The Secrets of Lost Stones

By: Melissa Payne

Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A soul-stirring novel about the bonds between mother and child and the redemption that comes with facing the past and letting it go.

Thirty-two-year-old Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and - most heart-wrenching - her eight-year-old son, Chance, to a tragic accident. Haunted by memories and grief, Jess packs what’s left and heads for the small mountain town of Pine Lake, where she takes a position as caregiver to an eccentric old woman.

A rumored clairvoyant, Lucy is strange but welcoming and immediately intuits Jess as a “loose end” in need of closure. But Jess isn’t the only guest in Lucy’s large Victorian home. There’s also Star, a teenage runaway with a secret too painful to share. And the little boy with heart-shaped stones, who comes with a hope for reconciliation - and a warning.

Soon Jess learns that she’s not the only lost soul running from the ghosts of the past. She and Star have been brought together for a reason: to be saved by the very thing that destroyed them.

©2019 by Melissa W. Payne. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Stories of loss are often moving, but rarely are they as fulfilling and redemptive as this stirring debut…Payne spins a fast-paced tale full of tenderness and sparked with magic, illustrating how the future can transcend the past, and proving that forgiveness is the greatest virtue.” - Sonja Yoerg, Washington Post best-selling author of True Places

“A compelling story of hidden secrets and the forgiveness that finds us when we least expect it.” - Kerry Anne King, best-selling author of Whisper Me This

“If Alice Hoffman had written The Shack, it would’ve turned out like The Secret of Lost Stones…an otherworldly, beautiful tale in which people who are grieving and lonely get the chance to find their way home. But will they take it?” - Wendy Webb, #1 Amazon best-selling author of Daughters of the Lake

Interesting story but melodramatic writing

The premise of the story was very interesting and I love the main character Lucy. However the writing style was overly dramatic in describing overwrought emotional reactions among the other characters whenever something confusing happened in the story. How many times can people clinch their fist so tight their palm turned white, their chest tightened so much they can’t breathe, their knees wobble and they can hardly stand, etc. I found this writing style amateurish and kept pulling me out of the story. Also, the plot revolves around the fact that none of the characters seemed capable of communicating basic facts or communicating their emotions. I thought the narrator did a very good job with what she had to work with.

Enjoyable Read

Very Good story. Unusual characters. A very light read, not very fast moving. I would recommend this to anyone not looking for a heart pounding read.

Secret of Lost Stones

I enjoyed this book. I had a hard tough time putting it down. Good listen.

Good stones

struggled with one characters behavior @ end but otherwise
interesting characters & a page turner for me.

Underwhelming end

Did the author rush the ending? It seems unfinished or I 'm missing something. I thought we would see the boy again or get more information of the three ladies reuniting. I enjoyed the book...but that ending, no.

Wow! Could not put this down!!!

What a great story. I hope this becomes a series! I love books that I cannot put down and this one did not disappoint.

#abrknpoet reviews The Secrets of Lost Stones

The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne is a captivating and heart-warming novel that explores the themes of loss, healing, and friendship. The story follows Jess, a young woman who escapes to a small town in Colorado after a tragic accident, and Star, a teenage runaway who is hiding a dark secret. Their lives become intertwined when they discover a mysterious necklace that belongs to a missing girl. As they search for clues, they also find solace and hope in each other. Payne's writing is beautiful and engaging, creating vivid characters and settings that draw the reader in. The plot is full of twists and surprises, keeping the reader guessing until the end. The Secrets of Lost Stones is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for the characters as they overcome their challenges and find their way to happiness.


@stuartbrknjohns Twitter/Goodreads Author

Took me FOREVER to finally pick this up

But I'm so glad I did. This book was tragic, mysterious, witchy . . . And I loved every minute of it.

4.5 stars

I loved this book!

After having read so many disappointing books lately, this book renewed my faith in modern writers. The story is very well written. I loved the characters. Lucy was amazing. The little bit of paranormal activity absolutely brought the story together. It was just enough without going overboard.
All the characters were endearing and I hope we see more of them in future books. The story was heartbreaking, funny, magical and completely believable. I loved it. Such a good book.
Also, I thought the VA did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

the secrets of lost stone

very good story. really enjoyed the characters and the story line. also it had a good ending