Sand Castles

Wendy Hodene wants for nothing except, like every woman, extra closet space. But even that whim lies within reach when she and her devoted husband Jim win the lottery and launch a renovation of the cozy, antique New England home that has been in the family for generations. Wendy is certain life can't get any better than this, until a surprise comes her way--surprise that will change her world forever.At first, winning the lottery jackpot seems to be the answer to the Hodenes' unspoken prayers. Now they can secure their son's college education, pay off debts--perhaps even splurge a little. But the sudden windfall will drastically alter the most reliable reassuring aspects of Wendy's life, as well as the people who master most in it. Now everything hangs in the balance: her home, her child, her marriage. It isn't long before Wendy realizes that the mans he thought she knew best has become a virtual stranger, and that a mans he hardly knows at all holds the key to her husband's startling past--and her family's precarious future...From Library JournalWinning the lottery is just about everyone's fantasy, and when Wendy Hodene's husband, Jim, wins more than $10 million in a Powerball jackpot, life seems just about perfect. But then the past unexpectedly catches up with Jim, and Wendy suddenly realizes that her safe, secure life has been built on nothing more solid than sand. 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. Stockenberg (Tidewater) is a RITA Award-winning author and is noted for her compelling, emotionally involving stories, sometimes with a paranormal twist. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From BooklistImagine that you're a happily married wife and mother. Your life is very nearly perfect. One day your husband tells you that he has won the lottery. Now you are millionaires. How would you react? How would your life change? Would you want it to? These are the questions facing Wendy Hodene. Wendy is firmly planted in reality, but her husband has big plans. Although the money starts to come between husband and wife, winning the lottery will change Wendy's life in an unexpected and truly devastating way. Meanwhile, Zack Tompkins' beautiful, fragile sister is certain after seeing the newspaper picture of the lottery winner that he is the man who deserted her more than a decade ago. Zack offers to check it out, and is more than surprised when his sister's belief is confirmed. Not sure what to do about it, he hires on as a member of the construction crew working on the Hodene house. Then when Zack meets Wendy, he's even more confused. Moral dilemmas abound in this intriguing and compelling tale. Maria HattonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved