Seaside

by Terri Blackstock

Sarah Rivers has it successful husband, healthy kids, beautiful home, meaningful church work. Corinne, Sarah’s sister, struggles to get by. From Web site development to jewelry sales, none of the pies she has her thumb stuck in contains a plum worth pulling. No wonder Corinne envies Sarah. What she doesn’t know is how jealous Sarah is of her. And what neither of them realizes is how their frantic drive for achievement is speeding them headlong past the things that matter most in life. So when their mother, Maggie, purchases plane tickets for them to join her in a vacation on the Gulf of Mexico, they almost decline the offer. But circumstances force the issue, and the sisters soon find themselves first thrown together, then ultimately drawn together, in one memorable week in a cabin called “Seaside.” As Maggie, a professional photographer, sets out to capture on film the faces and moods of her daughters, more than film develops. A picture emerges of possibilities that come only by slowing down and savoring the simple treasures of the moment. It takes a mother’s love and honesty to teach her two daughters a wiser, uncluttered way of life—one that can bring peace to their hearts and healing to their relationship. And though the lesson comes on wings of grief, the sadness is tempered with faith, restoration, and a joy that comes from the hand of God. Seaside is a novella of the heart—poignant, gentle, true, offering an eloquent reminder that life is too precious a gift to be unwrapped in haste.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Family, Contemporary, Drama, Inspirational

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over seven million books sold worldwide.. She has had over thirty years of success as a novelist.

Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in a U.S. Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots, while challenging her readers to think and grow. She hopes to remind them that they’re valued by God and that their trials have a purpose.

Reviews

[Gray Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet novella about re-connecting with loved ones, forgiveness, peace, and hope. It was a little too preachy in some places, but other than that it was beautiful. ^-^

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories about women, especially mothers and daughters or friends. The book was a quick read at only 128 pages, but the story was powerful and kept my attention. I loved that Maggie rented the seaside house and then sent her daughters Corrine and Sarah tickets so they would be less likely not to come.
I loved that even though they had a not so good relationship with each other, they invested the time to talk about their feelings and in the end they realized just how important they were to each other. Many readers will be able to relate to the sisters and mother, and it has a lesson in it that we all can benefit from.

This is a wonderful book, and even though it’s such a quick read, it’s a story that will stay with you for years, and I would recommend it to women of all ages.

[Jade Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very short read, but a very beautiful and inspiring read. In the one hundred twenty two pages of this novella, a picture emerges of the way every day life can weigh us down, but also of the peace we can live in when God is in our heart. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a lift of spirits. Excellent one day read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up because I liked the message of not wasting one’s life being TOO useful to the point of completely missing what life and relationships are all about.

Sarah and Corinne are so busy that they actually missed going home for Christmas last year; now their mom has asked them to come to Florida on a week’s all-expenses-paid vacation. Eagerly she waits for them to put work aside so she can communicate to them her important news, but it seems they never will be ready to listen.

A touching and melancholy little story of mother and daughters, but with a lining of hope and purpose.

[Analie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, Maggie plans a seaside retreat for herself and her two adult daughters in hopes of restoring their relationships with each other. I liked the overall message about regrets and the emptiness of chasing achievement, though I much prefer this author's suspense novels. The short length would make it perfect for travel or reading at the beach.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for several years & finally decided to pick it up & read it. This was a book about the relationships between a mother & her two daughters. It really makes you think about how you spend time with others & is it really quality time? This is a quick little read that I enjoyed. It brings you back to reality.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fast and large print. The book is about a mother who is trying to bring her daughters close together and help make them see things in a different light. I related to it as a daughter, but I know my mom would like to read this as well and I can see her relating to the mother's side. The daughters can't seem to de-stress and let go of their anxieties long enough for a week long trip in Florida with their mother. They begin to come together and the mother finds a way to reveal the real reason she brought her girls back together. If your sensitive, you may want to have a tissue next to you. It is a good book.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very simple story that has been told in countless ways. An older divorced mother named Maggie invites her two daughters, Sarah and Corinne, (who have a strained relationship), to a seaside cabin in Florida in order to teach them a lesson about life--lesson very opposite to what she taught them growing up. Of course the daughters do not want to go, but end up going anyway. Once there they do not make the most of their time with their mother, instead they continue to keep to themselves and their worlds, that is until the mother confides in them that she is dying. After their Mother's confession, the sisters begin to focus on their relationship with each other and their mother. It was an okay book, with a made for television inspirational story line and not much more.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Seaside" by Terri Blackstock had tremendous potential in my opinion. The concept behind the story is beautiful. The way Blackstock goes about telling the story though is less than ideal. The Christianese throughout this novella is so heavy-handed that is almost begins to feel oppressive. There's a great story here about redemption and family, but Blackstock buries it in proselytizing. I can see the greatness of the writing through that and I think that is what disappointed me most. Christian media should strive to be the best not middle ground heaped with lots of cliches. Sadly much of time it is and this novella is no exception. It's not a waste of time by any means because the beauty of the story shines through, but if you choose to read it sadly don't expect to much.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to relate to due to unrealistic portrayal of characters. Maggie expects adult daughters to drop everything and come? Really? I realize her motives were good. But do mothers realistically think they can teach their adult daughters something in one week, when their life until that point has taught them something differently? And two adult sisters acting so immature to each other?? I have sisters as well and I realize that everything isn’t always good between adult sisters but does that mean you act like two 8 yr.olds.?? We don’t get along with all adults in our working life, but do we act so immature to them? So why to your sister?

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

contemporary read n good reminder of our legacy we leave n bring to our kids. Emotional n tissue please story. Seven days seaside vacation together in the midst of living life on a merry go round ride that is chaotic n not knowing to have rest in the one who made us. Because we want to hang onto our mum's forever we don't control when they leave us, we just have to handle it with the Lord's help.(I sort of can relate to this in bringing my kids together for just a weekend has gone pear shaped n have placed it in the Lord's hands).

[Judi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed...ok way disappointed. Loved the idea, but the writing was a little too sappy for me and I am not a fan of Christian fiction; I chose it blindly while surfing the library shelves. The predictability and the "cloud-parting" revelations...blah!

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this on whim from the library huge mistake. This is very much like a card you would get at a Christian Book Store in the form of a "novella". Really preachy and beats you over the head with it's hokey Hallmark style messages.

[Tammy Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears! Buckets of tears while reading the last few chapters.
This is a touching story of a family finding one another again in the face of grief. It’s about peace. A peace only God can give. Well written by a master storyteller.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, but a good story, this book tells the tale of an ambitious woman who raised two daughters to follow in her footsteps. Problem is, they followed her too well to the detriment of things that really should matter. One daughter, Sarah, is married to a successful man, they have two kids themselves. Sarah keeps herself busy with her kids' practices and church activities to gain the accolades and acceptance that she doesn't get at home. She doesn't get these things at home because she's always too busy with church activities. Her sister, Corinne, is trying to emulate their mother by focusing on the three businesses that she's started. She does trouble shooting for websites, has a jewelry business and has started a dog walking service. Between these three endeavors, she has no time for serious relationships. Corinne is very jealous of her sister's seemingly blissful life of wife and mother. Sarah is very jealous of Corinne's physical appearance...she looks the same as she did in high school, thin and gorgeous. They're jealous of each other, unbeknownst to the other sister. Their mother, Maggie, has asked, rather forcefully, that the girls join her, for a week, at a cabin in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. She's even booked their flights. She really, really wants this to happen. The first day doesn't go so well.....no phone service, so the girls can't get any work done, bickering with each other, much to the dismay of their mother. The plans that Maggie, a professional photographer, has for the three of them look like it's going out the window. Her girls are too involved in their businesses and their home life. Maggie shares a previously kept secret with them, which makes the girls see things in a different manner. Changes are promised, revelations are made.

[Valerie HappiestWhileReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this novella is only 120 pages long, it's packed with emotion. The story takes place primarily over seven days and features Maggie, a skilled photographer, and her two adult daughters. The plot reminded me of the song "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chaplin in that Maggie has been 'too successful' in training her daughters to be busy and productive. She invites/summons them to spend a week with her at a borrowed beach cabin to repair and renew their strained relationships. Maggie has a very serious reason to reconnect with her daughters that she's reluctant to share with them.

Seaside was published in 2001 and the only aspect that feels dated are references to technology, of which there are many because the daughters are more focused on their responsibilities at home rather than their mother.

The themes of this story are universal and most readers can see themselves in one of the characters.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sister, who lead very busy lives, spend a week in Florida with their mother. They learn what is truly important in life and find their purpose.

What I liked: the theme of taking time to relax and enjoy life and not to become overwhelmed with tasks and things you don't enjoy.

What I didn't like: I thought too much content was put into this novella - some threads seemed underdeveloped and quickly resolved. I also didn't like the idea that it was up to Maggie to correct her daughters' lives - that because she strived to look accomplished on her own, her daughters now feel like they have to over achieve to be successful. It seems that the only person who can keep her daughters from overwhelming themselves is their mother.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful short story with a lot of punch! This small family of a mother with two grown daughters spends a conflict-filled couple of days together before the girls figure out that they desperately want to have the peace and acceptance their mother has. If you have sibling rivalry among grown children, this book will help figure out what is the most important thing in life.
I gave it a 4 rating, only because I reserve the 5 ratings for longer, highly complicated novels that have obviously taken the author extreme amounts of planning to write.
Excellent book!

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Rivers has one desire. To have a week with her two daughters. At first, they decline, then circumstances force the issue. They're drawn together in a cabin.

Seldom a book brings tears to my eyes. This one did. I wish I could discover Blackstock's secret to touching the heartstrings and ability to leave an imprint on the soul. Seaside did all that.

So much is packed into this novella, memories that will return when I think of a sandy beach. Very good book of relationship and love.

[John C. Brunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terri has a way of drawing out your own personnel emotions. I found myself so connected to this short story.

She is a writer I'm just getting to know and love. She develops the characters so gracefully that you are speaking for them at times. Thank you Terri for the wonderful spiritual thoughts that encourages and reminds us that we are never alone.
Sheryl

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella about flawed Christians in crisis and God's provisions. A mother hopes to reconnect with her two daughters who never have been close and are very different. She invites them for a week at the beach, and hopes to reconnect and mend the relationships. At first it seems impossible but with God nothing is impossible. Terri Blackstock has done it again. Just perfect.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, inspring

As the mother of adult children, I could relate to the mom's desires for her grown children's lives to be better and I wish all parent/child relationships could work as hers. Blackstock is one of a few writers who do not offend my morals and whose books leave me feeling better about life. Great beach read!

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because my Mom insisted. She has recommended some gems in the past, but this is not one of those. Obviously was a great read for some - this media center copy is well worn and I notice has been checked out by the same readers more than once, so some folks obviously loved it. I found it quite maudlin and preachy - not my thing at all.

[elhbenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little book. The characters were developed well for the short time they had at the beach. The two daughters were kind of annoying at the beginning. Their reaction to their mom’s “news” was relatable. Maggie was all upset by their reaction, but she should have told them years earlier.

[Linda Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

This is a very captivating book; I had difficulty putting it down. It illustrated feelings that I could definitively understand and relate to. But it also showed the absolute peace God brings to our everyday situations.

[Amy Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone could benefit from reading this. There is a string lesson within, especially for women. It hit home but I know I’m on the right path. I lived that it was a quick read and actually well written.

[Amanda Stoeckmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short character-driven story with a good message. I think the book would have benefited from going deeper, though, with more details and descriptions of each day of the storyline, and with stronger dialogue. As it is, it feels unbelievable and a little too sweet, much like a Hallmark movie.

[Michele Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! Beautiful book! Had me in tears!

[Deb Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple story of family coming back together and shedding the past stresses to embrace simple love and faith.