Rating: 
Summary: Heart warming little story
Review: Distant Shores is a nice feel-good story about Elizabeth 'Birdie' Shore, who find herself lost in a bad circle of emptiness at the age of 45. Her daughters have left home, her husband is chasing a dream and their love has grown lukewarm. Birdie realizes that she has put the need of other people in front of her own needs for too long. She tries to talk it over with her husband, Jack, but he is too busy chasing his dream of becoming a famous anchor-person with a tv-show. The only good thing in Birdie's life is her house at the beach in Oregon. Jack hates the house and the endless rain, and he is ecstatic when he one day returns home, to announce that he has landed the job, and that they are moving to New York. Birdie reluctantly follows him, as she has done always, very sad to have to leave her beloved house. Before she has had time to settle down, a death in the family occurs, and Birdie decides that it is time for change. She goes home to Oregon, instead of going to New York, and in the next months, she is slowly 'waking up' to find a long lost talent, new friends, new hobbies and a changed step-mother, with whom she has always had a bad relationship. Jack, in New York, is in danger of just being a distant memory. But will their love for each other survive this separation? Will their family once again be a whole family, living together? Will Birdie learn to think of herself an take care of herself and her needs as much as she has done with others? Will she find a new and better life without a husband? The story moves nicely along, the characters are described in a sympathetic way, and Distant Shores is the perfect beach-book for the summer.
Rating: 
Summary: Realistic
Review: Her children are grown and her husband is eagerly pursuing an opportunity to recapture the brilliance of a lost career. Suddenly she has no purpose, feels lost and out of touch with herself. Kristan Hannah delves into that segment of life that seems to hit all of us as our children reach out and discover their own independence and she does it as if she had lived each scene. A touching tale from a fabulous writer with the talent to keep us reading more from her in the future.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful new beginning!
Review: How many of us spend out lives taking care of everyone else and letting our own needs fall by the wayside? Kristin Hannah takes us into the life of Elizabeth (Birdie) Shore who is doing this very thing. A death in the family at a time in her life when she has so many questions helps her to break away to try and find the answers. Along the way she learns to no longer take herself for granted and to accept that she is a person with her own needs and wants. She resurrects her dreams and takes those first frightening steps to make those dreams come true. In the end she finds that she can be her own person as well as a loving wife and mother. A wonderful book for all of us needing inspiration to take that very first scary step to make our dreams come true and to learn to appeciate ourselves in whatever relationships we have in our lives.
Rating:
Summary: Schmaltzy, Predictable but Enjoyable.
Review: I read this book while on vacation and rather enjoyed it's simplistic subject (wife and mother whose 'lost' herself) and easy flow. I thought it a perfect 'poolside' book, nothing more, nothing less. The only real 'groaner' part for me was when the step-mother miraculously changed from Dolly Parton-like to a bun-wearing granny type.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: I've read all of Kristin Hannah's recent works and Distant Shores (as well as the rest) is EXCELLENT! Elizabeth and Jackson's struggles are very well written and true to life. If you've had a marriage in crisis this book will warm your heart. While entertaining, it helps you to look deep within, remove your rose-colored glasses and open your eyes. This book illuminates the splendid journey of life and the value in the ups and the downs. Truly wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Coudn't get into
Review: This book was a o.k. read but I just found it to be drawn out. I think I would of enjoyed it better if I could of related to the character more. I was a little disappointed over all. This was the first book I have ever read that I "couldn't put down" .........because I just couldn't wait to be finshed with it!! This book isn't for someone who wanted a really romanic read!
Rating:
Summary: My First Kristin Hannah Read Won't Be My Last ~
Review: This is my first time reading Kristin Hannah, this book was so good I enjoyed it so much! I love reading Elizabeth and Jack's love story though they were young when they got married things were put on hold for them both. Jack wanting to find something he was good at after his football career did work out he wanted to be well know and Elizabeth wanted more out of life then she was getting from Jack, they have been married for so long that they some how lost there way to each other they have two grown beautiful daughters that they are so proud of but they have to find themselves before they can find the love they once had a very beautiful story this is I loved it! I am looking forward on reading her others books that she has written.
Happy Reading Lisa
Rating:
Summary: Hopeful
Review: This is the first book that I've read by this author. Normally, I read Danielle Steel; however, this book caught (and held) my attention. I couldn't put it down--I think I read it in about 4 days. Kristin Hannah explores the life of a middle-age woman who has over the years lost herself and her talent. After a tragic accident, Birdie must learn to put her wants and needs above those of her husband and chilren. After years of dedicating her life to others, this wife and mother must find her wings and learn to fly again. Great book! A must read! I can't wait to read another of her books! :)
Rating: 
Summary: burned the midnight oil for this one!
Review: This is the first time I have read a Kristin Hannah book, but I already purchased her newest. Maybe it's an age thing, but "chick lit" is for younger women, and what I jokingly call women's lit or "pink fiction" is for those of us who have been married and settled and suddenly facing a crisis bigger than ordering a Cosmopolitan or a martini and whether to bed the boss.The protagonist is not dancing around in Prada or Versace, she doesn't spend hours in the health club while writing ad copy or legal briefs. She is a very realistic, married, 40s+ woman. Elizabeth's character in this book goes through some major transformations. She is not one-dimensional. Hannah draws a well-rounded character-read the book and you will see this is almost a pun. I would have liked her to develop Elizabeth's relationships with her children more, but the book is a definite page-turner. This was definitely above the usual summer beach reads.
Rating:
Summary: A great beach book.
Review: This is the first time I have read work by this author and was pleased. I took this on vacation as a "beach book" and was not disappointed. Ms. Hannah built up enough suspense that I could not put this book down until the end. Walking the journey of self preservation and discovery for the protagonist and her husband was a wonderful reward at the end. I have since looked forward to other works by this author.
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