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Sleeping in Eden
The lives of a middle-aged doctor and a love-struck young woman intersect across time in Sleeping in Eden , Nicole Baart’s haunting novel about love, jealousy, and the boundaries between loyalty and truth.
She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
367 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2013
38 people are currently reading
2380 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Baart
17 books1,580 followersNicole Baart is the author of eleven novels, including Everything We Didn’t Say (an October 2021 Book of the Month selection and Amazon Editor's pick) and The Long Way Back. Best known for her “race-to-the-finish family dramas” (People), Baart is also the cofounder of a nonprofit and mother of five. She lives in Iowa with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
August 2, 2022
4 1/2 Stars | Sleeping in Eden is a haunting beautifully written novel told in alternate chapters and with characters of two seemingly unrelated stories. Although the reader knows at some point they will have to intersect, part of the intensity that keeps you turning the pages is the need to try to decipher the link between the two.
While it is indeed a murder mystery, at the heart of the book is a story of yearning, the loss of innocence, the repercussions of secrets and the intricacies of human emotion. There are aspects of Sleeping in Eden that could be said to be perhaps a bit long winded, predictable or unresolved, but in the end it’s a book that still haunts me.
I agree with another reviewer that perhaps I should have seen certain things coming, but didn’t and when I did, it stopped me cold. I read that it took ten years for Nicole Baart to get this book published and I’m glad she persevered. She has a gift with words that is truly poetic and like a painter with a brush evokes images and emotions that are really beautiful.
There were certain characters or perhaps one particular character I was drawn to and became etched in my heart leaving me often in tears and pondering this novel long after the last page.
While it is indeed a murder mystery, at the heart of the book is a story of yearning, the loss of innocence, the repercussions of secrets and the intricacies of human emotion. There are aspects of Sleeping in Eden that could be said to be perhaps a bit long winded, predictable or unresolved, but in the end it’s a book that still haunts me.
I agree with another reviewer that perhaps I should have seen certain things coming, but didn’t and when I did, it stopped me cold. I read that it took ten years for Nicole Baart to get this book published and I’m glad she persevered. She has a gift with words that is truly poetic and like a painter with a brush evokes images and emotions that are really beautiful.
There were certain characters or perhaps one particular character I was drawn to and became etched in my heart leaving me often in tears and pondering this novel long after the last page.
June 2, 2013
Although this book is not very large and is fast paced it took me longer to read than I anticipated. I instantly loved the characters and was invested in solving the mystery that was unfolding before me, but I had to take breaks from the story. It was not because it was boring or I was not interested, but rather because I was trapped between the two stories that were rushing to converge. I knew what was coming, but not how. I read the last half in two days because I knew if I didn't just absorb it at once I might never have the courage to keep reading. That sounds terrible, but if you are a fan of murder mysteries then you probably understand the dance that is played when you read one. It's not enough to blaze through them. Little clues and bits must be tasted, prodded, and marveled on as you go. Some of the clues are important to revealing the story, and some of them just stand out because they spark a memory from your own life. What I find so interesting is how multiple people can read the same story and different things stood out as important to them. This story was painful to read, but it was written beautifully and the ending was bittersweet. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery that also builds in growth of all of the main characters. It isn't just cut and dry. It takes twists and turns and very aptly shows how life almost never goes the way you want it to, but that isn't always a bad thing. I would have liked a little more resolution for Angela, but only so much can be written in one book.
I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
April 2, 2013
More a 2.5 starrer than a 3. A sordid tale of murder, suicide, estrangement and betrayal that sounds great, but for me fell flat in execution. This was supposed to be thrilling, and it was fine for a bit. But then it meandered too long and the payoff, when it came, was beyond terrible.
Here's the deal. On one hand is a Dr. Lucas Hudson, who acts as coroner one day and finds a dead body buried underneath a barn in which the town drunk has committed suicide. He immediately assumes that this body is of Angela Sparks, the drunk's troubled young daughter who vanished eight years ago. Angela was close to his wife, and her disappearance has cost him his marriage. So when he finds a ring in the crime scene, he just takes it for himself in a mistaken idea of saving his marriage. On the other hand is Meg Painter, a fiesty teen who has to choose between two boys - the magnetic (supposedly) Dylan Reid who she's interested in and Jess Langbroek, the safer choice, who's interested in her but obviously doesn't interest her. She obviously has something to do with Dr. Hudson and the body in the barn.
My problem with it, as I've already stated before is that it went on interminably before it got anywhere. It didn't help that none of the characters (except for maybe Angela Sparks) were particularly interesting. I didn't care for the Lucas angle because of his stupid devotion to his wife Jenna, who, from what we see, deserves to be kicked out on the curb. I mean, she probably has her redeeming qualities, but we're not told about them. Why I should have cared for her whiny self or for Lucas' marriage is beyond me. Once Angela becomes more prominent in that storyline, it picked up some. At least I got interested in what would happen. This is in awful contrast with Meg's storyline, where she begins by being an interesting, can-do person. As the story progresses she devolves into the worst sort of Twilight-y heroine wanting the bad boy, but also cannot let go of the good boy and is too much of a wimp to do anything. Typically, bad boy Dylan is not half as interesting as the supposedly boring Jess. And this dilemma of hers goes on way too long. End it already.
Well, the end comes, and for all the stretching before hand, it's abrupt. And terrible. I felt cheated by it, since I had to be invested in story-lines that I didn't care for and had no bearing on the denouement. It's also unbelievable for some of it to have happened. Not the crime per se, but what follows. There's also no closure to one of the boys, what the hell happened to him? We get some cryptic comments about the dubiousness of his character when all prior evidence suggests otherwise and then he's dropped like a hot potato. Did we not just spend fully half the book on this vacillating love triangle?
I actually can't justify the 3 stars I give this book. I not only did not get pulled into the story, the writing distracted me. Too many times the author goes "something killed him", and even though I use the phrase in conversation often, for some strange reason it bothered me that a writer would use it in third person. But, there are a few scenes where the tension is built up well, and I do like the characters of Angela and Jess. Had it been shorter by around 50-100 pages, I would have liked it a lot better. As it is, this is forgettable.
I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
Here's the deal. On one hand is a Dr. Lucas Hudson, who acts as coroner one day and finds a dead body buried underneath a barn in which the town drunk has committed suicide. He immediately assumes that this body is of Angela Sparks, the drunk's troubled young daughter who vanished eight years ago. Angela was close to his wife, and her disappearance has cost him his marriage. So when he finds a ring in the crime scene, he just takes it for himself in a mistaken idea of saving his marriage. On the other hand is Meg Painter, a fiesty teen who has to choose between two boys - the magnetic (supposedly) Dylan Reid who she's interested in and Jess Langbroek, the safer choice, who's interested in her but obviously doesn't interest her. She obviously has something to do with Dr. Hudson and the body in the barn.
