Book Review: AILEEN'S GUESTHOUSE : A Heartfelt Contemporary by Eva Pasco

A bit of change of pace with this book, best described as Women's Literary Fiction. 

About the Book

(Charlestown, Rhode Island) - Overlooking Horseshoe Point at the end of Sea Lea Avenue in the picturesque village of Quonochontaug, you'll find Aileen's Guesthouse. There, a smattering of Quonnie's locals and lodgers cross paths. Whether through cultivated connection or random encounter, these folks have more in common than first meets the eye. 

An incoming tide strews debris of self-recrimination, regret, and remorse for their unintentional culpability in jeopardizing the life of an immediate family member. Whether altering destiny, attributing to demise, or precipitating a debilitating accident—no one is exempt from heartache: 

Aileen Stanton - for getting sidetracked on her watch; Gertrude Stanton - for her preoccupation; Ox (James) Babcock - for loaning a ten-dollar bill; Grand dame, Lillian Wright - for engaging in an illicit affair during the Roaring Twenties; Birdman, Drake Lynch - for wielding his power of persuasion; and Career mom, Perla Moreno - for her momentary lapse in judgment 

The guesthouse provides a home away from home. For some, a refuge for healing. For others, a retreat for cultivating hopes and dreams. For the invited reader of adult fiction, a portal for stepping into the 1970s in close proximity to those who survive the ravages of a guilt-wracked conscience and struggle to find meaning in the suffering they've caused. 

Welcome to Aileen's Guesthouse. Dinner is served at six o'clock sharp. 

Review 

Aileen’s Guesthouse is an old mansion owned by the now deceased Sam Stanton, Aileen’s father. it's located in Rhode Island, not far from URI or the Connecticut border. As the story starts, 13-year-old Aileen, her mother, and her younger brother live in the guesthouse along with Mrs. Wright and the bird man, Mr. Lynch. 

A tragedy strikes and with it, a shift in the personalities of these guests as they support Aileen and her mother. As the story continues, other characters emerge with a pattern of survivor guilt after tragedy and recovery for many of the characters, with domino effects on others.

Pasco’s writing draws the reader in, not only with empathy for the characters but with her wit. I loved her descriptions and references to the all things 70s. It is truly a tale of life, loss, and love, not always in that order. It was an amazing time and Pasco captured all the ups and downs as she wove her tale. 

AMAZON

About the Author (from her Amazon page)

Reviving a dormant flair for writing after retiring from teaching in the third-grade trenches, multi-award winning author, Eva Pasco, prefers writing in the genre of Contemporary Women's Fiction. Her lit with grit is distinguished for its character-driven plots featuring female protagonists over forty propelled by the nuances of their human condition.  

A native Rhode Islander, Eva weaves historic events, geographic landmarks, and regional culture into the fabric of her storytelling, blurring the lines of demarcation between fact and fiction.