The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

Synopsis :

The Shell Seekers is a novel of connection: of one family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. The Shell Seekers is filled with real people--mothers and daughters, husband and lovers--inspired with real values. The Shell Seekers centers on Penelope Keeling--a woman you'll always remember in world you'll never forget. The Shell Seekers is a magical novel, the kind of reading experience that comes along only once in a long while.

At the end of a long and useful life, Penelope Keeling's prized possession is The Shell Seekers, painted by her father, and symbolizing her unconventional life, from bohemian childhood to wartime romance. When her grown children learn their grandfather's work is now worth a fortune, each has an idea as to what Penelope should do. But as she recalls the passions, tragedies, and secrets of her life, she knows there is only one answer...and it lies in her heart.

I have been wanting to read The Shell Seekers every since I read by first book by Rosamunde Pilcher about a year and half ago entitled Winter Solstice.   It was a very relaxing read and while some might say it can be borderline boring, I find it calming.

The same can also be said for The Shell Seekers except that there's more storyline to it.  Focusing on Penelope Keeling, an elderly woman who is being pressured by her son and one of her daughters to sell her beloved and prized painting.  She is extremely reluctant to do so as she felt that the painting was given to her and her alone by her father who painted it, her children beg to defer as they felt it's part of their inheritance.

There are flash back on the life of Penelope to the time of her childhood and her youth and her adulthood.  The flash back also brought readers to the love of her life and why she is where she is today.  It was quite nostalgically and romantically sad at one point you might just want to give Penelope a hug for all that she lost and can very well understand why she is so reluctant to give up her The Shell Seekers.

I enjoyed reading this and glad I made the effort to seek it out. :)