My problem with it, as I've already stated before is that it went on interminably before it got anywhere. It didn't help that none of the characters (except for maybe Angela Sparks) were particularly interesting. I didn't care for the Lucas angle because of his stupid devotion to his wife Jenna, who, from what we see, deserves to be kicked out on the curb. I mean, she probably has her redeeming qualities, but we're not told about them. Why I should have cared for her whiny self or for Lucas' marriage is beyond me. Once Angela becomes more prominent in that storyline, it picked up some. At least I got interested in what would happen. This is in awful contrast with Meg's storyline, where she begins by being an interesting, can-do person. As the story progresses she devolves into the worst sort of Twilight-y heroine wanting the bad boy, but also cannot let go of the good boy and is too much of a wimp to do anything. Typically, bad boy Dylan is not half as interesting as the supposedly boring Jess. And this dilemma of hers goes on way too long. End it already.
Well, the end comes, and for all the stretching before hand, it's abrupt. And terrible. I felt cheated by it, since I had to be invested in story-lines that I didn't care for and had no bearing on the denouement. It's also unbelievable for some of it to have happened. Not the crime per se, but what follows. There's also no closure to one of the boys, what the hell happened to him? We get some cryptic comments about the dubiousness of his character when all prior evidence suggests otherwise and then he's dropped like a hot potato. Did we not just spend fully half the book on this vacillating love triangle?
I actually can't justify the 3 stars I give this book. I not only did not get pulled into the story, the writing distracted me. Too many times the author goes "something killed him", and even though I use the phrase in conversation often, for some strange reason it bothered me that a writer would use it in third person. But, there are a few scenes where the tension is built up well, and I do like the characters of Angela and Jess. Had it been shorter by around 50-100 pages, I would have liked it a lot better. As it is, this is forgettable.
I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
March 31, 2013
3.5 There was just something I found so addictive about this novel. It is a solidly written story, exploring two different story lines and even though one of the connections is readily apparent quite soon in the book, the who did it and how, was not. Young love, mature love, marriage and the expectations within a marriage, secrets and one's character are all explored and prodded in this novel. At one time when I though the book had slowed down, I happened to look down and saw I was more than half way finished with the book, I was amazed that I had already read so much and so quickly. Solid characters, well written, some suspense and a tightly woven plot, are what one can expect from this novel. Well done. ARC from NetGalley and publisher.
September 7, 2017
Another 5 star!!
This book took me back in time. I, as a teen, (thought) I was in love with two boys...and maybe in my young life, I was. But as it was..you can't BE with two boys. Therein lies the heartache, confusion, anger and ultimately...decisions ~ right or wrong.
Throughout this book my feelings felt raw and exposed. I knew exactly what Meg was going through that I often rushed through the book breathless. This disappoints me, but I know I will re-read. I will revisit this book and learn more from it the second time around. It's just one of those books.
However...this first time was nail biting and exciting, as young love often can be. Sad and excruciating at times. I enjoyed the two different stories within a story .. eventually finding the closer for all.
Now, I want to read everything Nicole Baart has written. She was a hidden jewel (to me) in the literary world! Well I have uncovered the diamond!!!
***It was wonderful to read with Marisa's (a friend on Goodreads) actors in my head!! I wish this book would become a movie...Reece Witherspoon? Is it on your list??
I loved it!!!!!!
This book took me back in time. I, as a teen, (thought) I was in love with two boys...and maybe in my young life, I was. But as it was..you can't BE with two boys. Therein lies the heartache, confusion, anger and ultimately...decisions ~ right or wrong.
Throughout this book my feelings felt raw and exposed. I knew exactly what Meg was going through that I often rushed through the book breathless. This disappoints me, but I know I will re-read. I will revisit this book and learn more from it the second time around. It's just one of those books.
However...this first time was nail biting and exciting, as young love often can be. Sad and excruciating at times. I enjoyed the two different stories within a story .. eventually finding the closer for all.
Now, I want to read everything Nicole Baart has written. She was a hidden jewel (to me) in the literary world! Well I have uncovered the diamond!!!
***It was wonderful to read with Marisa's (a friend on Goodreads) actors in my head!! I wish this book would become a movie...Reece Witherspoon? Is it on your list??
I loved it!!!!!!
April 11, 2018
I realized in looking through my reviews that I didn't do this novel justice with my review...so about a month out from finishing it let me see if I can do a little better.
SLEEPING IN EDEN is a realistic novel that grabs you by the heart strings from the first chapter and never lets go. From the very first line about Jim Sparks hanging himself and no one caring you know you are in for a roller coaster. the twist comes that this is not just a thriller but a coming of age and growing up novel.
I loved this novel. It is in my TOP TEN books of ALL TIME. it definitely will sit on my shelf to be re-read.
In one story we meet Lucas and Jenna a husband and wife facing the strife of losing a child and navigating through marriage. throw in a young, troubled woman Angela Sparks who enters their lives and disappears without a trace.
In another, we meet meg who is in love with two boys, and growing up. the reader navigates high school, college and young adulthood along with her. we read about Jess--------the man that is right on paper and Dylan the bad boy (or just mysterious) and we watch as Meg falls in love with both, gets her heart broken and tries to navigate her heart and her head.
With the Sparks family (Angela and Jim) being a mysterious link between the two stories this novel provides a lot of heart, emotions and fun.
I have enjoyed everything that Nicole Baart has written and this one is my favorite.
for my dream movie cast.....check out my Instagram...Marisagbooks
SLEEPING IN EDEN is a realistic novel that grabs you by the heart strings from the first chapter and never lets go. From the very first line about Jim Sparks hanging himself and no one caring you know you are in for a roller coaster. the twist comes that this is not just a thriller but a coming of age and growing up novel.
I loved this novel. It is in my TOP TEN books of ALL TIME. it definitely will sit on my shelf to be re-read.
In one story we meet Lucas and Jenna a husband and wife facing the strife of losing a child and navigating through marriage. throw in a young, troubled woman Angela Sparks who enters their lives and disappears without a trace.
In another, we meet meg who is in love with two boys, and growing up. the reader navigates high school, college and young adulthood along with her. we read about Jess--------the man that is right on paper and Dylan the bad boy (or just mysterious) and we watch as Meg falls in love with both, gets her heart broken and tries to navigate her heart and her head.
