True Blue (©2003)

by Luanne Rice

An earnest and affecting portrait of life in the magical seaside town of Hubbards Point, Conn., Luanne Rices True Blue finds childhood friends Rumer Larkin and Zeb Mayhew torn apart by a seemingly insurmountable betrayal, "Zeb married Rumers older sister, Elizabeth, instead of her."
      Now, after a 20-year absence, a bitter divorce and a life-altering expedition aboard a space station, Zeb has returned to the Point seeking forgiveness and maybe something more. The themes of sisterhood and friendship that appear here are common threads in Rices novels (Safe Harbor, etc.), as is the sense that theres an ethereal force guiding the lives of the Points inhabitants. With its graceful prose, full-bodied characters and atmospheric setting, this uplifting and enchanting tale is likely to become a beachside staple.