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The Taste of Air
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A simple phone call disrupts Nell Williams’s well-ordered life. Her mother, Mary, is in a hospital in Vermont. But her mother is supposed to be safely tucked away in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, so Nell can’t fathom why she would be so far from home.
After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother’s side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life. Mary has another home and a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met.
When Nell and Bridget delve deeper into their mother’s lakeside hideaway, they uncover a vault of family secrets and the gateway to change for all three women.
A simple phone call disrupts Nell Williams’s well-ordered life. Her mother, Mary, is in a hospital in Vermont. But her mother is supposed to be safely tucked away in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, so Nell can’t fathom why she would be so far from home.
After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother’s side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life. Mary has another home and a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met.
When Nell and Bridget delve deeper into their mother’s lakeside hideaway, they uncover a vault of family secrets and the gateway to change for all three women.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
927 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
About the author
Gail Cleare
5 books105 followersGail Cleare lives on an 18th century farm in Massachusetts with her family and dogs, cats, chickens, black bears, blue herons, rushing streams and wide, windy skies. She writes fiction and poetry, is into organic gardening and nature photography, and can often be found stalking wild creatures with a 300 mm lens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
January 17, 2019
Heartwarming, delightful & touching!
THE TASTE OF AIR by GAIL CLEARE was such a comforting, uplifting, and enjoyable read that had so much warmth flowing through the pages of this book. I immediately felt a connection to the authors writing style and thought this story was so tastefully told. It wrapped me up tightly in a warm comfy hug transporting me right back to all the tastes of home.
GAIL CLEARE delivers a beautiful, well-written and engaging read here that takes you on a journey full of family secrets, love and relationships with some added revelations and soul-searching for you to ponder right along with the characters. The story is told between the perspectives of Nell and Bridget in the present and Mary’s perspective from the past. I enjoyed all perspectives equally and really enjoyed learning Mary’s secrets as the story progressed. I was totally surprised with the reveal and loved how it all came together in the end.
Can you taste the flavour of the air?
I really never thought of tastes being comforting and nostalgic before reading this novel or else I just took it for granted. It really made me think and realize that different experiences can certainly affect us in how we perceive those different tastes that bring out a sense of happiness, comfort, love and fond memories for us. This novel definitely brought that all out for me!
*Traveling Friends Group Read*
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching, peaceful, relaxing and an excellent and fitting representation to storyline.
Title: I had no idea the meaning behind this title before reading this novel. I was quite baffled but after reading a couple of chapters the meaning behind this title became quite apparent. I absolutely loved how the title played into the storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, suspenseful, and beautiful.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, heartfelt, interesting, steady-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: Surprising, heartwarming, and satisfying.
Overall: I was definitely taken with this storyline and really enjoyed learning all the family secrets as they unfolded. Making this novel hard to put down. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Gail Cleare for gifting me a copy of this book, it was an absolute pleasure reading it.
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
THE TASTE OF AIR by GAIL CLEARE was such a comforting, uplifting, and enjoyable read that had so much warmth flowing through the pages of this book. I immediately felt a connection to the authors writing style and thought this story was so tastefully told. It wrapped me up tightly in a warm comfy hug transporting me right back to all the tastes of home.
GAIL CLEARE delivers a beautiful, well-written and engaging read here that takes you on a journey full of family secrets, love and relationships with some added revelations and soul-searching for you to ponder right along with the characters. The story is told between the perspectives of Nell and Bridget in the present and Mary’s perspective from the past. I enjoyed all perspectives equally and really enjoyed learning Mary’s secrets as the story progressed. I was totally surprised with the reveal and loved how it all came together in the end.
Can you taste the flavour of the air?
I really never thought of tastes being comforting and nostalgic before reading this novel or else I just took it for granted. It really made me think and realize that different experiences can certainly affect us in how we perceive those different tastes that bring out a sense of happiness, comfort, love and fond memories for us. This novel definitely brought that all out for me!
*Traveling Friends Group Read*
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching, peaceful, relaxing and an excellent and fitting representation to storyline.
Title: I had no idea the meaning behind this title before reading this novel. I was quite baffled but after reading a couple of chapters the meaning behind this title became quite apparent. I absolutely loved how the title played into the storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, suspenseful, and beautiful.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, heartfelt, interesting, steady-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: Surprising, heartwarming, and satisfying.
Overall: I was definitely taken with this storyline and really enjoyed learning all the family secrets as they unfolded. Making this novel hard to put down. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Gail Cleare for gifting me a copy of this book, it was an absolute pleasure reading it.
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
November 20, 2018
Nell receives a phone call one day informing her that her Mother was in a hospital in Vermont. What is even more shocking is that her mother is supposed to be in an assisted living home/facility in Massachusetts. Just how the heck did she get to Vermont and why was she there? After Nell informs her sister, Bridget, of their Mother's hospitalization, she travels to Vermont and learns that her Mother had secrets - a secret cottage, and secret relationships with many in the small town and specifically with her neighbors. Secrets she has kept from them their entire lives. Nell is naturally shocked and confused. When her sister, Bridget arrives, both women learn the truth about their Mother's secret life while at the same time, reflecting and making decisions about their own lives.
The story is told through Nell and Bridget's present-day points of view, and through Mary's in the past. Through these women's stories, the reader learns the truth(s) and we are also shown the women's personalities, their relationships with each other and those in their lives. There was a lot of love in this book and it was nice to read a book which dealt with family secrets but did not have a lot of drama, yelling or fighting. There are a lot of "aha" moments for the characters and as they cope with the choices they have made, they lean on each other and communicate rather than argue.
