From AudioFile
Carly Nolan has finally settled into her new life in California with her 6-year-old son, Christopher, when P.I. Jake Montgomery wanders into town on the trail of Caroline Graham, a woman who took off with her son six years earlier after the child's father died. Jake discovers the two women are one and, of course, falls in love, even though he's been hired by Carly's in-laws, who are looking for their grandchild. Sandra Burr takes the listener through this inventive romantic mystery as Carly's secret is uncovered and her past revealed. The story is full of ups and downs; listeners will be entranced by Burr's soft voice. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
A magazine photo of a painting takes PI Jake Montgomery to Twilight Cove in search of the elusive woman and her son who disappeared six years before following the death of the boy's father, who was Jake's best friend. Jake discovers that Carly Nolan is not a trashy bleached-blond gold-digger but a devoted mother, talented artist, and hardworking waitress. As he tries to find out why she fled from his friend's parents, whom he thinks wanted only to support her and be involved in their grandson's life, he begins to fall in love with her, the town, and a fixer-upper Craftsman-style house that had been his beloved stepfather's dream. This tale of a one-time abused foster child who survived a tortured childhood to become the kind of mother she wished she had had, who will do anything it takes to raise her son, is heart-touching and impossible to put down. Landis' compelling depiction of characters extends even to the villainess and six-year-old Chris; the pacing and plot are dead on, and consequently this love story is a joy to read. Diana Tixier Herald
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Review
“A heartwarming, sexy page-turner.”
—SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS

“Jill Marie Landis is the author you’ve been looking for.”
—KRISTIN HANNAH

“Characters to love [and] emotion that tugs at the heart.”
—DEBBIE MACOMBER

“ENGAGING . . . [A] HEART-RENDING STORY.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Jill Marie Landis can really touch the heart.”
—JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

“With her first foray into contemporary novels, Jill Marie Landis utilizes all the power and emotion that has made her such a beloved storyteller. Her characters are compelling, believable, and possess all those troubling human foibles.”
—Romantic Times (Top Pick!)

“Jill Marie Landis spins a passionate tale of gripping emotions, rich in feelings of devotion and love between a mother and her son.”
—NoHo>LA magazine

“An unforgettable story about new beginnings and searching for a place to belong . . . A heartwarming and insightful love story.”
—Abilene Reporter-News

“A strong, engaging relationship drama that hooks the reader from the start through a fully developed secondary cast supplementing the prime plot. . . . Readers will appreciate this robust family drama.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Heart-touching and impossible to put down. Landis’ compelling depiction of characters extends even to the villainess and six-year-old Chris; the pacing and plot are dead on, and consequently this love story is a joy to read.”
—Booklist




Review
?Jill Marie Landis creates characters you want to spend time with and a story that will keep you turning the pages.?
?SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS

?Sweet and sexy, warm and wise, Jill Marie Landis?s emotional stories will stay with you long after you?ve finished reading.?
?KRISTIN HANNAH

?Jill Marie Landis can really touch the heart.?
?JAYNE ANN KRENTZ


From the Hardcover edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Readers everywhere treasure bestselling author Jill Marie Landis for her tender love stories set against the splendid landscapes of the past. Now, Landis has written her first contemporary novel—a deeply emotional tale of acceptance and forgiveness, the bonds between mothers and sons, and the miracle of finding love for the first time.
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 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. She has carefully concealed her troubled past from the folks in the isolated haven of Twilight Cove. Until now.
Private investigator Jake Montgomery has been looking for elusive Caroline Graham since the day she disappeared with Rick’s baby. All Jake wants is answers. He finally finds her living under an assumed name, no longer a wild teenager, but a beautiful, devoted single mother who captivates him like no one ever has before. As Carly cautiously allows Jake into her life, she begins to trust another person for the first time in a long while. She never imagines that Jake, caught between his mission and his growing passion, poses a threat to her protected world. For if her secrets are revealed, she might lose the child she holds so dear—and the man who possesses the key to her heart.
Wise and wonderful, Lover’s Lane is an unforgettable story about new beginnings and the search for belonging, superbly told by one of the most talented writers in women’sfiction today.