Published: Sep. 20, 2011
Words: 93,909 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465753342

Short description

On the remote island of Puerto Franco, young Leah wades into the sea and disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years later, visual artist Mar arrives on the island with her daughter, Lemay. She anticipates a haven where she can work on her craft, away from her controlling husband. Instead, Mar finds herself in the midst of a close-knit community haunted by a curse three-decades old.

Extended description

On a still summer’s day on the island of Puerto Franco, darkness falls after eleven-year-old Leah wades into the sea and disappears. For days, her distraught mother Cristina and her little boy Sebastian watch the search boats scour the waters for the missing girl. Leah is not found. Sickened and devastated by the fishermen’s decision to call off the search, Cristina shuts herself off in her home, convinced that Leah will return. Meanwhile, freakish weather and unexpected storms lead the islanders to believe that Puerto Franco has been cursed. They blame Cristina who will not put Leah’s spirit to rest. At a complete loss of what to do, they turn their back on her and Sebastian.

Thirty years later, Mar, a visual artist, arrives on the island with her young daughter, Lemay. Her motivation is to paint in peace, away from the strains on her marriage caused by her husband’s womanising and domineering nature. She also has to come to terms with the fact that she may lose her sight .. (Read more) On a still summer’s day on the island of Puerto Franco, darkness falls after eleven-year-old Leah wades into the sea and disappears. For days, her distraught mother Cristina and her little boy Sebastian watch the search boats scour the waters for the missing girl. Leah is not found. Sickened and devastated by the fishermen’s decision to call off the search, Cristina shuts herself off in her home, convinced that Leah will return. Meanwhile, freakish weather and unexpected storms lead the islanders to believe that Puerto Franco has been cursed. They blame Cristina who will not put Leah’s spirit to rest. At a complete loss of what to do, they turn their back on her and Sebastian.

Thirty years later, Mar, a visual artist, arrives on the island with her young daughter, Lemay. Her motivation is to paint in peace, away from the strains on her marriage caused by her husband’s womanising and domineering nature. She also has to come to terms with the fact that she may lose her sight in one eye due to a retinal detachment.

However, on meeting Clara, the owner of the retreat, and eventually Sebastian, Mar is soon drawn away from creative solitude into the lives of the community and its dark past. The sense she gets that the island harbours too many secrets is heightened when she is contacted by Leah’s spirit. On Leah’s spiritual lead, Mar unravels the origins of the curse on Puerto Franco through a history of tragedies, deceit, and suppressed anguish.
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Tags

fiction, suspense, mystery, leah, contemporary womens fiction, haffar

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Reviews

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Review by: Lina Lamirande on Nov. 19, 2011 :
I read this novel in two short afternoons and couldn't let go of it, I was so engrossed by it. Romantic, fantastical, and suspenseful, it is extremely well-written with vivid character portrayals and an original plot.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lina Lamirande on Nov. 19, 2011 :
I read this novel in two short afternoons and couldn't let go of it, I was so engrossed by it. Romantic, fantastical, suspenseful, it is extremely well-written with vivid character portrayals and an original plot.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lina Lamirande on Nov. 19, 2011 :
I read this novel in two short afternoons and could not let go of it, I was so engrossed by it. Romantic, fantastical, suspenseful, it is extremelly well-written with vivid character portrayals and an original plot.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Tiffany Neeson on Oct. 12, 2011 :
This author writes in a high style and uses beautiful language. I found the story very mystical and suspenseful.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Tiffany Neeson on Oct. 12, 2011 :
This author writes in a very high style. Beautiful language. I found the story very mystical and suspenseful.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: champa on Oct. 04, 2011 :
a very captivating story
vivid expressions
wonderful story
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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