Haven Point    by Virginia Hume Order:  USA  Can St. Martin's, 2021 (2021) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Virginia Hume's Haven Point moves back and forth in time to follow several generations of a family from 1944 to 2008. The family has had a long tradition of spending summers at their home, Fourwinds, in seaside Haven Point, Maine. The story opens in 2008 when Maren awaits the arrival of her granddaughter Skye, and the long awaited conversation she intends to have with her. That mysterious topic pulls reader interest through the novel. We learn that Maren's daughter Annie (Skye's mother died six months earlier). Skye sees Haven Point as Annie did - 'beautiful on the surface, petty and snobbish beneath' - but Maren knows 'the community's sturdy foundation, its titanic heart.' Annie, an artist and an alcoholic, had serious problems that made Skye's childhood erratic and difficult, problems that stemmed from a summer tragedy at Haven Point when she was seventeen and in love. Back to 1944 in Washington D.C., Maren Larsen (from Minnesota) nurses at Walter Reed, where she meets Dr. Oliver Demarest. They fall hard for each other and marry, despite very different backgrounds. Oliver's mother Pauline has a drinking problem and Maren has to go to the rescue on many occasions to get her home safely and avoid scandal. Oliver treats his mother with disdain. His father William is chilly and often angry. Gradually, readers learn what happened in 1970 that damaged Anne, made her vow to never return to Haven Point, and prejudiced her daughter as well. Finally, Skye hears the truth from her grandmother. She's able to come to terms with her mother's frailty and with her own poor decisions. She learns to love. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews