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The Secrets of Lost Stones
A soul-stirring novel about the bonds between mother and child and the redemption that comes with facing the past and letting it go.
Thirty-two-year-old Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and—most heart-wrenching—her eight-year-old son, Chance, to a tragic accident. Haunted by memories and grief, Jess packs what’s left and heads for the small mountain town of Pine Lake, where she takes a position as caregiver to an eccentric old woman.
A rumored clairvoyant, Lucy is strange but welcoming and immediately intuits Jess as a “loose end” in need of closure. But Jess isn’t the only guest in Lucy’s large Victorian home. There’s also Star, a teenage runaway with a secret too painful to share. And the little boy with heart-shaped stones, who comes with a hope for reconciliation—and a warning.
Soon Jess learns that she’s not the only lost soul running from the ghosts of the past. She and Star have been brought together for a reason: to be saved by the very thing that destroyed them.
Thirty-two-year-old Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and—most heart-wrenching—her eight-year-old son, Chance, to a tragic accident. Haunted by memories and grief, Jess packs what’s left and heads for the small mountain town of Pine Lake, where she takes a position as caregiver to an eccentric old woman.
A rumored clairvoyant, Lucy is strange but welcoming and immediately intuits Jess as a “loose end” in need of closure. But Jess isn’t the only guest in Lucy’s large Victorian home. There’s also Star, a teenage runaway with a secret too painful to share. And the little boy with heart-shaped stones, who comes with a hope for reconciliation—and a warning.
Soon Jess learns that she’s not the only lost soul running from the ghosts of the past. She and Star have been brought together for a reason: to be saved by the very thing that destroyed them.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2019
11578 people are currently reading
11901 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Payne
9 books708 followersMelissa Payne is the bestselling author of five novels, including The Wild Road Home and A Light in the Forest. After an early career raising money for nonprofit organizations, Melissa began dreaming about becoming a published author and wrote her first novel. Her stories feature small mountain towns with characters searching for redemption, love, and second chances. They have been three-time Colorado Book Award finalists and Colorado Authors League 2020 and 2023 winners for mainstream fiction. Her upcoming novel, In the Beautiful Dark, will be released April 22, 2025. Melissa lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children, a friendly mutt, a very loud cat, and the occasional bear. For more information, visit www.melissapayneauthor.com or find her on Instagram @melissapayne_writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,788 reviews
August 25, 2019
The loose ends people, the loose ends!!
I loved the whole damn story and all the peeps, the supernatural element and how it all came together!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/1...
I loved the whole damn story and all the peeps, the supernatural element and how it all came together!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/1...
January 8, 2020
Actual: 4.25/5
It’s not often that a new author's first novel “wows” me. Really wows me. But this one did and multiple times. The Secrets of Lost Stones is a novel I already know I’m going to have trouble explaining and reviewing. It’s one of those novels that caught me by surprise (in a good way). But also in a way that would make me stall if someone were to ask: “What’s that book about?” That’s because I went into this book thinking it was going to be one thing, only to come out realizing it’s something else entirely. And that’s just part of the mystery surrounding this wonderful story: You don’t quite know what you’re going to get or how all the pieces will connect. So how can I explain a novel without revealing that secret?
I didn’t mean for that last part to rhyme, but I guess it did. I’m going to roll with it.
The story is told from two perspectives: Star and Jess. And while, normally, I’m not a fan of multiple perspectives, as I feel it doesn’t allow the time to properly connect to characters, I felt extremely connected to Jess and Star. Connected in the sense that I knew where they were coming from; understood their troubles; understood and felt their emotions alongside them. Therefore, this is a rarity and quite possibly a first that I actually enjoyed—no—loved a dual perceptive. This duality of storytelling added to the story; it not only added to the story, but to the depth of the characters themselves.
The dual perspective adds to the story, but I won’t say how or why. I won’t because figuring out the importance between the perspectives is important to the story itself. So I won’t spoil it. But, trust me, the perceptive’s work really well and the flow from Star to Jess is great. They also have their own distinct voices; if I was to flip to a random chapter right now I’m 100% sure I could tell you whose chapter it is.
This is a fiction story but I also want to say it’s part mystery, thriller, and horror (yes, at times, I would argue!). But it’s also a story that’s meaningful and important; it shows how many times we as humans think our stories don’t connect to other people when they can and they do — but sometimes we don’t always see that link. At least, not at first.
It’s not often that a new author's first novel “wows” me. Really wows me. But this one did and multiple times. The Secrets of Lost Stones is a novel I already know I’m going to have trouble explaining and reviewing. It’s one of those novels that caught me by surprise (in a good way). But also in a way that would make me stall if someone were to ask: “What’s that book about?” That’s because I went into this book thinking it was going to be one thing, only to come out realizing it’s something else entirely. And that’s just part of the mystery surrounding this wonderful story: You don’t quite know what you’re going to get or how all the pieces will connect. So how can I explain a novel without revealing that secret?
I didn’t mean for that last part to rhyme, but I guess it did. I’m going to roll with it.
The story is told from two perspectives: Star and Jess. And while, normally, I’m not a fan of multiple perspectives, as I feel it doesn’t allow the time to properly connect to characters, I felt extremely connected to Jess and Star. Connected in the sense that I knew where they were coming from; understood their troubles; understood and felt their emotions alongside them. Therefore, this is a rarity and quite possibly a first that I actually enjoyed—no—loved a dual perceptive. This duality of storytelling added to the story; it not only added to the story, but to the depth of the characters themselves.
The dual perspective adds to the story, but I won’t say how or why. I won’t because figuring out the importance between the perspectives is important to the story itself. So I won’t spoil it. But, trust me, the perceptive’s work really well and the flow from Star to Jess is great. They also have their own distinct voices; if I was to flip to a random chapter right now I’m 100% sure I could tell you whose chapter it is.
This is a fiction story but I also want to say it’s part mystery, thriller, and horror (yes, at times, I would argue!). But it’s also a story that’s meaningful and important; it shows how many times we as humans think our stories don’t connect to other people when they can and they do — but sometimes we don’t always see that link. At least, not at first.
August 31, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 rounded up.
The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne is such a jarring and emotional book, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
What it's about: Jess is only 32 but she has lost everything: her job, her home, and most importantly, her son. She packs up the few things she owns and heads from Denver into the mountains where her car dies in the small town of Pine Lake. She takes a job as a caregiver for a woman named Lucy, who may be old but is said to be the 'Witch of Pine Lake'. She has premonitions and constantly talks to Jess about her 'loose ends' that need to be tied up. Enter Star, a young runaway off the streets of Denver that has been invited to stay in Lucy's home, much to Jess' worry that someone is missing her. But Jess and Star have a connection, and it might be the thing that can heal them both.
I think it is going to be hard for me to put into words quite just how I felt about The Secrets of Lost Stones. It is such an emotional book, and even though I eventually figured out what was going on before it was revealed, that didn't make a bit of difference to change how I felt about the book as a whole. It was a page-turner, and I was so engaged that I had a hard time putting it down. I would try to read another book but kept coming back to it because I just had to know how it would end.
I loved so many characters in this book. Lucy, Star and Jess were all wonderful, and so was Lucy's friend Phoebe plus other supporting characters. Bad things happen and it is heartbreaking, but there were also moments that made me smile and laugh out loud. I think Payne managed to create the perfect blend of sadness and happiness in The Secrets of Lost Stones. The viewpoints switch between Lucy and Star, and while I would have been interested in a bit of Lucy's POV, I still loved the way these two viewpoints came together in the book.
There is a hint of the supernatural in The Secrets of Lost Stones, so for those of you that don't like that in a book this might not be the right read. For me though, it was chilling but wonderful, and actually gave me goosebumps more than once. I am really interested in Lucy as a character and would love to see her come back in another novel as maybe a prequel?! She was such an interesting person, and her 'gift' is something I would love explored in another book.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Beware of Darkness as covered by Sheryl Crow.
Final Thought: The Secrets of Lost Stones is a definite tear-jerker so if you find yourself crying during books like me, you should probably keep some tissues handy! Payne's writing is simply gorgeous, and I really couldn't tell this was a debut novel. This book will keep you up late wanting closure, and I cannot wait to see what comes out of this woman's mind next! Plus, with a gorgeous cover this is definitely a book you want on your shelf. ;)
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with advance review copies of this book, all opinions are my own.
The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne is such a jarring and emotional book, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.
What it's about: Jess is only 32 but she has lost everything: her job, her home, and most importantly, her son. She packs up the few things she owns and heads from Denver into the mountains where her car dies in the small town of Pine Lake. She takes a job as a caregiver for a woman named Lucy, who may be old but is said to be the 'Witch of Pine Lake'. She has premonitions and constantly talks to Jess about her 'loose ends' that need to be tied up. Enter Star, a young runaway off the streets of Denver that has been invited to stay in Lucy's home, much to Jess' worry that someone is missing her. But Jess and Star have a connection, and it might be the thing that can heal them both.
I think it is going to be hard for me to put into words quite just how I felt about The Secrets of Lost Stones. It is such an emotional book, and even though I eventually figured out what was going on before it was revealed, that didn't make a bit of difference to change how I felt about the book as a whole. It was a page-turner, and I was so engaged that I had a hard time putting it down. I would try to read another book but kept coming back to it because I just had to know how it would end.
I loved so many characters in this book. Lucy, Star and Jess were all wonderful, and so was Lucy's friend Phoebe plus other supporting characters. Bad things happen and it is heartbreaking, but there were also moments that made me smile and laugh out loud. I think Payne managed to create the perfect blend of sadness and happiness in The Secrets of Lost Stones. The viewpoints switch between Lucy and Star, and while I would have been interested in a bit of Lucy's POV, I still loved the way these two viewpoints came together in the book.
There is a hint of the supernatural in The Secrets of Lost Stones, so for those of you that don't like that in a book this might not be the right read. For me though, it was chilling but wonderful, and actually gave me goosebumps more than once. I am really interested in Lucy as a character and would love to see her come back in another novel as maybe a prequel?! She was such an interesting person, and her 'gift' is something I would love explored in another book.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Beware of Darkness as covered by Sheryl Crow.
Final Thought: The Secrets of Lost Stones is a definite tear-jerker so if you find yourself crying during books like me, you should probably keep some tissues handy! Payne's writing is simply gorgeous, and I really couldn't tell this was a debut novel. This book will keep you up late wanting closure, and I cannot wait to see what comes out of this woman's mind next! Plus, with a gorgeous cover this is definitely a book you want on your shelf. ;)
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with advance review copies of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 29, 2020
A lovely story of secrets and forgiveness! The Secret of Lost Stones is beautiful novel of people who get the chance to find a home.
The characters were believable, well written and generally balanced. Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and most painfully, her eight-year-old son, Chance. She takes a job as a caregiver for Lucy. We later find that Jess isn’t the only guest in Lucy’s large home. Star, a teenage runaway and a boy with heart-shaped stones. So, Jess learns she’s not the only lost soul.
This is a book deals with a myriad real life situations and emotions. It caused me to reflect on my past mistakes. We all have a little bit of lost soul running around inside of us and hopefully a character of Lucy will be there to support us.
I am not a fan of paranormal books and struggled during those sections. That aside, is balanced story that I enjoyed and highly recommend.
The characters were believable, well written and generally balanced. Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and most painfully, her eight-year-old son, Chance. She takes a job as a caregiver for Lucy. We later find that Jess isn’t the only guest in Lucy’s large home. Star, a teenage runaway and a boy with heart-shaped stones. So, Jess learns she’s not the only lost soul.
This is a book deals with a myriad real life situations and emotions. It caused me to reflect on my past mistakes. We all have a little bit of lost soul running around inside of us and hopefully a character of Lucy will be there to support us.
I am not a fan of paranormal books and struggled during those sections. That aside, is balanced story that I enjoyed and highly recommend.
August 21, 2019
Tedious. Too drawn out. Too many cliche phrases used over and over and over.
August 2, 2019
This book kept me up till the early hours, which says plenty about it !! It was my Kindle First selection for August. I enjoyed it so much and it held my interest throughout, so, though it's an old cliche, it was absolutely gripping !! I adore the cover and this is the author's debut novel, which is really impressive.
It's fascinating how this rag-tag selection of very different people all end up sharing a house, each with their own miserable pasts, yet they make it work. There were a lot of surprises along the way for sure. Also some comedic moments among them. Yet one passage made me terribly sniffy as well. My favourite character was Star, I'd say.....she had a really good heart.
My only real critique in this story is that she utilises a few descriptions too often, such as the amount of time a character sighs, pressing arms into bellies, pulling a ponytail tight, hugging arms across chests then stuffing hands under thighs. They were all used too often. I didn't stumble upon one mistake till I was 85% in and it was where a fullstop was used and not a comma, then for paper clipped I'd have added a hyphen. I'd have disagreed with the final sentence, too, and would've left it out. However, that is bloody good going for a new author and coupled with the absorbing storyline, she has a real winner on her hands, I reckon.
I'll definitely look out for her next book. This one is well worth a go, trust me.
It's fascinating how this rag-tag selection of very different people all end up sharing a house, each with their own miserable pasts, yet they make it work. There were a lot of surprises along the way for sure. Also some comedic moments among them. Yet one passage made me terribly sniffy as well. My favourite character was Star, I'd say.....she had a really good heart.
My only real critique in this story is that she utilises a few descriptions too often, such as the amount of time a character sighs, pressing arms into bellies, pulling a ponytail tight, hugging arms across chests then stuffing hands under thighs. They were all used too often. I didn't stumble upon one mistake till I was 85% in and it was where a fullstop was used and not a comma, then for paper clipped I'd have added a hyphen. I'd have disagreed with the final sentence, too, and would've left it out. However, that is bloody good going for a new author and coupled with the absorbing storyline, she has a real winner on her hands, I reckon.
I'll definitely look out for her next book. This one is well worth a go, trust me.
December 20, 2019
Well written, powerful and quite emotional at times. I really liked the main characters - Jess and Star who come to stay with Lucy, AKA the Witch of Pine Lake! Good story telling that treats a difficult line between good and over the top. Worked for me - some might need some tissues close by :)
September 30, 2019
I would not be at all surprised to find out the person who wrote this is 12.
August 14, 2019
Not too bad for an Amazon Prime First Book.
I do like a magic realism story, and as a teacher, I'm always interested in teen stories. The setting is a part of the US I am unfamiliar with, so that's a nice perk. No question that the author, Melissa Payne, is a storyteller.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Star and Lucy. The entire plot toggles back and forth between Jess's and Star's point of view (but in third person), sometimes overlapping a bit. As in life, everyone understands experiences slightly differently.
I enjoyed the pacing; it kept me reading. But I was frequently frustrated by the stop-and-start, teaser-like plot. We almost know the answer for Jess...but wait! No! New chapter about Star! We'll come back to Jess later.
Similarly, the story felt repetitive to me. Bottom line: A little editing could have produced a tighter story.
I was thinking about the book after I finished. I mulled over the horrors both Star and Jess had lived through and felt compassion. Perhaps this book would be difficult for some readers. But then I also wondered if ? Hmmm.
I don't regret reading it, but I think there's some work to be done here.
I do like a magic realism story, and as a teacher, I'm always interested in teen stories. The setting is a part of the US I am unfamiliar with, so that's a nice perk. No question that the author, Melissa Payne, is a storyteller.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Star and Lucy. The entire plot toggles back and forth between Jess's and Star's point of view (but in third person), sometimes overlapping a bit. As in life, everyone understands experiences slightly differently.
I enjoyed the pacing; it kept me reading. But I was frequently frustrated by the stop-and-start, teaser-like plot. We almost know the answer for Jess...but wait! No! New chapter about Star! We'll come back to Jess later.
Similarly, the story felt repetitive to me. Bottom line: A little editing could have produced a tighter story.
I was thinking about the book after I finished. I mulled over the horrors both Star and Jess had lived through and felt compassion. Perhaps this book would be difficult for some readers. But then I also wondered if ? Hmmm.
I don't regret reading it, but I think there's some work to be done here.
July 6, 2019
The Secrets of Lost Stones is a beautifully written, moving novel about finding forgiveness and family in the least likely places. Melissa Payne has crafted a compelling story with engaging prose and well-developed characters who you’ll fall in love with just like I did.
Lucy is a mysterious woman, known as the witch of Pine Lake, who has surrounded herself with lost souls—most living, and some only partially alive—whose stories still have “loose ends” that need tying up. The problem? Lucy can’t always predict how these loose ends will resolve. It’s up to the people she’s brought together to figure that out for themselves.
The two main characters with “loose ends” are Jess and Star. Jess is a thirty-something woman who is running from the scars of her past tragedies and desperately searching for a new life. Star is a homeless teenager who has been forced to fend for herself. Both characters are fully fleshed out, their stories heartbreaking and their pain (and happiness) so real it jumps off the page. The cast of supporting characters is equally as intriguing, all hiding their own secrets. Even the town of Pine Lake becomes a character, and the reader will feel as though they’ve been welcomed into this tight-knit mountain town for a blueberry muffin and some meddling with their own “loose ends.”
Throughout the book, Payne perfectly blends real life with hints of otherworldliness that leave the characters and the reader guessing—did these unexplainable things happen or not? Most importantly, The Secrets of Lost Stones is about the bonds of family and home—the ones chosen for you and the ones you discover along the way. This book is a must read! It brought me to tears several times (happy and sad) and it made me laugh out loud. I can’t wait for Payne’s next novel!!
Lucy is a mysterious woman, known as the witch of Pine Lake, who has surrounded herself with lost souls—most living, and some only partially alive—whose stories still have “loose ends” that need tying up. The problem? Lucy can’t always predict how these loose ends will resolve. It’s up to the people she’s brought together to figure that out for themselves.
The two main characters with “loose ends” are Jess and Star. Jess is a thirty-something woman who is running from the scars of her past tragedies and desperately searching for a new life. Star is a homeless teenager who has been forced to fend for herself. Both characters are fully fleshed out, their stories heartbreaking and their pain (and happiness) so real it jumps off the page. The cast of supporting characters is equally as intriguing, all hiding their own secrets. Even the town of Pine Lake becomes a character, and the reader will feel as though they’ve been welcomed into this tight-knit mountain town for a blueberry muffin and some meddling with their own “loose ends.”
Throughout the book, Payne perfectly blends real life with hints of otherworldliness that leave the characters and the reader guessing—did these unexplainable things happen or not? Most importantly, The Secrets of Lost Stones is about the bonds of family and home—the ones chosen for you and the ones you discover along the way. This book is a must read! It brought me to tears several times (happy and sad) and it made me laugh out loud. I can’t wait for Payne’s next novel!!
August 9, 2019
This book was annoying. The first three-fourths has no real plot, just four characters continously musing over mysteries too vague to make me care. Im all for witches, but clueless ones who dont help move the story along just suck. Then the last quarter of the book switched to Scooby Doo mode, unmasking the villian. Give me a break. At least i didnt pay for this book, i have that to be thankful for.
September 6, 2019
You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews
The Secrets of Lost Stones was emotional and intriguing women’s fiction with mystery, drama and spirits that revolved around Jess and Star, two loose ends tied up in picturesque setting of Pine Lake. It was about getting over loss, grief and haunted memories, giving life a second chance, friendship and bonding with new people and place, hope, justice, and redemption.
“World is not just round, it’s small too.” That fits so right here.
Characters-
Jess, in early 30s, was broken wondering soul until she found Lucy and worked as her caregiver. She was fragile, deeply suffering from loss of her son. I had mixed feeling about her reaction towards Star, initially. I understood it was tough for her to care for another child who was of her son’s age but she insisting Star should not live at Lucy’s house little ticked me off. Her intentions were right and I could hear her point but at some time I felt she was being unfair. But overall, I liked her. She was not perfect, just hurt. She was realistic and amazing character in the book.
Star was 15yr old teenage foster kid who ran away from her foster home and was living on streets until Lucy found her, invited her with a curious letter. She was tough, strong, smart-ass, and clever girl. She was real fast at understanding signs, opposite of Jess who took eternity to understand what was going on. I liked her reaction towards Lucy, her big home and niceness of people at Pine Lake, her feeling of hope, the way her shell melted during her stay at Lucy’s place. She was mature for her age, helped Jess and Lucy, bonded nicely with all characters, and appreciated Lucy’s help. I understood her fear and emotions. She turned out such beautiful character in the book who deserved all the love.
Lucy– Here comes my favorite character. She was around 80yr old, peculiar, gifted, and unbelievably strong and tough witch of the Pine Lake who made me smile every time I read about her and her conversation with characters. I loved her sticky notes, and crossword puzzles, and calendar.
All characters were developed, sensible, lovable, and realistic. Okay, not all! Villain was such deceiving and heartless but I liked the way character was presented.
What I liked-
First of all loved writing style. It was flawless, descriptive, beautiful, and also emotive. I loved the small town setting. Pine Lake, people of the town, their stories and their love for Lucy was great in this book. What I wouldn’t give to have house like Lucy’s. Lucy’s big, old Victorian house and the ghost town gave the haunting feel to the book.
Story was told in dual perspective. Star and Jess both had intense voice that drew me right into their world of grief, loss and ocean of memories. They both told their story, their thought about other characters brilliantly.
It started with Jess arriving Pine Lake, broke, jobless and homeless without any aim, who stumbled upon Lucy’s shop where she found a job and opportunity to start over. Star, a teenage foster kid, living on streets also found an opportunity to live better life when she accidently met Lucy and Jess. Accidents don’t just happen when Lucy is mediator. She called these two ‘loose ends’ who needed to be at one place, destined to tie up, but why? What was connecting these loose ends, and how Lucy knew about it, what she was seeing and how she was helping them by bringing them together? And then there was other mysteries, how Star lost her best friend, how Jess lost her son and what he was doing outside of their apartment on the road? It made me intrigued and story so interesting and gripping.
When Jess and Star gathered at one place, things started to take shape. Like Lucy’s cross-word puzzle, one by one gates of their memory and secrets opened, their connection started to make sense. At around 60% I figured out who was the cause of their loss. Sounds predictable, huh? But no, here is what impressed me most. Even though I made the story sound simple, it was not, it was complex and dramatic. Author opened the cards of mystery one at a time, revealing the right card at right time keeping enough suspense that made me read story till the end.
Emotions ruled the characters’ life and story. Their grief, anger, loneliness, hopelessness, fear were deep, I could feel what they were going through and I could easily put myself in their situation. I bet most of the readers will feel connected to them. Jess thought she couldn’t be mother again but oh, how wrong she was. Her motherly nature, her care for Star was just right and enough to make Star feel wanted, to remind her of her own mother. Bond between these ladies from three different generation was mesmerizing.
The mix of realistic and supernatural elements was seamless and well presented. I liked the theme of the book- justice and redemption, second chance to life, letting go of past, and freeing the taught pent up emotions and energy.
Climax was most interesting. I was waiting for this moment so long. Even though I saw it coming, I couldn’t figure ‘how’ until I read it. The events between climax and end were tight and tense. That supernatural part in the end gave the story perfect end.
Overall, I just loved everything about this book. Great plot and setting, emotions and drama, perfect blend of realistic and supernatural world, wonderful characterization, and intriguing mystery. It was wow.
*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***
The Secrets of Lost Stones was emotional and intriguing women’s fiction with mystery, drama and spirits that revolved around Jess and Star, two loose ends tied up in picturesque setting of Pine Lake. It was about getting over loss, grief and haunted memories, giving life a second chance, friendship and bonding with new people and place, hope, justice, and redemption.
“World is not just round, it’s small too.” That fits so right here.
Characters-
Jess, in early 30s, was broken wondering soul until she found Lucy and worked as her caregiver. She was fragile, deeply suffering from loss of her son. I had mixed feeling about her reaction towards Star, initially. I understood it was tough for her to care for another child who was of her son’s age but she insisting Star should not live at Lucy’s house little ticked me off. Her intentions were right and I could hear her point but at some time I felt she was being unfair. But overall, I liked her. She was not perfect, just hurt. She was realistic and amazing character in the book.
Star was 15yr old teenage foster kid who ran away from her foster home and was living on streets until Lucy found her, invited her with a curious letter. She was tough, strong, smart-ass, and clever girl. She was real fast at understanding signs, opposite of Jess who took eternity to understand what was going on. I liked her reaction towards Lucy, her big home and niceness of people at Pine Lake, her feeling of hope, the way her shell melted during her stay at Lucy’s place. She was mature for her age, helped Jess and Lucy, bonded nicely with all characters, and appreciated Lucy’s help. I understood her fear and emotions. She turned out such beautiful character in the book who deserved all the love.
Lucy– Here comes my favorite character. She was around 80yr old, peculiar, gifted, and unbelievably strong and tough witch of the Pine Lake who made me smile every time I read about her and her conversation with characters. I loved her sticky notes, and crossword puzzles, and calendar.
All characters were developed, sensible, lovable, and realistic. Okay, not all! Villain was such deceiving and heartless but I liked the way character was presented.
What I liked-
First of all loved writing style. It was flawless, descriptive, beautiful, and also emotive. I loved the small town setting. Pine Lake, people of the town, their stories and their love for Lucy was great in this book. What I wouldn’t give to have house like Lucy’s. Lucy’s big, old Victorian house and the ghost town gave the haunting feel to the book.
Story was told in dual perspective. Star and Jess both had intense voice that drew me right into their world of grief, loss and ocean of memories. They both told their story, their thought about other characters brilliantly.
It started with Jess arriving Pine Lake, broke, jobless and homeless without any aim, who stumbled upon Lucy’s shop where she found a job and opportunity to start over. Star, a teenage foster kid, living on streets also found an opportunity to live better life when she accidently met Lucy and Jess. Accidents don’t just happen when Lucy is mediator. She called these two ‘loose ends’ who needed to be at one place, destined to tie up, but why? What was connecting these loose ends, and how Lucy knew about it, what she was seeing and how she was helping them by bringing them together? And then there was other mysteries, how Star lost her best friend, how Jess lost her son and what he was doing outside of their apartment on the road? It made me intrigued and story so interesting and gripping.
When Jess and Star gathered at one place, things started to take shape. Like Lucy’s cross-word puzzle, one by one gates of their memory and secrets opened, their connection started to make sense. At around 60% I figured out who was the cause of their loss. Sounds predictable, huh? But no, here is what impressed me most. Even though I made the story sound simple, it was not, it was complex and dramatic. Author opened the cards of mystery one at a time, revealing the right card at right time keeping enough suspense that made me read story till the end.
Emotions ruled the characters’ life and story. Their grief, anger, loneliness, hopelessness, fear were deep, I could feel what they were going through and I could easily put myself in their situation. I bet most of the readers will feel connected to them. Jess thought she couldn’t be mother again but oh, how wrong she was. Her motherly nature, her care for Star was just right and enough to make Star feel wanted, to remind her of her own mother. Bond between these ladies from three different generation was mesmerizing.
The mix of realistic and supernatural elements was seamless and well presented. I liked the theme of the book- justice and redemption, second chance to life, letting go of past, and freeing the taught pent up emotions and energy.
Climax was most interesting. I was waiting for this moment so long. Even though I saw it coming, I couldn’t figure ‘how’ until I read it. The events between climax and end were tight and tense. That supernatural part in the end gave the story perfect end.
Overall, I just loved everything about this book. Great plot and setting, emotions and drama, perfect blend of realistic and supernatural world, wonderful characterization, and intriguing mystery. It was wow.
*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***
August 4, 2019
Wish there was more!
I only wish that we could have met Lucy earlier in other episodes and stories. Meeting her so late in life, Lucy being 85, makes me know we’ve missed so many good stories about her. The storyline is reminiscent of the Hallmarks the good witch… and just like with that show , I would have enjoyed more flamboyant examples of Lucy’s power, Chances development into such a powerful ghost entity, and a hint of where Star and Jess go now. Ending up back in foster care for 8 months was breezed right over. Also the mysterious writing of the calendar could have been developed a bit more as well. Perhaps focusing on some of these more interesting developments and stead of a steady overdose of star berating herself could have filled in more blanks and been more powerful of a book.
I only wish that we could have met Lucy earlier in other episodes and stories. Meeting her so late in life, Lucy being 85, makes me know we’ve missed so many good stories about her. The storyline is reminiscent of the Hallmarks the good witch… and just like with that show , I would have enjoyed more flamboyant examples of Lucy’s power, Chances development into such a powerful ghost entity, and a hint of where Star and Jess go now. Ending up back in foster care for 8 months was breezed right over. Also the mysterious writing of the calendar could have been developed a bit more as well. Perhaps focusing on some of these more interesting developments and stead of a steady overdose of star berating herself could have filled in more blanks and been more powerful of a book.
August 21, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up. This was my August Amazon First Read. I loved that the story was unique, poignant and imaginative. The characters were intriguing and well written, and the story itself was lovely. What drove me crazy was this author's need to tell us every little thought and nuance of the story - we understood very early on that Jess and Star were damaged and skittish - we didn't need to continue to read their thought processes that reinforced this. I also thought that the 180 degree turnaround of the "villain" was abrupt and left me feeling like I missed something. I look forward to this author's future works - and hope to see some fine tuning with her narratives.
September 9, 2021
A fantastic book full of all the good stuff. Love, mystery, magic and crossword puzzles. I was sad to finish it because I couldn’t be in the story anymore. Highly recommend
August 21, 2019
My blog: A Magical World of Words
Source: Netgalley.
2.5 stars.
This sounded like a beautiful tale, and I was intrigued to read it. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
The writing isn't bad. Payne is very detailed, her language is very tangible, and the grammar is good. However, it just isn't my type of writing. I didn't like it. Blame it completely on personal preference, but I never fell in love with the words (this could also be because of some cheesy and cliche sections).
The characters never came alive. Jess and Ben were thinly drawn, Star's personality felt inconsistent and cliche, and Lucy was one-dimensional. I didn't love any of the relationships, either. They were bland and boring, and Star and Jess's bond felt predictable and irritating rather than heartwarming.
My main issue with the book is how boring it was. The story and the characters' inner monologues were so repetitive, and there was little to no action. In addition, information got revealed in watered-down incidents which lacked real urgency or excitement. It was tiresome.
One main positive:
- The mystery aspect was clever. I didn't see the twists coming, and they were intelligently and thoughtfully strung together.
Source: Netgalley.
2.5 stars.
This sounded like a beautiful tale, and I was intrigued to read it. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
The writing isn't bad. Payne is very detailed, her language is very tangible, and the grammar is good. However, it just isn't my type of writing. I didn't like it. Blame it completely on personal preference, but I never fell in love with the words (this could also be because of some cheesy and cliche sections).
The characters never came alive. Jess and Ben were thinly drawn, Star's personality felt inconsistent and cliche, and Lucy was one-dimensional. I didn't love any of the relationships, either. They were bland and boring, and Star and Jess's bond felt predictable and irritating rather than heartwarming.
My main issue with the book is how boring it was. The story and the characters' inner monologues were so repetitive, and there was little to no action. In addition, information got revealed in watered-down incidents which lacked real urgency or excitement. It was tiresome.
One main positive:
- The mystery aspect was clever. I didn't see the twists coming, and they were intelligently and thoughtfully strung together.
September 2, 2019
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a ARC for a honest review.
I loved this book! Very heart touching with a touch of mystery thrown in. I cried, I smile, I gasped...covers such a range of emotions!
The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout the whole story at times had me on the edge of my seat!
The writing flows well and the characters are likeable and so interesting and mysterious!!
I give this 41/2 stars so will round it up to 5.
I loved this book! Very heart touching with a touch of mystery thrown in. I cried, I smile, I gasped...covers such a range of emotions!
The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout the whole story at times had me on the edge of my seat!
The writing flows well and the characters are likeable and so interesting and mysterious!!
I give this 41/2 stars so will round it up to 5.
September 14, 2019
Sophomoric at best
I almost quit reading this about 25% of the way in. I should have. I found it to be too predictable, too repetitive. One daft old lady that thinks she's able to "tie up loose ends" (if you ask the right question) + one grieving, down on her luck, broke mother + one runaway from foster homes teen girl, + one "ghost boy" = Yaaaawwwwwnnnn. I would have thought this was a YA book were it not for all of the swearing. I cannot believe all of the 4 and 5 stars.
I almost quit reading this about 25% of the way in. I should have. I found it to be too predictable, too repetitive. One daft old lady that thinks she's able to "tie up loose ends" (if you ask the right question) + one grieving, down on her luck, broke mother + one runaway from foster homes teen girl, + one "ghost boy" = Yaaaawwwwwnnnn. I would have thought this was a YA book were it not for all of the swearing. I cannot believe all of the 4 and 5 stars.
September 15, 2019
A slightly generic narrative of a two women connected by shared grief. Somewhat magical at times, Payne creates an engaging tale of grief and its subsequent healing.
October 29, 2021
This was an amazing book! The ending was.... I'm speechless and in awe! Loved it!
November 30, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this first writing by the author. The story got me engaged from the get go. It was a plot different from any other. Everyone has “loose ends.”
Lucy, our main character in the story is an eccentric, gifted women who has inherited the capability of drawing people together who have these so called loose ends that need to be tied up. The process is compelling and it takes time to “tie their loose ends up.” In this case it involves several people who don’t know that their loose ends are inter- related. And so the truth shall set you free.
All of the characters come together in one way or another to this strange little town of Pine Lake. Lucy has been called the witch of Pine Lake, by people who don’t understand her and her gift.
The author does a fine job teasing the reader with behavior and statements that make one think Lucy is beginning to show signs of early dementia and an aging, sometimes frail body that is showing wear and tear. However, it is the gift Lucy has, that strains her senses so. What she sees and what she feels takes the energy out of her. Sometimes at the end, the process makes her weary and blurry. What she saw clearly at one time in the beginning, is now difficult to see and feel and help close. But as the loose ties start coming together quickly (it’s inevitable once all parties are in contact) there is no way to stop the runaway train from going off its final track.
It is emotionally draining for everyone involved, but it is a well thought out finale of a story that kept my interest and made me like all the characters, especially those that were emotionally hurting, scarred and abandoned.
Lucy was an eccentric character but her personality made me smile. This little old lady who appeared fragile and acted a little spooky at times like when she was zoning out or asking questions for crossword puzzles that actually were clues to each persons’ story/breakthrough. She was, in my opinion, the hero of the story. Without her, true answers would not have been found and people’s lives would have continued with pain, anger, guilt and unknown resolutions. Lucy helped show them the way and helped set them all free.
Would I recommend? Yes!
Lucy, our main character in the story is an eccentric, gifted women who has inherited the capability of drawing people together who have these so called loose ends that need to be tied up. The process is compelling and it takes time to “tie their loose ends up.” In this case it involves several people who don’t know that their loose ends are inter- related. And so the truth shall set you free.
All of the characters come together in one way or another to this strange little town of Pine Lake. Lucy has been called the witch of Pine Lake, by people who don’t understand her and her gift.
The author does a fine job teasing the reader with behavior and statements that make one think Lucy is beginning to show signs of early dementia and an aging, sometimes frail body that is showing wear and tear. However, it is the gift Lucy has, that strains her senses so. What she sees and what she feels takes the energy out of her. Sometimes at the end, the process makes her weary and blurry. What she saw clearly at one time in the beginning, is now difficult to see and feel and help close. But as the loose ties start coming together quickly (it’s inevitable once all parties are in contact) there is no way to stop the runaway train from going off its final track.
It is emotionally draining for everyone involved, but it is a well thought out finale of a story that kept my interest and made me like all the characters, especially those that were emotionally hurting, scarred and abandoned.
Lucy was an eccentric character but her personality made me smile. This little old lady who appeared fragile and acted a little spooky at times like when she was zoning out or asking questions for crossword puzzles that actually were clues to each persons’ story/breakthrough. She was, in my opinion, the hero of the story. Without her, true answers would not have been found and people’s lives would have continued with pain, anger, guilt and unknown resolutions. Lucy helped show them the way and helped set them all free.
Would I recommend? Yes!
August 4, 2020
I was really drawn to this book because of the synopsis, however I ended up figuring out the big twist(s) in the first 100 pages, because they were laid out pretty obviously, but had to wait a whole 200 some more pages for everyone else to get up to speed. The main character, Jess, was so frustrating when it came to her realizing—rather, not realizing—what Lucy (the clairvoyant in the synopsis) could do. I wish the book was more about Lucy instead, and that the story was from her perspective. I really liked that character.
I will also say that I loved the crossword part of it.
I always feel bad about not liking a book because I know the author works so hard on it. So, if the author somehow sees this: I’m sorry, please don’t hate me.
I will also say that I loved the crossword part of it.
I always feel bad about not liking a book because I know the author works so hard on it. So, if the author somehow sees this: I’m sorry, please don’t hate me.
August 1, 2019
Lost stones
My First Read choice for August, it's listed as Contemporary Fiction - I would list it as paranormal. It's an interesting story, a lot of people with a lot of secrets and a facilitator who brings everything together. I enjoyed the book and the characters and would read more by this author.
My First Read choice for August, it's listed as Contemporary Fiction - I would list it as paranormal. It's an interesting story, a lot of people with a lot of secrets and a facilitator who brings everything together. I enjoyed the book and the characters and would read more by this author.
February 17, 2020
Sweet story of women coming together. This is a great story of women magically ending up in the same place. They all had had terrible tragedies in the lives and didn’t really know how much they needed each other. I loved the support they came to each other and helped to heal their pasts lives. It was a nice change for me!
August 13, 2019
The Secrets of the Lost Stones
Wow! What a great book with lots of twists and turns. The suspense keeps you reading until you know it all. I enjoyed this story immensely.
Wow! What a great book with lots of twists and turns. The suspense keeps you reading until you know it all. I enjoyed this story immensely.
January 2, 2021
I love this book! I love everything about it!
I love the endearing characters, the wonderful storytelling and the beautifully poetic prose.
An altogether wonderfully crafted book.
I love the endearing characters, the wonderful storytelling and the beautifully poetic prose.
An altogether wonderfully crafted book.
October 3, 2025
A little quirky but ….. I am a huge believer in coincidence. All those “small world” moments, God’s hands directing our lives. However you might describe it. Lots of “magic” in this story of disparate people brought together by a “witch.” I loved them all, and wished for a little happier ending. This is the second Melissa Payne book I’ve read recently, both satisfying, character-driven stories. If I didn’t have three other new book purchases at my elbow, I would probably be looking at buying more of her books. This was her first novel. I am going to give this book to my teenage granddaughter and cross my fingers that she will read it. (She is a picky reader.)
January 7, 2021
The Secrets Of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne is slightly addictive but in a way of your waiting for whatever it is to happen so you need to keep reading and when it happens it a "oh ok" but you kind of already knew.
It's sad, heartbreaking and a little frustrating all at the same time but still worth a read because even thou it's a little predictable it's still enjoyable 📖
It's sad, heartbreaking and a little frustrating all at the same time but still worth a read because even thou it's a little predictable it's still enjoyable 📖
December 14, 2019
With similar elements to the novel “Where the Forest Meets the Stars” I really thought this was going to make it into my favourites list.
But I found the story to be quite slow-paced. I did enjoy it throughout but normally I find a good 320 page book I speed through without checking how far I am along but this seemed to go slowly.
It was well written and I enjoyed the character development. There were a few twists but I’m not really sure I understood why they happened and I found the ending a bit too abrupt.
Nevertheless, this is a story that will stay with me for some time.
But I found the story to be quite slow-paced. I did enjoy it throughout but normally I find a good 320 page book I speed through without checking how far I am along but this seemed to go slowly.
It was well written and I enjoyed the character development. There were a few twists but I’m not really sure I understood why they happened and I found the ending a bit too abrupt.
Nevertheless, this is a story that will stay with me for some time.
July 5, 2022
It was an interesting story, part ghostly, part magic, part mystery. I thought it a little too simplistic though, and predictable. The characters weren’t developed enough for me to feel a connection to them.
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