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Skipping Stones
Could coming home to the town you longed to leave be just what you need?
Friends since they learned to skip stones on the shore of Silver Lake, Linney and Derek turn dreams of leaving their small town behind into reality and experience both passionate love and great careers–Linney plies her trade as a journalist in London and Derek fights for the rights of the disadvantaged as a lawyer in Toronto. Halfway around the world from each other, they continue to share confidences, celebrate each other’s successes and shore each other up when life gives them lemons instead of lemonade. From time to time, Linney visits, but their lives are in very different places.
Everything seems perfect, but when their carefully planned lives come crashing down, Silver Lake calls them both home and they begin to rebuild in the small town that they once rushed to escape. The town has changed. Or maybe they have. And is it possible that after a lifetime of friendship, something more is in store for Linney and Derek?
Friends since they learned to skip stones on the shore of Silver Lake, Linney and Derek turn dreams of leaving their small town behind into reality and experience both passionate love and great careers–Linney plies her trade as a journalist in London and Derek fights for the rights of the disadvantaged as a lawyer in Toronto. Halfway around the world from each other, they continue to share confidences, celebrate each other’s successes and shore each other up when life gives them lemons instead of lemonade. From time to time, Linney visits, but their lives are in very different places.
Everything seems perfect, but when their carefully planned lives come crashing down, Silver Lake calls them both home and they begin to rebuild in the small town that they once rushed to escape. The town has changed. Or maybe they have. And is it possible that after a lifetime of friendship, something more is in store for Linney and Derek?
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2024
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Ward
2 books15 followersKatherine Ward was twelve years old when she won her first writing competition but took a long detour in corporate communications before telling stories of her own. In a case of life imitating art, Katherine and her husband split their time between the bright lights of Toronto and a quiet little Ontario lake town.
When she’s not at work on her next novel or belting out show tunes in the car, Katherine loves to garden, travel and walk/hike at home and around the world.
You can find more about Katherine on her website (https:\\katherineward.ca) or on social media platforms including Facebook (Katherine Ward Author) and Instagram (@katherinewardauthor).
When she’s not at work on her next novel or belting out show tunes in the car, Katherine loves to garden, travel and walk/hike at home and around the world.
You can find more about Katherine on her website (https:\\katherineward.ca) or on social media platforms including Facebook (Katherine Ward Author) and Instagram (@katherinewardauthor).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 23, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book .... Couldn't put it down. Loved how Derek's and Linny's relationship developed. Liked the small town feel and the dynamics of the friendships. It was a fun read.
November 21, 2024
Light hearted easy read, would be perfect for summer vacation! Leaves you feeling happy, who wouldn’t want that?! Well done Katherine!
August 21, 2024
Have read both of your books now after hearing about you as connected to Bobcaygeon! Loved them both but can’t wait to read more about Silver Lake !
August 31, 2024
I can't wait to read the next Silver Lake story and see what's next for the characters!
February 6, 2026
Skipping Stones by Katherine Ward is a thoughtful, emotionally grounded story about friendship, ambition, and the quiet pull of home. From the very beginning, the lifelong bond between Linney and Derek feels authentic, built on shared history, trust, and years of being there for each other even when life carries them in different directions.
What stood out most to me was how realistic the characters felt. Linney and Derek both achieve the lives they once dreamed of, yet Ward shows that success doesn’t automatically bring fulfillment. Their long-distance friendship, filled with honest conversations and mutual support, mirrors the way many adult relationships evolve over time. It’s tender without being overly dramatic, and that restraint makes the emotional moments land even harder.
When circumstances draw them back to Silver Lake, the story shifts into something quietly powerful. The town itself feels like a character, familiar, changed, and layered with memories. Ward beautifully captures that strange mix of nostalgia and discomfort that comes with returning to a place you once couldn’t wait to leave.
The slow burn transition from friendship to something deeper is handled with care and patience. It never feels rushed or forced, just earned. Skipping Stones is a gentle, heartfelt read that explores how love can grow in unexpected ways and how sometimes coming home is exactly what you didn’t know you needed.
What stood out most to me was how realistic the characters felt. Linney and Derek both achieve the lives they once dreamed of, yet Ward shows that success doesn’t automatically bring fulfillment. Their long-distance friendship, filled with honest conversations and mutual support, mirrors the way many adult relationships evolve over time. It’s tender without being overly dramatic, and that restraint makes the emotional moments land even harder.
When circumstances draw them back to Silver Lake, the story shifts into something quietly powerful. The town itself feels like a character, familiar, changed, and layered with memories. Ward beautifully captures that strange mix of nostalgia and discomfort that comes with returning to a place you once couldn’t wait to leave.
The slow burn transition from friendship to something deeper is handled with care and patience. It never feels rushed or forced, just earned. Skipping Stones is a gentle, heartfelt read that explores how love can grow in unexpected ways and how sometimes coming home is exactly what you didn’t know you needed.
October 23, 2025
Katherine Ward’s Skipping Stones is a beautifully layered novel that captures the quiet ache of coming home both to a place and to oneself. Through Linney and Derek’s lifelong connection, Ward explores how love, friendship, and purpose evolve as we chase dreams and face the inevitable detours of adulthood.
The novel shines in its emotional honesty. Linney’s journalistic ambition and Derek’s devotion to justice feel vivid and real, yet it’s their shared past by the waters of Silver Lake that gives the story its beating heart. When fate brings them back to the town they once fled, Ward doesn’t offer easy answers she offers healing. Each chapter ripples with nostalgia, forgiveness, and the rediscovery of what truly matters.
With prose that’s both tender and quietly powerful, Skipping Stones invites readers to reflect on the ties that anchor us through change. It’s a love story, yes, but also a story of identity, resilience, and the courage to begin again. Ward reminds us that sometimes, the path to the future begins by retracing the steps that first taught us how to hope.
The novel shines in its emotional honesty. Linney’s journalistic ambition and Derek’s devotion to justice feel vivid and real, yet it’s their shared past by the waters of Silver Lake that gives the story its beating heart. When fate brings them back to the town they once fled, Ward doesn’t offer easy answers she offers healing. Each chapter ripples with nostalgia, forgiveness, and the rediscovery of what truly matters.
With prose that’s both tender and quietly powerful, Skipping Stones invites readers to reflect on the ties that anchor us through change. It’s a love story, yes, but also a story of identity, resilience, and the courage to begin again. Ward reminds us that sometimes, the path to the future begins by retracing the steps that first taught us how to hope.
December 24, 2024
A nice book, well-written and comforting. I would have liked to delve a bit deeper into the characters themselves, and I would have enjoyed an exploration or some more flashbacks of Linney and Derek growing up together. Although I enjoyed the speed at which we travelled through their lives I found it felt a bit like skimming from time to time.
That said, I cared for the characters and found myself rooting for them. I also never found myself bored while reading this, so A+ right there! As someone who lived in Toronto, loves visiting London, and spent many summers in the Kawarthas, this was an appealing read for me.
That said, I cared for the characters and found myself rooting for them. I also never found myself bored while reading this, so A+ right there! As someone who lived in Toronto, loves visiting London, and spent many summers in the Kawarthas, this was an appealing read for me.
December 16, 2025
This is a tender, character-driven story about friendship, love, and the pull of home. Linney and Derek’s lifelong bond, shaped by shared childhood memories and years of long-distance support, feels genuine and deeply rooted. Their successful but separate lives add emotional complexity rather than glamour.
When circumstances draw them back to Silver Lake, the novel shines in its exploration of change, second chances, and the possibility of love growing from long friendship. Gentle, reflective, and quietly romantic, it’s a satisfying read for anyone who believes coming home can reveal what was there all along
When circumstances draw them back to Silver Lake, the novel shines in its exploration of change, second chances, and the possibility of love growing from long friendship. Gentle, reflective, and quietly romantic, it’s a satisfying read for anyone who believes coming home can reveal what was there all along
February 8, 2026
This book is a beautifully written friends to lovers story about timing, growth, and the pull of home. Linney and Derek’s lifelong friendship felt authentic and emotionally layered, especially as their careers take them far from Silver Lake. I loved how the author explored ambition, distance, and the quiet ways people stay connected over time. Returning home didn’t feel cliché it felt earned, reflective, and deeply human. The small town setting added warmth, while the slow realization that friendship could become something more was handled with tenderness. A heartfelt, character-driven romance that lingers after the final page.
March 6, 2026
Skipping Stones by Katherine Ward is a heartfelt story about friendship, life choices, and finding your way back home. I really enjoyed following Linney and Derek as their lives took them to different parts of the world, yet their connection always remained strong.
The return to Silver Lake was especially touching. It shows how much people can grow and how the places we once wanted to escape can sometimes become exactly what we need. The slow evolution of their relationship felt natural and sincere.
Overall, it’s a warm, reflective read about second chances, lasting friendship, and rediscovering what truly matters.
The return to Silver Lake was especially touching. It shows how much people can grow and how the places we once wanted to escape can sometimes become exactly what we need. The slow evolution of their relationship felt natural and sincere.
Overall, it’s a warm, reflective read about second chances, lasting friendship, and rediscovering what truly matters.
September 11, 2024
I’m already excited for more novels in the Silver Lake seasons.
This is s really good read of friends and friendships and life’s issues.
It’s so exciting that there will be more novels.
Cannot wait!!!!
This is s really good read of friends and friendships and life’s issues.
It’s so exciting that there will be more novels.
Cannot wait!!!!
September 19, 2024
Great summer read. Easy to read and a page turner perfect for a read on the deck/dock/porch or where ever your happy peaceful place may be. Thank you for the story - looking forward to another
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews