Eternal Journey

In a painfully earnest attempt to pluck heartstrings, Hutton's brief debut novel succeeds only in twanging out a tale rife with clich s and coincidence, employing supernatural visitations to advance a story of loss, grief, acceptance and renewal. Anna Carroll--a psychologist, author of self-help books and host of the popular radio call-in show Get a Grip!--has lost three friends to cancer in the last three years, most recently her best friend, Beth. Anna never married, and her friendship with Beth has been the one constant in her life, from their days at Catholic school through their college years and on into Beth's married life and Anna's high-powered career. Afraid she herself is losing her grip, Anna escapes to a cottage on Martha's Vineyard to come to terms with her grief. While there, she meets a mysterious stranger. So easy is he to talk to, she ends up telling him her life story without once asking his name. This stranger turns out to be a priest and the brother of Anna's ""one true love,"" Kevin, who was killed in the Vietnam War. The stranger informs Anna that Kevin always loved her, and Beth's ghost assures Anna that she is ""always with you."" Readers in search of soft-serve sweets for the soul will enjoy this easy weeper. Agent, Janell Walden Agyeman. (Oct.)