What do you think?
Rate this book
Summer at Seaside Cove
After Janie Newman's half sister Laurel steals her boyfriend, Jamie leaves New York and the humiliation behind for the island of Seaside Cove, North Carolina. But the cozy cottage she booked turns out to be a rundown bungalow. And she's not alone. Her drama-prone mother, angst- ridden niece and newly dumped Laurel all follow her down. With a cottage this crowded, will she ever have a chance at finding love again?
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 28, 2011
6 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Jacquie D'Alessandro
121 books419 followersJacquie D'Alessandro grew up on Long Island and fell in love with romance at an early age. She dreamed of being swept away by a dashing rogue riding a spirited stallion. When Joe, her hero finally showed up, he was dressed in jeans and driving a Volkswagen, but she recognized him anyway. They married after they both graduated from Hofstra University, and are now living their happily-ever-after in Atlanta, Georgia, along with their very bright and active son, Christopher, alias "Junior", who is a dashing rogue in the making.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 11, 2012
After spending April reading the bulk of Kristen Ashley's work and May re-reading Robin D. Owens, I've decided to spend June trying to mop up the RITA nominees. Summer at Seaside Cove was nominated for best contemporary. I thought it was okay, but nothing too earth-shattering. The 'jilted woman runs away to a cottage/cabin by a body of water' plot has been done before. And One Last Thing by Molly Harper, in particular, springs to mind (incidentally, this was also a nominee for a contemporary RITA in 2011).
I did like how D'Alessandro handled the relationships between the heroine, Jamie, her niece, Heather, and Jamie's sister/Heather's mom, Laurel. It would have been easy to make Laurel a stereotypical neglectful mother/bitch sister, but D'Alessandro humanizes her. Jamie also has a good relationship with Heather, but she doesn't lose sight of the fact she's the adult and Heather's a kid. Jamie doesn't let her feelings about Laurel, understandable as they are, influence Heather's relationship with her mom. I always enjoy it when characters behave like mature adults.
I did like how D'Alessandro handled the relationships between the heroine, Jamie, her niece, Heather, and Jamie's sister/Heather's mom, Laurel. It would have been easy to make Laurel a stereotypical neglectful mother/bitch sister, but D'Alessandro humanizes her. Jamie also has a good relationship with Heather, but she doesn't lose sight of the fact she's the adult and Heather's a kid. Jamie doesn't let her feelings about Laurel, understandable as they are, influence Heather's relationship with her mom. I always enjoy it when characters behave like mature adults.
February 8, 2012
Reviewed for http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=1301
I laughed so many times during my reading adventure of this great book, that I lost count, what an amazing story.
This is a must read for anyone looking for a feel good contemporary romance, caution: Be prepared to laugh out loud with 'Summer at Seaside Cove'. Jacquie has a real winner with this book and its sequel coming out in 2012, her writing style is a breath of fresh air, and her story is solid and well told, with outstanding characters and witty dialogue and drama galore. A book by Jacquie D'Alessandro is a book worth reading and savoring from cover to cover.
"A warm and enchanting story, Jacquie is a treasure among treasures, one to cherish time and again"
I laughed so many times during my reading adventure of this great book, that I lost count, what an amazing story.
This is a must read for anyone looking for a feel good contemporary romance, caution: Be prepared to laugh out loud with 'Summer at Seaside Cove'. Jacquie has a real winner with this book and its sequel coming out in 2012, her writing style is a breath of fresh air, and her story is solid and well told, with outstanding characters and witty dialogue and drama galore. A book by Jacquie D'Alessandro is a book worth reading and savoring from cover to cover.
"A warm and enchanting story, Jacquie is a treasure among treasures, one to cherish time and again"
January 18, 2012
I think I'll just stick with Alessadro's historical romance books rather then her contemporary ones. Honestly, this book bored me to death and I read this in the bus en route to my work place. It didn't sparkle any interest or whatsoever feelings that I have to feel when reading a romance book.
Lovely and adorable characters though but still the story plot was too boring and predictable for me. I guess it's just me; who's apparently not in the mood for a modern romance story after waiting for 3 buses in the morning just to get to work.
3 stars for this book only but I would certainly and absolutely recommend you lovelies to read her historical romance books because I totally LOVE them! Good day. :)
Lovely and adorable characters though but still the story plot was too boring and predictable for me. I guess it's just me; who's apparently not in the mood for a modern romance story after waiting for 3 buses in the morning just to get to work.
3 stars for this book only but I would certainly and absolutely recommend you lovelies to read her historical romance books because I totally LOVE them! Good day. :)
March 18, 2014
I have never seen an author ignore her own subplots so much.
