International Writers Inspiring Change Feature Book: The Pebble in the Pond

For Miriam Llewelyn, moving to Stuarts Landing, Virginia, in 1978 was meant to be a fresh start after she and her husband sustain financial ruin and personal loss, but the town’s polished façades hide a fiercely protective social hierarchy she was as naive in predicting as she was of navigating. She quickly discovers small-town life is anything but quiet. Her every move engenders the scrutiny of Louise Winston Caldwell, the ambitious queen of the Women’s Auxiliary, who will stop at nothing to maintain control.

As Miriam settles in, befriending the eccentric, wealthy Webster sisters, she uncovers a decades-old family secret linking her late grandfather to the town’s most powerful household. A tragic fire, hidden adoption, and old betrayals surface, exposing rivalries that have simmered for generations. Miriam’s arrival sets in motion a chain of revelations that threatens to upend both the social order and long-held loyalties.

In a town built on tradition, Miriam must navigate ambition, jealousy, and hidden truths while finding her own place. Only by confronting the past—and choosing forgiveness—can she uncover the life her grandfather envisioned and forge her own path to belonging and peace.

Reviews

"Groves’ talent for curating personalities that play off one another’s strengths and shortcomings is unmatched, resulting in a highly immersive story. Readers who enjoy stories that hone in on the inner workings of a small town will adore The Pebble in the Pond. The emotionally driven novel will have you shedding a tear, laughing out loud, and warming your heart. While the author highlights topics such as grief and family drama, the overarching message is positive: the restorative power of kindness and forgiveness can do wonders for a community." — Stephanie Elizabeth Long for Reader Views, 5 Stars

"One thing that struck me is that it’s not always who you are, it’s what you reflect or stir in others that they fear or envy ... I highly recommend this book to readers who love wholesome narratives that quietly unfold while leaving a lasting impression." — Maalin Ogaja for Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars

"The Pebble in the Pond is an easy match for book clubs who are interested in relationships, reputation, and history in small towns. It’s a thoughtful, women-centered narrative that adeptly explores identity through family and social structures." — Grace Okubo for Literary Titan

"Mystery and small-town intrigue propel Groves’ novel of new beginnings, social drama, and buried histories." — Kirkus Reviews

As Miriam Llewelyn’s grandfather lies dying he urges his only granddaughter to move to Stuarts Landing in Virginia. After his death, when their hardware store business fails, Miriam and her gentle husband George sell up just about everything they own and make the move. Stuarts Landing, in 1978, is very much ‘small town America’, and the old ways of knowing one’s place and keeping up appearances are still important. Many of the wealthier women of the town, who see their roles as traditional housewives despite having been to college, are involved in charitable works such as collecting recipes for a fund-raising cookbook and putting on an annual fashion show. This lifestyle is not what dumpy, red-haired Miriam has been accustomed to, and with her working class background and home-sewn clothes she looks and feels very out of place, so she takes a job in supermarket intending to keep a low profile. It is this job, however, which leads Miriam and George right into the center of local ‘society’, and irretrievably upsets the old order.

Stuarts Landing’s has a quiet, sophisticate façade, but the country club lunches and good works include a vicious pecking order amongst the women, led by the heartless, ambitious Louise Winston Caldwell, who decides to take Miriam under her wing. Louise intends to teach Miriam how to dress and behave as she sees fit. But Miriam likes her bright pink lipstick and tartan shift dresses. She prefers a cheeseburger with fried onions to spinach salads, and has no real wish to change her ways. George loves her and that’s all that matters.

The women titter at the frumpy new arrival’s appearance, and then gradually come to realize that Miriam is a good, honest, reliable person, and they vote her into what for them is a powerful role on a charity committee – instead of the elegant Louise. From this moment, Louise is set on revenge and her life takes on a much darker aspect. As Miriam adjusts to her popularity and new situation, she is befriended by two elderly sisters, seen by locals as eccentric aristocrats because they come from ‘old money’. This friendship leads Miriam to discover the truth behind a family secret kept for two generations, and why her grandfather was so eager for her to move to Stuarts Landing.

Author Suzanne Groves has a keen eye for our human strengths and weaknesses, and The Pebble in the Pond becomes a quietly compelling read. This is a clean, Christian, women’s fiction with some very sharp edges. Readers who enjoy small town tales and family sagas will enjoy the way Groves deals with the topics of marriage, grief and redemption. I particularly liked the way she presents a wide range of characters, showing their motivations, hopes and flaws, their rivalry and pseudo-polite inter-actions in such a convincing manner that I could hear their conversations and see what they were doing. I laughed and cried, and was sometimes surprised. Altogether a good read with a heart-warming ending. - iWIC Reviewer

Review by International Writers Inspiring Change

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Suzanna Groves is a published Author, Editor, Amateur Angler, Kitchen Wizard, Emu Whisperer, Genealogist, World Traveler, Animal Lover, Artist, and Gardening Fanatic.

An admitted research junkie, she spends her time working on family genealogy for herself and for friends (when she’s not writing or editing). With their two children grown, successful, and likely not boomeranging home, she and her husband travel as frequently as possible, though it means leaving behind their feisty German Shepherd and their two very bossy cats. Of all her excursions, Groves will tell you one of her favorite memories is being dubbed “The Emu Whisperer” while on her honeymoon in Sonoma.

Author website