Water from Stone

by Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan

When it comes right down to it, what makes a family? Is it nature or nurture?

Prosecutor Jack Westfield has it all – a beautiful, loving wife, an exciting legal career, a child on the way. With so much going for him, his life is perfect. Until the morning of his biggest case yet. That day, Jack makes a mistake, one that costs him everything.

Artist Mar Delgado had it all – marriage to her childhood sweetheart, a successful career. She had never been happier, until the boat carrying her husband on a trip to dive with hammerhead sharks returns without him.

For four years, as his career tanks and his personal life is non-existent, Jack tries to make amends for his mistake the only way he can – by searching for and bringing home the child that was stolen from him.

Mar’s attempts at rebuilding her life after her husband’s death founder. She can no longer paint the coral reef paintings that she had been famous for because water terrifies her. She can no longer trust herself to love because the toll is too high. But then, in the most unexpected way, she is given a second chance.

Private Investigator Sy Colomanos has seen it all. Still, for him, finding the Westfield baby is personal. For years, he follows the kidnapper’s convoluted trail across the country searching for the one clue that will help bring young Mia home. When the trail dead ends at Mar’s door, however, all hell breaks loose as the question becomes, what makes a family?

Genres: Ebooks

404 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2013

About the author

I grew up in Puerto Rico during the 1970's when helicopter parents did not exist and when kids did a lot of the raising up of themselves.

We surfed, we swam, we scuba-dived and boated. We explored caves and rode natural slides carved through plunging mountainsides by tropical rain forest rivers. We slept to the rhythm of the waves meeting the shore just one hundred feet from our windows.

It was a crazy, wild, idyllic growing up.

Along my way, I have worked in the spa industry (as one of the first spa directors in the US, and as Ritz-Carlton's first) and find that that atmosphere suits me very well.

About seven years ago, I left the tropics, after 27-years in PR, and more in Mexico and Hawaii, and moved to New Hampshire to meet back up again with the man whom I dated all through college and who, but for two people who are too stubborn for their own good, would have married way back when.

A change of place allowed me to re-think my path. After finishing my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, I decided to take the opportunity of a new beginning to dedicate myself to my two (non-human or dog) loves: writing and painting.

I'd been selling my paintings for more than a decade before recognizing that I could pair them with stories to create "adult picture books," like my 2012-released book, The Complication of Sisters.

In 2011, I opened Madaket Lane Publishers, an independent boutique publishing agency where I can work one-on-one with authors and illustrators to bring distinct voices and compelling stories to life.

Though I miss the warmth and the sound of the sea, life is very, very good. I am reminded of the saying, "Happiness is not getting what you want, it is wanting what you've got." By that measure, I am the happiest woman on Earth.

To learn more about my books and to see more of my artwork, please visit my shops and websites:


The Essential eBooker - a site for indie authors.

Madaket Lane Publishers - an independent boutique publishing agency.

Katherine Mariaca Art

Madaket Lane

Taken Literally

Katherine Mariaca, Artist & Author

Reviews

[Kathe Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this and highly recommend it. . . fast paced and well written with a plot that engaged me from page 1. Enjoyed it so much that have added her newest The Stages of Grace. 4.7

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please check out my full 4 star review here
http://trinastantilisingtidbits.blogs...


I was given the chance to read review Water From Stone by the author, and what a terrific book it was.

Unfortunately my kindle version from Amazon completely stopped at 48% and after two downloads that were not successful, I had to stop.

I would so love to complete the story officially, unofficially I have worked out in my head how I would like it to carry out, so ill have to see if I am correct at a later date.

Jack Westfield had it all one minute, The perfect successful career the perfect wife, they were expecting their first child Mia, great apartment, nothing could be said against him.
He was a Legal Prosecutor, and a very good one at that.

But..........

On one fateful morning that all changes, Lindsey goes into labour, jack has forgotten to send the town car back for her and she takes a cab to the hospital, they unfortunately have a crash on the way, and Jack is forces into making the biggest decision of his life, saving Lindsey or Mia.

He knew Lindsey that well that he knew that if he asked her what she would of wanted she would of said save Mia, end of story.

So the decision was made......................and then she was kidnapped, and four year of jacks life goes by in the never ending search for his little Mia.

Mar comes into the story as a Foster Mother for Elizabeth, who has been abandoned by a woman druggy, who dies leaving Mia asleep beside her while she starts to rot after her complete drug overdose.

She is one lucky girl, Mar never knew Lizzie's background more than she was abandoned, but after 3 years the bound between them makes them totally inseparable.

Mar just starts to rebuild her life after her husband was killed in shark infested waters and although the nightmares will take over her mind, body and soul, Lizzie is what holds her together, and gives her something to finally live for and to complete her dream of becoming once again a successful artist.

This for me is where the story ended, and like I said above I would of loved to of found out the ending, but I will revisit it another time.

4 stars from me

[Deb Ristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best advice I can give you before starting this book is to make sure that you start this book on a day when you have lots of time because once you start reading, you will not want to put it down. I started reading this on a Sunday morning and was so engrossed in it that when I finished it, realized that I had spent the whole day reading. I was lucky enough to receive this book as first reads giveaway and it truly is a wonderful story. The story line raises the question of what makes a parent- the person that raises you or the biological parent. What I loved so much about this story is all of the stories within the story. Chapters are told from different perspectives but not necessarily alternating for every chapter. As one reads about the heartache from one character, the next chapter allows the reader to share in the joy of the next character. The author engulfs the reader so that one becomes entirely invested in each character. This story kept me on an emotional roller coaster ride so that by the end of the story, I truly fell exhausted but fulfilled. Truly a wonderful book- definitely one of my favorites.

[Minette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Water from Stone is a book about family. A lovely, easy, suspenseful, riveting but very sad read without being too predicable. I just didn't want it to end! The story held me from the beginning to the end. Jack and Mar are bound together by the life of a child. Jack, a lawyer, and happily married, soon to be father has his world turned upside down. Mar, who has suffered through more tragedies than anyone ever should, has found a reason to open her heart again. Mariaca-Sullivan has created a well-crafted story, original with an unpredictable ending. There are flaws, some bad language here and there but certainly didn't spoil it for me in fact I felt it added to the authenticity of the story during the scenes where bad language is used. You are going to need lots of tissues as it is heart breaking at times. This is a well-written story, good character development and hard to put down. 4.5 stars from me

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this book by the author, Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan, and I am so glad because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of her books - great author!

I found myself completely immersed in this book right from the beginning. I felt as if I knew the characters - not just Mar and Jack, but all the others. I was rooting for everyone to win - well, everyone, except Caroline! Every good story has to have a villain, right? This book will keep you up past your bedtime to find out what happens next! And just when you think you've figured it out, don't be too sure.

[Jessica Tornese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly an emotional roller coaster. The story is rich in character development, vivid imagery, and true, genuine relationships. I loved the characters and the way the two stories were woven together. The author did a tremendous job giving honest reflections of raw emotion, giving believable interactions and conversations within the characters. This story dealt with so many sad issues, but yet, gives the reader hope and the belief in morality and choosing what is right over the "law". What a difficult and thought provoking journey! Very well-written. I will be reading more from this author!

[Hlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH!!! I can't believe how wonderful this book was. It was great, so emotional and full of everything a good book has. From the very first few pages, I was hooked and I just couldn't get enough. This was thoughtfully written and great characters. It makes you ponder the exact premise of the story. I was thinking about it hours after reading it. With Mar going through so much turmoil and sadness in her life, along with Jack and losing all he did, I was so relieved how the ending played out. I was looking for a book like this for a long time, to make me feel something and how this book was very thought provoking and real. I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book after dinner and 313 pages later, at 1 am, I was very upset when my eyes refused to continue to stay open. This is a page-turner, a great story that starts off with a bang and takes you on an emotional roller-coaster until its satisfying ending. The characters and dialogue are great, as is the great detail and beautiful language the author uses to bring it all to life.

[Robin Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads, and I must say, I am so glad I did!! By the time I was halfway through it, I did not want to put it down. The chapters were quick and concise. The characters were very real and drew me in completely. I am a hairdresser and discuss books with a lot of customers. I will certainly recommend this author!!

[Debbie Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed, I cried, parts were heartbreaking.

The story and characters were very believable and likeable

Water From Stone is a must read

[Jackie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - review pending

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall entertaining read. This one took me a little bit to get into but once I did it was a pretty emotional read. Very quick read as well. The reason I'm giving this 3 stars and not 4 is that while the characters were well defined and likable (except for Caroline that is) the, for lack of a better word, the flow of the novel didn't always fit. I guess what I'm saying is that I just didn't see why there had to be a random crude sex scene for each of the main characters about half way thru. I mean, I get that these are turning points in overcoming their pasts but it was like all of a sudden I went from reading an emotional story about struggling to survive after the loss of loved ones to a scene straight out of a smutty romance novel. Totally thru me off as I remember none of that from the other book of Katherine's that I read (The Stages of Grace). And while I have nothing against romance novels, I like to be aware that that's the type of book I'm reading. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and in my opinion these were just very crudely written and the way these scenes were written didn't match up with the rest of the writing. Almost like someone else wrote them.

On the plus side the intertwining of the 2 character's lives and seeing how their stories merge together at the end is fascinating. The attention to detail and the author's ability to make you really feel their emotions in the last parts during the trial are just...well, you feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster, especially when the judge gives his verdict. Very fitting ending. Although if I were to change anything I'd have had Jack fire Caroline. I really did not like that lady, but I don't think readers are supposed to...so that's a good thing.

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Water From Stone. It is written by Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan. It takes place in Colorado and New York. It's about two different people living in two different places who both lose their spouse due to horrible accidents. One of them is fighting to keep custody of their child, and the others child is kidnapped while their spouse is in the hospital fighting their life. The rest of the book goes into both of their stories and the people involved in their lives.

I wound up loving this book very much. It was very suspenseful and kept me on the edge til the very end. I was rooting for everybody involved. I even rooted for both of them when I was conflicted on some things. I can't give too much away, but I was hoping that something else would have happened. I do love how they leave a certain amount of points open to interpretation. Only in very few cases is this acceptable, and this was one of those cases.

There were a few points that I did not like about this book. I was very confused at the beginning. I feel that maybe they should have been more specific on the time framing. Other than the confusing beginning, I really didn't have any problems with this book. It was very well written. I was surprised I wound up liking it.

I fully recommend this book to anybody who likes to read dramatic books that keep you in suspense until the very end. It's nothing supernatural. It is just a typical every day dramatic and moving story. It is impossible to read this book and not be moved or touched by it. Possibly even both.

[Brian O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

If You Have Tears, Prepare To Shed Them Now


Water from Stone by Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan is not normally the type of book I would buy but I came across it by accident and I absolutely loved it. The writing was so good that there were times I wanted to just stop and admire Katherine’s way with words but I could not resist the pull of the story and kept speeding onwards. Katherine has many skills among which are sharp observation of human behaviour and a natural gift for story-telling which results in superbly crafted characters and very real dialogue.

It is fairly clear from the beginning that Mar and Jack were destined to meet but the manner in which the story unfolds, the corners and twists and turns each has to go through before they get together is utterly absorbing.

I was also impressed by the subtle way in which the various back-stories were introduced and told. The shark attack at the beginning is told in a strangely restrained, almost emotionless way yet still conveys the full horror of the event. That’s not to say that this book does not grab the emotions. Some of the other back-stories would break your heart and the climactic scenes are nerve-jangling and tear-jerking. At this point the reader is pulled through an emotional wringer that almost leaves him or her gasping for air.

All I can say to finish is that I would advise the reader of Water from Stone to have a box of Kleenex handy, especially as the climax unfolds.. You’ll probably need most of it. A truly wonderful story.

[Gatore Lovere]

The powerful sweep and reverberation of events in Water From Stone, pulled me under from the first page and would not let me go. Ordinarily I prefer to read novels in one or two long uninterrupted sittings, but circumstances required that I take this one a few chapters at a time. In between readings, the story just kept living and breathing in my mind. I felt the characters where I had left them. I worried and wondered and queried about them. As two unimaginable and unrelated tragedies slowly intertwined the lives of Jack and Mar, I felt myself free-falling with them into the parallel chaos of their struggles and transformations. Katherine Mariaca Sullivan explores her characters's journeys with a vivid and tactile complexity. And her imagery (like Mar's), is impassioned and painterly, nuanced and dimensional. I loved the journey - every word, every minute!!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story that tugged at the heart-strings. The two main characters have both been through tragedy in their lives. They each try to deal with it, and get on with life. The story continues as Mar and Jack have to learn to re-group and continue on. There are some decisions, and learning to do what is best for a young child. The contempory way the book is written has funny, sad, and emotional times and is always interesting. I recommend this book, and I look forward to another one by this author. This author let me have a free copy on my kindle, and I was so glad and enjoyed it very much. Thank you.

[Edward Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written story that starts out with the bad of life and how two different people got to where they are now.

You will be rooting for the main characters (Mar and Jack) and if you think you know what happens...you don't! You will be kept guessing throughout.

Really a great read, especially for a debut novel (would not have guessed that!). Keep this author in mind for your next read as well.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I first starting reading this story, I was a bit confused. There seemed to be multiple stories happening and I couldn't quite understand how they were going to connect, or if they even would. That did not last long. With jaw-dropping suspense, it quickly unravelled. I also loved the quick cuts between chapters; not long and drawn out. Two thumbs up to Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan! BRAVO!

[Christina Fohner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gripped me from the first page! The author immediately drew me into the lives of the two main characters and I felt like I was within their story. Have tissues handy bc this book will bring you to tears. I started recommending it to my friends from the very first chapter! I will be sure to read the others books by Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan.

[Callie Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of heart and soul. Well thought out and clearly expressed, this book is a great addition to any book lover's collection. The characters are easy to love and you can't help but to root for them.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book. This book captured my interest on page one and held it until the last page. Emotion filled. Intense at times. A true page turner. When you start it be prepared to spend a few hours because you will not want to put it down once you start it.

[Beatriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Just finished the novel, it was an awesome story. Water from Stone was well written easy to follow, I specially liked each chapter was a different characters side of the plot. Will be recommending the book to my family and friends.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

From despair to unbelievable riches

As I started to read this novel, I was unsure of how and where it would go. I got involved in the plot and found it very hard to put down. Enjoyed the story very much and would read it again. Recommend reading this.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very involved with the characters. I didn't want to put the book down.

[Katherine Mariaca-Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it, it resonates with me. But then, I'm the author.

[Nancy Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Great beach read!

[Cass Briles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

heart
a great book,with sadness joy,true friendships,love,family, and a little sex
x

fun read for for all










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[Chrissy Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg!

This book had me from the first paragraph. wonderful story line. remarkable characters. Couldn't put it down. cried laughed and cried more! keep them coming!

[Carla Elicker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Couldn't put it down! Gut wrenching at times wish the ending would have been a little more detailed but other than that it was a great story

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible!! I had no idea what to expect when I started this book and what a surprise it was. Fantastic story, great characters and story that just flowed so freely. Absolutely loved I!