Mini Reviews: Seashell Harbor

 

Last summer I read Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson and it was the cutest beach read to relax with on vacation. I didn't know it was part of a series until I was done reading it (it's book two....ooops!), so this summer I was determined to get caught up in the series and enjoy being lost in the idyllic coastal town of Seashell Harbor.

Coming Home to Seashell Harbor by Miranda Liasson

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Sea Glass Summer

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "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."

 

 

 

Hadley has returned home from California after a very public breakup. She hopes that Seashell Harbor brings her some peace, relaxation, and a chance to reconnect with her grandmother, who owns a kennel for dogs. What could be better than some time with cute dogs as well? Well, her grandmother has an injury taking care of a dog, and plans change quickly. Her grandmother is thinking of selling the kennel and there are many people interested including Tony Cammareri. Tony, a famous footballer who happens to be Hadley's first love, also grew up in Seashell Harbor and has returned home after a football injury. He thinks the kennel would be the perfect spot to open up a new sports bar and take his career in a new direction. Hadley does not want her grandmother to sell, she was thinking she would possibly help her grandmother out with the business, so now it puts these two former lovebirds directly head-to-head with one another. Coming Home to Seashell Harbor by Miranda Liasson is a cute beach read reminiscent of a Hallmark movie.

I really enjoyed Hadley from the start of Coming Home to Seashell Harbor. While I found it hard to believe she was low-key famous in California and her ex boyfriend happened to be seriously famous as he played in the NFL, I let go of that and just went along for the ride. I had read book two of the series already, so it was great to get the background of these two characters that already showed up in Sea Glass Summer. I liked the second-chance romance vibe and the coastal town of Seashell Harbor really sucked me in as usual. If you like second-chance romances, cute puppies, and a gorgeous coastal town with a small-town vibe, this is the series for you.

The Summer of Second Chances by Miranda Liasson

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: Forever

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Sea Glass Summer

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Darla Manning has survived cancer so she can survive anything--including having to work closely with her ex-husband to help their best friends have an amazing summer wedding in their quaint Victorian beach town. Her cancer is cured, but what remains is a lifetime of tests and follow-ups. While Darla has survived, she's not truly living. Nick Cammareri knows he failed Darla in their marriage, but now he wants to show Darla that he'll be there for her no matter what. And the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that he wants Darla in his life for keeps. As they enjoy another couple's wedding festivities, he decides to remind her of their own love story and show her that, this time, he's here to stay. But when Darla has a test scare and other secrets come out, will she only push Nick away again, or can she leave all her fears behind and live life to the fullest?"

 

 

 

Darla Manning is tough. She survived cancer, a divorce, and is now living back home in Seashell Harbor and writing her next book. At least she has her best friends here and her support system. Living as a cancer survivor isn't easy. All the follow-up tests and worries take their toll. When her ex, Nick Cammareri, re-enters her life (how could he not, he lives in Seashell Harbor) they start to spend time together. Their paths are bound to cross when they are helping to plan their best friends' wedding. How can Darla tell everyone the truth though? She accepted a very exciting teaching position in California for the fall. She needs to finish up her book, sell her house, and say goodbye to everyone she loves. All this time with Nick has her second-guessing things though as he has clearly changed. The Summer of Second Chances by Miranda Liasson has everything fans of the series enjoy: the small-town vibes, a second chance romance, great friendships, and more.

Darla is a character that I always enjoyed as she is a survivor, an author, and has handled difficult moments in her life with grace. Her relationship with her ex was always a curious topic in the other novels, so I was glad to see it fleshed out in The Summer of Second Chances. What I didn't love about this book was the focus on cancer. While I don't mind it playing a small role, it seemed to be bringing the story down in this novel and made it a little heavier than I liked for a beach read. Other than that, I enjoy the town of Seashell Harbor and the stories of second-chance romances and female friendships. If a beach read and a Hallmark movie had a baby, it would be this series.
 
Are you a fan of Miranda Liasson? Have you read the Seashell Harbor series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.