{"product_id":"message-in-the-sand-9781982114572","title":"Message in the Sand","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn emotional and unforgettable tale of a small town irrevocably affected by an unforeseen and shocking event--from the author of the \"charming gem of a novel\" (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e bestselling author) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMystic Summer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWendell Combs is as local as they come. Born and raised in the small town of Saybrook, Connecticut, his venture into the larger world was met with heartbreak. Now, middle-aged and a confirmed bachelor, he seeks solitude from his tour of duty as a soldier back in his hometown, working as head caretaker for wealthy Alan Lancaster's forty-acre estate, White Pines, a place he has come to love for its beauty, peace, and quiet. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlan's eldest daughter, fifteen-year-old Julia, also loves White Pines, but for very different reasons. She and her little sister spend their days riding horses, swimming in the lake, and painting landscapes inspired by the property they adore. While her parents prepare to host their annual summer gala fundraiser, Julia's eyes are set to the simpler joys of summer: she's fallen in love with the boy-next-door and longs for their next encounter. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut as the last guests leave on that magical summer night, a tragedy no one could have predicted suddenly occurs, shaking the entire town to its core. Wendell and Julia now face an uncertain future. At the height of their grief, two very different women return to Saybrook: Ginny Feldman, Wendell's first love, who cannot stay away any longer, and Candace Lancaster, Julia's estranged aunt who wants nothing to do with the town or the family estate she escaped decades earlier. Now, the only familiar things Julia has to cling to are Wendell and White Pines, but it looks like she's about to lose both... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith Hannah McKinnon's \"sharp and evocative\" (\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e) prose, this stirring and affecting tale explores the connection between people and place and what, ultimately, makes up the fabric of a family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHannah McKinnon is the author of nine novels, including\u003ci\u003e The Lake Season\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMystic Summer\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Summer House\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSailing Lessons\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe View from Here\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMessage in the Sand\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Darlings\u003c\/i\u003e. She graduated from Connecticut College and the University of South Australia. She lives in Connecticut, with her family, a flock of chickens, and two raggedy rescue dogs.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Atria Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50379047665938,"sku":"9781982114572","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1438309b-15e1-4b41-b0db-7e6c2f8d1c2c.jpg?v=1728655554","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/message-in-the-sand-9781982114572","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}