Beloved

by Antoinette Stockenberg

A cottage by the it's a dream come true for Jane Drew. Too bad it comes with a ghost -- and a soulfully seductive neighbor who'd just as soon boot Jane off the island.


When you're seriously unattached and recently unemployed, the inheritance of a cottage on Nantucket Island might seem like a really Good Thing. The fact that the house is ramshackle and possibly haunted? Mere details. Jane Drew never actually believed the neighbors' murmurs about her great-aunt being either a psychic or a witch, much less a psychic witch. Still, a series of eerie events soon has her convinced that the spirit of a beautiful Quaker is roaming the place, and it seems clear that it will take more than a smile and a wave goodbye to make the spirit leave. If Jane is to move things along, she's going to have to think like an islander. But she's a Boston graphic designer with no experience of the island or its history, and she could use a little local knowledge in her quest

There is no one more local than the aloof, wary, and impossibly seductive Mac McKenzie. Descended from generations of hard-working islanders, Mac has very clear opinions of off-islanders, and he's not afraid to express them. He has little patience for New Age types, moneyed types, and those for whom "antiquing" is a verb. He regards spaghetti as noodles, not pasta, and he drinks water from a tap, not a bottle. He's suspicious of people who design graphics, whatever those are. And he doesn't believe in ghosts. Period. When he finds himself up against the insistent, persistent, infinitely irritating Jane Drew with her knack for complicating his life, he does what any self-respecting islander would and shrugs her off -- for a while, anyway. But Mac understands, as Jane does not, that not every force is benign ... and not every force is otherworldly.



" Beloved has charm, romance, and a delicious hint of the supernatural. If you loved the film ' Somewhere in Time ,' don't miss this book."
--LaVyrle Spencer, New York Times bestselling author

" Beloved is great ... a lively, engaging, thoroughly enchanting tale. Ms. Stockenberg is an exciting voice in the romance genre. Her writing is delicious; I savored every morsel of Beloved ."
--Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author

"Antoinette Stockenberg is pure magic! She does a wonderful job of evoking mood out of setting. The love story between the hero and heroine was complex and moving; what appealing characters!"
--Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author

"A delightfully different romance with a ghost story -- a great combination that was impossible to put down."
--Johanna Lindsey, New York Times bestselling author

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Paranormal, Literary Fiction

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Michelle Donofrio · Rating 3 out of 5]

An “old school” romance novel. We recently moved and I found an old box of books... I’m determined to plow thru them. This books was published in the early 1990’s before mainstream cell phones and commonplace computers. It’s about love of people and places. It revolves around Jane who inherits her reclusive aunts house on Nantucket... throw in some folk lore and ghost stories for flavor. A nice little summer read. Will It be memorable? probably not. But I did enjoy it and the escape to the shore that it gave me.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

Unexpectedly enjoyable read! Not sure how I happened upon this book, but once I got started I couldn’t put it down. Romance (which is NOT my genre) with enough paranormal activity to hold my interest!

[Melissa Kernevich-aigeldinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it took place on Nantucket. One of my favorite places. Really enjoyed the historical aspect and the para-normal effects as well. Jane and Mac were destined to be together!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enter the world of daytime soap operas through both the plot and the way the characters behave. Not only are they acting in a soap, they are living in one.

[Yvonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane and Mac are strong individuals, perfect for the stoic New Englanders they are. Their story is solid, though I wasn't thrilled about the "ghostly" presence.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.

[Doug Hohbein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much what was called Chick Lit, which I didn't know when I got the book. Not really my cup of tea, but the characters were interesting and I learned alot about Nantucket Island.

[Pattianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beloved - New England Shore Stories - (Mac and Jane) - A COTTAGE BY THE SEA: it's a dream come true for Jane Drew. Too bad it comes with a ghost -- and a soulfully seductive neighbor who would just as soon boot Jane off the island.

