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Safe Harbor
They'd always be the best of friends.
When it came to things that made summer special, Block Island was right up there with sea breezes and honeysuckle. And, for Shelley Ballard, so was Kip Stroud.
When Shelly and Kip were seven they tramped through the sand dunes and explored hidden coves. And Shelley called Kip "friend."
When they were fifteen they talked about sex and practiced French kissing. And Shelley called him a "man."
When she was twenty-seven they talked about the old days and, in a moment of abandon, created a new life...And Shelley called him "the father of her baby."
Now, at thirty, they set up a household together on their precious Block Island and raise their son...But can Shelley ever call him "husband?"
When it came to things that made summer special, Block Island was right up there with sea breezes and honeysuckle. And, for Shelley Ballard, so was Kip Stroud.
When Shelly and Kip were seven they tramped through the sand dunes and explored hidden coves. And Shelley called Kip "friend."
When they were fifteen they talked about sex and practiced French kissing. And Shelley called him a "man."
When she was twenty-seven they talked about the old days and, in a moment of abandon, created a new life...And Shelley called him "the father of her baby."
Now, at thirty, they set up a household together on their precious Block Island and raise their son...But can Shelley ever call him "husband?"
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
154 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Judith Arnold
183 books173 followersBarbara Keiler
aka Ariel Berk, Thea Frederick, Judith Arnold
Barbara Keiler was born on April 7th. She started telling stories before shecould write. She was four when her sister, Carolyn, stuffed a crayon intoher hand and taught her the alphabet, and she's been writing ever since.
Barbara is a graduate of Smith College, where she learned to aim for thestars, and she received a master's degree in creative writing from BrownUniversity, where she took aim at a good-looking graduate student in thechemistry department and wound up marrying him. She says: "Before myhusband and I were married, I had a job in California and he was working onhis Ph.D. in Rhode Island. I became ill, and he hopped on a plane and flewacross the country to be with me. Neither of us had any money, but he saidhe simply couldn't concentrate on his research, knowing I was three thousandmiles away and facing a serious health problem all by myself. He stayed fortwo weeks, until I was pretty well recovered. That he would just drop whathe was doing, put his life on hold and race to my side told me how much heloved me. After that, I knew this was the man I wanted to marry."
Barbara has received writing fellowships from the Shubert Foundation and theNational Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at colleges and universitiesaround the country. She has also written several plays that have beenprofessionally staged at regional theaters in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,Connecticut and off-off-Broadway.
Since her first romance novel's publication in 1983 as Ariel Berk. Shewrote one novel as Thea Frederick, and since 1985 she writes asJudith Arnold. Barbara has sold more than 70 novels, with eight millioncopies in print worldwide. She has recently signed a contract with MIRABooks. Her first MIRA novel will appear in 2001. She has received severalawards from Romantic Times Magazine, including awards for the Best HarlequinAmerican Romance of the Year, Best Harlequin Superromance of the Year, BestSeries Romantic Novel of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Certificate ofMerit for Innovative Series Romance. She has also been a finalist for theGolden Medallion Award and the RITA Award for Romance Writer of America. Hernovel Barefoot in the Grass has appeared on the recommended reading listsdistributed by cancer support services at several hospitals.
Barbara lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts, New England with her husband, two teenage sons, and a guinea pig named Wilbur. Her sister Carolyn died of breast cancer in 1998.
aka Ariel Berk, Thea Frederick, Judith Arnold
Barbara Keiler was born on April 7th. She started telling stories before shecould write. She was four when her sister, Carolyn, stuffed a crayon intoher hand and taught her the alphabet, and she's been writing ever since.
Barbara is a graduate of Smith College, where she learned to aim for thestars, and she received a master's degree in creative writing from BrownUniversity, where she took aim at a good-looking graduate student in thechemistry department and wound up marrying him. She says: "Before myhusband and I were married, I had a job in California and he was working onhis Ph.D. in Rhode Island. I became ill, and he hopped on a plane and flewacross the country to be with me. Neither of us had any money, but he saidhe simply couldn't concentrate on his research, knowing I was three thousandmiles away and facing a serious health problem all by myself. He stayed fortwo weeks, until I was pretty well recovered. That he would just drop whathe was doing, put his life on hold and race to my side told me how much heloved me. After that, I knew this was the man I wanted to marry."
Barbara has received writing fellowships from the Shubert Foundation and theNational Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at colleges and universitiesaround the country. She has also written several plays that have beenprofessionally staged at regional theaters in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,Connecticut and off-off-Broadway.
Since her first romance novel's publication in 1983 as Ariel Berk. Shewrote one novel as Thea Frederick, and since 1985 she writes asJudith Arnold. Barbara has sold more than 70 novels, with eight millioncopies in print worldwide. She has recently signed a contract with MIRABooks. Her first MIRA novel will appear in 2001. She has received severalawards from Romantic Times Magazine, including awards for the Best HarlequinAmerican Romance of the Year, Best Harlequin Superromance of the Year, BestSeries Romantic Novel of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Certificate ofMerit for Innovative Series Romance. She has also been a finalist for theGolden Medallion Award and the RITA Award for Romance Writer of America. Hernovel Barefoot in the Grass has appeared on the recommended reading listsdistributed by cancer support services at several hospitals.
Barbara lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts, New England with her husband, two teenage sons, and a guinea pig named Wilbur. Her sister Carolyn died of breast cancer in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 1, 2013
This is not the type of romance I would have normally chosen to read, and it was actually quite by accident that I began this one. I downloaded it a while back when it was a freebie on Amazon. I had been scrolling through my archive list in the Kindle for iPhone when I accidentally touched this one and downloaded it to my phone. When I went to go move it back to the archive, I decided to open it instead and read the first few lines. It had me hooked from the first page.
The first third of the book takes place when the two leads, Kip Stroud and Shelley Ballard are 15. We get a lot of back story about how they had been best friends, as close as two friends can be, since they were 8 years old and met on Block Island, which I've found out, after researching a bit, is a real island off the coast of Rhode Island. The majority of the book takes place on Block Island, and there are many details about the place.
The two characters' families both have summer homes on the Island, and although they do not communicate throughout the rest of the year, each summer when their respective families return to the Island they are inseparable. At 15, the two teenagers are just beginning to get those first tingly hormonal sensations teenagers get when they notice the opposite sex, and they share a pretty steamy kiss just before they are unwillingly separated for many years.
The rest of the book takes place more than a decade later when another tragedy brings Kip back to the Island, only to find that Shelley moved there permanently a few years earlier. Ergo they are brought back together, this time as adults, where they renew their friendship and all of those old childhood lovey feelings are thrust back to the surface.
This book was very sweet. Good sweet, NOT treacly, and not 'squeaky clean' either (there are two sex scenes). It is a tender story about two adults who have both known tragedy and hardship, and who cling to the memories of their carefree childhoods together. They have a deep, solid friendship upon which to build a true adult relationship.
It's not an easy sequence of events for the characters. They spend a lot of time grieving their pasts. Both characters have to overcome certain events in their lives that prevent them from getting and staying together.
I'm very glad I read this. I liked both the hero and heroine very much, and I really wanted them to be together, but they really didn't have an easy time of it.
One of the major issues I had was that I wished there had been a more thorough establishment of their history as childhood friends, and I wish that there had been more time spent on their budding attraction for one another as teenagers. They share one kiss at 15 before they are separated for 12 years, and I would have liked to have seen more of a developing relationship than just one kiss.
I wish the characters had been more forthright with one another about their feelings. They held back even at times when I didn't really feel that had any real reason to do so. But it did make for some great angst, making their ultimate HEA much sweeter.
But, overall, this was a great read. Great writing! Would recommend if you're in the mood for a sweet and tender romance with characters whose friendship turns into true love.
The first third of the book takes place when the two leads, Kip Stroud and Shelley Ballard are 15. We get a lot of back story about how they had been best friends, as close as two friends can be, since they were 8 years old and met on Block Island, which I've found out, after researching a bit, is a real island off the coast of Rhode Island. The majority of the book takes place on Block Island, and there are many details about the place.
The two characters' families both have summer homes on the Island, and although they do not communicate throughout the rest of the year, each summer when their respective families return to the Island they are inseparable. At 15, the two teenagers are just beginning to get those first tingly hormonal sensations teenagers get when they notice the opposite sex, and they share a pretty steamy kiss just before they are unwillingly separated for many years.
The rest of the book takes place more than a decade later when another tragedy brings Kip back to the Island, only to find that Shelley moved there permanently a few years earlier. Ergo they are brought back together, this time as adults, where they renew their friendship and all of those old childhood lovey feelings are thrust back to the surface.
