Long Time Coming [Mass Market Paperback]

Edie Claire (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warner Forever | Publication Date: December 2003

From a captivating new voice in romance comes this poignant tale of a woman who returns home to confront childhood memories of her best friend's death and her growing attraction to the man she holds responsible. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When Joy Hudson left home she thought it was for good, but now that her father has suffered a major heart attack, she's back in Wharton, Kentucky, bringing her veterinary practice with her. She has spent the last 18 years running away from the memory of her best friend's tragic death and the boy, Jeff Bradford, she blames for it. Well, the boy is now a man and her father's doctor, so she can't avoid him. Forced to confront her past, she dives right in and purchases her friend's old house, then tries to find the truth about the accident. With old friends happy to see her, she starts to realize her memory of that terrible time in high school is skewed, and she needs to truly forgive Jeff, and herself. The house itself seems to be guiding her with supernatural occurrences. Ultimately, Claire's charming romance disproves the adage that you can't go home again. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Forever (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446612774
• ISBN-13: 978-0446612777
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,905,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Novelist and playwright Edie Claire is a veterinarian, a childbirth educator, and a mother of three who delights in writing cozy mysteries, classic and young adult romantic suspense novels, and comedic stage plays. Pick up an Edie Claire work and you can be assured of intrigue, humor, a touch of romance (or a hefty dose of it, depending on the book!) and an ending that will leave you with a smile.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for the keeper shelf., November 29, 2003

By 

Shelly Tavenner (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long Time Coming (Mass Market Paperback)

Two words. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Edie Claire has written a wonderful novel about friendship, love, guilt and death. Joy Hudson never completely moved passed the death of her best friend, Jenny Carver, which occurred right before their high school graduation. Now, almost twenty years later, Joy must travel back to her hometown to care for her ailing father and there she runs into Jeff Bradford, Jenny's boyfriend and the man that she has always blamed for the accident. Joy knows that it is finally time to face the emotions and memories that she buried along with Jenny. She ends up purchasing Jenny's old house and then the odd occurrences begin. A song from prom plays over and over again and the door to her home opens itself on its own accord. Joy knows that Jenny is trying to tell her something, but what? Joy will need Jeff to help her regain the memories that her mind refuses to hold onto and when she does, she finds forgiveness and love that has been waiting for her.

Utterly riveting. Edie Claire takes what could be a tedious and sappy subject and turns it into a wonderfully balanced tale of how the scars death and guilt can cause. Every character is richly developed and the story flows easily. The paranormal parts of this book are believable and poignant. I read it in one sitting and craved more even though I was satisfied with the ending. The only part of this story that bothered me was the quickness that Joy forgave Jeff. She had been harboring this hurt and blame for 18 years and forgives him in almost a blink of an eye. Besides that small plot point, this story is powerful and will find its way to my keeper shelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars charming contemporary romance, November 26, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Long Time Coming (Mass Market Paperback)

After being away from her hometown of Wharton, Kentucky for eighteen years except for short visits to her parents, veterinarian Dr. Joy Hudson moves back. The only people who could make her return are her parents. Her septuagenarian mother suffers from glaucoma and cannot care for her dying octogenarian spouse by herself. Surprisingly everyone Joy buys the house in which her deceased best friend Jenny Carver once lived.

Joy still blames Jenny's boyfriend Jeffrey Bradford for the car accident that took her friend's life as she believes he drove under the influence. Still when they meet when she hit his dog Bear they both feel an attraction. As Joy and Jeffrey fall in love, her blaming him stands in their way. If Joy can move past her anger, perhaps she and Jeffrey can help her father meet his prime goal of holding a grandchild and also allow Jenny to rest in peace.

This contemporary romance engages the audience in several ways. Readers will wonder if the lead female character's love for Jeffrey can overcome her animosity towards him as she blames him for Jenny's death. The audience will also speculate whether the ghost of Jenny is pushing together the two people who meant so much to her when she lived. Fans will cherish this charming tale.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good read., March 10, 2007

By 

Kathleen Wagner (SWPA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Long Time Coming (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to admit that I was not sure that this book would live up to the last Edie Claire novel I had read! Meant To Be was a terrific read from beginning to end. So often I am disappointed by a second novel by the same author. Not this time!

Again, I was transfixed from the first chapter. Again I found characters that felt real, and warm and a story that was simply exquisite!

More please, Ms Claire!