Come Walk with Me

by Joan Medlicott

Book Overview

From Joan Medlicott, the nationally bestselling creator of the beloved Ladies of Covington series, comes an inspiring, hope-filled tale of a woman who finds the courage to begin a journey that will... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416524576
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 259 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

The joy within your soul

Widowed Claire Bennett is desperate to find a man to give her purpose in life and remove the loneliness. But what Claire really needs to do is resolve and renew old relationships--with her daughter, her son and her husband's best friend, Olden. Eventually she finds that running away will not do the trick. A quietly comforting book to show that is in our power to heal the loneliness within.

Familiar themes from Joan Medlicott

Claire Bennett is living a very empty life. Recently widowed, she has lost interest in the business that she and her huband built together, and she feels alienated from her children. She decides that the answer is to find another man to marry. She moves to Florida in search of her dream, and then heads for her daughter's in North Carolina where the daughter will soon be married. She dreads facing her children who still harbor resentments over an unhappy childhood, and is still undecided as to where she will live. This book touches on themes which run through all of Joan Medlicott's writing--empowerment for women who have subjugated their desires for the men in their lives, and alienation from adult children. As in her other books, this one is set against the beautiful background of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is an enjoyable and recommended read.

Love Author

I read all of Joan Medlicott's books. I thoroughly enjoy her characters and am always sorry when the book is finished. She has great character development and I always wait impatiently for her next book. I like that she also sends a monthly newsletter to me about her activities. The first time that I visited her website, it had info about women who might like to share living quarters in their later years. What a great idea.

Bravo! You've done it again!

This book begins as the story of Claire Bennett's struggle to cope with being her own person after the sudden death of her husband, Phillip. Since Claire had always defined herself by the successes of her husband, his death left her without purpose. In fact, denial, numbness, and shock were her only companions although she had two grown children who needed her to talk with them and allow them to grieve with her. Claire, however, chose to withdraw from life and became estranged from her children - leaving herself (and them) completely alone. Because of this, misunderstandings and guilt pushed Claire and her children even farther from each other. A long time after Phillip's death, Claire finally sought professional help, which did not last long because she could not bring herself to talk about Phillip's death with her therapist any more than she could talk about it with her children. Thinking she could make a new start on her own in a new environment, Claire made the first of many wrong decisions with a move to Boca Raton, Florida. She knew exactly what she wanted to find there - a new man with whom to connect and again find self-worth. The only criteria she sought in a man was that he be successful in a business that she could help him with. After moving from her home in the Hamptons to a condominium in Boca Raton, Claire's life began a downward spiral. Her lifestyle in Boca Raton became a bit promiscuous and one unfortunate date with a man she had barely met resulted in real danger to her. A positive affect of this encounter was that it made Claire understand just how naïve and friendless she was in her new surroundings. With that realization, Claire decided to leave Boca Raton. Since she had recently received an unexpected invitation to her daughter's wedding in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Claire decided to go there and try to reconnect with her children. In this beautiful setting on a tiny farm, Claire finally faces some hard (but genuine) realities about herself and is able to find the joy that has always been missing from her life. There is a beautiful scene near the middle of the book where Claire emerged from her car after the long drive to North Carolina and began to dance in a meadow. This scene gave the reader their first glimpse into Claire's soul and the woman she truly was. ***** This book ends as a story of rebirth, courage, and hope and it is beautifully written. It is also the story of many women who think they are nothing without a man. Joan Medlicott reaches into the depths of her character's soul to expose some hard truths in this novel - truths that can ultimately become a beacon to serve as a guide for numerous women to follow. Bravo, Joan, you've done it again! I would love a sequel to this story! ***** Reviewed by Ruth Wilson of Huntress Reviews.

warm family drama

When Phillip Bennett died, his beloved wife Claire thought her world was over. Eighteen months later even with seeing a shrink Dr. Delanny, she remains lifeless. Their antiques business no longer matters and their East Hampton home feels empty. Needing a new start, Claire leaves for Florida, but still finds nothing fulfilling. When her daughter Mandy asks Claire to come visit her, her fiancé Tom and her future father-in-law Larry Harden in Weaverville, North Caroline, Claire decides to do so as she hopes to reconnect with her offspring and her son Paul; ever since her other son Terrence died in an accident, she has felt estranged from her children. However, she must reach out to them if she wants them to reach out to her; something she desperately wants to do, but is afraid to take that first step. Though not Covington even if the family tension mostly occurs in North Carolina, Joan Medlicott provides a warm family drama starring fully developed individuals especially the lead character. Claire has a second chance with her children, but will she take the opportunity because the risk of rejection may be more costly than the status quo. Fans of Ms. Medlicott who rival those of Dean Smith in intensity will enjoy her deep character study of a middle aged widow struggling with life almost two years after the death of her husband. Harriet Klausner