Jean Stone – författare

Miracles happen where you least expect them.No one captures the tides of a woman’s heart quite like Jean Stone. Set on New England’s celebrated Martha’s Vineyard, this novel brings together three courageous women whose struggles reveal startling truths and ultimately change their lives.  The women begin as strangers: Rita has a past that cannot stay hidden for long; Katie, the vibrant rock star, must choose between saving her own life and the life of her unborn child; Hannah, a selfless housewife, finds herself abandoned by her friends just when she needs them most; and Faye, the wealthy executive, thinks she’s already survived the greatest fight of her life. Before the summer ends, these women will form a lasting bond—in a season when old hurts are finally healed, love is rekindled, and life begins anew.

From the Paperback edition.

Jean Stone, the bestselling author of Off Season, weaves the extraordinary story of three cousins bound forever by the family fortune they share–and the family secrets they don’t dare reveal....Mary Beth, Nikki, and Gabrielle have little in common except the vast Atkinson fortune they inherited. Growing up amidst the splendor of Manhattan town houses and summers on Martha’s Vineyard, they’ve all learned the hard way that money can buy everything–except happiness. Marked by a summer tragedy they’ve all tried to forget, each woman has struggled to find her own way to cope with the secrets of her past.Now Mary Beth is a pillar of the New York social scene, buying designer clothing and priceless jewels that even she cannot afford. Nikki searches for peace on the Vineyard, pouring her inheritance into endless charity work. And Gabrielle hoards her money in a Swiss bank account, safe from the husband who knows nothing of her wealth. But when their trusted executor disappears with their money, the cousins come together once again to find him. For each woman, regaining her fortune has a different meaning–and will come at a different price. And in the end they’ll learn that no one’s secrets can stay hidden forever–not even the truth of what really happened that terrible day so many summers ago....From the Paperback edition.

She made a life with one man--but always loved another at...The Summer House.Jean Stone captured readers'' imaginations with the "graceful prose, vivid imagery and compassionately drawn characters" (Publishers Weekly) of novels like Tides of the Heart and Places by the Sea. Now, in her latest novel, she reveals the public scandals of a family destined for political greatness--and the private secrets of a woman who traded her childhood dreams for a role she was born to play....As a young girl, Liz Adams always knew that her father, Boston power broker Will Adams, had big plans--dreams and schemes that would bring Liz''s older brother all the way to the White House. But when fate deals the family a tragic blow, Will is forced to change his picture-perfect plans--and place the family''s political future squarely on Liz''s shoulders.Two decades later, Liz has married the man her father molded into the perfect presidential candidate. But weeks before the election, tragedy strikes again--and this time Liz can''t hide the pain of a life lived by someone else''s rules. Seeking refuge at her family''s home on Martha''s Vineyard, Liz finds only painful memories of the past--and the long-lost love she let slip away. Now, as her family''s darkest hour looms, the woman torn between two men will finally discover what her heart has known all along....From the Paperback edition.

Jean Stone is a gifted writer of romantic tales that capture the unique feel of New England while introducing characters who live in readers'' hearts forever. Her latest novel is her most moving work to date, the story of a woman who gave up everything she had for the man she loved -- but must now find the strength to stand by him during his darkest hour....Once Jill McPhearson had a life any woman would envy: a successful career as a television anchorwoman and a handsome fiance. But she gave up everything to start anew in her childhood home of Martha''s Vineyard. For Jill, carving out a new, lower-profile career on the island is a struggle. But falling in love -- and then marrying -- local carpenter Ben Niles feels natural and seamless. It feels right. Steady, rugged Ben...the man who makes Jill feel she has it all -- or at least all she really needs. But when Ben is accused of a shocking crime, Jill''s world turns upside down -- and everything she thought she knew is called into question. The small-town island life Jill loves is suddenly unbearable, as Ben and Jill try to hide their terrible secret from everyone they love. And now Jill must ask herself: how do you recapture a life that may never have existed in the first place?From the Paperback edition.

