What have we got? Domineering rigid father, beautiful 16 year old daughter, destined by both sets of parents to marry boy next door but exotic Handsome Stranger appears, inevitable happens, daughter self-exiles to gay uncle, she becomes a fearless reporter in dangerous countries, but fisherman father disappears in a storm, she returns home after 15 years … and all (except Dad) live happily ever after. The plot is indeed formulaic chick lit, the characters mostly stereotypical. But as Scholes is an international best-seller, and I had read and really got into The Beautiful Mother, I thought I would give Angel another go. The first time I gave up at Chapter 3, dismissing it as breathless chick-lit style. I have attempted to read this book twice.

Thankfully, when it was re-printed later by Penguin Australia (the author's new publisher) the epilogue was included - and it's just so brilliantly done, providing just that little chink into the future of the characters something that all readers crave. I was transported back to remember my first loves, early boyfriends, the power of family, rules and regulations, and the way young love makes you feel you transcend sometimes, everything else! Powerful book and again, you won't be putting it down! NOTE: Make sure you get the Penguin Australia edition (the most recent versions with a picture of a lady looking at the sea on the cover)as for some unknown reason, Pan McMillan, the first Australian publisher chose not to print the book's epilogue even though the versions sold to Europe with other publishers at the time had it. Her dilemmas as a young girl making choices that were so hard, and sad, and which would have life impacting ramifications for her, which we know as the reader.were all so real, raw, and so well written. A novel that I truly loved.the story of Stella, the main character, is gripping and highly charged emotionally.

The stone angel book review