Review - - Treasure Coast Legacy

Treasure Coast Legacy

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 6

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: December 30, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

For nearly a year, Belle and her cousins have poured their hearts and souls—and every spare dime—into restoring the Dane Crown Inn to its former glory. As they stripped peeling paint from walls and repaired the damaged floors, the women uncovered not just the charm of the inn but also the deep, unbreakable bond they shared as teenagers, when they spent every summer keeping the inn’s suites spotless and enjoying the gorgeous beach as a tight-knit family. Now it’s time to fulfill Aunt Margaret’s final wish and host one last Dane family reunion at the inn that once again lives up to its reputation as “the gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast.”

Finally, preparations are complete for a weekend filled with family traditions. There will be horseshoes and croquet matches, fun treasure hunts and a talent show, a sing-along and even a wedding—all in celebration of the love and history their family has shared with the inn. But as assorted aunts and uncles and cousins once removed descend on the tiny beachside community of Emerald Bay, the Dane family’s legacy hangs in the balance. At the conclusion of the reunion, Margaret intends to plant a For Sale sign in the yard.

Before she does, one important question remains: If the Dane Crown Inn is the lynchpin that holds their family together, how much are Belle, Kim, Diane and the rest willing to sacrifice in order to keep it?

PJ's Thoughts:

It's the end of the Emerald Bay series and I am not ready to say goodbye to these complex characters who by this point all feel like dear friends. I've enjoyed their individual journeys as one by one the cousins returned home, reconnected as a family, worked together to restore their family legacy, and found lasting love - plus a few surprises - along the way. Duncan vividly depicted each of them on the page, bringing them to life in such a way that they felt authentic and relatable, each with unique personalities and realistic challenges, both as individuals and as a family. 

If you enjoy heartwarming women's fiction, family dynamics, a small-town, beachside location, and heart-tugging journeys to love, I highly recommend this series. I also strongly suggest reading the books in order as each book in the series builds upon those before it. 

I don't know what Leigh Duncan has planned for her next book but after falling in love with both her Emerald Bay series and the Sugar Sand Beach series that preceded it, I'll definitely be in line to buy whatever comes next. 

Review - - Treasure Coast Discovery

Treasure Coast Discovery

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 5

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: August 23, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Could a secret lost in the past be the key to saving the Dane Crown Inn?

Preparations for the last family reunion at the Dane Crown Inn are nearly complete. Fresh paint covers the exterior of the sixty-year-old beachside bed-and-breakfast. The overgrown gardens have once again been tamed. Inside, the suites and rooms stand ready to receive both new and returning guests. Best of all, the women of the family — Belle and Margaret, Kim and Jen, Amy and Diane — have grown closer while they worked to restore the inn that was once known as “the jewel of Florida’s Treasure Coast.” So close, in fact, that some of the cousins privately wonder if it might be possible to keep the inn open, after all. But Diane knows the truth. Even with all the improvements they’ve made, keeping the inn afloat is financially impossible.

Diane wonders if there's another way, something in the family's history that could save the inn. Or could her quest destroy it forever?

PJ's Thoughts:

I've become completely invested in this family, to the point where at times it takes me a minute to remember they aren't real people. Part of the emotional attachment might be attributed to the setting of this series. Duncan's fictional Dane Crown Inn is located a short drive from where I live, giving everything a feeling of warmth and familiarity. But, mostly, it's these characters who continue to engage my emotions as they navigate the ups and downs of life. 

In this fifth installment of Duncan's six-book series, the Dane family women are moving closer to the conclusion of their individual journeys as well as the sale of the family's inn. There's a lot of emotion, relationships continue to evolve, some characters are discovering new skills and others, new directions, an upcoming event is celebrated, and a bucket-list item gets crossed off...with surprising results. Through it all, I'm reminded of the strength of family bonds, the joys and sorrows of relationships, the magic of romance, and the importance of women supporting women. 

I don't want to say goodbye to these characters but after that stunning final scene in Treasure Coast Discovery, all I can say is "Bring on Book Six. I have to know what happens next!" 

This is a series where I strongly encourage readers to read the books in order. 

Review - - Treasure Coast Revival

Treasure Coast Revival

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 4

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: June 28, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Restoration of the Dane Crown Inn is nearly complete, but will Belle, Kim, Diane and the others be successful in rebuilding their own lives?

After a heartwarming Christmas, excitement builds as the Dane Crown Inn comes alive with the promise of a bright future. In one of the cottages, workmen beat out a steady tap-tap-tap as they replace the roof. Inside the inn, floor sanders buzz as a skilled crew works to restore the aged hardwood floors to their former glory. But it’s not just the inn that’s undergoing a transformation. Amidst all this progress, budding romances deepen, and the women of the family forge new futures.

With Jen's help, Kim takes a leap of faith and launches her catering business, which brings a touch of culinary magic to the heart of Emerald Bay. Meanwhile, Amy and her new business partner set their sights on expanding Sweet Cakes. Belle, in her search for a new direction and purpose, discovers that the path to happiness can be found right where you least expect it. Kim’s daughter Natalie confesses the mess she’s made of her own life and searches for a solution, while Diane ponders a reunion. And Aunt Margaret questions her decision to sell the only home she’s ever known.

As the Dane Crown Inn comes back to life, the women of Emerald Bay find that sometimes, in the midst of change, the most precious treasures are the bonds that hold a family together.

PJ's Thoughts:

This fourth book in Leigh Duncan's Emerald Bay series brings all the heart, humor, and family dynamics I've come to love in this series. This author weaves together the stories of the members of this multi-generation family in a way that draws me into into their lives, challenges, and relationships. By this point in the series, I feel as if I know them. They feel like friends. I've become invested in their professional success and personal happiness. Some of the women are at a personal crossroads, others at professional ones, some are starting over, some weighing the pros and cons of second chances, and one is dealing with a crisis of faith. And, of course, in the background for all of them is the beloved family matriarch and the family inn they've poured so much of themselves into. Will a sale be necessary? Or will they find a way to keep it in the family? And what about those romantic relationships? I'm eager to discover all of the answers as this heart-tugging series continues.

This is a series where I strongly recommend reading the books in order. 

Review - - Cut the Cake

Cut the Cake

by Leigh Duncan

Heart's Landing - Book 1

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: March 29, 2024

*Previously published by Hallmark Publishing

as A Simple Wedding (March 10, 2020)

Reviewed by PJ

Will a fake bride miss her chance at real love?

From the time she and her cousin played dress-up and took turns pretending they were brides, Jennifer Longley has dreamed of the day she’d have her very own Heart’s Landing wedding. Now, she finally has her chance to visit the charming seaside village where lovers stroll arm in arm past Bow Tie Pasta, Dress For A Day and Forget Me Knot Flowers. But there’s a catch—as the personal assistant to a famous movie star, Jenny’s only in town to make wedding arrangements for her boss, and to avoid a media circus, she must pretend she’s the one getting married. But once Jenny reserves the venue, orders the bouquet and, best of all, samples the cake for the simple wedding her boss described, the movie star changes all the plans.

While the other store owners grumble about a wishy-washy bride who can’t seem to make up her mind, Nick Bell is intrigued by the bride-to-be who visits his bakery every afternoon for sweet treats and conversation. He can’t help but befriend her. But when sparks fly between the town’s most eligible baker and Jenny, Nick finds it more and more difficult to remember that she’s already spoken for.

As Jenny deals with her boss’s ever-changing demands, she tries to hide her attraction to Nick. But things get more and more complicated … and what will happen once everyone learns the truth about the woman who is only pretending to be a bride?

PJ's Thoughts:

If you're a fan of Hallmark Channel movies there's a good chance you're going to love Leigh Duncan's Cut the Cake. This book brings the small, wedding destination town of Heart's Landing to life with vivid descriptions and fills the wedding-related businesses with likable people readers will want to know better. The story flows smoothly, like a gentle summer's ride down a lazy river, with occasional bumps but a sweet landing at the end. 

Jenny is an engaging character and I easily became invested in her, happily nudging her along the path of friendship with Nick and hoping for more. Nick is such a good guy...and he bakes! I fell for him right along with Jenny. Duncan does a good job of strengthening their friendship, and deepening their emotions, without crossing any relationship boundaries. Remember, Jenny is pretending to be engaged to someone else and planning her own wedding. I also appreciated the decisions made near the end of the story, giving Jenny and Nick the necessary time to strengthen their feelings without secrets between them. Kudos to Duncan for giving them the time to grow and solidify their relationship after all is revealed. 

If you're looking for a sweet, fun, feel-good romance filled with likable main characters, plenty of colorful secondary characters, and one high-maintenance cousin, I recommend giving Cut the Cake a try.  

*Cut the Cake is a retitled reissue of A Simple Wedding which was originally written by Leigh Duncan and published by Hallmark Publishing. Hallmark has closed their publishing arm and the rights to the book have been restored to the author. Duncan is reissuing the three books in her Heart's Landing series with new covers and titles but the same heartwarming stories. Watch for book two, Save the Dance (formerly A Cottage Wedding) on May 31, 2024 and book three, Kiss the Bride (formerly A Waterfront Wedding) on July 30, 2024. 

