Customer Reviews

The Turning Point

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lilly Crawford is a young wife who has long since forgotten what it is like to truly live. Living in a small east Texas town, Lilly is frantic to leave an abusive marriage. When the only person who has ever truly loved her -- her husband's mother -- passes away, Lilly sets out on her journey to be free of her husband and her painful past. On a backroad in Louisiana, Lilly's car breaks down, and with little to no money, she's desperate to find something, anything to get her moving forward...enter Adam Wakefield, a prominent, successful neurosurgeon, who has recently been carjacked and as a result, has lost his eyesight, whether it's temporary or permanent still lingers in the air. By luck, Lilly is hired as Adam's caregiver, and thus lays the tracks for the thick, literary treat, "The Turning Point," by Francis Ray.

This novel is beautifully written, and Ray writes vividly, quickly bringing the reader into the upper-class, luxurious lifestyle of the Wakefields. Her description of scenery is vibrant, and the story reads so smoothly, you quickly flip through the 392-paged novel.

I fell in love with the characters, each drawn out realistically. Not only is the relationship between Lilly and Adam written in a poignant and sweet manner, but Ray's subplots (the burgeoning love affair between Adam's mother and a family friend & Adam's sister's relationship with her "suspicious" boyfriend) are done in a tight, concise manner, interwoven wonderfully throughout the main plotline and overall story.

The Turning is a beautiful love story, but it's so much more than that. It's a testament to the human spirit, reminding us that even through the most horrific circumstances, with love and faith, we can overcome and shine brightly.

Reviewed by Shonie

Following the death of her beloved mother-in-law, Lilly Crawford decides she no longer wants to remain married to her abusive spouse Myron. Though they live three hours from Houston, Lilly heads to Louisiana hoping to regain the dreams Myron crushed. However, her aging, dilapidated car breaks down forcing the penniless Lilly to need employment rather quickly. She accepts a job as caretaker to bitter, depressed Adam Wakefield.

The former California based neurosurgeon Adam is blind due to a violent carjacking. He is acrimonious and angry, taking out his fate on everyone including Lilly. She struggles not to flee into the night as his temper is too close to what she recently left in East Texas. Still, as Lilly and Adam become better acquainted they begin to heal one another through love.

THE TURNING POINT is a well-written relationship drama starring two individuals suffering from life's battle fatigue syndrome. The fast-paced story line could have turned melancholy yet sugary. However, Francis Ray makes the plot move quite quickly forward through her lead characters. They will receive empathy from readers that will pray the duo find happiness.

Harriet Klausner

Francis Ray has captured many levels of love in THE TURNING POINT. On the surface Adam Wakefield has lost his sight and is totally angry about the forced changes necessary in his new life. Lilly Crawford forced herself to grasp at a chance for a new life. Neither were on the path to each other, but their paths crossed. Together they show us that whether we're sighted or not, we see more with our hearts than our eyes. The love that grows between Adam and Lilly is first companionship, then friendship, then love. They have seen each other at their worst and their best.

The cast of supporting characters are rich in their depiction of other types of love. Dr. Delacroix and Adam's mother prove that love survives the ages, letting us know that what Adam and Lilly have will stand the test of time. And Kristen, looking for love in all the wrong places, eventually discovers that she has great role models to pattern her search after. Even Nicole's quest for the right man tells us a story. And what a story.

All I can say is, I wish I'd written this book. Congratulations, Francis, THE TURNING POINT delivers.

Lilly Crawford was in a very abusive relationship. After the death of her mother-in-law, Lilly decided it was time for her to get out of the marriage. Taking care of her mother-in-law was her only happiness, now she was gone and there was no reason to stay. She packs a few things and leaves the house. She had to hurry, because her husband Myron was very well known. Lilly heads toward Lousiana to start a new life, but her car breaks down. Lilly wonders to a house near by and ends up accepting a job taking care of a man that seems to hate life and everyone around him (Dr. Adam Wakefield).

Adam was a victim of an awful car jacking. Instead of Adam giving his car up, he resisted and ended up blind. He hated life and tried to keep himself locked up in his room. The once confident and prominent neurosurgeon felt he would never really live again, just exist. When Lilly started to care for him, she didn't know how to get him to eat and regain the confidence he once had as a neurosurgeon in California. Her first reaction was that he had just as bad a temper as Myron. Lilly was determined to help Adam despite the bad temper.

The Turning Point was a poignant story about some of life's hardest battles. The story makes you wonder what it would be like to be blind and abused by someone. Some of the trials of life will make you want to give up. In this story, you immediately hope the characters in the story find the happiness they deserve.

Francis Ray shares with her readers her own testimony about her brush with the possibility of blindness. She has always been a master storyteller. Her characters are so well written you feel you know them. I think she has succeeded in making the transition to mainstream fiction writing. Congratulations to Ms. Ray on a job well done. But, when I think about it, I couldn't have expected anything less from her.

