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Sand Castles

"A riveting story of selfishness, betrayal, and love that readers will find hard to put down."
-- Library Journal

WINNING A LOTTERY ... who hasn't dreamed of it?
Wendy Hodene, for one. She has always been one of those people for whom just enough is plenty. She's married to a charmer, has a young son she loves, and lives close to family in a small New England house that her great-grandfather built. True, she'd love to have room for a three-cushion couch (and of course more closet space), but all in all, she's happy with her life.

Happy, until her husband Jim goes and wins a lottery, upending every reassuring aspect of Wendy's existence. The man she thought she was married to for a decade turns out to be someone else entirely; the house she thought she wanted renovated turns into a stress-inducing pile of dust and demolition; the son who once desired nothing more than a new video game now wants a big new house on the beach; and the mysterious contractor who shows up among the crew on a fine June morning turns out to be a man who's both able and willing to destroy all that Wendy holds dear.

Zack Tompkins has better things to do than to knock down walls and put in floor joists, but his fragile and heartbroken sister Zina is convinced that the lottery winner whose photo she's seen in a newspaper is the man who once married and then abandoned her. It doesn't take long after he's signed on as crew in the Hodene renovation for Zack to see that Zina was right. His choice then becomes all too clear: wound his sister, or tear apart a family.

As dreams and schemes are washed away like sand castles from an incoming tide, one truth remains: some hearts, not fully broken, can mend and still be whole again.

Buy Sand Castles




Read Chapter 1 of Sand Castles

Reviews for Antoinette Stockenberg's Sand Castles


"Well-drawn, sympathetic characters, exceptional writing, and an intriguing premise that puts a new spin on a classic plot combine to produce a riveting story of selfishness, betrayal, and love that readers will find hard to put down."

Library Journal


"Antoinette Stockenberg is a consummate storyteller, and SAND CASTLES is another example of how well she has mastered her craft. The author is in top-notch form ... a sure-fire winner and highly recommended reading! "
Anne Cleary, on-line Reviewer
NewAndUsedBooks.com


"This book was wonderful! In fact, I was so caught up in the story that I forgot to analyze anything. Twists, good dialog, and a question to answer at the end--kudos to Ms. Stockenberg! This was an excellent read."
Heather Heath, Reviewer
Old Book Barn Gazette


"Antoinette Stockenberg shows her ability to provide a powerful suspense thriller with the exciting SAND CASTLES. The characters are a superb group .... Fans of taut thrillers with a pinch of romance will want to read [this] strong intrigue. "
Harriet Klausner
(read the full review)


"Moral dilemmas abound in this intriguing and compelling tale."
Maria Hatton, Reviewer
Booklist


"Antoinette Stockenberg continues to display an immense talent for creating powerful and gripping dramas that give readers the full range of human emotions."
Jill M. Smith
Romantic Times
(read the full review)


"I laughed, cried, cheered, clutched my seat, and wanted to step on a few people. You will not regret this book."
Amanda Killgore
Romance At Its Best