I found this book to be refreshing and interesting. The subject matter is thought provoking and captivating. There are situations where readers may stop and ponder "what would I do in this situation?" or "how would I react?" and "would I have done the same thing?". While the focus on the book is on Mary's secret, each woman had her own secret as well. I enjoyed how the secret cottage became a place Nell and Bridget to reflect and discuss their secrets and goals/hopes/dreams for their futures. Well written and thought out. This is women's fiction done right. A pleasure to read!
The story is told through Nell and Bridget's present-day points of view, and through Mary's in the past. Through these women's stories, the reader learns the truth(s) and we are also shown the women's personalities, their relationships with each other and those in their lives. There was a lot of love in this book and it was nice to read a book which dealt with family secrets but did not have a lot of drama, yelling or fighting. There are a lot of "aha" moments for the characters and as they cope with the choices they have made, they lean on each other and communicate rather than argue.
I found this book to be refreshing and interesting. The subject matter is thought provoking and captivating. There are situations where readers may stop and ponder "what would I do in this situation?" or "how would I react?" and "would I have done the same thing?". While the focus on the book is on Mary's secret, each woman had her own secret as well. I enjoyed how the secret cottage became a place Nell and Bridget to reflect and discuss their secrets and goals/hopes/dreams for their futures. Well written and thought out. This is women's fiction done right. A pleasure to read!
January 18, 2019
The Taste of Air has it all to make this an interesting and engaging family saga with a mystery to it to add some suspense to the story. It is a thought-provoking emotional yet entertaining and pleasing realistic story that explores the secrets, some that are buried that a mother keeps from her children. Her life before and separate from her grown children.
Gail Cleare does a great job creating interesting realistic characters and I really enjoyed the dynamics between them. As we get to know our characters, secrets are revealed that had us thinking about what we would do in that situation. The story and the discussion questions we used in our group read had us also thinking about our own families and sharing stories with each other. We discussed how we thought we would react to some of the situations in the story and this made for a very interesting discussion.
I really enjoyed this pleasing story from start to finish. The pace is well paced and I was intrigued by Mary’s past. I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up and came together in the end. I highly recommend.
This was a special Traveling Friends Group Read where Gail Creare joined us in our discussion.
Thank you to Gail Creare for sending me a copy of your book!
Gail Cleare does a great job creating interesting realistic characters and I really enjoyed the dynamics between them. As we get to know our characters, secrets are revealed that had us thinking about what we would do in that situation. The story and the discussion questions we used in our group read had us also thinking about our own families and sharing stories with each other. We discussed how we thought we would react to some of the situations in the story and this made for a very interesting discussion.
I really enjoyed this pleasing story from start to finish. The pace is well paced and I was intrigued by Mary’s past. I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up and came together in the end. I highly recommend.
This was a special Traveling Friends Group Read where Gail Creare joined us in our discussion.
Thank you to Gail Creare for sending me a copy of your book!
January 4, 2017
Nell Williams receives a phone call informing her that her mother, Mary, has been admitted into the hospital in Vermont. Not only is her mother's health a real concern for Nell but just why in the world was her mother even in Vermont is the big question, Mary was supposed to be in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts.
When Nell arrives in Vermont she finds that her mother has had a secret life that no one in the family had known about. Mary owns a small cabin and it seems that she has had the place for years, even before Nell's father had passed away. Now while waiting for news of her mother's health Nell needs to piece together this secret life that her mother had been living.
The Taste of Air was a fantastic contemporary read that almost had a bit of a thriller edge to it when it came down to unwinding years and years worth of family secrets. The story alternates between the current day and the past leading the reader to find out what exactly Mary had been hiding from her closest family for years.
Not only did Mary have her secrets for Nell to uncover but the book touches upon Nell's own self discovery along with other characters during the read. It was quite intriguing and had the pages turning all throughout watching the characters grow and find themselves right along with solving the mystery of the small lakeside cottage that Mary had kept and why she hadn't even told her daughters.
Definitely a compelling read for those that enjoy more of a family drama and secrets spanning decades unfolding before your eyes, one that I'd highly recommend.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When Nell arrives in Vermont she finds that her mother has had a secret life that no one in the family had known about. Mary owns a small cabin and it seems that she has had the place for years, even before Nell's father had passed away. Now while waiting for news of her mother's health Nell needs to piece together this secret life that her mother had been living.
The Taste of Air was a fantastic contemporary read that almost had a bit of a thriller edge to it when it came down to unwinding years and years worth of family secrets. The story alternates between the current day and the past leading the reader to find out what exactly Mary had been hiding from her closest family for years.
Not only did Mary have her secrets for Nell to uncover but the book touches upon Nell's own self discovery along with other characters during the read. It was quite intriguing and had the pages turning all throughout watching the characters grow and find themselves right along with solving the mystery of the small lakeside cottage that Mary had kept and why she hadn't even told her daughters.
Definitely a compelling read for those that enjoy more of a family drama and secrets spanning decades unfolding before your eyes, one that I'd highly recommend.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 26, 2016
I had read one of this authors previous books so I am aware of her style, but this book surpassed the last read but in a different way.
It was written with sheer passion for the characters which shone through each page. The more I got to learn about this double life of the Mother the more I fell into the emotional trap of secrets.
Imagine 40 years of a families secret known only by the Mother.
Family secrets can go any two ways, crumble a family into a heaped emotional mess with anger, frustration and dysfunctional to pulling them closer together.
I couldn't help but wonder which way this would unfold.
A fantastic well written book which evokes many emotions of family life.
Makes me wonder, who is hiding secrets in my own family, because I am sure through the lineage of most families there are some.
My thanks for the invitation to read this from the author and connected to Red Adept Publishing, LLC via Net Galley
June 14, 2024
Getting a phone call that your mother is in the hospital is frightening enough, but learning that the hospital is in Vermont and only a few miles from your mother's home when she lives in Massachusetts is quite puzzling for Nell.
Nell quickly made her way to Vermont, and Nell's sister, Bridget, would be arriving the next day from Washington, D. C.
After she saw her mother and needed a place to stay, Nell asked the receptionist for some local places to stay. The receptionist suggested that she stay at her mother’s home. Another surprise...no one knew Mary had a home here.
As Nell looked around the cottage her mother was living in, she realized her mother had been here for longer than she had admitted and not in the assisted living facility. There were a lot of secrets being kept by Mary both now and in the past.
A TASTE OF AIR has us following the lives of the three main characters. We follow Mary from the time she was in the service as a nurse and met her husband to present day. We follow Bridget and Nell as well. Bridget had an interesting life with many marriages. Nell seemed to be a normal, follow-the-rules, do-not-change-anything housewife. All of the characters were heartwarming.
A TASTE OF AIR was a lovely read that any women’s fiction fan will enjoy. I enjoyed going back and forth in the women’s lives and especially in Mary’s. Mary seemed to have the most interesting life and the one with the most secrets, and she had one BIG secret. Bridget came in second with secrets. Nell didn’t seem to have any secrets but got some ideas as time went on.
I truly enjoyed this book. Ms. Cleare’s writing is smooth, beautiful, detailed, and alluring. When you don’t want a book to end, you know the author’s talent is the reason.
A TASTE OF AIR is a perfect summer read or an any time read for when you need warmth oozing from the pages to help your mood be lightened or to be taken away.
There are also some tissues needed for happy things as all came together at the end, but for the most part A TASTE OF AIR is an uplifting, enjoyable read that is like receiving a big hug.
I hope you get to read this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Nell quickly made her way to Vermont, and Nell's sister, Bridget, would be arriving the next day from Washington, D. C.
After she saw her mother and needed a place to stay, Nell asked the receptionist for some local places to stay. The receptionist suggested that she stay at her mother’s home. Another surprise...no one knew Mary had a home here.
As Nell looked around the cottage her mother was living in, she realized her mother had been here for longer than she had admitted and not in the assisted living facility. There were a lot of secrets being kept by Mary both now and in the past.
A TASTE OF AIR has us following the lives of the three main characters. We follow Mary from the time she was in the service as a nurse and met her husband to present day. We follow Bridget and Nell as well. Bridget had an interesting life with many marriages. Nell seemed to be a normal, follow-the-rules, do-not-change-anything housewife. All of the characters were heartwarming.
A TASTE OF AIR was a lovely read that any women’s fiction fan will enjoy. I enjoyed going back and forth in the women’s lives and especially in Mary’s. Mary seemed to have the most interesting life and the one with the most secrets, and she had one BIG secret. Bridget came in second with secrets. Nell didn’t seem to have any secrets but got some ideas as time went on.
I truly enjoyed this book. Ms. Cleare’s writing is smooth, beautiful, detailed, and alluring. When you don’t want a book to end, you know the author’s talent is the reason.
A TASTE OF AIR is a perfect summer read or an any time read for when you need warmth oozing from the pages to help your mood be lightened or to be taken away.
There are also some tissues needed for happy things as all came together at the end, but for the most part A TASTE OF AIR is an uplifting, enjoyable read that is like receiving a big hug.
I hope you get to read this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 27, 2018
3.5 stars
A story of secrets and compromises. For not only one generation, but also for the following. Mary, Thomas, Jake and Ginnie forever interconnected. As is Bridget and Lizzie, and Nell and Adam. Promises made, love protected, hidden secrets. As the secrets untangle, the truths go back many years.
This is my first experience with the author Gail Cleare. I was not disappointed. Her story carried me along, revealing surprises and story twists exactly when needed. Not a book of high drama, nor heart throbbing suspense - but a soothing story about a families life, one that needed to come to the surface. Engagingly told, throughout many years, gave the needed time frame and space to unravel all the secrets that were so lovingly kept.
A story of secrets and compromises. For not only one generation, but also for the following. Mary, Thomas, Jake and Ginnie forever interconnected. As is Bridget and Lizzie, and Nell and Adam. Promises made, love protected, hidden secrets. As the secrets untangle, the truths go back many years.
This is my first experience with the author Gail Cleare. I was not disappointed. Her story carried me along, revealing surprises and story twists exactly when needed. Not a book of high drama, nor heart throbbing suspense - but a soothing story about a families life, one that needed to come to the surface. Engagingly told, throughout many years, gave the needed time frame and space to unravel all the secrets that were so lovingly kept.
November 24, 2018
4 stars to this sweet tale of mothers and daughters and family secrets
Daughters Nell and Bridget are shocked when they find out that their mother Mary is hospitalized in Vermont when they thought she was living in assisted-living in Massachusetts. In fact, they discover she's had a cabin in Vermont for many years. This is just the start of secrets that are uncovered throughout this book.
We are treated to chapters with Mary's life in the past as a nurse in the Vietnam war and the friends that she makes there. The pieces slowly come together and the daughters are able to figure out the puzzle while Mary is struggling in the hospital.
I enjoyed reading this book with the Traveling Friends and having the author participate in our book discussions. It certainly makes me think more about family secrets and how well we know our parents . . . The writing in this book was enjoyable and it made me yearn for New England!
Daughters Nell and Bridget are shocked when they find out that their mother Mary is hospitalized in Vermont when they thought she was living in assisted-living in Massachusetts. In fact, they discover she's had a cabin in Vermont for many years. This is just the start of secrets that are uncovered throughout this book.
