Caroline's Journal [Hardcover]

Katherine Stone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

When giving life means risking life . . .
For more than six years Seattle architect Caroline Wynn and her attorney husband, Jeffrey, have been trying to have a baby. Now, finally, Caroline is pregnant. Both Caroline and Jeffrey are thrilled. And, wanting a lasting memory of the joy she's feeling, Caroline decides to keep a pregnancy journal, writing to the baby she already loves.

Caroline's pregnancy coincides with the trial of Jeffrey's career, the murder of a pregnant woman by her celebrity finace. For father-to-be Jeffrey,a man murdering his unborn child is as incomprehensible as it is painful.

But there are other dangers for pregnant women, perils that lurk in silence amid the joy. For Caroline, such perils are medical. Her pregnancy is placing her health -- and even her life -- in jeopardy. But when it comes to a choice between her own life and her baby's, there's never, for Caroline, the slightest doubt.

It's a decision of love -- for the baby she cherishes and the husband who loves Caroline more than she believed any man ever could. A man who deserves a chance to become the father he was meant to be.

In this poignant book, this story of love and hope and courage and dreams, Katherine Stone reveals the true strength of a woman.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harrowing health problems and a dramatic murder trial collide in this convoluted novel that idealizes pregnancy and romantic love in equal measure. Caroline, forced to grow up too quickly and mother her younger sister after their alcoholic parents' divorce, has difficulty conceiving a child of her own now that she's in her 30s. When her last-ditch in-vitro fertilization attempt finally appears to succeed, Caroline chronicles her pregnancy in letters to her unborn daughter. In the meantime, Caroline's husband, Jeffrey, a Seattle area prosecutor, has his own preoccupation as he attempts to convict a famous ex-football player for the murder of his fiancée and their unborn son (the parallels to the Laci Peterson case are made explicit). Desperate to give her husband a child, Caroline puts her own life on the line when preeclampsia threatens both her and her unborn child. Blow-by-blows of Jeffrey's legal doings threaten to derail the plot, as do Caroline's treacly journal entries (on the blastula: "Each cell accepted its destiny, and went about its task. Joyfully). Haul out the tissues for this genuine tearjerker, which makes up in sentimentality what it lacks in drama. (Aug.)
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Review

"A can't-miss combination of multi-generational romance and international suspense." -- Booklist on Pearl Moon

"Heart-tugging . . . few romance fans will remain unmoved." -- Publishers Weekly on Thief of Hearts

"Intensely emotional . . . this novel is certain to delight Stone's many fans." -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on Another Man's Son

"Stone's high-quality romance ranks right up there with those of Nora Roberts, Kay Hooper and Iris Johansen." -- Booklist on Thief of Hearts

"Stone's novel . . . is deeply moving, and its mystical overtones are sure to thrill readers." -- Booklist on Island of Dreams

"Stone's poetically expressive tale of intriguing characters and tough dilemmas is truly poignant and heartrending." -- Booklist on The Cinderella Hour

"With this tightly woven, suspenseful plot, peopled with memorable characters, Stone has produced another surefire hit." -- Booklist on Imagine Love

A "moving story of family love." -- Booklist on The Other Twin

Katherine Stone writes "in the vein of Danielle Steel and Sandra Brown." -- Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mira (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778323315
• ISBN-13: 978-0778323310
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,203,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bestselling Seattle-born author Katherine Stone set about plotting her life's journey at a very young age. At age five she knew she hoped to become a doctor. Then, after writing her first short story at age 11, she realized that she'd love to be a writer, too.

In pursuit of that youthful dream, Katherine attended Stanford University, where she completed her premed requirements while majoring in English. She received her M.D. from the University of Washington. Following her internal medicine residency in San Francisco, she accepted a fellowship in infectious diseases in Los Angeles.

What remains one of the world's largest outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease coincided with her fellowship, which gave her the opportunity to write and lecture on this mysterious new disease. But it was not all work and no play. There was also romance in L.A. It was there (during a spinal tap!) that she met her future husband, physician and novelist Jack Chase.

While she had accomplished the first half of her young-life goals, Katherine never really got around to the second part--being a writer--until Jack bought her a word processor and urged her to "Just do it." The result? Bestselling books in the distinctive Katherine Stone style: a marriage of lyrical prose, evocative emotion and, above all, romance.

"There's nothing wrong with incurable romanticism," the physician asserts. "I love writing about nice people, who are giving life their best shot despite the sometimes monumental obstacles I place in their paths and who discover, despite those obstacles, the splendor and power of love."

Although Katherine has hung up her stethoscope for the moment and is writing full-time at her home near Seattle, her medical background is often evident in her books. "I very much enjoy sharing my passion for medicine--its drama, its emotion and yes, its science--with my readers."

The author of 21 novels, including Twins, Bel Air, Love Songs, and Pearl Moon, Katherine's books have been translated into 20 languages and sold worldwide. She is in the midst of converting all her novels into e-book formats (and thinking about her next book!)

Please visit her website at www.katherinestone.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine thriller, August 2, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Caroline's Journal (Hardcover)

In Seattle for six years attorney Jeffrey Wynn and his wife Caroline have tried to have a baby without success until now. As Jeffrey begins to prosecute a media circus nasty homicide involving former two-time Superbowl MVP Kevin Beale having killed his girlfriend Susannah and their unborn child, Caroline is finally carrying their baby.

While the media and the radio talk show have a field day accusing Jeffrey of taking out his frustrations on a hero and blaming Susannah for her death and that of her fetus due to her lifestyle, Caroline struggles with her health as she carries her child. She begins to keep a diary, but worries about her increasingly tired spouse battling a case in which celebrity status and wealth is defeating justice and the truth.

When the journey focuses on either Caroline's health or the trial, the story line is loaded with exciting angst that grips the audience. However, when the plot veers into sidebars such as the reconciliation between sisters Caroline and Meg, it adds too much suds to the mix. Still the cast is solid and the spotlights on an at risk pregnancy and on a celebrity murder trial are fascinating.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sappy, February 20, 2009

By 

C. Kabat "cdesigns" (WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Caroline's Journal (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read most of Katherine Stone's books - this, by far, is her weakest. The journal entries were so sappy - I am a mother, know mothers, and have never heard anyone "speak" to her unborn in such a flowery manner. This turned me off and had me wondering why this book was even published.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Story, September 23, 2006

By 

Agatha Galen "angelemia" (Crown Point, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caroline's Journal (Hardcover)

This was an easy read. It was a sweet and tender story. It shows what women will do and what they are willing to go through to become mothers.