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After the death of his mother, Michael Keddington finds employment at the Arcadia nursing home where he befriends Esther, a reclusive but beautiful elderly woman who lives in mourning for her youth and lost love.
Michael faces his own challenges when he loses his greatest love, Faye. When Michael is falsely accused of abusing one of the Arcadia's residents, he learns important lessons about faith and forgiveness from Ester -- and her gift to him of a locket, once symbolic of one person's missed opportuninites, becomes another's second chance.
Richard Paul Evans, author of the beloved #1 bestselling classic The Christmas Box, begins a wonderful new series with this stunning New York Times bestseller -- a bittersweet reminder of life's most precious gifts....

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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About the author

Richard Paul Evans

225 books6,438 followers
When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 496 reviews
Profile Image for Katie W.
179 reviews18 followers
December 23, 2008
Another thing I love about Richard Paul Evan's books is how reading them lets you put on someone else's shoes and dive into their story--for the duration of the book, I see things from the narrator's perspective and feel like I am that person--their hopes, fears, dreams, fate are my own and I care deeply about how the story turns out. It was cool how Michael's friendship with Esther grew and how much he learned from her.

This book made me think about how God is at work in my life and how God uses all of my experiences to shape me into who I am, to help me become a better person, and to prepare me for what's ahead. Here is just one of many quotes that I liked from this book:

"Through the course of my life I have come to believe that life is not lived chronologically, by the sweep of a clock's hand or the sway of its pendulum, but rather, experientially, as a ladder or stair, each experience stacked upon the previous, delivering us to loftier planes. Perhaps this best describes by concept of God--the architect of that divine ascent, the hidden arm that slashes our swath through the overgrown flora of destiny, best revealed in the evidence of our own lives.
Esther was a part of that divine tutelage, and it was as if she had come to my life for this one moment--this one vital step of my own spiritual evolution. I could not help but wonder if she was more angel than woman. A sad angel."
Profile Image for Michael.
1,275 reviews123 followers
September 18, 2013
Michael Keddington took care of his ill mother for most of his life. Although that he never complained about tending to her needs, apart of him wishes that he had the life that he always imagined. Raised by a single mother, he never was close to his father who was a raging alcoholic. After the death of his mother, Michael is alone reminiscing about what he could have had if he chose a different route in life. The one thing that brings Michael immediate joy is his girlfriend Faye, who means more to him than anything in the world. Their backgrounds differ when it comes to wealth and values, a curse to Faye's Father. While Faye does not question the love she has for Michael, she does wonder if her Father will ever accept Michael as a man that can take care of her like he can. Faye and her two sisters has lived in the shadow of their father for years who spoils them with wealth and promotes power and prestige.

At first when Michael was hired to work at the hospital, he had regrets. For one, he is highly intelligent and his resume is far above working at a dump but he chooses to appease the boss who is desperate in need of a new employee. Michael soon falls in love with his job and tending to sickly patients diagnosed with various of diseases. In addition, Ester a blind woman with dementia changes his life forever when she opens us about her past life with a man name Thomas. Ester and Michael bond over love, regret & lost as both of their life takes a turn for the worst.

Michael is accused of a crime that will not leave him in prison but that will cause him to forsake Faye who starts to distance herself from him. In the midst of all the drama and chaos, love is the only thing that will keep Michael sane from all the cares in his life.

This is by far the best novel I have read all year. The vocabulary was so rich and profuse that often I had to look up the words to make sure that I knew what the author was implying. Not to mention how the characters stayed with me to the very last page.

I will be reading more novels by Evans, he is an amazing storyteller.
Profile Image for Kari.
420 reviews12 followers
December 31, 2019
One of the best way's I have found over the years to calm a troubled soul is by reading a Richard Paul Evans novel. It makes no difference which one, as each one is brilliantly written. The Locket is no exception. As with all of this authors novels it is about love. The locket is about two kinds. The first is a new love facing big challenges: A rich disapproving father coupled with a homicide arrest. The second is the story of a lost love told by a blind 80 year old woman in a nursing home. It is a story of faith and the hope of second chances with the lesson that every story does not have a happy ending but that doesn't mean that it's still not filled with love.
Profile Image for Laura.
226 reviews11 followers
February 6, 2021
Wow! Another great story from one of my favorite authors that will stay with you for a long, long time. Powerful!
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,447 reviews
January 1, 2015
SUMMARY: After the death of his mother, Michael Keddington finds employment at the Arcadia nursing home where he befriends Esther, a reclusive but beautiful elderly woman who lives in mourning for her youth and lost love.
Michael faces his own challenges when he loses his greatest love, Faye. When Michael is falsely accused of abusing one of the Arcadia's residents, he learns important lessons about faith and forgiveness from Ester -- and her gift to him of a locket, once symbolic of one person's missed opportuninites, becomes another's second chance.

REVIEW: A story of second chances, once again Richard Paul Evans has penned a story filled with tenderness, lessons, and love. A truly believable story with realistic characters filled with all the good and bad of everyday people. The excerpts from Esther's diary were thought provoking and inspirational and led into the events of each chapter. Filled with inspiration and traditional values the story keeps your attention throughout.

Esther, Michael and Faye each touched my heart in a different way. Esther, looking back on her life, found the son she had lost and imparted her wisdom to Michael as he broke through her outer shell. Michael had an inbred strength that developed from all the roughness of his childhood and youth yet was still a gentle, caring young man who realized the value of the most important thing he had - his name. Faye, in the midst of all her wealth and success and parents who would determine her path in life, found the strength to live for the better things in life.

This was a heartwarming book and I am eager to read the next in the Locket trilogy.

FAVORITE QUOTES: Once again so many great ones I had to pick and choose!
"There are those who, in the same breat, pray for the poor and for the blessing of never encoutering them."

"There are those who go about their lives sharpening their egos on the grindstone of others' failures."

"Rich company, like rich food, is often a cause of indigestion."

"I believe that it's after the honeymoon ends that true love begins. It's in the hard times that the greater virtues of love reveal themselves"

"My father worships money as the God that delivers us from our problems. As good a man as he is, he judges people, including himself, by their account balances."

"You must forgive him if you are ever to be free of him. We are chained to that which we do not forgive...Anyone can forgive if they will may the decision to. It may not come all at once, as resentment is a habit and must be coaxed from the heart. But with time it will come. You must pray for it."
Profile Image for Lora.
775 reviews15 followers
November 12, 2014
A nice little Veteran's Day read. Loved the message that sometimes relationships are best forged through hard times together instead of once your life is in order. "I see couples who have built their lives together, struggling through the hard times. Some say it's the best years of their lives. I want that. I don't want some by-the-book life with neatly penned entrances like it were a Broadway production. I want to live it. For better or worse." (pg. 86). "I think it's after the honeymoon that true love begins. It's in the hard times that the greater virtues of love reveal themselves, like tolerance and patience and kindness." (pg. 122). I found the legal trial part of the book gut-wrenching because I know how hard it is to decide whether to take a plea or take a chance with a jury. Not sure I could have done what Michael did in the book--even with a great attorney. Loved the discussion on forgiveness. "You must forgive him if you are ever to be free of him. We are chained to that which we do not forgive...Imagine a ship trying to set sail while towing an anchor. Cutting free is not a gift to the anchor. You must release that burden, not because the anchor is worthy, but because the ship it." (pg. 186). If we all could just step into another's shoes for a few minutes this would be much easier to do.
Profile Image for Sangji.
37 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2022
It starts off as a romance book, but unlike many of the romance books I’ve read, this is embedded with a lot of self-reflection about life and spirituality. Then it gets into this thriller genre all of a sudden that grips you with such strong emotions. All throughout it, the author’s choice of words and metaphors was just simply stunning.

“Through the course we of my life I have come to believe that life is not lived chronologically, by the sweep of a clock’s hand or the sway of its pendulum, but rather, experientially, as a ladder or stair, each experience stacked upon the previous, delivering us to loftier planes. Perhaps this best describes my concept of God-the architect of that divine ascent, the hidden arm that slashes our swath through the overgrown flora of destiny, best revealed in the evidence of our lives.” pg. 349-350

Profile Image for Ray.
915 reviews63 followers
December 17, 2018
I found another compelling well written story. I felt very invested in the characters with a layered plot. My emotional response to elements of this book was very intense. I fully endorse Richard Paul Evans. This is my 7th book and he has really moved me with every one.
Profile Image for Debra.
2,074 reviews11 followers
November 3, 2021
I came to this book believing it to be a smooth, light read for the middle of the night when I want nothing to disturb me. But I found it to be more complicated then I expected.
Michael Keddington was recovering from the death of his mother whom he had nursed for over 2 years until her recent death. He now has no job, no money and no chance of resuming his college education that he has placed on hold. As he helps the mortician move his mother's body into the hearse, the mortician scribbles a name and address onto a slip of paper advising Michael to try there for a job.

