Theresa Verboort

Everybody knew old Arnie. He walked miles every day, wearing his olive-green rubber suit and boots when it rained, combing the beach for whatever he could find. He felt sure that someday something wonderful would wash up on the sand, maybe caught behind a twisted driftwood log, maybe stuck in a crack in the rocks. 

Cast by the Sea by Theresa Verboort is a poignant novel about two sisters going home again, drawn by their love of the sea and its fresh breezes, and their mission to bury their mother in the small town where they grew up on the southern coast of Oregon. Their visit brings them back to relive a period in their lives in mid-century Bandon. Complex relationships blown by the wind and sea are revealed within interwoven stories for thoughtful, rewarding surprises. There’s Reenie, the tough, loving little cook at the popular local café. There’s Rita Ray, the beautician who deals with tragedy, and Melody Newcastle, pregnant when she shouldn’t be, pub owners, Bert and his wife Ruby, who rides a Harley, and more fascinating characters. The sisters react to the memories and the music of the wind and waves, and finally come to terms with past slights and hurts. Cast by the Sea is a heartwarming and entertaining novel that delves into the lives of memorable characters.