High Tide

Nadine Laman
Infinity Publishing (2006)
ISBN 0741436337
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (12/06)

The author Nadine Laman does it again!!  “High Tide,” the second book in the Kathryn McKenzie story, certainly lives up to the quality of the first book, “Kathryn’s Beach,” I am looking forward to reading the 3rd book in this trilogy called “Atonement.” You can read “High Tide” without reading the first book, but I would highly recommend reading the first book for enjoyment and to catch up on Kathryn’s story.

In “Kathryn’s Beach” Kathryn came home to California and resumed her old life on her special beach.  She became reacquainted with old friends, found love and faced tragedy.  “High Tide” picks up where “Kathryn’s Beach” leaves off.  In “High Tide” she has to face several losses and find new strength to deal with the turmoil in her life.  As she moves through these difficult situations, Kathryn finds that strength on her beach and it becomes her lifeline.  Once again, Nadine Laman captures the complete realm of human emotions while the story unfolds. 

As the story continues, Kathryn is trying to figure out her true feelings for her boyfriend, Ioseph.  He returned to his country Ireland for a vacation and decided to move back there.  He asks Kathryn to go with him and she must now decide if he is what she really wants in life. 

Kathryn is still working as a social worker on the homeless shelter project which she loves.  Many of her clients are beginning to find their independence again through work, and Kathryn has a tremendous amount of respect for them.  She is also seeing a new depth in the nuns that she works for as the project unfolds. 

Mr. Goldstein, Kathryn’s senior friend who lives upstairs, seeks Kathryn’s help in finding his long lost family from World War 2.  She helps him, but with mixed feelings because she is afraid if he finds his family she will lose him. 

Much to Kathryn’s surprise she is contacted by her paternal grandfather.  He had disowned her father for marrying a Catholic and has never had contact with the family.  She has spent a lifetime of saying “Not that McKenzie” when people ask her if she is related to the high profile McKenzie’s of California.  It comes as a shock to find out “She is that McKenzie”. 

Kathryn’s late friend Maggie’s wonderful advice lives on in this book through her journals.  “It isn’t how long one lives it is how wide that really matters.”  What great  insight to begin the New Year with.

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