Beautiful work

This book is rooted in an historical event that happened in Alaska, but the main characters are fictional. Nonetheless, it brought me to the realization that while we always see celebrities as perfect, especially in these social media days when everyone posts their best lives, they are flawed and scarred individuals too.

When Valerie is sent away to have her out of wedlock baby, as was the norm those days, it changed her life. She felt alone, discarded but made good friends and loved the baby she was meant to give away. In her spare time, she wrote songs, which eventually led to her recreation as Scarlett Fontaine, world famous for her music and fashion. Her only surviving relative Gwen, runs her foundation and a museum dedicated to her life, at least the part of her life that was known. Until the day Peter shows up, attempting to write Scarlett’s story.

Well-written and researched as all Ms. McLean’s books are, this was a lovely book. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to her next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I really believe everything this author writes is gold. I was so excited to read an early copy of her latest. Like many before, her descriptions of everything make you feel as if you are right there experiencing it yourself. What a great story mostly set in Alaska. There is history and a little romance and some life trauma that sets our main character on a course to explore not only her relatives past but what she wants for her future. I highly recommend this beautiful story.

I was very much looking forward to reading A Storm of Infinite Beauty as I love stories about Alaska. This book is about a deceased Hollywood Icon who has 1 year missing out of her life and the family member and journalist who are determined to find out what happened to her during that.lost year. Although I finished this book I never really connected which the characters. I kept wanting them to have more depth. I also felt the story and ending was predictable. It’s a quick read and nice story for those who enjoy women’s fiction.

I have spent many days researching my genealogy, so reading a book revolved around genealogy made sense. And I am glad I did. It is a good book. The descriptions of Alaska made me want to go. The storyline was well developed and the characters were realistic. I did not know that there was such a bad earthquake in Alaska in 1964. This is a good book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for my honest review.

Julianne never disappoints. I have read most of her books and they are all great reading. I like her writing style. I liked the way she was able to switch from one time period to another without confusion. Loved the description of Alaska having been there once, I found myself unable to put this book down. Couldn’t wait to see how it all came out. I highly recommend this book and encourage you to read it. You won’t be disappointed. I thank NetGalley for an advance copy but this is my own opinion. Again, read it

Julianne MacLean’s book A Storm of Infinite Beauty was definitely a Beauty, what a great story! The prologue captivated me, I was on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded and could not put the book down from that point forward. I really appreciated all the research Ms. MacLean did on Alaska and its breath taking landscape. I could see its infinite beauty by her descriptives. I had no idea about the 1964 earth quake there and again Ms. MacLean wrote such a gut wrenching horror that my mind was swimming as I continued to read.
The story seamlessly flips back and forth in a 50 year timeline with very interesting characters, secrets and mysteries; that keep you wondering how each of the characters both past and present will handle the shocking discoveries. The old saying goes “timing is everything” and unquestionably true in this tale. As the reader you will note that the ending is extremely satisfying. I thank Ms. MacLean for her imagination and dedication, I cannot wait for her next book!

I’m Happy to Recommend!
This is a quick and easy read about a character by the name of Scarlett Fontaine, an icon in the past. The story itself is brought into a more current time by a writer and the curator of a museum which was created around her life.
I was impressed by the amount of research which clearly must have been done to get information about the main area the story is written in because the descriptions are so very detailed and brought to life clear images while I was reading. So that is a big plus from my point of view.
Then we have the characters of Gwen and Peter and I kept wanting them to fall in love and have a great partnership or marriage – they seemed so perfect for each other.
I really enjoyed this book and its characters who told a tale that I kept hoping would have a happy ending – and it did!
I read an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and above is my voluntary review of it.

I was so excited for a new Julianne MacLean book.
This book was so different from what I expected, but such an interesting story. Gwen Hollingsworth is the curator of the museum dedicated to Scarlett Fontaine, who was a distant family member, in Alaska of all places. When a reporter who is writing a book about Scarlet Fontaine shows up, she goes on a bit of a wild ride to help uncover some secrets, she didn’t even know existed. It was a fun journey to ride along on , while having the gorgeous locations brought to life by Ms. McLean. We travel from Alaska to Nova Scotia with a love story or two or three thrown in for good measure. This book does not disappoint.
Enjoy the journey!

I did not remember much about the Valdez earthquake in Alaska and this book did an excellent job of describing that event. That said, I wasn't totally enthralled with the book. The main character, suffering from personal tragedy, becomes involved with an author who is doing a story on her deceased relative, (a once famous movie star and song writer). Their travels take them to Alaska where they piece together her relativie's unknown misssing years in that area. A quick read for those who enjoy historical/women"s fiction.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean was a beautifully written look back at a beloved, fictional icon’s secret life. Set largely in Alaska and during the great Valdez earthquake, the horrors and sensations of that day were so vividly captured. The various characters were so exceptionally portrayed, they came to life so realistically on the pages of this tender love story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The author knocked it out of the park with this book! She has such a way with words that the reader can picture herself sitting in the Wilderness Lodge with Blaine and Maud.



I'm not usually a fan of dual timeline stories but this one worked so well and flowed so effortlessly.



The book left me thinking about each of the characters and the strength and resilience of their story.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I have read several works by this author and this one did not disappoint. It was an engaging story, told in 2 timelines, that was easy to follow. The descriptions of the Alaskan settings are beautifully written and make me want to travel there to see for myself. The twist at the end was heartwarming and provided perfect closure to the storyline.

Julianne MacLean's "A Storm of Infinite Beauty" combines Hollywood glamour and the quest for truth in a captivating tale. Curator Gwen Hollingsworth's life is turned upside down when a shocking revelation surfaces, hinting at Scarlett Fontaine's secret life in Alaska. Together with photojournalist Peter Miller, Gwen embarks on an enthralling journey, from Nova Scotia's vineyards to Alaska's rustic landscapes. MacLean's masterful storytelling and resonating characters evoke resilience and the power of hidden truths. This compelling tribute to the human spirit will leave readers captivated and yearning for more.

Such a good and easily consuming read. A perfect take to the beach or park for the day and sit back and relax and enjoy.

I loved the timeline that was set in Alaska. I had no idea about the history of the area and found it fascinating. The descriptions of the natural beauty made you want to pack up your things and go and see it yourself. The timeline set in Nova Scotia was alright but not as gripping as the other storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

A Storm of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean was a wonderful novel filled with family drama and secrets.
This was a great read that had me hooked right from the start.
MacLean creates wonderful, fleshed out characters. The descriptions were so vivid that I felt like I was in Alaska with the characters.
The characters are multi-dimensional, and her plots will keep you turning pages.
Another riveting story from Julianne MacLean. This book is a compelling story.
Definitely a page turner. She grabs you with such beautiful writing and the search for truth that you cannot put this book down until you finish.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Gwen, the curator of the museum dedicated to Scarlett's (actress, songwriter, Oscar winner) learns that Scarlett had secrets that no one was aware of. With help of Peter, a journalist writing a book on Scarlett's life) they find that Scarlett's life actually involved living in Alaska, having a child in secret, living through a major earthquake, to name a few. The story is based in Nova Scotia, in addition to Alaska.

This was an enjoyable read - I never knew there was a huge earthquake in Alaska back in the 1960s. I liked the dual timeline, the history and the descriptions of Alaska and Nova Scotia. An easy, well-written book to get your teeth into.

Great book, so much detail and the way the past was written in was perfect to me.

I like how there was in-depth details if needed but not used when not necessary.

A good amount of characters but not too many to keep track of.

Like These Tangled Vines, the author's earlier dreamy novel set in Tuscany, I enjoyed this a lot!

I was searching for an easygoing yet gripping novel to tumble into while on holiday, and this book absolutely delivered. I loved the flashbacks, the slow uncovering of the past, and the down-to-earth side of an iconic (fictional) star.

Things did slow down a bit in the last section of the book (and some of the characters were sparsely described, leaving you to create them in your imagination) but I'd still absolutely recommend it.

With a blend of romance and historical fiction, think Taylor Jenkins Reid meets Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.

Read this for a multigenerational plot, an emotional love story, buried secrets in the past, and wild and powerful nature in Alaska (one of my favourite settings).

Thanks to the publisher for the advance review copy.