Lover's Lane

Twilight Cove #1

by Jill Marie Landis

For six years, Carly Nolan has built a life for herself and her son Christopher, never getting too close to anyone. Nobody in the sleepy little beach community of Twilight Cove suspects she is running—from the mistakes she made in her youth, the memory of her fiancé Rick and his unexpected death, and the rich, powerful people who want to take away her child. All that is about to change.

Private investigator Jake Montgomery has been searching for the elusive Caroline Graham since the day she disappeared with Rick's baby. When he finally finds her living under an assumed name, she's no longer a wild teenager, but a devoted, utterly captivating single mother. Cautiously, Carly dares to trust an outsider for the first time in years. She never imagines that Jake, caught between his mission and his growing passion, poses a threat to her protected world. If her secrets are revealed, Carly risks losing the child she holds so dear—and the man who possesses the key to her heart.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery

408 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

JILL MARIE LANDIS is the bestselling author of nearly thirty novels which have appeared on the NYT bestseller list, USA Today and other national bestseller lists. She has won numerous awards for her heartfelt characters and sweeping emotional historical romances that include SUMMER MOON and MAGNOLIA CREEK and the Irish Angels Series; HEART OF STONE, HEART OF LIES, and HEART OF GLASS. All of her Historical Romances are available in eBook format.

She is currently writing The Tiki Goddess Mysteries series which includes MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, THREE TO GET LEI'D, TOO HOT FOUR HULA and HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! from Bell Bridge Books.

Toes in the sand and head in the clouds, she is living the dream in Hawaii with her husband, Steve. Jill Marie loves to spend hours at the beach reading or writing and she also loves dancing the hula.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single mother Carly Nolan has built a life for herself and her six year old son Christopher. Living, working and accepted in the seaside village of Twilight Cove where she ahs made a few friends, yet she has never fully relaxed her vigil that one day her past will catch up with her. All that changes when Jake Montgomery shows up in Twilight Cove. Jake is a private investigator following the rail of a painting by Carly ends up in Twilight Co9ver looking for Caroline Graham who disappeared with his friend Ricks Baby. Rick’s parents have always been prepared to do anything to get their grandson back.
Somewhere Jake gets under Carly’s defences. You can almost see what is going to happen and yet there are a couple of twists along the way. I did like the descriptions of the paintings and the ethereal figures that Carly paints. I liked Carly and the relationship with her son, though I had a bit of difficulty reconciling the teenager who had been in and out of foster homes with this single devoted mother. But any story that involves a battle for custody of a child is nearly always going to have me on board. It’s a quick read and I quite enjoyed it, though I could have done without a couple of the graphic sex scenes. That aside, if you’re looking for a beach read and a mostly enjoyable story that will engage, you could do a lot worse despite the dreadful title which made me wonder how I even picked it up. It was probably the beach scene on the front that drew me.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great contemporary women’s fiction. I didn’t want to put his book down. Beach setting. The story really touches the emotions.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that is almost predictable, but it is still one that will pull at your heartstrings over the mother in Carly and her instincts to protect her child. Jake is an honorable man who gets caught between his job and his needs. The story is wonderfully drawn out to create a heartbeat which captures your soul.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

[Jadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost predictable ... I liked the characters and the story. There was a twist I didn't expect and that's always nice.

[Bhudson]

Strong female characters, lessons of love, forgivness and picking up the pieces and moving on to craft a different life than was planned.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½☆ Nicely narrated by Sandra Burr. Nothing earth-shattering or even innovative here, but a sweet little romance. Got a bit repetitive towards the end.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly Nolan was put in foster care at an early age when her alcoholic father dies. At 15, she runs away with another foster child, Caroline Graham. When Caroline is killed in a car crash, Carly assumes her identity so she can work and avoid the child welfare system. Taken in by an old trucker in Borrego Springs, CA, he encourages her to paint, and she's quite good. At 19 she has a fling with Rick Saunders and has her son Christopher. A year later, Rick comes back, discovers his child and proposes. Killed on the way to pick her up, his parents try to buy Christopher from "Caroline". She again runs. Six years later, Rick's friend Jake Montgomery, a P.I. finds "Carly" through her painting. They fall in love, but she's very wary and Rick's mom is still trying to get Chris. Eventually, the evil lawyer is exposed. Grandma reconcile and Jake and Carly are free to love. Believable story, a couple of sex scenes. Mostly well done.

[Despina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

It's been awhile since I've read a Jill Marie Landis book, but when I saw this one was up for review I definitely wanted to read it. Overall this book is well written and kept me interested throughout the story, I think though because I've read similar story lines it wasn't as intriguing. I liked both MC but I didn't love them, I just didn't feel the connection between them. I liked the community feel of the book and all the supporting characters and would say that if it's a rainy day, check out this book

[Janice Tolifson]

Carly Nolan has been hiding for 6 years with her son Christopher because grandparents want to take him away from her. Jake the private investigator comes into the picture and changes everything. Loved the book.

[Connie Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This is just a nice, feel good read. I always enjoy Jill Marie Landis books and this one did not disappoint.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story. Good characters.

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book... would love to read the rest of the series! Easy going and I felt that I was there the whole time!

[Virginia]

This is in Stan's office tall bookshelf top shelf.

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a romance story, it also is about motherly love. Good read.

[Luis Miguel Echaves Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para ser mi primer lectura rosa, me gusto mucho. Tiene un punto de vista del detective que es muy profunda.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of drama as a young single Mom is on the run to protect her infant son. Good summer read.

[Sherry S · Rating 5 out of 5]

very well done, practically a Mystery genre. I love this book. So much going on and great characters. good ending happy ending for all.

[Joann]

Unexpected twists & turns .

[Eleanor Spalding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable but good writing and character development.

[Morgan Emmel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cheesy and predictable. Couldn’t finish

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet book with a cute love story! I loved Jake and Carly, and of course, Christopher.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about Carly, a single Mom doing everything in her power to keep herself and her six year old son safe. She is concerned her past will come back to haunt her, and in does, in the form of P.I, Jake Montgomery.
The story is filled with regrets, forgiveness, and the fact that love can help heal a broken heart.

I received this copy from Netgalley for an honest review. The opinions here are solely mine.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly Nolan has had a hard life.After her fiancee is killed, she is left alone with her baby son. Her fiancee Ricks parents hire a lawyer,who offers Carly money for custody of the child.
Afraid of losing her son, Carly runs away fearing she will loose her son. Fast forward six years, and Carly is living in small town Twilight Cove. No one knows her secret, she keeps bags packed ready to run if the need arises. Jake Montgomery is a private investigator, he also was Ricks best friend.
Jake has been looking for Carly for years, if it wasn't for his assistant finding a painting similar to one he had in a magazine article. He would never have driven to Twilight Cove. Hunting Carly down through the gallery that sold the painting. Jake is a wonderful character who is trying to do the right thing. Not necessarily excited in the right way. His heart is in the right place. My heart went out to Carly, she had a really tough life, you cant blame her for running. I think alot of mothers would do the same in the same situation. I'm so glad they got their happy ending.
Received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lover’s Lane was not the book I was expecting. I was thinking short, hot, love story. What I go was a story about the love of a mother and a child, a child and a family, and a man and a woman. People who make up families are not always related and this book reminds us of that often. It also reminds us of hope and caring. Hoping for the best, believing in the the best of people and hoping for a good future.

Carly is raising Christopher the best she can. A small tourist town with its quirks and a steady job, trying to make ends meet is the best of what Carly can hope for, until she meets Jake. Only he is not quite what he says he is and that is a problem. Carly can only hope she can be strong enough this time to fight for her rights and her son and she is not sure that he is actually helping.

I found Lover’s Lane endearing with interesting characters. I noted that this is listed the first of a series, which makes me hopeful of other good books coming out by Jill Marie Landis.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill Marie Landis has written a large number of books and I've enjoyed many of them. I have been a loyal fan of her cozy series, Tiki Goddess , forever. This is the first book in the Twilight Cove series and it's quite different from her other reads. Carly and her son Christopher have been on the run and hiding for 6 years since Christopher's father Rick's family tried to buy him from her when he was born. When Rick died his parent's tried to prove Carly would be unfit. Now the private investigator has found her and worked his way into her heart. This story line isn't my favorite but the book is well written and has a happy ending for all. It's a little predictable but that's ok.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** "Lover's Lane" has the fixer-upper cottage that PI Jake buys after falling for Carly, or is it Caroline? and her son Chris, missing since the death of his best friend and her fiance five years earlier. She ran when the rich grandparents tried to buy her off. Like in Heat Wave, Jill Landis makes her characters relive and dwell too much in the past, California is described lovingly, and sex before marriage is obligatory, so I skip parts regarding the first and last. I liked where the six-year old adds fun.

[Celese · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved almost everything about this book. The author beautiful described everything -- from paintings to scenery. I loved that the main story line of this book is a common problem. There were quite a few things I hated about this book, though. There were two very graphic intimacy scenes and lots of discussion about sexual assault and those type of issues. I wish I could have rated it higher, but I can't recommend it to anyway because of those reasons.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully crafted in the same way the author describes the actual artwork of protagonist: light, unique and touchingly soulful. Indeed, the entire story itself reads as a work of art.

The story is reminiscent of the much more popular Sparks' 'Safe Haven', yet the various idiosyncrasies of each character (each well developed with respect to the entirety of the plot) makes this story much more its own.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book! Wonderful story about a woman in hiding with her child. Very well written with all readers in mind. A love story with a little mystery to it. This is an older book published in 2003. I would highly recommend it to any reader and look forward to finding and reading more books by this author. Easy to read in one day.

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lover's Lane by Jill Marie Landis renews my faith in the power of love, the pull of family and the ability of people to change for the better. Carly Nolan fled after her child's rich grandparents tried to take her baby, their son being dead. The grandparents send out a private investigator who finds Carly but with surprising results. A good read.