What readers think of Water, Stone, Heart, plus links to write your own review.

Loved this book about the small English seaside town of Boscastle with its quirky, endearing characters. The sense of community and comradery made me wish I lived there. Andrew, an American architect, finds his way there to learn the art of hedge building. He finds architecture, interesting people, and romance. He also learns about the spirit and backbone of these people as they face a natural disaster. Loved the book - wish I hadn't finished it so soon!

I loved this book for everything but the romance! Will North’s descriptions of Boscastle and the Cornwall hedges were so vivid, I felt transported to this region. The true-life account of the storm at the end of the book was incredible, and having the weather report woven through the book leading up to the storm was very creative. I did not, however, find the romance between Andrew and Nicola exciting at all. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder just how many tragic events from their lives could two people reveal to each other in one week!

Will North's vivid descriptions of Bocastle, England and it's inhabitants made me feel as if I were the proverbial fly on the wall, watching the story unfold before me. Although it was a great story, there were some awkward aspects for me. The use of witchcraft didn't really feel quite right; it felt like a case of too little or too much to belong. There is also a relationship with a main character's ex-father in law which was unnecessary because she is such a strong woman on her own. Past lives, self discovery and a love story build up to a true life catastrophy and makes for an enjoyable read despite it's minor flaws.

Will North's writing brings to life his characters and the village of Boscastle, England. He makes the reader feel like they are a part of the village. Mr. North's skill at story development is wonderful and I enjoyed it immensely. Some of the plot was unnecessary and could have used some tightened editing. The story and the main characters stay with you long after you've put it down. It's a great read ... would be a great beach read for the coming summer months.

Loved the characters in this book - Will North really brought them to life for me. The notes on the flood of August 2004 before each chapter made one realize how frightening and terrible it must have been. Because I enjoy fiction woven around some facts, I rated this book as very good. It is not a heavy read and I found it hard to put down. Anyone who enjoys a good story should enjoy Water, Stone Heart.

I read the advanced reading copy of Mr. North's new book on the heels of his debut novel "The Long Walk Home". The way Mr. North handles a story remains the same - beautiful descriptions of the landscape (this time, Cornwall), engaging characters who have suffered loss and find true love later in life, and interesting secondary characters. Mr. North's characters fall in love within days of meeting and readily recognize it as such.

I really enjoyed the story, but not as much as his first novel. With this one, I found myself skimming through some of the narrative regarding the hedge building, witchcraft and the devastating storm.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to ponder here and I recommend it for readers of contemporary fiction and book clubs. I'm looking forward to the author's next effort.

Loved the beautiful Cornwall settings, the building of stone "hedges" and especially appreciated that this was a true flood. Climax builds with "The Perfect Storm" like weather reports. Quirky, warm villagers, a Real Witch Museum and the back stories of the two main characters all enrich an easy, enjoyable read.

Andrew Stratton is running away from a divorce, Lee is the quirky kid who relates better to adults than people her age and Nicola is fleeing an abusive ex-husband. These three, along with some colorful ancillary characters, bring this quasi-predictable storyline alive with some excellent characterization, unlikely friendships and a tender romance. The setting, the beautiful Boscastle, England, almost becomes a character as well when Andrew must grapple with his physical and metaphorical stones in his hedge-building class. (Hedges are those picturesque English stone walls - called walls in some parts of the country and hedges in others.) Noth ties in actual Boscastle history and the history of witchcraft to bring about a well-written, gentle novel. While there is physical abuse "off the page" and a harrowing rescue scene, the book has the pace one might imagine in of a small tourist town in Cornwall.