As we gather in Stony Point, Connecticut, with the characters of The Denim Blue Sea, we are reminded of their histories, along with their secrets and flaws. There will be a wedding between two beloved residents of the community: Maris Carrington, a denim designer, and Jason Barlow, an architect who renovates cottages. Friends and family from all around will come together for the event.
As we watch the friends gather, like Kyle and Lauren, and Matt and Eva, we see the connections between them and feel the camaraderie…and as we follow them through the days at the beach, we can almost literally smell the sweet salt air.
Like the waves beneath the sea, there is an undercurrent of secrets, some of which will surface. Will the friendships survive? Will each of them find a way to repair the damage of the past?
I enjoyed Maris, from a previous book, and love how she had found her sister Eva. Elsa, the aunt from Italy, brings a wonderful sense of the lost mother, just in time for the wedding.
Central to the community and the lives of the friends is Foley’s, the battered up beach shack where they all convened as teenagers; it brought some of my own memories to light. Mine were not on a beach, but another kind of place where everyone gathered…those are the moments that help us remember who we are.
At the heart of some of the angst, as well as some of the connections, is Jason’s brother, Neil, who died too soon. His legacy includes those he left behind, and an old battered journal that contains some secrets of its own. Will his friends be able to move beyond the pain? Will Jason find creative energy within the pages of the journal as he begins a very special project?
I love how the author brings us right into the setting until we can smell the sweet salt air, the scent of the hydrangeas, and see the seashells they gather. I can feel the friendship, too, and the pain of conflicts that test the strength of their bonds. Another wonderful and memorable story that earned 5 stars.
SERENDIPITY 
I’ve enjoyed all of JoAnne’s books so I’m glad you recommend the new one. Can’t wait to get hold of a copy! I love the cover.
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Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and that gorgeous cover…and I felt as though I was right there with the characters. Thanks for stopping by, Mary; hope you love it!
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Sounds like this gave you the added pleasure of taking a way down memory lane
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Yes, definitely! I love when that happens. Thanks for stopping by, Karen.
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