This book was very sweet. Good sweet, NOT treacly, and not 'squeaky clean' either (there are two sex scenes). It is a tender story about two adults who have both known tragedy and hardship, and who cling to the memories of their carefree childhoods together. They have a deep, solid friendship upon which to build a true adult relationship.
It's not an easy sequence of events for the characters. They spend a lot of time grieving their pasts. Both characters have to overcome certain events in their lives that prevent them from getting and staying together.
I'm very glad I read this. I liked both the hero and heroine very much, and I really wanted them to be together, but they really didn't have an easy time of it.
One of the major issues I had was that I wished there had been a more thorough establishment of their history as childhood friends, and I wish that there had been more time spent on their budding attraction for one another as teenagers. They share one kiss at 15 before they are separated for 12 years, and I would have liked to have seen more of a developing relationship than just one kiss.
I wish the characters had been more forthright with one another about their feelings. They held back even at times when I didn't really feel that had any real reason to do so. But it did make for some great angst, making their ultimate HEA much sweeter.
But, overall, this was a great read. Great writing! Would recommend if you're in the mood for a sweet and tender romance with characters whose friendship turns into true love.
May 24, 2016
This is a story about two kids turned teenagers, Kip and Shelley who meet every year when their families come for summers to Block island. It is a beautiful exploration of their childhood friendship, which remains deep and abiding over the 8 years they meet during summers. They do and share everything together from cycling around the island, swimming, discussing and reading books, spying on Kip’s older sister and her boyfriend, and even learning to kiss with tongue and without bumping their noses.
The first segment is ..
The last summer the teenage h/H were together had some heart melting moments like when they kiss for the first time and then go to the library the next day and the young, newly aware Kip takes her arm....
“He had never taken her arm like that before. It was a curiously chivalrous gesture, not exactly romantic but not quite friendly, either. It was... protective. Possessive. She liked it.”
This younger h/H are so much more riveting and adorable.
It is a sensitive take on two teenagers transforming summer-by-summer and coming of age emotionally and sexually while remaining each other’s anchor- or Safe Harbor!
Highly recommended for that part certainly.
The adults' saga sadly lost me and only 1.5 stars for me.
November 17, 2016
First off, that page count must have included ads for various harlequin lines, copyright page, title, etc. What I read was 219 pages. Which brings me to this: someone on a forum asked a while back how many books were 3 star reads. I replied, "most of them". They were astonished. There are a lot of reasons a book might be a 3 star read - characters, plot, failure to connect with THAT reader, or in this case, ambition coupled with limited page count and delusions of grandeur regarding skill of the writer.
Simply put, this book was too short for what the author ambitiously tried (and failed obviously) to do.
It's divided into 3 parts. *3*. There's distant past, there's recent past, and there's present. And it needed about 50 more pages to work out the problems in present but was only given 6.
So...past. H/h are summer friends. They spend every summer running around on the island their respective parents migrate to (why isn't explained). No communication during the school year. They've both hit puberty. In addition to this sudden awkwardness, the h's father didn't come to the island this year, and the h is distressed about that. She and her mother abruptly leave one day - we find out why in part 2.
Recent past: H is now widowed, and in addition, traumatized. His wife was struck by a car at a crosswalk. He saw it happen. He comes to the island to escape well-meaning relatives' matchmaking attempts (can't blame him for that). The h now lives on the island and is a pharmacist. They run into each other and eventually she tells him what happened. Her father was a) having an affair and b) committing a white-collar crime known as embezzling. He got caught. Spent time in prison (for not reporting his ill-gotten gains on his taxes. Who'dathunk?) She has...issues...regarding men and relationships. A week or two go by, he's called to go back to work, and they...have sex. He leaves the next day. Over the course of the next 6 weeks, he does date someone and apparently gets a boner (lovely). She calls and informs him the stick changed colors and she's keeping it. End of part 2.
Present. It's been 2 years and 9 months. He gets the kid for weekends. Their former friendship has devolved into awkward polite strangers. He decides he wants more so moves back to the island and into the house with her. 2 weeks pass. Still polite, strange awkwardness. She gets a note from her father. He's dying and wants to see his grandchild. She reluctantly invites him over. He arrives. She can't cope and is actively avoiding him. 10 hours or so pass. H confronts her and tells her she's acting like a royal bitch, much angst. The next day, father leaves, and h asks H to sleep with her. He asks her to marry him - again (he's asked several times, she's given him an emphatic NO). She says yes.
