Bridge to Eden [Paperback]

David A. Turrill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001

Dad showed us the power of faith and the magic that could happen if one loved well enough. —Tysen Riveridge

So begins the story of Ben and Morgan Riveridge. They had loved each other desperately, even after thirty years of marriage. Then Morgan’s sudden death leaves Ben grasping for meaning in life. His wife gone, his children grown and moved away, Ben sees no purpose to his life. He finally moves to the country, hoping to exorcise the memories of his lovely wife.

Much to Ben’s surprise, his new neighbor Sophie Hall bears a remarkable resemblance to his late Morgan. Ben is delighted when the two became close friends. Whenever Sophie’s abusive husband was away, she and Ben were together. Ben begins to believe that his late wife had somehow “exchanged places” with Sophie.

Could Sophie really be Morgan? This thrilling psychological romance builds to a surprising ending you will never forget.

Don’t miss this testament to the power of love and the triumph of the romantic spirit.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Love extends beyond the grave and faith conquers death in this romantic, otherworldly tearjerker of a debut. Ben Riveridge is devoted to his wife, Morgan, and when she suddenly dies at the age of 50 of a heart attack, he is devastated. As the novel begins, a few years after Morgan's death, Ben is under psychiatric observation at a hospital following an altercation with the abusive husband of a woman who looks remarkably like his deceased wife. The woman, Sophie Hall, is Ben's next door neighbor, and both she and Ben have come to believe that she may be Morgan returned to life. Dr. Kim, Ben's Vietnamese psychiatrist, is skeptical at first, but the revelation of a series of coincidences ultimately makes him take seriously Ben's belief in "Edenic time." The narrative's engaging flatness and smooth conversational tone counteract its dramatic premise and point up Ben and Morgan's understated, enduring love. Buoyed in spots by a few literary special effects and supernatural elements, the story peaks prematurely when Sophie must decide whether she "should give up being one man's punching bag to become a surrogate wife to another." The resolution of that question sends the novel awry, as it slides toward a murky conclusion threatening to overshadow all of the expertly handled tenderness and sensitivity that otherwise make it an intriguing, inspirational read.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Romance is Turrill's intention as he presents the idyllic 30-year marriage of soul mates Ben and Morgan Riveridge, and Ben's mysterious experiences in the wake of Morgan's sudden death. In Morgan's absence, the widower succumbs to several years of grief and despair until he meets his new neighbor, Sophie, whose striking resemblances to his late wife--her physical presence, her crooked toes, and an inability to utter a cliche without mangling it--all begin to prove to Ben that somehow Sophie really is Morgan. Ben's love is strong enough to convince even a psychiatrist, when Ben is briefly committed to a psychiatric institution, that such an inexplicable metamorphosis could be real. Turrill is quite taken with the concept of Edenic time, a golden time when things were perfect, and Ben's fierce love is the bridge over which he travels to recapture paradise. Turrill, who cites Nathaniel Hawthorne as an influence, has penned a fantasy that will appeal to readers who like to suspend disbelief. Suzanne Young
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: Bonneville Books; 1St Edition edition (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555175481
• ISBN-13: 978-1555175481
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,367,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Read!, October 17, 2001

By 

Scott M. Christian (Nunica, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridge to Eden (Paperback)

This is one of the most uplifing books I have ever read. Written in the style of Bridges of Madison County, A Bridge to Eden is the story of Ben and Morgan Riveridge and how their devotion to one another is surpassed by nothing, not even death.

If you have ever lost someone you love, you need to read this triumphant story written by Turrill.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bridging the Great Divide, September 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bridge to Eden (Paperback)

This is an excellent novel about the power of love. It's a touching tale expertly told by an exceptional author. It presents the reader with much food for thought, but it is not 'preachy.' It examines the way our lives a so precisely pieced together in such a way to leave the reader amazed. A must read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, May 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bridge to Eden (Paperback)

A Bridge to Eden is one of the best books I've ever read. Not only was its message powerful and enlightening, but it shows you how love can truly make miracles happen. You are introduced to a character who believes that too much sanity is insane and that miracles require faith and determination. I recommend this book to anyone who has faith in love and in the human spirit.