This chain of events places him in a Care home called Acadia where he works hard and his caring personality wins him many friends among the staff and patients. Things are still hard, but he has met a young lady who believes in him and life is looking up. And at the home he has connected with a blind woman who has shut herself off from the world. Michael works to befriend Esther and lift her spirits.

I am reading merrily along when a horrible crime at the home turns life upside down for Michael. A patient is dead, bludgeoned to death and Michael is accused of the death and arrested. What will he do? He has two choices, neither good.

The plot plays out well and is easy to follow, even as it jumps back and forth from Michael's present to Esther's past and present. I was surprised at how well the legal part of the story was laid out.
And through it all Michael's goodness never wavers. All in all a much more complicated story than I anticipated. And, drat, a longer time than I usually allow myself reading in the middle of the night so I could finish the book.
Profile Image for Bethany.
60 reviews3 followers
October 5, 2017
READ IT READ IT EVERYBODY READ IT
Profile Image for Eve Nicholson.
Author 3 books17 followers
December 10, 2022
I love Mr. Evans’ books, but this one didn’t speak to me like the others I’ve read. It felt a little too forced. The protagonist seemed a little too good, and the love story didn’t feel quite complete. I put it down a bit disappointed. That’s a first for one of his books for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll read more! I love his writing and trust him to pull me in and keep me captivated. This one just wasn’t as awesome as others he’s done.
14 reviews
February 12, 2022
I found this on my bookshelf where it had been residing for years. It was a lovely read and I don’t know why I waited so long.
2,310 reviews22 followers
April 12, 2025
This is the first book of a trilogy which was followed by “the Looking Glass” and ‘The Carousel”. When I first picked it up, I thought it might be too sentimental, but I was quietly surprised.

Michael Keddington left university to care for his mother who was dying from cancer. As he watched her body being removed from the house, he had no regrets about leaving his education two years ago to care for her. Given that his father was an alcoholic and had refused responsibility for her care or her medical bills, it was the right thing to do.

Michael is now ready to begin the rest of his life, but given he has not been able to work for six months, he is deeply in debt and has a pile of his mother’s medical bills to pay.

He takes a job at the Arcadia Nursing Home where the pay is modest, but he enjoys the work. He quickly establishes relationships with the residents who like him, enjoy his company and appreciate his kind approach. Among those with whom he has formed a friendship is Esther Huish, a blind widow who keeps much to herself and rarely socializes with the other residents. After some time, Esther feels comfortable enough with Michael to share the story of her past including a love she lost and has regretted forever.

When Michael was working as a stock boy in a grocery store, he met Faye, a girl from a wealthy background, one which was very different from his own. Over time they established a warm relationship and grew to care deeply for each other. Faye was never concerned about their different backgrounds, but it bothered Michael and her father, a successful neurosurgeon, was also not happy. He felt Michael fell far below the standard he wanted for his beautiful, intelligent daughter and tried to break up their relationship.

When Faye is accepted for medical school in Utah, she hopes Michael will propose at Christmas, but he, realizing he can never give her the life to which she is accustomed, holds back.

While Faye is away at school, Michael is falsely accused of abusing an elderly resident. Criminal charges are laid and the case goes to court. As Evans describes what follows, she shows her ability to draw characters with whom we sympathize (Michael and Esther) as well as those we grow to despise (Faye’s father). She presents, Michael, the focus of the novel, as a man whose character was forged by a difficult relationship with his alcoholic father, who has a deep understanding of the differences between right and wrong and is determined not to take any shortcuts in life.

This is a story about second chances, which we may all get, but not all will recognize.

One of the best parts of the book are the excerpts from Esther’s diary which begin each chapter and provide much food for thought.

The book was a surprise for me. I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Heather.
220 reviews10 followers
December 28, 2012
This book has been on my bookshelf since I lived in Des Moines (I must have purchased it between 1998-2000), but I have no recollection buying it.

