Stone Creek

by Victoria Lustbader

In the small town of Stone Creek, a random encounter offers two lonely people a chance at happiness. Danny, a young widower, still grieves for his late wife, but for the sake of his five-year-old son, Caleb, he knows he must move on. Alone in her summer house, Lily has left her workaholic husband, Paul, to his long hours and late nights back in the city. In Stone Creek, she can yearn in solitude for the treasure she's been denied: a child. What occurs when Lily and Danny meet is immediate and undeniable—despite Lily being ten years older and married. But ultimately it is little Caleb's sadness and need that will tip the scales, upsetting a precarious balance between joy and despair, between what cannot happen . . . and what must. An unforgettable novel of tremendous emotional heft, Stone Creek brilliantly illuminates how the powers of love and loss transform the human heart.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

382 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2008

About the author

Victoria Schochet Lustbader was born and raised in New York City, the youngest of three children and only daughter of Rubin Schochet, a Lithuanian émigré, and Dorothy Hertz Schochet, a second generation Russian.

Drawn to the arts from a young age, Victoria studied ballet for ten years, played the piano and guitar, wrote poetry and stories. Always fascinated as well with the sciences and languages, she began college at SUNY Stony Brook as a Biology major with a minor in Russian, but ultimately got her BA in English. After graduation, Victoria spent thirteen years as an editor of science fiction and fantasy, first at Harper & Row, then at Putnam/Berkley, and worked with authors such as Ursula LeGuin, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, Frank Herbert and Philip Jose Farmer.

In 1982 she married author Eric Van Lustbader. For the next several years she continued in the publishing business as a freelance editor, but then began a second, decade-long career with The Nature Conservancy on Long Island and throughout New York State, as a fundraiser and Board member.

In 2001, Victoria made the tumultuous decision to become a writer herself. Her first novel, Hidden, was published in June of 2006 by Forge Books. Her second, Stone Creek, will be published by HarperCollins in June 2008. She is currently at work on her third. She and her husband divide their time between NYC and the east end of Long Island.

Reviews

[Season]

This could possibly be the worst book I have ever read. It was just terrible. The editing couldn't have been worse and the plot itself was so depressing. I had all I could do to finish the book and I felt that it was a complete waste of time in the end.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really anxious to read this book and was really hoping that it would turn out as good as I wanted it to be. I first picked it up at the bookstore as I was walking to the checkout with an already full armload and had to save for my next trip. It had a very interesting premise of a childless couple who were facing some difficulty in their marriage, and a widowed father trying to learn how to go on with his life after suddenly losing the love of his life. I envisioned a story fraught with a dying marriage and a unexpected love blossoming between two people who are least expecting it. The little boy would be the answer to the childless woman and everyone would live happily ever after.
For better or for worse, this wasn't exactly what happened. I did end up loving the story. It was so real and emotional and I really couldn't see how it would have worked out any other way than the way that Lustbader wrote it. That being said, I was definitly rooting for the love story between Danny and Lily to work out. I had a hard time feeling the love for Paul and thought that Lily deserved better.
In the end it was a raw, wrenching story that shows the power of love and the capacity it gives us for forgiveness and hope.
The only gripe that I had with the story was the way in which the narrative was written. It's hard to explain, it just seemed a bit stiff and out of place between the well written chunks of dialogue.
Overall, time well spent. I truly enjoyed the story and the characters and thought it was full of real to life experiences. Triumphs and struggles; love and pain; sorrow and pure joy.
Also, something I loved and almost forgot about, was how she created a soundtrack for the story that mirrored the way Lily or Danny was feeling and made it feel - for me, almost like the story was a movie I was reading instaed of watching. Ingenius way to impart the right vibe and tone. I can see myself putting on some David Gray and re-reading this in a few years.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone Creek is a book about the highs and lows of life and how, sometimes, if we are lucky, the right people come along to help us through them. Lily tries too hard to be what everyone expects her to be and to want what everyone else
thinks she should want. Paul tries to make up for his profound emotional distance by being a fantastic lover, only slowly realizing that that makes him a terrible husband to Lily. Caleb is mourning the sudden loss of his wife while trying to raise his young son under the meddling influence of his bitter mother-in-law Eve. Eve is fighting a war with Caleb so she doesn't have to admit that what she is really fighting is her profound anger, grief, fear and the specter of a fateful secret she has kept too long. At first, this
collection of people seem like nothing but bad news to each other. But Lustbader's clever storytelling shows us that they are exactly the right people in the exactly the right place to heal each other. This is a love story about all the kinds of different loves we have in our lives and how they make us who we are and help us to be who we want to be.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book fair book

