Sea Change: Karen White

 

 

 

 

 

The fiction novel, Sea Change, by Karen White, is set in the charming and bucolic coastal town of St. Simons Island, Georgia.  The story follows the heady romance and new marriage of dedicated midwife, Ava Whalen, to the mysterious Matthew Frazier.  Ave leaves the stoic support of her family to move to St. Simons Island where her new husband has his own roots.  This is a huge move for Ava as she has always has the solid family foundation of her private mother, Gloria, her older brothers and funeral director father, and her spunky grandmother, Mimi. Even with such a large family, Ava has always felt like an outsider. She sees her move as an adventure and new beginning. Ava is almost magnetically pulled into Matthew’s world.  Unfortunately, the new marriage is haunted by Matthew’s former wife, Adrienne, who died under suspicious circumstances and was ironically, also a midwife.  The novel also has concurrent chapters that are set during the early 1800’s. This parallel universe follows yet another midwife named Pamela as she navigates the daily challenges of colonial life. Pamela has a deep and abiding love for her husband, Geoffrey, but also struggles with the jealous meddling of her beautiful younger sister, Georgina.  The suspense in the novel will keep readers constantly guessing and there are numerous twists and turns in the story.  Themes of deep and authentic love are interrupted by the female rivalries that pervade the plot.  Sea Change presents surprises that intimately wind back together for a breathtaking ending.  As a reader, I was engrossed in this riveting tale of two women who are experiencing life amidst the beautiful backdrop of a tiny coastal Georgia island. Readers are sure to enjoy and share this wonderful novel.