I believe nothing. They spent nearly 3 years unable to communicate, the H didn't have the balls to ask her out, yet he calls her a bitch - because she hasn't had enough time really to process her father's sudden reappearing, then everything is right in their world? Right.
I can't imagine that ugly word ever disappearing once uttered. And there wasn't much of a relationship there to start with WITHOUT that. At the very least, there needed to be time for her and her father to come to an understanding. Forcing it, with name-calling no less, was not the way to go. And her remembering the distant past when he'd been her summer friend was a cop-out. Because just as she's had time to come to grips with her father (who, btw, blames it entirely on her mother, Asshole), she's also had time to move on past a childhood friendship. Trying to use that as a crutch, when they were never that close to begin with (really? you didn't keep in touch during the school year and you expect one to believe you're besties?) just didn't work.
Simply put, this book was too short for what the author ambitiously tried (and failed obviously) to do.
It's divided into 3 parts. *3*. There's distant past, there's recent past, and there's present. And it needed about 50 more pages to work out the problems in present but was only given 6.
So...past. H/h are summer friends. They spend every summer running around on the island their respective parents migrate to (why isn't explained). No communication during the school year. They've both hit puberty. In addition to this sudden awkwardness, the h's father didn't come to the island this year, and the h is distressed about that. She and her mother abruptly leave one day - we find out why in part 2.
Recent past: H is now widowed, and in addition, traumatized. His wife was struck by a car at a crosswalk. He saw it happen. He comes to the island to escape well-meaning relatives' matchmaking attempts (can't blame him for that). The h now lives on the island and is a pharmacist. They run into each other and eventually she tells him what happened. Her father was a) having an affair and b) committing a white-collar crime known as embezzling. He got caught. Spent time in prison (for not reporting his ill-gotten gains on his taxes. Who'dathunk?) She has...issues...regarding men and relationships. A week or two go by, he's called to go back to work, and they...have sex. He leaves the next day. Over the course of the next 6 weeks, he does date someone and apparently gets a boner (lovely). She calls and informs him the stick changed colors and she's keeping it. End of part 2.
Present. It's been 2 years and 9 months. He gets the kid for weekends. Their former friendship has devolved into awkward polite strangers. He decides he wants more so moves back to the island and into the house with her. 2 weeks pass. Still polite, strange awkwardness. She gets a note from her father. He's dying and wants to see his grandchild. She reluctantly invites him over. He arrives. She can't cope and is actively avoiding him. 10 hours or so pass. H confronts her and tells her she's acting like a royal bitch, much angst. The next day, father leaves, and h asks H to sleep with her. He asks her to marry him - again (he's asked several times, she's given him an emphatic NO). She says yes.
I believe nothing. They spent nearly 3 years unable to communicate, the H didn't have the balls to ask her out, yet he calls her a bitch - because she hasn't had enough time really to process her father's sudden reappearing, then everything is right in their world? Right.
I can't imagine that ugly word ever disappearing once uttered. And there wasn't much of a relationship there to start with WITHOUT that. At the very least, there needed to be time for her and her father to come to an understanding. Forcing it, with name-calling no less, was not the way to go. And her remembering the distant past when he'd been her summer friend was a cop-out. Because just as she's had time to come to grips with her father (who, btw, blames it entirely on her mother, Asshole), she's also had time to move on past a childhood friendship. Trying to use that as a crutch, when they were never that close to begin with (really? you didn't keep in touch during the school year and you expect one to believe you're besties?) just didn't work.
February 21, 2013
Shelly Ballard grows up going to the family beach house on Block Island with her parents each summer and spending time with her best friend a boy named Kip Stroud. Then one summer her father is too busy to join them on weekends. It all ends one day when her crying mother tells her they must return home with no explanation. Years later Shelly returns to Block Island and runs in to Kip who is now a grown man who has returned with his own tragedies. Can they help each other heal from wounds their hearts carry? What will become of their friendship that had ended so abruptly? Read “Safe Harbor” to find out. But first get a cup of coffee and curl up in your favorite reading spot because you will not want to put the book down until you have all the answers.
November 20, 2011
Kip and Shelly are childhood friends that summered on Block Island every year. Their friendship came to an abrupt stand still during their 15th year when Shelly's family undergoes a major overturn. She disappears without a trace and years later after Kips wife is killed he decides to go back to the Island for a little R & R and guess who is living there. The two of them resume their friendship and find each other as adults. Ok so it sounds like a cookie cutter romance but there was something very sweet and captivating about the story line. I really enjoyed this quick little read!
