Among the towering firs and windswept beaches of a Pacific Northwest island, a woman’s long-ago first love unexpectedly returns, teaching her the damaging power of secrets and the liberating lessons of love.
Widow Phoebe Allen has single-handedly raised a wonderful daughter and established a successful business supplying nets to fisherman and now enjoys the amorous attentions of a longtime friend. When she learns that her old boyfriend, Whitney Traynor, has purchased a house nearby, she must confront long-suppressed feelings for her charismatic first love, now a high-profile film director. For years, Phoebe has concealed truths from her daughter and may now be forced to divulge them. As the past rushes forth like an inevitable tide, Phoebe discovers the life-transforming benefits of opening one’s heart.
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"I thought this book was really well written and fairly unique. Ranked high in both substance and wonderfully descriptive of the Northwest. The main character was very compelling too. Great read! "
— Kathy (4 out of 5 stars)
“Seattle writer Randy Sue Coburn wields a confident broad brush and has a sharp eye for tiny, perfect detail…Owl Island is a story that moves along like good jazz: smooth until it surprises, then smooth again.”
— Oregonian“Rich and poignant…Like a gem, Owl Island is brilliant, multifaceted and impossible not to enjoy.”
— Oklahoma Gazette“[Coburn’s] depictions of the Pacific Northwest—with its windswept beaches and cedar-scented air—are evocative and rich.”
— Booklist“MacDuffie’s solid reading is particularly sensitive to the characters’ moods and emotions, ranging from delight to grief…Listeners will find themselves drawn into this journey of self-discovery.”
— Booklist (audio review)“Coburn’s beautifully realized novel perceptively assesses what women do in love. A richly conceived portrait of memory and identity.”
— Kirkus Reviews" An illuminating novel about mothers and daughters, the power of secrets, and obsessive love. "
— Beatrice, 1/7/2014" Setting is in the Northwest. Very slow moving book. Could not wait til I was done. Had to finish since I invested so much time already. "
— Tisha, 12/14/2013" interesting read...really liked the characters... "
— Cassy, 12/10/2013" I couldn't get past the third chapter, it was so bad. "
— Nancy, 11/1/2013" Only one disappointing conflict. Great setting. "
— Janeen, 7/21/2013" This is what I consider a pleasure book, yet the realationship thing was to streached and twisted for me. I live in Seattle, and found those parts real, but the island parts a stretch. Great voc. "
— Jo, 5/21/2013" Pacific Northwest, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and fairy tales. What's not to love? This was just what I was in the mood to read. "
— Meredith, 2/15/2013" Okay, not great. Very annoying that a woman has kept harboring feelings of love for someone she broke up with two decades earlier, even after marrying. At least she comes to her senses in the end. "
— Pbwritr, 1/28/2013" I enjoyed this book - a good, quick read - perfect for a day at the pool or beach! "
— Tara, 10/17/2012" Good story, sweet in many ways. "
— Liz, 7/11/2012" Chick-lit. Interesting analysis of narcissistic ex-lover; realization he was an imaginary friend. "
— Beth, 5/6/2012" Enjoyable light romance fiction based in Northwest with local culture and characters. "
— Lois, 2/24/2012" I thought this book was really well written and fairly unique. Ranked high in both substance and wonderfully descriptive of the Northwest. The main character was very compelling too. Great read! "
— Kathy, 2/6/2012" An enjoyable easy read in a lovely setting. Interesting insights into relationships and human nature. "
— Keryn, 11/10/2011" I enjoyed it as a quick read, but didn't find the plot particularly compelling or believable. "
— Laura, 10/29/2011" I gave this one star only b/c it was set in Seattle and mentioned so many of the places I love. That being said, I did not finish this book. The parts I did read, I read only every other word. Not a best-seller! "
— Marcia, 10/18/2011" Good Book.... Paperback maybe Jeannie gave me or I bought... "
— Cindy, 7/26/2011" Yikes, too much chick-lit for me. I did finish it, but don't recommend it to anyone over 40. "
— Sue, 7/10/2011" I loved this book. It is written by a Seattle author and there are great Washington things in there. It reminds me of home! "
— Jessica, 12/22/2010" Good story, sweet in many ways. "
— Liz, 12/21/2010" Good Book.... Paperback maybe Jeannie gave me or I bought... "
— Cindy, 7/26/2010" I gave this one star only b/c it was set in Seattle and mentioned so many of the places I love. That being said, I did not finish this book. The parts I did read, I read only every other word. Not a best-seller! "
— Marcia, 5/3/2010" Okay, not great. Very annoying that a woman has kept harboring feelings of love for someone she broke up with two decades earlier, even after marrying. At least she comes to her senses in the end. "
— Pbwritr, 1/30/2010" I loved this book. It is written by a Seattle author and there are great Washington things in there. It reminds me of home! "
— Jessica, 8/13/2009" I enjoyed this book - a good, quick read - perfect for a day at the pool or beach! "
— Tara, 7/28/2009" Enjoyable light romance fiction based in Northwest with local culture and characters. "
— Lois, 6/30/2009" Yikes, too much chick-lit for me. I did finish it, but don't recommend it to anyone over 40. "
— Sue, 4/10/2009" I couldn't get past the third chapter, it was so bad. "
— Nancy, 10/28/2008" An illuminating novel about mothers and daughters, the power of secrets, and obsessive love. "
— Beatrice, 4/16/2008" Only one disappointing conflict. Great setting. "
— Janeen, 2/29/2008" This is what I consider a pleasure book, yet the realationship thing was to streached and twisted for me. I live in Seattle, and found those parts real, but the island parts a stretch. Great voc. "
— Jo, 9/2/2007" I enjoyed it as a quick read, but didn't find the plot particularly compelling or believable. "
— Laura, 8/15/2007Randy Sus Coburn, a former newspaper reporter, is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Remembering Jody and the screenplay for the major feature film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle. She lives in Seattle and teaches writing at the University of Washington.
Carrington MacDuffie is a voice actor and recording artist who has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, received numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has been a frequent finalist for the Audie Award, including for her original audiobook, Many Things Invisible. Alongside her narration work, she has released a new album of original songs, Only an Angel.