and Beneath the Cyprus Sky, further explore themes of love, loss, and rediscovery. She also shares her personal journey in her memoir Love, Honour and Annoy and delights young readers with Marvellous Mabel and Her Amazing Ball.
Her latest novel, The Seven Postcards from Famagusta was released on 11th July, 2026 and is currently in the bestsellers list for Multigenerational Fiction and Historical World War II Fiction. Although part of the novel is set in Cyprus, it marks a change from Sarah's previous books, as the Cyprus part is set during World War II. It is a dual timeline story, with the modern part set in San Francisco.
Sarah lives in Wiltshire with her husband and beloved Labrador, staying active through swimming, weight training, and long walks. When not writing, she enjoys seeing her three children and four grandchildren.
A former English teacher who returned to university at sixty to earn her MA in Creative Writing, Sarah proves it's never too late to chase your dreams.
Ready to escape to Cyprus and discover stories that will touch your heart?
Start your journey with Sarah's books today.
Her emotionally rich stories often transport readers to the sun-drenched island of Cyprus, a place that captured her heart during her time there in the 1990s and continues to inspire her writing.
Sarah is the author of The Aphrodite Trilogy (Aphrodite's Child, Now Is All There Is, and Shadows in the Rock) and The Life Series (Life Happens and Life's Complicated), both set against Cyprus's evocative landscape. Her standalone novels, Love Is a State of Mind and Beneath the Cyprus Sky, further explore themes of love, loss, and rediscovery. She also shares her personal journey in her memoir Love, Honour and Annoy and delights young readers with Marvellous Mabel and Her Amazing Ball.
Her latest novel, The Seven Postcards from Famagusta was released on 11th July, 2026 and is currently in the bestsellers list for Multigenerational Fiction and Historical World War II Fiction. Although part of the novel is set in Cyprus, it marks a change from Sarah's previous books, as the Cyprus part is set during World War II. It is a dual timeline story, with the modern part set in San Francisco.
Sarah lives in Wiltshire with her husband and beloved Labrador, staying active through swimming, weight training, and long walks. When not writing, she enjoys seeing her three children and four grandchildren.
A former English teacher who returned to university at sixty to earn her MA in Creative Writing, Sarah proves it's never too late to chase your dreams.
Ready to escape to Cyprus and discover stories that will touch your heart?
Start your journey with Sarah's books today.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 25, 2022
Sarah Catherine Knights' book is a story of friendships made which stand the test of time into married life and kids and beyond. Only all is not what it seems and even if, on the surface, the relationships appear to be sound, secrets lurk that threaten to make themselves known, by design or by discovery.
Knights' novel centres around three friends, Jen, Rachel and Grace who met at university and have remained close since those days. Their husbands, Mike, Zach and Leo respectively, make up the six who share a holiday in Cyprus, in a romantic idyll of rustic romance, with a pool and friendly locals at the taverna, which all adds to the idea that this will be the perfect get-together.
However, whilst the friends get along for the most part, there are tensions, previously undiscovered or discussed between partners and also there are things from the past that become more tangible as the nuances between characters are noticed, as well as revelations from the present as the book progresses.
I liked this book very much. I think that the characters are credibly drawn and I liked the way that Knights' narrative is structured and the way that details about the characters are revealed. It is a very easy book to read and I soon found myself wanting to see how it all ended: the hints of conflict and secret dalliances as well as how the suspicions gleaned would be dealt with - should the characters confront or continue to gloss over them?
If I have a criticism, it is the way that the book ends. I sincerely hope that Knights plans to revisit these characters, especially Jen as I felt that there were unresolved issues in her story especially, for which I would want to know more. However, in fairness, the book is rounded in that it starts with a photo and ends similarly.
All in all, this is a good story which has been well thought out and delivered with pace, revealed with control and with characters who are distinct, in a location that evokes all the delights of the Mediterranean - a perfect light summer read.
Knights' novel centres around three friends, Jen, Rachel and Grace who met at university and have remained close since those days. Their husbands, Mike, Zach and Leo respectively, make up the six who share a holiday in Cyprus, in a romantic idyll of rustic romance, with a pool and friendly locals at the taverna, which all adds to the idea that this will be the perfect get-together.
However, whilst the friends get along for the most part, there are tensions, previously undiscovered or discussed between partners and also there are things from the past that become more tangible as the nuances between characters are noticed, as well as revelations from the present as the book progresses.
I liked this book very much. I think that the characters are credibly drawn and I liked the way that Knights' narrative is structured and the way that details about the characters are revealed. It is a very easy book to read and I soon found myself wanting to see how it all ended: the hints of conflict and secret dalliances as well as how the suspicions gleaned would be dealt with - should the characters confront or continue to gloss over them?