With the Sparks family (Angela and Jim) being a mysterious link between the two stories this novel provides a lot of heart, emotions and fun.
I have enjoyed everything that Nicole Baart has written and this one is my favorite.
for my dream movie cast.....check out my Instagram...Marisagbooks
January 25, 2013
This is a pretty incredible read. While I love a good mystery, this novel goes much farther than just a simple whodunnit. The layers of mystery in this novel keep you guessing from beginning to the end.
There are two very interesting and complete stories being told in this book simultaneously. I found myself completely absorbed in both, wondering how they would tie together in the end.
In this novel, the author Nicole Baart, has managed to tell a tale of young love, more mature love, loss, murder and betrayal. I was enthralled with this book from the very first page.
While I expected a good mystery, I didn't expect the level of tension amongst the characters and the masterful way the author managed to make the past and the present collide in her finale.
After growing to care for the characters in this novel, to find out the truth of what caused them to end up where they are at the end of the book actually provoked real emotion in me.
This is the most impressive mystery I have read for a long, long time.
If you are searching for an absolutely stunning read with an impossible mystery, this is a sure bet. I highly recommend it.
I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley.
There are two very interesting and complete stories being told in this book simultaneously. I found myself completely absorbed in both, wondering how they would tie together in the end.
In this novel, the author Nicole Baart, has managed to tell a tale of young love, more mature love, loss, murder and betrayal. I was enthralled with this book from the very first page.
While I expected a good mystery, I didn't expect the level of tension amongst the characters and the masterful way the author managed to make the past and the present collide in her finale.
After growing to care for the characters in this novel, to find out the truth of what caused them to end up where they are at the end of the book actually provoked real emotion in me.
This is the most impressive mystery I have read for a long, long time.
If you are searching for an absolutely stunning read with an impossible mystery, this is a sure bet. I highly recommend it.
I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley.
January 14, 2013
Sleeping in Eden is a fantastic novel. The story line is strong and well presented by journeying you from one situation to another without ever leaving you lost on the curb. Nicole Baart' handle of the English language is indisputable. Her choice of words to describe scenery and characters is poetic and vivid. One of my favorite quote from the book is:
"The God she met in Sunday school, and believed in without cause for doubt, did not worry himself with little girls and their bicycles. He had bigger problems, like famine, world peace and orchestrating and Armageddon of alarming proportions."
What a way to express how this little girl thought of God. Well put!
This novel will not be available before April 2, 2013, but it is well worth the wait!! I wish there were half stars on this site... I would have given it 4.5 stars!!!
"The God she met in Sunday school, and believed in without cause for doubt, did not worry himself with little girls and their bicycles. He had bigger problems, like famine, world peace and orchestrating and Armageddon of alarming proportions."
What a way to express how this little girl thought of God. Well put!
This novel will not be available before April 2, 2013, but it is well worth the wait!! I wish there were half stars on this site... I would have given it 4.5 stars!!!
Read
November 10, 2014Nicole Baart's writing just gets better and better with each book, and Sleeping in Eden is, to be so cliche, a page-turner. The book arrived early afternoon one day last week, and a couple of hours later, I began reading. I kept reading, and we had leftovers for dinner because I didn't want to take the time away from reading to cook. I read all through my son's tae kwon do class, all through the kids' baths, am not really sure when they went to bed, and then I finally finished around 11:00 p.m., and set the book down feeling like I just wanted to pick it back up and read it again.
In Sleeping in Eden, Lucas Hudson is called to be the coroner in a suicide case. While there, another body is discovered buried beneath the location of the hanging. Lucas' story, the mystery woman's story, and Meg's story are all unraveled throughout the book as each chapter is written either about Lucas or Meg. Both protagonists make us want to know them more, to be involved in their lives and decisions, and to celebrate and grieve with them.
Sleeping in Eden is a fantastic read. There is a depth to the book and the characters that is often missing from popular fiction. All of the characters are real, vulnerable, and so human (so if you read the review of the person who returned it for a couple of bad words, take that with a grain of salt. That reviewer missed out). I highly recommend it.
From the book's description:
She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
In Sleeping in Eden, Lucas Hudson is called to be the coroner in a suicide case. While there, another body is discovered buried beneath the location of the hanging. Lucas' story, the mystery woman's story, and Meg's story are all unraveled throughout the book as each chapter is written either about Lucas or Meg. Both protagonists make us want to know them more, to be involved in their lives and decisions, and to celebrate and grieve with them.
Sleeping in Eden is a fantastic read. There is a depth to the book and the characters that is often missing from popular fiction. All of the characters are real, vulnerable, and so human (so if you read the review of the person who returned it for a couple of bad words, take that with a grain of salt. That reviewer missed out). I highly recommend it.
From the book's description:
She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
March 26, 2013
** I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
SLEEPING IN EDEN is an impressive story about lives that come together in an unexpected way.
Lucas gets called to a crime scene as a coroner to investigate a suicide hanging of a man. This call turns out to be a very haunting case for him. As he begins his own investigation into the suicide he uncovers clues that have a link to possibly saving his marriage & solving the mystery of why the man hung himself. He gets more than he bargained for though in the process.....
This book was captivating. It did not end how I had first predicted and I was floored when I read the ending. The characters are well developed and the storyline was exquisite. The story flows very smoothly and the 2 stories of Meg & Lucas back and forth flow very well and are easy to keep up with. It really shocked me how their lives came together towards the end. I won't write much more so I don't give too much away, but this was an awesome book. I highly recommend it to readers who like mysteries and crime books!
SLEEPING IN EDEN is an impressive story about lives that come together in an unexpected way.
Lucas gets called to a crime scene as a coroner to investigate a suicide hanging of a man. This call turns out to be a very haunting case for him. As he begins his own investigation into the suicide he uncovers clues that have a link to possibly saving his marriage & solving the mystery of why the man hung himself. He gets more than he bargained for though in the process.....
This book was captivating. It did not end how I had first predicted and I was floored when I read the ending. The characters are well developed and the storyline was exquisite. The story flows very smoothly and the 2 stories of Meg & Lucas back and forth flow very well and are easy to keep up with. It really shocked me how their lives came together towards the end. I won't write much more so I don't give too much away, but this was an awesome book. I highly recommend it to readers who like mysteries and crime books!
June 11, 2014
I am sorry I didn't read this book when I received it from the Goodreads giveaway. If I did, I would have realized how entrancing this book became. At first I was thinking, this is going to be a slow one; but OMG it picked up not too long after and I couldn't wait to read it again every time I had to put it down! I absolutely loved the way the author entangled both Lucas' and Meg's stories. Sometimes authors aren't great at telling two perspective's but I did love it this way. It made me want to keep reading so I can get to the next chapter of the previous person's story. I did think something was going to happen, but I was actually wrong; so it was awesome the way the story came together.
A definite must read for people who like mysteries.
Better yet, how about you all check it out!
A definite must read for people who like mysteries.
Better yet, how about you all check it out!
January 14, 2013
I wish I could give this book six stars. It was that good. I love Nicole Baart's style, and this book is right up there with the best books I've EVER read.
Not your typical happily-ever-after story but also not a story lacking in hope. The characters aren't just realistic; they're deep and complicated and unpredictable. I had no idea what any of them were going to do next, and though Baart hints at what's to come, I wasn't sure of how we'd get there. I love that.
I'd read this book again and again. Its theme will haunt me (in a good way).
Not your typical happily-ever-after story but also not a story lacking in hope. The characters aren't just realistic; they're deep and complicated and unpredictable. I had no idea what any of them were going to do next, and though Baart hints at what's to come, I wasn't sure of how we'd get there. I love that.
I'd read this book again and again. Its theme will haunt me (in a good way).
August 16, 2013
2.5 Stars. Started out good, but turned into a way too long and frustrating read with many silly, needless conversations that took FOREVER to get to the point. Some character's and their relationships as well as their actions (particularly Dr. Lucas) were just unrealistic to me. In the end,
Spent too much time struggling through this book. Would not recommend.
March 24, 2015
I love when a book can evoke so many emotions for me. This book did just that. I certainly was eager to read more of Meg's story than Lucas'. And I really had a hard time with Lucas' reason(s) for doing what he did at the start of all this. I guess with the loss of both stories connected at the end, there was equal understanding. But the love and struggles for Meg, Dylan, and Jesse is what pulled me in and I loved experiencing that, despite the outcome. And that's what a good author can achieve if done right. Which in this case Baart absolutely did. :)
October 12, 2017
Loved it
This book captured from the first line and never let me go. Emotional and real. I absolutely loved it! Nicole Baart IS talented
This book captured from the first line and never let me go. Emotional and real. I absolutely loved it! Nicole Baart IS talented
June 20, 2013
Nicole Baart in her new book, “Sleeping In Eden” published by Howard Books takes us into the lives of Lucas Hudson, Meg Painter and Dylan Reid
From the back cover: She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
“Sleeping In Eden” starts with what looks like a suicide and Lucas is called to act as coroner because the town’s coroner is on vacation. And then they find the body that had been buried years ago. That is when the two stories begin. Ms. Baart does a wonderful job of giving us believable characters that come alive on the pages but she also brings the two stories together in a very touching manner. Ms. Baart has given us a murder mystery but she has also provided us with a family in pain, foster parenting, young romance and dangerous choices and secrets. There is some profanity in “Sleeping In Eden” you should be aware of that. Other than that Ms. Baart has given us a wonderful book that is very touching.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Howard Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <
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From the back cover: She knew what he wrote . . .
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.
On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case. His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the barn floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything. . . .
Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid. It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable. Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.
Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.
“Sleeping In Eden” starts with what looks like a suicide and Lucas is called to act as coroner because the town’s coroner is on vacation. And then they find the body that had been buried years ago. That is when the two stories begin. Ms. Baart does a wonderful job of giving us believable characters that come alive on the pages but she also brings the two stories together in a very touching manner. Ms. Baart has given us a murder mystery but she has also provided us with a family in pain, foster parenting, young romance and dangerous choices and secrets. There is some profanity in “Sleeping In Eden” you should be aware of that. Other than that Ms. Baart has given us a wonderful book that is very touching.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Howard Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...
> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 16, 2017
Although I feel the story was adequate, it could have been stronger by excluding a female character and tightening the sub-plots. I truly saw no reason for the inclusion of the side story of Jenna other than she was married to Lucas the acting coroner and knew the daughter of the man accused of the crime. I cringed at the description
of Lucas and Jenna's marriage. It was as if destruction she was inflicting on her marriage was acceptable. I couldn't stand that Lucas put up with her horrible behavior and the author included this in her story. I honestly hated her character and wish the author would have saved me from having to read through her negativity. If I overlook this character the rest of the story was interesting and moved along relatively quickly. It was not very hard to figure out who the body buried in the barn was since there weren't enough characters for it to have been anyone else. I was surprised to learn that this book is "technically" Christian fiction because I saw absolutely nothing to indicate that it was. I don't have a problem with Christian fiction per se. In fact, I consider myself a pretty devout Christian. I simply don't read a lot of it because the characters seem to come across as boring and one dimensional. So for the fact this author managed to get this book published by a Christian fiction publisher, my hat is off to her.
Actual rating would be 3.5, it would have been a 4 star but I really did dislike old Jenna!
of Lucas and Jenna's marriage. It was as if destruction she was inflicting on her marriage was acceptable. I couldn't stand that Lucas put up with her horrible behavior and the author included this in her story. I honestly hated her character and wish the author would have saved me from having to read through her negativity. If I overlook this character the rest of the story was interesting and moved along relatively quickly. It was not very hard to figure out who the body buried in the barn was since there weren't enough characters for it to have been anyone else. I was surprised to learn that this book is "technically" Christian fiction because I saw absolutely nothing to indicate that it was. I don't have a problem with Christian fiction per se. In fact, I consider myself a pretty devout Christian. I simply don't read a lot of it because the characters seem to come across as boring and one dimensional. So for the fact this author managed to get this book published by a Christian fiction publisher, my hat is off to her.
Actual rating would be 3.5, it would have been a 4 star but I really did dislike old Jenna!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2013
I really enjoyed the opening of this book. Ms. Baart did a wonderful job setting the scene for the mystery that was weaved throughout the whole novel. I felt as if I were in the barn with the main character, Lucas, as he was called to examine a corpse. In this opening chapter the author gave us good insight into his personality, and not only where he’d come from, but where he seems to be heading both professionally and personally. He was very a sympathetic character and so much so that I got frustrated for him in the scenes where he had deal with Jenna, his estranged wife. The dialogue is very lifelike and the plotting moves fast. I think this had a lot to do with the way the book was written. One part being Lucas’ story, the other Meg, although I should add sometimes I wanted these two stories to merge faster than they did.
Another thing that Ms. Baart portrayed nicely in Sleeping in Eden is the hometown charm of Blackhawk and its residents. If you like stories that examine the past and its bearing on our future, along with some suspense then I think this might be a good pick for you.
