Cypress Point (Stp - Mira) [Mass Market Paperback]

Diane Chamberlain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003 | Series: Stp - Mira

Joelle D'Angelo is torn by her friendship with a dying woman and her growing desire for her friend's husband, Liam, whose grief and pain she shares. In an attempt to do everything to save her friend, Joelle seeks the help of a mysterious healer and comes to discover that some love is doomed, while some love can survive anything.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Healing, be it psychological, physiological or spiritual, informs this humane but too-familiar novel from veteran writer Chamberlain (The Courage Tree, etc.). The daughter of '60s free spirits, Joelle D'Angelo is a recently divorced, naturally empathetic social worker at a coastal California hospital. Unfortunately, she's madly in love with co-worker Liam Sommers, who just happens to be married to her best friend, Mara. Things are particularly tricky because Mara, once a brilliant psychiatrist, suffered brain damage caused by an aneurysm while giving birth to her son, Sam. Liam has remained a dutiful husband to his near-comatose wife, visiting her every opportunity he gets, but that doesn't stop him from sleeping with (and impregnating) Joelle in a moment of weakness. Into this tangled thicket of guilt, misery and self-abnegation comes Carlynn Shire, an elderly doctor with "mystical" healing powers, whose aid Joelle enlists to resuscitate Mara, for Liam's sake. Carlynn's past is revealed through a series of flashbacks: her initial discovery of her preternatural abilities, her romance with husband-to-be Alan Shire and her troubled but loving relationship with her insecure twin sister, Lisbeth. The novel's two narrative threads, Carlynn's past and Joelle's present, flow inexorably toward a "twist" ending that feels contrived and predictable. It's difficult to dislike Chamberlain's well-paced tale, especially since its protagonists are such an inherently sympathetic, good-hearted lot. Still, there are few surprises and fewer original insights into love, loss and self-sacrifice to be found here. Agent, Ginger Barber. National advertising; teaser chapter in January paperback edition of The Courage Tree.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Life and death seem to go hand in hand in Joelle's life. When she was born while her parents were living at a commune in Big Sur, California, the cord was wrapped around her neck, and Carolynn, a famous healer, saved her. Thirty-four years later, she's contemplating asking Carolynn for help again. While giving birth more than a year ago, Joelle's best friend, Mara, suffered a brain aneurysm and has been left in a semi-vegetative state. As Mara's husband, Liam, and Joelle visit her in a nursing home, they end up romantically involved until guilt destroys their friendship, leaving Joelle to face the consequences when she discovers that she's pregnant. Driven by her desire to see Liam and Mara happy, Joelle decides to contact Carolynn and find out if she truly is a healer and will be willing to help. As Chamberlain examines myriad forms of love, her complicated novel will bring tears to her readers, but they won't regret the experience. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mira (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551666472
• ISBN-13: 978-1551666471
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,128,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey where, at the age of twelve, I wrote several dreadful novellas, read and admired only by my family. When college rolled around, I forgot about writing and received my bachelor's and master's degrees in Social Work from San Diego State University. I was a hospital social worker in San Diego, and later in Washington DC. I also had a private psychotherapy practice working mainly with teenagers. All the while, I was writing on the side. I viewed my writing as a hobby, but it quickly became a passion. I finally decided to take a class in 'writing the novel.' I was very shy about showing my work to the instructor, but when I finally did, he loved it! He encouraged me to aim for publication and I decided to go for it. A few years later, my first novel, PRIVATE RELATIONS, was published.

Since then, I've written about a book a year-eternity-one at last count. I now live in North Carolina, the beautiful state where many of my books are set and where I'm ten minutes from my grandbabies. I share my life with my soulmate, John, who's a photographer as well as my muse, and with my two shelties, Keeper and Jet.

Are you wondering what my books are about? One of my readers in Japan had this to say about my work: "You make me believe life is beautiful even if it is full of pain and rage." Her words touch me deeply. They hang on the wall above my computer and help me remember exactly what it is I'm trying to achieve in my stories. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Diane Chamberlain, April 10, 2002

By 

Maudeen Wachsmith "BeachReader" (Port Townsend, WA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cypress Point (Hardcover)

Diane Chamberlain has been one of my favorite authors of contemporary women's fiction/romance for quite a while and this book is typical of hers where she puts two interwoven stories into one book. And what a book it is. I read it in a day, something that is not at all typical for me.

