Welcome! The Trouble with Truth by Kathy Krevat will be published on August 28 along with Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart and Secret at Pebble Creek by Lisa Jones Baker. Deadly Dram by Melinda Mullet releases on September 4 along with Christmas is for the Children by Rosie Clarke.
Cottage by the Sea is the latest
novel by Debbie Macomber. Thanksgiving
is quickly approaching, and Annie Marlow’s mother wants her to come home to
Seattle, Washington for the holiday. She
is unable to change her schedule and Annie knows she will be home for
Christmas. Annie regrets her decision
when she receives a call from Aunt Sherry on Thanksgiving that the continual
rains have caused her parents home to slide off the hillside. Annie has lost her entire family in one day. Sixteen months later, Annie has spiraled into
intense depression and is suffering from survivor’s guilt. A counselor suggests Annie go somewhere that
made her happy. She remembers family
vacations in Oceanside and decides to visit.
Annie feels at peace in the small town and decides to make a
change. With the help of local painter,
Seth Keaton, Annie is able to rent her family’s old vacation cottage and
obtains a job. Annie wants to make a
difference in people’s lives and starts with her curmudgeon of a landlord. In Oceanside, Annie finds a way to heal along
with new friends and an unexpected romance.
What happens, though, when Annie is presented with a wonderful
opportunity?
Cottage by the Sea is an engaging
and emotional novel. My attention was
captured right away, and it was held until I finished the story. Annie is devastated when she loses her
parents, brother, sister-in-law and niece all in one day. She feels guilty for not joining them for
Thanksgiving and sinks into a deep depression.
Grief is a terrible thing and it is something a person can understand
unless they experience it themselves (unfortunately). Cottage by the Sea is not your typical romance
novel. It is a story of healing. Be prepared for your emotions to go on a
roller coaster ride while reading Cottage by the Sea (you will need a hanky
nearby). There is love, heartbreak, joy,
hope, grief, guilt, humor and despair. Debbie
Macomber created realistic characters who have real world problems. I enjoyed the small-town setting in the
Pacific Northwest and the various animals in the story. Mellie Johnson is Annie’s landlord whose past
continues to haunt her. Annie decides to
befriend Mellie and her collection of romance novels help get her foot in the
door. The secondary characters along
with their story are as captivating as the main characters. Cottage by the Sea is different from this
author’s other works (in a good way) and it does not end as you would
expect. I was left with an unanswered
question at the end of Cottage by the Sea (which I find frustrating) and the
pacing could have used work in the second half.
My rating for Cottage by the Sea is 4 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a compelling new novel
to read, pick up Cottage by the Sea.
Thank you for reading my review today. I am going to share my thoughts on Murder on Memory Lake by J.D. Griffo tomorrow. May you have a contented day and beat the heat. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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