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Nominated ISBN: 0395836220

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Excerpt from Stern Men

Salon review of Stern Men

On two remote islands off the coast of Maine, the local lobstermen have fought savagely for generations over the fishing rights to the ocean waters between them. Young Ruth Thomas is born into this feud, a daughter of Fort Niles, destined to be at war with the men of Courne Haven. Eighteen years old, smart as a whip, irredeemably unromantic, Ruth returns home from boarding school determined to throw her education overboard and join the 'stern men' who work the lobster boats. She is certain of one thing: she will not surrender control of her life to the wealthy Ellis family, which has always had s sinister hold over the island. On her side are Fort Niles's eccentric residents: the loveable Mrs. Pommeroy and her various deadbeat sons, sweet old Senator Simon, on a mission to dig up shipwreck treasure; and Simon's twin brother, Angus Addams, the most ruthless lobsterman alive. The feud between the islands escalates daily, until Ruth gets a glimpse of Owney Wishnell, a silent young Courne Haven Adonis with a preternatural gift for catching lobsters. Their passion is fast, furious, and forbidden. Their only hope is an unlikely truce.