The Longest Ride.

GoodReads Synopsis-- Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage. 

A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn't destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart. 

My Thoughts-- There was A LOT that I liked about this story.  First, that it took place in my hometown and at my law school alma mater!  Also, I thought the budding romance between Luke and Sophia was beautiful and genuine.  The life of love between Ira and Ruth was touching and inspiring.  Like many of his books, the author weaves parallel stories together in unexpected (and sometimes far-fetched) ways.  This one was one of the slightly more far-fetched and too-neatly-wrapped-up stories.  But the ending that had me rolling my eyes a bit did not diminish at all the beauty of the pages that came before it.

The Stranger.

GoodReads Synopsis-- The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world. Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life. Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

My Thoughts-- I love Harlan Coben, but this book was rather disappointing.  Of course, it was suspenseful and intriguing and kept my attention for hours on end.  But there was just something thin about the story.  Or maybe it was too complex.  Or maybe my expectations were just too high for this one.  If you're looking for a great suspenseful thriller by HC, I'd recommend you read Gone for Good or Tell No One first to see how amazing Harlan Coben can be.