With
her father critically ill and her mother herself not very spry, veterinary doctor Joy
Hudson has to perforce return to her hometown of Wharton, Kentucky. She’d left
eighteen years previously and rarely returned because of a tragic incident in the past.
But once home, she swept away by a deluge of bittersweet memories, mostly about her best
friend Jenny and their shared young life which had come to an abrupt end with Jenny’s
death in an accident soon after their senior prom. Joy is stuck by how little she
remembers of those days soon before and after Jenny’s demise. But one thing she knows
for sure – that Jeff Bradford was responsible for causing Jenny to die, and to date,
Joy hates him for that.
Meanwhile,
Joy is trying to break into the tightly held realm of veterinary practice in Wharton with
the help of her brand-new mobile clinic. With time, she’s grown in confidence and her
looks have improved and now, all of a sudden, she suddenly finds herself the object of
fascination and flirtation, in the form of old friends! And then there is Jenny’s old
home, which Joy buys and where strange incidents, weird music and phantom scents seem to
be the norm. Jeff is also back in her life as he’s her father’s doctor, and he’s
saddened and upset by Joy’s anger and towards him. He’s also determined to make
her realize the truth. Will Joy let love and life back in her life again? Or will her
creepy new house stop her?!
Edie
Claire’s latest novel is chock full of paranormal elements which have been adroitly
woven into the fiber of the entire story. What begin as random mystical incidents soon
take on a more sinister meaning – this gives the story an ominous feel to it. And
there are plenty of side characters that both add to the general creepiness as well as
dispel it. There are also plenty of four-legged companions and assorted medical problems,
and these, along with the fact that the two main protagonists are doctors (albeit of
different species!), gives the book a medical feel. Emotions also run rampant in this
story which is all about second chances in life and love. The complex feelings between Joy
and Jeff take on new meaning as the story progresses towards a shattering end. The blend
of romance, mystery and the paranormal makes this story a worthwhile read. Besides which,
the suspense is maintained until the very end and the mystery is not so easily solved.
In
general, the story evokes effecting and heartwarming emotions in its readers. Very
inspiring and interesting!
Reviewed
By Rashmi Srinivas for The Road to Romance
October
8, 2003 |
