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The Beach House by Jenny Hale
Genre: Women’s Fiction | 316 Pages | Published: June 9, 2021 by Bookouture
Book Jacket Synopsis:
“Oh, my goodness,” she whispered. At the bottom of the box was a stack of letters. Tied with a ribbon, the pages were faded with age. “These are all addressed from here,” she said, “but they’ve never been sent.”
When her gram passes away, Melanie Simpson feels utterly lost. She has no idea what to do with her life after she has devoted years to looking after her beloved grandmother.
But Gram’s will may hold the answer, instructing Melanie to use her inheritance to buy a crumbling house in Rosemary Bay. They used to visit the village every summer, sit by the sparkling gulf on a beach the color of a fresh pearl, and daydream about turning the place on the corner into a bed and breakfast.
Fulfilling her grandmother’s legacy, Melanie decides to restore the beach house to its original glory. She sets out on renovations of the wrap-around porch weathered by the coastal breeze, and the peeling white paint faded by the sun.
When Melanie runs into local carpenter, Josh Claiborne, whose eyes match the dazzling sea, she jumps at the chance to ask him for help. But that’s the last thing he wants. He’s off to New York soon, leaving his troubled past behind. Over a game of darts Melanie gets her wish, even if Josh isn’t happy about it.
As they work together, Melanie tries to ignore their undeniable chemistry and how Josh’s rare smiles take her breath away––because soon they’ll be thousands of miles apart. But hiding in a closet is a yellowing stack of letters that could change everything. The looping handwriting reveals the mystery of the rickety house––a buried history that touches everyone in Rosemary Bay. Will its secrets bring Melanie and Josh together or tear them apart?
An absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming read about never-ending love, new beginnings, and how family is always with you, no matter where you are. Fans of Pamela Kelley, Mary Alice Monroe and Susan Mallery will adore this romantic page-turner.
Book Links: Amazon
Review & Thoughts
Jenny Hale is well-known for writing Hallmark Channel Movie worthy women’s fiction romance novels. She’s a go-to author for me; I don’t need to read what her book is about to know that I’ll enjoy it!
As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a sweet story and yes, it would make for a wonderful book to Hallmark Channel movie adaptation. I loved the progression of Melanie and Josh’s relationship amongst other relationships that grew. Many aspects of the story were done as you would expect (hello happily ever after!) but there were a few surprises thrown into the mix that kept me drawn in and excited to know what would happen next. I loved the characters written throughout the story and I would say this was a wonderful women’s fiction novel with a hint of romance.
Themes: losing loved ones, starting new adventures, discovering old secrets, family history/heritage, hidden secrets, adoption, illness, everlasting love.
My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5 | Recommend for: romance lovers, fans of Hallmark Channel movies.
Book Format & Source: Digital ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Any ARC editing errors noticed are assumed corrected prior to the final published copy release.
About Jenny Hale
Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.
She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family.
Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers. When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.
Where to find her: Visit www.itsjennyhale.com to get my latest book! You can also chat with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor, Twitter: www.twitter.com/jhaleauthor, and IG: www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor
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