Love in the Present Tense

By: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrated by: David Coburn, Jeremy Redleaf, Duana Speights

For five years Pearl has managed to keep the past from catching up to her and her bright, frail five-year-old son. Life has given her every reason to mistrust people, but circumstances force her to trust her neighbor Mitch with watching Leonard while she goes off to work. Then one day Pearl drops her son off…and never returns.
They are an unlikely pair: Mitch is a young, unattached business owner, and Leonard is a precocious, five-year-old boy. But together they must find a way to move forward in the wake of Pearl’s unexplained disappearance. Their bond as parent and child shifts and endures, even as Mitch must eventually surrender Leonard to a two-parent home.
Is it possible to love the people who can’t always be there for us? The answers will surprise and move you. As their lives unfold, profound questions emerge about the nature of love and family. Ultimately, this novel’s richest reward is watching Mitch and Leonard grow up together, through the power and the magic of the human heart.©2006 Catherine Ryan Hyde; (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

Reviewers praise Catherine Ryan Hyde:
“[Hyde’s] talent for portraying human emotions…she not only tugs at heartstrings but also deftly plays them while building to a poignant crescendo. [Hyde is] a perceptive and gentle-hearted writer.” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Hyde is a remarkable, insightful storyteller, creating full-bodied characters whose dialogue rings true, with not a word to spare.” —Library Journal

“Brutally lyrical…Hyde movingly conveys the toll of years of emotional damage.” —Publishers Weekly

“Hyde is a magnificent storyteller, an expert at plot and pacing and voice…[Hyde] is worth reading again and again and again.” —Denver Post

“Brilliantly wrought, finely plotted…Every scene is sketched with beautiful brevity…Every vista takes your breath away.” —Small Press

“Haunting.” —Washington Post Book World


“A sweet and honest look at the pains and pleasures of love, and who could not fall in love with Leonard—what a beautifully drawn character.” —Jane Green, bestselling author of Jemima J

This was very tastful

I thought about pearl and lenord for days, Mitch was a real man who did what was right .

Amazing

Catherine Ryan Hyde is such an inspired writer. The book touched me in ways I have no words to explain.

I’m a CRH fan!

Another beautiful story of love and relationships from CRH. People step up in the most unexpected ways.

What a story!

OMG! What a story! Yet another perfect book by Catherine Ryan Hide. Thank you for the great performances too.

Devotion

Love in the Present Tense by author Catherine Ryan Hyde was a touching novel of connection, devotion, and trust. Mitch, an adult, and Leonard, a five-year-old boy, make a lasting relationship that endures all. I found this novel to be a touching, warm, and charming story. Narrators David Coburn, Jeremy Redleaf, and Duana Speights all did an excellent performance.