Beach Reads
By Cindy Bilbao
On the Island
By Tracey Garvis Graves
On the Island sounds like the perfect beach read and it is! There’s lots of sand, sun and tropical water, however right from the start the storyline takes much different direction than the typical beach read.
The drama unfolds almost immediately in chapter one when the small private plane carrying Ana and T.J. crashes in the Indian Ocean.
Make sure to leave yourself a large enough block of time to spare because you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the pages after the plane goes down! Ana (who is 30 years old) and T.J. (who is 16 years old) now find themselves on an uninhibited island in the middle of the Maldives, as lone survivors. Don’t dismiss this plot because you think you’ve heard it before and most definitely do not think the obvious- young boy coming of age with an older woman. This story is about survival and meeting their basic needs as the two of them go from just trying to stay alive long enough to be rescued to the agonizing realization that rescue is never going to happen.
As the days turn into months their interdependence adds an interesting depth and tension to the story. T.J. is a cancer survivor whose lymphoma could reoccur and the clear boundaries that Ana needs to set due to their age difference makes their relationship complex as they struggle to survive.The author brilliantly writes this story in first person narration and each chapter alternates between Ana and T.J. so that we get insight into what each one is thinking throughout the turmoil. And this is what makes this book truly shine. It's a hard book to put down.
The Magnolia Story
By Chip and Joana Gaines with Mark Dagostino
The story of HGTV’s Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joana and their unique relationship.
A feel-good story that is very entertaining as we get to learn about some of the audacious circumstances that lead to their fame.
Chicken Soup for the Beach Lover’s Soul
By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery and Peter Vegso
This book is made up of a series of short stories and ruminations about the beach perfect for a time of reflection of your own. Includes some beautiful photography.
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
By Amanda Quick
Burning Cove Hotel on the coast of California is the setting of the mysterious murder of an actress.
Irene is the celebrity reporter who explores the meaning behind the death and uncovers the dark and dangerous secrets surrounding this glamorous paradise.
This article appeared in the Glassing Magazine November 2017 issue.
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