Sandcastles

Ok.

A slow moving journey through a very loving family, this story hints at secrets kept until very near the end. Mildly enjoyable, characters seemingly without flaw. John and Honor, loving parents of three close daughters find conflict only when oldest daughter Regis, following in her father's footsteps ends up at the scene of a fight between her father and a drifter who worked for him. John...more

A slow moving journey through a very loving family, this story hints at secrets kept until very near the end. Mildly enjoyable, characters seemingly without flaw. John and Honor, loving parents of three close daughters find conflict only when oldest daughter Regis, following in her father's footsteps ends up at the scene of a fight between her father and a drifter who worked for him. John spends six long lonely years in an Irish prison to pay for the crime that is committed that day. During that time Honor wants no other man and has started to shine in her artwork. Afterward, she struggles with John's reappearance in their lives but their daughter's are overjoyed to see him and are eager to be one big happy family again. His absence has come with a price on all their lives. Regis wants to marry too young and create her own happy family. Agnes searches for a vision and never talks on Tuesdays because that's the day 'it happened'. Cece sees all, wakes in the night when Regis has nightmares or Agnes sneaks out of the house but secretly she worries that her father doesn't know her well enough and won't feel the love for her that he does for his older daughters. Good parents that they are Cece's worry is expertly averted. The author hinted at secrets found all through the story, that led the families on a trip to Ireland but what was in the box was never fully explained. Some secrets are revealed at the end with some left untold so the author can write a sequel. A fairly average book. I registered this book at BookCrossing and sent it on its way.   hide

Not the best of the best

This was an interesting story with likable characters, but, as with other Rice novels I've read, there was something vaguely disappointing about it...something disingenuous about the easy resolution of complex problems. Anyway, a decent read.

I happened to like this book. I bought it on a whim and am glad it didn't disappoint me. Very sweet book.

this book was ok, i was a little let down because i had just finished beach girls and expected this one to be just as good.. i enjoyed it but i'm not rushing out to buy the next one...

Easy beach (or airplane) read.... Plus I'm still looking for that town in Connecticut where EVERYONE is ridiculously Irish and knows everything about their Irish heritage