60. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern (Audio)

From the back cover: ~~"Everything in Elizabeth Egan's life has its place, from the espresso cups in her gleaming kitchen to the swatches and paint pots of her interior-design business. Order and precision keep life under control--and keep Elizabeth's heart safe from the pain and hurt she has suffered in the past. Being a reluctant mother to her six-year-old nephew while trying to keep her design business on tract is a full-time job for Elizabeth, and one that leaves little room for error--or fun. Until one day, when Ivan unexpectedly comes into their lives. The mysterious Ivan is carefree, spontaneous, and always looking for adventure--everything that Elizabeth is not. Yet just when Elizabeth is starting to trust him, it turns out that Ivan isn't at all who she thought he was. ~~Playful and at times intensely moving, this is a novel about how seeing isn't always believing. Full of Cecelia Ahern's trademark warmth and poignancy, If You Could See Me Now is a story of enormous heart--and just a little magic." ~~This book is a little bit romance, a little bit fantasy, with some psycho analysis thrown in. I'm not sure if I would have finished the book if I had read it. There was a point about half-way in the second disc that I became impatient with the somewhat heavy-handed messages that seemed imbedded into the story. I found Elizabeth to be humorless and mean-spirited and Ivan a bit fey. But I was on my way to Provo and I needed the book to keep me awake which it barely did. And I love the Irish accents of the two narrators. Plus I was quite concerned for the fate of Luke, the nephew, who seemed to be at the mercy of uncaring adults. Luckily, the book picks up and I began to enjoy it and to like Ivan and Elizabeth much better. I was kind of sorry to have it end. The ending itself was happy/sad which was perfect for this story. Because the audio was an abridgement, I wonder about the parts that were left out; but I can live with that. I recommend the audio with the male and female narrators and background music. I would gladly listened to more of Ahern's books--I may even read one. Rating: 4