FOREVER BEACH
From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors and Breakwater Bay comes this heartwarming story of love, family, and redemption. Two young girls pledged to be best friends forever. Separated by circumstance and hurt, they are reunited years later as they struggle to put their differences aside for the sake of a special little girl—perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Elin Hilderbrand, and Karen White.
Sarah Hargreave is anxious to finalize the adoption of her foster daughter Leila. Once a foster child herself, Sarah longs to become Leila’s “forever” family and give her all the love and stability she was denied in her own childhood.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors and Breakwater Bay comes this heartwarming story of love, family, and redemption. Two young girls pledged to be best friends forever. Separated by circumstance and hurt, they are reunited years later as they struggle to put their differences aside for the sake of a special little girl—perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Elin Hilderbrand, and Karen White.
Sarah Hargreave is anxious to finalize the adoption of her foster daughter Leila. Once a foster child herself, Sarah longs to become Leila’s “forever” family and give her all the love and stability she was denied in her own childhood. When Leila’s biological mother suddenly reappears and petitions the court for the return of her daughter, Sarah is terrified she’ll lose the little girl she loves to the drug addicted mother who abandoned her.
Having grown up in foster care, Ilona Cartwright fights for the rights of children who have no one to fight for them. But to Sarah she is Nonie Blanchard, who grew up in the same group foster home as Sarah. They’d promised to be best friends forever, then Nonie was adopted by a wealthy family, and Sarah never heard from her again. Sarah still hurts from the betrayal. But Nonie harbors her own resentment toward the past.
Mistrustful of each other, the two women form a tenuous alliance to ensure Leila’s future, but when Leila’s very survival is on the line, they’ll have to come to terms with their own feelings of hurt and rejection to save the child they both have come to love.
- William Morrow Paperbacks
- Paperback
- June 2016
- 416 Pages
- 9780062439062
Buy the Book
$15.99
About Shelley Noble
Shelley Noble is a former professional dancer and choreographer and has worked on a number of films. She lives at the Jersey shore where she loves to visit lighthouses and vintage carousels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America.
Praise
“Deeply moving. An uplifting story of love, trust, friendship, and the ever-changing face of family.” — Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author
“Forever Beach is a heartwarming, triumphant story about finding forgiveness and finding your forever home.” — Nan Rossiter, New York Times bestselling author
Discussion Questions
In spite of Sam’s love and the security he gave to Sarah, she
still has trouble allowing herself to love people and accept
their love in return. Why do you think she has trouble with
this? Do you think it’s because of her time in the foster
system? How can Leila avoid a similar fate?
Nonie has always had a plan for her life and an unrelenting
determination to succeed. How did that single-mindedness
affect her personal life? Was she unable to appreciate the
present because she was always striving for the future? Do
you think that made her unlovable?
What was it about Sarah and Nonie’s friendship that the
loss of it impacted their lives for so many years to come and
later makes them act the way they do? Do you think they
are different from people who are raised with their biological families? What, if anything, do they have in common?
After June’s death, Ilona begins to wonder if perhaps June
did love her, in her own way. What led her to this realization? Do you agree with her? Ilona has always been afraid
that maybe she didn’t try hard enough to make June love
her. Do you think she still tries too hard? What could she
have done differently?
When the book begins, Reesa has been feeling worn down
in her career as a caseworker. What was it about her last
case that pushed her over the brink? Do you think she did
the right thing to leave this area of social work and find
another job? Do you think you could do and see the things
she does if it meant you could make a difference?
Sarah, Reesa, and Ilona are thrust together because of one
little girl. Do you think they could have become friends
without Leila? Will they stay friends after this or will they
drift apart like Sarah and Nonie did so many years before?
Why do you think this might happen?
Why do you think Sarah is so adamant about adopting
Leila? Is she adopting her for the right reasons? Or is it to
fill a hole inside herself? Despite Sarah never having had
a mother growing up, do you think she could be a good
mother? Is it possible for her loss to make her an even better
one?
Is there a specific moment that was a turning point in Sarah
and Leila’s relationship? Or do you think it was a series of
moments that created a feeling of normalcy for them? Have
you ever experienced this?
One of the central themes of this novel is the question of
where a child really belongs. There seems to be no easy
answer. Is the bond between a child and his or her birth
mother so strong that no one else can replace it? Do you
think adoptive parents can fill that void and even become
more to their children?
Do you think you could ever become a foster or an adoptive
parent? Or if you already are, could you share your experience with the group? How has it changed you? Are there
things you’ve learned about yourself, good or bad, through
the process?