She literally had the heroine move 700 miles away to get away from her crazy family, then had her mother follow her there...then we don't see the mother for over 100 pages. The mother's boyfriend shows up and his big lines are "do you need help with the luggage" and "at least your not a red sox fan" -- then her niece shows up. At least the niece occasionally shows up on the page.
When the hero tells her his "big secret" she (like the rest of us) is like, Oh. Ok.
There is ZERO southern styled comfort going on. This book could have taken place anywhere there's a beach. I just...This book is a big 'no' for me. Took days to get thru.
She literally had the heroine move 700 miles away to get away from her crazy family, then had her mother follow her there...then we don't see the mother for over 100 pages. The mother's boyfriend shows up and his big lines are "do you need help with the luggage" and "at least your not a red sox fan" -- then her niece shows up. At least the niece occasionally shows up on the page.
When the hero tells her his "big secret" she (like the rest of us) is like, Oh. Ok.
There is ZERO southern styled comfort going on. This book could have taken place anywhere there's a beach. I just...This book is a big 'no' for me. Took days to get thru.
October 30, 2016
This is a perfect beach, but also a perfect fall read or living room read or wherever you are read. The outcome might be predictable, but the characters who intrude into Jamie's life are anything but predictable, especially the hot man/her landlord from next door whom she is prepared to hate. Throw in lots of family drama, courtesy of her mother, her mother's boyfriend, her beloved niece, and her detested sister, and you have a page-turner well worth giving up sleep for!
January 28, 2012
I really like the premise for this book, Jamie runs away from her life in New York after her sister steals her boyfriend. She heads to a small seaside town in North Carolina (I think it was North Carolina) where she finds herself living in a rundown beach house. There she encounters her next door neighbor / landlord Nick and as you would expect the sparks fly.
This book could have been much better if it focused on the central characters. As it turned out, Jamie's mother, niece, sister and her mother's younger boyfriend all show up and muddy the waters. While I mostly enjoyed the book I think it's too wordy, the resolution could have been handled in a chapter but was spread it out over 4 or 5 chapters.
Jacquie D'Alessandro also spent a lot of time describing what her characters were thinking. It's a personal preference but if you get your characters to do something you know what they are thinking. Obviously you need to dive into a characters mind every now and then but it was a little excessive in this book.
Still it was good enough that I'll read the next in the series.
This book could have been much better if it focused on the central characters. As it turned out, Jamie's mother, niece, sister and her mother's younger boyfriend all show up and muddy the waters. While I mostly enjoyed the book I think it's too wordy, the resolution could have been handled in a chapter but was spread it out over 4 or 5 chapters.
Jacquie D'Alessandro also spent a lot of time describing what her characters were thinking. It's a personal preference but if you get your characters to do something you know what they are thinking. Obviously you need to dive into a characters mind every now and then but it was a little excessive in this book.
Still it was good enough that I'll read the next in the series.
May 25, 2015
I got this book years ago. I don't know why it's taken me so long to take it off my shelf, but I'm so glad I finally did. It was excellent! The dialogue is funny and incredibly entertaining. The story as a whole was emotional and satisfying. I'll be reading more contemporaries from Ms. D'Alessandro (as soon as one is published!).
April 30, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. Would like to read the next one.
I liked the way she had Jamie talk for the dog. It was spot on and pretty humorous.
The one thing I didn’t like was all the cliches. There were way too many of them…disastrously so.
Such as:
“I want another man like I want a flea infestation.”
“…and took off like his gas tank contained rocket fuel.”
I liked the way she had Jamie talk for the dog. It was spot on and pretty humorous.
The one thing I didn’t like was all the cliches. There were way too many of them…disastrously so.
Such as:
“I want another man like I want a flea infestation.”
“…and took off like his gas tank contained rocket fuel.”
July 9, 2022
I picked this book because it’s “related to the ocean”, and that’s a checkmark on my summer reading challenge. I’m taking the time to write because it was a funny, and sometimes tear-jerking, very enjoyable example of Escapist Literature. I love books with conflict and fun all rolled into one.
February 26, 2019
One of my favorite writers. Though I could've done with a little less "holy cows".
Read
July 20, 2019A good book
August 25, 2021
good easy read . The beach and a love story. Like the storyline and characters. will be finding more of this authors books.
July 13, 2023
3.5. Cute fast read. I really hated how the mom moved in and didn’t hear anything else about her till the end.
August 27, 2023
Ends on such a wonderful note!
November 20, 2023
Forever a piece of my heart.
January 11, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Jamie runs from her life in New York City and ends up in Seaside Cove, North Carolina only to have her family arrive on her front doorstep.
Opening Sentence: The decapitated, plastic pink flamingo, standing ass-feathers deep in what looked like poison ivy, was Jamie Newman’s first clue that doom had followed her from New York.