Another thing that Ms. Baart portrayed nicely in Sleeping in Eden is the hometown charm of Blackhawk and its residents. If you like stories that examine the past and its bearing on our future, along with some suspense then I think this might be a good pick for you.
April 4, 2016
As a writer myself, I was really impressed with the talent of Nicole Baart. I bought the book in a bargain clearance on B&N.com for $1.98! Money more than well-spent. A dual story of a doctor/forced medical examiner who is called to assist at the house of a man who's hung himself and the past life of the girl whose skeleton is found beneath his feet, could be a warning of disaster ahead reader-wise. I admit to a hesitance when looking at the way the chapters were set-up (switching from one character to another), so often having seen and read books that didn't do it well at all, so I was very pleased when I started to read and immediately loved the characters and wanted to keep reading. Her balance of just right details setting wise, to create the scene, without being bogged down with descriptions of wallpaper and rugs, was refreshing. She masterfully made you like and dislike each character, which was very impressive. The story line moved along nicely, and the shocking ending made me say, "OH MY GOSH!" out loud, always a good thing. I highly recommend this book for lovers of mystery, literary fiction and thrillers alike. I plan to read much more of Nicole Baart in future.
March 30, 2019
3.5 stars
Baart's eloquent prose draws the reader into the tragic tale from the first paragraph. At times a love story, other times a mystery, this is overall a very purposeful piece of fiction. The author chooses each phrase carefully, which will draw the reader deeply into the story.
SUMMARY: In a small town in Iowa, Dr. Lucas Hudson is called to a farm as coroner to confirm the suicide of the resident. Lucas recognizes the man, the alcoholic father of a young woman he and his estranged wife had befriended and loved before she disappeared. When bones are discovered buried underneath the corpse, Lucas thinks it must be those of his daughter Angela. In a parallel storyline, high school student Meg Painter meets newcomer Dylan Reid. Their relationship is filled with ups and downs, with Meg eventually pairing off with mutual friend Jess. The two stories eventually intersect in a powerful way.
Baart's eloquent prose draws the reader into the tragic tale from the first paragraph. At times a love story, other times a mystery, this is overall a very purposeful piece of fiction. The author chooses each phrase carefully, which will draw the reader deeply into the story.
SUMMARY: In a small town in Iowa, Dr. Lucas Hudson is called to a farm as coroner to confirm the suicide of the resident. Lucas recognizes the man, the alcoholic father of a young woman he and his estranged wife had befriended and loved before she disappeared. When bones are discovered buried underneath the corpse, Lucas thinks it must be those of his daughter Angela. In a parallel storyline, high school student Meg Painter meets newcomer Dylan Reid. Their relationship is filled with ups and downs, with Meg eventually pairing off with mutual friend Jess. The two stories eventually intersect in a powerful way.
April 22, 2019
Nicole Baart does it again! Loved this book! Could do a little less with the tension between a couple of the characters, seemed a little drawn out. Liked the twist, but felt said at the opportunity missed for that person's life.
January 30, 2025
Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the towns vacationing cororner on what appears to be an open and shut suicide case when he unearths the skeletal remains of a young woman in a barn. He's certain they belong to a local girl, Angela Sparks whom he and his wife presumed had run away from her abusive father. During his investigation Dr. Lucas discovers a ring in the ground by the body. Determined to find out who this woman is and what this very distinct ring has to do with the case takes him on quite the journey.
August 20, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. The alternating time periods and perspectives kept me hooked. A love story that has a haunting mystery. So good
August 1, 2013
I won Sleeping In Eden in a giveaway. I entered on a whim, since my main reading genres are SciFi and Urban Fantasy and this doesn't fit either category. Even so, I do enjoy the occasional "palate cleanser" novel, so when I saw the description of this novel (first in one of those It's Monday posts, and then in the giveaway post) I decided it would be an interesting novel - and even though it was stated that a body is found in a barn - and hours later, another one is found buried in the floor....I wasn't quite prepared for just how intense this novel ended up.
There is two stories going on - and it's hard to describe without giving anything away.....
A small town doctor is called out to pronounce an apparent suicide dead. This suicide happens to be a rather unlikable character, the owner of a large piece of property and an alcoholic prone to rages....in the midst of checking things out, another body is found under the floorboards of the barn (where the guy hung himself).
The young doctor is having some of his own problems. His wife is just on the edge of leaving him, and he's sort of drifting through his life, barely hanging on but not doing a whole lot to convince her to stay. Seems like every time he tries to do something nice for her she reacts with anger. Her character wasn't a very nice - or rather to me, she came across as a raging woman who wasn't going to make things easy for him. She's gone through something to cause her to feel this intense sadness and rage, but she's taking it out on him, and he seems lost. I was completely frustrated with his and her characters - which is a sign of a good writer. Because I wasn't frustrated with stupid writing and lame characters, but I was frustrated with these incredibly well written characters who are so lost in their suffering. So buried in their own emotions that they don't really see what they're doing to the other, and the wife doesn't really seem to care about anything but her own feelings, just keeps herself distant and punishing to her husband, not letting him in, angry because he's lost and doesn't know what to do, other than to try things to help that just angers her.
There's this other character - who happens to be the daughter of the alcoholic who had committed suicide. And she's been missing for about eight years.... There is some uncomfortable history between her and the doctor, even while the wife has a great love for this young woman, who is either the body under the floorboards, or ....
The other story line has to do with a young woman who falls in love with the new kid in town. As she's growing, her neighbor - her friend's older brother, suddenly decides he's madly in love with her and there's this kind of strange relationship that develops. She's not really that into him, and yet sometimes she is - but it's nothing like the intense feelings she has for this other guy - the new guy in town, who, according to some, isn't quite right for her (i.e. not good enough for her). Now, here is another set of characters that you can't help feeling frustrated with. You want to shake the girl and tell her not to be a fool. You want to grab the new boy and tell him not to waste time.... you want to grab the neighbor boy and tell him.......well. You get the gist of it.
Most of the characters were so flawed, so human in some of the saddest ways, and so human in some of the worst ways, and yet even with their obvious flaws, they all had redeeming qualities.
By the last section of the book, I was so involved with the two stories, and so irritated by a few of the characters, that I was left feeling a little wrung out by it all. And the ironic thing, is that people really are that foolish, to waste time in relationships that aren't equal, to make the other one suffer because you don't feel good about something that happens, to shut out others because you are so engulfed with anger and grief over an event...
Da**, this woman wrote an intense story that can make you either swear to treat your own relationship better or make you want to just get away from everyone because it's just too hard to let people completely in....and that some of these irrational behaviours just hits just a little too close to home.
You should read it. It's at once sad, surprising and yet a little hopeful.
There is two stories going on - and it's hard to describe without giving anything away.....
A small town doctor is called out to pronounce an apparent suicide dead. This suicide happens to be a rather unlikable character, the owner of a large piece of property and an alcoholic prone to rages....in the midst of checking things out, another body is found under the floorboards of the barn (where the guy hung himself).
The young doctor is having some of his own problems. His wife is just on the edge of leaving him, and he's sort of drifting through his life, barely hanging on but not doing a whole lot to convince her to stay. Seems like every time he tries to do something nice for her she reacts with anger. Her character wasn't a very nice - or rather to me, she came across as a raging woman who wasn't going to make things easy for him. She's gone through something to cause her to feel this intense sadness and rage, but she's taking it out on him, and he seems lost. I was completely frustrated with his and her characters - which is a sign of a good writer. Because I wasn't frustrated with stupid writing and lame characters, but I was frustrated with these incredibly well written characters who are so lost in their suffering. So buried in their own emotions that they don't really see what they're doing to the other, and the wife doesn't really seem to care about anything but her own feelings, just keeps herself distant and punishing to her husband, not letting him in, angry because he's lost and doesn't know what to do, other than to try things to help that just angers her.
There's this other character - who happens to be the daughter of the alcoholic who had committed suicide. And she's been missing for about eight years.... There is some uncomfortable history between her and the doctor, even while the wife has a great love for this young woman, who is either the body under the floorboards, or ....
The other story line has to do with a young woman who falls in love with the new kid in town. As she's growing, her neighbor - her friend's older brother, suddenly decides he's madly in love with her and there's this kind of strange relationship that develops. She's not really that into him, and yet sometimes she is - but it's nothing like the intense feelings she has for this other guy - the new guy in town, who, according to some, isn't quite right for her (i.e. not good enough for her). Now, here is another set of characters that you can't help feeling frustrated with. You want to shake the girl and tell her not to be a fool. You want to grab the new boy and tell him not to waste time.... you want to grab the neighbor boy and tell him.......well. You get the gist of it.
Most of the characters were so flawed, so human in some of the saddest ways, and so human in some of the worst ways, and yet even with their obvious flaws, they all had redeeming qualities.
By the last section of the book, I was so involved with the two stories, and so irritated by a few of the characters, that I was left feeling a little wrung out by it all. And the ironic thing, is that people really are that foolish, to waste time in relationships that aren't equal, to make the other one suffer because you don't feel good about something that happens, to shut out others because you are so engulfed with anger and grief over an event...
Da**, this woman wrote an intense story that can make you either swear to treat your own relationship better or make you want to just get away from everyone because it's just too hard to let people completely in....and that some of these irrational behaviours just hits just a little too close to home.
You should read it. It's at once sad, surprising and yet a little hopeful.
April 2, 2013
When I started reading this book I could not understand what the link between Lucas and Meg was. I had decided upon so many different outcomes that when I read the part of the book where it becomes obvious I could not be anymore shocked.In hindsight, it is pretty obvious what the link is between the two characters though.
The story alternates between the life of Lucas Hudson and Meg Painter. It is quite clear from the outset that Lucas is living in modern times, but it took me a while to realise what time period Meg was from and I was quite shocked that it wasn’t as far back as I had initially thought.
Lucas, a doctor, is called out to act as coroner/medical examiner when local alcoholic and recluse, Jim Sparks, is found hanged in his barn. Whilst in the barn with the police Lucas discovers another body, the remains of what appears to be a young woman. Lucas is so shocked by this discovery that he is not thinking clearly. He sits down on a crate at the other end of the barn and discovers a suicide note and a ring. He hands over the suicide note, but, believing that the remains belong to Angela, Jim’s daughter who went missing eight years earlier, he decides to keep the ring to give to his wife Jenna. Lucas and Jenna are going through a difficult patch, in part due to the strain on their relationship that Angela had placed upon them. Jenna is a social worker and it was not long after Lucas and Jenna arrived in Black Hawk that they befriended Angela and tried their utmost to help her.
Meg is a typical tomboy and becomes friendly with the new boy in town, Dylan. She becomes known as one of the cool kids because of her reputation for being daring – she is an adrenaline junkie. After a year or so it dawns on Meg that she has romantic feelings for Dylan, but they are just friends and don’t really hang out at school. After Dylan’s involvement in a school play and his obvious interest with one of the girl’s in the play, Meg withdraws from him. It is at this time when her neighbour, Jess, starts to show an interest in her and invites her to become part of his band. After the first night they kiss and become an item, but Meg still has feelings for Dylan.
Lucas and Jenna re relieved when Angela Sparks turns up alive, but the mystery deepens, because if it wasn’t Angela buried underneath the barn, then who was it?
The story deals with the difficult relationship between Lucas and Angela – who, unbeknown to Jenna had made a pass at Lucas before she disappeared. It also deals with Meg’s life, up until a crucial moment. It is at this crucial moment that the two different stories merge and everything starts to make sense, tying all the loose ends up.
A good read and I would definitely recommend it.
**** 4 stars.
The story alternates between the life of Lucas Hudson and Meg Painter. It is quite clear from the outset that Lucas is living in modern times, but it took me a while to realise what time period Meg was from and I was quite shocked that it wasn’t as far back as I had initially thought.
Lucas, a doctor, is called out to act as coroner/medical examiner when local alcoholic and recluse, Jim Sparks, is found hanged in his barn. Whilst in the barn with the police Lucas discovers another body, the remains of what appears to be a young woman. Lucas is so shocked by this discovery that he is not thinking clearly. He sits down on a crate at the other end of the barn and discovers a suicide note and a ring. He hands over the suicide note, but, believing that the remains belong to Angela, Jim’s daughter who went missing eight years earlier, he decides to keep the ring to give to his wife Jenna. Lucas and Jenna are going through a difficult patch, in part due to the strain on their relationship that Angela had placed upon them. Jenna is a social worker and it was not long after Lucas and Jenna arrived in Black Hawk that they befriended Angela and tried their utmost to help her.
Meg is a typical tomboy and becomes friendly with the new boy in town, Dylan. She becomes known as one of the cool kids because of her reputation for being daring – she is an adrenaline junkie. After a year or so it dawns on Meg that she has romantic feelings for Dylan, but they are just friends and don’t really hang out at school. After Dylan’s involvement in a school play and his obvious interest with one of the girl’s in the play, Meg withdraws from him. It is at this time when her neighbour, Jess, starts to show an interest in her and invites her to become part of his band. After the first night they kiss and become an item, but Meg still has feelings for Dylan.
