Eileen Rife's Laughing with Lily ~ Reviewed

Laughing With Lily
By Eileen Rife
Published by Oak Tara
April 2013
ISBN: 978-1602900790

Back Cover:

A long-buried secret. An unexpected encounter. A quest for answers. Celeste Tatem, a special-education teacher at The Brighton Center in Schreiber, Indiana, couldn't be more in love with her husband, Joe. But the memory of one day in the past haunts her, threatening their relationship.

When Joe dies in a factory explosion, she sinks into depression. It will take the arrival of a new student, Lily, and her delightful honesty, laughter, and joy at life's little things to awaken Celeste to hope. When Don, an old flame from college, reenters Celeste's world, the flickers of love stir once again, and startling questions arise. Questions that threaten to rip the veneer off of her carefully guarded secret. Then the most unexpected thing of all happens.... A story of love and forgiveness in the most unexpected places.

Review: 

It’s Celeste’s anniversary, and she’s married to a wonderful, caring man—a man who longs for unhindered intimacy. Who believes he and Celeste have found that. But what he doesn’t know truly could hurt him, their marriage, and their chance of having a family.

When he dies, Celeste must bear her shame and regret alone. And for a while, she flounders in despair. But then, a sweet little girl in her special education classroom tugs on her heart and helps heal Celeste’s wounds. She pours herself into her job as a special education teacher, growing increasingly attached to sweet little Lily, a special needs’ child with frequent smiles and hugs. What Celeste doesn’t know is, the biggest surprise of all awaits.

This beautiful story of hope and forgiveness reaches into the deepest recesses of women's hearts, encouraging them to hold tight to those they hold dear. It also reminds us that love and purpose can come in the most unexpected packages, often when we’re not looking.

This novel brought tears, which quickly turned to celebration and laughter as Eileen Rife wove together a delightful, romantic ending. Truly a wonderful, heart-tugging story I recommend to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and romance.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery