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Sea Glass Summer
After her divorce, a woman moves to coastal Maine and forms some new attachments in this “thoroughly enjoyable and cozy tale” (Library Journal). Recovering from a painful divorce, Sarah Draycott has moved to the picture-postcard village of Sea Glass on the Maine coast, and is soon caught up in the lives of its inhabitants. As she helps elegant but troubled widow Gwen cope with her desperately ill son, and assists nine-year-old orphan Oliver in uncovering the secrets surrounding the mysterious Cully Mansion, Sarah’s broken heart begins to heal. She isn’t looking for new romance—but love finds a way of seeking someone out just when they least expect it… From the “deft and talented” (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Agatha Award-winning author of the Ellie Haskell series, this “sweet contemporary romance” (Publishers Weekly) comes complete with a gloriously atmospheric setting, a generous dollop of mystery and suspense, and a cast of unforgettable characters.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2012
157 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Cannell
50 books253 followers(from Fantastic Fiction online)
Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.
(from Internet Book List)
Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.
(from Internet Book List)
Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 24, 2013
I was looking for a light read, so I picked this up because I remembered some of her cozies fit that description.
This book was boring, though. All the interesting stuff happened before the book--the cheating spouses, the estranged sisters--and this book is just a sort of diary of really nice people having everything work out. The not-nice people just go back under the rock they crawled out of.
The little boy, age 7, had the vocabulary of a college graduate, the wisdom of Solomon, and the virtue of St. Francis of Assisi. Despite his grating perfection, you want things to work out for him...and you're assured, halfway through the book, that they will. Which makes the second half of the book sort of pointless.
Possibly the wittiest bit in the book was the names of the two bad kids: Emjagger and Rolling Stone.
This book was boring, though. All the interesting stuff happened before the book--the cheating spouses, the estranged sisters--and this book is just a sort of diary of really nice people having everything work out. The not-nice people just go back under the rock they crawled out of.
The little boy, age 7, had the vocabulary of a college graduate, the wisdom of Solomon, and the virtue of St. Francis of Assisi. Despite his grating perfection, you want things to work out for him...and you're assured, halfway through the book, that they will. Which makes the second half of the book sort of pointless.
Possibly the wittiest bit in the book was the names of the two bad kids: Emjagger and Rolling Stone.
July 11, 2017
As I love summer, the beach and collecting sea glass, I was drawn to this book. It was a nice summer read.
February 8, 2017
This book was fabulous! It was definitely a page turner. The characters were well developed and likeable, although a little too unrealistically wonderful. It was a very pleasant book to read. I knew the author's name as I had previously read some of her mysteries. Kudos to Ms. Cannell!
July 10, 2018
This is a wonderful story of Sarah Draycott who moves to a beautiful new home in Sea Glass, Maine.
After a bitter divorce, Sarah is looking for a place to call home, her own home.
What she finds are nice neighbors, a beautful ocean outside her house, and a new way of life. The book is a lovely story of how a neighborhood can make a person feel right at home and a part of the community so quickly.
She meets an aging lady who lives down the street and becomes friendly right away. Aunt Nellie (the new neighbor) introduces Sarah to others in the community and Sarah becomes close to them.
The book is a well written story, though long. I enjoyed all of it and will read others written by this author.
The book was recommended to me by my sister and a friend have read it and both of them enjoyed it.
The
After a bitter divorce, Sarah is looking for a place to call home, her own home.
What she finds are nice neighbors, a beautful ocean outside her house, and a new way of life. The book is a lovely story of how a neighborhood can make a person feel right at home and a part of the community so quickly.
She meets an aging lady who lives down the street and becomes friendly right away. Aunt Nellie (the new neighbor) introduces Sarah to others in the community and Sarah becomes close to them.
The book is a well written story, though long. I enjoyed all of it and will read others written by this author.
The book was recommended to me by my sister and a friend have read it and both of them enjoyed it.
The
March 17, 2017
Sea Glass Summer is a wonderful read. Dorothy Cannell is a favorite author of mine. I have enjoyed her cozy mystery series featuring Ellie Haskell. Sea Glass Summer is a stand alone book. Great character depictions and a solid storyline in this book.
January 25, 2014
I absolutely ADORE Dorothy Cannell ' s series featuring Ellie Haskell, not to mention her other mysteries. I knew that this a different genre, but had really high hopes when I started reading it. Sadly, I found myself disappointed.
I think the premise was a good one. A woman coming off a painful divorce moves to Sea Glass, Maine to rebuild her life. I just felt parts of the story needed more development. She meets a man and there is some obvious attraction. In the next chapter, it is six weeks later and he proposes. We don't really get to see the relationship develop.
The other thing I noticed is that everyone seems a little too perfect. Even the wicked characters back down from doing their bad deeds as soon as they are confronted and express remorse. And the little boy, Oliver, who is really at the heart of the story, is way too mature for an eight year old--both mentally and emotionally.
I had also been hoping to see some of the author's trademark wit and humor along with loveable, quirky characters - but all that was missing. I do hope she will try her hand at another Ellie Haskell mystery.
I think the premise was a good one. A woman coming off a painful divorce moves to Sea Glass, Maine to rebuild her life. I just felt parts of the story needed more development. She meets a man and there is some obvious attraction. In the next chapter, it is six weeks later and he proposes. We don't really get to see the relationship develop.
The other thing I noticed is that everyone seems a little too perfect. Even the wicked characters back down from doing their bad deeds as soon as they are confronted and express remorse. And the little boy, Oliver, who is really at the heart of the story, is way too mature for an eight year old--both mentally and emotionally.
I had also been hoping to see some of the author's trademark wit and humor along with loveable, quirky characters - but all that was missing. I do hope she will try her hand at another Ellie Haskell mystery.
July 5, 2013
I've read Dorothy Cannell's books for years and loved many of them. This novel was a puzzle to me, because there was none of Cannell's clever humor and the plot was completely predictable. Oscar, the nine-year-old around whom the story is centered, has a huge vocabulary and insights far beyond his years. He loves Dickens, and many of the characters in the book speak in a stilted manner somewhat reminiscent of the 19th century. The characters are either unbelievably kind or ridiculously nasty. Some of the writing is beautiful, and I wanted to like this as a romance or as a retro-old-fashioned novel, but the characterizations were too shallow and the conflicts were resolved far too easily. Disappointing.
November 14, 2013
This book has a cast of too many sweet, thoughtful, people and goes on too long. One of the main characters is a 10-year old boy who not only speaks like a college professor, he only thinks of what is good or hurtful to other people, including the two 'baddies' in the book. The first few chapters are very confusing as they seem to jump from one main person's chapter to the next, with the prior chapter ending in cliff-hangers. There's the obligatory really old woman who is selfless to all, the good neighbor who just 'loves to help', the most-main darling girl who is not looking for love, but finds it. There are also 2 minor 'baddies' who bully the 10-year old...they are dispatched with haste. Oh yuck!!!
October 23, 2014
This is my first Dorothy Cannell book for me. My dream place to retire has always been Maine and this is what attracted me to this book. Much to my surprise I was disappointed with this book. I felt this book went on and on and on!! I only finished this book because it was audio and I was walking while I was listening. If I had to read this as an ebook, paperback, or hardback I would have put it down to read another day which probably would never have come again.
May 11, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. Romance,spirit guides,beaches,mystery,love story.Several story lines intertwine to keep it interesting. I loved the colorful characters of Sea Glass,Maine. Considering the story is 279 pages and gets very detailed at times, the ending was wrapped up quite quickly-that was disappointing. Enjoyable and a perfect beach or summer read.
August 14, 2014
Long. Slow moving. Lots of time developing the descriptions of the surroundings, but not enough depth to the characters. The good guys are a bit unbelievable and their relationships are rushed. The bad guys are pathetic and easily forgiven. My first read by this author, probably my last
June 20, 2016
Fairly interesting story with a "feel good" yet perhaps unrealistic ending. However, the prose was 8th grade level so it felt plodding and uninspiring. I probably would have stopped reading if I hadn't been "hooked" by wanting to see how it turned out.
June 26, 2020
A delightful summer read! A divorced woman finds a new life with the help of her new neighbors, and a precocious 7 year old. The are some flies in the ointment, so to speak, which adds to the drama. I love a satisfying conclusion with all the loose ends tied. Great summer read.
September 7, 2015
This story kind of creeps up on the reader and has a satisfying happy/sad ending.
June 18, 2018
Sara has decided to move from the Midwest to Sea Grass, ME. She very quickly becomes acquainted with and involved with several people in her community. There is the young boy being forced to live with an aunt and uncle whom he has never met because his grandfather has become too ill to care for the boy. There is the elderly woman trying to care for her son with early onset Alzheimer’s without help. There is the black woman who has been working as caregiver to the ill grandfather and was a substitute grandmother for the young boy. All these characters and more play a prominent part in telling the tale.
July 3, 2025
I wanted to like it but found myself getting frustrated at the endless sentimentality of the writing and the slightly sickly perfect behaviour of the very one-dimentional main characters. The 9-year-old boy's character was completely unrealistic, perpetually speaking with the emotional maturity of an enlightened older adult; I think the author needs to spend some time around 9-year-old boys!
The constant details provided of for instance getting food or the house ready for a get-together was super boring and did not progress the narrative in any meaningful way.
A disappointing read.
The constant details provided of for instance getting food or the house ready for a get-together was super boring and did not progress the narrative in any meaningful way.
A disappointing read.
February 28, 2018
I first started to read Murder at Mullings by by this author a few days ago. The writing and descriptions were charming in a delightfully old fashioned way, but about a quarter of the way through the book, I decided that was really all there was to the book... not much of a story, so i abandoned it. This book is much the same - without the period detail. So I abandoned it also after just a few pages.
