Avalon

by Gina Miani

Avalon is a little town on the Jersey Shore named for an ancient land in the tales of King Arthur. It is a story of love and loss, of betrayal and forgiveness, mirroring the famous legend. Mariah, brought back to the town after a long absence in order to save her family's crumbling Victorian, is forced to confront her past and unravel a mystery that has haunted her since she left in 1978.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2012

About the author

I worked for the US Army in Germany for several years, which gave me an interest in warfare and European history. Once married and living in central PA with nothing to do, I set out to write a medieval war story, which twenty years later became The Hammer of God. Summers at the Jersey Shore led me to write Avalon, a "beach book" quite different from Hammer. Currently I am writing YA Supernatural novels (under the name Gina Detwiler) called "The Forlorn Series." I also co-wrote The Prince Warriors, a middle-grade Christian fantasy series with the bestselling author and speaker Priscilla Shirer. Perhaps I suffer from "Multiple Genre Disorder." I live in Buffalo, New York with my husband and three daughters.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous beach read. Had me hooked on the story line and characters. I learned a lot about the town of Avalon. A few well-crafted twists!! I’ll pick up the next book by this author! Highly enjoyable.

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a somewhat light and breezy beach-type read that came as a total breath of fresh air after finishing This totally wonderful but exhausting trilogy. I am not usually a lover of "chick lit" or women's fiction, but now and then I will admit I find books of this genre to be escapist and fun, and Avalon was no exception.

The plot involves a recently widowed forty-ish woman who decides to come home to her roots in Avalon, New Jersey with her teenaged daughter to fix up her ancestral home. Consumed by debt, mixed emotions, and feelings of nostalgia, Mariah arrives in Avalon with plenty of memories to keep her company and reconnects unexpectedly with an old friend/love interest named Trey who helps her fix up her fixer-upper of a beach house. The current plot alternates with that of of a fateful summer in Avalon, Mariah's last summer in Avalon, in which Mariah, Trey, and Mariah's late husband Jack are all characters. Mariah finds that in order to move forward, she has to deal with the events of that summer and the consequences, relationships, and events which follow.

Though I found it a bit predictable, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. There is a little bit of romance thrown in the mix, but the romantic cynic did not rear her ugly head for this one, for a couple of reasons. First of all, the romance did not drive the plot, which I appreciated. It was more of an afterthought, and in no way felt forced or cliche. I also thought the romance was very realistically portrayed. All characters involved were flawed, and the fairy tale aspect of most chick lit was absent. The portrayal of Mariah's and Jack's marriage was very beautiful and touching, but not without flaw. I actually could relate a bit to Mariah both as a teenager when first meeting Jack, and then as an adult mourning his death. I understand what it's like to be totally consumed by a person and to live life for them and not yourself. The emotions Mariah deals with after his unexpected death are personal, intense, and ambiguous, and in this way, I think this author has done something not many authors have been able to do: allow me to relate to a romantic lead.

The thing I loved most about this novel was the setting. I have a relative who owns property at Stone Harbor, New Jersey, and I spent many summers on the Jersey shore as a child and younger teenager. I have many incredible memories from that time in my life, and Gina Miani's vivid depictions of the landscape, the atmosphere, and the setting itself took me right back there. The atmosphere and tone of the book was completely spot on and I felt like I was right there with Mariah and Trey and Jack walking on the beach, or catching an old movie at the pier. This novel made me realize how much I absolutely love the beach. Not only the ocean and the sand and the sun, but the entire culture of it. The people, the boardwalk, the shops, the food, the rundown bars that feel like home, the salty mist that invades your consciousness when you wake in the morning. She describes all these things so well it made me yearn to return to the Jersey Shore as well. I have always wanted to live at the beach full time, because even the off-season culture of the beach locals is one I enjoy very much. Reading Avalon rekindled that love for me.

Where I didn't think the novel was as successful were the parallels thrown in to the legend of King Arthur. A lot of them didn't seem to make much sense, and a lot of meaning was lost on me. I think I wanted there to either be more references thrown in to really show parallels in the storyline, or for the references to be thrown out completely. Also I think the story dragged a little in spots. It wasn't dull or anything, and I appreciated the way that the story took its time to unfold, but at times the plot was so slow I almost didn't feel compelled to keep reading. This was a solid three stars. It is a great beach read, or something light to read between more intense novels involving Lisbeth Salander. It was fun, entertaining, and interesting. I'm glad I read it.

[Gina Miani]

KIRKUS REVIEW

A woman returns to her childhood summer home in a melancholy and nostalgic love story to the Jersey shore of the 1970s.
From Kirkus Indie Reviews…

After the sudden death of her husband, Jack, Mariah returns to her grandfather’s run-down Victorian house in Avalon, a beach town that bears the name of an island in Arthurian legend, and brings her teenage daughter Caroline. Her rental agent begs her to sell the place, but Mariah calls in the new owner of her dad’s construction business to arrange for the repairs it badly needs. She is surprised to discover that he is her childhood friend Trey, daredevil lifeguard, Skee-Ball fanatic and part of the strange coming-of-age summer foursome that included the charismatic Jack and Rachel, the fragile society girl that he was dating. The story darts between generations, with action split between 2003 and a retelling of the events of 1978 from Mariah’s point of view. Within each segment, however, the past and present entwine as Mariah reminisces about hearing stories of King Arthur from her grandfather when the house was still a home, Caroline becomes drawn into the spirit of the seaside retreat even while resistant to its backwardness, and Rachel’s absence seems as palpable as her presence once was. Mariah and Trey, though both still adjusting to the recent deaths of their spouses, find that working together in Avalon rekindles an adult version of teenage emotions that never quite came to the surface. Miani’s (The Hammer, 2013, etc.) story is straightforward and simple, and its Arthurian references don’t delve deeply into magical realism. But there’s a dreamy feel to the talk of storms and romance, adolescence and adulthood, and ancient stories and second chances. And that mood fits well with the ideas raised: of ocean waves that soften what they touch but never erase it, of a place changed by time yet still somehow outside of time, and of connections that change but never disappear.

An emotional tale built of lightweight materials that has a surprising and satisfying depth.

[Sharon Claassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a perfect summer beach book. Gina writes beautifully and expresses heartfelt emotions well. The emotional conflict is relatable and the resolution is realistic. I highly recommend this book of you are looking for an uplifting read. Gina made me want to visit Avalon.

I see she has written a sequel, Antillia, and I am looking forward to reading it.

[T.L. Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I loved meeting Mariah and Trey and the rest of the characters - included the Pink Poodle - as much as I love the author. <3

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid beach read. Kind of predictable, but a nice easy beach read.

[Lynn Lubbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having spent several summers in Avalon, this read brought back so many memories. I think I may even remember the Pink house on 6th St. A lot has changed in that Cooler by a Mile paradise.

[Heather Balog · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of the Jersey shore, I read the blurb on this story and put it on my "to read" shelf. I was excited to receive a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveway and I hate to admit when I actually got the book in my hands, I felt a little disappointed. The cover left much to be desired and I have to say, had I encountered this book in a store or library, I would have never picked it up. Which, of course, would have been a big mistake. This book was wonderful, the storyline was intriguing and surprising, keeping me on my toes till the end. There were a few inconsistences in the story telling, but all in all, I loved it. I really think Ms. Miani has written a beautiful debut novel, but as a fellow self-published author I KNOW how fickle readers are. They are going to pass this gem by based on the cover. If she updates the cover and works on marketing, I feel this novel can go far!

[Eleanor Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting a great deal but was quickly caught up in this powerful, well-written, multi-layered story. Avalon is a real place on coastal New Jersey, but it takes on metaphorical importance with its references to King Arthur. The characters are gritty but well drawn and authentic. The plot moves easily between two time frames, and the setting is carefully--yea, artistically painted. Two summers, 25 years apart, are woven together seamlessly, with deep pain spanning both segments. Unexpected twists make this a solid, satisfying read.

[Antoinette Famiano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Anyone who has spend their summers on the Jersey Shore can relate to this book. I had trouble putting it down, I wanted to continue reading to see how the book ended. I would recommend it to anyone who wants and easy read with a great ending.