Evening

by Les Pendleton

There is a time in women’s lives when they ask themselves…”Did I accept less than love?” Eve Browning is middle aged and growing disillusioned with everything in her life. She understands only too well that she chose security and comfort over love. Now she has to deal with the reality of a loveless marriage and unfulfilled dreams. With her kids almost grown and a disinterested husband, she faces a new sense of desperation in her life. To clear her head, she drives back to the small town of New Bern, North Carolina. She had grown up there and it gave her a feeling of warmth and comfort just to walk the streets for an evening. She had no thought of taking her life in a totally different direction. A chance encounter that evening forces her to decide whether to throw away all she has for the one thing she doesn’t, a real love. But before she can even consider making that decision, life complicates the issue more than she could ever imagine. The clock is running and she is staring at the dark room her life has become. Life choices are never simple and hers is no exception. And sometimes life itself will make decisions for us that we may not have the strength or will to make for ourselves. Eve must choose how she will spend the Evening of her life.

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2015

About the author

Les Pendleton lives in historic New Bern, North Carolina. His writing style conveys the influence of his career in motion pictures. Many people share their impression that reading his novels feels as if you are watching the characters come to life on the silver screen. Actual locations in coastal North Carolina are featured in many of his books. His writing spans a wide array of genres from action adventure, romance, historical fiction, suspense-filled mysteries and autobiographies. Les spends every free moment with his family and friends sailing in Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Coast.

Reviews

[David Pfefferkorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful portrait of romance framed in one of eastern North Carolina's most picturesque coastal towns!

A chance meeting over Christmas begins a journey of love, challenges, and change for Eve Browning as she tries to forget a magical evening which could change her life forever.

A very enjoyable read filled with descriptive southern charm and character. A great way to explore lost loves, life's challenges, and the wonderful town of New Bern, North Carolina.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story and reading about New Bern, NC. I knew most of the places mentioned...LOL!

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was staying at a B&B in New Bern, NC and this was one of the books in the library. It was set in New Berne and referred to many of the places I had visited. A woman has a troublesome marriage and sets off for a one day escape to her hometown, New Bern. Eve meets Ian and they have an immediate connection. She receives a phone call that her daughter is in the hospital with meningitis. She rushes home and finds her daughter in a coma. Eventually she recovers but needed care and therapy. Eve devotes herself to helping her and hopes to rekindle her marriage. Eight years later her husband asks for a divorce - what a bastard. I would’ve slapped him silly. All along her had been having an affair with a younger co-worker. No wonder he shunned her romantic advances and gestures. She sets out to find Ian and it is a happy ending. Kind of like a Hallmark movie but it was light and easy to read. I enjoyed the references to New Bern.

[Cynthia Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story; New Bern-beautiful town

Loved this story about a women who grew up in New Bern, NC. Throughout her life’s ups and downs, I connected with her emotions and thoughts. Les describes the characters in a way that you can imagine being in the moment and being part of the story. Loved it from beginning to end.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story premise is good but felt that the writing was somewhat amateurish. Hope we have a good discussion with the local writer

[Tasha Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book. Sort of a cross between a Hallmark movie and a Lifetime love story movie.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think every woman, at one time or another has thought, "What if......". I know I have, anyway.

Eve Browning is middle aged and growing disillusioned with her life. She realizes she chose security and comfort over love and now has to deal with the reality of a loveless marriage and unfulfilled dreams. Life is complicated and choices are not always simple and easy,......but sometimes life itself will make decisions for us that we may not have the will or strength to make for ourselves. Eve must choose how she will spend the "Evening" of her life.

I read this book in one 5 hour sitting......yep, got up at 4am, after not sleeping a wink and started it, thinking to read a bit, then go back to bed. Well, I closed it several times intending to do that very thing and each time I reopened it to read "just another chapter". Then the alarm went off and I was sooooooo close to the end that I was barely on time for my doctor's appointment!! LOL

My family and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pendleton and his wife when we booked a sailing adventure with them last September near New Bern, NC. It was a beautiful and fun day and they were delightful!!

We have 8 of Les Pendleton's books. 1 down, 7 to go!! I can't wait to read the rest!

[Pattie Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely Southern story

A lovely story with romance and family trauma. The writing style is engaging and paints beautiful pictures throughout the story. My book club choice. I would definitely read Les Pendleton's other works.

[Kristi Huettl · Rating 3 out of 5]

While staying in New Bern I discovered this author. It was so fun to read while on vacation there. So many landmarks were mentioned which made the story that much more engaging.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.