What a great story of overcoming obstacles, love, family and discovering who you are (not what you do for a living). I know this book is labeled as mainstream, but there was definitely enough romance sprinkled into this drama. I don't know anyone like Lily, but I was rooting for her to overcome her low self-esteem. And Adam, was just a brilliant man waiting to have his brilliant heart rediscovered and Lily was there for that express purpose. I can't say enough about the book it had everything I look for in a drama--love, complex relationships, some storyline twists and some pulling at the heart strings. I also appreciate that Ms. Ray doesn't drag down a story by dragging out issues, once an issue crops up it is resolved completely and the reader is left to gain understanding and knowledge from the issue instead of just wondering "why was that part in the book". Those of you who like her romance novels will like this as well. Although the romantic scenes are modest (not ultra HOT) they are indeed worthwhile and add to the storyline. I can't wait to read the follow-up Somebody's Knocking at My Door which tells the story of Kristen Wakefield and Rafe Crawford, who both made appearances in this book (although Rafe's was brief). Keep the books coming Ms. Ray, your talent is wonderful!

I have to say, I've read other books by Ms. Ray, and this one is by far the best. Lilly and Adam's strength as well as their faults are believably written. Lilly and Adam's triumph over the obsticles in their lives makes you want to cheer. A very lovely and engrossing story. This book is a definit keeper.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Francis Ray, this is her first mainstream fiction debut. However, she is not new to the world of writing, as she is one of our most popular romance authors who has given us those famous connecting books featuring the unforgettable families: The Taggarts, Falcons and Greysons. That's the Francis Ray I'm speaking about in this review!

Francis Ray has taken a leap of faith and brought us her very first mainstream fiction, The Turning Point. This is a profound story that is very special to Francis because of the subject matter that deals with blindness, which she explains in the author's section of the book for you to read.

If you enjoy reading a book that is a smooth easy readable story, deals with sensitive issues of the affects of a woman who has lived in an abusive marriage, a highly respected neurosurgeon who is a victim of a crime resulting in blindness and full of anger over this mishap, interesting secondary characters that truly enhance this compelling story, then I strongly recommend that you take the time to purchase and read this book. I've read many mainstream fiction books and I have to honestly say, this one I enjoyed the most and will be one of those that I read over and over again.

I am very blessed and fortunate to say that I have not only communicated frequently with Francis Ray over the past couple of years, but I have spent time interacting and working with her at romance conferences. Francis, thank you for this wonderful book!! I hope that you will not only continue to give us more fiction books but also please continue to give us those romance books!! You still owe us several more books on the Greyson family, if my count is right I think that's 4 brothers and the only sister!!!!

Check out some of my favorites by Francis Ray: Single Titles: Fallen Angel, Forever Yours, Undeniable, Only Yours, Silken Betrayal, Heart of the Falcon, Break Every Rule, Incognito, Until There Was You. Novellas: Rosie's Curl and Weave, Della's House of Style and Welcome To Leo's

One last comment to Francis Ray: Will there be any future books on Rafe, Kristin and Brent??? I sure hope so.......

This book is both a blessing and a delight! Fleeing in a broken down car from an abusive marriage and shattered dreams, a desperate Lilly Crawfield stumbles into a job situation, that of a caregiver for a famous, affluent brain surgeon now blind and bitter, with his self assurance in tatters. Ray's intriguing plot and rich characterizations has pettiness and mean spiritness vying with immense heart and humility to bring a turning point in the life of a family - and indeed to a debased Lilly herself with an expected love. The overtones of Black life in the story, add to its richness and brings the satisfaction of a good read. A REAL page turner - a book to keep and reread often!

I couldn't put the book down. I would sneak and read the book while I was at work. Francis Ray has done an excellent job. I also have an eye condition, so I could relate to the story.

AN ABUSED HOUSE WIFE WHO JUST LOST THE ONLY PERSON WHO EVER SHOWED HER LOVE. A NEUROSURGEON WHO IS BLIND AS A RESULT A OF A CAR JACKING. LILLY IS BROKE, SCARED, AND ALONE; ADAM IS ANGRY WITH HIS FAMILY,AND LIFE IN GENERAL . HE REFUSES TO LET ANY ONE HELP HIM. EVEN THOUGH HIS SISTER KRISTEN, MOTHER ELEANOR , FAMILY FRIEND DR. DELACROIX HAVE ALL TRIED, EVEN HIS LADY FRIEND NICOLE TRIES TO HELP,HOWEVER ADAM WILL HAVE NONE OF IT . HE HAS RUN OFF SEVERAL CAREGIVERS. IN WALKS LILLY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN LOST, AND WITH THE WILL TO SURVIVE. WHEN ADAM AND LILLY ARE FIRST THROWN TOGETHER IT IS LIKE OIL AND WATER, ADAM WANT GIVE IN,LILLY WANT GIVE UP. WITH THE PAITENCE OF JOB, A I CAN'T FAIL ATTITUDE LIILY WINS THE FIRST BATTLE BUT NOT THE WAR. AS SHE WINS ADAM OVER SHE ALSO FINDS FRIENDSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER AND DR.DELACROIX. AS LILLY IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE THROUGHT A DIVORCE FROM THE ABUSIVE HUSBAND ADAM IS GOING THROUGH SUGERY TO GET HIS EYE SIGHT BACK. THEY BOTH COME OUT THE WINNERS. WITH THERE FRIENDSHIP TURNING TO LOVE AND THEIR LOVE TURNING TO MARRIAGE. LILLY AND ADAM ARE THE TURNING POINT IN EACH OTHERS LIVES. MS RAY HAS ANOTHER WINNER, THE CHARACTERS ARE SO REAL, THE SCENES HAVE YOU SITTING THERE WHILE YOU ARE READING. A MUST READ FOR ALL.