The Review:
Contemporary romances should be a fine wine that you savor through out a meal but more often than not you are served cheap boxed wine in a fancy glass. First impressions of this book was that I had been served cheap wine. The first two chapters were boring. Jamie is already in Seaside and we do not witness or take part in the break up scene. I still feel that is where I would have started this book or at the bare minimum had a flash back scene while sitting on the plane to get to North Carolina. The fact that Jamie has travelled all that way seems a bit of a waste of the emotional connection the reader truly deserves when introduced to this delightful woman.
However, chapter three is where the whole story took a jump in the right direction. Introducing the outstanding leading man, Nick Trent is a marvelous bit of story telling goodness. He is woken from a dead sleep by a solid knocking on his front door and his dog adding her two cents to the noise. The portrayal of a sleep deprived male answering the door was one that will stick with me. I couldn’t help but smile through the entire scene. The author nailed not only the look but the reactions of Nick and in doing so made me love him that much more.
The reason for Jamie’s appearance in Seaside Cove is typical but with a twist. It is not often that our heroine is cheated on by her boyfriend with an older sister. Her dealing with this betrayal is one that I can completely understand. She seeks to get away from everything that reminds her of him and her sister. And in so doing brings into her life not just Nick but the whole town of Seaside Cove.
Small town life intrudes quite rapidly on Jamie’s retreat and she opens her life to the opportunity it presents namely the Clam Festival. She finds herself being volunteered to join the committee that runs the festival and brings her charm and effervesce to the entire town and Nick’s life.
If you are looking for a delightful read then I would definitely offer this book as a perfect fit. Jacquie D’Alessandro has found another fan and I look forward to Laurel’s adventure in the next installment of the Seaside Cove.
On a more personal level, Nick Trent has been added to my official “I would date him” list. I will be adding to the list as 2013 progresses and look forward to seeing who makes that top 10 list.
Notable Scene:
“Ah–so you’re the renter.”
“Yes. And you’re the owner. I thought this place was supposed to ooze Southern hospitality.”
“I’m not from the South.”
“I’m picking up on that.”
“Good. You want hospitality? Here it is: Welcome to Seaside Cove. Now go away and come back at a more reasonable hour. Like noon.”
He made to close the door, but she slapped her palm against the wooden panel and wedged her curvy self in the opening. “I’m afraid not. We need to discuss this right now. After we’ve done so, believe me, I’ll be more than happy to go away and leave you alone.” She looked past him. “Is your dog friendly?”
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Summer at Seaside Cove. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Jamie runs from her life in New York City and ends up in Seaside Cove, North Carolina only to have her family arrive on her front doorstep.
Opening Sentence: The decapitated, plastic pink flamingo, standing ass-feathers deep in what looked like poison ivy, was Jamie Newman’s first clue that doom had followed her from New York.
The Review:
Contemporary romances should be a fine wine that you savor through out a meal but more often than not you are served cheap boxed wine in a fancy glass. First impressions of this book was that I had been served cheap wine. The first two chapters were boring. Jamie is already in Seaside and we do not witness or take part in the break up scene. I still feel that is where I would have started this book or at the bare minimum had a flash back scene while sitting on the plane to get to North Carolina. The fact that Jamie has travelled all that way seems a bit of a waste of the emotional connection the reader truly deserves when introduced to this delightful woman.
However, chapter three is where the whole story took a jump in the right direction. Introducing the outstanding leading man, Nick Trent is a marvelous bit of story telling goodness. He is woken from a dead sleep by a solid knocking on his front door and his dog adding her two cents to the noise. The portrayal of a sleep deprived male answering the door was one that will stick with me. I couldn’t help but smile through the entire scene. The author nailed not only the look but the reactions of Nick and in doing so made me love him that much more.
The reason for Jamie’s appearance in Seaside Cove is typical but with a twist. It is not often that our heroine is cheated on by her boyfriend with an older sister. Her dealing with this betrayal is one that I can completely understand. She seeks to get away from everything that reminds her of him and her sister. And in so doing brings into her life not just Nick but the whole town of Seaside Cove.
Small town life intrudes quite rapidly on Jamie’s retreat and she opens her life to the opportunity it presents namely the Clam Festival. She finds herself being volunteered to join the committee that runs the festival and brings her charm and effervesce to the entire town and Nick’s life.
If you are looking for a delightful read then I would definitely offer this book as a perfect fit. Jacquie D’Alessandro has found another fan and I look forward to Laurel’s adventure in the next installment of the Seaside Cove.
On a more personal level, Nick Trent has been added to my official “I would date him” list. I will be adding to the list as 2013 progresses and look forward to seeing who makes that top 10 list.
Notable Scene:
“Ah–so you’re the renter.”
“Yes. And you’re the owner. I thought this place was supposed to ooze Southern hospitality.”
“I’m not from the South.”
