When Lennie returns home hoping to learn the whereabouts of a child her estranged father made her give up for adoption 25 years ago, she learns he has died, taking to his grave the
answer she craves.
Desperate to find her only child, seat-of-her-pants Lennie sets out on an emotionally charged childhood vacation re-creation with her fanatically planful brother to find a mythical angel in the Appalachian Mountains who can supposedly put
children in touch with their departed parents.
Love weaves families together across generations. But can it stitch the divide between life and death? Lennie’s answer hinges on a make-or-break risk that either will lead to inconsolable heartbreak or a second chance at love with the child she never knew.
Fifty years ago, Tony Lapi was a Florida hospitality rookie who set course on a risky mission: to rescue Captiva Island’s cherished ’Tween Waters Inn on the Florida Gulf coast from the brink of demolition. Today, he is Chairman of the Board of Sanibel Captiva Island Beach Resorts and a past chair of VISIT FLORIDA, one of the leading tourism promotion organizations in the United States.
Tales of an Island Innkeeper takes you behind the scenes on his 50-year odyssey—one filled with colorful characters, iconic island events, and the triumphs and tragedies that naturally come with the ebb and flow of life.
With heartfelt reflections on resilience, teamwork, and perseverance, Tony reveals the challenges and joys of working with a dedicated team to transform a threatened island jewel into a treasure now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Reflecting his steadfast belief in the power of community, he is donating all sales proceeds to the nonprofit Captiva Island Historical Society.
His passion for storytelling infuses the tales with gentle wisdom and warm humor to remind us that life’s storms—be they catastrophic hurricanes or unexpected obstacles—can lead to brighter horizons, if only we keep moving forward.