What would you do if the only life you ever knew suddenly turned out to be an illusion? When Moira found her husband in an act of adultery on their marital bed, her stable life seemed nothing more than the biggest lie of all time. True to Herself by Barbara M Webb begins with a shattered woman and ends with a woman who knows her true self. This journey, however, wasn't easy for Moira. With her shattered trust, she could not bear the thought of spending another second with her husband, so she decided to leave him and go to another country. Leaving one's home is difficult enough, but starting a new life in a new land with no security blanket turned out to be an unimaginable task.

True to Herself by Barbara M Webb is a story of hope. Although Moira could not see it, there was a bigger picture in her leaving her husband. She realized that she was with this man for all the wrong reasons. There is a silver lining among the darkest clouds, and the author has pointed it out quite skillfully in this story. There are so many women out there who decide to stay in their loveless marriages due to convenience, but Moira's story will encourage them to take a leap of faith and follow their instincts. There is romance, philosophy, art, culture, and history in these pages. There is also an unexpected pinch of horror element in this story which took me by surprise, but it was a welcome surprise. I found the pace of the book a little slower than that of my liking. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories of hope and female empowerment.

Moira Capaldi was forced to face the truth of her marriage when she found her husband Guido cheating on her. Although the marriage had been unfulfilling for some years, it took this shock for her to make the decision to leave him. She also left her career and comfortable life in Sydney, Australia to move to England. Creating a new, enriching life in the small town of West Gidding was not easy but Moira forged her way in the novel True to Herself, written by Barbara M. Webb. Moira soon found a place to stay, two jobs and, most importantly, her true self. Her love of the arts and painting was a driving force in becoming who she truly wanted to be. Surprisingly, renting a room in a possibly haunted house contributed unexpected energies to her quest of reaching her full potential as a strong, independent woman.

True to Herself is an engaging and thought-provoking read. It presents interesting questions to introspective readers who enjoy reflecting upon the roles of men and women in relationships. Character development, especially Moira’s, is exceptionally written. The characters of Guido, Tony and Mike are also well defined. Moira’s decisions are depicted with realistic benefits and costs; how her parents react to her decisions is one example of this. The author’s descriptions of the cultures of big city life in Australia versus village life in England in the mid-1980s are also enlightening. She writes in an easy to read style, and the story flows smoothly. Barbara M. Webb’s True to Herself is a captivating read.