The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club: A Novel

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Two sisters living on Marthas Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women in this spectacular novel inspired by true events, from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

A dreamy beach book that also sizzles with tension . . . another winner by one of the best historical fiction writers around.Fiona Davis, author of The Stolen Queen

2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mothers death as she travels to the storied island of Marthas Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. Shes come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereauxs stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.

1942: The Smith girlsnineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briarare faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Marthas Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the islands shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadences dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashoreand whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before its too late

Author Bio

Martha Hall Kelly is theNew York Times bestselling author ofLilac Girls,Lost Roses,Sunflower Sisters, andThe Golden Doves. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she was inspired to write this novel by her mothers family, the Smiths, who settled on Marthas Vineyard in 1891. She received journalism degrees from both Syracuse and Northwestern universities and worked as an advertising copywriter for many years before becoming a novelist. With more than two million copies of her books soldand translated in fiftycountries,Martha Hall Kelly lives in Litchfield, Connecticut, and Hobe Sound, Florida.