Beach Colors

September 10, 2012
Margaux Sullivan, the protagonist of the pseudonymous Noble's women's fiction debut (after a long line of romance and mystery novels, including, most recently, Foul Play at the Fair, as Shelley Freydont), is a fashion designer taking New York City by stormâthat is, until her husband steals all of their money and abandons her. Confused and distraught, she returns home to Crescent Cove, Conn., and reconnects with family, friends, and a former flame: Nick Prescott, the town's police chief. As Margaux rebuilds her life, she slowly falls once again for the honorable, if initially intractable, Nick, who abandoned his career as a professor in order to return to Crescent Cove and care for his young "traumatized" nephew, Connor. But opportunities await in New York, and Margaux must decide which is more importantâthe runways of Manhattan, or a quiet life with Nick and Connor. Noble draws readers effortlessly into the tender drama of Nick and Margaux's romance, and the multiple stories of loss and rediscovered trust will delight readers looking for a beach read with substance. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

June 1, 2012
It's Fashion Week in New York City, and designer Margaux Sullivan discovers her husband has cleaned out their bank account and disappeared. With nothing left except her car and a muddied reputation, she returns to the safety of the family beach house in Crescent Cove, Connecticut. There she finds comfort in the tight-knit oceanside community. She also discovers Nick Prescott, a vague acquaintance in childhood, who is now acting chief of police. Nick has sacrificed a promising teaching career in Denver to return home to care for his nephew Connor, who has been abandoned by his mother and become uncommunicative. When Margaux begins to design a new clothing line, her plans for a triumphant return to the industry conflict with the lure of the handsome, kindhearted policeman and his wide-eyed charge, leaving her to make the decision of a lifetime. Readers will easily fall into the rhythms of Crescent Cove, populated by an entertaining, endearing cast of characters. Readers will also be rooting for a young, ambitious woman caught between competing life choices, who discovers the healing power of family, friends, and home.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)