We are treated to chapters with Mary's life in the past as a nurse in the Vietnam war and the friends that she makes there. The pieces slowly come together and the daughters are able to figure out the puzzle while Mary is struggling in the hospital.
I enjoyed reading this book with the Traveling Friends and having the author participate in our book discussions. It certainly makes me think more about family secrets and how well we know our parents . . . The writing in this book was enjoyable and it made me yearn for New England!
July 19, 2018
A family drama that pulled me right in. When their mother Mary is sent to the hospital in Vermont,Nell and Bridget are stunned. Their mother is suppose to be living in an assisted living facility in Massachusetts. When Nell arrives in Vermont she finds her mother has this cottage no one knew about. While the sisters try to uncover why their mother is living in Vermont long buried secrets come to the surface. I loved everything about this story. The family history. The choices Mary made in the name of love. Just Beautiful! A must read for summer or anytime. A great book club selection. There is just so much to discuss. This story will stay with you long after you close the cover.
Dawn
BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Book Blog
Dawn
BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Book Blog
June 4, 2018
The Taste of Air is a fabulous and intriguing story about choices and consequences, secrets and revelations. Two sisters find out that their elderly mother is in the ICU of a Vermont hospital when they believed her to be living in a Massachusetts retirement home. The secret choices of their mother are revealed, spurning the daughters to examine their own life choices. The characters are real; they are genuine, imperfect and likable. Their lives, though messy at times, are touching. You will be pulled into this book right away and will be grateful that you were.
July 6, 2018
A simple phone call disrupts Nell Williams’s well-ordered life. Her mother, Mary, is in a hospital in Vermont. But her mother is supposed to be safely tucked away in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, so Nell can’t fathom why she would be so far from home.
After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother’s side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life. Mary has another home and a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met.
When Nell and Bridget delve deeper into their mother’s lakeside hideaway, they uncover a vault of family secrets and the gateway to change for all three women.
The writing was so good... it was strong and put you immediately inside the pages. Atmospheric and mysterious but not something thrilled for the next chapter. It was a family story for how much we know our parents and their secret that might had.
Surelly I enjoed a lot the story of these women. 3,5 stars !!!!
After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother’s side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life. Mary has another home and a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met.
When Nell and Bridget delve deeper into their mother’s lakeside hideaway, they uncover a vault of family secrets and the gateway to change for all three women.
The writing was so good... it was strong and put you immediately inside the pages. Atmospheric and mysterious but not something thrilled for the next chapter. It was a family story for how much we know our parents and their secret that might had.
Surelly I enjoed a lot the story of these women. 3,5 stars !!!!
July 4, 2025
The Taste of Air tells the story of two grown sisters, Nell and Bridget. They discover their mother Mary's secret home at a lake in Vermont after Mary is hospitalized. Their mother apparently had regularly escaped to this hideaway and developed a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met. The next-door neighbor and his son played important role in their mother's life. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and timeframes, which provide the backstories of the three women and the two neighbors, including scenes of their mother’s time as a nurse in Vietnam. This novel is about love, longing, loss, family, friendship, choices, and personal space. I do not believe that, in real life, events turn from negative to positive quite as fast as depicted here, and it is all neatly tied up at the end. It is a sweet, sentimental story that will appeal to those who enjoy a mix of relationships, drama, and family secrets.
December 9, 2018
I enjoyed this book, the plot and all of the characters. It was well written and I would love to spend some time at the cottage that they stayed in, it sounds so perfect there! This story had so many feels, but my favorite was of warmth and love. ♡
April 18, 2018
I have to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
This is one of those books you won’t be able to put down unless something beyond your control happens. It starts out interesting and just gets better and better until the final beautiful page. It’s got so much in it but not hard to follow at all. About a family, the Vietnam war in places, children, parents and children. Extended families and beautiful towns. Some tragedies along the way too but it’s so worth reading.
Mary(Ellie) has two daughters who she loves beyond words. She would do anything for them that she can. Thomas, their dad got Alzheimer’s and Mary took care of him until he died. She had met him before they both were sipped overseas during the Vietnam war. Her a nurse, him a pilot. They were engaged to be married. Mary/Ellie becomes friends with an ambulance driver, Jake. They share time together and see some pretty awful things. One thing I liked about this story is it did not go into bad gruesome details of bloody and hurt soldiers or the horrors they faced when they came home. Although it did happen. It’s good to read about some of the pleasant things even though they were most likely few and far between. Jake and Mary were the best of friends and eventually Mary became best friends with Jake’s wife Jennie.
Mary had many secrets that her daughters would uncover in her cottage in Vermont. She had a completely separate life there from the one at home or in the assisted living facility in Massachusetts where she was suppose to be. Nell and Bridget learned a lot about their mother that they never knew. They got to know themselves much better along the way also. They uncovered some secrets that their mother kept from them and learned why. Everyone possible has some secrets they would like to keep but in Mary’s case it helped her daughter to move forward learning who and what their mom was and had done. She was a wonderful lady in my opinion and in theirs too.
This truly is a wonderful story that will touch your heart in so many ways. Make you feel like taking time for yourself is ok and a must sometimes. I throughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was so heartwarming, beautiful and touching. I cried, laughed, cringed a bit, while reading this one. It’s a good must read for anyone who loves a story that will unfold chapter by chapter. It is told from Mary/Ellie, Nell and Bridget’s lives. Not in the least hard to follow. It will leave you feeling happy. It did me.
I loved it and gave it a big 5 stars. Well written, great characters and beautiful scenery.
