Angela’s Club is a love story by Carl Turner. Dr Nate Williams finds himself told to leave the hospital, where he works as a cardiologist, for a period of a month. In his journey to become the best cardiologist around, he has forsaken any kind of relationship, not that he really understands why. While he is trying to figure out his life and decide what to do with himself, he meets Angela. Angela owns a bookstore and she tells him that he has a disability – he can’t or won’t read fiction. So she invites him to come to her book club and there he meets a whole group of new people – restaurant owners, a teacher, a professor of English and a priest. He falls in love with Angela and, together with the book club, she takes him on a journey he never thought he would go on – a journey to discover what is really in his heart and what it’s for. For the first time in his life, he starts to feel emotions, real emotions. And then he meets Sandy.

Angela’s Club: A Love Story by Carl Turner was a good read. It was one of those easy reads that you can follow without too much trouble and the kind that has you living the stories of the characters. It was well written, very clear and the characters were likeable. I found it a great book to wind down with in the evenings and it would be the perfect summer read for a day at the beach.

Angela’s Club by Carl Turner is a romantic journey of self discovery. Cardiologist Dr. Nate Williams is an expert on the heart. His work ethic is excellent, but he does not relate to people well, acting almost heartlessly. Overworked and on the verge of burn out, Nate is forced to take a month off. Sandy, a cardiology nurse, invites Nate to a party to help him unwind. Sandy has a big heart, Nate a small shriveled one. Nate feels intimidated by Sandy, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her. One day he finds himself wandering into a book store. There he meets Angela Carter and his life is forever changed. Nate had lost his sense of wonder; Angela’s quest was to help him find it. She invites him over to dinner where he meets the members of Angela’s Club. Angela’s club meets once a month for food and good discussions. Before long, Nate discovers there is more to life than his career; he is falling in love with Angela and he had friends for the first time in his life. Nate had hope. Angela was taking his heart on a journey. Dr. Nate Williams discovers there is much more to the heart than a blood pumping organ that sustains life. Nate realizes that the love held within the heart is the essence of life.

Carl Turner concentrates on his character development as the plot of Angela’s Club: A Love Story gradually unfolds. The characters are exquisitely written; Turner describes each one to the core of their uniqueness. The plot scheme of the story is painfully and passionately told. The narrative is full of sensory and expressive descriptions: rustling leaves, lapping waters, and hair blowing in a gentle breeze. Turner uses powerful poetic metaphors, writing with intense emotion, especially when portraying the experiences of motherhood and grief, “death and life are often partners in the dance of life.” Throughout the story, the author prepares you for what lies ahead; therefore there is no shock and awe. Heartache – yes. However, even through the tragedy, the reader is left hopeful, anticipating and hoping for a desirable outcome. The climax happens midway through the story; however, the end is not rushed. Instead, Turner gently brings about the denouement, patiently bringing the story to its end. If you are a romantic, you will not be disappointed with Angela’s Club: A Love Story.