Long Time Coming
By Edie Claire

      Joy Hudson has not had an easy life. At the age of seventeen, her best friend was in a fatal car accident and Joy just couldn't stay in her hometown with the painful memories, so she moved away. She rarely went back to visit and certainly never thought that she would ever return. However, life doesn't always work the way you want it to and Joy knows she must move back when she gets word of how sick her father is.

      Once back, she finds painful memories and the worst news of all: her father's doctor is the same boy who was driving when Jenny was killed. Joy has always blamed him and doesn't know how to react, now that he has her father's life in his hands. Then an odd thing happens; she begins to get to know him as a man and not just a scared young boy. Will coming home be the best thing that has ever happened to her?

      Long Time Coming is an engaging story with well-written characters. I liked Joy's strength and ability to do what must be done without complaint. Because of the serious subject matter, the paranormal in the story could have failed miserably, but Claire managed to balance it while making it absolutely believable. This is a great first foray into the world of women's fiction for Edie Claire.