This is one of those books you won’t be able to put down unless something beyond your control happens. It starts out interesting and just gets better and better until the final beautiful page. It’s got so much in it but not hard to follow at all. About a family, the Vietnam war in places, children, parents and children. Extended families and beautiful towns. Some tragedies along the way too but it’s so worth reading.
Mary(Ellie) has two daughters who she loves beyond words. She would do anything for them that she can. Thomas, their dad got Alzheimer’s and Mary took care of him until he died. She had met him before they both were sipped overseas during the Vietnam war. Her a nurse, him a pilot. They were engaged to be married. Mary/Ellie becomes friends with an ambulance driver, Jake. They share time together and see some pretty awful things. One thing I liked about this story is it did not go into bad gruesome details of bloody and hurt soldiers or the horrors they faced when they came home. Although it did happen. It’s good to read about some of the pleasant things even though they were most likely few and far between. Jake and Mary were the best of friends and eventually Mary became best friends with Jake’s wife Jennie.
Mary had many secrets that her daughters would uncover in her cottage in Vermont. She had a completely separate life there from the one at home or in the assisted living facility in Massachusetts where she was suppose to be. Nell and Bridget learned a lot about their mother that they never knew. They got to know themselves much better along the way also. They uncovered some secrets that their mother kept from them and learned why. Everyone possible has some secrets they would like to keep but in Mary’s case it helped her daughter to move forward learning who and what their mom was and had done. She was a wonderful lady in my opinion and in theirs too.
This truly is a wonderful story that will touch your heart in so many ways. Make you feel like taking time for yourself is ok and a must sometimes. I throughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was so heartwarming, beautiful and touching. I cried, laughed, cringed a bit, while reading this one. It’s a good must read for anyone who loves a story that will unfold chapter by chapter. It is told from Mary/Ellie, Nell and Bridget’s lives. Not in the least hard to follow. It will leave you feeling happy. It did me.
I loved it and gave it a big 5 stars. Well written, great characters and beautiful scenery.
September 5, 2017
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars and finally decided to split the difference and give this book 3-1/2 stars.
This story gets a solid four stars for being engaging and causing the reader to want to hurry to the end and bring meaning and closure to the mystery. A mother, Mary, has taken ill and lands in an ICU ward in a hospital in Vermont. Her youngest daughter, Nell, gets a phone call saying her mother is in the hospital and has named Nell as her health proxy. Nell assumes her mother is in a hospital in Massachusetts, where she lives, only to be shocked to find she is in Vermont. She leaves her two children in the care of her husband and rushes to Vermont only to find her mother nearly comatose and also discovers her mother wasn’t just visiting Vermont, she owns a cottage there. In fact, she has owned it for many years – even when Nell was a young girl. The older daughter, Bridgett, arrives soon carrying some heavy luggage – and not just the kind you pack in a suitcase. Both begin a journey to uncover the life of their mother they never knew.
The story line was interesting and, for the most part, well written, but it gets only three stars for presenting a scenario that this reader found a bit too unbelievable. Some secrets can be easily hid, other can be covered up enough that no one realizes what they are seeing, but owning a house for years and years with frequent visits and your husband and children never catch a whiff of it, stretched the boundaries a bit too far for me. There are just too many items involved in owning a home (taxes, insurance, repairs, utilities, etc.) that one spouse would be able to hide those expenses from the other spouse.
If you put aside the things I found difficult to swallow, it was still a moving story of the things a mother does for love, the sacrifices a mother makes and the importance of not losing yourself in the mix.
This story gets a solid four stars for being engaging and causing the reader to want to hurry to the end and bring meaning and closure to the mystery. A mother, Mary, has taken ill and lands in an ICU ward in a hospital in Vermont. Her youngest daughter, Nell, gets a phone call saying her mother is in the hospital and has named Nell as her health proxy. Nell assumes her mother is in a hospital in Massachusetts, where she lives, only to be shocked to find she is in Vermont. She leaves her two children in the care of her husband and rushes to Vermont only to find her mother nearly comatose and also discovers her mother wasn’t just visiting Vermont, she owns a cottage there. In fact, she has owned it for many years – even when Nell was a young girl. The older daughter, Bridgett, arrives soon carrying some heavy luggage – and not just the kind you pack in a suitcase. Both begin a journey to uncover the life of their mother they never knew.
The story line was interesting and, for the most part, well written, but it gets only three stars for presenting a scenario that this reader found a bit too unbelievable. Some secrets can be easily hid, other can be covered up enough that no one realizes what they are seeing, but owning a house for years and years with frequent visits and your husband and children never catch a whiff of it, stretched the boundaries a bit too far for me. There are just too many items involved in owning a home (taxes, insurance, repairs, utilities, etc.) that one spouse would be able to hide those expenses from the other spouse.
If you put aside the things I found difficult to swallow, it was still a moving story of the things a mother does for love, the sacrifices a mother makes and the importance of not losing yourself in the mix.
October 10, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and Red Adept for the advanced copy.
Set in New England this a story about the secrets a mother has kept from her family for over forty years. A surprise phone call from a hospital in a different part of the state, calls into question everything Nell thought she knew about her family when goes to sit by her sick Mother's bedside.
This is a wonderful novel that caught me by surprise as I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me reading, wanting to find out what had been going on behind the scenes of Mary Reilly's life. The characters all felt real and the setting was perfect for the story.
I kept thinking about my elderly Mother and if she has any secrets and if I'd want to know about them. This is my first book my this author and I'd definitely like to read more by her.
I recommend this for lovers of women's fiction, it reminded me of novels by Barbara Delinsky. I think it would work really well in a book group too as there as some great themes in there.