“I’m picking up on that.”
“Good. You want hospitality? Here it is: Welcome to Seaside Cove. Now go away and come back at a more reasonable hour. Like noon.”
He made to close the door, but she slapped her palm against the wooden panel and wedged her curvy self in the opening. “I’m afraid not. We need to discuss this right now. After we’ve done so, believe me, I’ll be more than happy to go away and leave you alone.” She looked past him. “Is your dog friendly?”
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Summer at Seaside Cove. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 29, 2011
Thanks to Hils' review at Impressions of a Reader, I gave Ms. Alessandro's contemporary romance a try. So very happy I did! This was a lovely, witty romance with a heroine I could totally relate to and a hero that I adored. The small coastal town adds just the right amount of sweetness without overwhelming the romance.
Jamie Newman is running away. But that's okay because she deserves to run and take shelter far away from pain and betrayal. The only trouble is, she can't seem to shake her bad luck or her problems. Right from the start I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jamie. She's betrayed by her sister with her boyfriend then she finds the cottage she rented comes "as is" which translates to falling down and stinky. Jamie's first impression of her landlord is not good either but it is funny. It also sets the tone for more of their encounters. Jamie is so use to taking care of everyone and pleasing everyone but when she meets Nick, she has no difficulty telling Nick exactly what she thinks of him and his rundown rental.
Nick Trent doesn't know what to think of the crazy New Yorker that is now his neighbor and tenant. Due to miscommunication and little deception on the realtor's part, Nick now has an attractive but angry woman on his doorstep. Poor Nick, he really doesn't know if he should kiss the crazy woman or close the door in her face. Nick has that sarcastic humor that I love, along with a gruff sweetness that comes through as he helps Jamie settle in Seaside Cover. And he has the best dog in the world! Godiva, Nick's chocolate lab (hehe) makes her presence known in the most delightful ways. She's just as adorable as her owner. For all his adorable sexiness, Nick does have some secrets that he eventually shares with Jamie after they become friends and lovers.
The romance was funny, sexy and sweet. I loved Jamie and Nick's verbal sparing and the underlying sexual tension that continues to increase every time these two are together. They reluctantly become friends and lovers with both thinking it's only for the summer. Even with the interruptions courtesy of Jamie's family and the townsfolk, Jamie and Nick still fall in love with each other and with the setting. By the end of the book, I didn't want the summer to end and Jamie to leave Seaside Cove. She and Nick belonged together, no doubt about it!
The secondary characters as well as the picturesque coastal town all add to the ambiance of the story. Jamie's family show different facets of Jamie's character and what makes her want to please everyone. We also see Jamie becoming part of the community as she makes friends with the locals. Nick gets pulled into Jamie's family drama and thinks Jamie isn't the only crazy female in the family. LOL
The happy ending comes but Jamie really has to work to get there. She use to put everyone's needs first and learns to finally claiming priority for her needs. It takes a long time but she does get there. With her is Nick who has some issues to work through but he's much farther along than Jamie in knowing what he wants and who he is. Jamie is the one who makes the most changes and evolves as a character. The plot did loose some momentum midway through but picked up nicely as Jamie and Nick became more involved as the end of summer neared.
The sequel, Seaside Cove (March 2012) is Laurel's book. I enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to visiting with these characters again. Ms. D'Alessandro has created a charming setting for a delightful romance that is sure to entertain.
Jamie Newman is running away. But that's okay because she deserves to run and take shelter far away from pain and betrayal. The only trouble is, she can't seem to shake her bad luck or her problems. Right from the start I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jamie. She's betrayed by her sister with her boyfriend then she finds the cottage she rented comes "as is" which translates to falling down and stinky. Jamie's first impression of her landlord is not good either but it is funny. It also sets the tone for more of their encounters. Jamie is so use to taking care of everyone and pleasing everyone but when she meets Nick, she has no difficulty telling Nick exactly what she thinks of him and his rundown rental.
Nick Trent doesn't know what to think of the crazy New Yorker that is now his neighbor and tenant. Due to miscommunication and little deception on the realtor's part, Nick now has an attractive but angry woman on his doorstep. Poor Nick, he really doesn't know if he should kiss the crazy woman or close the door in her face. Nick has that sarcastic humor that I love, along with a gruff sweetness that comes through as he helps Jamie settle in Seaside Cover. And he has the best dog in the world! Godiva, Nick's chocolate lab (hehe) makes her presence known in the most delightful ways. She's just as adorable as her owner. For all his adorable sexiness, Nick does have some secrets that he eventually shares with Jamie after they become friends and lovers.
The romance was funny, sexy and sweet. I loved Jamie and Nick's verbal sparing and the underlying sexual tension that continues to increase every time these two are together. They reluctantly become friends and lovers with both thinking it's only for the summer. Even with the interruptions courtesy of Jamie's family and the townsfolk, Jamie and Nick still fall in love with each other and with the setting. By the end of the book, I didn't want the summer to end and Jamie to leave Seaside Cove. She and Nick belonged together, no doubt about it!
The secondary characters as well as the picturesque coastal town all add to the ambiance of the story. Jamie's family show different facets of Jamie's character and what makes her want to please everyone. We also see Jamie becoming part of the community as she makes friends with the locals. Nick gets pulled into Jamie's family drama and thinks Jamie isn't the only crazy female in the family. LOL
The happy ending comes but Jamie really has to work to get there. She use to put everyone's needs first and learns to finally claiming priority for her needs. It takes a long time but she does get there. With her is Nick who has some issues to work through but he's much farther along than Jamie in knowing what he wants and who he is. Jamie is the one who makes the most changes and evolves as a character. The plot did loose some momentum midway through but picked up nicely as Jamie and Nick became more involved as the end of summer neared.
The sequel, Seaside Cove (March 2012) is Laurel's book. I enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to visiting with these characters again. Ms. D'Alessandro has created a charming setting for a delightful romance that is sure to entertain.
November 7, 2011
4.5/5 (B+)
Looking back at Summer at Seaside Cove, there's nothing about it that screams wowzer... and yet, it turned out to be a great read :)
I really can't say how much I enjoyed Summer at Seaside Cove. A big part of it were the characters, especially Jamie and Nick. They were interesting and likable characters whom you could relate to and I guess that's why they felt real. I liked the fact that they got to know each other better, amending their first impressions, and appreciate each other before giving to attraction and jumping into bed. I like how supporting Nick was towards Jamie's problems. In a way, he understood what she was going through and shared his experience with her, but never pushed her to take a decision. He definitively was what she needed :) So definitively a good romance here :) Oh and to complete the picture, I thought Godiva was adorable!! :) She was just so fun to read about, vibrant, and really put a smile on my face while I read the book... and I think she set the tone of the book LOL.
While the story of Summer at Seaside Cove was not very original - burn-out heroine going away to find herself, Ms D'Alessandro managed to surprise me with some twists and that was unexpected, but in a really good way :) The twists weren't major or anything, but it made the book stand out for me. For example, the simple fact that Laurel was Jamie's older half-sister. From the blurb, I immediately assumed that Laurel was the annoying, spoiled, inconsiderate little sister... and so finding out that Laurel was actually older was refreshing. Also the part with Jamie's mother - did not expect! I also think Ms D'Alessandro did a great job with these secondary characters, fleshing them just enough to be interesting, but not enough that they stole the spotlight from Jamie and Nick and become annoying.
Finally, kudos to Ms D'Alessandro for striking just the right tone with Summer at Seaside Cove. If I had to describe the book, it'd be fluff with some depth LOL. I know, I know, how can a book be fluffy and deep at the same time? I can't explain it, but that's exactly what Ms D'Alessandro achieved LOL. So I guess it's really a question of balance :) I think it's because all the conflicts that Ms D'Alessandro introduced were resolved and resolved in a satisfactory fashion instead of just being swept aside or tied in a nice knot. I liked that the characters actually communicate, talk to each other to resolve these conflicts :)
I've read Ms D'Alessandro before and this is definitively my favorite book of hers :) True, there's nothing that special about Summer at Seaside Cove storyline, but it hit the right spot :) As such, I highly recommend it as a summer read and if you don't believe me, you can read Hils's review :)
Looking back at Summer at Seaside Cove, there's nothing about it that screams wowzer... and yet, it turned out to be a great read :)
I really can't say how much I enjoyed Summer at Seaside Cove. A big part of it were the characters, especially Jamie and Nick. They were interesting and likable characters whom you could relate to and I guess that's why they felt real. I liked the fact that they got to know each other better, amending their first impressions, and appreciate each other before giving to attraction and jumping into bed. I like how supporting Nick was towards Jamie's problems. In a way, he understood what she was going through and shared his experience with her, but never pushed her to take a decision. He definitively was what she needed :) So definitively a good romance here :) Oh and to complete the picture, I thought Godiva was adorable!! :) She was just so fun to read about, vibrant, and really put a smile on my face while I read the book... and I think she set the tone of the book LOL.
While the story of Summer at Seaside Cove was not very original - burn-out heroine going away to find herself, Ms D'Alessandro managed to surprise me with some twists and that was unexpected, but in a really good way :) The twists weren't major or anything, but it made the book stand out for me. For example, the simple fact that Laurel was Jamie's older half-sister. From the blurb, I immediately assumed that Laurel was the annoying, spoiled, inconsiderate little sister... and so finding out that Laurel was actually older was refreshing. Also the part with Jamie's mother - did not expect! I also think Ms D'Alessandro did a great job with these secondary characters, fleshing them just enough to be interesting, but not enough that they stole the spotlight from Jamie and Nick and become annoying.
