Weathering the Storm

Sunrise Beach #1

by Charlotte Golding

Stella Britton’s life has been flipped upside-down. The scandal involving her now ex-husband was too much to handle. The embarrassment, money issues, and debilitating pain were things she never expected to experience. Running away seemed like the right thing to do.

Now she’s in a sleepy beach town where she hopes the rumors won’t find her or her surly teenaged daughter. Her biggest challenge will be guiding Kelsey through this maze of changes while trying to regain her trust.

Her next biggest challenge will be making a living. Her heart’s passion has been painting, though she’d abandoned it years ago to be the proper wife to an executive husband and mom to a privileged busy daughter. She hopes her skill and creativity hasn’t dried up. But even more, she hopes she can become a savvy businesswoman and sell the work that comes from her heart.

As her gallery opens for business, Stella meets a woman who becomes a mentor and friend. Unfortunately, the things Stella wants and needs to figure out most desperately are things she cannot bring herself to talk about. As she tries to manage her heavy burdens alone, the past she’s left behind threatens to crash in.

Will Stella find the courage to stand up to criticism she’s fought so hard to distance herself from? Or will she be forced to uproot her daughter and run again?

Genres: Contemporary

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2021

Reviews

[Coffeebreakwhatever · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay afternoon read. Short story, "book 1" of a series. Started out on the boring side, then picked up in the middle, and then went back to kind of boring to finish. I was just hoping for a little more entertainment. It had a bit of a mystery in the middle - who was Max? And what happened with the vandalism? No spoilers here -

One thing that annoyed me was, why didn't Stella use her maiden name when she relocated to try to dissolve ALL connections to her ex-husband as she started her new life? But I concluded that if she had - there wouldn't have been a story! This issue is what created the entire structure of the story, so as you read.... don't let it bother you! It is Book 1 in a series so Book 2 picks up where this one leaves off in case you want to continue with the story.

[Shannon Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book to satisfy a reading prompt and because I love the cover. This is the first time I’ve read this author and, unfortunately, I don't think I'll be reading her again. I am shocked to see so many 5-star ratings and reviews. (Did I read the same book everyone else read?) I almost left a rating without a review because I do not want to offend the author or hurt anyone’s feelings. However, if someone would have mentioned these "issues" in their review, maybe I would've passed on the book. For starters, the blurb is misleading. The book started out slow and boring and it never picked up. I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters, and I don’t even think the characters felt a connection to each other. The drama and emotion and conflict was totally missing, and the story didn't even have a climax. These are big issues for me as a reader. Also, the single "problem" that occurred was with a broken window (no spoilers) and the minimal "threat" came from a character named Max (no spoilers). But this is a reach, folks, because I don't even know why this character was in the book. What was his purpose??? I was annoyed because I wanted more…. More drama, more tension, more emotion, more backstory, a bigger issue/struggle/problem for the character to overcome. I’m sad to leave such a terrible review, but the story is not believable or entertaining. It was not what I expected and I am truly disappointed. I will not continue this series.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult new start.

Stella moved herself and her teenage daughter Kelsey to Sunrise Beach to distance them from the scandal shadowing them after her husband is sent to prison for embezzlement. She buys a small cottage and opens an art gallery to sell her paintings while her daughter starts college.

There are serious issues addressed. Teenagers are difficult at times and Kelsey is feeling resentment for the changes in her life. When Stella makes a friend Adele who helps her a great deal. She is worried that if people learn about the situation she left in Atlanta it will affect the gallery and cause distress in their lives.

Stella is a strong person and refused to give up on her dreams, both her painting and the life she wants for her daughter. I felt sympathy for her in her struggles and pride for every positive step.I was thoroughly involved in her story and obtained the next in the series.

[Annette Megaughin-Helder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella and her daughter have moved to the seaside village from Atlanta after her husband was sent to prison for embezzlement.

There, Stella opens a gallery displaying her paintings and trying to create new art to deal with the trauma of the last 3 years.

Desperate for people not to find out, she hides the truth about her divorce from her new friends, but when painting student Adele wants to hold an exhibition, it all threatens to spill out.

Stella needs to decide if she wants to keep her past hidden, or deal with it head-on to secure the future for her and her daughter.

A nice book with great potential, but the writing style felt a little detached and you never really get the full emotions of the characters. There were also spelling and editing mistakes, including characters being named differently at stages in the book.

I would have given it 3.5 ⭐️, but as that’s not an option it gets 4.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very realistic and I could relate to them. Beautiful setting in a small beach front town. Stella is a divorced mom with a teenage daughter, Kelsey, who is starting her first year at the local community college. Stella is trying to figure out how to support them and not divulge that her ex committed fraud and is currently in jail. She loves to paint and has opened a small gallery in the hopes of selling some of her canvases. She meets a lot of the locals, Adelle is one that becomes a close friend and encourages her. She also asks to take lessons in how to paint. Stella continues to grow in confidence. She and her daughter both work through their inner turmoil and regain their identity. A very positive heart felt story.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about Stella and her daughter, Kelsey who have moved to Sunrise Beach, after
Stella divorce. Stella husband was charged with embelselment and went to jail. Everything they
owned was taken in the law suit.

Stella makes friends with Adella through her paintings/gallery. Stella teaches Adella to paint.

They plan an exhibit of their paintings, but things take a drastic turn. Stella wonders if
she and her daughter can live past the stigma of what her husband did.

Book #2 is called "Trusting the Plan"

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start to a series. Stella has moved to Sunset Beach with her daughter for a fresh start after her divorce from a man who is now in prison. She feels trapped by the past and afraid it will follow her.

I thought this was good, but the story moved along too slowly. There were some errors, one for example, was when a character referred to Kelsey, Stella’s daughter, as having graduated college, when Kelsey had only graduated high school. I also did not like that one of the plot devices for suspense fell flat with no resolution (the window). 3 stars.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing after disaster hits

Stella and her daughter Kelsey, come to Sunrise Beach to start over after her divorce. Here Stella opens a gallery to show her paintings and to start painting again. She works hard to rebuild her relationship with her daughter and regain her confidemce. With the help of new friends ,Stella is starting to get comfortable, but she knows that at any time her past can come back to haunt her

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weathering the Storm Book 1

Sunrise Beach offers a new life for a woman and her daughter. The mother, an artist lacks the confidence to accept imperfection. Divorced and losing everything has brought shame and guilt. With the help of Adelle, Stella, finds a friend and eventually the success of finding the confidence in herself as an artist and a mother

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a well written storyline that flows easily between the pages. The characters are engaging and had me hooked from the beginning.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Delbora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

This is a good story that could have been greatly improved with better editing. I did enjoy the premise of the story. Really don't like that additional bad drama is headed the main characters way.

[Kelly potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

What a lovely story. This story proves that even though life throws you into turmoil happiness will eventually rise again.
I think the journey to healing is beautifully written in here.

[Charlene Rakstis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weathering the Storm

A good story about believable and likable characters. I have enjoyed reading this story and I look forward to reading more.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional, enlightening, and captivating narrative of a strong, resilient, and meticulous woman: how she overcomes an extremely difficult time in her life!

[Fernie Bartram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy light hearted read

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.