Message in the Sand: A Novel

ISBN: 1982114576

Author: McKinnon, Hannah

Condition: New

An emotional and unforgettable tale of a small town irrevocably affected by an unforeseen and shocking event-from the author of the charming gem of a novel (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Mystic Summer.Wendell Combs is as local as they come. Born and raised in the small town of Saybrook, Connecticut, his venture into the larger world was met with heartbreak. Now, middle-aged and a confirmed bachelor, he seeks solitude from his tour of duty as a soldier back in his hometown, working as head caretaker for wealthy Alan Lancasters forty-acre estate, White Pines, a place he has come to love for its beauty, peace, and quiet.Alans eldest daughter, fifteen-year-old Julia, also loves White Pines, but for very different reasons. She and her little sister spend their days riding horses, swimming in the lake, and painting landscapes inspired by the property they adore. While her parents prepare to host their annual summer gala fundraiser, Julias eyes are set to the simpler joys of summer: shes fallen in love with the boy-next-door and longs for their next encounter.But as the last guests leave on that magical summer night, a tragedy no one could have predicted suddenly occurs, shaking the entire town to its core. Wendell and Julia now face an uncertain future. At the height of their grief, two very different women return to Saybrook: Ginny Feldman, Wendells first love, who cannot stay away any longer, and Candace Lancaster, Julias estranged aunt who wants nothing to do with the town or the family estate she escaped decades earlier. Now, the only familiar things Julia has to cling to are Wendell and White Pines, but it looks like shes about to lose both...With Hannah McKinnons sharp and evocative (Kirkus Reviews) prose, this stirring and affecting tale explores the connection between people and place and what, ultimately, makes up the fabric of a family.