Some promises can never be forgotten....The author of the bestselling Birthday Girls and Places by the Sea, Jean Stone is a gifted storyteller in the tradition of Barbara Delinsky.  In this deeply enthralling novel of friendship and family, a woman must face the secrets of the past before she can confront the future....I am your baby--the one you gave up.  Isn''t it time we met?The unsigned letter, postmarked Martha''s Vineyard, arrives like a thunderbolt out of the blue, instantly sweeping Jessica Bates back thirty years.  It was 1968 when young Jess went to Larchwood Hall, a home for unwed mothers, and gave up her beautiful baby girl for adoption.  Jess''s past still haunts her--especially since she learned that her daughter died in a tragic childhood accident.But now the letter has raised the fragile hope that there was a terrible mix-up, that Jess''s daughter is still alive somewhere.  Hoping for answers, Jess makes a determined pilgrimage out to the Vineyard, out to those who know the truth about what really happened to her daughter.  There, surrounded by sand and sea and memories of lost love, she must make a choice that will change the course of her life forever....From the Paperback edition.

There are some places you must return to.In the bestselling tradition of Barbara Delinsky, Jean Stone weaves an enthralling, emotionally charged novel of friendship and betrayal, forgiveness and love. Jill McPhearson leads a charmed life—with a hugely successful TV show, two beautiful children, and a fiancé who just happens to be her sexy prime-time co-host. Just when all Jill’s dreams seem to be coming true, her past beckons her back to her childhood home on Martha’s Vineyard and to a life she wants only to forget. But returning to the island will also give this savvy reporter her biggest break—the chance to go after the story of a lifetime: her own. For a dark family secret is about to be revealed, one that could help Jill face painful memories or destroy everything she’s hoped to become.

From the Paperback edition.

In Jean Stone’s moving novel of what might have been, four very different women with one very powerful thing in common are reunited—with one another, and with the children they gave up for adoption.   Jess has led a charmed life, but now that her beautiful teenage daughter is pregnant, all she can think of is the baby she gave away. Susan lost one child years ago, and now, as a divorced college professor, she’s terrified of losing another. P.J. overcame an unwanted pregnancy to become a high-powered art director, but her whirlwind life is halted by an unsettling discovery. Ginny makes an unlikely Hollywood wife, but men, money, and four marriages can’t erase the horrors of her past—or satisfy her need for love.   Twenty-five years ago, they met in a home for unwed mothers. At the time, all they had to hold on to was one another. Now Jess, Susan, P.J., and Ginny must find the courage to face the past: The date is set for a reunion with the children they have never known. And no matter what happens, their lives will never be the same.Jess’s story continues in Jean Stone’s Tides of the Heart!  Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Trying to Score, Long Simmering Spring, and Scarlet Lady.

In this moving novel about the power of second chances, Jean Stone proves that it’s never too late to go after the one that got away.   For every woman, there is a first love. And for Meg, Zoe, and Alissa, that love has never been forgotten. Now these three friends have made a pact. In the next six months, they vow to reconnect with the men who touched their lives so long ago.   Meg is blessed with success, yet lives a life without love, haunted by the only man she’s ever wanted, a man who’s still irresistible . . . and seemingly out of reach. Zoe is a once-prominent film star, desperate for a comeback and scared to discover what has become of her hometown sweetheart—the one person who means more to her than fame. Alissa, the darling of Atlanta society, seems to have it all. Then, in one shocking moment, she finds that her life is a sham and that she left the only man who ever really loved her. Now these women will risk everything—their families, their reputations, and their hearts—to take a chance on the alluring magic of first love.   Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: The Notorious Lady Anne, Along Came Trouble, and Strictly Business.

In this poignant, exhilarating novel, three enormously successful career women face their regrets, rewrite their wrongs, and take one last shot at a happy birthday.   Abigail is a star, a Martha Stewart type with a weekly TV show and millions of loyal fans. Maddie is a brilliant photographer who shoots for a hip magazine. And Kris is a bestselling author whose taut thrillers fly off the shelves. As girls, they celebrated birthdays together, sharing laughter and tears and hopes for the future. Then they lost touch. Now, on the brink of turning fifty, Abigail reaches out to reconnect.   Once again, Abigail, Maddie, and Kris will spend time together to toast their birthdays. But this year, they’re all too aware of the childhood dreams that never came true. One of them carries a dark, tormenting secret; another is obsessed with the man she loved and lost; a third will give anything to start over. Haunted by the passage of time, all three will go to any length to make sure their wishes come true.  Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Mistletoe and Magic, Claimed, and After the Kiss.