I thought it would be an overly sentimental sappy chick lit book and have avoided reading it. I put it on my GoodReads list "to read" simply to remind myself to read it and get it off my shelf.

I did and it was surprisingly interesting. The main character, Michael Keddington is dealing with the recent death of his mother, after taking care of her (he's also dealing with some buried issues with his alcoholic father who died a few years prior). Michael finds employment at the local nursing home where he befriends Esther, a reclusive but beautiful elderly woman.

Michael faces his own challenges when he loses his greatest love, Faye. When Michael is falsely accused of abusing one of the nursing home residents, he learns important lessons about faith and forgiveness from Esther. I thought the story about the locket and second chances was very poignant.



Profile Image for Mickey.
Author 1 book4 followers
August 1, 2011
Richard Paul Evans never fails to disappoint! After having read several of his books, I picked this one up, not knowing it was Book 1 of a trilogy. I will definitely be looking for "The Looking Glass," Number 2. He says all of his books are love stories, but I found the most heart-warming parts of this book to be the love story between Michael and Esther, an elderly resident of the nursing home where Michael works. Their growing relationship, and Esther's declining reluctance to tell him of her past, in the hopes it helps him with his present, is what made this book sparkle for me. If this book doesn't convince one to respect the elderly for the wisdom they can offer, I think nothing will.

Another aspect I enjoyed were the little blurbs from "Esther's diary". I am amazed that Evans could come up with so many little pieces of wisdom to open each chapter. I wish we could all have grandparents who are as precious as Esther.
Profile Image for Jen.
317 reviews8 followers
October 24, 2008
I typically pick more uplifting books than this. I suppose I found the courage to read The Locket because I watched the hallmark movie based on this book a few years ago and enjoyed it. While there is death and heartache in this story, love and goodness triumph in the end. I smiled and cried pretty much on and off throughout the book, which didn't take too long to complete - I was hooked from pretty early on. Evans is a discriptive author and does a nice job of pulling one into the story and making the emotions of the characters come alive. There is mention of God, which is always refreshing in a novel not marketed as Christian fiction (I assume Evans is Mormon because of where he lives, but it was not apparent by his writings). I noticed that his best known work is the Christmas Box, which I believe I will have to pick up after finishing this moving story.
Profile Image for Dad.
477 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2015
An excellent book. This is the 15th book by Richard Paul Evans that I have read in the past year. He did an excellent job of portraying Michael Keddington's character and personality. My favorite part was to find that the defense (Michael's lawyer) had prepared some surprises for the trial and the way the author unveiled them was a big surprise. This ran very well from start to finish. I liked how it turned out. Esther lost her second chance in life but helped Michael get his. There are allusions that maybe even Esther got another chance after this life. Faye is a real darling. Faye's father is a beast. This was another good novel by Mr. Evans.
The part on forgiveness that it is for the one forgiving not the person being forgiven. That was enlightening.
Profile Image for Samantha.
118 reviews10 followers
August 17, 2016
I loved this story. First of all, I found myself stopping almost every other page to jot down quotes I want to share, which is a great sign of a beautiful story. Secondly, in addition to being a well thought out set of parallel love stories, there is still an unexpected conflict halfway through. This review will state I finished the book over the course of three days, but I read the first 25% slowly and finished off the remaining 75% in one night. I cried for the final two chapters and finished this story saying "But, I want more..." and then pleasantry remembered that there is more to this story! I cannot wait to start on The Looking Glass.
Profile Image for Allison.
1 review1 follower
December 6, 2008
This was an interesting book, and I enjoyed the story up until the end. The last third of the book just didn't seem as well written as the beginning, and the trial was like reading a bad Law & Order transcript.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katie.
15 reviews
March 18, 2015
"We are chained to that which we do not forgive. Imagine a ship trying to set sail while towing an anchor. Cutting free is not a gift to the anchor. You must release that burden, not because the anchor is worthy, but because the ship is."
Profile Image for Lisa.
10 reviews4 followers
February 24, 2008
I loved this book. Made me cry. Very touching.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
104 reviews29 followers
September 25, 2008
A bit slow at the beginning as some of his book are..but once I got into it, it was a page turner. Even had me crying which is RARE when reading a book. Really good book!! :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 496 reviews

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