Lucas and Jenna re relieved when Angela Sparks turns up alive, but the mystery deepens, because if it wasn’t Angela buried underneath the barn, then who was it?
The story deals with the difficult relationship between Lucas and Angela – who, unbeknown to Jenna had made a pass at Lucas before she disappeared. It also deals with Meg’s life, up until a crucial moment. It is at this crucial moment that the two different stories merge and everything starts to make sense, tying all the loose ends up.
A good read and I would definitely recommend it.
**** 4 stars.
December 27, 2020
The premise of this novel seems at first be a mystery with a few emotional entanglements thrown in for good measure, but it really is so much more than that. It explores young love and survival of marriage, the truth and consequences inherent in the expectations that we set for ourselves and others, and how the choices we make can connect us to others both near and far.
Lucas Hudson is a small town Iowa doctor with a struggling marriage; Meg Painter is a small town teenager struggling with being a teenager. Through parallel story lines, we get to know these two characters with seemingly nothing in common.
Many of the emotions and lost connections that have led the current state of Lucas' marriage can be drawn back to the disappearance of Angela Sparks. As a social worker, Angela was the first case that Jenna Hudson took on when moving to the small town of Blackhawk, IA - she grabbed Jenna's heart, and took a piece of it with her when she disappeared. Eight years after her disappearance, Lucas is drawn into a mystery that he feels can change his world when Angela's father commits suicide and the remains of a young woman are found buried in the clay floor of his barn right beneath his hanging, lifeless body. Absolute in his mind that he has found Angela, and that this discovery can alter the course of his wife's grief, and in turn his marriage, Lucas consumes himself with putting a name to the bones.
In a different world, Meg Painter is going through the growing pains of being a teenage girl. She falls in love with her best friend, Dylan. Her neighbor, Jess, falls in love with her. Lies, jealousy and missed opportunities cobble together the path that each of their lives take, shaping the adults that they will become, and sending Meg directly into the path of Lucas' investigation.
These characters are well written and developed with surprising detail in such a short period of time, and the situations are raw and believable. Unfortunately though, I felt like the amount of time devoted to character development pulled away from the story in some cases. Several areas felt as though the actual situation was rushed through in order to get back to the emotional details, and the culmination of the story a bit anti-climatic after such a beautifully written and intriguing build up.
Lucas Hudson is a small town Iowa doctor with a struggling marriage; Meg Painter is a small town teenager struggling with being a teenager. Through parallel story lines, we get to know these two characters with seemingly nothing in common.
Many of the emotions and lost connections that have led the current state of Lucas' marriage can be drawn back to the disappearance of Angela Sparks. As a social worker, Angela was the first case that Jenna Hudson took on when moving to the small town of Blackhawk, IA - she grabbed Jenna's heart, and took a piece of it with her when she disappeared. Eight years after her disappearance, Lucas is drawn into a mystery that he feels can change his world when Angela's father commits suicide and the remains of a young woman are found buried in the clay floor of his barn right beneath his hanging, lifeless body. Absolute in his mind that he has found Angela, and that this discovery can alter the course of his wife's grief, and in turn his marriage, Lucas consumes himself with putting a name to the bones.
In a different world, Meg Painter is going through the growing pains of being a teenage girl. She falls in love with her best friend, Dylan. Her neighbor, Jess, falls in love with her. Lies, jealousy and missed opportunities cobble together the path that each of their lives take, shaping the adults that they will become, and sending Meg directly into the path of Lucas' investigation.
These characters are well written and developed with surprising detail in such a short period of time, and the situations are raw and believable. Unfortunately though, I felt like the amount of time devoted to character development pulled away from the story in some cases. Several areas felt as though the actual situation was rushed through in order to get back to the emotional details, and the culmination of the story a bit anti-climatic after such a beautifully written and intriguing build up.
August 24, 2019
A great read! This book is out of my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it. I’m not one for murder mysteries, but in this case, I loved it. I really like how the book is set up, how one chapter is Meg’s story and in the past, the next is Lucas’ and in the present. Meg’s story was great, but it did annoy me how there was such an emphasis put on some things them they were skimmed over. For example the party Meg and her friend snuck off too. I feel there was a lot of buildup to that and then we as readers didn’t even attend the party. Same with Meg and Dylan. They went from being inseparable to hardly talking with no middle ground or explanation explaining what happened. I feel cheated. The Jess-Dylan-Meg love triangle was interesting, and honestly I was team Jess. Meg’s story was good because I kept thinking I had it figured out only to be proven wrong. When you finally see what happened through her eyes, it’s completely shocking and not what you expected. I never thought Jim had accidentally killed her by scaring her and causing her to fall and break her neck.
Lucas story was also fascinating. I like that the author made him a good, respectable man that adored his wife. You don’t see that often enough. He was pretty dense sometimes, causing the strain of their marriage to be even worse, but that’s realistic. I liked that he took the ring to give to his wife in hopes to put Angels behind her and them to move on. Angela was the absolute worst. I don’t know that I’ve ever disliked a main character as much as I did her. I get she was screwed up and a victim, but how she kept betraying Jenna who loved her so much, by trying to seduce her husband was sickening. Then half of what she says doesn’t even makes sense. Like when he questioned her about the kiss and she says she’s in love with him..but then goes on to say she loved Jenna too? Also her connection with Dylan didn’t make any sense, and how she couldn’t just answer a question straight up was annoying.
I enjoyed the ending. Everyone got an answer although the question of why couldn’t be answered. Jim committed suicide because of his guilt of scaring her causing her to fall and die. Dylan got his answer (kind of) of what happened to Meg. Angela ran away again. Lucas saw something to the end. Him and his wife reconciled and were in the process of adopting. Their marriage had been saved.
Lucas story was also fascinating. I like that the author made him a good, respectable man that adored his wife. You don’t see that often enough. He was pretty dense sometimes, causing the strain of their marriage to be even worse, but that’s realistic. I liked that he took the ring to give to his wife in hopes to put Angels behind her and them to move on. Angela was the absolute worst. I don’t know that I’ve ever disliked a main character as much as I did her. I get she was screwed up and a victim, but how she kept betraying Jenna who loved her so much, by trying to seduce her husband was sickening. Then half of what she says doesn’t even makes sense. Like when he questioned her about the kiss and she says she’s in love with him..but then goes on to say she loved Jenna too? Also her connection with Dylan didn’t make any sense, and how she couldn’t just answer a question straight up was annoying.
