In Search of Eden

Andrea Gallo's narration of this intriguing story is outstanding. Her emotional tone and delivery are understated but strong. Characters are well defined and come to life in her stirring performance. The story revolves around Miranda, a restless woman who wanders around the country trying to find permanence. A tragic experience in her teen years has shaped her adult life into one of loneliness and a sense of loss. Then she moves to Abingdon, Virginia, and everything changes. Elements of mystery, romance, and faith enter her life. The story has many surprises and twists, and listeners will not find it easy to set it aside until the end. N.L. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

January 29, 2007
Nicholss latest effort follows the wanderings of Miranda DeSpain, a young woman who has been unable to recover from a painful adolescent experience. An upstanding drifter (she always finds gainful employment where ever she goes), Miranda finds herself in bucolic Abingdon, Virginia, where she meets an array of lovely Christian townsfolk, among them a spunky 11-year-old girl named Eden who helps Miranda find a job and a place to live. Nicholss writing style is often engaging, and while some of her characters are clichd (the ruggedly handsome, tough but tender leading man, for example), a few of her characters, most notably Eden, are quirky and real. Nichols blends the romance genre with a more problem-oriented womens novel here. While there are few surprises and the many coincidences make it difficult to suspend disbelief, the plot holds together well enough, with likable characters fighting nobly against adversity and unlikable characters trying their best to change. Spiritual themes such as forgiveness and redemption are well integrated into the novel, and the Christian characters are genuine, openhearted and giving. Readers looking for sentimental yet well-written womens fiction wont be disappointed.