Lonely Hearts on Lilac Lane

by Karen Coulters

In the picturesque shores of Maine's York River, where tragedy and heartache have left scars on three souls, a poignant tale unfolds. Janice Gable, grappling with the unimaginable loss of her husband to suicide, finds herself abandoned by her daughter Madison, who blames her for the tragic event and escapes to a life far from the family home.

Eight years later, as Janice's world crumbles with financial struggles and despair, an unexpected encounter with Vincent Clark at the local supermarket sets in motion a chain of events that will reshape their lives. Vincent, still haunted by the memory of his beloved late wife, Cheryl, feels a profound connection with Janice and is compelled to offer his kindness.

Madison, leading a life of her own in Ohio with a long-term boyfriend and a newborn foal, is unwillingly pulled back into the orbit of her fractured family. Tensions flare as she confronts the past and contemplates the tough decision of saving the family home.

As relationships intertwine and the trio navigate the complexities of grief, forgiveness, and love, a story of redemption and healing unfolds. Can Janice, Madison, and Vincent overcome the shadows of their pasts and forge a new beginning? In this emotionally charged journey, they must confront the ghosts of loss, find the strength to rebuild their lives, and discover the transformative power of love.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 2, 2024

About the author

KAREN COULTERS grew up in the Midwest with roots in New England. Traveling to the coast of Maine every summer was a highlight of Karen’s younger years; so, it only made sense that she move there after graduating. Married in 1982, they relocated to New Hampshire, became a mother of two, and grand-mother. Artistic expression has always been in her DNA. She’s performed on stage as a vocalist, actress, and speaker. She’s a writer of scripts that depict real life in order to make someone think and consider change. However, being a novelist has been her lifelong dream. She says, “Timing is everything, and my time came in 2017, when the urge to write became something that I could no longer ignore.”

Reviews

[JC Langlois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was hard to get into at first. Not because it was bad or anything, it’s just that the story was a little too « real ». Reading is supposed to relieve tension and let me escape into faraway worlds, not raise my anxiety levels. After a few attempts at getting my feet wet, I gathered my courage and sat outside to finally get beyond the first chapter. I’m glad I didn’t give up on this book. I found myself to be captivated by the main characters, their past and present struggles, along with their shifting feelings towards each other. While this story raised many emotions, Karen Coulters helped this reader understand that there is plenty of reasons to find joy after sorrow.