August 8, 2020
One of my absolute favorite books is The Thin Woman by Dorothy Cannell. I've read it multiple times over th years. Her books are hit and miss for me. The others in the series don't match up to that first book, because Ellie became the straight person for bizarre characters. In book 1, her own quirky personality is the star.
This book has heartwarming characters, intriguing story lines and a glorious setting. Great read.
This book has heartwarming characters, intriguing story lines and a glorious setting. Great read.
September 14, 2025
I listened to this entire novel before realizing that I accidentally downloaded the wrong novel by the exact same title. I meant to select Sea Glass Summer by Rachel Hanna (2024), not this one. No wonder.
Slow novel about perfect people in a perfect seaside town. "A stranger comes to town" plot, wherein a woman and a man and a child all have extraordinary feelings that they are meant to join together to become a family. Suspend all disbelief.
Slow novel about perfect people in a perfect seaside town. "A stranger comes to town" plot, wherein a woman and a man and a child all have extraordinary feelings that they are meant to join together to become a family. Suspend all disbelief.
August 26, 2019
This is the first book I have read by this author. It was a wonderful story and I want to read other books she wrote. There is a little of everything in the book and the characters were interesting. I like happy endings.
I like stories in spooky mansions and ghosts. This was a beautiful love story and Oliver was a special little boy.
I like stories in spooky mansions and ghosts. This was a beautiful love story and Oliver was a special little boy.
May 11, 2024
Following a painful divorce, Sarah Draycott moves from Illinois to the small village of Sea Glass, Maine, into a seaside cottage she fell in love with at first sight, and finds herself falling in love with her wonderful neighbors, especially nine-year-old Oliver, a delightful and loving boy.
What a wonderful story! so much more than any descriptions foretell.
What a wonderful story! so much more than any descriptions foretell.
May 14, 2017
Considering it was the source of the title, I would've liked the sea glass motif to be more prominent throughout rather than just referenced briefly at the beginning and end; plus, it didn't really tie into the actual events.
March 17, 2023
This was a wonderful book filled with many kind and caring people. I've liked Dorothy Cannel's books since reading The Thin Woman. This book has three main characters - Sarah, Gwen, & Oliver. How their lives mesh and blend with others is an interesting and delightful read.
December 28, 2018
I found this to be an interesting book with a lot of characters to keep track of. The ending was worth it.
August 15, 2020
Good, heartwarming story! Four stars because it's really wordy...I don't care for that many details.
stopped-reading-unfinished
December 12, 2021I just didn’t keep reading this. There is no good reason. Maybe I’ll try again another time? Basically other books kept coming along that interested me more than this story had.
Read
June 20, 2024I didn't enjoy the author's writing style
October 26, 2025
Predictable.
August 26, 2023
Sea Glass Summer by Dorothy Cannell is an engaging, heartwarming tale of friendship, loyalty, and love set in a small contemporary coastal town in Maine. Storylines intertwine: elderly Gwen at wits' end caring for her adult son with Alzheimer's, young Oliver who must leave his beloved grandfather to live with the uncle and aunt (who have ulterior motives), divorced Sarah from Chicago who falls in love at first sight with her cozy cottage.
Characters and relationships are richly developed with engaging backstories. Sarah quickly settles in and forms strong friendships. She begins a new romance, even though she'd sworn off men and betrayal forever. The nosy neighbor (usually a two-dimensional caricature) is someone you'd like to meet. Small touches of the paranormal enhance (rather than dominate) the story. The over-the-top sweet ending wraps up loose ends charmingly (a perfect escape book, no resemblance whatsoever to real life).
Characters and relationships are richly developed with engaging backstories. Sarah quickly settles in and forms strong friendships. She begins a new romance, even though she'd sworn off men and betrayal forever. The nosy neighbor (usually a two-dimensional caricature) is someone you'd like to meet. Small touches of the paranormal enhance (rather than dominate) the story. The over-the-top sweet ending wraps up loose ends charmingly (a perfect escape book, no resemblance whatsoever to real life).
September 26, 2012
Leaving behind a crummy divorce, thanks to her ex and best friend's dalliance, Sarah Draycott is delighted to move to the pretty little town of Sea Glass, Maine. With the coast at her back door and her front door facing the town, Sarah is ready for a do over in a big way. Right away energetic, 90 year old Nellie Armitage, knocks at the front door and makes friends. Then, Sarah makes the acquaintance with 70 something Gwen and her son, Sonny plus little Oliver, an orphan with a huge vocabulary. Sarah finds herself fitting in rather comfortably with the residents of Sea Glass.
I've never read Dorothy Cannell until this book and and found to my surprise that I really enjoyed her writing. I must say she really get detailed and sometimes that can derail your reading but she also has a sense of humor that makes it fun.
I've never read Dorothy Cannell until this book and and found to my surprise that I really enjoyed her writing. I must say she really get detailed and sometimes that can derail your reading but she also has a sense of humor that makes it fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews