At 45, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of a respite, she flees to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina, to tend to a friend's inn for the weekend. But when a major storm starts moving in, it appears that Adrienne's idyllic getaway will be ruined—until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives. At 54, Paul has just sold his medical practice and come to Rodanthe to escape his own shattered marriage. Now, with the storm closing in, two wounded people will turn to each other for comfort—and spark in one weekend feelings strong enough to last a lifetime.
Adrienne Willis's concern for her widowed daughter prompts her to relate a story she thought would live only in her own heart, a story of love and redemption, loss and grief. JoBeth Williams's tender narration captures the introspection and sadness of Adrienne's tale, as well as its passion. Her detached portrayal of Paul and Adrienne's lives before they find each other conveys all the flatness of their existence, despite the many events filling their days. Williams's characterizations, however, particularly that of the women, would be better if they were not infused with Southern accents. While technically accurate, they sound more stereotypical than real. Soft piano interludes elegantly separate chapters and polish the finished work. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
