Publisher's Synopsis
When a solitary musician retreats to a faded coastal town, she discovers that her past - and the secrets of its legends-are intertwined with the music of her soul.
Stella Sinclair was once known for just one song: a sharp, vengeful anthem from 2007. Now, seeking refuge in the windswept town of Ashcliffe-on-Sea, she intends to simply restore an abandoned music venue - The Saltwater Siren - and quietly rebuild her life. But Ashcliffe is no ordinary place. It's steeped in folklore, haunted by a siren's song that stirs with every storm, and brimming with locals who speak in whispers of long-buried truths.
Stella finds herself pulled into the town's peculiar rhythms, befriending the eccentric "Ashcliffe Afternooners" the dramatic Krissy, the insightful astrologer Eloise, the prickly Eve, and the gentle handyman Albert. As she renovates The Siren, she uncovers a haunting melody - "M" marked on sheet music - that connects her to Miles Thornton, the venue's original owner who vanished during a turbulent storm in 1938.
Through diaries, sea-chests, and forgotten recordings, Stella pieces together Miles's obsession with capturing the siren's song - a piece of music said to emerge from the sea itself when emotions run deep. Alongside her creative block and the lingering scars of a devastating betrayal by her ex-lover, renowned potter Alanna Brooke, Stella begins to thaw, forging deeper connections with Albert - a quiet reverence for history - and Eloise - a spark of shared intuition.
Stardust in the Tides is a wistful yet hopeful tale about creative rebirth, queer love, and finding your voice - even when it's been hidden for years.
