- Title: Forever Beach
- Author: Shelley Noble
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 432
- Published: June 2016 – William Morrow Paperbacks
- Source: Publisher
Description:
One woman struggling to hold on to what she has,
One woman learning to forgive
Their lives entwined by one little girl.
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. (publisher)
My take: Sarah is on track to adopt Leila, her four-year old foster daughter, when she receives a letter stating the girl’s birth mother is contesting the case. Supervised visits will begin soon putting Leila back in harm’s way for sure unless Sarah and her support team of friends and professionals can stop it.
Shelley Noble takes readers inside the world of Child Protection services that attempts to save children from horrible circumstances. My heart breaks thinking about the defenseless children caught up in a legal system. Noble’s story made me feel the frustration of the people who only want to help them, save them – each one a hero.
I loved Sarah’s friends who became her family and stood by her when life got tough. I was bothered by the emotional drama between Sarah and the ad litem attorney caused by a misunderstanding when they were girls (in the foster care system). But, perhaps the insecurity experienced by both when they were young was the cause for the drama. That issue aside, I liked Forever Beach and recommend it. Book club questions are included at the end. I think this would be a good choice for book groups.
Shelley Noble is a former professional dancer and choreographer. She most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Liberty States Fiction Writers. Shelley lives in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey.
This sounds like it has good insights into Social Services and adoption. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this novel.
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I learned a few things, for sure.
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Yes, the poor children caught up in the system and used as pawns are heartbreaking. This would probably be a good choice for my book club since one member works to get foster children adopted.
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That member would certainly give gravity to the subject.
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I just received this book the other day. I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for your review.
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I hope you enjoy it!
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Books like this seem to always be great choices for lots of discussions!
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Definitely!
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I just read a book about illegal adoptions recently, so this one will be just as good to read.
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Yes, I feel for older children in the foster care system. Such an unsettled way to live.
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This story takes me back to my years as a social worker, and I can feel the urge to get in there and sort it all out. I am going to love reading this book, Mary, and thanks for sending me a copy! Thanks for your review, too, which makes me want to start reading sooner rather than later.
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You’re very welcome, Laurel!
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This does sound like a good book club choice.
And I know this is superficial, but I just love the covers on these summer novels!
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I know what you mean about the covers 🙂
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I am just looking at that beach and want to go
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Me too!
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I have seen this authors books from time to time and wondered because she seemed like a women fiction writer. Now reading the blurb and your review this will be a definite read for me so thanks for the introduction.
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I’ve read a few of her novels and enjoyed each one.
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Sounds like a very compelling read.
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I found it to be so!
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This does sound like a perfect book club read! I have about 10 ideas for discussions in my head just by reading your review. It sounds like a book that just has to be discussed.
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I agree, Katherine. Plus, it’s always nice when there’s a reader’s guide included.
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