Love in the Present Tense

Simultaneously gritty and heartwarming, this production makes perfect use of its three narrators. The triangle formed by the interactions of Pearl, Leonard, and Mitch weaves through the plot, and the skills of the three performers capably prevent the listener from missing a beat. As Pearl becomes a mother, Leonard grows up, and Mitch matures, the voices of Kathe Mazur, Kirby Heybourne, and Stephen Hoye reflect these life changes. The mystery of Pearl's disappearance adds suspense and further engages the listener. This beautifully wrought novel, which offers a complex depiction of human relationships, stays with the listener after the last word fades. L.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

March 6, 2006
Uniting vivid, needy characters in unlikely relationships is Hyde's specialty (Pay It Forward
), evidenced in her emotional sixth novel. Featuring a tough teen, her sweet son, and their flawed but sincere neighbor, each take turns narrating their story in fresh, distinct voices. At thirteen, Pearl lives with a kind prostitute while her mom copes with a crippling drug addiction. In one tragic night, Pearl gets herself pregnant and accidentally kills the father, a police officer; on the run, Pearl decides that she and her son, Leonard, will share a "forever love," an unbreakable and unconditional bond. Pearl protects Leonard like a lioness, shielding him from the dangerous world and the tragic story of his father. At five, Leonard—smart, loving and saddled with a degenerative eye disease—stays with 25-year-old next-door neighbor Mitch while Pearl works; when Pearl disappears, Mitch must assume responsibility for Leonard—not easy to do while maintaining a home business and an affair with a client's wife. Despite Pearl's mysterious departure, Leonard stays true to her "forever love," denying that he has been abandoned. Mitch isn't so sure, and when Leonard begins having his own doubts, they both must re-examine their beliefs. Hyde excels in sentimental, utopian storytelling, and though it isn't as sharp a hook as "paying it forward," her story of a love that transcends time, place and human weakness is a worthy successor.

Hyde, of PAY IT FORWARD fame, triumphs again in this heartbreaking but hopeful story of three intertwined lives. Thirteen-year-old Pearl, daughter of a drug addict, becomes pregnant and accidentally kills the baby's cop father one horrible night. Pearl becomes her son, Leonard's, loving, protective champion, but, hounded by police, she disappears when he is 5. Her next-door neighbor, Mitch, takes over rearing Leonard, but Leonard will always believe in Pearl's "forever love." As the years pass, each character relates his or her own version of the story. The plot's jumps are greatly clarified by the intensely felt, unique narrations of David Coburn, Jeremy Redleaf, and Duana Speights. The listening experience is darkly emotional but inspiring. M.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine