Customer Reviews

The Passenger

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I wanted to read a different book, so I bought this author unknown to me.

I really found the story quite entrancing and memorable. Romance, mystery, etc. All with a plot that kept me reading till the end. Didnt want to put it down. So for a complete change in a story, try this book.

Elizabeth Reilly has finally accepted life with her "special" abilities. Will the man she loves accept them too?

Elizabeth can communicate with the dead. Elizabeth considers her abilities more of a curse then a gift, and for most of her life, she blocked the abilities, hoping to live a normal life. However, when an old man named Paolo Clemente dies in her arms, she knows she has to help his spirit find peace. Paolo believed his wife and son to be dead, but Elizabeth discovers they are alive and well in California. Soon she finds herself in California on the Clemente vineyard run by Adriana and Gio, Paolo's wife and son.

Not wanting Gio to think she's crazy, Elizabeth decides not to tell him that she can communicate with the spirit of his dead father. While she's not comfortable with lying, Elizabeth believes it's better if Gio thinks she knew his father when he was alive. However, Gio is still skeptical of Elizabeth's story. He suspects that Elizabeth might be running some sort of scam. Wanting to protect his mother, Gio demands that Elizabeth keep the reason for her visit a secret from Adriana until he decides the time is right. As Elizabeth and Gio spend more time together, the tension between them builds. Will they acknowledge their attraction before it's too late? What will Gio say when he learns about Elizabeth's abilities?

Elizabeth is certainly a strong woman. Her ability to communicate with the dead has made her life very lonely. People instinctively shy away from her and her family. Rather than letting this defeat her, Elizabeth grew into the wonderful and caring woman who held a stranger's hand as he died. Another thing that I admire about Elizabeth is that she was unwilling to settle for just any man. She is determined that she will never be with a man who doesn't fully accept everything about her, including her ability to communicate with the dead. While she loves Gio, she is prepared to let him go if he can't handle the truth of her abilities.

Gio is a man with a heart of stone. However, somewhere very deep in that stone is a soft spot. Gio believes that his father had abandoned him as a child. Then Elizabeth walks into his life and tells him differently. Not only is Gio extremely resistant to changing his long held view of his father, but he also resists his growing reaction to Elizabeth just as strongly. In an attempt to push her away, Gio is cruel at times, and it was very difficult for me to patiently wait for his stone heart to soften. However, once it does, he reveals himself to be a kind and caring man.

I enjoyed reading The Passenger. Paolo and Adriana's story is heartbreaking, but out of that tragedy comes the possibility of new love between Gio and Elizabeth. I recommend The Passenger to anyone looking for a touching romance with a splash of the paranormal mixed in.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

Since she was a child, Elizabeth had possessed a rare gift of communicating with the dead, and sometimes helping them with their unfinished business. This was the case with Paolo Clemente; a kind man she met on a streetcar. Elizabeth held the man's head in her lap as he passed from life to his other existence, but he was not at rest. Something was left undone. He wanted her to take him home to his family.

Paolo's son Giovanni loved the vineyard. It was the only thing of his missing father he had, but Giovanni was also bitter when it came to his father. Despite what his mother thought, Giovanni believed his father had deserted them. Paolo's spirit followed Elizabeth to the vineyard, hoping she could create peace in Giovanni's heart. Even though his family members welcomed her visit, Giovanni was distrusting. Would Elizabeth succeed in bringing Paolo's love to his family and heal Giovanni's bitterness or would she fail her mission? Find out in this delightful novel by Joie Lesin.

I really enjoyed this book, with its interesting plot, humor and an unusual storyline. I was very impressed with the way it all came together.

Armchair Interviews says: Bringing love from the "other side" makes for a good story.

1945, Boston and California

Elizabeth Reilly's 'gift' - communicating with troubled ghosts - makes it difficult for her to form close relationships with the living. It felt safe to marry the one man she knew accepted her - a childhood best friend. But then World War II intervened, cutting her husband's life short. His ghost travels to Massachusetts for one last good-bye. Elizabeth resigns herself to a lonely life as a widow.

Then a chance encounter with a dying man sends Elizabeth's life in an unexpected direction. Paolo Clemente died a broken old man, still grieving from the tragic loss of his wife and infant son thirty years earlier. After learning the ship carrying his family from Italy was lost at sea, Paolo could not bring himself to return to the California vineyard where he hoped they all would live long and happy lives. Unable to find peace, Paolo's troubled soul reaches out to Elizabeth. She learns his story and promises to bring him what comfort she can by bringing news of his death to his cousin and former vineyard partner in California.

But when Elizabeth arrives in Napa, she and Paolo receive a shock: his wife and son are alive. Giovanni Clemente is a bitter young man who has never gotten over the shame of being abandoned by his father. Elizabeth realizes that in order to ease Paolo's emotional pain, she must first ease his son's. But she doesn't dare tell Giovanni, who scoffs at the notion of ghosts, that she is in contact with his father.

Giovanni Clemente doesn't know what to make of the young woman who has traveled across the country bearing tales of his lost father. Is she crazy? Does she want money? To trap him in marriage? He's attracted to Elizabeth, but how can he trust a woman who is clearly keeping so many secrets? Better to get her out of his life quickly. After all, he's used the pain of his father's abandonment as a shield around his heart for thirty years. If he lets it go, it would mean opening himself up to love. And hurt. And that is something Giovanni will never do.

In The Passenger, Joie Lesin weaves an intricate and emotional tale of loss and love, tragedy and hope. I enjoyed this book immensely! I turned the last page with a satisfied sigh.

Joy Nash
[...]
Immortals: The Awakening (Immortals)

Rating: 5 Beacons
Elizabeth had possessed a rare gift since she was a child, communicating with the departed souls, and sometimes helping them with their unfinished business. Such was the case with Paolo Clemente; a kind man she met on a streetcar. Elizabeth held the man's head in her lap as he passed from life to his other existence, but he wasn't at rest. Something was left undone. He wanted her to take him home to his family.

Giovanni loved the vineyard. It was the only thing of his missing father he had, but Giovanni was also bitter when it came to that man. Despite his mother's thoughts, Giovanni believed his father had deserted them. Paolo's spirit followed Elizabeth to the vineyard, hoping she could create peace in Giovanni's heart, and though his family members welcomed her visit, he was distrusting. Would Elizabeth succeed in bringing forth Paolo's love to his family and heal Giovanni's bitterness? Or would she fail in her quest? Find out in this delightful novel by Joie Lesin.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was a refreshing change to romantic novels, adding humor with an unusual storyline. I was impressed with the way it all came together.

Reviewed By : Deanna

Submitted by the author