The Locket

Richard Paul Evans

Michael comes from a single parent home, living with his mother. He remembers his alcoholic father as a sad, depressed man. As this story begins, his mother has just died. He is overwhelmed with bills and trying to return to school. He takes a job as an orderly/aide at a local nursing home. There he meets Esther, a resident who tends to be a loner.

Michael has been dating Faye. He realizes she is important to him despite the difference in their financial stations. He fully understands how important she is when her father interferes and she leaves for Johns Hopkins University for medical schooling. Faye thinks nothing of their differences; Michael keeps letting those differences stand between them.

While he is being considered for a full scholarship at Utah State University he works at the nursing home. From Esther he learns about missed chances and love. Then, Michael is falsely accused of abusing one of the residents at the home.

Richard Paul Evans writes about caring, nurturing people. While I was reading this I was also reading The Maltese Falcon. What a contrast between Michael Keddington and Sam Spade! The author makes no apologies in writing about love, and has two love stories rolled into one here. This is charming reading.

This is one to read when you are feeling down.

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
The Queen of Broken Hearts by Cassandra King