Title: Cloud Nine
Author: Luanne Rice
First published January 1, 1999
Audio
ISBN: 9781567403268 (ISBN10: 1567403263)
Rating: 4
Overview
Cloud Nine by Luanne Rice is a captivating story of hope, healing, and love. After a long and challenging battle with cancer, Sarah Talbot reopens her bedding boutique and is gifted a chartered plane ride over her town to celebrate.
During the flight, she meets Will Burke, a former Navy pilot with his own emotional scars. A connection is made, and they both embark on a journey to Sarah’s isolated childhood island in Maine, where her father and son are waiting.
But the trip is not without its obstacles, and Sarah must summon all her courage to complete her recovery. With her signature emotional depth and stunning prose, Luanne Rice delivers a powerful novel about the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of love in Cloud Nine.
About the Author
Luanne Rice has written thirty-six best-selling novels, such as THE SHADOW BOX, LAST DAY, BEACH GIRLS, PRETEND SHE’S HERE, and THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS. Her work has been adapted into movies and mini-series, and several have been New York Times bestsellers.
Additionally, two of her literary works have been featured in off-Broadway theatre productions. Rice calls the Connecticut shoreline her home.
Editoral Review
In Luanne Rice’s 1999 novel, Cloud Nine, readers are taken on a journey through the tumultuous lives of the Boyle family. Rice, a prolific author with over 30 published works, is known for her emotionally charged stories that tackle complex family relationships with honesty and sensitivity.
Set in the idyllic coastal town of Hubbard’s Point, Cloud Nine follows the lives of four generations of Boyle women as they navigate love, loss, and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart. At the heart of the story is Francesca, the youngest member of the family, who is struggling to come to terms with her mother’s mysterious death and her father’s subsequent abandonment.
When Francesca meets Jack, a charismatic artist with a troubled past, she begins to uncover the dark secrets that have haunted her family for generations. Rice weaves together a complex narrative that explores themes of family, identity, and redemption.
Her poetic prose and vivid descriptions transport readers to the sleepy town of Hubbard’s Point, where they can almost feel the salt air on their skin and hear the crash of the waves on the shore. Rice’s characters are fully realized and multifaceted, each with their own fears, desires, and struggles.
The novel also touches on issues of mental illness and addiction, with Jack and Francesca both grappling with these challenges in their own ways. While the portrayal of these issues can at times feel somewhat cliched, Rice’s careful attention to the emotional lives of her characters keeps the story grounded and relatable.
At times, the pacing of Cloud Nine can feel slow, with the narrative meandering at times and losing focus. However, Rice’s beautiful writing and poignant character development keep readers engaged throughout.
The ending, while somewhat predictable, is satisfying and emotionally resonant. Overall, Cloud Nine is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novel that will strike a chord with readers who enjoy family sagas and stories about the complexities of love and loss.
While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate Rice’s brand of heartfelt storytelling will find much to love within its pages. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
