Joanne Rafferty Whitman is divorced. Husband Cliff, a celebrity chef who cheated on her for years, has been killed in an accident. Young Ashley, very pregnant, was in the car with him. Given Cliff's celebrity status, the press is clamoring to know who the father of the child is, most just assuming it was Cliff. It isn't that simple. Having experienced the feeding frenzy of the media herself, Joanne impulsively decides to rescue Ashley. They hide out, although it isn't any great secret they're there, in Joanne's childhood beach house. As luck would have it, not only does the press eventually find them but an old flame, Nate, also appears on the scene. Can he find the love with Joanne he once hoped to claim? Is the spark still there?
It was fascinating to watch the relationship between Joanne and Ashley develop. Joanne, more of an "if I ignore it long enough it'll go away" sort, and Ashley, who tends to be more the sort to meet challenges head on rather than ignore them or simply pretend they don't exist, wind up helping each other grow. I genuinely liked the supporting cast and ambiance of the small beach town. We'd all love to live in a place like this. Of course, all doesn't run smoothly. For all her strength, Ashley has secrets. She isn't returning texts. She finds it somehow easier to talk to Joanne about her relationship with Nate than her own relationships. Then the press finds them and converges. And....Nope, not telling. You're just going to have to read the book. You won't regret it. It inspires, soothes, and offers the wonderful possibility of second chances. And, oh, there's a bookstore.
Thanks to Sarah Morgan for the advance copy. I haven't been reading much romance lately but it's always a delight to dive into her books.
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