Finally, kudos to Ms D'Alessandro for striking just the right tone with Summer at Seaside Cove. If I had to describe the book, it'd be fluff with some depth LOL. I know, I know, how can a book be fluffy and deep at the same time? I can't explain it, but that's exactly what Ms D'Alessandro achieved LOL. So I guess it's really a question of balance :) I think it's because all the conflicts that Ms D'Alessandro introduced were resolved and resolved in a satisfactory fashion instead of just being swept aside or tied in a nice knot. I liked that the characters actually communicate, talk to each other to resolve these conflicts :)
I've read Ms D'Alessandro before and this is definitively my favorite book of hers :) True, there's nothing that special about Summer at Seaside Cove storyline, but it hit the right spot :) As such, I highly recommend it as a summer read and if you don't believe me, you can read Hils's review :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2011
I was thrilled to see Jacquie D'Alessandro going back to contemporaries, because I adore when she writes them. Her characters are always down-to-earth and realistic, and the romances are sweet with a great touch of humor. I was doubly excited that the Café chose this book for the official discussion in June as well -- I could share my love of "Jacquie D" with my favorite peeps.
Jamie Newman has to get away from her problems. She's managed her family's restaurant, Newman's, in NYC, all her adult life, but it's not what she really wants to do -- but since the death of her dad, she's been stuck there. Her mother has been helpless (quite literally) without her dad and driving Jamie insane with her inability to make even the smallest decisions on her own. But the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back is the fact that her older half-sister, Laurel, stole her boyfriend. So she takes off for the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a small town called Seaside Cove, to a last-minute booking of a cottage called "Paradise Lost."
What she finds is little more than a shack -- the realtor shamelessly lied on his website. The owner, Nick Trent, lives in the work-in-progress next door and didn't expect a spoiled city princess and her equally picky cat to be renting Paradise Lost (nor did he know the realtor would lie just to get his commission). But despite her initial shrew-like attitude, he can't help but be attracted to the fiesty woman who's dealing with more than one woman should ever have to put up with in such a short time. He understands wanting to be left alone, and here Jamie is, getting descended upon by her pregnant mother, said mother's baby daddy, her troubled teenaged niece, and then, the icing on the cake, the backstabbing sister. And his dog, Godiva, adores her. How could he not fall?
I really liked this book -- it was a great "beach read," and not just because it was set at the beach. It was light and sweet, but by no means lacking in substance.
Read the full mostly praise-filled review here.
Jamie Newman has to get away from her problems. She's managed her family's restaurant, Newman's, in NYC, all her adult life, but it's not what she really wants to do -- but since the death of her dad, she's been stuck there. Her mother has been helpless (quite literally) without her dad and driving Jamie insane with her inability to make even the smallest decisions on her own. But the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back is the fact that her older half-sister, Laurel, stole her boyfriend. So she takes off for the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a small town called Seaside Cove, to a last-minute booking of a cottage called "Paradise Lost."
What she finds is little more than a shack -- the realtor shamelessly lied on his website. The owner, Nick Trent, lives in the work-in-progress next door and didn't expect a spoiled city princess and her equally picky cat to be renting Paradise Lost (nor did he know the realtor would lie just to get his commission). But despite her initial shrew-like attitude, he can't help but be attracted to the fiesty woman who's dealing with more than one woman should ever have to put up with in such a short time. He understands wanting to be left alone, and here Jamie is, getting descended upon by her pregnant mother, said mother's baby daddy, her troubled teenaged niece, and then, the icing on the cake, the backstabbing sister. And his dog, Godiva, adores her. How could he not fall?
I really liked this book -- it was a great "beach read," and not just because it was set at the beach. It was light and sweet, but by no means lacking in substance.
Read the full mostly praise-filled review here.
January 19, 2016
New York restaurant manager Jamie Newman rents a beach cottage for two months on Seaside Cove, NC after being cheated on by her boyfriend, with her half sister! Jamie needs some time to herself to re-evaluate her life. When she arrives at the "cozy beach side bungalow" as it was advertised on the realtor's website, she is greeted by a decapitated pink flamingo surrounded by a weed strewn yard and a rundown, ramshackle house on stilts, which apparently has not been updated since 1972. As a storm arrives later that night, she also discovers the roof leaks. When she contacts the realtor, he informs her she'll need to contact the owner of the cottage regarding any needed repairs, and he is apparently out of town on one of his rumored "benders". Since Jamie booked the cottage at the last minute, there is nowhere else to go. Before long, her much needed privacy is invaded by her drama prone mother, who has big news to share with Jamie, along with a surprise visit from her teenage niece among other unexpected visitors.
