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By the Sea #1-4
The Complete By the Sea Series Boxed Set
In the tradition of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey, BY THE SEA is a four-book series that sweeps from the Gilded Age through the Gatsby Era's Roaring Twenties and then on to the Great Depression, culminating nearly a century later in Newport, Rhode Island, wealthy and alluring "City by the Sea." Set against a backdrop of mansions, the glorious America's Cup Yacht Races, and new money, the series traces the passions and adventures of three families from three different classes.
Book One: TESS. From the wild decadence of late nineteenth-century Newport comes the tale of Tess Moran, a beautiful Irish housemaid in one of the grand summer "cottages," who makes a dark bargain with a man of commanding wealth — and falls in love in the bargain.
Book Two: AMANDA. Marrying American money to an English title is a tradition of its own; but Amanda Fain, a brash heiress with money to burn, has a fondness for Bolsheviks and bootleg liquor that makes her an unlikely match for the reluctant, ironic, and impoverished English aristocrat Geoffrey Seton, who has been ordered to America to find someone who can pay the bills for the family estate back home.
Book Three: LAURA. While the Great Depression grinds relentlessly on, Laura Andersson, a Midwestern farm girl with an improbable love of the sea, embarks on a bold adventure that promises riches but delivers passion, one that threatens all she holds dear.
Book Four: THE HEIRS is the dramatic conclusion to the four-book series BY THE SEA. Economic hard times are a distant memory in high-flying, recent-day Newport, home of the oldest and most prestigious trophy in the world, the Holy Grail of sport--the America's Cup. Here, the descendants of Tess, Amanda and Laura play out their destinies, their paths crossing in unforeseen ways: Mavis Moran, Neil Powers, his daughter Quinta, and America's Cup skipper Alan Seton all find themselves caught in a web of mystery, sabotage, and conflicting desires.
"A quality novel [that] contains many of those little epiphanies, those moments of recognition. [Part 1, TESS,] is what makes Stockenberg's book stand out from the rash of novels on class conflicts between Irish servants and their Yankee masters."
—Providence Journal
Book One: TESS. From the wild decadence of late nineteenth-century Newport comes the tale of Tess Moran, a beautiful Irish housemaid in one of the grand summer "cottages," who makes a dark bargain with a man of commanding wealth — and falls in love in the bargain.
Book Two: AMANDA. Marrying American money to an English title is a tradition of its own; but Amanda Fain, a brash heiress with money to burn, has a fondness for Bolsheviks and bootleg liquor that makes her an unlikely match for the reluctant, ironic, and impoverished English aristocrat Geoffrey Seton, who has been ordered to America to find someone who can pay the bills for the family estate back home.
Book Three: LAURA. While the Great Depression grinds relentlessly on, Laura Andersson, a Midwestern farm girl with an improbable love of the sea, embarks on a bold adventure that promises riches but delivers passion, one that threatens all she holds dear.
Book Four: THE HEIRS is the dramatic conclusion to the four-book series BY THE SEA. Economic hard times are a distant memory in high-flying, recent-day Newport, home of the oldest and most prestigious trophy in the world, the Holy Grail of sport--the America's Cup. Here, the descendants of Tess, Amanda and Laura play out their destinies, their paths crossing in unforeseen ways: Mavis Moran, Neil Powers, his daughter Quinta, and America's Cup skipper Alan Seton all find themselves caught in a web of mystery, sabotage, and conflicting desires.
"A quality novel [that] contains many of those little epiphanies, those moments of recognition. [Part 1, TESS,] is what makes Stockenberg's book stand out from the rash of novels on class conflicts between Irish servants and their Yankee masters."
—Providence Journal
- GenresHistorical Fiction
683 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2014
236 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 27, 2020
This enthralling four-book saga begins in 19th century America, and continues throughout the 20th century.
The storyline follows the adventures, loves, trials and tribulations of three different women; Tess, Amanda and Laura.
Book four culminates with the women’s heirs. The author gives vivid descriptions of the times and locations and cleverly intertwines the lives of all three women throughout the saga.
Though each book stands alone I would earnestly recommend reading all four in order. I became totally absorbed, loved every minute of my reading time and was left with a feeling of loss when I finally came the last page
The storyline follows the adventures, loves, trials and tribulations of three different women; Tess, Amanda and Laura.
Book four culminates with the women’s heirs. The author gives vivid descriptions of the times and locations and cleverly intertwines the lives of all three women throughout the saga.
Though each book stands alone I would earnestly recommend reading all four in order. I became totally absorbed, loved every minute of my reading time and was left with a feeling of loss when I finally came the last page
April 2, 2016
have read all four books: Tess, Amanda , Laura, The Heirs. easy beach reads. not very ind depth. First one was my least favorite as it really left you hanging I felt as to what happens with Tess. Also the least well written. But if you stick with them, all the characters are tied in together in the last book which was the best I thought.
April 9, 2015
Good concept of weaving 4 stories together over time, but lacked the "I cannot put it down" feeling.
September 20, 2019
Lucky I got this set
I'm a sucker for a good story and I got THREE! Started 2 and 3 with a bit of trepidation (wanting the "characters" I had ended with to instantly reappear). All three books were GOOD stories. Thank you Antoinette Stockenberg!
I'm a sucker for a good story and I got THREE! Started 2 and 3 with a bit of trepidation (wanting the "characters" I had ended with to instantly reappear). All three books were GOOD stories. Thank you Antoinette Stockenberg!
February 11, 2020
An OK read as an I-Book for .99. This series is about four women over the space of 100+ years set in Newport and all are centered around sailing and the America' s Cup Series. The stories were ok, but lacked that I have to keep reading to find out what happens next.
December 29, 2017
I couldn't finish this book. I will attempt sometime in the near future to try and read it again. But for now, I must move on.
January 24, 2018
Liked the first two books, skimmed through the third, 4th was ok. Had to put it down for a while and read other stuff in between.
July 3, 2019
The first book in this series was good. The next 3 tried to hard. They are for the sailing enthusiast.
February 13, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed!!!
I didn't want to put this series down and I didn't want the story to end! I look forward to reading all of her work 🙂
I didn't want to put this series down and I didn't want the story to end! I look forward to reading all of her work 🙂
February 15, 2017
An ok read. IBook-$.99
February 22, 2015
Good books. Had some unexpected turns in it
February 28, 2016
I loved all the history of the America's Cup in this series. The romances were almost secondary. I am glad to have read the series rather than just one book though.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews