Being born into poverty and hardship in 1930s London, Matthew’s life was one of relentless struggle. One inadvertent act in defence of his mother would haunt his conscience forever.
Matthew’s journey takes him from the poverty of a cold stone granary to the opulence of Mayfair and Kensington Gardens, where he starts a family of his own. Despite working his way to the top of the business world, he remains an outsider to London’s elite. He then realises that same elite has an ugly underbelly. High society was a hot bed of depravity.
Will he correct society’s wrongs? Will the man who never succumbed to expectations be able to challenge his own destiny or will he simply accept the futility of it all?
What did I think?
Choppiness on High Seas is a very thought-provoking rags to riches story that is both uplifting and heartbreaking.
Gail Stephens has a very hard life, living in poverty as a single mother but she brings up her son well and is determined that he will have a better life than she did. Matthew knows that he has his mother to thank for his strength and determination and he is forever grateful to her for giving him the foundation to become a successful businessman.
It reads very much like a family saga as the Stephens family progress through the years from 1930s to the new millennium. As the book title suggests, life isn't plain sailing for the family and there are many heartbreaking moments along the way as Matthew rises through the ranks.
The portrayal of 1930s poverty is very sobering and it did make me wonder whether it is much different today. It is very true that money can't buy everything and Matthew finds this out the hard way, despite his good deeds and attempts to make the world a better place for the impoverished. Matthew is haunted by a desperate act from his past and it's almost like karma wants payback with interest.
Choppiness on High Seas is an entertaining family saga that takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions as we follow the Stephens' dynasty over the decades. I think it would be a great TV drama series if it ever gets picked up by one of the streaming services.
I received a gifted paperback from Literally PR to read and review for the Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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