When you're seriously unattached and recently unemployed, the inheritance of a cottage on Nantucket Island might seem like a really Good Thing. The fact that the house is ramshackle and possibly haunted? Mere details. Jane Drew never actually believed the neighbors' murmurs about her great-aunt being a psychic or a witch, much less a psychic witch. Still, a series of eerie events soon has her convinced that the spirit of a beautiful Quaker is roaming the place, and it seems clear that it will take more than a smile and a wave goodbye to make the spirit leave. If Jane is to move things along, she's going to have to think like an islander. But she's a Boston graphic designer with no experience of the island or its history, and she could use a little local knowledge in her quest.

[Julia Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel really sad giving Beloved just two stars, since the story was very well written and devoid of typos etc, that often spoil the flow of the narrative. But two stars is the 'okay' rating on GR. The problem I had was that I couldn't take to the character Mac in the slightest. My first impression of him was that he was boorish, rude and downright bad tempered. Adding to this was the fact that Jane was often in conflict with him and their aggression towards one another began to annoy me. Unfortunately, this stayed with me throughout the story and the ending dismayed me.

The rest of the characters were well-drawn and interesting. The description of Nantucket was lovely, although the ghost element of the story seemed just a footnote to the actual love story.

This is just my personal opinion, of course, and other readers might feel differently about the story line. I would still recommend this book if you want a romance with a hint of the supernatural.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't see that coming! Great plot twists!

I am completely hooked on this author. Most of her books so far are set before cell phones and the Internet becomes part of the plot, which is really refreshing, yet odd. (Go to a library and look at microfiche?!)

The author's descriptions I highlighted more than a few times: Like when the chimney sweep noise awakens her. This description took up an entire page and I read it twice because of how it flowed. I love it when books make me want to forgo chore to find out what next (plot twist after plot twist!)

Highly recommend. Just don't question the fact that there are no cells!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing itself was fine. The paranormal aspects of the book were interesting. The romance stuff was typical. The "will they / won't they" went on far too long and the outcome was obvious from literally their first hello. Yet another female author who cannot write a strong, female character without making her shrill and unlikeable.
This was the first book by this author that I have read, and it did NOT leave me wanting more. Picked this up because my grandmother was born on Nantucket, so the island as a character was all that kept me reading.

[Lee Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It was very drawn out though. 1600 pages on my nook. It could have used a bit more suspense. One of the main relationships was borderline annoying...very back and forth. Just went back and forth too many times. I loved the setting, loved the house, loved the historical references, loved the mystery and paranormal references.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to love Antoinette Stockenberg novels. This one was a great escape for me and I like the main characters so much I didn't want to put it down. She is good at making you wait for what you want to happen...and for finding out what the mystery is all about. It's a quick and easy read and would be a great beach read.

[Teon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant book.

This was my first book by this author, she did a magnificent job of describing the island and community of Nantucket. Her story was somewhat slow paced and had a realistic development of the romantic relationship. Meaning it wasn't love at first sight, in bed by noon, and married by Friday. The paranormal component was light and not off putting.

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, but enjoyable light read. I mostly enjoyed the bits about restoring an older home and the main characters effort to do it herself. That resonated with me. Just the perfect book for a light afternoon or two read. Especially imagining the cool of Nantucket in the heat of California.

[Nanci de Suffren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew what the ending would be but it was fun getting there. This story had very little paranormal and a lot of fun romance. I enjoy getting lost in this kind of story. The twists and turns, back and forth between characters was fun.

[Teresa]

quick read...cute

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of paranormal mystery woven around a modern day romance between a couple of stubborn, strong willed characters. A fun read!

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought the wrong "Beloved". Silly mistake.

The romance lovers will undoubtedly be in heaven.

I was not.

[Lisa Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A paranormal romance that was a bit too long at times.

[Lynn Pembroke · Rating 4 out of 5]

An author I had never tried. I really liked it.

[Kristin Whitehouse]

I haven't read this author in a long time. This was a quick read with a predictable plot. It was still enjoyable though and kept me engrossed.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick book. I like this author. Her books are e# asy to read.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow read

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

another good one from Antoinette Stockenberg... I really enjoy her books.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has its moments.