Timepiece

In 1967, on the eve of his daughter's wedding, a man reflects on his memories of her childhood as well as the gift that his one time employer has bequeathed to him to give to her. Nineteen years previously, only eleven days before her death, a loving widow named MaryAnne Parkin had gifted a beautiful rose-gold wristwatch to her household caretaker, Richard. She had only one request: that he give the beautiful heirloom to his then toddler daughter on the day before he would give her away. At the time, he is puzzled by her simple request, yet deeply touched by her kindness.

The story of how the wristwatch came to belong to MaryAnne, forms the basis of Timepiece - the prequel to Richard Paul Evans' heartwarming holiday classic, The show more Christmas Box. In 1908-era Salt Lake City, Utah, millionaire businessman and avid collector of clocks, David Parkin hires one MaryAnne Chandler - originally from England - to be his secretary. Thoughtful and sensitive David is the owner of the highly successful Parkin Machinery Co., and the spirited and spunky MaryAnne will someday become his wife.

Fragments of David's journal highlight this tale of the couple's courtship, marriage, and the development of their family. The elegantly fashionable rose-gold wristwatch was originally bequeathed to David's friend Lawrence Flake, a black man who repairs clocks. This priceless heirloom eventually passes into David's possession through a series of events which culminates in an horrific family tragedy.

In the devastating aftermath of such a tragedy, David and MaryAnne will each discover the extraordinary healing power of love, loyalty and forgiveness. Their shared experiences will ultimately prove that even in our darkest moments, we are still capable of shining the brightest light, demonstrating the incredible strength and remarkable resilience of the human spirit while revealing the best qualities of humanity; even as we suffer unspeakable cruelty.

I actually didn't think that I was going to enjoy this book quite as much as I did. However, I found the story to be extremely evocative and poignant. I found that the characters were very believable and I truly connected with them as they went through their various trials and tribulations. I would give this book a definite A! show less

Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans
Enjoyed the author's other works. I also have a timepiece from my father and it's treasured for time I spent with him.
A great story to pass onto the next in the family line. Book before the Christmas Box in this series.
Parkins estate and all the things in there: journals, grandfather's clock etc. Story starts in 1908 and it follows Mary Ann and David through their life together. The timepiece has many meanings.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

6/10
The love story between MaryAnne and David, while predictable, was still enjoyable, and was certainly the driving force in the book, even more than Andrea’s story. And the lessons—the way hate poisons the heart and love, while sometimes indescribably painful, heals it—are timeless and always worth pondering. But really, the book is a Hallmark movie on paper—a bit too pat.

Lovely story about Mary Ann and David Parkin meeting, marrying and their early married life together. Have the tissues ready - you find out how the stone angel in the cemetery on their daughter's grave came to be.

Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans is a melodramatic novella set in California one hundred years ago. Fabulously rich, handsome, and very honorable bachelor David Parkin falls madly in love with his beautiful, poor, orphaned secretary…etc! Clocks, time, friendships, loss, are important sub-themes.

I didn’t expect much from this novella—in the end, it disappointed more than I thought possible. If I had a print copy, I would not have finished it, but I had downloaded the audio CD to my ipod and listened for four hours while I walked in the neighborhood and worked in my garden. If the book hadn’t started with a bit of a mystery that piqued my interest, I would have changed the playlist from audiobooks to music and listened to show more something far better instead. I wish I had. show less

Really nice little read. Old-fashioned but sweet and not cloying. Will look for more books by him.

Follows the love story of MaryAnne and David Parkin as they struggle with the lessons of love, loyalty, and forgiveness and cope with tragedy, in a story about the gifts we pass on to our children and grandchildren.