May 5, 2012
Lovely warm-hearted romance about friends-to-lovers, with a splash of pining-hero. I particularly liked how long a time-span the relationship has to build and evolve, and the fact that there were no cheesy tropes like Big Misunderstandings or secret babies. I'm definitely going to have to look for more of this author's backlist!
October 22, 2020
Coming Home
This book spanned many years and throughout the book, I had a sense that the people in the book had to come home to resolve issues in their lives. This is true for many people...there is a place that grounds the, and in this novel, Block Island was that place.
Lifelong friends, Shelley and Kip spent their summers on Block Island. They had that life that some of us only read about...The summer home where life is easy, breezy...but beneath the perfect life, it isn’t always so perfect.
Apart through their later teen and young adult years, Shelley and Kip reunited after both had gone through traumatic times. Their friendship was as strong as ever and they were still able to offer support needed by each.
To tell much more would give away too much. Towards the end of the story, lessons of love and forgiveness are learned. Often this comes with some age and appreciation of the little things in life.
This is a good story of ways life should be... coming full circle to a good conclusion.
This book spanned many years and throughout the book, I had a sense that the people in the book had to come home to resolve issues in their lives. This is true for many people...there is a place that grounds the, and in this novel, Block Island was that place.
Lifelong friends, Shelley and Kip spent their summers on Block Island. They had that life that some of us only read about...The summer home where life is easy, breezy...but beneath the perfect life, it isn’t always so perfect.
Apart through their later teen and young adult years, Shelley and Kip reunited after both had gone through traumatic times. Their friendship was as strong as ever and they were still able to offer support needed by each.
To tell much more would give away too much. Towards the end of the story, lessons of love and forgiveness are learned. Often this comes with some age and appreciation of the little things in life.
This is a good story of ways life should be... coming full circle to a good conclusion.
March 11, 2018
A Well-Written Book
“Safe Harbor” is a well-written book that will hold the readers’ interest to the last page. The main characters were best friends from their early teens through adulthood, although they were apart for a number of years. As the story progresses, the author does an excellent job showing the growth and maturity of the characters. The story line was captivating and for the most part, this reviewer enjoyed the book.
I gave the book a rating of 3 stars because there were several unexpected and unnecessary explicit sex scenes. Yes, I understand sex sells...books, clothes, cars...almost anything. But this book didn’t need those scenes to sell it. It was just that good.
“Safe Harbor” is a well-written book that will hold the readers’ interest to the last page. The main characters were best friends from their early teens through adulthood, although they were apart for a number of years. As the story progresses, the author does an excellent job showing the growth and maturity of the characters. The story line was captivating and for the most part, this reviewer enjoyed the book.
I gave the book a rating of 3 stars because there were several unexpected and unnecessary explicit sex scenes. Yes, I understand sex sells...books, clothes, cars...almost anything. But this book didn’t need those scenes to sell it. It was just that good.
September 13, 2017
fast and easy read...love story
December 2, 2020
Rounding up to 3.5 stars
January 11, 2025
One of my 2011 purchases or freebies I wanted to get through. But this had subjects in it I don’t care to read.
Not for me.
Not for me.
April 3, 2023
A bland romance about two childhood friends reconnecting.
August 28, 2017
Kip and Shelley are childhood friends, Tragedy brings them back together as adults where they give in to love, Sweet relationship but drags out.
April 24, 2014
I received this book as a giveaway by the author, and at first thought it was YA. The story begins when the hero & heroine are fifteen, friends who spend summers on Block Island with their parents. Since it wasn't what I was expecting, and I'm not a huge fan of YA, I almost put it down. But after a hilarious, touching, and skillfully crafted scene where the two decide to "practice kissing," I was hooked.
It is not a YA, but a classic romance with all the ups and downs, twist and turns, anguish and passion a romance reader desires. Shelley and Kip's friendship ends abruptly when a family emergency takes Shelley off the island, not to return for many years. The two friends' paths split them onto opposite coasts. Kip moves to California and marries the love of his life. Shelley decides to return to Block Island to fill a need for the islanders, opening a pharmacy.
But tragedy strikes Kip when his wife is hit by a car and killed, right before his eyes. A year later, his heart broken and his life shattered, he returns to his family's home on Block Island to heal. Neither he nor Kip can believe their eyes when the two meet again.
What follows is a deeply touching love story told from both the hero and heroine's viewpoints. We struggle with them as they wrestle with their emotional scars and their changing feelings for each other.
Originally published over twenty years ago, this classic tale has not lost any of its appeal. My first of Judith Arnold's titles, it will definitely not be my last.
It is not a YA, but a classic romance with all the ups and downs, twist and turns, anguish and passion a romance reader desires. Shelley and Kip's friendship ends abruptly when a family emergency takes Shelley off the island, not to return for many years. The two friends' paths split them onto opposite coasts. Kip moves to California and marries the love of his life. Shelley decides to return to Block Island to fill a need for the islanders, opening a pharmacy.
But tragedy strikes Kip when his wife is hit by a car and killed, right before his eyes. A year later, his heart broken and his life shattered, he returns to his family's home on Block Island to heal. Neither he nor Kip can believe their eyes when the two meet again.
What follows is a deeply touching love story told from both the hero and heroine's viewpoints. We struggle with them as they wrestle with their emotional scars and their changing feelings for each other.
Originally published over twenty years ago, this classic tale has not lost any of its appeal. My first of Judith Arnold's titles, it will definitely not be my last.
August 5, 2016
A roller coaster of emotions!
1st let me say I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. The audio versions are always better than the print. Audio brings with it freedom to do things while reading, company while driving and proper pronunciation of words, along with loads of emotions , accents & excitement!
Kip & Shelley became friends way back when they were 8 years old at their summer homes. One day something happened and Shelley disappeared. Kip never knew anything as to why she was gone. Kip went on to college and met Amanda and they married. Amanda was killed by a car while crossing the street in front of Kip. Kip constantly in mourning just couldn't get past losing Amanda. His mother told him to go to the summer house and it was there he saw Shelley again. They quickly became good friends again. Kip always wanted more, but Shelley couldn't give herself anymore. They did have a 1 night thing in which they ended with a child. Not to spoil the rest of this book, I will leave the rest to be discovered.
This book is very well written! The storyline captured my interest & held it throughout the book. The narrator did a great job too. I really loved the voice of the 2 year old Jamie, good job! The entire story was very believable! I highly recommend it .
1st let me say I read / listened to this book in audio format via audible.com. The audio versions are always better than the print. Audio brings with it freedom to do things while reading, company while driving and proper pronunciation of words, along with loads of emotions , accents & excitement!
Kip & Shelley became friends way back when they were 8 years old at their summer homes. One day something happened and Shelley disappeared. Kip never knew anything as to why she was gone. Kip went on to college and met Amanda and they married. Amanda was killed by a car while crossing the street in front of Kip. Kip constantly in mourning just couldn't get past losing Amanda. His mother told him to go to the summer house and it was there he saw Shelley again. They quickly became good friends again. Kip always wanted more, but Shelley couldn't give herself anymore. They did have a 1 night thing in which they ended with a child. Not to spoil the rest of this book, I will leave the rest to be discovered.
This book is very well written! The storyline captured my interest & held it throughout the book. The narrator did a great job too. I really loved the voice of the 2 year old Jamie, good job! The entire story was very believable! I highly recommend it .
March 31, 2013
I downloaded this book when it was a promotional freebie for my Kindle. I know, I know, the buzz is that free titles, for the most part, suck. That has not been my experience--especially not with this book, which has been in the back of my mind since I finished it yesterday.
This is one of the most unusual romances I've ever read. Ms. Arnold hooked me instantly, and I found myself immersed in the story of two children from different backgrounds spending summers together--growing up together--on Block Island. When love between them emerges, heartbreak soon follows...and follows.
I've come late to this party and so find it unnecessary to list plot elements in my review. You can read all about them in others posted here. I will say this: Ms. Arnold wrote a story here incorporating strong, personal psychological elements, which resonated deeply with me. The power of forgiveness, the ability to forget, the willingness to trust, and the need to embrace life as it is, not as it might have been, are all captured to perfection in this book. I look forward to reading it again, and to reading more of Judith Arnold's titles. She is an excellent writer.
This is one of the most unusual romances I've ever read. Ms. Arnold hooked me instantly, and I found myself immersed in the story of two children from different backgrounds spending summers together--growing up together--on Block Island. When love between them emerges, heartbreak soon follows...and follows.
