Luanne Rice

Author Luanne Rice uses strong writing, well-developed settings, and engaging characters to tell stories which generally revolve around the drama created in the relationships among family members. Her main characters are usually strong, intelligent women who find themselves consumed by life's everyday and irregular tragedies, such as the infidelity of a spouse or the death of a parent.  In addition to examining themselves and the choices they need to make, Rice’s characters usually work out solutions with help from family and friends. 

Born in Connecticut, Rice’s talent was evident from an early age: her first poem was published at age of 11 and her first short story was published in American Girl Magazine when she was 15.  According to the author’s website, she attended Connecticut College, “but dropped out when her father became very ill. At this point, she knew she wanted to be a writer. Instead of returning to college, Rice took on many odd jobs, including working as a cook and maid for an exalted Rhode Island family, as well as fishing on a scallop boat during winter storms.”  Rice’s love for and knowledge of the Eastern seaboard is evident, and it is a common setting for her stories.

Rice’s first book, Angels All Over Town, about three sisters, was published in 1985; since then she has been a regular on the best-seller lists.  While her stories are often emotional and tender, they can occasionally be racy or have a strong element of suspense (such as in The Secret Hour or Stone Heart).  Several books have been adapted for television, including Beach Girls as a drama on Lifetime Television, and Follow the Stars Home as a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. 

Readers who like Jodi Picoult or Elizabeth Berg will find a similar style of storytelling in Rice’s books, although she concentrates less on controversial topics and more on personal relationships.  Try Luanne Rice if you are looking for a great book for summer reading, or are just in the mood for an irresistible tale about family, redemption, and the healing power of love.

Angels All Over Town (1985) LP
Crazy in Love (1988) LP
Stone Heart (1990) LP
Secrets of Paris (1991)
Blue Moon (1993) LP, ER
Home Fires (1995) LP
Cloud Nine (1999) **, LP
Summer Light (2001) **, LP
Dream Country (2001) LP
Firefly Beach (2001) LP, *, **
Follow the Stars Home (2000)**, ER
Safe Harbor (2002), LP
True Blue (2002)***, LP
The Perfect Summer (2003) LP
The Secret Hour (2003) ***, LP
Beach Girls (2004) LP
Silver Bells: A Holiday Tale (2004)
Dance with Me (2004) **, ***, LP, ER
Summer’s Child (2005) LP only
Summer of Roses (2005) **, LP
Sandcastles (2006) ***, LP
The Edge of Winter (2007)***, LP, ER
What Matters Most (2007) ***, LP
Light of the Moon (2008) ***, LP
Last Kiss (2008)*

* on order
** cassette
*** CD
LP
ER

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