Series:
Hobby Island (Book 1)
In the Gulf of Mexico, near South Padre, sits a private
island with a bit of a magic about it: the colors are brighter, the food tastes
better, and turtles and cranes find sanctuary there. The billionaire heiress
who built the thriving resort on Hobby Island exclusively for crafters, Eloisa
Hobby, is as much a mystery as she is a mentor. Those with troubles are invited
in the aftermath of an emotional turmoil, and with help from the other crafters
on the island Eloisa acts as a sounding board while she gently and
unobtrusively guides the visitors toward healthy resolutions in their lives.
Only a few receive the honor of a golden ticket.
Luna, ever the pragmatist, is reeling in the wake of
tragedy: she's just moved with her fierce, opinionated teenage daughter Artemis
to her mother's house, after they lost their husband and father. But her
mother, Jeanie, artistic and sensitive, has faced her own troubles recently,
and her home may not be the stable sanctuary the three women so desperately
need.
When Jeanie receives one of the coveted tickets, inviting
her and her family to Hobby Island, the blessing is one they can't turn down,
though both Luna and Artie remain skeptical of their eccentric host and
benefactor. Together, the three of them will have to learn to trust one another
again, accept help from those who love them, and embrace life -- during a
summer they'll never forget.
The premise of this book was interesting. It is a private
island, a place for crafters of all kinds to get together, share their projects,
and learn from each other. It is peaceful and beautiful, with people who look
out for each other. The owner, Eloisa, has a knack for helping struggling
people. She invites a few special people to an all-expenses paid vacation on
the island each year.
Jeanie is a quilter who received one of those
invitations, which includes her daughter Luna and granddaughter Artemis. The
entire family has had a rough time lately. Luna's husband was murdered, and she
discovered that he had lost everything gambling. She and Artie had to move in
with Jeanie. Artie is struggling with grief over her father's death. Meanwhile,
Jeanie fell victim to a scam artist and is on the brink of losing her home.
I enjoyed watching the changes the three women
experienced. Artie is almost sixteen and none too thrilled to be there. There
is no internet, and cell phone service is practically non-existent. She's quite
the brat at the beginning of the book, but meeting a new friend opens her eyes
to a life outside a screen. There is some typical teenage eye-rolling and
snark, but Artie is, at heart, a good kid. I loved seeing her and the other
girl, Orion, get to know each other. Their collaboration on an art project for
the contest was intriguing.
Jeanie is a people pleaser. Her backstory was
heartbreaking, between her unstable childhood and her alcoholic husband. She
and Luna have a strained relationship, but they need each other. She must win the
craft contest's grand prize to save her home. I loved her confidence in her quilting
skills and ached for her lack of belief in her design skills for a
contest-worthy quilt.
Luna has difficulty trusting people.. Her difficult
childhood, combined with her husband's betrayal, makes allowing anyone to get
close a challenge. She is overprotective toward Artie, which strains their
relationship. Luna also looks sideways at how easily Jeanie makes friends with
total strangers. She is wary of the exuberant residents of Hobby Island,
wondering what darkness lies beneath the smiles. The last person Luna expects
to encounter on Hobby Island is her high school boyfriend, Paul.
I liked Paul. A single dad, he moved to Hobby Island to
be near his Aunt Eloisa and have her help raising his daughter, Orion. He's in
charge of the landscaping, the golf carts (no cars), and security. His past
with Luna is an integral part of the book as they reconnect and deal with that
past. Paul is a great guy, a terrific dad, and has an excellent outlook on
life.
I enjoyed the story's progression as the island works its
magic on Jeanie, Luna, and Artie. I especially liked seeing Jeanie and Luna
work together to design the quilt Jeanie will make for the contest. Their time
together brings them closer than they've been in years but also stirs up some
unwelcome memories.
I enjoyed watching Paul and Luna reconnect. It doesn't
take long to resurrect their feelings from the past, but Luna is wary of
believing a future is possible for them. I loved Paul's patience with her fears
and his steady encouragement to let go of them.
The story's intensity built as the competition's time
grew closer. A crisis with Artie resurrected Luna's fears, causing her to push
Paul away. I liked the advice Luna got that helped her move past the obstacles
that were holding her back. Twists and turns add intrigue to the contest with a
surprise conclusion. I loved the epilogue.
The island itself was one of my favorite characters. The
little village of craft shops has something for everyone and a welcoming
atmosphere that encourages creativity. The descriptions of the flowers were so
vivid I could practically smell them, and the scene with the butterflies was
fantastic. Wicked Martha, the left sock-stealing tortoise, was a surprise. I
also enjoyed the quirky residents, such as the knitting-while-riding-a-unicycle
Eloisa and "Auntie" Dot. I'm looking forward to another visit to
Hobby Island.
No comments:
Post a Comment