Set in New England this a story about the secrets a mother has kept from her family for over forty years. A surprise phone call from a hospital in a different part of the state, calls into question everything Nell thought she knew about her family when goes to sit by her sick Mother's bedside.
This is a wonderful novel that caught me by surprise as I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me reading, wanting to find out what had been going on behind the scenes of Mary Reilly's life. The characters all felt real and the setting was perfect for the story.
I kept thinking about my elderly Mother and if she has any secrets and if I'd want to know about them. This is my first book my this author and I'd definitely like to read more by her.
I recommend this for lovers of women's fiction, it reminded me of novels by Barbara Delinsky. I think it would work really well in a book group too as there as some great themes in there.
October 18, 2016
The Goodreads group Making Connections provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Reilly has been living her life with secrets. When her daughter Nell receives an unexpected phone call from a hospital informing her that her mother, Mary has been admitted, she immediately drives to her mother’s bedside. The town is not familiar to Nell and she is puzzled as to her mother’s whereabouts. Nell discovers her mother’s secret home and life—and the many layers begin to unravel. The reality of their mother’s hidden life is shocking to Nell and her sister Bridget.
The Taste of Air is a truly original read. It explores the life of a woman, Mary—loyal wife, loyal parent and loyal friend. The consequences of one’s choices are cleverly revealed as the author takes the reader back in time to share Mary’s life changing experiences. The author also gives the reader a glance into Nell and Bridget’s lives.
The author has created strong and distinct main characters. The secondary characters add texture to this fast paced read. The author explores emotional topics with compassion and sensitivity. The women in this well-written novel show the reader that they must learn to trust their instincts when it comes to their relationships. The men in their lives add many twists and turns to the plot as well. The title is perfect for this contemporary fiction. Will the discovery of their mother’s life allow Nell and Bridget to live their own authentic lives?
Mary Reilly has been living her life with secrets. When her daughter Nell receives an unexpected phone call from a hospital informing her that her mother, Mary has been admitted, she immediately drives to her mother’s bedside. The town is not familiar to Nell and she is puzzled as to her mother’s whereabouts. Nell discovers her mother’s secret home and life—and the many layers begin to unravel. The reality of their mother’s hidden life is shocking to Nell and her sister Bridget.
The Taste of Air is a truly original read. It explores the life of a woman, Mary—loyal wife, loyal parent and loyal friend. The consequences of one’s choices are cleverly revealed as the author takes the reader back in time to share Mary’s life changing experiences. The author also gives the reader a glance into Nell and Bridget’s lives.
The author has created strong and distinct main characters. The secondary characters add texture to this fast paced read. The author explores emotional topics with compassion and sensitivity. The women in this well-written novel show the reader that they must learn to trust their instincts when it comes to their relationships. The men in their lives add many twists and turns to the plot as well. The title is perfect for this contemporary fiction. Will the discovery of their mother’s life allow Nell and Bridget to live their own authentic lives?
March 6, 2017
The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare
Starts out where Mary-the mother has alternating chapters with her daughters: Nell and Bridget
The girls have been notified their mom is in the hospital but it's nowhere near the retirement center she's been staying at. Nell goes to the VT area to investigate and within a few days, no answers as her mom has a vent tube in, she learns her mother has a cottage
and a has been living there for about 10 years and is friendly with the neighbors. Nell has a family and children and is happy. Bridget has just left her cheating spouse and his daughter and heads to VT also.
Like the travel and the mysteries surrounding why she even choose VT as I am familiar with some of the areas there.
Story goes back to the past, present for each of them as we are brought up to date and then understand what's going on with everybody.
Other mysteries surround the neighbors wife til you realize the whole story and then other secrets come to life.
Lots of twists and turns and just when you think you have it all figured out, you do not.
Author gets a lot done in the amount of pages, so well I feel as if I am there with them. Can't wait to read more from this author.
It's the little things that grab my attention, VT, rose arbor, paths and especially the glider.
Received a copy via the author from Book Review Buzz and this is my honest review.
Starts out where Mary-the mother has alternating chapters with her daughters: Nell and Bridget
The girls have been notified their mom is in the hospital but it's nowhere near the retirement center she's been staying at. Nell goes to the VT area to investigate and within a few days, no answers as her mom has a vent tube in, she learns her mother has a cottage
and a has been living there for about 10 years and is friendly with the neighbors. Nell has a family and children and is happy. Bridget has just left her cheating spouse and his daughter and heads to VT also.
Like the travel and the mysteries surrounding why she even choose VT as I am familiar with some of the areas there.
Story goes back to the past, present for each of them as we are brought up to date and then understand what's going on with everybody.
Other mysteries surround the neighbors wife til you realize the whole story and then other secrets come to life.
Lots of twists and turns and just when you think you have it all figured out, you do not.
Author gets a lot done in the amount of pages, so well I feel as if I am there with them. Can't wait to read more from this author.
It's the little things that grab my attention, VT, rose arbor, paths and especially the glider.
Received a copy via the author from Book Review Buzz and this is my honest review.
April 8, 2018
Life is too short to not enjoy life and those around you. Nell and Bridget, Mary's (aka Ellie) daughters, find out when they receive a call that their mom is not living where she should be living.
This is a journey of a mother and her daughters and their various experiences and how history sometimes repeats itself. It is also a journey of self-discovery for each of these women.
This book jumps back and forth in time, revealing snippets of history that tie the story together in the end. As you read further into the book you might figure some of it out before it is officially revealed, but the anticipation in waiting for the truth to be revealed had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted the characters to hurry up and reveal their secrets, but I had to wait and it was worth the wait.
Each character had a hurdle in their life that needed resolution and I think each found that happiness in the end. There are some moments that will make you laugh and others that will make you cry.
