The Magic of Sea Glass Plot Summary
Lauren Sutton's wedding event planning business, Sugar and Lace, is so wildly successful that it's the subject of a reality TV show. After losing her fiancé, Mason, in a car accident, Lauren can no longer cope with happy couples and wedding celebrations--she is too overwhelmed with grief.
Mason's dream had been for the two of them to move to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they would enjoy an amazing life and send everyone postcards that read, "Wish You Were Here." With that in mind, Lauren sells her half of the business to her partner, accepts a job as a seasonal assistant to an innkeeper in Rodanthe, and tries to escape her old life.
Mary Everett, the widowed innkeeper of the Tide and Swallow, is struggling to stay afloat. Her inn can't compete with the modern lodging accommodations in the area--at least until Lauren starts planning updates and investing in the inn.
As a welcome gift, Mary gives Lauren an exquisite bracelet made from sea glass which is fabled to bring the receiver good luck. Little does Lauren know the amazing history of the bracelet or how it will serve to heal old wounds and fulfill her desire for love and family.
When Stephanie Clark recognizes Lauren from TV and asks her to help plan her beach wedding at the inn in only two weeks, Lauren finds herself caught up in the tide of emotion she's been running from, especially when her old TV producer sees an opportunity for a new show. How can she refuse when the publicity could revive Mary's business?
With so many memories of Mason flooding over her, Lauren's emotional state is very fragile. The last thing she expects is to meet someone like Brody Harrison--a local fisherman, friend of Mary's and Stephanie's, and a man who makes her heart race. Will Lauren be able to let go of the guilt of moving on without Mason and let herself love again?
Beautiful Story Threads in The Magic of Sea Glass
In The Magic of Sea Glass, Jenny Hale demonstrates her storytelling mastery with plot twists, well-developed characters, gorgeous word imagery, and perfectly executed story arcs while weaving multiple threads together to craft a deep and emotionally satisfying story.
Hale includes a story-within-a-story in her latest literary triumph. Not only do we follow Lauren's journey through grief, we also travel back several decades to the same location to meet Phillip, Alicia, Joseph, and Penelope and discover how their stories impact the present.
When Lauren's mom, Grace, learns a secret about her past, it ultimately changes everything.
What is so magical about sea glass? Lore claims that sea glass is a symbol of renewal and relaxation with healing properties. Just as sea glass is tumbled and smoothed by the beat of the ocean, people who face adversity are also softened and perfected as they deal with the challenges of life. This holds true for Lauren, and sea glass keeps turning up for her, just like road markers, to assure her that she's on the right path. Sea glass serves as a beautiful metaphor throughout the entire novel.
The Magic of Sea Glass Is Optimistic
The book deals with strained family dynamics and how one's upbringing correlates to his or her parenting style. The book offers hope that it's never too late to change, build bridges, and restore damaged relationships.
Sooner or later, everyone deals with bereavement. Grief is a process, and a support network is essential--no one should bear the burden alone. With the help of others, Lauren finds herself again, the person she was before tragedy struck, and we're reminded to celebrate the ones we've lost without sacrificing our own destiny.
It's rewarding to invest in others. Lauren plans a wedding for Stephanie, even though it hurts her heart, and so much beauty results from her willingness to do something good for someone else despite the emotional toll. When Lauren follows her gut and invests in the Tide and Swallow, she ultimately profits, but her intentions are noble, not self-serving.
There's always hope!
Your Chance to Win a Kindle Version of The Magic of Sea Glass!
I'm excited to be in Hale's First Look review group, and it's an honor to participate in her May 2023 Blog Tour as we celebrate the release of The Magic of Seaglass. You can order your copy on Amazon today.
The Magic of Sea Glass is the perfect companion for your next beach vacation, day spent poolside, or hammock time in the shade.
It's a novel that will make you yearn to dig your toes into the hot sand, scope the beach for natural treasures, and relish the rush of frothy ocean water as it races across your feet.
Our Facebook group, Book Banter Café, is giving away two Kindle copies of The Magic of Sea Glass. To enter, simply join our Facebook group, find this blog post under the "Featured" tab of the Facebook group, and comment for a chance to win.
Two winners will be randomly selected on May 16 and announced in the Facebook group. Winners will have until May 19 to private message the group admin their respective e-mail addresses, which are necessary to have the Kindle book delivered electronically.
Follow Jenny Hale on Social Media & Sign Up for Her Newsletter
Jenny Hale is an industry leader in women's romantic contemporary fiction, and she's also the founder and director of her own publishing company--Harpeth Road Press.
If you're a big fan of Hale's, be sure to check out her website where you can sign up for her monthly newsletter, find a comprehensive list of all her books, check out her blog, and find all her social media links for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Bookbub, and Goodreads.
Jenny Hale is brimming with Southern charm, and she pours that charm into warm, feel-good novels that celebrate love, friendship, and family.
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