A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne Maclean is a stand-along novel with a powerful impact. Gwen Hollingsworth lived in the small town in Nova Scotia where she ran a museum dedicated to her cousin, actress and composer, Scarlett Fontaine. It was housed in her childhood home, and contained many artifacts of the woman’s short life. She had died at thirty-six. One day a researcher arrived who upset her equilibrium, in several ways. He brought with him a newspaper photograph of a woman who sure looked like Scarlett (real name-Valerie McCarthy) taken in Alaska, right after a huge earthquake. Gwen was certain that her relative had been in New York at the time, but after a little research found the director of a museum there and reached out. He didn’t recognize either of the persons in the photo but offered to inquire of his sources. By the next day he had responded with the name of the man in the photo. From there, they searched the internet and found him on Facebook, of all places. Gwen DM’d him and he responded. After assuring him she was not press, they set up a meeting. She and Peter Miller, the researcher, set off on what would become an amazing adventure, both for the museum and for herself.

Maclean writes a lovely, nuanced novel, always has and in this one she touches on so many hidden soft spots, it hurts. Valerie, whose story took up most of the novel, was a young girl with a dream. Her father was a relatively powerful man who was determined that her dreams would never be fulfilled. His duplicitous act sent her to Alaska, where friends of his did the rest. Fortunately she had friends there, too, and through a mysterious set of circumstances, they took excellent care of her until tragedy struck. The man in the photo met with them several times and told the whole story: a sad and gripping one. As Gwen and Peter explored they became closer, too, providing clarity to Gwen’s tragic personal situation. It was a heart-breaking book, but a happy one in so many ways. The characters were masterfully crafted and the story well told. Excellent read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Lake Union Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LakeUnionPublishing #JulianneMaclean #AStormOfInfiniteBeauty

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy of “A Storm of Infinite Beauty” by Julianne Maclean. This story is set in present day with Gwen, a relative and historian of Valerie, whose story in the 1960s is slowly revealed. The story of Valerie, set in the past, is, I feel, the strongest part of this book. There is plenty of tension through the telling of her struggle through a pregnancy on her own in a new place. The description of the earthquake that devastated and decimated Valdez, Alaska is extremely well written and made me feel like I was witnessing it.

The trouble I had with this book two fold. I like to know what characters look like as well as their habits and idiosyncrasies. I didn’t feel like I really got much of that in this book, especially of Gwen and Peter, the main characters in the present. It’s hard for me to imagine a character without these pieces. Additionally, their romance was very lightly touched on and not well developed. This was disappointing to me, but that is just my opinion.

The story offers an interesting mystery that is resolved by the end, which is satisfying.

Lovely new novel from this author. Settings are described so that you can imagine the vastness of Alaska and it's natural beauty. There is a some historical information about the area woven into the story regarding an earthquake and the relocation of Valdez,Alaska --- who knew!!!?? Interesting! The story is told from points of view of various characters with the backstory being in the not too distant past. It is well defined and easy to follow. The cover gives an adequate synopsis... I don't do book reports. You'll also find the story dealing with relationships, death,divorce, natural disasters and the effects on the characters. A page turner,easily read on a rainy day or beach or pool outing. I was provided an advanced reader copy bit under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean is a slow burn of suspense that grabs hold and captivates until the beautiful and surprising end!

I truly enjoyed this book and read it in one day!
It has some light romance and a bit of a mystery throughout the story. I definitely need to read more books by this author. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I really loved this story! MacLean is an awesome story teller that I really did feel like I was right there with the characters. The dual storyline explores moments in time for two women who are related, but never knew each other.

Gwen runs a museum featuring tales and objects of her famous family member. She thinks she knows all there is to know about Scarlett Fontaine and her life in the limelight. Then a man shows up with a picture from a newspaper from Alaska that sets her knowledge askew. Gwen and Peter are now on the trail to find the truth. All the while, Gwen is dealing with her own past and problems.

I loved the dual timeline in this book, especially the story of the past. It totally sucked me in. MacLean is one of those writers that just seems to turn out works that are always wonderful--they touch your heart and your mind as well. I thought this book was incredible!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

An easy to read, dual timeline novel, I really enjoyed A Storm of Infinite Beauty. While a work of fiction, this novel is based on actual events and is very believable. The natural beauty of Alaska which was well detailed made the book. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc.

I like the setting, the turn of events, question and answers about Valerie's life. I like the way how you narrate what happened in Alaska. Very informative, heartwarming and tear jerking. I am so immersed to the point that I felt the pain and sadness of Valerie during that time in her life.
This book is highly enjoyable! A must read.

I’ve liked everything I’ve read by Julianne McLean, so it wasn’t a surprise that I would love this. It follows the story of a woman Gwen, that maintains a museum in Nova Scotia, the Scarlett Fontaine Museum, dedicated to her deceased cousin, who passed before she was born.
She is approached by Peter Miller, a photo journalist, who is interested in writing a book about Scarlett’s life. Gwen is suspicious of Peter, because of his photo journalism background, but he convinces her that he is serious and has no intention of exploiting her story.
So begins a a journey that takes them to Alaska, to find the fascinating story of Scarlett. This is a beautifully written story with interesting characters, wonderful descriptions of the beauty of Alaska, and the challenges to bring the real Scarlett to life. This definitely a five star effort.
My thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Haven’t read anything by this author before, the story pulled me in almost immediately. I truly enjoyed everything about the plot. The characters had baggage and trauma in their lives along with new life choices to make. The setting alternates between Alaska in the sixties and 2017 in Nova Scotia, Canada. The past and present portraying love and loss, yet full of new possibilities. Gwen is separated from her husband who’s not very likable and all too believable. She is the last remaining heir and caretaker of a museum about legendary composer/singer/actress Scarlett. Despite her notoriety, Scarlet valued her privacy. Gwen feels very close to her despite never knowing her. But, does she really know the life her distant relative really lived? Do we ever really know people like we think we do?
Peter is attempting to shed his history as a paparazzi photo journalist in LA and become an author. His research into Scarlett’s life has some discrepancies. He contacts the museum to do further research. Gwen will take an interest in his discoveries as more questions arise about Scarlett’s life before her stardom. They will uncover surprising new parts of a life no one knew existed. The history woven throughout Scarlett’s story was fascinating. There are so many emotions, romance, perseverance, resilience, sorrow, overcoming heartbreak, loss, grief and hope. The setting was magnificent with glaciers and wildlife at every turn. It was a lovely story and the book club questions gave me lots to consider. I’m so happy to have discovered this author’s poignant writing and would read her again.
A digital advance reader copy of “A Storm of Infinite Beauty” by Julianne MacLean, Published by Lake Union Publishing, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Scarlette Fontaine was an iconic movie star and songwriter in the 1960s. Her fifteen-year career (which included four Oscars) ended when she moved to Switzerland, and her early death in 1979 has only added to her legend. Gwen Hollingsworth, a distant relative of Scarlette is the heir of the Fontaine fortune and keeps Scarlette's memory alive as the manager of the Scarlette Fontaine museum in Scarlette's childhood home in Nova Scotia. Photojournalist (well, paparazzi, actually) Peter Miller visits the museum to discuss a book he is planning to write about Scarlette and brings along a photo that is about to change history. Everything that Gwen (and the world) had believed about Scarlette is about to change.

Gwen (who is recovering from her own private tragedies) travels with Peter to Alaska where they attempt to discover what happened to Scarlette in this "lost" year she had spent in Alaska that no one had ever known a thing about.

This is a wonderful novel and I enjoyed every page of it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Julianne Maclean's books are realistic yet comforting and healing. I get a cozy and heartfelt feeling from her stories. A Storm of Infinite Beauty brings that same sense of relatable context and characters. I know when I read one of Julianne's books, I will care for the characters, be able to put myself into the story, and feel comforted, challenged, and encouraged, all while being engaged and entertained. These books can appeal to men and women. My husband enjoys her books just as much as I do. Check out Julianne's books if you want clean, romantic stories with minimal cursing (may none?).
This story is an easy read, following two related characters across two time-frames, which reveal answers to long-lost questions about the depths of love and loss for one beloved character lost too soon. The search for the truth helps one woman heal and move on from her own loss.
This is not my favorite story by Julianne MacLean, but still a great read. It would be great to take on vacation, cozy up with at home, or sneak in a few pages while waiting for the oil to be changed. I highly recommend any of Julianne's books. I rate it a 3 of 5 stars because it is not my favorite book, nor would I read it again, but it was good, and I enjoyed it.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean is a beautiful dual-timeline novel set in primarily in Hollywood & and Alaska (in the past narrative) and Nova Scotia (in 2017). The massive earthquake in Valdez, Alaska in 1963 was an event I'd never heard of and found the author's description of the event itself and the ensuing fallout particularly heartbreaking. I loved getting to know all three main characters: Scarlett, Gwen, and Peter. A thoroughly satisfying read!

This is a beautifully written story of finding a buried truth from long ago. With elements of mystery and romance, this story drew me right in, and the ending was just perfect! Loved it!

Gwen is the curator at the museum dedicated to Scarlett Fontaine, a famous Hollywood actress, and she is also the sole heir to her fortune. She thought she knew everything about Scarlett, but when Peter shows up at the museum with a photo of Scarlett and a baby in Alaska, she wants to join him in finding out the truth.
One photo will take them on a journey, that will take them to Alaska, to find out about a time in Scarlett's life that no one knew about. As they learn about the past, they also learn about hope, and the future. The dual timelines work, because it is bridging the past with the future. It is a journey, that Gwen and Peter, not only learn about Scarlett's life during this time, but they also learn a lot about themselves.
I received an ARC from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.

Trigger warning : Those who have experienced the trauma of living through a Tsunami , and loss of a child by accident or miscarriage.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC . This is my honest review of this book.

The prologue is gripping and really pulls you in to find out more about the story — then suddenly this story takes you to my hometown area of Wolfville, in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia . The names of the towns and facilities/venues are accurate and actual places — so I had an easy time imagining the towns and places — it is not often a book is based in Nova Scotia. I have read some of this authors other standalone books in the past - and have also greatly enjoyed those books as well.
This story takes place in two time period 1963/64 in Alaska and 2017 in Nova Scotia/Alaska — from the prologue the writing and characters stories just suck you in — you want to find out the back story of this Nova Scotian girl and I got greatly invested in all the characters lives and what would happen to them all. This book was a page turner for me and I found it hard to put down — I got it read in a couple of days — Highly recommend !

A heartfelt novel of love, loss and finding peace. Beautifully written, A Storm of Infinite Beauty is set primarily in Alaska with a dual timeline of 1964 and 2017. Julianne MacLean seamlessly switches timeliness and draws you into the location . This is my second novel by Julianne MacLean, I loved, loved These Tangled Vines and look forward to future titles. I highly recommend A Storm of Infinite Beauty to anyone who enjoys being transported to beautiful places with characters you will miss when you are done reading.

(This review is based on an uncorrected e-ARC from NetGalley)

A Storm of Infinite Beauty reminded me of both Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone and Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

This novel focuses on the life of Scarlett Fontaine, a Hollywood actress and songwriter, when she was sent to Alaska to have a child. Scarlett kept this time secret from the rest of the world until a writer by the name of Peter happens to recognize her in the background of a photo. This novel also focuses on one of Scarlett's cousins and said writer as they work to figure out what happened to Scarlett, and more importantly, what happened to the baby.

I enjoyed this novel far more than I thought I would. It was a fairly quick read, especially compared to Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone. It took a little while to get into the story, but I couldn't put it down after I hit the halfway point. I had to know what happened!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this novel. I can't wait for it to hit the shelves in September! Review will be posted on Instagram by or before the publication date (@ellie.reads.a.lot)

While the history of the Alaskan earthquake was fascinating, and getting to see it through the eyes of characters living through it, the search for the true history of Scarlett was a bit dry. There were some parts where I almost checked out just due to the dryness of the plot progression. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This starts out as the story about a famous star and her star studded life...but it is so much more. This story
is about love, loss and the ability to keep going against all odds. I never heard about the great earthquake in
Valdez Alaska but I learned much about it in this book. It was eye=opening. The story revolved around a young woman (related to the movie star) who runs a small museum dedicated to Valerie (the move star). When a journalist finds her and has some photos that could lead to a secret part of Valerie's life the book takes off. It is an easy read and while entertaining the reader it also brings to light many facts about Alaska that are interesting and I found very intriguing. Be sure to read the acknowledgments at the end of the book to lend some insights to the story of this earthquake. At the end of this book I can say that I was thoroughly intrigued with the lives of these characters and the story they had to tell.