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The Turning Point
Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Lilly Crawford files for divorce, then slips away from her small east Texas hometown with little more than the clothes on her back. With broken dreams and countless regrets, she points her twelve-year-old car east, hoping and praying to find a new beginning.
Car thieves stole Adam Wakefield's Porche, his eyesight, and his identity. Once a prominent neurosurgeon in San Francisco, Adam now lives at his secluded estate in Louisiana. Fearing that is blindness is permanent and that he will never be in control of his life again, he sinks deeper into depression each day.
When her car breaks down on a back road in Louisiana, Lilly seeks helps and finds unexpected employment as Adam's caregiver. Her first encounter with him is disastrous. He reminds her too much of the angry husband she feared; she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops--one that will be tested by pain and joy and heal both of their shattered lives.
Car thieves stole Adam Wakefield's Porche, his eyesight, and his identity. Once a prominent neurosurgeon in San Francisco, Adam now lives at his secluded estate in Louisiana. Fearing that is blindness is permanent and that he will never be in control of his life again, he sinks deeper into depression each day.
When her car breaks down on a back road in Louisiana, Lilly seeks helps and finds unexpected employment as Adam's caregiver. Her first encounter with him is disastrous. He reminds her too much of the angry husband she feared; she reminds him of how far he has fallen from the self-assured man he once was. But as the two spend long days together, an unexpected bond develops--one that will be tested by pain and joy and heal both of their shattered lives.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2001
21 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Francis Ray
72 books544 followersFrancis Ray was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling African-American writer of romance novels. Her literary fiction series – Taggart and Falcon, the Invincible Women, Grayson Family of New Mexico, and Grayson Friends – have consistently made bestseller's lists. She was born in Richland, Texas, and studied nursing, receiving a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1967. She began writing in 1987, while continuing to work as a nurse, and had her first book published in 1992.
AWARDS
Romantic Times Career Achievement
EMMA
The Golden Pen
The Atlantic Choice
Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE Reviewers' Choice Awards – Best Books Not Even If You Begged, St. Martin's Griffin (February 2008)
Borders 2008 Bestselling Multicultural Romance Award for Nobody but You
Written's 2010 Readers Choice Book of the Year for If You Were My Man
AWARDS
Romantic Times Career Achievement
EMMA
The Golden Pen
The Atlantic Choice
Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE Reviewers' Choice Awards – Best Books Not Even If You Begged, St. Martin's Griffin (February 2008)
Borders 2008 Bestselling Multicultural Romance Award for Nobody but You
Written's 2010 Readers Choice Book of the Year for If You Were My Man
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 1, 2018
Beautifully Written
I loved everything about this story. I loved watching the characters grow and become more understanding and more accepting of love. As a survivor of domestic violence I loved how they addressed how her husband was a two headed coin.... kind and loving to everyone in the open... evil behind closed doors... that is a realistic view of an abuser. Just a beautiful story.
I loved everything about this story. I loved watching the characters grow and become more understanding and more accepting of love. As a survivor of domestic violence I loved how they addressed how her husband was a two headed coin.... kind and loving to everyone in the open... evil behind closed doors... that is a realistic view of an abuser. Just a beautiful story.
September 1, 2024
Ms. Ray writes very layered and flushed her characters. This is third book I've read but her and I'm starting on my fourth. I wish she was still her with us gracing readers with her stories but what she has left behind is beautifully written and engaging.
Lilly is strong, sweet, and smart. Adam is brilliant, arrogant, and loyal. After his accident and her abusive marriage, these two people found love, second chances, and comfort with each other. This is slow burn love story, everything is written to feed your mind. I liked Jonathan and Eleanor (Adam's mother) even though Eleanor didn't seem to have balance with her adult children. She was so lucky to have had love with her first husband and then to find again with Jonathan. Even though she was willing to sacrifice it for her selfish little girl adult daughter.
Kristen was a brat-naïve, immature, and selfish. She was looking for love with Eric-a guy who clearly just wanted to have sex with her. Her mother didn't give her the game especially when she was often described as shy and inexperienced. Nicole was a veneer-fake and overly polished with no substance which was masking a deeply insecure woman. That made her catty and unlikeable.
In the end, life is too short to spent time without real love and connection. These characters eventually figured it out and found it with each other. I also enjoyed San Fran and Shreveport as minor characters.
Lilly is strong, sweet, and smart. Adam is brilliant, arrogant, and loyal. After his accident and her abusive marriage, these two people found love, second chances, and comfort with each other. This is slow burn love story, everything is written to feed your mind. I liked Jonathan and Eleanor (Adam's mother) even though Eleanor didn't seem to have balance with her adult children. She was so lucky to have had love with her first husband and then to find again with Jonathan. Even though she was willing to sacrifice it for her selfish little girl adult daughter.
