GOLDENEYES by Delia Latham

This is my first taste of Delia's writing, and I must say I’m intrigued by her intricately woven work. Come back in time to 1936 to glimpse a mysterious scenario, then jump to 1959 and watch the consequences of that night in the lives of several families.

Juliana is offered a long-coveted job writing for a Christian magazine, and the boss first mistakes her for his lookalike cousin before trying to resist strong feelings. Gillian cares for her weak mother, who aches to reveal a long-hidden secret. Daniel, Gillian’s childhood friend, sets out to seek God and makes some surprising discoveries, and Juliana’s parents set about telling her the real truth of what happened all those years ago.

What if you had relatives you never knew about? What if a drunkard’s remorse could finally lead to astonishing revelations for his children? What if twins can feel each others’ pain, and what if God sends an angel that looks more like a tramp? One by one, the dots are joined, slowly, carefully, until the picture is complete. I think you’ll like what you see when you step back to take a look.

It’s a wonderfully convoluted double-triple romance peopled with a great many preachers, writers, dreamers, and mothers. Old diaries, a golden ring, a mysterious traveller with golden eyes, and many unexpected twists make this story highly enjoyable - a very clever piece of sweet inspirational romance with a delightfully satisfying conclusion.