A very enjoyable book and while there could have been more conflict to create some tension and drama, it is still a good book.
This is a journey of a mother and her daughters and their various experiences and how history sometimes repeats itself. It is also a journey of self-discovery for each of these women.
This book jumps back and forth in time, revealing snippets of history that tie the story together in the end. As you read further into the book you might figure some of it out before it is officially revealed, but the anticipation in waiting for the truth to be revealed had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted the characters to hurry up and reveal their secrets, but I had to wait and it was worth the wait.
Each character had a hurdle in their life that needed resolution and I think each found that happiness in the end. There are some moments that will make you laugh and others that will make you cry.
A very enjoyable book and while there could have been more conflict to create some tension and drama, it is still a good book.
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November 21, 2018I read over 40 pages then chose to abandon because of the author's characterizations of the Catholic church which were very unlike my personal experiences and others I know, lots of others... Unfortunately, this wasn't for me but I think that that's my stuff and those without those experiences would probably enjoy. After all, it as it is highly rated by many other readers, more than likely those without the past history I experienced.
On a different note, the author writes in such a manner that flowed and I would consider other stories by her.
On a different note, the author writes in such a manner that flowed and I would consider other stories by her.
June 9, 2018
This engaging and well-written novel points out family secrets, some more far-reaching than others. The lush Vermont setting becomes its own character in this unique drama. Gail Cleare exposes the innermost thoughts of her diverse characters, which allows the reader to care deeply about their lives and to root for a happy outcome to their individual predicaments.
September 8, 2022
I read this using my Kindle Paperwhite and I received the book thru ZLibrary.
It takes place mostly in the great State of Vermont.
This is one of those books that you go back and forth between different time periods.
It involves a family whose mother is in a Vermont hospital dying, and the 2 sisters go to take care of her. They discover that their mother let a very secret life… with many hidden secrets which all turn out good in the end.
I just found the whole story just a little bit hard to swallow… but each his own. It was a fast read with interesting characters.
My favorite was Winston and Lullabelle!
It takes place mostly in the great State of Vermont.
This is one of those books that you go back and forth between different time periods.
It involves a family whose mother is in a Vermont hospital dying, and the 2 sisters go to take care of her. They discover that their mother let a very secret life… with many hidden secrets which all turn out good in the end.
I just found the whole story just a little bit hard to swallow… but each his own. It was a fast read with interesting characters.
My favorite was Winston and Lullabelle!
August 17, 2021
Very enjoyable family saga. Loved the story.
December 26, 2016
What would you do if you learned that your mother was living a second life in another town?
Nell receives a phone call one day from a hospital in Vermont letting her know that her mother has been admitted to their ICU, but Nell is confused because her mother lives in a senior's community in Massachusetts. And her mother no longer drives. What is she doing in Vermont? How did she get there?
As Nell sees her mother in the hospital, weak and unable to really speak, Nell learns from those around that her mother has a complete second life, complete with a lakeside cottage, car, neighbours, Fall Festivals, and even her own puppy.
As her mother remains in the hospital, Nell and her sister Bridget begin unraveling the secrets of this other life.
I really enjoyed reading The Taste of Air! It pulled me in from the very first page and had the perfect balance of secrets and suspense to keep me going. To give you a taste, you can read chapter one here.
Timelines from Nell, Bridget, and their mother Mary interweave throughout the novel, slowly revealing pieces of a complicated puzzle. I always love novels where the characters' stories steadily merge together at the end, and I found the three women's different lives easy to follow.
The Taste of Air is about love, longing, family, friendship, impossible choices, and the internal struggle we all face to find a space that we can call our own.
If you enjoy books about family secrets, then you will absolutely enjoy The Taste of Air. An excellent way to spend some of those Amazon gift cards you may have received over the holidays :)
"What we do for love...to ourselves and for each other."
- Gail Cleare, The Taste of Air
Disclaimer - I was sent a copy of The Taste of Air courtesy of the author. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own
Nell receives a phone call one day from a hospital in Vermont letting her know that her mother has been admitted to their ICU, but Nell is confused because her mother lives in a senior's community in Massachusetts. And her mother no longer drives. What is she doing in Vermont? How did she get there?
As Nell sees her mother in the hospital, weak and unable to really speak, Nell learns from those around that her mother has a complete second life, complete with a lakeside cottage, car, neighbours, Fall Festivals, and even her own puppy.
As her mother remains in the hospital, Nell and her sister Bridget begin unraveling the secrets of this other life.
I really enjoyed reading The Taste of Air! It pulled me in from the very first page and had the perfect balance of secrets and suspense to keep me going. To give you a taste, you can read chapter one here.
Timelines from Nell, Bridget, and their mother Mary interweave throughout the novel, slowly revealing pieces of a complicated puzzle. I always love novels where the characters' stories steadily merge together at the end, and I found the three women's different lives easy to follow.
The Taste of Air is about love, longing, family, friendship, impossible choices, and the internal struggle we all face to find a space that we can call our own.
If you enjoy books about family secrets, then you will absolutely enjoy The Taste of Air. An excellent way to spend some of those Amazon gift cards you may have received over the holidays :)
"What we do for love...to ourselves and for each other."
- Gail Cleare, The Taste of Air
Disclaimer - I was sent a copy of The Taste of Air courtesy of the author. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own
November 27, 2016
Whew. The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare caught my attention from the moment I began to read it. What begins to unfold from page one is a captivating story filled with mystery, suspense, love, longing and family. As I write this review and begin to relive the story once again, my eyes are filling with tears. This is a book that I have told many people about already, recommending it to all of the book lovers in my life, because I have the hope that it will stay with them like it did with me. The writing was emotional, the scenery imaginative, and each plot point revealed mesmerizing. From beginning to end, I was wrapped up in this story and I found myself trying to prolong the ending, not wanting the story to close, but finding myself far too curious to leave this down for long.
