Descended from a long line of indomitable, good-humored Scots, Hayden MacBride sees no reason to take his own death lying down. In fact, he crashes funerals for free food and insight into the Great Beyond. Then he meets Rosamond, a nun playing hooky from the Holy Orders. Rosamond needs the right person to teach her how to live. . . and love - and nobody does both better than Hayden MacBride.
Available only in Americana 5.
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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Funny, tender and bittersweetDec 09, 2007 Hayden MacBride is a middle aged Scotsman living in Brooklyn with his divorced daughter and her son. When he's diagnosed with terminal cancer, he decides to take control of things by plotting his final days. He's determined to wring as much joy out of the short time he has left as possible. Hayden meets Rosamond, a nun, whose terminal diagnosis has caused her to doubt her faith, and an unlikely romance ensues. Hayden has a funny and offbeat personality so even though this is a book about dying, there are many life lessons sprinkled throughout and a generous dollop of humor as well. This book is full of funny, tender, and bittersweet moments, and I think you'll find you don't want it to end.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
An Upbeat and Inspiring Approach to MortalityJan 05, 2007 This is a great book. The main character in "Last Call", Hayden, is wonderfully developed. He's funny with an off-beat personality. I loved reading about his left-field approach to his own mortality. At first, I wondered if I'd enjoy the book, since it's about dying. But the more I read, the more I loved Hayden. There were good life lessons and meaningful juxtapositions in the characters throughout the story. Read this a bit at a time and appreciate it.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY EVERJul 31, 2006 I laughed and cried, didn't want it to end, couldn't wait to get to the end. A wonderful, heartfelt, but also hilarious and beautifully written novel. SO much better than many of the books that make the rounds and get picked by famous people and yet I had to hear about this from a teacher friend. If you're a romantic you'll adore this book. An amazing and original love story, up there with the best -- LOVE STORY, CASABLANCA, JANE EYRE. Also raises thoughtful questions about life and death. A total gem. I won't spoil the rest. Just say that I'm desperate for a sequel, or a prequel, and where is the movie??
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
A GREAT READSep 29, 2005 Lots of good old-fashioned fun here with a good cry or two mixed in. Sweet original story with the city of Brooklyn as its own wonderful character. If you like humor and intelligent dialogue and a bittersweet big love story, small coming of age tale, dealing with aging parents dilemma, meditation on life and death, you can't go wrong. Oddly enough, my 13-year old son enjoyed this book while we were on vacation. I did not think it would hold his attention past the first chapter...
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Who Knows When We Will Hear The Last Call?Aug 22, 2005 Hayden thinks he's on his last days and decides not to take his own dying lying down. Like a strange neighbor I had in Pulaski, Evelyn Medley, he starts attending funerals as a hobby. He decides to get things in order before the big day by finding the perfect husband for his daughter Diana who can help her raise sweet, little Joey. He chooses Hank who is contemplating entering the priesthood.
While he is involved in tying strings on his package deal of having his family taken care of, he finds a love of his own at a ballgame, Rosamund, whose heavy silver cross hit him in the face. He sees stars and feels young again. Young enough to teach a nun how to love, and live in his world peppered with odd-ball characters.
He is Scottish and his bagpipe-playing friends belong to the Greyfriars Gang. Rosamund's life in the convent hasn't prepared her to deal with such complicated people. A lot like Jan Karon's old pastor who finds love and a totally different outlook on life when he counsels an ill parishioner.
Hayden decides to go out with a bang and postpone his final call. Hope I can do the same. In 'Brigadoon, one of my favorite musicals, Mr. Lundie wisely advised the young lovers, "If you love somebody, anything is possible, even miracles." In this book, "sometimes the heart want 'one more for the road."
She has written HEART'S DESIRE, BEGINNER'S LUCK and GOING AWAY PARTY. If she continues as she has started, she will be a full fledged romance author in no time at all.
based on 28 reviews
