Review - - A New Year in the Keys

A New Year in the Keys

by Hope Holloway

Coconut Key - Book 8

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: December 27, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

For Beck and her mother, Lovely, the serene island life they’ve carefully built is about to be upended. Plans for a quiet holiday with no guests at their popular Coquina House Bed & Breakfast are disrupted when they agree to host a trio of last-minute guests. These unexpected arrivals stir up more than just the peaceful waters of Coconut Key, leading to revelations that will transform the family forever.

At seventy-five, Lovely is thriving—healthy, happy, and finally spending her life with Beck, the daughter she never had a chance to raise. But when a figure from the past steps into her home—and heart—in a way she never dreamed possible, Lovely faces the daunting task of reimagining her entire life.

Meanwhile, Beck is standing at her own crossroads. Her newfound love, Oliver, is torn between his native Australia and their idyllic life in Coconut Key. When an opportunity arises that could give Oliver everything he wants, Beck must make a difficult choice: pursue her own dreams of happiness or sacrifice everything for the man she loves.

As a new year dawns on Coconut Key, there's a wedding on the horizon and babies on the way, so celebration should be in the air. But will the changes, choices, and challenges ahead bring an end to this family’s hard-won happiness?

PJ's Thoughts:

My heart. This book. I thought we were finished with this series but Hope Holloway had one more wonderful story in her pocket and it just may be my favorite of all the books she's written.

I have so much love for these characters, for this family. I sighed, I cried, I cheered. I don't think it's possible for Hope Holloway to write a book that does not touch me emotionally but even among the many heart-tugging stories from her various book series, A New Year in the Keys stands out. It celebrates life, love, and multiple generations of family. It's achingly romantic. And, I have no doubt, to the delight of hordes of readers (like me) who rarely see themselves depicted in this manner, it features soul-stirring romance for a vibrant character in her seventies. 

It is never too late to fall in love just as it's never too late to fall in love with Hope Holloway's beautiful stories.

I strongly recommend reading the books in this series in order. They are: 

A Secret in the Keys

A Reunion in the Keys

A Season in the Keys

A Haven in the Keys

A Return to the Keys

A Wedding in the Keys

A Promise in the Keys

A New Year in the Keys

Spotlight on Hope Holloway - - Giveaway

 

One of my favorite reading discoveries last year was the Coconut Key series by Hope Holloway. This women's fiction / contemporary romance blend immersed me in a tropical world of humor, heart, conflict, and emotion that checked all my happy reader boxes. Holloway created a family (biological and chosen) of intriguing, multi-layered characters whose lives played out across seven books, pulling me deeper into their lives with each story told. I was sad to say good-bye but excited to discover what this very talented author had planned next. Turns out, what came next was only a few hours up the Gulf coast and, after two books, looks to be just as addictive as Coconut Key.

Sanibel Dreams

by Hope Holloway

Shellseeker Beach - Book 1

Release Date: March 11, 2022

When 53-year-old Eliza Whitney loses both her beloved husband and her high-powered job in the same month, she’s uncertain what the next chapter of her life will look like. Then her estranged father’s widow contacts her and asks her to come to Sanibel Island to help settle his affairs. Eliza sees the trip to a place called Shellseeker Beach as a distraction from her loss, and maybe a way to get some closure on the difficult relationship she'd had with her father.

For seventy years, Theodora Blessing’s sole purpose on this earth has been to heal the hurting, and to run Shellseeker Cottages, a cozy beachfront resort that has been in her family for decades. But Teddy no longer owns the gorgeous property, and Eliza is her only hope to get it back. Will Eliza help Teddy and save the family business…or claim it as her own and sell it to developers?

Together, the two women begin to unravel the mystery of Eliza’s father, the late, great “Dutch” Vanderveen, an enigmatic pilot who led multiple, secretive lives. With the help of Teddy’s healing heart, Eliza discovers a family she never knew she had, a purpose she never knew she needed, and a life she never dreamed was possible.

Appropriately named, Holloway's new Shellseeker Beach series is set on Sanibel Island, just off the southwest coast of Florida. As with the previous series, Holloway sets the stage with the sights, scents, and sounds of this particular location, immersing the reader in all of the details that make Sanibel a popular tourist destination. Having lived in Southwest Florida for many years, losing myself in the atmospheric details of Holloway's writing felt like going home. 

Sanibel Treasures

by Hope Holloway

Shellseeker Beach - Book 2

Release Date: April 15, 2022

New arrivals to Shellseeker Beach prompt Eliza to extend her trip…and fall deeper under the spell of Sanibel Island. The group of close family and friends are determined to settle the ownership of the beachfront property once and for all. But it seems there are forces outside of their control determined to shatter all their dreams.

As she takes time to reconsider her career, Eliza’s daughter finds herself in the middle of conflicting feelings for two very different men. Balancing what she wants with what she needs, this shrewd businesswoman discovers that sometimes the best decisions are made with the heart, and not the head.

These resilient women face new challenges, build lasting friendships, and find a second chance at love, all while they fight to save Shellseeker Beach’s greatest treasure of all…the family that they’ve finally found.

The new series launched last month with Sanibel Dreams and continues this month with book two, Sanibel Treasures. Setting the stage for the series, the first book focused primarily on Eliza Whitney and Theodora "Teddy" Blessing, two women who will figure prominently in the series. But their stories will be intertwined with others as the series progresses. I love the theme of chosen family that prevails in these books. Already, we have met several characters whose stories I hope will be told in more depth as time goes on. In Sanibel Dreams, we learned of a mystery involving a deceased character whose actions have brought several characters, including Teddy and Eliza, together. Continuing in Sanibel Treasures, facts continue to come to light with ensuing consequences - and surprises - that impact more than a few people. 

As with Coconut Key, it only took one book in the Shellseeker Beach series to fully hook me. I am already invested in these characters, curious to discover where Holloway will lead them next, and eager to meet those who have not yet appeared. I love the wide array of characters who inhabit Holloway's fictional world, bringing different life views to the overall story. And I appreciate seeing the series anchored by women in their fifth and seventh decade, though characters of varying ages and with different backgrounds will be featured in the seven books within the series. 

Holloway writes with an approachable, smooth style, welcoming the reader into her world with comfort and ease. She isn't hesitant to tackle difficult subjects but, overall, her books are filled with hope, heart, humor, and positivity. I enthusiastically recommend them but fair warning: once you start, you may very well binge the entire series. If you're headed for the beach, the pool, or just the backyard, these are great books to take with you. 

Have you read Hope Holloway yet?

What constitutes a good "beach read" for you?

Southwest Florida's beaches are some of my favorite beaches in the world. What beach is your favorite or which one would you most like to visit?

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, April 23 will receive a copy of their choice of A Secret in the Keys (Coconut Key - Book 1) or Sanibel Dreams (Shellseeker Beach - Book 1).

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

~~~~~~~~~~

Both the Coconut Key series and the Shellseeker Beach series are available on Kindle Unlimited and for purchase in e-book and print. 

The Coconut Key series celebrates older heroines, second chance romance, entangled families, and lifelong friendships.

A Secret in the Keys (Book 1)

A Reunion in the Keys (Book 2)
A Season in the Keys (Book 3)
A Haven in the Keys (Book 4)
A Return to the Keys (Book 5)
A Wedding in the Keys (Book 6)
A Promise in the Keys (Book 7)

Shellseeker Beach: for lovers of riveting and inspirational sagas about sisters, secrets, romance, mothers and daughters…and the moments that make life worth living.

Sanibel Dreams - book 1
Sanibel Treasures - book 2
Sanibel Mornings - book 3 (May 13, 2022)
Sanibel Sisters - book 4 (July 15, 2022)
Sanibel Tides - book 5 (August 19, 2022)
Sanibel Sunsets - book 6 (not yet scheduled)
Sanibel Moonlight - book 7 (not yet scheduled)

Review - - A Promise in the Keys & Birthday Giveaway #26

A Promise in the Keys

by Hope Holloway

Coconut Key - Book 7

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: September 24, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

There’s a little island magic in the air…and the promise of something brand new.

With her daughters more settled than ever, it’s time for Beck to live her life in Coconut Key to the fullest. Coquina House Bed & Breakfast is open and running, and with every new challenge, Beck and her mother discover they were born for the life of hospitality. So it’s not her new business that keeps Beck awake at night now…but the temptation of starting a new, uncharted course for her heart. Will those waters be warm and welcoming, or does she risk drowning once again?

And although she's navigating new waters of her own, Peyton is homesick for Coconut Key. Val is doing his best to keep her in Miami, though some unexpected news makes the decision even harder. While Heather and Kenny explore the possibility of blending their families, Lovely suddenly faces the biggest challenge of her life, prompting her to do the one thing she swore she'd never do again: keep a secret from the people she loves. But no matter how it all ends, there will be laughter, love, sunshine, and mimosas on the beach in Coconut Key.

PJ's Thoughts:

Hope Holloway brings her Coconut Key series to a conclusion with the same humor, heart, family, hope, and love that has been front and center in all seven books. I've enjoyed how the author has guided several characters along their journeys of love and growth while also keeping the growth, strength and importance of Beck and her family at the heart of the series. The romantic relationships are realistically portrayed, with challenges readers can relate to. The relationships among the women are both endearing and empowering. And the bonds of family may stretch from time to time but with love, communication, and understanding, they never break. 

There are three romances blossoming in this final book, and others continuing to evolve, with plenty of emotion bubbling. I was so invested in these characters that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough but, at the same time, I also wanted to pull back, read slowly, and savor each and every scene. There are so many feelings. But it's not only the romances that have obstacles to overcome. Beck's relationship with her mother is enduring some rough waters as well. Lovely is keeping a secret and the consequences could be dire. Not to fear, Holloway wraps up the book with a plethora of happy endings but the journey there elicits laughter, tears, forgiveness, healing, reconciliations, and sigh-worthy declarations. In other words, everything I hope for when I pick up a new book. 

There are seven books in Hope Holloway's Coconut Key series. I enthusiastically recommend them all. I also strongly suggest reading them in order. 

In A Promise in the Keys, one of the teen characters has a role in her high school musical. Have you ever performed on stage? What was the play/musical? What role did you perform?

Birthday Giveaway #26:

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 28 will receive two books from PJ's home collection. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review & Giveaway - - A Wedding in the Keys

A Wedding in the Keys

by Hope Holloway

Coconut Key - Book 6

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: July 23, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Will there be blue skies and happy lives for the wedding day…or is change in the forecast again?

The bonds of love that have formed and grown over the past year in Coconut Key reach a culmination of white lace and champagne…for some. For others, things may not turn out as they expected.

New arrivals on the island turn plans and lives upside down, testing the strength of relationships. Everyone has to make major decisions about life, work, and love. The future may look different for Beck, Savannah, Peyton, and Jessie…but whatever it is, with family and friends, it will be warm, happy, and dappled in sunshine.

PJ's Thoughts:

A few weeks ago, I discovered A Secret in the Keys, the first book in a new series set in the Florida Keys. I love the Keys, liked the sound of the story, and decided to give it a try. It's a 7-book series but the first five books had already been published so I figured if I liked book one I could read a book every couple weeks over the summer and finish about the time the final book is published in September. I finished book one in a day and by the time I reached the mini-cliffhanger at the end I was so fully immersed in the lives of these characters that I had to know what happened next. I read books two - five over the next four days. I couldn't help myself. This series is just that good. Book six, A Wedding in the Keys, continues the story threads surrounding Beck and her family that have evolved over the course of the series and is another emotional journey that I could not put down. Once again, I was immediately immersed into the lives of these characters, eagerly flipping pages from beginning to end. Holloway's writing is engaging and compelling, tackling real-life issues with humor and hope, while aiming straight for the heart. I spent a lot of time laughing, crying, gasping, and cheering throughout the series. I also love that she continues to surprise me in each book. After reading book five, I had doubts about one of the relationships. In book six, Holloway confirms those doubts but she also throws in a surprise twist that I did not see coming. I love it when an author does that and I cannot wait to find out where she takes it in book seven.  

It's hard to place the Coconut Key series into a specific category as these books are filled with an abundance of delicious storylines and a variety of tropes. It's a multi-generational family saga, with a women's fiction vibe as well as emotional romantic threads (for both young and mature characters). There's plenty of chemistry among the couples but the on-page heat factor is mild. There are also family secrets, betrayals, emotional losses, second chances, and new beginnings, all wrapped up in strong bonds of family and friendship, with the strength, resilience, determination, and growth of intriguing and inspiring women at its core. I guess if I had to name a category, I'd label it "Delicious Must-Read Summer Fun." I'm hooked on Hope Holloway, counting down the weeks until the release of book seven, A Promise in the Keys, in September and already excited about whatever she has planned for readers next.

This is one of those series where I strongly recommend reading the books in order. They are:

A Secret in the Keys (Book 1)
A Reunion in the Keys (Book 2)
A Season in the Keys (Book 3)
A Haven in the Keys (Book 4)
A Return to the Keys (Book 5)
A Wedding in the Keys (Book 6)
A Promise in the Keys (Book 7)

Have you discovered Hope Holloway yet?

Is there a new author, book, or series you've found this summer that you recommend?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, July 25 will receive a Kindle copy of book one, A Secret in the Keys. 

*Must be 18

*U.S. only

*Void where prohibited