Can love, romance, and marriage really be better the second time around? That’s what four best friends are about to find out in Jean Stone’s sexy, smart, and poignantly funny new novel about saying “I do” all over again.It’s an idea just crazy enough to work–a wedding-planning business tailored for second weddings run by four single best friends who’ve loved, who’ve lost, and who are ready to start again. A successful Boston publicist, Jo Lyons has returned to West Hope after a devastating breakup left her career and her heart broken. Now she’ll try to pick up the pieces among the three women she knows best. Lily, the fun-loving, free-spirited eternal optimist. Sarah, the strong-willed unconventional artist. Elaine, the would-be domestic diva. It’s Elaine’s upcoming second marriage that will be the inspiration and test model for their new business, Second Chances. For Jo it just may be an unexpected second chance of a different, far more romantic kind, but only if she’s willing to give love–and life–another try.From the Paperback edition.

Four best friends, one risky business, and a chance to say “I do” one more time. . . With their fledgling business Second Chances facing its first big break, four best friends turned wedding consultants face second chances–and challenges–of their own. For always-practical, always-predictable Elaine, it’s a time for a total makeover . . . but is the new “dream-her” really her? For Lily, the free-spirited, free-spending sprite, it was the chance to find the one thing missing from her life that not even money could buy. And while Sarah, the self-reliant artist, faces a crisis that proves just how much she needs her friends, ex-publicist Jo is tantalizingly closer to true love than she can ever possibly imagine. Ex-husbands, computer dating, teenage kids–the world’s much different than when they first said “I do,” but one thing’s the same: they’re all hoping their second chance will be a charm.From the Paperback edition.

Thanks to a high-profile wedding extravaganza for a media mogul, the wedding-planning business created by four longtime friends is really taking off. Not surprisingly, each of the friends is handling success in her own special way–and one is about to get her very own, very special second chance. . . .The irony of being a never-married wedding planner isn’t lost on forty-three-year-old Sarah. But that doesn’t mean the free-spirited single mom hasn’t known love–and, most recently, heartbreak. And while the butter- cream sweetness of wedding rituals strikes her as somewhat silly, work is a welcome distraction–as are her friends-turned-colleagues: pragmatic Elaine, dramatic Lily, and newly in love Jo. Yet Sarah is about to get even more distracted by a visitor from her past, one who holds the key to a mystery that has shadowed her life. But to face the truth, she’ll need a little help from her friends–old and new.From the Paperback edition.

They say true love is priceless, but is it worth fifty million dollars? With Second Chances, their wedding planning business, starting to take off, four best friends must decide whether they’ll take some second chances of their own. Free-spirited Lily finds herself forced to choose between her sure-thing inheritance and a chance at true love; the no-longer-predictable Elaine surprises everyone–including herself–when romance comes calling from her past; Sarah, the uncompromisingly unconventional artist, finds herself contemplating the most unexpected choice of all; and the always-clear-eyed Jo suddenly finds herself second-guessing her own second chance at happily-ever-after. The choice for each of them is “I do” or “I don’t,” and the decision will change their lives.Breakups, makeups, and romance at every turn–life always offers up its best surprises to those who leave themselves open to the possibility of second chances.From the Paperback edition.

A woman''s first Christmas on Martha''s Vineyard comes with a mysterious surprise gift in a heartfelt novel that “brims with holiday cheer” (Library Journal).In her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, novelist Annie Sutton is finally following her dream of living on Martha''s Vineyard. As she settles in for her first Vineyard winter, a fierce nor''easter brings high winds and deep snow. But the blizzard also brings something unexpected to Annie''s front porch: a baby girl in a basket. The note reads: “I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can''t.”Annie has always been grateful for her adoptive parents who raised her as their own. Yet she now hopes to spare little Bella the feelings of abandonment that still haunt her. Rather than take the baby to the police, Annie tries to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind.But it''s not easy keeping a secret in a close-knit island community, especially amid the bustle of Christmas. Before the holiday ends, there will be revelations, rekindled hope, and proof that families—the ones we are born into and the ones we claim for ourselves—are the gifts that truly matter.

Home. . . . That’s what Martha’s Vineyard is to Annie Sutton now.  After a winter spent writing her latest novel, Annie looks forward to a summer with friends who have become like the family she never had. But then her landlord announces that his grandson will be moving into her cozy Chappaquiddick cottage—and she’ll be moving out. Year-round island housing is tough to find at any time; in summer, it’s nearly impossible. Shaken by the thought of being forced to leave the people and the community she’s grown to love, Annie seeks distraction in the July 4th celebrations—and stumbles upon a young woman who’s unconscious on her front lawn . . . and barely alive . . .   Summer on the Vineyard brings not only tourists, but also wealthy families with summer homes—like Fiona Littleton’s—and tensions between them and the tight-knit island community often ignite. But when Annie’s quick thinking saves Fiona’s life, she’s surprised to learn that like her, Fiona has no one to lean on. And when Fiona fears that someone wants her dead, Annie cannot walk away. With depleting resources and no home on the horizon, Annie is certain of only one thing: each of them will have to rise to one of life’s greatest challenges: feeling at home within themselves . . .

Life is usually quiet during the off-season on Martha’s Vineyard. But not for island newbie and bestselling novelist Annie Sutton . . .   Finally settled into her adopted island home, Annie is looking forward to writing her next mystery, making soap for her new business, and starting renovations on the Inn she plans to open by the summer. She’s also enjoying spending more time with local police sergeant John Lyons, the man she’s only just gotten comfortable calling her boyfriend. She’s even starting to relish her relationship with John’s teenaged daughter, Lucy. It’s probably not the best moment for a visit from the biological mother Annie only recently met. Still, it’s high time she got to know the mysterious Donna MacNeish . . .   But Donna’s visit isn’t merely a social call—she’s come to share some devastating news. Seeking solace in an outing with Lucy, Annie and the teen stumble upon skeletal remains on the Inn’s property, a finding that calls a halt to all construction while the police investigate. Desperate for answers, Annie starts asking questions of her own. But when secrets about her own past bring shattering revelations, suddenly everything Annie understands about love and loyalty is tested—and she wonders if the ties that bind her to her beloved community will reach a breaking point . . .  Praise for Jean Stone’s Vineyard Novels “Filled with heart. . . . Perfect for long summer days. For fans of Debbie Macomber or Elin Hilderbrand.”  —Booklist“Lie down on the couch, put a pillow under your head and enjoy the ride.”—The Vineyard Gazette

Martha’s Vineyard may be picturesque and peaceful, but even there, happily-ever-after has its dark side . . .  Annie Sutton is not only a bestselling mystery author, she’s the proprietor of the newly opened Vineyard Inn. Recently engaged to local police sergeant John Lyons, instead of making wedding plans, Annie’s fighting with him about his older daughter, a troubled teen who has moved home—bringing chaos in her wake. With Annie’s beloved brother away on a troublesome journey of his own, Annie needs a friend. She begins to confide in one of the Inn’s guests, a mysterious stranger named Mary Beth Mullen. Her mix of kindness and vulnerability makes Annie trust her—until Mary Beth shares a secret that leaves Annie torn between family loyalty and a promise she made.   When a handsome, internationally acclaimed journalist checks into the Inn, he too unpacks a boatload of trouble for Annie, triggered by a provocative photo, covertly snapped—and posted on the internet. Intrigued, as tensions mount between her and John, Annie decides to eschew the police and get involved herself—enlisting Mary Beth’s help. But Annie is soon questioning whether anyone on the Vineyard this season is who they seem—and realizing that any chance of happiness rests in finding out just who her real friends are . . . Praise for Jean Stone’s Vineyard Novels “Filled with heart. . . . Perfect for long summer days. For fans of Debbie Macomber or Elin Hilderbrand.”  —Booklist“Lie down on the couch, put a pillow under your head and enjoy the ride.”—The Vineyard Gazette

Finding love on Martha’s Vineyard has been a dream come true—but for the bride-to-be, the price of happiness may be too high . . . With her long-awaited wedding to police sergeant John Lyons only weeks away, bestselling author and Vineyard Inn proprietor Annie Sutton is faced with more drama than usual. Between the hideous heirloom gown her new family expects her to wear and the challenges of bonding with John’s contentious daughter Abigail, Annie’s having serious doubts. But when the baby she once found on her doorstep goes missing, Annie has bigger concerns, including that the little girl’s pregnant, older half-sister is in no condition to hear bad news . . .   Desperate for answers, Annie combs the island, questioning friends and even her family-to-be. Because suddenly it seems as if Abigail will do just about anything to stop her father from marrying Annie—even if it means putting a child at risk. But if scaring Annie half to death is the plan, it’s working. Nothing else matters now except finding the little girl. And if postponing her future with John—indefinitely—is the only way to make that happen, it’s a sacrifice Annie may have to make . . .Praise for Jean Stone’s Previous Novels“Filled with heart. . . . Perfect for long summer days. For fans of DebbieMacomber or Elin Hilderbrand.”  —Booklist“Lie down on the couch, put a pillow under your head and enjoy the ride.”—The Vineyard Gazette

For fans of Debbie Macomber and Elin Hilderbrand, Jean Stone’s “lovingly rendered” (Booklist) Vineyard novels are heartwarming beach reads set on beautiful Martha's Vineyard, featuring bestselling mystery author and Vineyard Inn proprietor Annie Sutton as she makes a fresh start on the island she’s come to call home.There’s no place like home. Especially when home is an island paradise in full bloom . . . With her wedding only weeks away, Annie should be grateful to be back on Martha’s Vineyard, running her cozy Inn and crafting her artisan soaps. But her recent trip to L.A. to see her bestselling novels turned into films has her fantasizing about a life in California. Annie knows her fiancé, John, would never relocate—the small-town police officer’s whole life is here. And Annie is looking forward to the imminent birth of a baby in her own extended family. Yet somehow she can’t stop imagining . . .   Then John’s older daughter is diagnosed with a serious illness, rocking their world and sending John off-island to tend to her, alongside his ex-wife. When Annie’s newfound celebrity attracts a stranger into her midst with a secret that could wreak havoc on her half-brother Kevin’s life, Annie is faced with a choice that will test their relationship. With the distance between her and John growing deeper every day, suddenly Annie is questioning everything—including her ties to the only place she has ever dared to call home . . .Praise for Jean Stone’s Vineyard Novels“Filled with heart. . . . Perfect for long summer days. For fans of DebbieMacomber or Elin Hilderbrand.” – Booklist“Lie down on the couch, put a pillow under your head and enjoy the ride.” –The Vineyard Gazette

With all the seaside charm and small-town heart that have made fans of Debbie Macomber and Elin Hilderbrand fall in love with her Martha’s Vineyard-set novels, Jean Stone transports readers to a picturesque side of the island rarely visited by tourists, as an archeology professor inherits a quaint cottage that will change her life forever…She’s coming back to the home she didn’t know she had . . . The quaint, historic fishing village of Menemsha is a side of Martha’s Vineyard that tourists don’t always see. Maddie Clarke’s late mother was born on the Vineyard, and Maddie hazily recalls childhood visits to her Grandma Nancy’s cottage above Menemsha Harbor. Now divorced with a teenage son, Maddie is awaiting news of a tenureship at her Massachusetts college when a letter arrives that could change everything . . . It turns out Grandma Nancy didn’t die long ago, as Maddie believed. In fact, Nancy just passed away at 89—and left Maddie her gray-shingled cottage. Maddie intends her visit to Martha’s Vineyard to be a brief one, just long enough to settle the estate and sell the cottage. But on arriving in Menemsha, she finds far more than memories . . . There are other family secrets waiting to be uncovered, and a Native American heritage Maddie knew nothing about. Most surprising of all, there is the glimmer of a very different future—a chance to connect with her people and find herself, and perhaps find love, on this beautiful, celebrated island . . .