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ââ?¬Å"Beyond the Gatesââ?¬Â? is the first adult novel by author Cynthia Bardes. We follow Virginia ââ?¬Å"Gingerââ?¬Â? Johnson, a recent widow to a very wealthy man, as she mourns the loss of her husband, Theodore ââ?¬Å"Tedââ?¬Â? Johnson, while also navigating what it means to be single for the first time in 40 years. She meets someone new while steering through the gossip and high society in the golf community 3-Oaks. We also find out about a deep, dark secret Ginger has been keeping for 50 years. Could it be so bad that it may change the course of her life forever?
While not my usual fare, I found myself completely enthralled wanting to know what was going to happen. Bardes is amazing at pulling you into the story and lives of the people. Her writing stirred strong emotions in me, which is always a good testament to an author�s storytelling skills. She did jump around to different points of view, but the main one was definitely that of Ginger.
The characters in the story felt real to me, at least in a high-society setting. They had both good and bad characteristics and feelings. There was growth, and they had real fears and emotions. The story also had quite a few ups and downs. It honestly had a ââ?¬Å"Hallmarkââ?¬Â? kind of feel to it. Very extreme emotions and circumstances throughout. I mention this as some people love to read these types of stories, while some would prefer not. She also ended the book in a way that may lead to a sequel.
Bardes did an amazing job painting a picture of the scenery. I was able to picture the golf course and the people teeing off. The birds and the trees. The beach with its chairs and umbrellas. She definitely described Treasure Beach and 3-Oaks as a beautiful place to be. The friendships with Dottie and Diane were also very well represented. Many times, it is hard to relay what true friends look like, but I very much felt as if they had Ginger�s best in mind.
ââ?¬Å"Beyond the Gatesââ?¬Â? by Cynthia Bardes is for romance readers, especially those who enjoy exploring the possibility of new love later in life. As mentioned above, it definitely makes me think of a Hallmark-type story. There is some cursing, but itââ?¬â?¢s very minimal. There is no intimacy displayed more than holding hands, however, there is a lot of talk about adult things. This was definitely an emotional, fun read!
