CHANGING LANES by Kathleen Long is the story of Abby
Halladay. She
purchases a new home in Paris, New Jersey with her long time
boyfriend,
Fred Newton and life is moving along just as she has
planned. Until one
day, when she loses it all. The house is infested with
termites, she is fired
from her job, and her boyfriend calls to tell her he is in
Paris. Not Paris,
New Jersey but Paris, France. What could possibly be next?
Paris, New Jersey is where Abby grew up. All of her family
is there as well
as her child hood friend, Mick. Mick left her when she was
seventeen after
an incident that had the whole town reeling! After Abby
finds out that her
new home is unlivable, she has no choice but to move back in
with her
parents. There, on the very first day, she lays eyes on
Mick. Why is he
back? Does he think about that night long ago, the last time
she saw him?
Why did he leave her all those years ago without ever saying
goodbye?
After a few days and the shock wearing off of seeing him
again, Abby
discovers that Mick is home taking care of his ailing
mother, Detta. She
has Alzheimer's and has been wandering off so Mick comes
home to keep
an eye on her. Abby and Mick shared something special a long
time ago,
but neither of them is ready to talk about it. Not yet
anyway. Coming home
has been hard for Abby. She starts to realize that her
perfectly planned out
life isn't so perfect after all. She learns that plans don't
always turn out the
way you want them to. As she is learning to let go of her
plans and her
past, she starts to appreciate all that she still has and
always did. She
learns how to embrace life's moments, living in the here and
now and not
worrying about the past and the future. What ever happens,
happens.
CHANGING LANES was the first book I've read by Kathleen Long
but I
know it won't be the last. Kathleen pulled me right in and
never let me go. I
read this book very quickly as I had to find out what
happens to all the
people of Paris, New Jersey. The ending was perfect and I
finished it with
a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Abby's whole
outlook on her life
and those around her, changes all for the better. I fell
in love with all the
characters of Paris, New Jersey and I know you will too.
Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go
awry—like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that
is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed
with termites. Forced to move back in with her parents and
drive her dad's cab, Abby's perfect life has now officially
become the perfect disaster.
Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins
letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the
messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted
starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.
Poignant and heartfelt, Changing Lanes celebrates the
unexpected joys of everyday life—and the enduring
promise of second chances.
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