The Sunflower

August 22, 2005
Author of the smash The Christmas Box
and spinoffs, Evans delivers an entertaining albeit syrupy picking-up-the-pieces romance. Heartbroken and bereft when her fiancé backs out a week before the wedding, Christine Hollister allows herself to be talked into a volunteer work trip to Peru by best friend Jessica so that the pair can work together in an orphanage called the Sunflower. There she meets Paul Cook, the handsome but damaged former ER doc who left the U.S. after being blamed for a series of tragic Christmas deaths on the ward. The budding romance between Paul and Christine is totally predictable (including the awkwardness of their initial meetings). Evans adds a nice dramatic touch when Jessica's newfound boyfriend is seriously hurt while guiding a group of orphanage workers through the mountains near Machu Picchu, and he has a nice feel for framing devices, dialogue and scene-pacing. Evans also puts the jungle setting to good use during the couple's "dates." Although the various references to Christmas feel gratuitous, and a sudden appearance by jilter Martin doesn't do much to make the ending harder to anticipate, the finish nonetheless remains satisfying.

A week before her wedding, Christine's fiancé walks out. At her best friend's urging, she joins a mission group going to Peru to escape her heartache. There she meets Paul Cook, former ER doctor, now in charge of a Peruvian orphanage. Paul left medicine after losing two patients in one night, one a child. Campbell Scott narrates in a calm, steady tone, depicting critical ER events with sharp instructions and perfect nuances. His commanding voice is well suited to the emergency room. His portrayal of patients, parents, and nurses gives the impression of multiple narrators. Although the plot is predictable, Scott's excellent characterizations and narration capture the essence of this heartwarming story. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine