Release Date: July 9/2013
Adquired: Print ARC provided by publisher
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/Indigo/Book Depository
From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors, a stunning new novel of sun, sand, love, and family set against the beautiful backdrop of the South Carolina coast.
Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair thinks she has nothing left to give by the time she arrives in Stargazey Point. Once a popular South Carolina family destination, the town's beaches have eroded, local businesses are closing, and skyrocketing taxes are driving residents away. Stargazey Point, like Abbie, is fighting to survive.
But Abbie is drawn slowly into the lives of the people around her: the Crispin siblings, three octogenarians sharing a looming plantation house; Cab Reynolds, who left his work as an industrial architect to refurbish his uncle's antique carousel, a childhood sanctuary; Ervina, an old Gullah wisewoman with the power to guide Abbie to a new life, if only she'd let her; and a motley crew of children whom Abbie can't ignore.
Abbie came seeking a safe haven, but what she finds is so much more. For Stargazey Point is a magical place . . . a place for dreamers . . . a place that can lead you home
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I wouldn't exactly call this a summer read. Stargazey Point is beautifully painted, but the story within is one filled with tragedy, overcoming demons, and eventually, acceptance. I've discovered that I'm particularly partial to books that unfold in a small town, where truths expose themselves through simple pleasures, and hospitality shown by kind-hearted people. Maybe I have some of my own demons to overcome, and the idea of escaping to a town where no one knows you is just the remedy I need...
Abbie Sinclair is running, she's running away from the thoughts in her head that are taking over her entire life. An incident in her past refuses to give up occupancy in her soul, and when her best friend Celeste suggests she spend some time away in solitude, she jumps on the next plane out. She arrives at Stargazey Point in South Carolina, where every inch of the place exudes the qualities of small-town living. Boarding with Celeste's great aunts and uncle, Abbie begins to question her decision, discovering that she may not get the time to herself she expected, and needed. She is immediately thrown into the routine of the Crispin household, and begins to meet almost everyone in the town, including Cabot Reynolds, a reluctant man who thinks Abbie has ulterior motives. As time passes, Abbie is able to slowly release the hold on her thoughts, and the pain in her heart. Stargazey Point may be small, but it begins to work it's magic on Abbie in a much bigger way than she could have ever imagined.
The setting. My GOD. I don't know what it is with the description of beaches, salt air, and docks leading out into the water that send my heart into such a pleasurable frenzy. Maybe it's my intense need to get away from city life, maybe it's a testament to Shelley Noble's writing, but I was hooked the second I read "white sand dunes." The scenery was perfect, I was placed in exactly the right mood to watch events unfold. The crab bisque and biscuits and collard greens had me salivating like a fool, the fan blowing in my room became the breeze off of the ocean that Abbie sat on to write.
I'm a romantic when the moment sees fit, and the romance that bloomed in Stargazey Point was subtle and sweet enough to keep me from cringing repeatedly. I enjoyed Abbie's spunk, and loved that Cab enjoyed it even more. The characters in this novel were exactly what I love about small-town characters, they were warm, and overly friendly, and nosey enough to keep the storyline moving at an interesting, and humourous pace. When truths were finally divulged, I'll admit, I was expecting it, and knew from early on that the twists weren't going to be mind blowing. At any rate, I read and enjoyed Stargazey Point for the basic story it told, of overcoming your past, and finding things and people that help you remember exactly what you loved about life in the first place.
Recommended for Fans of: Women's Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Sweet Salt Air by Barabra Delinsky, Nicholas Sparks.
NOTE: There is a prequel to Stargazey Point entitled Stargazey Nights, which tells Cab Reynolds story before he came to live in the small town.
Abbie Sinclair is running, she's running away from the thoughts in her head that are taking over her entire life. An incident in her past refuses to give up occupancy in her soul, and when her best friend Celeste suggests she spend some time away in solitude, she jumps on the next plane out. She arrives at Stargazey Point in South Carolina, where every inch of the place exudes the qualities of small-town living. Boarding with Celeste's great aunts and uncle, Abbie begins to question her decision, discovering that she may not get the time to herself she expected, and needed. She is immediately thrown into the routine of the Crispin household, and begins to meet almost everyone in the town, including Cabot Reynolds, a reluctant man who thinks Abbie has ulterior motives. As time passes, Abbie is able to slowly release the hold on her thoughts, and the pain in her heart. Stargazey Point may be small, but it begins to work it's magic on Abbie in a much bigger way than she could have ever imagined.
The setting. My GOD. I don't know what it is with the description of beaches, salt air, and docks leading out into the water that send my heart into such a pleasurable frenzy. Maybe it's my intense need to get away from city life, maybe it's a testament to Shelley Noble's writing, but I was hooked the second I read "white sand dunes." The scenery was perfect, I was placed in exactly the right mood to watch events unfold. The crab bisque and biscuits and collard greens had me salivating like a fool, the fan blowing in my room became the breeze off of the ocean that Abbie sat on to write.
I'm a romantic when the moment sees fit, and the romance that bloomed in Stargazey Point was subtle and sweet enough to keep me from cringing repeatedly. I enjoyed Abbie's spunk, and loved that Cab enjoyed it even more. The characters in this novel were exactly what I love about small-town characters, they were warm, and overly friendly, and nosey enough to keep the storyline moving at an interesting, and humourous pace. When truths were finally divulged, I'll admit, I was expecting it, and knew from early on that the twists weren't going to be mind blowing. At any rate, I read and enjoyed Stargazey Point for the basic story it told, of overcoming your past, and finding things and people that help you remember exactly what you loved about life in the first place.
Recommended for Fans of: Women's Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Sweet Salt Air by Barabra Delinsky, Nicholas Sparks.
NOTE: There is a prequel to Stargazey Point entitled Stargazey Nights, which tells Cab Reynolds story before he came to live in the small town.
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Shelley Noble is a multi published fiction author whose books have been translated into seven languages. She writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble and is also the author of several amateur sleuth mystery series, written as Shelley Freydont.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.
Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.
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Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to Harper Collins for sending me a print ARC to review!
This sounds like a heartwarming read, though it begins with tragedy. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.