I am delighted to feature Leigh Fossan's debut novel, Painting Blue Water today.
Katherine Ross, a struggling
artist-turned-successful-businesswoman, has a life many would envy. At only
thirty-one years old, Katherine runs one of the top luxury real-estate firms in
Manhattan, and she lives in a fabulous loft with her dreamy husband. That is,
of course, until her marriage comes to a screeching halt, forcing Katherine to
face the truths she’s been burying deep within her heart. She hasn’t been happy
for a long time. And her life, while glamorous, is not the life she ever
wanted.
Fighting through the fog of her confusion and pain,
Katherine makes the daring, or possibly insane, choice to start over somewhere
new. She leaves her business, her friends, and the city behind, while she
ventures alone to the mountains in hopes of rediscovering her artistic roots in
a place surrounded by beauty, peace, and quiet.
But life in Bluewater isn’t as simple as it may seem, and
when her art career suddenly begins to take off in this unlikely setting,
Katherine finds herself torn between two worlds. Does she pursue her lifelong
dream and become the world-famous artist she always wanted to be? Or does she
open her heart to the possibility of new dreams and a life she never imagined?
My Thoughts
This novel shimmers and shines with the colours of the mountains in Bluewater, which seems to be where people gravitate to when they are starting over and reassessing their lives. The beauty of the scenery seems to have a healing quality as it calms and centres and they absorb its serenity. Katharine responds instinctively to the place and comes to see what is important to her.
As well as Katharine and Will, there is a cast of other characters who you feel all have their own story to tell and I hope that Leigh follows up on their lives. It is ultimately a hopeful story but shows that at key moments in life, there are choices to be made which can drastically alter how one's life turns out. Also, one does not have to carry on in a rut but can step outside and start over again. I found this to be a story full of love and friendship. As a professional artist, Leigh's knowledge of painting and connecting with the environment shines through.
In short: Love and new beginnings .
About the Author
Painting Blue Water is the debut novel for Leigh Fossan. A creative
soul at heart, Leigh grew up with a paintbrush in her hand, and went on to
study the arts in Florence, Italy. While abroad, Leigh was one of the few
recipients of the Coluccio Salutati Award for Creative Writing. Today, Leigh is
a professional artist and her paintings are collected around the world. She
lives in Colorado with her artist husband, and their young daughter, who wants
to be a scientist.
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Thank you so much for the lovely review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book! -Leigh Fossan
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