Kristen was a brat-naïve, immature, and selfish. She was looking for love with Eric-a guy who clearly just wanted to have sex with her. Her mother didn't give her the game especially when she was often described as shy and inexperienced. Nicole was a veneer-fake and overly polished with no substance which was masking a deeply insecure woman. That made her catty and unlikeable.
In the end, life is too short to spent time without real love and connection. These characters eventually figured it out and found it with each other. I also enjoyed San Fran and Shreveport as minor characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2021
The Eyes Have It!
The research is evident in this project. Extremely well written. The characters had such depth and kept me turning pages. This read is our bookclub read for Dec 2021. (already 5 stars from me). I hope this would have made Francis smile. We had the chance to enjoy the love of sister-sharing once upon a time a long time ago. 💕
The research is evident in this project. Extremely well written. The characters had such depth and kept me turning pages. This read is our bookclub read for Dec 2021. (already 5 stars from me). I hope this would have made Francis smile. We had the chance to enjoy the love of sister-sharing once upon a time a long time ago. 💕
February 26, 2017
life changing
Adam and lilly truly experienced a turning point in their lives as well as others thank God for the positive events and faith in their lives. love and faith are wonderful emotions. looking forward to Rafe and Kristen story.
Adam and lilly truly experienced a turning point in their lives as well as others thank God for the positive events and faith in their lives. love and faith are wonderful emotions. looking forward to Rafe and Kristen story.
September 4, 2020
Great read
March 12, 2021
I absolutely loved this book!
August 26, 2012
This was my first Francis Ray book and I must say that I 'judged this book by it's cover' and left it on the shelf for a full year. One day, I was in search of a book to really sink my teeth into. You know, a book with more than...217 pages (because believe it or not, Black people can read books longer than 200 pages without losing interest...but I digress). So, I finally picked this book up and am so glad that I did!
Mrs Ray did such an excellent and thorough job on the development of the characters. She incorporated her research into the story and made the protagonists (and the secondary characters...which led to a second book:Somebody's Knocking at My Door) very real and endearing to me.
Mrs Ray tackled seriously difficult hurdles but didn't get sidetracked, magically cause a solution (because of deadlines), or lose 'the turning point'(pun intended)of the story. There was a natural progression of the story but not overly drawn out. I sincerely rooted for these characters...once they got used to one another.
After this book Mrs Ray instantly became one of my favorite authors.
Anyhoo, I highly recommend the book. Re-released as "Trouble Don't Last Always"
Mrs Ray did such an excellent and thorough job on the development of the characters. She incorporated her research into the story and made the protagonists (and the secondary characters...which led to a second book:Somebody's Knocking at My Door) very real and endearing to me.
Mrs Ray tackled seriously difficult hurdles but didn't get sidetracked, magically cause a solution (because of deadlines), or lose 'the turning point'(pun intended)of the story. There was a natural progression of the story but not overly drawn out. I sincerely rooted for these characters...once they got used to one another.
After this book Mrs Ray instantly became one of my favorite authors.
Anyhoo, I highly recommend the book. Re-released as "Trouble Don't Last Always"
November 2, 2016
OMG, amazing, superlative
This book was so amazing, and superlative. I couldn't put it down. Before I started reading this book I was sad and quite depressed and after the first couple of pages my spirit lifted. And the book was unconventional therapy, I was laughing and smiling. I just love Adam and Lilly's love story. Just so amazing and the patience of Job that Lilly had with Adam at first was great. I couldn't put this book down and I read it from start to finish in a couple of hours. This is the first book I've ever read by Francis Ray but it will definitely not be the last. I'm hooked. I loved it, I just simply loved it.
This book was so amazing, and superlative. I couldn't put it down. Before I started reading this book I was sad and quite depressed and after the first couple of pages my spirit lifted. And the book was unconventional therapy, I was laughing and smiling. I just love Adam and Lilly's love story. Just so amazing and the patience of Job that Lilly had with Adam at first was great. I couldn't put this book down and I read it from start to finish in a couple of hours. This is the first book I've ever read by Francis Ray but it will definitely not be the last. I'm hooked. I loved it, I just simply loved it.
February 2, 2008
A Healing Love
Frances Ray has done it again! She has spun an intriguing tale with a great plot and an UNFORGETTABLE cast of characters (main and secondary).~~~~~~~"The Turning Point" is a very touching story. Mrs. Ray makes you feel the characters trials and tribulations. She also makes you hope that the characters in the story find the happiness they both deserve. A MUST Read!
Frances Ray has done it again! She has spun an intriguing tale with a great plot and an UNFORGETTABLE cast of characters (main and secondary).~~~~~~~"The Turning Point" is a very touching story. Mrs. Ray makes you feel the characters trials and tribulations. She also makes you hope that the characters in the story find the happiness they both deserve. A MUST Read!
January 28, 2015
I love this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews