[.ca] True Blue (ISBN 0553583980)

True Blue:
I started out skeptical when reading this book. I was given it by another and was not interested in it. The beginning seemed slow and melancholy. As soon as Rice started describing the water though I was hooked. The story does grow through the pages but, Rumer (one of the main characters) seems to take a step backward too often. Although for the story it is critical for Rumer to doubt, her heart is just not convincing enough for there to be this disagreement. Elizabeth the older sister adds to this story handing a much needed twist to the story. The story was good enough to finish just not catching enough at the start.

True Blue is one in a million:
Luanne Rice is a terrific author. The way that she captured Rumer's passion for Zeb,and Zeb's passion for Rumer was tremendous. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book filled with love,passion and forgiveness.

Sequal to "Safe Harbor":
This story is really a continuation of Luanne Rice's "Safe Harbor" as the character of teenage Quinn Grayson reappears and has a romance with entirely new characters. You might be lost if you hadn't read "Safe Harbor". The last 7 of Luanne Rice's novels have taken place in the seaside Connecticut town of "Hubbard's Point" with some of the same characters reappearing, but never to the extent that "Quinn" does, here, in "True Blue". I'm giving it 3 stars because I thought the novel was a little too melancholy and lacked urgency in the plot twists, what little there are. Still there is lots of imaginative ocean and seaside writing as Quinn goes through her daily, lobstering, crabbing, oystering, etc... along the shoreline. The main character of Rumor Larkin is interesting because she is a veterinarian who is attracted to an astronaut, Zebulon Mayhew----where does Luanne Rice get these names? Anyway, both Rumor and Zeb were next door neighbors who'd sit out on the roof of his home when they were kids, as astronaut, Zeb, would watch the stars. Rumor was land, and Zeb was sky. So corny and goofy-romantic. But is this enough to make a plot? It's certainly enough to make for evocative and poignant writing, which is a Luanne Rice staple, which is why I'm a dedicated fan of her novels, no matter how much they lack page-turning suspense.

A wonderful escape:
"True Blue" is a wonderful reading experience with an escape to a beautiful seaside. Luanne Rice has captured the look and feel of a small New England town where everyone cares about everyone else. This is a heartwarming story of two sisters and the boy next door. Rumer was younger and more content than her older sister Elizabeth was. Elizabeth was determined to leave the town as soon as she was old enough. Zeb, the boy next door, and Rumer were the same age and inseparable best friends. At five, they decided that Rumer "ruled the earth" because of her love of animals and Zeb "ruled the sky" because he loved the stars. As Rumer and Zeb grew up their feelings grew to more than that of friends. It was awkward turning the friendship into something more but they were working on it. Rumer went away to college to become a vet and Zeb was at another college striving to become an astronaut. The distance was rough on them as they had never spent that much time apart and Elizabeth didn't help. Elizabeth had set her sites on Zeb and was pursuing her acting career as heartily as she was Zeb. Later Elizabeth and Zeb were married and had a son, Michael. Rumer's strength and determination are inspiring and her ability to forgive was hard to fathom. Her personality was lovable and her determination was admirable. Rumer never left Hubbard's Point and her love of family, animals, and the boy next door never waivered. I would love to move to Hubbard's Point, go lobstering with Quinn, another of Rice's enchanting characters and have my pets taken care of by Dr. Rumer. I would like to see a sequel to "True Blue". I'd love to read a sequel and continue Rumer and Zeb's story, along with finding out what happens with Quinn and Michael. Ms. Rice has created such loveable characters that I have grown attached to them. Go after your dreams but never lose sight of what is right in front of you. For a wonderful escape, pick up Luanne Rice's, "True Blue". Prequel: "Safe Harbor"

"A" for Romance:
This wasn't my most favorite Luanne Rice book, but it was one of the most romantic! Overall I liked the story and characters. I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book, the plot was getting really good.