The story of two sisters and their mother that unraveled throughout this novel was actually breathtaking at moments. From love and war to secrets ready to be uncovered, each little piece played a pivotal part in how this entire book came together. It was wonderful watching the personal journeys of Nell and Bridget, two very different sisters yet alike in so many ways also, as they tried to find their own happiness amidst their mother’s sudden illness. Their bond was a comfort to me as I read. Overall, I hope you can see that I truly loved this story. Filled with plot twists and unpredictable moments, get ready for a wild ride. I promise you it’s worth it though. The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare is a poignant tale not to be missed.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
The story of two sisters and their mother that unraveled throughout this novel was actually breathtaking at moments. From love and war to secrets ready to be uncovered, each little piece played a pivotal part in how this entire book came together. It was wonderful watching the personal journeys of Nell and Bridget, two very different sisters yet alike in so many ways also, as they tried to find their own happiness amidst their mother’s sudden illness. Their bond was a comfort to me as I read. Overall, I hope you can see that I truly loved this story. Filled with plot twists and unpredictable moments, get ready for a wild ride. I promise you it’s worth it though. The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare is a poignant tale not to be missed.
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
April 15, 2017
Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Taste of Air. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Nell Williams gets a call about her mother, Mary Ellen Reilly, who is in a hospital located hours away from her home in Massachusetts. As Nell discovers her mother's secrets, a life emerges that she and her sister Bridget knew nothing about. Will the past that is revealed tear apart the family for good?
The biggest issue that I had with The Taste of Air is that it is simply just not that believable. If her daughters had not been a part of her life, I could see Mary being able to pull off the deception. However, I found it implausible that she could have fooled so many for so long. There were certain plot points along the way that seem to exist only to move the story along. I had trouble forming a connection to any of the character and, to that end, I do not feel that The Taste of Air warrants a recommendation to other readers.
Nell Williams gets a call about her mother, Mary Ellen Reilly, who is in a hospital located hours away from her home in Massachusetts. As Nell discovers her mother's secrets, a life emerges that she and her sister Bridget knew nothing about. Will the past that is revealed tear apart the family for good?
The biggest issue that I had with The Taste of Air is that it is simply just not that believable. If her daughters had not been a part of her life, I could see Mary being able to pull off the deception. However, I found it implausible that she could have fooled so many for so long. There were certain plot points along the way that seem to exist only to move the story along. I had trouble forming a connection to any of the character and, to that end, I do not feel that The Taste of Air warrants a recommendation to other readers.
October 11, 2016
Mary Ellen is a woman with a secret - her daughters Nell and Bridget think they know everything there is to know about her - so why is Nell getting a phone call to say she is in intensive care in Vermont when she should be living in Massachusetts
Rushing to the hospital Nell is astounded to find that her mother owns a cabin by the lake and she got ill while out boating on the lake with her neighbour, why do they know nothing of this? When she goes to the cabin she finds all sorts of things pointing to a life that she knows nothing of and so a story starts to unravel
A great book with lots of surprises but the love and warmth of the family coming through as they pull together and find out the back story - definitely a book not to put down!
Rushing to the hospital Nell is astounded to find that her mother owns a cabin by the lake and she got ill while out boating on the lake with her neighbour, why do they know nothing of this? When she goes to the cabin she finds all sorts of things pointing to a life that she knows nothing of and so a story starts to unravel
A great book with lots of surprises but the love and warmth of the family coming through as they pull together and find out the back story - definitely a book not to put down!
October 14, 2016
What would you do if you found out that the mother you’ve known all your life has been living a secret life?
As far as Nell knows, her mother resides in an assisted living community in Massachusetts. When she receives a startling call informing her that her mother is in a hospital in Vermont, she can’t comprehend how this could be.
When Nell arrives in the town that her mother is said to be at, it is foreign to her. While there, she discovers that her mother has a life that her and her family were not privy to. And as they uncover the double life that Mary has led, they are transported back in time to the choices that Mary made that would change the course of all three women’s lives forever.
As far as Nell knows, her mother resides in an assisted living community in Massachusetts. When she receives a startling call informing her that her mother is in a hospital in Vermont, she can’t comprehend how this could be.
When Nell arrives in the town that her mother is said to be at, it is foreign to her. While there, she discovers that her mother has a life that her and her family were not privy to. And as they uncover the double life that Mary has led, they are transported back in time to the choices that Mary made that would change the course of all three women’s lives forever.
October 28, 2016
When Nell gets a phone call informing her that her mother Mary is in the hospital in Vermont she is shocked. She is supposed to be in a nursing home in Massachusetts. Nell and her sister Bridget get to visit briefly with their mother before she dies. They discover she owns a home and is a part of the small Vermont community. They also discover some big family secrets. This was a fascinating book and was narrated by three very different women. I hope to find more books by Gail Cleary, she very talented. I enjoyed this story of how both sisters made major changes in their lives based on how their mother lived her life.
January 14, 2017
This is an enjoyable, emotional, and thought-provoking story about family ties and unexpected secrets. I loved all three women in this story and found them well drawn and relatable. I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks to Mary's earlier days, which revealed what a good and loving woman she had been throughout her life. Although Mary's secret life comes as a big shock to her daughters, it never feels sordid or bad, and I really liked that about it. Rather it just peels back the layers of Mary's life and acts as a catalyst for change in Nell and Bridget's own lives. A lovely story and highly recommended.
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