This is a fun, sweet story of romance, family relationships, and a good bit of humor as well, in a great beach side setting. This is a perfect book to read while on a beach vacation, although the sun shone a lot more in this book than it did on my real life beach vacation, which was filled mainly with constant rain and red flag warnings on the beach!
This is a fun, sweet story of romance, family relationships, and a good bit of humor as well, in a great beach side setting. This is a perfect book to read while on a beach vacation, although the sun shone a lot more in this book than it did on my real life beach vacation, which was filled mainly with constant rain and red flag warnings on the beach!
May 10, 2011
Jamie felt that by putting 700 miles in between her life drama and the back staving half-sister who stole her boyfriend , she could get away and have a chance to recover from the humiliation. But her life was getting from bad to worse when she finds that her getaway rental cottage retreat is far from a retreat and more like a nightmare. She confronts Nick, the owner, only to find that she has trouble keeping her wits around the guy, and will have no choice but to tough it out for the 2 months that she rented at Paradise Lost . To top it all the family drama ends up following her back to her island retreat and that’s when the “fun” begins.
The authors description of the location and the peculiar local characters transports you , so you fall in love with the place and the main characters big loving hearts, making it hard to stop reading the book in one seating. A must read for those who like refreshing romances with some fun and the right amount of drama. There is hint at the end that Seaside Cove will bring more romance and adventure, can’t wait to read it.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
The authors description of the location and the peculiar local characters transports you , so you fall in love with the place and the main characters big loving hearts, making it hard to stop reading the book in one seating. A must read for those who like refreshing romances with some fun and the right amount of drama. There is hint at the end that Seaside Cove will bring more romance and adventure, can’t wait to read it.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
March 13, 2012
Wow, just finished. Nick and Jamie literally leap off the page at you (when they're not steaming it up that is). Particularly enjoyed their early encounters which were laugh out loud funny as well as being very Hot! Just the sort of book I love with lots of sparkling dialogue, very funny internal thought (even the dog's eye view was spot-on) a great setting (suddenly have a desire to go to the little island of Seaside Cove and attend a clam festival - not something I would have previously expected of myself). And an engaging roster of secondary characters, particularly Jamie's drama-prone mum Maggie, who finds herself knocked up at 46! All in all a great read.
What is a little surprising was that after I'd put it down it occurred to me that the conflict isn't as intense as I usually like it, much of what Jamie and Nick have to work through is external conflict, but Jacquie somehow totally got away with it, I still wanted to read on, and in the end it made for a surprisingly subtle and satisfying read. Definitely want to read Jamie's stuck-up sister Laurel's story now. But can't imagine her hero can possibly be as hot as Nick... Can you tell, I already have withdrawal symptoms.
July 27, 2011
So I've read a few Jacquie D'Alessandro stories before. They've been Harlequin Blaze books or short stories in other anthologies. And even though they've been short, I've like her humor and her characters. So when I was browsing the library and saw a full length contemporary romance I had to try it. I'm glad I did.
Jamie Newman heads to a small NC beach town to get away from her problems and figure out where her life is going. Unfortunately as everyone knows running away from your problems isn't so easy. They tend to follow you. And when she meets her hunky neighbor, there's a whole new set of things to worry about. I loved the banter. I liked the characters. I liked that I was surprised by a few sub character actions/situations. And I loved that there was no 'great misunderstanding' that keeps characters separated and angry for no apparent reason than plot device. I'll certainly be reading more of this series to be (the next book in the series is previewed at the end).
Jamie Newman heads to a small NC beach town to get away from her problems and figure out where her life is going. Unfortunately as everyone knows running away from your problems isn't so easy. They tend to follow you. And when she meets her hunky neighbor, there's a whole new set of things to worry about. I loved the banter. I liked the characters. I liked that I was surprised by a few sub character actions/situations. And I loved that there was no 'great misunderstanding' that keeps characters separated and angry for no apparent reason than plot device. I'll certainly be reading more of this series to be (the next book in the series is previewed at the end).
February 4, 2012
When Jamie Newman's half sister steals her boyfriend, Jamie escapes the hustle and bustle of her busy New York life to take some time for herself for once. Seaside Cove is supposed to be her sanctuary, but her charming cottage turns out to be a run-down bungalow, her landlord Nick is an annoyingly sexy man with secrets, and now her troubles from back home are following her one by one.
This was a charming book with likable characters, hot sex scenes, and a clever sense of humor reminiscent of Jill Shalvis' work. I quite enjoyed the romp! D'Alessandro has put together a good cast with a great heroine and equally great hero. The heat between them was a perfect combination of spice and sweetness, and their trials and tribulations were interesting and exciting, but accessible to the reader. The story was well-paced and pulled the reader along to a delightful conclusion. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel!
