Long and Short Reviews

Twilight Whispers by Nan Jacobs
The Wild Rose Press
Historical (1960's), Holiday (Christmas), Paranormal
Short Story, Sensual
Review by Lilac

Railroad conductor Lee Donovan has struggled to raise his nine-year-old son Alex since the death of his wife and twin toddlers. He is fed up with the busybodies and school personnel who refuse to believe a single father can be a capable parent.

As the second anniversary of the Christmas Eve tragedy approaches, Alex grows increasingly agitated, insisting that his siblings' spirits want to take him to their mother. Lee grudgingly admits that he needs help and turns to Bethany Parks, the school librarian with whom Alex has developed a bond—and whose earlier offer of help Lee had curtly rebuffed.

What follows surprises them all, but brings wonderful gifts: the healing power of forgiveness and the promise of love.

♥ ♥ ♥

Heading home after Christmas shopping, school librarian Bethany Campbell is onboard a passenger train when she notices two mysterious young children all alone. When the conductor approaches her to ask about the children, Bethany is surprised to see that he is Lee Donovan, the town bad boy who left town years earlier.

After the death of his wife and twin children, Lee has returned to town to raise his young son, Alex, without interference from school personnel and others who believe a single father can’t raise a child. When he learns of Bethany’s profession and she expresses concern over Alex, Lee doesn’t want to listen.

Upon arriving in town, Lee and Bethany are baffled and a bit suspicious when the children disappear. Shortly thereafter young Alex begins to believe that the spirits of his siblings are trying to take him to his mother and Lee reluctantly turns to Bethany for her help.

Set in the 1960s, Twilight Whispers was a fascinating story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t wait to see how things would develop. Watching as events unfolded, I was intrigued by the unique concept of the story. It was also very touching as Alex and Lee dealt with guilt and issues from their past with a little help from some others.

Bethany and Lee were an interesting couple…good girl meets former bad boy. They have an interesting chemistry and I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship and what happens beyond the ending of the story.

I also enjoyed the setting of the story as I haven’t read many romances set in that era. It added an interesting element to the story.

Overall, Twilight Whispers was a heartwarming story about love and forgiveness.