Secrets of Starshine Cove is a beautiful story with a festive sparkle set during the Christmas season. It centres around Cally, a single mum and hairdresser, who is going through a few life changes and not quite sure of her direction. She has taken care of her seventy- two year old mother for a long time but recently things have changed. Her once sad mother has gotten social savvy, met a new man on the internet and has been literally swept away by him to a new location. Now that she has moved, Cally feels a bit lost, even though her eighteen year old son still lives with her. She needs to find a new purpose, create a new routine. Even though Cally is happy for her mother, she’s also a bit concerned over this world wind romance. The only way she can get her mind off what’s happened is to take a trip during the holiday season. Spend Christmas elsewhere—away from the reminders of her mother’s sudden absence.
Cally packs a bag and takes her son to a place she remembers fondly from her childhood. A special getaway where she spent time with her father before he passed. She is trying to recapture some of the security, familiarity, happiness and love she felt as a child. And to rediscover herself by returning to a point in time when she was carefree in a place where she could touch the stars. Of course, we know from the first novel that Starshine Cove has a magical cave of unique beauty where visitors can have an unusual experience and receive a sense of wonder, calm and healing.
Upon arriving in Starshine Cove, Cally meets all the locals and gets caught up in their stories and relationships. She loves the community spirit and how the residents care about and help each other in times of need. Connie (one of its residents) delivers special gifts (in the true Santa Claus spirit) to those who need cheering up. Cally chips in and offers her hairdressing skills doing trims, shampoos and makeovers. For a few of who cannot get out to her mock up salon, she makes visits to their homes. It isn’t long before Cally is knee deep in people’s stories: learning what makes them happy and sad. But during one of the stops, she stumbles across some secrets that have been held in Starcross Cove about her own family. What she hears is not what she remembers and the revelations shock her. Maybe she has been carrying scars hidden from herself?
Amidst the turmoil and confusion, she spends time with Archie— a widower with two girls. He becomes a close friend, shares her burdens, lightens her heart and even ignites some new passions. She learns a lot about herself, her fears, what she needs and what matters most. And ‘what is life without a little bit of danger.’ She steps out of her comfort zone and begins a new journey toward life, love and healing. (And has that much needed chat with her mum that uncovers the truth about their past.)
One of my favourite parts of Starshine Cove is reading about the gorgeous descriptions. The winter scene is stunning… ‘scatterings of snow on the beach, heaped on driftwood and shining white in the rippled furrows of the sand. The moon hanging fat and yellow, casting its reflection on the waves..’ This takes me back to my former home in Canada where I lived on the coast with the beach as my front yard. I can really appreciate the inspiring coastal winter scenes.
And Archie’s comments about the plants (he says he is a plant nerd): ‘There is something new, every season…the whole place is awash with colour…watching it change and grow…seeing the wildflowers. Foxgloves in summer, snowdrops in winter, the celandine that springs up and covers the ground in the woods like a yellow carpet..’ And then there is the description of the caves and how they transform into magical stars, flares of colour, shimmering dazzling gems embedded in the rock. I loved how Cally fell under their spell and spun under the glittering dome. This gesture caused her to feel ‘drunk on both the motion and the unexpected treasure…like being in Aladdin’s Cave, surrounded by precious secrets.’ This is a beautiful scene because she is ‘liberated from all the burdens of adulthood…’ This experience reminds her of good moments with her father in the cave when she was a child (even though those memories will be challenged later on in the story).
There’s a great cast of characters: some from the former novel and some new. I loved how this story shows that the world needs a variety of persons to make it work. Not all can be doctors, lawyers and scientists but we need plumbers and bakers and hairdressers, too. We can agree with Cally that those persons classed as ordinary, actually ‘make it (the world) extraordinary in so many unexpected ways.’
What a great story, filled with heart, depth and meaningful thought. There are lots of intriguing observations about memories and how the mind sometimes chooses to protect itself by burying the bad moments caused by grief, guilt and fear. The novel also shines with the beauty of community life, the power of truth and the need for second chances. I read this book in a day as it would not let me go until I finished it. I was fully engaged, enthralled and amazed. It made me feel a wide range of emotions and even drew out a few tears. And, of course, we cannot forget its dash of Christmas cheer. I highly recommend Secrets of Starshine Cove. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.
