A fractured heart... A hope renewed...
Today is your birthday... I want you to know that you are in my heart, as you always have been. I pray for you every day. I pray I did the right thing...
Thus wrote Miranda DeSpain on the anniversary of the day that changed her life forever, the day her heart was torn in pieces. Ever since that wrenching event, she's been unable to settle down, embrace life. She finds herself starting one adventure after another, trying to forget. But she never can. As she approaches her twenty-seventh birthday, she determines once again to reinvent her circumstances, to start anew. But there's one loose end to tie up first...
Joseph North, chief of police in Abingdon, Virginia, has always tried to do what is right, to perform his duty and protect those he loves. He is suspicious of the new woman in town and, checking further, discovers she is a person with seemingly no history. Then he finds a baby picture of his niece in her possession....
A story of law and grace, of forgiveness and redemption,
of finding joy and rest in a broken world
A Christianbook.com Pick of the Week
"Nichols's latest novel follows the wanderings of Miranda DeSpain, a young woman who has been unable to recover from a painful adolescent experience. An upstanding drifter (she always finds gainful employment where ever she goes), Miranda finds herself in bucolic Abingdon, Virginia, where she meets an array of lovely Christian townsfolk, among them a spunky 11-year-old girl named Eden who helps Miranda find a job and a place to live. Nichols's writing style is often engaging, and while some of her characters are cliche (the ruggedly handsome, tough but tender leading man, for example), a few of her characters, most notably Eden, are quirky and real. Nichols blends the romance genre with a more problem-oriented women's novel here. While there are few surprises and the many coincidences make it difficult to suspend disbelief, the plot holds together well enough, with likable characters fighting nobly against adversity and unlikable characters trying their best to change. Spiritual themes such as forgiveness and redemption are well integrated into the novel, and the Christian characters are genuine, openhearted and giving. Readers looking for sentimental yet well-written women's fiction won't be disappointed." --
Publisher's Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
"Nichols' richly detailed plot and complex characters are a stunning combination. Every page contains nuggets of God's truth and love. Miranda, Joseph, Eden and Ruth are so intricately created that they feel like real people. Overall themes of forgiveness and finding what 'Eden' means to each of us provide much room for contemplation and thought. This is a book for the keeper shelf." --Romantic Times
"Beautifully written and poignant, this tale of broken bodies, lives, and families paints a portrait of reconciliation and new beginnings. I loved the exploration of feelings of both the biological mother and the adoptive mother and the honest portrayal of what each could be thinking in a given situation. As an adoptive mother, I found myself sympathizing with the thoughts of the woman who could easily be considered the antagonist of the story. At the same time, this isn't only a story of adoption and its players. This lovely story explores so many facets of family and the things that bring us together...and tear us apart.
Armchair Interviews says: Linda Nichols writes a moving tale that will be long remembered." --Jamie Driggers, armchairinterviews.com
"...Nichols admirably shows how even the most seemingly unforgivable sins can be redeemed, and how understanding a person's past can illuminate their actions and lead to forgiveness. Readers will especially enjoy the delightful character of Eden, an unusually self-aware 11-year-old who steals the novel.... Most of all, readers in search of reminders of grace for their own brokenness and mistakes will find comfort within these pages." --Cindy Crosby, faithfulreader.com
"Nichols' writing style achieves a nice balance of poetry and efficiency - descriptive and detailed but not flowery, good conversation, and no ambivalence about whose head one is in. In fact, I felt she excelled at getting inside the minds and emotions of pretty much every character, even the very minor ones. The title is another little stylistic coup with its double-meaning possibilities.
The way the story explores family relationships, forgiveness, mother love, and adoption will give it appeal to readers in a wide range of ages. It is written from a Christian worldview but is never preachy. However, even though God is not mentioned much overtly, His fingerprints are all over this story....
For a thoughtful and satisfying read that will leave you feeling warmed and hopeful, In Search of Eden is a good choice. The paperback edition I read came with a set of discussion questions at the end, making this book excellent for reading clubs too." --Violet Nesdoly, blogcritics.org
"In Search of Eden is an enthralling story of a young woman desperately searching for her child and the circumstances she found her mother endured as a child and later as an adult. The story is heartbreaking at times, but it is also a story of finding peace, happiness and acceptance. I enjoyed reading this work by Linda Nichols and recommend it highly to others who enjoy Christian novels. This story is definitely a five star. It will tug at the heartstrings of mothers everywhere." --Kelli Glesige, readerviews.com
"Linda Nichols, as always, delivers an absorbing read with engaging characters, a well-crafted plot, and a glimpse of how God works for good in the lives of His children." --Laurie Slagenwhite, cleanreads.blogspot.com
