61. Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah

I may have found a new favorite author. I love Ms. Hannah's voice and both of the stories I've read by her are extremely touching. I give Distant Shores an A-.

From Amazon:
Elizabeth and Jackson Shore married young, raised two daughters, and weathered the storms of youth as they built a future together. But after the children leave home, they quietly drift apart. When Jack accepts a wonderful new job offer, Elizabeth puts her needs aside to follow him across the country. Until the sudden death of her father changes everything.Grieving and alone, she retreats to an isolated beach house where she packs away the last remnants of her parents’ lives. There, the pieces of a past she never knew unfold to reveal a tender story of lasting devotion, the kind of steadfast commitment that Elizabeth admits is missing from her own marriage. Faced with her own disillusionment, she makes a terrifying decision, risking everything she has for a second chance at happiness. Enriched by soul-stirring emotion and an appreciation for the simple joy of everyday miracles, Distant Shores is an exquisite reminder of the most precious gifts in life: friends and family, children and lovers, the strength to change, and the courage to forgive–all flawlessly captured by the graceful hands of Kristin Hannah.

Ms. Hannah does an excellent job of making the characters real. While I found faults with both Elizabeth and Jack, I thought that just made them more realistic. Reading this story made me vow to keep working on my marriage each and every day. It's too simple to fall into that comfortable, relaxed, just get through the day mentality. I read this book fairly quickly and have to admit, I have already gone to library and get several more of Ms. Hannah's books. If you haven't read anything by her, I highly recommend you do so and fast!