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Book Review // The Beach at Painter’s Cove by Shelley Noble

June 26, 2017June 26, 2017 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment
Book Review // The Beach at Painter’s Cove by Shelley Noble


Note – I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

About The Beach at Painter’s Cove

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 13, 2017)

From the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Beach comes another heartwarming story of four generations of women who reunite in their crumbling family mansion by the sea for a dramatic summer filled with love, family, secrets and sisterhood.

The Whitaker family’s Connecticut mansion, Muses by the Sea, has always been a haven for artists, a hotbed of creativity, extravagances, and the occasional scandal. Art patrons for generations, the Whitakers supported strangers but drained the life out of each other. Now, after being estranged for years, four generations of Whitaker women find themselves once again at The Muses.

Leo, the Whitaker matriarch, lives in the rambling mansion crammed with artwork and junk. She plans to stay there until she joins her husband Wes on the knoll overlooking the cove and meadow where they first met. Her sister-in-law Fae, the town eccentric, is desperate to keep a secret she has been hiding for years.

Jillian, is a jet setting actress, down on her luck, and has run out of men to support her. She thinks selling The Muses will make life easier for her mother, Leo, and Fae by moving them into assisted living. The sale will also bring her the funds to get herself back on top.

Issy, Jillian’s daughter, has a successful life as a museum exhibit designer that takes her around the world. But the Muses and her grandmother are the only family she’s known and when her sister leaves her own children with Leo, Issy knows she has to step in to help.

Steph, is only twelve-years-old and desperately needs someone to fire her imagination and bring her out of her shell. What she begins to discover at the Muses could change the course of her future.

As Issy martials the family together to restore the mansion and catalogue the massive art collection, a surprising thing happens. Despite storms and moonlight dancing, diva attacks and cat fights, trips to the beach and flights of fancy, these four generations of erratic, dramatic women may just find a way to save the Muses and reunite their family.

My Thoughts

I loved this book! Loved it. It has everything I enjoy about a book: familial tensions, multiple generations and strong women. The art aspect and the beach were just icing on the cake for me.

First off, let’s talk about my critique: the pacing felt a little slow at times and I felt like the book was a little longer than it needed to be. Did either of those things ruin my enjoyment of the novel in any way? Nope.

Okay, let’s talk about what I loved!

The characters: I don’t think there’s a character in this novel that I didn’t like. Well, maybe one, but that character is only discussed. I connected with Issy right away. At the beginning I was always a little sad when the book would shift from her perspective, but as I (quickly) fell in love with the other characters I looked forward to seeing things from their perspective as well. I loved that while Issy had what appeared to be a glamorous life–and a life she loved–it wasn’t without sacrifice that she dropped everything to care for her family. I loved that those concerns carried with her throughout the novel. It definitely made her feel like a real person.

I didn’t anticipate I’d grow attached to the other characters quite as much. I didn’t expect to like Steph, but she was the second character that captured my attention. The author brought her to life in such a realistic way, too. She wasn’t a perfect kid, but she also wasn’t an obnoxious kid. I loved the moments we were able to see the world form her perspective, because it felt like such a 12-year-old view of the world–and I mean that in a good way. She was discovering things about the world and how she responded to those things… it was perfect.

All the other characters as well. I’d knew I’d love Leo and Fae–I tend to love the older female characters in stories, especially characters as unique as these two. They always capture my heart. Jillian and the rest outside of the four Whitaker women just added so much and I loved them all.

Next, The Muses. First of all, if a place like The Muses actually exists, I want to go there now. I can think of nothing better than hanging out in a cabin with Little One painting and writing.

Places like The Muses always capture my attention and I loved hearing about it’s past, but also seeing what had happened to it and dreaming about what could become of it. I loved being at The Muses at this juncture of it’s life, but as I read I also thought, “I want to read about The Muses back in its heyday!” And, to be honest, I want to be able to jump ahead into it’s future too.

There was so much to enjoy about this novel! If you’re looking for a fun, summer read that isn’t all fluff, but isn’t too intense, this is one to check out! With strong, quirky female characters, a crumbling house with a fascinating history, art and the beach, this is one to savor.

Now I’m off to check out Noble’s other books.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble is a former professional dancer and choreographer and has worked on a number of films. She lives at the Jersey shore where she loves to visit lighthouses and vintage carousels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America.

Find out more about Shelley at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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One comment

  1. Beth Kondrick says:
    June 27, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    I love hearing that there are strong female characters! I’m in a book club that focuses on that and we’re always looking for new book ideas!

    Reply

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. 😍 PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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