I've come late to this party and so find it unnecessary to list plot elements in my review. You can read all about them in others posted here. I will say this: Ms. Arnold wrote a story here incorporating strong, personal psychological elements, which resonated deeply with me. The power of forgiveness, the ability to forget, the willingness to trust, and the need to embrace life as it is, not as it might have been, are all captured to perfection in this book. I look forward to reading it again, and to reading more of Judith Arnold's titles. She is an excellent writer.
June 2, 2016
The first part of the book moves slowly because the author is establishing a very unique relationship between Kip and Shelly, two fifteen year old teens. They have summered on Block Island for years, but suddenly Shelly and her mother disappear. Twelve years later, Kip meets Shelly in the pharmacy she owns on the island. Both of them have been shaped by death, loss, emotionally deprived parents, and tragedy. Because of her untrustworthy father, Shelly refuses to get involved with any man.
Kip also has issues after seeing his wife killed. Trough time they finally find trust and love again.
This is not the ordinary love story. I debated about the rating. I"d really like to rate it a 3 1/2.
It was a good story, and I did enjoy it, but got a bit tired of Shelly's attitude.
Kip also has issues after seeing his wife killed. Trough time they finally find trust and love again.
This is not the ordinary love story. I debated about the rating. I"d really like to rate it a 3 1/2.
It was a good story, and I did enjoy it, but got a bit tired of Shelly's attitude.
May 31, 2016
This contemporary romance from 1991 hasn't necessarily aged well. The first part that portrays two fifteen year old summer friends struggling with adolescent changes is charming. The second part of their reunion years later also has its moments. But then...well, let's just say that category romance cliches kick in and the rest is all downhill. Judith Arnold was one of my favorite category romance authors in the 1980s and 1990s, and I'll always be grateful that she contributed a Hanukkah story to the Harlequin American Romance line, but this book did not need to make a reappearance 25 years later.
November 10, 2011
this was another great freebie for kindle, about 2 kids who see each other on vacation for years and are friends who can tell each oter anything. just as they reach their mid-teens, and are exploring their relationship as not only friends, the heroine 's life implodes and she loses everything. how she copes with that loss impacts her life for the next 15 years. the hero also experiences loss, and how they gradually grow to love and trust each other.
November 26, 2011
This was a story about deep friendship, loss and regaining ourselves. Judith Arnold has us wanting to save both Kip and Shelley in this well written novel.
Kip and Shelley have been inseparable from the time they were 8 years old, until the day a tragedy in Shelleys life ends their friendship.
Now years later a tragedy in Kips life has him back on the island where he first met Shelley.
Kip and Shelley have been inseparable from the time they were 8 years old, until the day a tragedy in Shelleys life ends their friendship.
Now years later a tragedy in Kips life has him back on the island where he first met Shelley.
January 15, 2023
This was not what I was expecting... it was better. This was a freebie I've had for a couple of years. I forgot about it until I was flipping through some of my titles. The story takes place over a period of 15 years. I really enjoyed the slow pace and the ability to really understand the characters. However, at times, the pace was too slow, which is why I gave it 3 instead of 4 stars.
June 20, 2016
Judith has given us a story about love! There were times during reading her story that I wanted to hurry things along, but I just continued reading hoping for the best results. They did happen without my intervention as you will see. I have enjoyed her love story very much and am sure that you will too.
December 1, 2011
I thought the book was really sweet, and I definitely was involved with the main characters. But I read it on kindle. Thank god. That book cover is gank. Overall though I thought it was a very pleasant read and I enjoyed all of it. One word to describe it: Sweet
July 17, 2015
3 1/2 stars. A heart-tugging story of two childhood friends whose lives have been shaped by tragedy, who unexpectedly meet after 12 years and, in the years that followed, learn to love and trust again.
October 10, 2015
I loved the journey these two characters made together. The story is a great one dealing with their love through out there years together and how they comforted each other through tragic times. I really enjoyed the book.
December 4, 2011
I purchased this due its price but not my type of book. Not really into Harlequin romances!
January 4, 2012
Touching romance with very little explicit content.
March 22, 2012
a decent freebie on kindle.
April 25, 2012
meh - deleted from library. It had its moments but now I remember why I quit reading Harlequin and Silhouette.
July 3, 2017
Really well written and a great free read from Kindle. First book i read by Judith Arnold and enjoyed it
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