Review - - Treasure Coast Christmas

Treasure Coast Christmas

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 3

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: October 31, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

It’s Christmas at the Dane Crown Inn and the much-needed renovations at the resort once known as “the gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast” have been put on hold for the holidays. Amy Sommer Peterson and the rest of the family deck the halls with festive garland, decorate towering Christmas trees and hang sparkling lights. When surprise guests arrive to share the season, everyone soon gathers in the kitchen to decorate cookies, sing Christmas carols, reminisce about the past and make new memories.

But while the rest of the family celebrates, Amy faces a host of challenges. At her bakery in Emerald Bay, a staffing emergency might just put Sweet Cakes out of business. Amy’s hopes for a second chance at love falter and a new problem threatens the family’s ability to fulfill Aunt Margaret’s final wish. Amy’s sister and cousins hold the keys to overcoming every obstacle if Amy can only trust the closeness they once treasured. But can she?

PJ's Thoughts:

Each book in this series leaves me eagerly awaiting the next. Fully-developed characters, complicated relationships, a vivid sense of place, strong family bonds, and plenty of heart make this a book - and series - not to be missed. 

I'm enjoying the way Duncan weaves the journeys of the cousins/siblings together into a family saga while also giving readers each individual's story along the way. The characters are multi-layered, interesting, and relatable, even if I've not walked their particular path. They're at different stages of life with with a variety of challenges and yet I'm just as invested in the mother whose marriage is in trouble and teen is rebelling as I am in the young influencer who shows up for Christmas with a mysterious secret in her pocket, the two cousins about to take a scary leap in business, and the aging pop star who may have lost her career but is discovering that life - and possibly love - aren't quite done with her yet. I want to know more about all of them. I've come to care for them. I want them to succeed. I want them to be happy. And, I'm so eager to discover what happens to them next. 

If you enjoy heart-tugging family sagas sprinkled with humor, heartache, hope, and love, give this series a try. I strongly recommend reading the books in order as each new book builds upon the prior ones. The books (so far) are: Treasure Coast Homecoming, Treasure Coast Promise, and Treasure Coast Christmas. 

 

Review - - Treasure Coast Promise

Treasure Coast Promise

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 2

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: August 22, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

She has a new career and a promising relationship, but will the secrets of her past ruin her hopes for the future?

No matter where she lived, Kimberly Ann Dane considered the Dane Crown Inn her home. As a child, Kim looked forward to frequent visits to the inn where she enjoyed building sand castles on Emerald Bay’s sandy beaches, learning to cook in the inn’s spacious kitchen and hunting for buried treasure with her cousins. As she grew older, she paid her way through college by working summers and school holidays at the inn. It’s no wonder that—divorced, at odds with her grown children and hoping to make a fresh start—Kim returns to the one place she’s always been welcomed with open arms. But things have changed. Kim’s cousins have scattered and face problems of their own. And the inn, which was once hailed as the “gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast,” has lost its luster. Kim has barely settled into her old room at the top of the stairs when her Aunt Margaret shocks the entire family with the news that she has decided to sell the estate that has been in the Dane family for more than fifty years. Before she does, though, Margaret asks Kim and her cousins to make one final wish come true.

While Kim and her cousins work to fulfill their aunt’s last request, they begin to rebuild the closeness they once treasured. As the women work to restore the inn to its former glory, a new career and a promising relationship with Emerald Bay’s most eligible bachelor open up a world of fresh possibilities for Kim. But when hidden secrets come to light, will her past ruin Kim’s hopes for a second chance at happiness?

PJ's Thoughts:

Events surrounding the Dane cousins continue to unfold in this second book of Leigh Duncan's Emerald Bay series as we begin to know each of the characters and the challenges in their lives. One cousin's marriage is falling apart. Another is in the first bloom of a surprising new relationship. Still another is about to hit rock bottom following employment woes. One by one, they each begin to gravitate back to the Dane Crown Inn, the location of their fondest childhood memories, the place that needs them as much as they need it. 

I'm already hooked on this new series of Duncan's. Meeting her characters is like meeting new friends in real life, with first impressions slowly evolving as bits of their lives are revealed. These are multi-layered characters with relatable flaws, complicated relationships, and the strong, core-deep bond of cousins who may have scattered as adults but grew up more as siblings. She brings them to life on the page, makes me care for them, cry with them, and cheer them on to better days. I'm totally invested in each of the cousins, in Aunt Margaret, in their happiness, and the future of the Dane Crown Inn. I have a feeling there will be many twists in the four books remaining in the series as all of the cousins reunite, find their own paths, and move forward, hopefully stronger, happier, and more confident. I'm eager to make the journey with them. 

