Stars over Clear Lake

A Novel

By: Loretta Ellsworth

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Lorraine Kindred's most cherished memories are of the Surf Ballroom, the place where youth lost themselves to the brassy sounds and magnetic energy of the big band swing, where boys spent their last nights before shipping off to war - and where Lorraine herself was swept away by a star-crossed romance.

Returning to the ballroom for the first time in decades, Lorraine enters a dazzling world she thought long vanished. But as the sparkling past comes to life, so does the fateful encounter that forced her to choose between her heart and her duty all those years ago - and Lorraine must face the secret she's buried ever since. Along the way, she'll rediscover herself, her passion, and her capacity for resilience.

Set during the 1940s and the present and inspired by a real-life ballroom, Loretta Ellsworth's Stars Over Clear Lake is a moving story of forbidden love, lost love, everlasting love - and self-love.

©2017 Loretta Ellsworth (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A timeless story of love and loss in the wartime American heartland." (Linda Lael Miller, New York Times best-selling author)

Great selection for Book Club

I loved this book. I’m going to use it for my book club. The author did a great job going back in years when the main character was a young adult to her present day. A Sunday I had a list of things to do was instead spent listening to this story. I enjoyed every minute!

Great story line.

This is one of best books I have read in a long time. I really enjoyed every minute.

Leisurely read

Interesting storyline & a nice casual read. Easy to follow as the time period changes from past to present.

Interesting historical perspective

I spent my summers in Clear Lake and have gone to the Surf many times. This is an accurate portrayal of the town. I had no idea about the POW camp in Alogna and will visit the museum the next time I am in North Iowa. Good story and excellent narration. Worth a listen

An adventure through time

I live in Clear Lake, IA and this book really brought me to a new era. I had no idea there was a POW camp in Algona during WW2. I learned a lot about things in the 1940's. I really recommend this book both for it's historical background and also for anyone from the North Iowa area.