CYPRESS POINT is set on the Monterey Peninsula and Bay Area of California including Carmel and Big Sur. Joelle D'Angelo and Carlynn Shire's paths first cross when Carlynn saves Joelle's life on the day she is born. Now 34 years later Joelle again needs Carlynn's help. Her best friend Mara suffered a brain aneurysm when her first child was born 14 months previously. Mara is now in a nursing home, attempts at physical rehabilitation being to no avail.

Joelle had introduced Mara to her husband, Liam, a fellow social worker at a Monterey Hospital. In a moment of weakness on the first anniversary of Mara's devastating illness (also the first birthday of Liam and Mara's healthy son, Sam), Liam and Joelle are comforting each other and things go further than they should have. Using no protection due to the fact that they weren't thinking (if they *had* been thinking they wouldn't have made love in the first place) and that Joelle had suffered from infertility in her marriage (she is now divorced) -- Joelle becomes pregnant. She has definite plans to leave the area before she is too far along in order to avoid embarrassment for not only herself but for Liam. But first she wants to do everything she can to help Mara (who although awake, cannot communicate, recognize most people, or make many voluntary movements - it is clear she is severely brain-damaged). A visit to her parents has her recall her miraculous revival at birth at the hands of Dr. Carlynn Kling Shire so Joelle contacts Carlynn to see if there is anything she can do to help Mara. Joelle is a bit hesitant to do so knowing that shortly after she was born, Carlynn was in a auto accident that killed her twin sister and doesn't want to remind of her of that tragedy.

Carlynn Kling and her identical twin sister, Lisbeth were raised on the family estate of Cypress Point on Monterey Peninsula's famous 17-Mile Drive. It's evident early on that Carlynn has a gift of healing and she uses that gift and becomes a physician. Her identical twin sister doesn't appear to have the same gift and, in fact, is quite a bit different than Carlynn. Their mother only wanted ONE child so when, on the delivery table, she's informed there are two instead of one, she begins many years of ignoring and, in fact, disclaiming her second daughter. Lisbeth's early years weren't so bad because her father doted on her but after he died Lisbeth led an abysmal existence. While Carlynn was sent to all the best private schools, Lisbeteh was given a substandard education. Despite this Carlynn and Lisbeth remained close but most people don't realize they are twin because Carlynn remains slim while Lisbeth's lack of self-esteem and over-eating as a way to deal with her loneliness and insecurity causes her to balloon to 200 pounds. When Carlynn goes to medical school in San Francisco, Lisbeth follows and works as an office manager at a medical clinic.

While in San Francisco, Carlynn continues her healing ways and comes to the attention of Dr. Alan Shire who is also interested in psychic phenomena and has studied Edgar Cayce. Their relationship eventually becomes personal as well as professional and they marry. Meanwhile Lisbeth has a romance of her own with Gabriel Johnson, an accountant at the hospital where Carlynn and Alan practice. There's a complication though - he's a Negro and it's the 1950s. Through it all Carlynn and Lisbeth's mother uses one excuse after another to reject Lisbeth and to find a reason to shut her out of her will.

But all isn't as it first seems. Things get very exciting and complicated when Joelle's careful plans go awry and a closely guarded secret being kept by Carlynn is eventually revealed.

Both stories are compelling and while reading Joelle's portion I was hesitatant to switch gears to go to Carlynn's story. But I needn't have worried. Diane Chamberlain is such a pro at telling intertwined stories in such a way that both have the reader's full attention -- making each story as interesting and exciting as the other. There is one caveat here for romance readers, infidelity plays a role in this story and for those of you who are against it in any way, shape, or form in the books you read, then this will not be for you. But those who can keep an open mind, will be richly rewarded.

Whether it's the way she tells the story, her way with words, the way the breathes live into her characters or something less definable, Diane Chamberlain's books are definite page turners and this one, as most of her others, are very highly recommended. In CYPRESS POINT, the setting itself becomes a character as well be it while sailing in the Pacific, the fog-shrouded coast of Big Sur, or area of Pebble Beach's 17-Mile Drive and even those who've never been to the area may be tempted to plan a trip there in the near future. The time-period goes from the 1930s when Carlynn and Lisbeth are children, to the 1950s when they are living in San Francisco and meet the men who they eventually marry, to 1967 and the commune where Joelle is born.

Diane Chamberlain has again gifted readers with an outstanding read. To simply say "I loved it" is an understatement. It has all the qualities I have come to expect in an excellent read - and from this talented author.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional rollercoaster..., August 18, 2003

By 

iheartjackbauer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cypress Point (Stp - Mira) (Mass Market Paperback)

When her best friend, Mara, had an anerysm (sp?) during the delivery of her son, Joelle D'Angelo was heartbroken. Not only for the little boy that would grow up without his mother, but for Mara's husband, Liam. Because she loved Mara like a sister, Joelle did all she could to ease Liam's heartbreak. She spent time with their son, Sam, and even helped find a home to put Mara in when it looked like she would not be recovering. There friendship took a drastic turn one night when they slept together. For Joelle, she was sleeping with the man she loved, while for Liam, all he saw was the betrayal of his wife.

Now Joelle is pregnant herself. Having had a hard time conceiving with her ex-husband, Joelle is estatic, even though she knows that Liam won't show her enthusiasm. Before she moves away, she wants to do one more thing for Liam and Mara. The woman tha saved her life when she was born was said to have worked miracles, and Joelle wants that miracle for the man she loves. Even if the woman he loves isn't her.

Chamberlain again delivers in this intensely emotional read. I was entralled by the story of Lisabeth and Carlynn as well as Joelle and Liam. It made my heartbreak to see what Liam was putting himself through by trying to remain faithful to a woman that simply didn't exisist anymore.

Don't miss it!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this author, love her books!, February 25, 2005

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cypress Point (Stp - Mira) (Mass Market Paperback)

I first began reading Diane Chamberlain in 1992 with her book, Keeper of the Light. After that title I made it my business to find and read every book she wrote and then buy all of her new books almost as soon as they are published. For some reason I saved Cypress Point which I bought at a reading featuring the author in 2002. And while Keeper of the Light and the Keeper trilogy which include Kiss River and Her Mother's Shadow will remain my favorite book, I do think I saved one of the best for last since Cypress Point was a most wonderful read.

Cypress Point takes place in the beautiful area of Monterey, California surrounded by the cypress trees we all marvel at whether we live there or visit. And what better place than to tell the story of a medical healer and the young woman she saves at birth whose paths once again are about to cross.

Carlynne Shire knew she was a medical healer at an early age. And while she has always been treated special by her family her twin sister, Lisbeth, didn't possess the same gift and was virtually ignored by her mother. Growing up and treated differently, Carlynne becomes a gifted doctor while her sister only attends secretarial school. Both sisters find love although neither of them have quite as traditional marriages as one would think.

Then sometime later when Carlynn saves a young baby born on a commune, little does she know that in the future years later she would be asked to save this woman's best friend. Or how this birth at the commune would effect the life of her sister, herself or their husbands.

For Joelle reaching out to the woman who saved her years before may be both a blessing and a curse if she is able to help her. Joelle needs Carlyn to try and help heal her best friend who suffered a brain aneurysm while giving birth to a son. But if Mara regains her abilities and life, what will happen to the love Joelle feels for Mara's husband, Liam. How the medical healer and Joelle meet after more than 30 yearsprovides readers with a wonderful novel filled with romance and a bit of a mystery.

As the author Diane Chamberlain provides readers with in most of her books, this one really captivated me and I hated to see it end. I highly recommend this book as well as all of Diane's books. They are emotional stories with characters you will think about long after you finish her books. Now that I also read Diane's latest book, The Bay at Midnight, I will be anxiously waiting for her next book to arrive on the bookshelves.