From Amazon:

Nomadic archaeologist Maria Dark is returning home again to the Connecticut shore–a magical place where she, her sister Sophie, and their brother Peter spent their childhood on the banks of Bell Stream. After fifteen years away, Maria hopes that she can rediscover the joy and optimism of her youth in the arms of her family. But things have changed. Maria’s siblings and her mother have weathered difficult times...and Sophie and her children are not as happy as they seem. Now Maria will embark upon an emotional journey–navigating the memories of a tender past–toward the truth at the heart of her family and the chance for a new beginning.
A remarkably graceful and intuitive novel, Stone Heart reveals the depths of faith and love that can mend life’s most fragile and precious ties. As never before, Luanne Rice inspires us all to look love squarely in the eye and never let it go.

My Thoughts:

Most of the reviews I have read for this book aren't so positive...it deals very graphically with domestic abuse...in spite of that I found this book to be a good read. It is the first Luanne Rice book I have read, and it won't be the last. I thought the story was a sad, but realistic one. It was filled with surprises, twists & turns. The characters were honest but be aware that it doesn't have a happy, tie up the package with a pink ribbon, ending. ( )

Originally published in 1990, this is one of her older books and for the most part stands up to the test of time fairly well, with a couple of exceptions. However, about half way thru the book the story line stagnates. The first part of the book goes fairly quickly, in anticipation of the horrific crime that's mentioned in the summary on the front cover. Once the event takes place, the plot stalls and doesn't move forward quickly enough. The final epilogue is unsatisfactory in tying up loose ends. Definitely not one of her better written books. ( )