I enjoyed the ending. Everyone got an answer although the question of why couldn’t be answered. Jim committed suicide because of his guilt of scaring her causing her to fall and die. Dylan got his answer (kind of) of what happened to Meg. Angela ran away again. Lucas saw something to the end. Him and his wife reconciled and were in the process of adopting. Their marriage had been saved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2013
When Jim Sparks is found hanging in his barn, Dr Lucas Hudson is called in to act as coroner. It’s pretty clear that Sparks has committed suicide, but the discovery of a human skeleton buried in the floor of the barn is unexpected. Is it Angela, Jim’s daughter, who disappeared eight years ago? Lucas finds an inscribed ring on the barn floor and decides to keep it as a peace offering for his wife, Jenna. Their marriage has been slowly failing since Angela disappeared, and he hopes the ring will provide some closure and help restore their broken relationship.
Meg Painter and Dylan Reid are high school students in Sutton. She’s intelligent, athletic and popular; he’s the guy from the wrong side of the tracks, but they are best friends until all-American neighbour Jess starts dating Meg, and she doesn’t understand her feelings.
The two stories run side by side, although it isn’t initially apparent how or when they will link. And both stories were equally intriguing, because I knew there had to be a link, and when I realised what it was… well, I didn’t see that coming. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. The second half of the novel is bittersweet, as you can see where the story is going yet it's like a runaway train: there is nothing that can be done to change the inevitable.
Nicole Baart writes gritty stories with characters making difficult decisions, and Sleeping in Eden is no exception. She evokes strong emotion, not through melodrama but by placing her characters in situations that just could happen and where there is no easy or obvious choice. Her writing is beautiful, evoking images and emotions in just a few well-chosen words.
It's not typical Christian fiction, even though it’s published by Howard Books, Christian imprint. There are a couple of swear words and Lucas makes a morally questionable decision in keeping the ring. There are a few unanswered questions, and a couple of characters whose stories aren’t finished. Despite this, Sleeping in Eden is a poignant tale of love and hope, beautifully written and a story that will be remembered. Recommended.
Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Meg Painter and Dylan Reid are high school students in Sutton. She’s intelligent, athletic and popular; he’s the guy from the wrong side of the tracks, but they are best friends until all-American neighbour Jess starts dating Meg, and she doesn’t understand her feelings.
The two stories run side by side, although it isn’t initially apparent how or when they will link. And both stories were equally intriguing, because I knew there had to be a link, and when I realised what it was… well, I didn’t see that coming. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. The second half of the novel is bittersweet, as you can see where the story is going yet it's like a runaway train: there is nothing that can be done to change the inevitable.
Nicole Baart writes gritty stories with characters making difficult decisions, and Sleeping in Eden is no exception. She evokes strong emotion, not through melodrama but by placing her characters in situations that just could happen and where there is no easy or obvious choice. Her writing is beautiful, evoking images and emotions in just a few well-chosen words.
It's not typical Christian fiction, even though it’s published by Howard Books, Christian imprint. There are a couple of swear words and Lucas makes a morally questionable decision in keeping the ring. There are a few unanswered questions, and a couple of characters whose stories aren’t finished. Despite this, Sleeping in Eden is a poignant tale of love and hope, beautifully written and a story that will be remembered. Recommended.
Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
February 10, 2013
One of my favourite things about Netgalley is the wonderful opportunity that we book reviewers receive is the chance to read the galleys of books that have not yet been released to the big wide world of readers. One of the many genres that I enjoy is what is called Edgy Christian Fiction. It is books that have a Edgy out -of - the box content to them but with the underlining thoughts of Christianity. It seems to be the way that most books in the Christianity field are going in order to branch out and reach those readers who in the past might not picked up a Karen Kingsbury or a Nicole Baart due to the fact it might have a cross on the spine label or be from a Christian publishing company like Howard Books.
In Sleeping In Eden , it does the two POV thing which I am really not keen on , but in order for the story to be told it must happen. The first story is that a local man has hung himself and underneath his body hidden in the dust of the barnyard floor is bones - bones that belong to a female and that seem like they have been there for 5-10 years. Local Doctor Lucas has been called onto the case to discover whose the missing remains are ? Can he do not only this but juggle his personal life as Lucas and his wife are suffering marital problems? The second story relates to a love triangle , a story that happened before Lucas and his family moved to the town - a story of a girl named Meg and two boys who loved her dearly - both boys possessive in their own ways - Dylan and Jess. Which will Meg choose to go with ? Will she swing back and forth between the two boys for the rest of her life or will a tragedy happen that will shock the town ?
In Sleeping In Eden , it does the two POV thing which I am really not keen on , but in order for the story to be told it must happen. The first story is that a local man has hung himself and underneath his body hidden in the dust of the barnyard floor is bones - bones that belong to a female and that seem like they have been there for 5-10 years. Local Doctor Lucas has been called onto the case to discover whose the missing remains are ? Can he do not only this but juggle his personal life as Lucas and his wife are suffering marital problems? The second story relates to a love triangle , a story that happened before Lucas and his family moved to the town - a story of a girl named Meg and two boys who loved her dearly - both boys possessive in their own ways - Dylan and Jess. Which will Meg choose to go with ? Will she swing back and forth between the two boys for the rest of her life or will a tragedy happen that will shock the town ?
July 30, 2013
A sleepy rural town in northwest Iowa may sound like an unlikely setting for a murder mystery, but unlikely settings often are the best. When Dr. Lucas Hudson, filling in for the local coroner, is called to the scene of the apparent suicide of a local farmer, he has no idea the circumstances will lead to more complications for his troubled marriage. And as Lucas delves deeper into the murder that is discovered alongside the suicide, he finds himself in conflict with his friend and police chief of the small town of Blackhawk, Alex Kennedy. As he searches to sort out his complicated feelings about his social worker wife and a troubled young woman who disappeared eight years previously, Lucas goes his own way, to the extent of withholding evidence, a tiny gold ring, that he found at the crime scene.
At the same time, a teenage love story from a decade before reveals the dark side to a time of supposed innocence. Meg Painter was caught between her friendships for Dylan Reid, a renegade and outsider in the town, and Jess Langbroek, neighbor and childhood friend. Meg's emotional confusion can only lead to hurt on all sides, until eventually her choices come to light as Lucas follows the clues to identify the murder victim found in the barn.
A haunting story, Sleeping in Eden is a book that illustrates the complexities of human emotions and the pain we all carry into our relationships. Nicole Baart tells the two stories of relationships that have gone off the rails in a sensitive and intricate style, missing nothing. And the questions of guilt and innocence are not answered, but simply questioned, leaving the reader pondering.
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