Review - - Treasure Coast Homecoming

Treasure Coast Homecoming

by Leigh Duncan

Emerald Bay - Book 1

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: June 22, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

She has one final wish before she puts a For Sale sign in front of the only home she’s ever known, but can her family make her dream come true?

Margaret Dane Clayton has spent her entire life at the Dane Crown Inn, the beautiful resort located in the quiet beachside town of Emerald Bay. But the inn once hailed as the “gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast” is showing its age, much like its fiercely independent owner. Margaret swears she’ll keep the doors of the inn open forever … until an accident forces her to accept the fact that she can no longer cater to guests on her own. After reaching the most difficult decision of her life, Margaret asks her daughter and nieces to grant her one final wish before she places the property on the market. But will these five women put their busy lives on hold to grant it?

One by one, each of the cousins arrives in Emerald Bay with armloads of excuses and far too much baggage. But when the town’s grumpy—yet oh, so handsome—mayor threatens to close the inn for good, the women agree to give the resort the overhaul it desperately needs. Working with a bank account that’s far too small and facing one crisis after another, Margaret’s daughter and her nieces race to fulfill her final wish. Only one question remains: Can this fractured family set aside their differences long enough to restore the inn … and rebuild the closeness they once treasured?

The Emerald Bay Series

After a lifetime of running the finest inn in Emerald Bay, Margaret Clayton has to make a decision … sell the Dane Crown Inn to a stranger or put her hopes for the future in her family’s hands. For most people, the choice would be simple. But nothing about her family is simple … especially not with her daughter and four nieces whose help Margaret needs now more than ever.

The five cousins know the inn as well as Margaret does. As young girls and teenagers, they spent every summer keeping the cottages and suites spotless, and enjoying the gorgeous beach as a tight knit family. Thirty years later, though, these five women have complicated, important, distant, and utterly packed lives. The last thing any of them can do is drop everything and save the inn. But, when it comes to family, the last thing is sometimes the only thing.

As the once-close cousins come together on the glorious shores of Florida’s Treasure Coast, they learn that some things never change, but others can never be the same. And the only thing that matters is family which, like the Dane Crown Inn, is forever.

PJ's Thoughts:

Treasure Coast Homecoming launches Leigh Duncan's newest women's fiction series: Emerald Bay. After devouring the books in Duncan's Sugar Sand Beach series, I'm ready to meet a new cast of characters and lose myself in another series of heart-tugging beachside stories.

This first book introduces the main characters and sets up the plotline for the series of books. Each character is given face-time with the reader, giving us the opportunity to learn a bit about them, their role in the extended family, where they are in their lives, and what personal challenges they're facing. By the end of the book, I was already invested in each of them and eager to discover where the upcoming journey will take them.

Duncan excels at creating complex family (or family of the heart) units, bringing them together, and taking them on a journey of growth (both individually and as a group) that filled with humor, emotional depth, and plenty of heart. She's equally adept at creating a sense of place, as she has done with Emerald Bay and, specifically, the Dane Crown Inn. I'm excited to watch the evolution of the Inn alongside that of the family. 

Books two and three of this series, Treasure Coast Promise and Treasure Coast Christmas, will be published in August and October respectively. I've already marked my calendar. 

Review - - Christmas at Sugar Sand Inn

Christmas at Sugar Sand Inn

by Leigh Duncan

Sugar Sand Beach - Book 5

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: November 19, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Welcome to Christmas at the Sugar Sand Inn! Michelle and her friends have replaced the welcome sign on the front gate with one that reads “Closed for the Holidays.” The four women deserve a little break after spending the summer working non-stop to convert the house Michelle inherited from her birth mother into an inn. The past three months they’ve definitely been thrilled—and maybe a little overwhelmed—by the influx of guests who have alternately charmed and confounded them. Now with a wedding in the works, it’s no wonder the four friends need some time to kick back, help themselves to a glass of the inn’s signature cocktail and enjoy the warm winter breezes that blow off the Gulf.

Of course, no holiday would be complete without a few problems. A tight housing market makes it difficult for Erin and her fiancé to find a house to rent. Meanwhile Michelle, Reggie and Nina prepare a very special surprise for the newlyweds. Unexpected arrivals complicate matters, and soon every room of the “closed” inn is filled to overflowing. Despite the problems, laughter rings throughout the halls, and good smells drift from the kitchen where Chef Nina and her team whip up holiday treats and one very special wedding cake.

Join Nina, Michelle, Reggie and Erin as they enjoy the new lives they’ve built in Sugar Sand Beach, where fresh opportunities for life, love and happiness are as limitless as the blue Florida skies.

PJ's Thoughts:

Leigh Duncan brings her Sugar Sand Beach series to a satisfying conclusion with a story that had me laughing, sighing, shedding a few (happy) tears, and very grateful for the chance to take this journey with Nina, Michelle, Reggie, and Erin. 

Christmas is the perfect time to wrap up this series. Duncan fills this fifth and final book with all the joy, celebration, warmth, and inevitable glitches of the season. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these four women over the course of the series, watching their lifelong friendships continue to evolve and strengthen over time. They've each grown individually as well, finding their place in life, developing their self-confidence, learning to work together toward a common goal, and overcoming the obstacles life throws in their path. Duncan has skillfully created four memorable characters who are so realistic, so relatable, that I wish I could be friends with all of them. I want to be friends with them. I want to book a stay at their inn. I want to celebrate their achievements in life...and their newfound happiness in love. I want to go back in five years (thanks to the author for a lovely epilogue), relax on the inn's front porch, and raise a glass to life, love, and Florida sunsets. 

This is a series where I strongly encourage readers to read the books in order. Start with The Gift at Sugar Sand Inn. 

Review - - The Reunion at Sugar Sand Inn

The Reunion at Sugar Sand Inn

by Leigh Duncan

Sugar Sand Beach - Book 4

Publisher: Gardenia Street Publishing

Release Date: October 15, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Escape to Sugar Sand Beach with Erin Bradshaw and her best friends for a second chance at all life has to offer.

Forty-five year old Erin has grown restless with her life. Which is odd because she’s spent the past twenty years roaming the globe. Between summers in Alaska and winters in the Florida keys, she’s climbed the steps of Machu Picchu, hiked long sections of the Great Wall of China, and kayaked down the Amazon. Lately, though, Erin has felt the urge to put down roots, strengthen her neglected relationship with her sister, Reggie, and reconnect with her two best friends, Michelle and Nina.

When Michelle inherits a run-down beach house in sleepy Sugar Sand Beach and invites her friends to help convert it into an inn, Erin jumps at the chance to settle down with the best friends a girl could ever hope to have.

But now that Reggie’s garden is flourishing, customers crowd the tables in the Cafe, and the first of the Inn’s guests are due any day, a figure from Erin’s past makes a surprising appearance. When he threatens the bonds of friendship that have deepened over the summer, Erin must choose. Will she return to her nomadic way of life? Or will she put down forever roots in Sugar Sand Beach?

Join Michelle, Reggie, Nina and Erin as they build new lives in Sugar Sand Beach, where fresh opportunities for life, love and happiness are as limitless as the blue Florida skies.

PJ's Thoughts:

Leigh Duncan continues her Sugar Sand Inn saga with book four, The Reunion at Sugar Sand Inn. Our intrepid friends are in for some major events as they inch closer to opening the doors of their inn. There's the finalization of their partnership agreement (are they all ready for this?), the senior citizen takeover (they never expected that many!), the reappearance of Erin's ex-husband (after twenty years, no less), and, oh yes, let's not forget a major hurricane on the horizon. Yikes!

At this point of the series, I am thoroughly invested in these characters, in their lives, loves, and challenges. While Erin's personal story takes the lead in this book, there's still plenty of page time for the continuation of Michelle's, Nina's, and Reggie's journeys and I am here for all of them. I appreciate the time and care Duncan is taking with these relationships. They feel natural and realistic to me. Which leads me to a slight issue I had with Erin's romance in this book. It's very fast. I had no problem with the attraction but after twenty years of no contact, I had some trouble buying into the rest (trying to avoid spoilers here). I'm hoping the next book will tie things up for me and give me confidence in their relationship. 

The final book in the series, Christmas at Sugar Sand Inn, is scheduled to be released November 19. While I am eager to read it, I'm not ready to say good-bye to Michelle, Reggie, Nina, and Erin. They've become more to me than characters in a book. They've become friends and it has been pure pleasure to watch them soar. I guess I'll just have to set this series to the side where I can revisit it whenever I need a reminder that we're never too old to start over, to find a new passion, to open ourselves to love, and that we should always treasure and nurture the unconditional support and love among our best friends. 

If you enjoy women's fiction with mature characters, female friendships, starting over, and hard-earned happy endings, give this series a try. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend beginning with book one, The Gift at Sugar Sand Inn, and reading the rest of the books in order.