Catharine Gimbel

Late-Blooming Women Catharine Gimbel

Tate Beckett has come to the conclusion that life has her in its sights...and not in a good way. Feeling as if loss is coming at her from all directions, the only thing she wants to do is go back to bed. But no matter how much she sleeps, nothing seems to get better. Tate really, really needs a reason to smile. On the advice of a friend, she reluctantly begins a search for something that will challenge and energize her life. By accident, she stumbles upon a website that's for sale-a website whose mission it is to help women stay sexually active into their so-called "golden years." Intrigued-and terrified-she puts in a bid to buy the site. Before starting her new career as an Internet entrepreneur, Tate decides to step outside her comfort zone one more time. She goes on her first solo vacation to Hawaii, a trip that presents a few surprises of its own. Returning to San Francisco, she files the trip away under happy memories and tells herself once more that the good things in life are meant for other people. When Tate's family descends upon her San Francisco home for the Christmas holidays, she soon discovers comfort and joy will be in short supply. Her brother Kyle unexpectedly announces he's engaged, her daughter Chloe refuses to discuss the precarious state of her marriage, and then there's the small matter of a very unwanted house guest. All of which leaves Tate longing for the New Year and the peace and quiet she prays it will bring. As winter gives way to spring and spring to summer, Tate struggles to balance her endlessly demanding family, her beloved-but scary-new job, and a crazy little thing called love. And when the clan gathers on Martha's Vineyard for Kyle's wedding, she finally starts to accept that there are no easy answers, there are no quick fixes. But there are many unexpected and colorful moments of happiness to be found by a late-blooming woman.