In her typical heartwarming style, Melissa Tagg once again delivers with her latest release, A Seaside Wonder.
Book Blurb
In one evening, Indi’s world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé…make that ex-fiancé.
Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine . . . or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister he barely knows—one who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with a name on its storefront window that sounds familiar, a hint of a mystery nudging him inside.
More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from—though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay. But when her ex-fiancé returns to Muir Harbor, he brings news that shatters her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when lurking danger comes calling at her childhood home.
The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shop months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip win over his sister. He just might win over Indi, too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril . . . and take a chance on love.
My Thoughts
You will never convince me that Melissa Tagg isn’t one of the greatest authors of all time. If you have read my gushing review of Autumn by the Sea or Now and Then and Always, then you won’t be surprised to discover that I am once again gushing about her.
In one scene, Philip West stole my heart. The unusual meet-cute had me giggling throughout Philip and Indi’s interaction, and from that moment, Philip had a special place in my heart. His romance with Indi is sweet, and I loved seeing them grow to care for one another. And his relationship with sister Holland and fierce love for her just about made me melt.
I love a good, swoony Melissa Tagg hero.
While you can read A Seaside Wonder without first reading Autumn by the Sea, I think the series is best enjoyed in order. This delightful sequel not only reveals the story behind Indi’s mysterious fiance but also gives us a glimpse of Syndey and Neil’s wedding. Then there’s the overarching mystery that finally is solved (although there’s still more). Tagg gives us a fantastic plot twist I did not see coming. Of course, there’s also the family dynamics and a sweet surprise for a certain supporting character.
Overall, A Seaside Wonder is a charming and heartwarming tale contemporary romance fans will love.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
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