I was immediately drawn to this book by the cover and title. I always say I love older men, and I enjoy reading stories about women’s relationships with them. I enjoyed Shepherd’s memoir about her life, romance, and the ups and downs involved with the love she finds. The writing is effortless and sucked me in! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I couldn’t put this memoir down. It took me just a few days to finish and I don’t typically read that fast. The story was brilliantly woven. All the scenes unfolded like a movie. I was right there in NYC in her tiny apartment and library. I could almost smell the food she was eating during her rendezvous with her lover. I could feel the slip of the car tires against the snow out west. And I could see the unfinished kitchen and untouched walls in her Hudson Valley Home. I loved the way the author braided love letters from yesteryear with her own personal thoughts. I cried at the end. The author bears her heart on the page. Her life advice touched me immeasurably and made me cry again. Like any human, she has things she’d like to go back and adjust. I admire her candor on loving with wild abandon and the sacrifices and hardships she endured to find herself again. FIVE STARS.

This memoir tells the story of Deborah K. Shepherd’s unconventional love story with a man much older than her. She shares her experiences with honesty and reflection, looking back on their twenty years together and the challenges they faced. The book thoughtfully explores love, age differences, religion, and social expectations. It’s an honest and engaging read that stays with you. I recommend this book to all public libraries to purchase.