The Beach at Painter's Cove: A Novel

From the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Beach comes another heartwarming story of four generations of women who reunite in their crumbling family mansion by the sea for a dramatic summer filled with love, family, secrets and sisterhood.

The Whitaker family’s Connecticut mansion, Muses by the Sea, has always been a haven for artists, a hotbed of creativity, extravagances, and the occasional scandal. Art patrons for generations, the Whitakers supported strangers but drained the life out of each other. Now, after being estranged for years, four generations of Whitaker women find themselves once again at The Muses.

Leo, the Whitaker matriarch, lives in the rambling mansion crammed with artwork and junk. She plans to stay there until she joins her husband Wes on the knoll overlooking the cove and meadow where they first met. Her sister-in-law Fae, the town eccentric, is desperate to keep a secret she has been hiding for years.

Jillian, is a jet setting actress, down on her luck, and has run out of men to support her. She thinks selling The Muses will make life easier for her mother, Leo, and Fae by moving them into assisted living. The sale will also bring her the funds to get herself back on top.

Issy, Jillian’s daughter, has a successful life as a museum exhibit designer that takes her around the world. But the Muses and her grandmother are the only family she’s known and when her sister leaves her own children with Leo, Issy knows she has to step in to help.

Steph, is only twelve-years-old and desperately needs someone to fire her imagination and bring her out of her shell. What she begins to discover at the Muses could change the course of her future.

As Issy martials the family together to restore the mansion and catalogue the massive art collection, a surprising thing happens. Despite storms and moonlight dancing, diva attacks and cat fights, trips to the beach and flights of fancy, these four generations of erratic, dramatic women may just find a way to save the Muses and reunite their family.

Four generations of women and one summer filled with love, family, secrets, and sisterhood. . . .

The Whitaker family’s Connecticut mansion, Muses by the Sea, has always been a haven for artists, creativity—and the occasional scandal. Now, after being estranged for years, four generations of Whitaker women find themselves once again at the Muses.

Leo, the Whitaker matriarch, lives in the rambling mansion crammed with artwork and junk. She plans to stay there until she joins her husband, Wes, on the knoll overlooking the cove. Her sister-in-law, Fae, the town eccentric, is desperate to keep a secret she has been hiding for years.

Jillian, a jet-setting actress, has run out of men to support her. She thinks selling the Muses will not only bring her the funds to get herself back on top, but also make life easier for her mother, Leo, and Fae by moving them into assisted living.

Issy, Jillian’s daughter, has a successful life as a museum exhibit designer that takes her around the world. But the Muses and her grandmother are the only family she’s known, and when her sister leaves her own children with Leo, Issy knows she has to step in to help.

Steph, only twelve-years-old, desperately needs someone to ignite her imagination. What she begins to discover at the Muses could change the course of her future.

Despite storms and moonlight dancing, diva attacks and catfights, trips to the beach and flights of fancy, these four generations of erratic, dramatic women may just find a way to save the Muses and reunite their family.

Praise for Beach Colors: “Honest and deeply moving, BEACH COLORS proves that home is where the heart is.” - Lisa Verge Higgins, author of The Care and Maintenance of Friendship

“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.” - Booklist

“While Beach Colors can indeed be considered a summer read, it transcends that classification by virtue of its poignancy and depth. While funny moments and memorable characters abound, they are underscored by an exploration of themes such as the redemptive powers of friendship and love. At its heart, though, Beach Colors is a tale of self-discovery and of finding the courage to follow your dreams, wherever those dreams may take you.” - Examiner.com

“Shelley Noble’s “Beach Colors” is a deft, graceful rendering of the journey home to love.” - Grace Burrowes New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

“The Beach At Painter’s Cove is a wonderfully written family drama... Noble tells their story in a way that had me laughing, caring, worrying, and cheering... unexpected twists that will keep you flipping pages well into the night.” - Nancy Naigle, USA Today bestselling author of the Adams Grove novels

“Shelley Noble has penned a big, engaging family saga, filled with a memorable ensemble cast, spanning four generations. Noble’s expert storytelling, combined with her beautiful writing makes this a novel that keeps you turning pages.” - Renee Rosen, author of Windy City Blues

“A beautiful and moving story of love and family set on a magical stretch of beach in Connecticut. The perfect summer read!” - Chanel Cleeton, author of Next Year in Havana

“With broad brushstrokes Shelley Noble paints a beautiful, vivid picture of a small coastal town we wish we grew up in and tight-knit friends we wish we were part of. We’re taken on Margaux Sullivan’s journey of loss, healing, rediscovery of self, and love of a man and his boy. With Noble’s words we see sunsets and sea grass, fashion and frustration, life, love and happily ever afters. I can’t wait for her next book!” - Robin Kaye, author of The Domestic Gods Series

“Beach Colors isn’t a love story between a man and a woman, it is more a story of the journey back to life by many people in the small seaside town. The characters are all worthy of their own books and Shelley Noble writes a wonderful tale of lost hope, lost love and coming home where one belongs.” - Irene Peterson author Kisses To Go

“With charming, believable character and a delightful setting, this enchanting family drama makes for a perfect beach read.” - Booklist

“Shelley Noble effortlessly balances drama and intrigue in a story that ultimately reveals the love and sacrifice extant in even the most dysfunctional families.” - Jamie Beck, author of Worth the Wait

“With fully fleshed-out characters and family drama to spare, Noble’s latest (after Forever Beach and Whisper Beach) is a summer read with substance. For fans of women’s fiction and the works of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer.” - Library Journal

“This is a multi-generational novel with characters who are witty, creative, cunning, caring and secretive. The storyline has many layers and subplots to uncover and treasure. Noble has an incredible talent for writing multi-faceted, believable family sagas.” - RT Book Reviews