Praise for The Shell Collector
“This is a beautiful story full of love, loss, and second chances. A collection of vivid characters, an inspiring setting, and heart-held hope for a better tomorrow.”
—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“As an avid shell seeker, I enjoyed this tale of surprises deposited among the tides, with its underlying message of finding just the shells we are meant to discover. A tender story of faith, love, and friendship that will warm the hearts of beachgoers and lovers of the sea.”
—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
“A touching story of hope and renewal—proof that you can find more at the beach than shells.”
—Sheila Roberts, USA Today bestselling author
“An amazing emotional story of putting one foot in front of the other, of overcoming heartache, and of learning to live—and love—again. You’ll cry—and smile—and you’ll close the book with a very full heart.”
—Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Nancy Naigle is at the top of her game with The Shell Collector. A compelling cast of characters—all acting in accord with their best lights—tackles the issues of loss and grief with wit and grace. ‘The Wife’ is my favorite new character. An uplifting, hopeful page-turner that shouldn’t be missed!”
—Barbara Hinske, author of the Rosemont series and Guiding Emily
“A touching story about love, loss, and healing, The Shell Collector gives you all the feels. I enjoyed spending time at the beach collecting seashells—and pondering the encouraging messages inside them—right along with the characters. Don’t miss this uplifting, faith-affirming read!”
—Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
“The Shell Collector is a beautiful, emotional story about the glorious sunrise that can come after a dark night, about surviving loss and finding hope and joy again. Amanda, Maeve, and the entire cast will break your heart and then heal it all over again. I loved every word.”
—RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author
“In The Shell Collector, Naigle takes readers on a hopeful journey of healing after unimaginable loss. A tragic past, lovable characters, and a charming small-town setting align for a meaningful beach read. Don’t miss this tender tale full of wisdom and insight!”
—Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Bookshop by the Sea
“The Shell Collector is utterly charming. Naigle’s story of restoration, love, and hope is a perfect read any time of the year. The characters are fun if not a bit quirky, and the setting evokes so much peace. Well done. I loved it.”
—Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author
“The Shell Collector is an unforgettable story of love, hope, and healing. This inspiring novel has found a place in my heart.”
—Jane Porter, New York Times bestselling author
“The Shell Collector gives voice to the profound truth of grieving and learning to come alive again. Nancy Naigle beautifully shows how love can come in so many different forms, as long as you’re open to the unexpected miracles life has to offer. In her own words, “Life is rarely predictable if we’re doing it right.”
—Erin Cahill, actress
The Shell Collector
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. (www.zondervan.com). The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica Inc.™
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Nancy Naigle
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
WaterBrook® and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Naigle, Nancy, author.
Title: The shell collector / Nancy Naigle.
Description: Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2021.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020045095 | ISBN 9780593193594 (paperback) | ISBN 9780593193600 (ebook)
Classification: LCC PS3614.A545 S54 2021 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020045095
Ebook ISBN 9780593193600
waterbrookmultnomah.com
Interior book design by Virginia Norey, adapted for ebook
Cover design: Derek Walls
Cover image: Tom Hallman, based on images © Bram Reusen/Shutterstock (house), © Ivanstar/Getty Images (towel), © Sadeugra/Getty Images (hat), Dan Reynolds Photography/Getty Images (beach and walkway), © kolderal/Getty Images (water)
ep_prh_5.7.0_c0_r0
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Books by Nancy Naigle
1
It was her nerves, not the December chill in the air this morning, that made her shiver as they sat on the tailgate of his pickup truck. She pushed her palm beneath Jack’s warm hand. He’d be leaving shortly. She readjusted her position, hoping he hadn’t noticed the fear racing through her right now. The last thing she wanted was Jack distracted by worry about her.
He scooched closer, wrapping his arm around her.
She nestled against his chest. A safe place.
Behind them, squeals of excitement from an overzealous game of ring-around-the-rosy filled the air as Hailey and Jesse climbed up on Jack’s seabag. One following the other, they leaped as if they were ten feet off the ground. Round and round in the truck’s bed, their eight-week-old English bulldog, Denali, chased them, nipping at their heels before tumbling unsteadily over his own paws.
They’d celebrated Christmas early since Jack had to ship out. She’d been dreading this day. While she’d been worrying, her husband was obviously shopping for the ultimate gift: the puppy. Since Jack was a Marine to his core, the breed shouldn’t have surprised her. She had to admit that at this age, the bulldog was absolutely adorable. That droopy face and those wobbling folds of skin made them laugh, and that was what they needed.
Denali jumped on, chased, and chewed on everything in his path. At the moment, that happened to be the dangling orange grosgrain ribbon hanging from Hailey’s left braid.
“Denali! No.” Not even four years old