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I opened this book and read the first page I was pulled in immediately. The characters were so real; what has happened to Danny, Lily, Paul and Eve is heart-wrenching and sad. I wept for them and I was touched by how strong they were in dealing with their disappointments and loss. Ms. Lustbader's writing is vivid; I felt like I was a part of the story. This book made me question the desires and decisions that were made; it made me think about how I would act and react under similar circumstances; it made me realize that love hurts, heals and gives hope. These characters and this book will remain with me.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well written story of true love, and soul mates. The characters were all very likeable (when they were supposed to be). This would be a good vacation/beach/light read.

The only thing about the book that bothered me was Binkie Floyd - I felt myself cringe whenever he came up. I get that he was supposed to be sort of like the child that Lilly longed for - but it took away much of her credibility, and the story would have been better without him.

I'll be passing this book on to my Mother in Law, who I think will also enjoy it. I'm very excited about my first Early Reviewers book and hope to do more again in the future.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoo-hoo, what an emotional ride this was!! Lots of happiness, lots of pain, lots of loss, lots of growing and learning all packed into one good book. Chick lit, in my opinion, as it is so heavy in emotional content. But the more romantic men out there might appreciate this one too.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny is a young widower with a five year old son. Danny still grieves for his wife who passed away unexpectedly. Danny is at odds with his mother in law who wants to control Danny;'s young son Caleb but Danny and Caleb have a wonderful father and son relationship. Lily and Paul have a summer home in Stone Creek and Paul is a workaholic leaving his wife for weeks at a time for his fast paced attorney life. This couple at one time really wanted a baby but Paul is a lot older than Lily and that idea has not been possible. Lily is lonely and needs a project to occupy her mind as she does not like just being Paul's hostess and the city life. Will this marriage be saved or will someone else come into her life? Emotions are on a roller coaster but things have a way ow turning around.

[Beth G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to admit it - I received an ARC of Stone Creek in 2008 and did mean to read and review it at the time, but instead ending up leaving it to sit staring reproachfully at me from my shelf for over a decade.

I was worried at first that this novel about love, loss, and healing might be too predictable: the grieving widower's memories of his dead wife are a bit too pristine; the married woman with mutual feelings for him is a bit too lost and lonely in her marriage; the son who draws the two of them together is a bit too perfectly precocious. However, the plot ended up going in unexpected and interesting directions, building up to a satisfying conclusion about the process of recovering from grief.

A good summer read.

[Cailin]

DNF at 20%
Under normal circumstances I would’ve known this wasn’t my thing, but I got it for free in a Little Free Library and figured I’d give it a chance. However, this is way too much like a bad Hallmark movie and I just know I’m going to continue to enjoy it less and less if I force myself to continue.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fact that the outcome of the story was never predictable. Very enjoyable read!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit predictable though the "will they or won't they" is prolonged through almost the entire book. Needy wealthy people with emotional baggage, but not a bad read.

[Book Hunt With Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great holiday read for me. Do check out our posts and reviews on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B03lgHhgv1R/

[Gina Shupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about love and lose.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intense book. Deeply etched characters. Lots of food for thought

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 1 out of 5]

niente salti temporali per me, sono una lettrice pigra. grazie.

[Karen Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A childless woman and a young widower with a son, provide the safety net that each needs to move on with their lives. The author did a good job portraying the damage that life sometimes inflicts on people in different ways.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm wavering between 3.5 and 4 stars on this book. Overall, it was a very sad story focusing on two marriages. The first marriage, between Danny and Tara, ends abruptly when Tara dies of a brain aneurysm at a very young age. Danny is destroyed by the death of his beloved wife, and his grief is compounded by the way his mother-in-law treats him (who is hiding her own secrets). He tries to keep himself together for the sake of his 5 year old son, Caleb.

The other marriage, between Lily and Paul, is on the rocks due to their inability to have a baby, and by the fact that Paul feels that he "should" become a parent, but doesn't seem to really want children. When they are unable to conceive, he focuses his anger on Lily and treats her badly. He goes on an extended business trip, which leaves Lily to fall into the arms of Danny.

However, in the end, Lily and Danny do not end up together. Lustbader alludes to their continued friendship, but that part of the story is not developed. Instead, Lily returns to Paul, and they end up in marriage counseling. Is their marriage able to survive? We don't really know by the end of the story.

[Wrighty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a touching yet sad love story. Danny was only married to the love of his life for six years when she died and left him alone with their young son Caleb. His grief is so overwhelming he can barely take care of himself but he has a little boy depending on him. Lily is married to Paul who loves his wife but is married to his work first. His days and most of his nights belong to Wall Street. Lily is lonely and decides to go alone to their summer home outside of the city. It is during this time that Danny and Lily first meet and the attraction is undeniable. But she is older and married and only a friendship is feasible. Except the need to help rid Caleb of his sadness draws her closer. Lily is desperate to be a mother and that's exactly what this boy needs. Now there is a delicate balance. All of these people share a need for love but how far will they go to get it? This is an emotional journey for the characters and the reader.

[Michele Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Stone Creek. i think the writing was very good and the story was familiar but different. It was very real. The loss that we suffer in life is hard to deal with and often we just don't have the tools. I do not condone having an affair but it was a great part of the story. It was really another loss they had to face. Its the way real life is. Many times in life you can't have your way. Even if it feels so right and the loss of it will break you. You learn you come close, but you don't break. You have to move on, go forward. Many times I thought the book was going to go a certain, predictable way, but it didn't. I appreciated the unexpected and overall where the book ended. It showed that our choices impact more than ourselves in many ways. Of course, we all want our 'happy ending,' but it doesn't always come. We can be happy, though, if we choose to with where we ended up.

[Rosmary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were too detailed. Didn't feel like it had an ending. You had to assume things. Not sure everyone having sex with another person was really necessary to help them with their grief. Didn't understand what was the strong connection between Danny and Lily. I know there was grief but that shouldn't have led to the road they went. It was too weird or even inappropriate. I was thinking it was going to be more of a friendship.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh- that is all I can say for this book. I enjoyed Danny's story and understand the hurt he is going through and if he was able to heal in a different way, I would have enjoyed the story better. A book that makes having an affair seem like an ok thing, just isn't my kind of book. Lily just irritated me. Stand up for yourself a little please. Also, when I am reading a story that I expect to be more realistic (as compared to stories about vampires) I expect realistic situations. How many times in ones life do you meet someone and you are drawn to them by this overwhelming sensation like you were meant to know each other? Like I said, this was not my kind of book.

[Ti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book quite a bit. Danny loses his wife after only 6 years of marriage. He is left alone with his young son and struggles daily to overcome his grief. In walks Lily, an older, sophisticated woman who is married to Paul and struggling with her own grief and marriage problems. This is a story of relationships and how friendships and love hold us together. Beautifully written and the characters are very well developed (and likable).

[Pamela Pickering · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm...I don't know if it was the book or the fact that I was really "bummin'" when I read this book. (Had recently faced a betrayal from a friend that knocked me between the eyeballs). Anyway, this could have affected my response to the book. I found the book a little too dreary and emotional at times, maybe even sappy. Although the characters were very likeable I just had a hard time dealing with the story (but again, could have been due to current events).

[Thover]

I thought the characters had depth and the emotions were quite believable. There were emotions I could certainly relate to. Whether you agree or disagree with the choices made, it was hard to not to empathize with the hurt the characters had experienced and their deep desire to find comfort and unconditional love. I could have used another chapter, but yet, enjoyed lingering over the possibilites left unspoken. Overall, I enjoyed it and found it touching.

[Englandjennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start. A great deal was spent on character and then the plot begins. Grief, all about the depth of pain, the loss but finding love that fills the void. Lily's struggle with infertility and not getting her needs met for a baby brings her into the arms of someone who knows grief all to well. On page 284 it summarized so well the doors that were open for her but the fear of going in and her own husband not following.

[Christine Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book and put it on my wish list because I thought I wanted to read it. Later on, after I read the reviews, I was not so sure. The reviews were not very good. But, sometimes I like things that others don't like, like the obscure song on an album that you never hear on the radio. I am glad I decided to read this book myself. It was worth the time. If you like contemporary romance novels, this one will be better than most you read. I held my attention from beginning to end.

[Gineiris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very descriptive and emotional so if you're not a patient person who enjoys that kind of book, than this book is not for you. Other than that it is a very heartfelt story written in an omnipresent point of view. It is "inappropriately graphic" in some parts but those parts are written in a tasteful way (i.e no dirty language).

[Christie (The Ludic Reader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 178 out of 366 pages...so I did TRY to finish.

I probably should have given up on this book sooner than I did. It was a classic case of a three dressed up as a nine. The characters just weren’t believable (even though they were all beautiful and smart and amazing and damaged.) I felt like I was reading a gussied up Harlequin.