5 Minutes for Books staff reviewer Nancy received a copy of this book to facilitate her review and is here to share her thoughts and offer up a giveaway copy for one of you.
Sleeping in Eden starts with a bang – a man has hung himself, and a buried body is discovered beneath his dangling feet.
Lucas Hudson, one of three doctors in small town in Iowa, fills in for the medical examiner as a favor to the chief of police when Jim Sparks’s body is found in his barn, hanging from a rope. Lucas stumbles across what turns out to be another body, that of a female, which has laid undiscovered for 10 years. Lucas’s belief that he knows who the body is weighs on him as he withholds evidence he found in the barn, and he also has to deal with the reappearance of Jim’s daughter, Angela, who was close to Lucas’s wife Jenna until she disappeared, running from Jim’s abuse.  Lucas and Jenna’s marriage has been disintegrating due to their own tragedy, and Angela’s return can either make or break them.
Years earlier, Meg Painter meets and falls for Dylan Reid, a boy who is unattainable and elusive, but she can’t get him out of her head. Â She takes the easier route with neighbor Jess, and Dylan and Jess each warn her about the other. Just when Meg and Dylan seem to be getting their lives together, it all comes crashing down.
The story flips between Lucas and Meg, and at times the transition is too fast and jarring. I found Meg’s story to be the more compelling one and often skipped Lucas’s chapter, only to return to it later when I found out what happened next with Meg. Â It’s pretty clear from the beginning where the story is headed, but the fun is in finding out how it gets there.
Sleeping in Eden covers many areas – teen love, complete with the mysteries of the opposite sex and exploring new territory, is contrasted with a marriage that’s holding on by a thread. The mystery of who is buried in the barn is underlying throughout the book, though often takes a backseat to more pressing concerns of everyday life. As in real life, the actions of the characters are often frustrating which makes them realistic.
Sleeping in Eden may not be an uplifting novel but it’s an entertaining one that I recommend.
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the plot sounds very interesting!!
The marriage hanging by a string
teen love…reminisce my youth
I love a good mystery! Seems like it has a great plot and I would like to read a book by a new-to-me author!
The plot is very intriguing
I would absolutely love to win this!
I enjoy mysterious novels.
The idea that this novel features both a mystery and relationship storylines sounds very interesting to me.
I love how it starts out as a murder mystery from the start!
It sounds like it starts off well.
I just need a new ” cant put down book” and enjoy mysteries.
I like a good mystery.
I’ve been looking for a good book to read and this looks right up my alley! 🙂
I can never pass up a good mystery!
I love a good mystery
The cover is gorgeous, and I love mysteries.
I think its intriguing because its a mystery,,my favorite kind of book
sounds like a great mystery to me!
I love the cover & the mystery of what happened! I also like that the book flips between the two stories.
i love mysteries and this one looks like a good one
Type of book I usually read.
the mystery what happened
Its seems very intriguing: the title
It looks exciting.
The mysterious dead body interests me.
That it is a mystery book.
the murder mystery
Love the mysterious plot and the relationship issues
I like the mystery aspect of the story.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
The mystery and the striking cover!
I’ve always enjoyed mysteries!
Anybody read this book??? I wonder if its any good!!!! I love mysteries!!!
It’s a mystery and an intrigue all mixed up!
I like books that start off with something interesting happening. It makes me want to read more.
without even reading about it..the cover and title.
This sounds like a great mystery which I love!!!
I love Nicole Baart’s books!
What most appeals is the promised complexity.
I like a g ood mystery novel,,keeps you on your toes
One of my favorite authors! A good writer, and a good person. You can find her on fb https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Baart/53232389209?hc_location=stream.
The premise of the story sounds really interesting…and I’ve read a number of books where I know where the story is going, but I love the ride 🙂
Though you aren’t supposed to judge a book by one, the cover always draws me in.
sounds like a fun mystery!
I saw this book when it first came out. I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
I love mysteries!
I like that it has a mystery.
The cover pulled me in first and then the intrigue/mystery of the plot!!
The novel is captivating for the plot and the characters.
The beginning itself sounds intriguing.
I am intrigued by the body in the barn and if Lucas really does know who she is.
I love a story that starts with a bang!