If I have a criticism, it is the way that the book ends. I sincerely hope that Knights plans to revisit these characters, especially Jen as I felt that there were unresolved issues in her story especially, for which I would want to know more. However, in fairness, the book is rounded in that it starts with a photo and ends similarly.
All in all, this is a good story which has been well thought out and delivered with pace, revealed with control and with characters who are distinct, in a location that evokes all the delights of the Mediterranean - a perfect light summer read.
August 24, 2022
Life Happens is an incredible and poignant book that stands out amongst its genre and one that captivated me from start to finish with ease! Life Happens was a phenomenal and moving read and an incredibly memorable one that I will struggle to forget for a long time thanks to the compelling story and extraordinary characters the reader meets along the way! That is why I already recommend that you lovely readers have a read of Life Happens, however, if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more!
The story of Life Happens is quite simply sensational as well as thought-provoking and moving! Life Happens is a book that deals with many poignant themes and twists and turns and all of these topics are weaved perfectly together, and the outcome is a beautiful piece of literature that will stay prominent in readers’ minds for many weeks upon completion. To write I am astounded by Life Happens is an understatement, this captivating book captured me and held me captive until the very end!
Sarah Catherine Knights is a remarkable author and a genius; she is a genius because she has expertly weaved numerous themes throughout her book Life Happens, in a flawless way in which all subjects blend perfectly together. Life Happens is an incredible book that has thrilled and amazed me; the gripping nature of this novel makes Life Happens not only a stellar story but also a poignant one that should be read by everybody. If you do choose to read this book, then you will not be disappointed because it is a moving, compelling, and entertaining book that should not be missed!
As I am madly in love with Life Happens and think it is a captivating and poignant novel with a moving and memorable plot, I have no choice but to award it a dazzling five stars because it deserves this!
The story of Life Happens is quite simply sensational as well as thought-provoking and moving! Life Happens is a book that deals with many poignant themes and twists and turns and all of these topics are weaved perfectly together, and the outcome is a beautiful piece of literature that will stay prominent in readers’ minds for many weeks upon completion. To write I am astounded by Life Happens is an understatement, this captivating book captured me and held me captive until the very end!
Sarah Catherine Knights is a remarkable author and a genius; she is a genius because she has expertly weaved numerous themes throughout her book Life Happens, in a flawless way in which all subjects blend perfectly together. Life Happens is an incredible book that has thrilled and amazed me; the gripping nature of this novel makes Life Happens not only a stellar story but also a poignant one that should be read by everybody. If you do choose to read this book, then you will not be disappointed because it is a moving, compelling, and entertaining book that should not be missed!
As I am madly in love with Life Happens and think it is a captivating and poignant novel with a moving and memorable plot, I have no choice but to award it a dazzling five stars because it deserves this!
May 29, 2023
Nicely written story with interesting characters
I enjoyed this first book, even though it doesn’t really have an ending, you do understand that it comes as a series. The characters are very well described and it sounds like so many other friendship groups in real life. Having lived in Cyprus and various military bases I love reading the familiar place names and way of life cleverly woven into the story too. Luckily I enjoy it immensely but I know a lot that feel just as Rachael in the book did and it can be a real struggle.
I enjoyed this first book, even though it doesn’t really have an ending, you do understand that it comes as a series. The characters are very well described and it sounds like so many other friendship groups in real life. Having lived in Cyprus and various military bases I love reading the familiar place names and way of life cleverly woven into the story too. Luckily I enjoy it immensely but I know a lot that feel just as Rachael in the book did and it can be a real struggle.
December 8, 2022
Formulaic
Followed the form, a little disjointed, and stilted. It was ok but to be honest a little boring really. The only good thing was the description of Cyprus a fabulous place by all accounts
Followed the form, a little disjointed, and stilted. It was ok but to be honest a little boring really. The only good thing was the description of Cyprus a fabulous place by all accounts
July 30, 2025
I rarely write reviews but felt I must on this occasion. It is such a long time since I read a book like this, I just couldn't put it down, hence the 5 stars. Now reading the sequel, which I know is going to be just as good.
November 30, 2025
Disappointing ending.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but it needed an epilogue. What happened to these best friends, their husbands and the babies? I feel like the book wasn't finished.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but it needed an epilogue. What happened to these best friends, their husbands and the babies? I feel like the book wasn't finished.
January 19, 2026
Tried a genre change and struggled to even pick this one up. I said to myself this is like Eastenders (which I stopped watching years ago) and even the author made that comment too.
Just not for me, too much going on. Lack depth and any real emotion
Just not for me, too much going on. Lack depth and any real emotion
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February 11, 2025Life happens
Enjoyed this book , an easy read thoughtfulness of friendships .Liked the way the characters developed showed loyalty between close friends .
Enjoyed this book , an easy read thoughtfulness of friendships .Liked the way the characters developed showed loyalty between close friends .
June 17, 2025
Nice beach read whilst in Cyprus
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews