Beach Colors: A Novel (edition 2012)

This is a wonderful book. Every character is carefully delineated--no matter how small a part they play in the story. I truly enjoyed it. I wish I had the clothes Margaux designed, too. ( )

With nowhere else to go, Margaux Sullivan returns to her family summer home at the shore at Crescent Cove, CT. She's lost everything to her husband - their NYC apartment; her successful business; the bank accounts; their marriage.
As she tries to figure out how to move forward she reconnects with people from her past - people she grew up with during the summers. One in particular is Nick Prescott. Although she doesn't recall knowing him as a girl he remembers everything about her - at least what he knew from afar as he never spoke to her back then. There's a world of difference when one is 14 and the other 18. But now, both in their 30s, he'd like to really get to know her.
Nick is the polar opposite of Margaux's ex. He gave up his dream job of history professor to come home and take care of his mom and nephew. It's mostly out of guilt for what happened to his brother but it's also just because he's an upstanding guy. Margaux has no intention of starting a relationship but she finds Nick irresistible on a few levels. Her main focus is finding her love of design again and making her mark with a new line. But will she find happiness and contentment if the NY fashion scene takes notice?
There are several characters dealing with issues in Beach Colors. I can see that this could be the start of a series. I wonder... Anyway, I enjoyed them all (seriously, Linda was a hoot!) and would definitely like to read more about them in future books.
Overall, I liked Beach Colors. Thanks to Library Thing for the Early Reviewers copy! ( )

A nice little "beach" story. There seems to be a lot of this genre out there right now. Good story line, well-developed characters, but the same love-lost-and-found theme. Not a bad way to spend a day at the beach. I read this one while at Nags Head, NC, ( )

Margaux Sullivan returns home to Crescent Cove, CT after her marriage, fashion business, and her life in general, have gone down the tubes thanks to her scummy husband. Being stopped for speeding as she crosses the town line is not an auspicious beginning to her plan to start over.
Police Chief Nick Prescott realizes immediately that the out of state speeder he has stopped is the girl he had a major case of unrequited love for when he was younger and going off to college. His plan to teach at the college level has been shelved as he returns to his hometown to care for his traumatized nephew Connor after the death of Jack’s brother.
Despite the unfortunate beginning to their becoming reacquainted, Margaux and Nick find themselves drawn to each other. Margaux has the seed of an idea to return to the fashion world but it will require a lot of hard work and immense amounts of time. Nick would still like to return to academia but has to put Connor’s needs above his own and that includes not getting involved with a woman who may not be around for the long haul. Margaux and Connor bond at their first meeting, however, and that adds to the tension between the two adults.
I enjoyed watching two people who have so many reasons to never fall in love again, dancing around each other and putting up walls at the same time. Lucky for them both, they have friends and family who love to interfere and provide the support and advice Margaux and Nick need to work out their relationship. Salon owner Linda becomes Margaux’s fairy godmother and Margaux’s two friends, Grace and Brianna, provide some tactful pushing. The three women, known as “The Selkies” in their childhood, have all achieved their childhood dreams but have not found the happiness they thought they would have for various reasons. Finally, the setting of the town itself becomes the creative muse for Margaux and her new designs.
Nick has friends give him a nudge toward Margaux and his mother and nephew are smitten with her. He is the one holding back because of his fears about Connor being abandoned by another mother figure. It is interesting that Connor gives Margaux his whole heart without reservation and that Nick is the fearful one.
The story is resolved in a realistic but satisfying way that is true to the personalities involved. I am hoping that we will soon see a book for Grace or Brianna and more of the wonderful town of Crescent Cove. This is the first piece of women’s fiction from this author who writes mysteries as Shelley Freydont. Kudos to Ms. Noble on her debut book. ( )

Margaux Sullivan is a successful designer in New York when her husband of 13 years empties their bank account, takes all of their assets, and disappears. This bankrupts her company, and forces her to lose her home. She goes home to Crescent Cove to stay in her family's beach house to decide what direction her life should take. Her mother and childhood friends are there to support her, and she falls for the town's sheriff, Nick. She soon finds design inspiration in her new location. I had fun reading Beach Colors. I wish I had a beach house, too. A perfect summer read. ( )