Places by the Sea

Jill McPherson has it all--a successful career as a TV show co-host, a loving fiancé (retired baseball star Christopher Edwards), two teenage children she loves, and the money to enjoy the best life has to offer. When her mother dies, Jill decides to remodel then sell her childhood home on Martha's Vineyard. In order to do so, she needs to be in residence there for several weeks to consult with the contractor, Ben Niles, a handsome widower. Jill has such painful memories of her childhood--especially of her cold, distant mother--that she has never before considered returning for any length of time. Jill finds her mother's diary in an old trunk hidden in the attic, and the book reveals a secret and clues to her mother's behavior. Jill also realizes that she has doubts about her impending marriage, and Ben Niles isn't helping matters. Jean Stone has written a story with enough twists, turns, and surprises to keep even the most discerning reader interested. --Maudeen Wachsmith