Time 2 Read: Review: Whisper Beach

Whisper Beach

by Shelley Noble

Why did you choose this book? a ‘friends’ story set at the beach

When did you read this book? June 2015

Who should read this book? readers looking for a good summer beach read

Source: TLC Book Tours

Here is a synopsis of Whisper Beach from TLC Book Tours

When a group of friends reunite in the idyllic beach town where they grew up, they must reevaluate their loyalty to one another or lose their friendship forever

Twelve years ago, Vanessa “Van” Moran fell in love and lost her virginity—but not to the same boy. She fled Whisper Beach desperate and pregnant, never telling a soul about her secret. Now a professional Manhattan organizer, she must return home for the first time to attend the funeral of her best friend’s husband. Van intends to only stay for a weekend, but her plans fall by the wayside as the troubles of this coastal town draw her in.

Dorie, the owner of the pier’s infamous Blue Crab Restaurant where Van and her friends worked as teenagers, enlists Van’s help to save the nearly bankrupt eatery. While Van throws herself into this new task, the man she once loved reenters her life, willing to pick up where they left off.

As the restaurant begins to thrive and Van reconnects with old friends, trouble comes from an unexpected source and she realizes she must face the decisions of her past or sacrifice this new life she has so carefully built.

For Van, this summer will test the meaning of friendship and trust—and how far love can bend before it breaks.

My Review

Take a look at the beautiful cover on this book! Doesn’t it make you want to just pick it up and start reading? It did me. And when I saw the author is Shelley Noble, who also authored Stargazey Point, I knew I would read this one. It was just a bonus that I was invited to participate in the blog tour hosted by TLC Book Tours!

I loved Stargazey Point (you can read my review here). Unfortunately, this one...not so much. Don’t get me wrong — it isn’t a bad read — I just didn’t love it as much as I did Stargazey Point.

Whisper Beach is a good summer read for those lazy days when you want to lay in the hammock and get lost in a good book. The story moves along quickly and I was finished in only 2-3 sessions (and could have finished in one if I could have just convinced the animals and family to let me alone to read!)

There were good characters and bad. I really enjoyed the character of Dorie; the motherly restaurant owner who took teens under her wing when they needed a little TLC. And I really did not like the character of Gigi, the whiny attention-seeking cousin of the main character, Van. That said, her behavior was enabled by those around her. I have mixed feelings about the main character, Van. She seemed to be a slow learner, not really learning that talking things out instead of running away can solve a lot of problems.

But what really made this a less than stellar read for me was that there were a lot of loose ends I would have like to have had tied up. I would like to know a little more about Van and her father, and how their relationship proceeds. I also would like to know a bit more about Bud, the cop. And I really, really would like to know why Harold was even in the story, as there didn’t seem to be much point to his character.

This could make an interesting pick for book clubs looking for a summer book that is a quick, relatively light read, but still has plenty of fodder for discussion. There are discussion questions available at Reading Group Guides, or you can just make up your own. Whether you are looking for a summer book club selection, or just looking for a good summer read for yourself, this one is worth taking a look at!

About Shelly 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.

My Rating: ★★★1/2 3-1/2 Stars

This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours. I was provided a copy for review purposes and have written an honest review which appears above.

Shelley’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, June 16th: Book by Book

Wednesday, June 17th: BookNAround

Thursday, June 18th: Book Nerd

Friday, June 19th: bookchickdi

Tuesday, June 23rd: Becca Rowan

Wednesday, June 24th: Wall-to-Wall Books

Thursday, June 25th: Lesa’s Book Critiques

Thursday, June 25th: Hot Guys in Books

Friday, June 26th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, June 29th: Under a Gray Sky

Tuesday, June 30th: Time 2 Read