Saturday, May 15, 2021

Review & Giveaway - - Coming Home to Seashell Harbor

Coming Home to Seashell Harbor
by Miranda Liasson
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: May 4, 2021
Reviewed by PJ
 




Hadley Wells swapped her dreams of saving the planet for the glamour of Hollywood. But when a very public breakup reveals cracks in her not-so-perfect life, she returns to her hometown to reassess what it is she truly wants. Unfortunately, Seashell Harbor has some trouble of its own—including the first man to ever break her heart.


A serious injury forced footballer Tony Cammareri into early retirement—now he’s determined to reboot his life with a splashy new restaurant venture. He knows better than to expect a happy reunion with Hadley, but he’s determined to make up for the way things ended between them. Yet when Tony and Hadley end up vying for control of the town’s future, they find themselves once again on opposing sides.

As their rivalry intensifies, they must decide what’s worth fighting for—and what it truly means to be happy.

PJ's Thoughts:

Miranda Liasson is an auto-buy author for me. Her well-developed characters always feel like friends and her stories are filled with humor and heart. Add an abundance of less-than-perfect rescue dogs (you know I adore them), a matchmaking grandmother, delicious family recipes (I cannot resist Italian food), life-long girlfriends, and a second chance with a first love, and I am sold on Liasson's newest, Coming Home to Seashell Harbor. Did I mention the trope? Young sweethearts to enemies to friends to lovers? Yes, please! 

As someone who grew up in a small town, left after graduation, and didn't return for several years, I know both how hard it is to come back home and also how easy it can be to fall into the patterns of one's youth when you do. Hadley and Tony (a/k/a Cam) are both at crossroads in their lives. Returning to Seashell Harbor at the same time puts them at odds while at the same time reminding them of the closeness they once shared, in a high school relationship that did not end well. And one that, much to their surprise, neither has quite put behind them. I think Liasson does a great job of showing the push and pull between them as they each grapple with where they go from here, both individually and as a couple. I found their relationship - and the obstacles they face, both emotional and professional - to be very realistic and relatable. I was invested in these two from the get-go and remained so throughout their journey.

Liasson has assembled a wonderful secondary cast of characters who add depth, complexity, rich emotion, and humor to the story, as well as glimpses into future romantic journeys in this series. There are already several I'm eager to learn more about. I love the friendship among Hadley and her two best childhood friends. Their banter, honesty with, and unwavering support of one another speaks to a lifelong foundation of friendship and trust. Cam and his siblings, raised by a single father, have an interesting dynamic that I really enjoyed, especially the evolving relationship between Cam and his dad. I'm hoping to see more of all of them in future books. Then there's the relationship between Hadley and her gran, which spoke to me on so many levels and reminded me of the one I shared with my own grandmother. So many feels in this story. 

If you're looking for an engaging, feel-good, contemporary romance for your summer reading, take a trip to the beach with Miranda Liasson's Coming Home to Seashell Harbor


Have you read Miranda Liasson yet? 

What constitutes a "beach read" for you?

I cannot say no to Italian food. What type of food has your taste buds happy dancing?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 16 will receive a signed, print copy of Coming Home to Seashell Harbor.

*Must be 18
*U.S. only





23 comments:

  1. I have not read this author and I love any kind of chicken dish. Any good book is a good beach read, particulary if it is upbeat.
    Patty B. Coral

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    1. I had to enter as anonymous as it would not let me post with my email. Let's see what happens here. LOL.

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  2. A beach read for me would be any good book that I'm reading. Sweet dessert food like trifle, meringues, strawberries and cream, get my taste buds ringing out in joy.

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  3. I Have Read This Author.
    No particular book for me to be a good beach read.
    I love my desserts - choc cream pie, any fruit pie, danish, chocolate cake and I make vg eggnog or buttermilk choc chip muffins.

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  4. Great review! Yes I read All I Want for Christmas Is You and The Way You Love Me both were very good. I love spaghetti! I love beach reads love the ocean
    Penney

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  5. A beach read is relaxing and memorable with a wonderful setting such as a beach for sure. Good food would be grilled veggies, a crisp baguette with butter and a mousse dessert.

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  6. A novel that transports me away and is an escape is a beach read. Italian food is always enticing and special. Ratatouille is delish.

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  7. Miranda Liasson is a new author for me. Hearing lots of great things about her! A beach read to me means a book that absorbs me so that I don't even notice how hot it is or how much time has passed. I love Mexican food and an icy cold drink to cool down the heat.Thanks for the chance to win this!

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  8. And now I have another new author because of you -PJ
    This sounds like my kind of beach read - coming home- great characters - and a wonderful location .

    Being of Italian descent - I love Pasta and can never turn it down - never !
    Looking forward to this as the school year comes to a close and I can read for pleasure again .

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  9. I've read all her books! I have this one but haven't started it yet. This is #3 on my list. A beach read has to have sun, surf and sand. Thanks for the chance!

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  10. Love Italian, Mexican, and Chinese food.

    denise

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  11. I have not read Ms. Liasson, my definition of a beach read is something fun and frivolous and I adore Italian food...pasta forever!!!

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  12. I've read a few of Miranda's stories, but have her on my list to read more.
    I love Italian food too, also Mexican - love the guacamole.

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  13. A beach read for me is a setting at a Beach or Beach in the title. I do love those type of books. Love swimming and boating anything ro for eith a lake

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  14. I have read one of your books and of course, loved it!! Beach reads take place at the beach for me. And I love Italian food too. Thanks for chance!!!

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  15. I have read Miranda's books and really like them. A beach read for me is romantic, with laughter and friendship. Something that makes me smile. I don't really have a type of food I like, but if it has shrimp on it, I'll eat it.

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  16. Yes I've read Miranda's book, including this one. Beach read is a summer story. Love Italian food!! Thanks for the chance.

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  17. I am a big fan of Miranda's! For me beach reads tend to be books that take place when the weather is good. I like Italian food! Thanks for the chance to win this book!

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  18. I haven't read any of Miranda's books yet. I really like Mexican food.

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  19. I have not had the pleasure of reading Miranda's books. Will put her name on my to-buy list. I love Italian food (my favorite being Jet's 4-corner pizzas) quickly followed by American Hamburgers, hot dogs and fries.

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  20. I haven't read any of Miranda's books yet but I love Italian food. We were supposed to go to Rome & Naples last spring for our 35th, of course the trip was postponed and hopefully we will go this fall -- depends on how things are with the pandemic. I love eggplant parmeasan and almost every pasta dish out there!

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  21. Ms Liasson is new to me. But, evidently she writes books I will love.

    I am a fan of Italian food....have a killer recipe for red sauce, it is the anise seed. Family friends who owned an Italian restaurant were generous with their knowledge. But, I live in Texas - so Tex-Mex is my favorite food of all. I am fortunate to live in a place where that is not a problem for me to find.

    I hope everyone is well and safe.

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  22. I have one of Miranda's books in my TBR mountain, but I have not read her yet.
    For me anything is a beach read. I do frequently tend to prefer women's lit or something on the lighter side during the summer. I'm not a beach person, so those beach reads are likely to be read on my porch or at a campsite. No matter where I read them, I want to see growth, friendship, and a realistic representation of what life is or could be like. Friendships between women and with men, but not necessarily in a romantic way, are important parts of a summer read for me. A nice romance doesn't hurt.

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