The Pelican Tide

A Novel

De: Sharon J. Wishnow

Narrado por: Sophie Amoss, Joe Knezevich

It’s taken Chef Josie Babineaux six months to reconcile the debts left from her husband Brian’s gambling along with her broken heart. But now with a promising tourist season heating up and a travel magazine declaring her the spice queen of the bayou, she may be able to save her family’s historic Cajun restaurant. Repairing her relationship with her daughter, Minnow, while hiding the true reason she left her husband is a bigger issue.

Just as the first tourists arrive, an explosion at the oil rig where Brian works changes everything, for both the family and the island community. The near loss of her children’s father upends Josie’s fragile new plans, and she’s left wondering what it would be like to go forward alone—and whether that’s what she really wants.

As the disaster endangers the restaurant’s menu, clientele, and even its mascot, Gumbo—a brown pelican dear to Minnow’s heart—Josie realizes her family needs more than financial recovery. Only honesty and intense effort can clean up the guilt and hurt pooling under the surface. And maybe, with enough heart, and some extra hot chilis, this family can find renewal.

©2024 by Sharon J. Ritchey. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Sophie Amoss and Joe Knezevich deliver this novel revolving around the Babineaux family of Grand Isle, Louisiana, as it was impacted by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and Hurricane Alex in 2010. Amoss lets us hear Josie's excitement when a magazine plans to spotlight her family's restaurant to kick off tourist season and her frustration when her children blame her for the family's breakup. Knezevich gives Brian a strong voice that reflects his determination to reform himself and reunite his family. His grief is palpable as he mourns his broken family and the friends lost in the explosion.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Food, family, and second chance romance: Sharon J. Wishnow’s debut has everything I love in a novel—and a few things I didn’t even know I loved until I read The Pelican Tide. I can’t recommend this engrossing and utterly heartwarming story highly enough.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You

“Set in Grand Isle, Louisiana, in the wake of the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill, The Pelican Tide is the story of a family in turmoil, a historic café, and a beautiful but fragile ecosystem under threat. A layer of oil sludge coats the local beaches and estuaries, fishing is banned, tourists disappear, and the entire island community faces tough decisions. Against this backdrop, Josie and Brian struggle to hold their marriage together while trying to ensure a future on the island they love. In this assured debut, Sharon Wishnow creates a strong sense of place and deftly brings the natural world of this Gulf barrier island to life. Readers looking for a heartwarming story, memorable characters, and the delights of a wayward pelican named Gumbo will be richly rewarded.” —Rebecca Hodge, award-winning author of Wildland

Compelling and beautifully written

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The sultry heat and humidity of Louisiana is palatable throughout. The narrators did a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life and making them believable.This book was obviously, well researched and I learned a lot about the lasting effects of oil spill on families and wildlife while being drawn into the lives of one island family. There was just the right amount of heartache, drama, suspense and teenage angst. Bravo, Gumbo and bravo Sharon Wishnow for an enjoyable, heartwarming read.