Goodreads says, "A moving, uplifting novel about motherhood, starting over, and an unexpected summer romance… Kit Blakemore is ready to live again. After her husband died while serving in the military, she was in a haze of grief. Now she wants to reclaim her former self—finish her degree and find a better career to provide for their sweet little boy, Oliver. To do that, she’ll need to sell her late husband’s dilapidated Victorian in Seashell Harbor. But first, Kit intends to give Ollie the kind of unforgettable seaside summer she had growing up, making lifelong memories and friendships. Of course, nothing goes exactly as she planned. Ollie is struggling with his confidence, and frankly, so is Kit. But everything changes when her husband’s best friend, Alex de la Cruz, returns to town, offering to help her renovate. She doesn’t expect Alex to temporarily move in…or for him to bond with Ollie…or for her numb heart to begin thawing. Slowly he’s helping Kit and Ollie heal, and it scares her to death. Kit swore she wouldn’t leave herself open to the pain of loss again. But if she’s going to teach her son to be brave and move forward, Kit must first face her own fears."
Kit Blackmore is a widow who is trying to restart her life with her son, Ollie, after the untimely death of her death of her husband, Carson, an Air Force pilot killed in action. She has moved in with her parents for their support, but is now that two years have passed, she is looking to find her own place without leaning on her parents for everything. There's a lot Kit needs to do to get her life in order though starting with going back to school and finally selling Carson's ramshackle beach house that should have been renovated years ago. At this point, Kit just wants to sell it as it has become a burden. Carson's best friend, Alex, is back in town and deep down feels a sense of obligation to Kit and her son. Kit would rather not deal with Alex though as he has always been very grumpy towards her; however, he has offered to help renovate the Victorian beach house to help get it back on the market for a good price. Alex is hiding more than one secret up his sleeve and perhaps he is just what Kit needs after all. Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson is just the kind of adorable beach read I love to curl up with. There's a friends-to-something more romance, a second chance at love, a gorgeous coastal setting, and the small-town of Seashell Harbor that's filled with heartwarming characters.
I really enjoyed Kit from the start in Sea Glass Summer. She is just starting to come out of her shell and forge a new life for her and Ollie. It's been two years since her husband's passing and she is trying to find a way out of her sadness. In order to do this, she needs to go back to school, move out of her parents' house, and sell Carson's beach house. This summer she finds herself accomplishing all of these goals, but with a little help from Alex. Kit has known Alex since high school, but she doesn't really know him and his many layers. As he offers to help her renovate the Victorian, she gets to know him more and sparks fly. I really enjoyed their relationship and its progression.
Alex is also a great character in Sea Glass Summer. He is also processing his issues surrounding Carson's death as he feels somewhat guilty, which is why he wants to help Kit get top dollar for the house. However, while renovating the house, he wants to hide his true feelings from Kit, but it's getting hard, not to mention the fact that these feelings have been there for quite awhile. I really enjoyed Alex and his sweet relationship with Kit.
The town of Seashell Harbor is one of my favorites. It's a combination of the town from Virgin River and Stars Hollow. I loved the cast of characters, Kit's friends, and the different spots throughout, especially the beach. Because of this and the light romance, it was the perfect book to read while on vacation!
Miranda Liasson is a new-to-me author, but one I will definitely check out in the future. In fact, I wish I read Seashell Harbor book one, Coming Home to Seashell Harbor first, but you don't need to in order to enjoy Sea Glass Summer. I will definitely be keeping my eye for her next beach read and I hope we return to idyllic Seashell Harbor.
So, are you a fan of Miranda Liasson? Do you enjoy a light romance while on vacation? Is Sea Glass Summer on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I haven't read this author before, but I really like the sound of this book. The setting sounds so charming!
ReplyDeleteIt really was! I am glad I saved it to read while on vacation. Thanks for visiting, Angela!
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