View source for The Turning Point by Freya North

{{infobox1
|title=The Turning Point
|sort=Turning Point
|author=Freya North
|reviewer=Louise Jones
|genre=Women's Fiction
|summary=An author and a musician meet and fall in love, but live on opposite sides of the world. Can they really make their relationship work over such a long distance?
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Maybe
|pages=480
|publisher=Harper Collins
|date=June 2015
|isbn=9780007569557
|website=http://www.freyanorth.com
|cover=0007569556
|aznuk=0007569556
|aznus=0007569556
}}

Single-mum Frankie doesn't have time to go looking for love. In fact, its the last thing on her mind, languishing somewhere on the list below sorting out repairs on the house, writing a chapter of that new book, getting a haircut and fetching crisps for the kids. Yes, Frankie is much too busy for complications like love. But romance has a funny way of creeping up on people and when Frankie meets musician Scott on a trip to London, sparks fly and suddenly she HAS to find the time for him. Scott lives halfway across the world in Canada and has work and family obligations of his own. Can love really find a way?

''The Turning Point'' is the story of Frankie and Scott and their decision to give their budding relationship a go, despite the miles separating them and the various obstacles that get in their way. Both have commitments that keep them firmly anchored in their respective locations, so when their relationship starts to deepen into something more, difficult decisions need to be made. It seems that as soon as one obstacle is overcome, another pops up to replace it.

This is a cosy, inviting read and reeled me in from the first page. My cynicism at the whole 'love at first sight' storyline melted away into a gooey puddle when I saw how well Frankie and Scott worked together. I was soon cheering them on, hoping that they would be able to stay together despite the distance between them.

I must admit, I found Frankie hard to warm to at first. She swears like a trooper, is disorganised and occasionally neglectful of her two kids, despite loving them dearly. She also seems to spend an inordinate amount of time talking to an imaginary storybook character called Alice. Luckily, when Scott comes on the scene, her character softens and she becomes more likeable. She even starts spending time with the kids, who seem surprisingly normal in comparison to their mother!

The book was also surprisingly educational, which I wasn't expecting. As much of the story is set in Canada, we learn about the indigenous Canadian tribes and the injustices they faced at the hands of the white settlers. Another interesting plot element is that one of the characters suffers from epilepsy and we see the impact that her seizures have on her and her family. The book also tells us what to do if we witness someone having a seizure, an inclusion that could save lives.

The story is an emotional roller-coaster with sweeping highs and devastating lows. It was hard to put down and the short chapters meant that I would often read more than I intended to. ''The Turning Point'' is a believable, bitter-sweet love story that strikes the right balance without being overly-sentimental. The contrasting locations of Norfolk and Canada made the lovers' dilemma even more engrossing. The only downside for me was that the book contained a lot of strong language, which sometimes detracted from the romantic storyline. Many thanks to the publishers for my review copy.

Fans of Freya North may also enjoy [[Chances by Freya North|Chances]] 

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