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Mysteries of Sparrow Island #14
The Stork's Surprise
When Ellen Stanton discovers a newborn baby left on the steps of the Senior Center, the whole island is in an uproar. Where did the infant come from? Who is his mother? Who will get to take this sweet child home for good? As Abby hunts for clues, Ellen revisits sad memories and finds hope in a new friendship. Meanwhile, a walkathon teaches Bobby McDonald, and Mary, a lesson about the true meaning of achievement. Can the joy of new life bring hope to the broken hearts on Sparrow Island?
229 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Greene
55 books7 followersWhen she was in the first grade, Carolyn Greene got hit in the head by a kickball. She was only unconscious for a few minutes, but that was long enough for her to enter a vivid dream featuring herself as the star of an action adventure tale. Carolyn enjoyed the dream so much, she became annoyed when the teacher shook her awake and helped her up off the playground.
In second grade, the comment on her report card read, "Carolyn writes nice stories." Since then, writing fiction has been her way of escaping into an exciting, dramatic dream world. While a young girl, one of her favorite ways of finding that escape was by reading Walter Farley's Black Stallion and Island Stallion books.
After graduating high school, she followed conventional advice and earned a degree in business administration. It seemed the logical thing to do since the want ads never had any listings for professional daydreamers. Drifting from one secretarial position to another, she tried to find job satisfaction, but it eluded her while working at the electric company, a catalog sales center, a juvenile detention center, and a men's maximum-security prison.
It was during a career-planning meeting at the prison where she worked that Carolyn finally acknowledged her heart's true desire: to write a novel. The guards and administrative staff laughed at her aspirations, but the next day a co-worker brought her a grocery bag stuffed full of Harlequin and Silhouette romances and encouraged her to try to write one. Carolyn was hooked by the first chapter of the first book she read, and immediately set out to write her own story using a familiar, though not necessarily romantic, setting.
Fortunately for readers everywhere, Prisoner of Love never sold. But she persevered, and 10 years later her first book was published, under a pseudonym, by Silhouette Romance. Kiss of Bliss, featuring a miniature horse as a comical secondary character, was her tribute to the enjoyment she'd found in Walter Farley's books.
Currently, Carolyn writes full-time in her basement office, the room commonly referred to as the Dungeon. She has a daughter in college and a son in high school. Neither child has expressed an interest in pursuing a writing career, but that's okay since they both manage to provide her with plenty of ideas for stories.
Her husband, a fire chief, also provides plenty of inspiration. In fact, he and Carolyn are a perfect example of "opposites attract." She's the easygoing one, approaching life in a scattered sort of way; he's hard-driven and logical. Her most famous ancestor burned Atlanta during the Civil War; his most famous ancestor — a Richmond, Virginia, fire chief — died in the line of duty just before World War I. As Carolyn often teases her husband, she lights fires and he puts them out.
In her spare time, Carolyn plays with the family's two dogs and two parakeets and watches romantic comedy movies (research, you know). Or she just zones out and stares through the window until someone snaps their fingers and brings her back to the real world.
In second grade, the comment on her report card read, "Carolyn writes nice stories." Since then, writing fiction has been her way of escaping into an exciting, dramatic dream world. While a young girl, one of her favorite ways of finding that escape was by reading Walter Farley's Black Stallion and Island Stallion books.
After graduating high school, she followed conventional advice and earned a degree in business administration. It seemed the logical thing to do since the want ads never had any listings for professional daydreamers. Drifting from one secretarial position to another, she tried to find job satisfaction, but it eluded her while working at the electric company, a catalog sales center, a juvenile detention center, and a men's maximum-security prison.
It was during a career-planning meeting at the prison where she worked that Carolyn finally acknowledged her heart's true desire: to write a novel. The guards and administrative staff laughed at her aspirations, but the next day a co-worker brought her a grocery bag stuffed full of Harlequin and Silhouette romances and encouraged her to try to write one. Carolyn was hooked by the first chapter of the first book she read, and immediately set out to write her own story using a familiar, though not necessarily romantic, setting.
Fortunately for readers everywhere, Prisoner of Love never sold. But she persevered, and 10 years later her first book was published, under a pseudonym, by Silhouette Romance. Kiss of Bliss, featuring a miniature horse as a comical secondary character, was her tribute to the enjoyment she'd found in Walter Farley's books.
Currently, Carolyn writes full-time in her basement office, the room commonly referred to as the Dungeon. She has a daughter in college and a son in high school. Neither child has expressed an interest in pursuing a writing career, but that's okay since they both manage to provide her with plenty of ideas for stories.
Her husband, a fire chief, also provides plenty of inspiration. In fact, he and Carolyn are a perfect example of "opposites attract." She's the easygoing one, approaching life in a scattered sort of way; he's hard-driven and logical. Her most famous ancestor burned Atlanta during the Civil War; his most famous ancestor — a Richmond, Virginia, fire chief — died in the line of duty just before World War I. As Carolyn often teases her husband, she lights fires and he puts them out.
In her spare time, Carolyn plays with the family's two dogs and two parakeets and watches romantic comedy movies (research, you know). Or she just zones out and stares through the window until someone snaps their fingers and brings her back to the real world.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 9, 2021
I had said that I'd read all of this series I could find, but then I found a couple more.
This was a light, gentle mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I knew why Ellen had her annual summer blues. Entirely too familiar to me.
I also knew who the birth mother was of the abandoned baby through most of the book.
It was still interesting to watch things unfold.
Favorite quotes:
"He [God] gives them [birds] that ability as a way to protect the whole flock. If one is disturbed about something, that bird's unrest also affects all the others." The same is true of people, which actually explains a lot of things.
"Abby was left to marvel at her sister's skill at smoothing over a potentially uncomfortable situation with grace, wit, and charm." More of us need that skill.
This was a light, gentle mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I knew why Ellen had her annual summer blues. Entirely too familiar to me.
I also knew who the birth mother was of the abandoned baby through most of the book.
It was still interesting to watch things unfold.
Favorite quotes:
"He [God] gives them [birds] that ability as a way to protect the whole flock. If one is disturbed about something, that bird's unrest also affects all the others." The same is true of people, which actually explains a lot of things.
"Abby was left to marvel at her sister's skill at smoothing over a potentially uncomfortable situation with grace, wit, and charm." More of us need that skill.
October 9, 2022
A friend (ACC) has sent me a number of books from this series--most recently this one and one other from the series. I find it a comforting series. The Stanton family has a gentleness that is refreshing to behold.
In this book, Ellen Stanton discovers a baby left at the Senior Center.
I suspected what changed Ellen Stanton's mood each year before it was revealed. I also suspected who Moses's mother was before it was revealed. I also suspected how the bird sightings would turn out.
It was nice to learn more about Terza Choi after reading about her in so many of the series novels.
In this book, Ellen Stanton discovers a baby left at the Senior Center.
I suspected what changed Ellen Stanton's mood each year before it was revealed. I also suspected who Moses's mother was before it was revealed. I also suspected how the bird sightings would turn out.
It was nice to learn more about Terza Choi after reading about her in so many of the series novels.
January 15, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. Though I had guessed one part of the mystery correctly right from the beginning, there were many other facets that kept me guessing til the end. One of my favourites of the series so far.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews