Smoky Blue Sunrise
A Return to Elizabeth's Mountain
by Lucille Guarino
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date May 21 2026 | Archive Date Jul 29 2026
Talking about this book? Use #SmokyBlueSunrise #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
"Haunted by guilt after her sister's tragic death, a young woman seeks a fresh start as a caregiver in North Carolina and gradually finds the healing she seeks—but unexpected love and a life-threatening storm will test her strength all over again." —Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn mystery/suspense series
I am the reason my sister is dead.
Jolie-Mae Buckley doesn't think her heart can ever heal. Two years ago, she graduated from college summa cum laud and was on track for medical school. Drowning in guilt after a disastrous mistake turned deadly, she's unable to move forward.
When she answers an ad for a live-in nanny four hours away in Western North Carolina, on Elizabeth's Mountain, Jolie knows this is her opportunity to start her life anew. As details of Jolie's misfortune emerge, her new employers, Jesse and Amanda Taylor, detect a nefarious undercurrent in her story. Jesse's protégé, Brody, gently persuades Jolie to revisit that awful day when a perfect storm of events destroyed her world. In the meantime, Hurricane Helene is barreling toward Asheville, where survival becomes paramount, exposing the fragile line between hope and terror. In the aftermath of Mother Nature's chaos, and with Jolie heart hanging in the balance, the truth about that fateful night breaks free like the floodwaters no one predicted.
Advance Praise
"The depiction of Jolie-Mae's grief process will tug at the reader's heartstrings, but the warmth of her found family and the scenic setting provide welcome comfort. A well-observed meditation on grief, love, family, and home." -Kirkus Reviews
"Readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary fiction, especially stories about grief, healing, and second chances in close-knit communities, and also to anyone who already knows Elizabeth's Mountain and wants to see that world deepen, this one will be for you!" -Literary Titan
"Smoky Blue Sunrise is a slow-burning novel that adds a bit of mystery to women's fiction. There's a lot of realism and some twists, particularly as we are examining suspects, and I love the inclusion of Hurricane Helene. Also, there's love! A well-written story with so much heart." -Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite
"Author Guarino once again immerses readers in the tranquil beauty of the mountain setting with a little mystery, romance, intrigue, and the all too-relatable stresses and strains of contemporary life." -Ruth F. Stevens, author of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
"Smoky Blue Sunrise is an intricate and moving story about handling loss through love and resilience." -Lena Gibson, author of Racing Towards Destiny
"Haunted by guilt after her sister's tragic death, a young woman seeks a fresh start in North Carolina and gradually finds the healing she seeks, but unexpected love and a life-threatening storm will test her strength all over again!" -Cam Torrens, author of the Tyler Zahn Mystery-Suspense Novels
"The tapestry of plot lines in this book is woven so beautifully and the characters so compassionate, that every time I picked up this book, I felt like I was coming home." -Cate Perry, author of Before the Next Mistake