This was a charming book with likable characters, hot sex scenes, and a clever sense of humor reminiscent of Jill Shalvis' work. I quite enjoyed the romp! D'Alessandro has put together a good cast with a great heroine and equally great hero. The heat between them was a perfect combination of spice and sweetness, and their trials and tribulations were interesting and exciting, but accessible to the reader. The story was well-paced and pulled the reader along to a delightful conclusion. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel!
June 29, 2016
Contemporary romance, which isn't JDA's usual. She does a darn good job for a Regency romance chick. A reread for me.
Loved Nick & Jamie. Godiva & Cupcake were suitably cute. Loved Godiva's "thoughts". The romance was sweet & not at all rushed. The problems were solved after a lot of effort on both sides. The H/h's dilemma was resolved without a lot of stupidity.
The villainess was in reality just someone who did a thoughtless, stupid thing. She begged forgiveness for it.
When I originally reviewed this for Amazon, I called it a "fun beach read". It is that, but it's so much more. 340 pages & the print is SMALL! This is a good read for anywhere. Much better than some writers today with their extra large "legally blind" print.
Sadly, this is the last JDA I own. I was looking forward to Lauren's story. We even got a teaser at the end of this story. Unfortunately, it looks like it was never published. Too bad. I was looking forward to it. :(
Loved Nick & Jamie. Godiva & Cupcake were suitably cute. Loved Godiva's "thoughts". The romance was sweet & not at all rushed. The problems were solved after a lot of effort on both sides. The H/h's dilemma was resolved without a lot of stupidity.
The villainess was in reality just someone who did a thoughtless, stupid thing. She begged forgiveness for it.
When I originally reviewed this for Amazon, I called it a "fun beach read". It is that, but it's so much more. 340 pages & the print is SMALL! This is a good read for anywhere. Much better than some writers today with their extra large "legally blind" print.
Sadly, this is the last JDA I own. I was looking forward to Lauren's story. We even got a teaser at the end of this story. Unfortunately, it looks like it was never published. Too bad. I was looking forward to it. :(
May 24, 2011
Nothing spectacular going on here; just a nice, sometimes sweet romance. Jamie has fled NYC to coastal NC for the summer to try and put her life together. She's rented a beach cottage in the Outer Banks (very fictional) community of Seaside Cove. Her hunky next door neighbor, Nick, is also her landlord. He's rather mysterious, but turns out to be a cool guy. Their relationship starts off prickly, and then slowly develops into a really hawt summer romance. There's the requisite number of quirky secondary characters, all nicely done without going over the top. And, of course, there are complications--the family that Jamie is trying to escape follows her, one by one, to NC. And Nick is obviously hiding something in his background.
A very enjoyable beach read sorta book. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
A very enjoyable beach read sorta book. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.
Read
October 17, 2011Was reading merrily along - and loving every word - when suddenly about 2/3 way through I completely lost interest. I was trying to put my finger on why and realized it was because the sexual tension was gone and the story meandered along. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I was expecting something else to come along and it didn't.
I've read other by this author and enjoyed them. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the heck out of this one if only (spoiler) the hero and heroine kept banging heads rather than playing lovey-dovey. I think the best banter between them was when they were at odds with each other.
I've read other by this author and enjoyed them. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the heck out of this one if only (spoiler) the hero and heroine kept banging heads rather than playing lovey-dovey. I think the best banter between them was when they were at odds with each other.
July 11, 2014
Nick and Jamie. Jamie takes a vacation from her family and family business restaurant in NY to Florida for 2 months. The rented house is run down, and Nick Trent in the next house is the owner of the rental house. Jamie wanted to get away from her troubles. Her boyfriend left Jamie for her older step-sister, but her Mom, niece, and Lauren (step-sister who slept with Jamie's boyfriend) all follow her to Florida. Cute story, warm hotness, not too exciting story (no murder or mistery). OK and cute read. Wanted to read this book, because it was one of the finalists of Rita award for 2012(?).
May 13, 2011
I was really excited about reading this book. It sounded so good. I've been into contemporary romance lately and I added this story to the list. The problem for me was this book took forever to get anywhere. It was boring. It wasn't that I didn't like either Jamie or Nick. I think that if the book moved better and faster it would have been a good story. Instead by the end, I didn't care anymore. If you more into books that are slower paced I think you'd like this. But for us that want to be sitting at the edge of your seats its not up to speed.
July 21, 2011
I love this book. The chemistry between Jamie and Nick is hot and the way they are fighting it is so funny. I can't stop laughing the conversations between the two of them are hilarious. I can't say it enough, I love this book, the main characters are a perfect counter balance to each other. The background characters are just as funny and their stories are just as interesting. I would highly recommend this book for a fun time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews