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The Boathouse by Stepping Stone Bay
'Comforting and uplifting, this book is a joy to read' - MY WEEKLY, on The Farmhouse of Second Chances
Sun, sand and secrets at the bay !
As a kid, Nina O'Brien spent all her summers at her grandparents' cabin by the beach at Stepping Stone Bay. Long, sunny days full of fun and laughter with her best friends, Leo, Adrian, and Maeve, her friendship with Leo slowly blossoming into love. Until one fateful night changed everything for them all...
Twelve years later, Nina must return to the bay to renovate the old cabin and pass it on to a new owner. But not only does Leo still live in the cabin next door, he works at his family's boathouse right there in the bay. As they begin to work through their differences and what happened all those years ago, can Nina really walk away from him twice?
Maeve has finally returned home to face the past. Her eleven-year-old son, Jonah, loves the sea, unlike Maeve who is terrified of it. But she knows she can't keep Jonah away from the sea or the truth forever..
A heartwarming and uplifting story about second chances and facing the secrets of the past. Perfect for fans of Philippa Ashley, Holly Martin and Ali McNamara.
Readers adore Helen's heartwarming storytelling
'Enchanting... Employing all the warmth and charm of Maeve Binchy, and a special brand of kindness that she has made her own, Rolfe weaves together elements of mystery, romance, family relationships and the warmth of community in a story guaranteed to bring laughter, tears and miles of smiles' Lancashire Post
'A warm, comforting tale of family and community which brims with kindness and love' Annie Lyons
'A heartwarming story about family, forgiveness and the importance of kindness... If you're looking for a feelgood novel in these difficult times, this is definitely it!' Fiona Harper
'A lovely community, full of friendship and love'
'I enjoyed every minute of this book and found it very hard to put down'
'Lovely, feel-good...filled with lots of love'
'Gave you all the suspense, happiness and excitement'
'Helen Rolfe's writing brought a smile to my face'
'Loved loved loved this fabulous book'
Sun, sand and secrets at the bay !
As a kid, Nina O'Brien spent all her summers at her grandparents' cabin by the beach at Stepping Stone Bay. Long, sunny days full of fun and laughter with her best friends, Leo, Adrian, and Maeve, her friendship with Leo slowly blossoming into love. Until one fateful night changed everything for them all...
Twelve years later, Nina must return to the bay to renovate the old cabin and pass it on to a new owner. But not only does Leo still live in the cabin next door, he works at his family's boathouse right there in the bay. As they begin to work through their differences and what happened all those years ago, can Nina really walk away from him twice?
Maeve has finally returned home to face the past. Her eleven-year-old son, Jonah, loves the sea, unlike Maeve who is terrified of it. But she knows she can't keep Jonah away from the sea or the truth forever..
A heartwarming and uplifting story about second chances and facing the secrets of the past. Perfect for fans of Philippa Ashley, Holly Martin and Ali McNamara.
Readers adore Helen's heartwarming storytelling
'Enchanting... Employing all the warmth and charm of Maeve Binchy, and a special brand of kindness that she has made her own, Rolfe weaves together elements of mystery, romance, family relationships and the warmth of community in a story guaranteed to bring laughter, tears and miles of smiles' Lancashire Post
'A warm, comforting tale of family and community which brims with kindness and love' Annie Lyons
'A heartwarming story about family, forgiveness and the importance of kindness... If you're looking for a feelgood novel in these difficult times, this is definitely it!' Fiona Harper
'A lovely community, full of friendship and love'
'I enjoyed every minute of this book and found it very hard to put down'
'Lovely, feel-good...filled with lots of love'
'Gave you all the suspense, happiness and excitement'
'Helen Rolfe's writing brought a smile to my face'
'Loved loved loved this fabulous book'
- GenresContemporary
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2023
21 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Helen Rolfe
69 books128 followersHelen Rolfe also writes as Helen J. Rolfe
Helen Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and relationships. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.
Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds. She also loves creating village settings or places with a small-town feel and a big sense of community.
Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia where she eventually turned her attentions back to the career she'd dreamt of when she was fourteen. She studied writing and journalism and wrote articles for women's health and fitness magazines. Helen began writing fiction in 2011 and hasn't missed the I.T. world one little bit... in fact she may just have found her dream job!
To learn more about Helen, find her at:
www.helenjrolfe.com
https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfew...
https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/
Helen Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and relationships. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.
Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds. She also loves creating village settings or places with a small-town feel and a big sense of community.
Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia where she eventually turned her attentions back to the career she'd dreamt of when she was fourteen. She studied writing and journalism and wrote articles for women's health and fitness magazines. Helen began writing fiction in 2011 and hasn't missed the I.T. world one little bit... in fact she may just have found her dream job!
To learn more about Helen, find her at:
www.helenjrolfe.com
https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfew...
https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 16, 2023
This was an absolute delight to read.
12 years ago, an accident devastated a close group of friends resulting in most of them leaving Stepping Stone Bay and their memories behind.
Now they are back and gradually facing their demons. Nina has come back to fix up her granddad’s cabin as he needs to sell it, knowing the love of her life she left behind, Leo, still lives in the cabin next door.
Maeve moved away with her family to Canada but they are also now back. Maeve now has an 11 year old son, Jonah, who loves being near the sea and helping Leo in his surf shop which he runs from the boatyard. Unfortunately Maeve is terrified of the sea and won’t let Jonah near it.
There are romances to rekindle, and even a new one to perhaps begin. But will it all end in happily ever after for everyone? Will Walt go through with the sale of the cabin and the happy memories it holds?
I was glued to the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed this emotive read set by the sea where I could almost smell the salt in the air.
12 years ago, an accident devastated a close group of friends resulting in most of them leaving Stepping Stone Bay and their memories behind.
Now they are back and gradually facing their demons. Nina has come back to fix up her granddad’s cabin as he needs to sell it, knowing the love of her life she left behind, Leo, still lives in the cabin next door.
Maeve moved away with her family to Canada but they are also now back. Maeve now has an 11 year old son, Jonah, who loves being near the sea and helping Leo in his surf shop which he runs from the boatyard. Unfortunately Maeve is terrified of the sea and won’t let Jonah near it.
There are romances to rekindle, and even a new one to perhaps begin. But will it all end in happily ever after for everyone? Will Walt go through with the sale of the cabin and the happy memories it holds?
I was glued to the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed this emotive read set by the sea where I could almost smell the salt in the air.
July 17, 2023
Nice little Summer read with likeable characters. Childhood friends are torn apart by a tragic accident and slowly begin to return to their home town. Will old loves be rekindled after 12 years apart? Easy read and uplifting themes. 😊
August 16, 2025
Easy to read, comfortable book. Well written with likable characters, Leo being the most real. 3.5stars from me, the ending was recognisable from the start, and it was easy to put down, so not a page turner.
March 22, 2023
I received a free copy of, The Boathouse by Stepping Stone Bay, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When Nina was younger she fell in love with Leo, but things did not end well between them. Back in town Nina is getting her cottage ready to sell unfortunately it is next door to Leo's. Can they get past all the hurt from before and move on? This is a good book, I liked the characters and the setting.
March 20, 2023
It’s mentioned in the introductory pages that Helen Rolfe writes stories about family, friendship, secrets, community and characters that often face challenges and must fight to overcome them but there is always a happy ending. Those words sum up in a nutshell what her new book, The Boathouse at Stepping Stone Bay, is all about. It has the most gorgeous, inviting cover and I loved the title so that’s what made me want to give it a go. Given the nature of the cover, I expected this to be a lovely, light and easy read and to be honest I thought it would be the usual girls meets boy and there is a bit of back and forth before they give into their feelings. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth I found in the story as it deals with the continued fall out from a tragic incident in Stepping Stone Bay over 12 years ago. The majority of the group of friends who experienced said event have mostly scattered and moved away from the area. All except for Leo Magowan but now the group are slowly starting to trickle back for various reasons and perhaps the time is ideal for past ghosts, emotions and words to be put to rest? Is everyone willing to go along with this or has too much water flowed under the bridge?
Nina O’Brien has stayed away from Stepping Stone Bay and the nearby coastal town of Salthaven for more than a decade but now that her grandfather Walt is selling the family cabin that holds so many memories for Nina and her brother William, she has taken time away from her nursing job and is going to bring the cabin up to date so it can be sold. It’s a bittersweet time for her. It’s where she felt safe and secure and loved by her grandparents. Especially, when her parents were always away travelling for work and she felt abandoned and unloved. She carries these feelings with her right through to the present day believing that she is not good enough and the feelings of self worth and doubt have come back with her to the bay. Nina is anxious about coming back to the bay for there is someone she left behind. Someone who meant the world to her but she just upped and left leaving said person crushed and devastated and most of all angry and clueless as to the reasons for her sudden departure.
That person is Leo who resides in the cabin next to the O’Brien’s and close by is where he runs his boating business. The business and all that comes with it mean everything to Leo and he loves his life’s work but when he notices some activity around the O’Brien’s cabin he is cautious and the memories of the event that lead to Nina leaving and the mystery as to why she gave him no explanation haunt him. Nina had captivated him as a teenager and their friendship developed into something else. Something solid and real and what felt like it could be long lasting so to be left alone like that eats away at him. When he spots that Nina has returned let’s just say things don’t go that well and really you couldn’t blame him. There is an awful lot of emotions and hurt to process and the pair seem to tip toe around each other. Nina just wants to get the cabin renovated and get back to her job even though it’s so painful that Walt feels he needs to sell it. But at the same time she does understand that now he is on his own in his house having lost his wife Elsie not so long ago that he wants the money the sale of the cabin will bring to make sure he is comfortable in his home in whatever years he may have left.
Leo lives and breathes Stepping Stone Bay and he can’t imagine ever giving it up so that’s also another factor in the confusion and upset he feels surrounding Nina fleeing. But now that she is back it’s the prime opportunity for everything to come out into the open. I desperately hoped that Nina would pluck up the courage to try and at least make amends with Leo and provide him with a solid and reasonable explanation for her past actions. I totally understand the incident which I won’t go into detail about affected those present in so many ways but there had to have been something else that made her stay away for so long. I questioned whether if Walt hadn’t put the cabin up for sale would both Leo and Nina just gone about their lives as they had been without ever facing what still clung close to their hearts? It was evident they would make a great couple and I hoped they had the where with all to navigate the issues and stormy waters that had kept them apart for so long.
It’s not just Nina who has returned to the area, Maeve and her son Jonah have come back from Canada. She had emigrated with her parents many years ago and now that they have returned she feels the time is right to do so too. Maeve is similar to Nina, in that she is apprehensive about coming back. The incident still has not left her mind and she is super cautious when it comes to letting Jonah anywhere near the sea which really doesn’t help as he has struck up a friendship with Leo and helps him out at the boatshed after school. All this is unbeknownst to Maeve as she is busy working at the café at the end of the pier. Maeve is a single mum and has always tried her best when it comes to raising Jonah but I got the feeling her fears and insecurities were holding her son back. She was passing her own worries onto him instead of letting him live a little and experience life as a young boy in the town. You could see he loved spending time with Leo but in my mind Maeve over acted an awful lot. Well, that’s how it came across for a lot of the story until her reasons became clear and I understood her much more.
Leo’s brother, Adrian, has been married and divorced and similar to Maeve and Nina he has come back to the bay. But he is living in isolation and refuses to get back into life in the town where he grew up. Leo is really worried about him and both brothers have buried an awful lot of feelings which they need to work through. I felt that Adrian didn’t feature enough. That he seemed to be on the periphery of things either just mentioned by Leo which is how we got to know him or featuring more so towards the end. His aspect of the overall plot I thought was rushed. I did guess fairly early on as to a connection that becomes apparent and when it does I wanted more explanation and perhaps more of a fight from him instead of accepting things without question. Therefore, it made the ending quite rushed and I would have loved another chapter or two. Especially as I thought the rest of the story had been so carefully plotted and developed. But aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment reading about a great set of characters trying to right the wrongs of the past and find some resolution and happiness in the present.
Characters from a previous book by the author, The Little Café at the End of the Pier, do make an appearance here and I was kicking myself as I have it for far too long on my tbr pile.It’s my own fault for leaving it so long to read that through reading this a lot of the plot of that book was given away here. So in fact, I think I’ll wait even longer to read it so the characters and events of that book aren’t so fresh in my mind. But for long time fans of Helen Rolfe the apperance of said characters will be a welcome pleasure. For me, I enjoyed reading of Nina, Leo and co and their story was covered in a respectful and sensitive way providing me with the depth I hadn’t expected but which I found to be handled well. This story gave its readers something a little bit different from the lighter end of the women’s fiction genre and I appreciated it all the more for it. It’s a heart warming, engaging and interesting story and I would definitely recommend it.
Nina O’Brien has stayed away from Stepping Stone Bay and the nearby coastal town of Salthaven for more than a decade but now that her grandfather Walt is selling the family cabin that holds so many memories for Nina and her brother William, she has taken time away from her nursing job and is going to bring the cabin up to date so it can be sold. It’s a bittersweet time for her. It’s where she felt safe and secure and loved by her grandparents. Especially, when her parents were always away travelling for work and she felt abandoned and unloved. She carries these feelings with her right through to the present day believing that she is not good enough and the feelings of self worth and doubt have come back with her to the bay. Nina is anxious about coming back to the bay for there is someone she left behind. Someone who meant the world to her but she just upped and left leaving said person crushed and devastated and most of all angry and clueless as to the reasons for her sudden departure.
That person is Leo who resides in the cabin next to the O’Brien’s and close by is where he runs his boating business. The business and all that comes with it mean everything to Leo and he loves his life’s work but when he notices some activity around the O’Brien’s cabin he is cautious and the memories of the event that lead to Nina leaving and the mystery as to why she gave him no explanation haunt him. Nina had captivated him as a teenager and their friendship developed into something else. Something solid and real and what felt like it could be long lasting so to be left alone like that eats away at him. When he spots that Nina has returned let’s just say things don’t go that well and really you couldn’t blame him. There is an awful lot of emotions and hurt to process and the pair seem to tip toe around each other. Nina just wants to get the cabin renovated and get back to her job even though it’s so painful that Walt feels he needs to sell it. But at the same time she does understand that now he is on his own in his house having lost his wife Elsie not so long ago that he wants the money the sale of the cabin will bring to make sure he is comfortable in his home in whatever years he may have left.
Leo lives and breathes Stepping Stone Bay and he can’t imagine ever giving it up so that’s also another factor in the confusion and upset he feels surrounding Nina fleeing. But now that she is back it’s the prime opportunity for everything to come out into the open. I desperately hoped that Nina would pluck up the courage to try and at least make amends with Leo and provide him with a solid and reasonable explanation for her past actions. I totally understand the incident which I won’t go into detail about affected those present in so many ways but there had to have been something else that made her stay away for so long. I questioned whether if Walt hadn’t put the cabin up for sale would both Leo and Nina just gone about their lives as they had been without ever facing what still clung close to their hearts? It was evident they would make a great couple and I hoped they had the where with all to navigate the issues and stormy waters that had kept them apart for so long.
It’s not just Nina who has returned to the area, Maeve and her son Jonah have come back from Canada. She had emigrated with her parents many years ago and now that they have returned she feels the time is right to do so too. Maeve is similar to Nina, in that she is apprehensive about coming back. The incident still has not left her mind and she is super cautious when it comes to letting Jonah anywhere near the sea which really doesn’t help as he has struck up a friendship with Leo and helps him out at the boatshed after school. All this is unbeknownst to Maeve as she is busy working at the café at the end of the pier. Maeve is a single mum and has always tried her best when it comes to raising Jonah but I got the feeling her fears and insecurities were holding her son back. She was passing her own worries onto him instead of letting him live a little and experience life as a young boy in the town. You could see he loved spending time with Leo but in my mind Maeve over acted an awful lot. Well, that’s how it came across for a lot of the story until her reasons became clear and I understood her much more.
Leo’s brother, Adrian, has been married and divorced and similar to Maeve and Nina he has come back to the bay. But he is living in isolation and refuses to get back into life in the town where he grew up. Leo is really worried about him and both brothers have buried an awful lot of feelings which they need to work through. I felt that Adrian didn’t feature enough. That he seemed to be on the periphery of things either just mentioned by Leo which is how we got to know him or featuring more so towards the end. His aspect of the overall plot I thought was rushed. I did guess fairly early on as to a connection that becomes apparent and when it does I wanted more explanation and perhaps more of a fight from him instead of accepting things without question. Therefore, it made the ending quite rushed and I would have loved another chapter or two. Especially as I thought the rest of the story had been so carefully plotted and developed. But aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment reading about a great set of characters trying to right the wrongs of the past and find some resolution and happiness in the present.
Characters from a previous book by the author, The Little Café at the End of the Pier, do make an appearance here and I was kicking myself as I have it for far too long on my tbr pile.It’s my own fault for leaving it so long to read that through reading this a lot of the plot of that book was given away here. So in fact, I think I’ll wait even longer to read it so the characters and events of that book aren’t so fresh in my mind. But for long time fans of Helen Rolfe the apperance of said characters will be a welcome pleasure. For me, I enjoyed reading of Nina, Leo and co and their story was covered in a respectful and sensitive way providing me with the depth I hadn’t expected but which I found to be handled well. This story gave its readers something a little bit different from the lighter end of the women’s fiction genre and I appreciated it all the more for it. It’s a heart warming, engaging and interesting story and I would definitely recommend it.
June 25, 2023
The Boathouse by Stepping Stone Bay by Helen Rolfe
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Orion and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
As a kid, Nina O'Brien spent all her summers at her grandparents' cabin by the beach at Stepping Stone Bay. Long, sunny days full of fun and laughter with her best friends, Leo, Adrian, and Maeve, her friendship with Leo slowly blossoming into love. Until one fateful night changed everything for them all...
Twelve years later, Nina must return to the bay to renovate the old cabin and pass it on to a new owner. But not only does Leo still live in the cabin next door, he works at his family's boathouse right there in the bay. As they begin to work through their differences and what happened all those years ago, can Nina really walk away from him twice?
Maeve has finally returned home to face the past. Her eleven-year-old son, Jonah, loves the sea, unlike Maeve who is terrified of it. But she knows she can't keep Jonah away from the sea or the truth forever..
My Opinion
This was a delight to read. This is definitely a feel good story that will have you hooked from the beginning. Helen Rolfe is quite a new author to me but I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. The book does get off to a slow start, but stick with it, you will not be disappointed.
A lovely heart-warming read.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Orion and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
As a kid, Nina O'Brien spent all her summers at her grandparents' cabin by the beach at Stepping Stone Bay. Long, sunny days full of fun and laughter with her best friends, Leo, Adrian, and Maeve, her friendship with Leo slowly blossoming into love. Until one fateful night changed everything for them all...
Twelve years later, Nina must return to the bay to renovate the old cabin and pass it on to a new owner. But not only does Leo still live in the cabin next door, he works at his family's boathouse right there in the bay. As they begin to work through their differences and what happened all those years ago, can Nina really walk away from him twice?
Maeve has finally returned home to face the past. Her eleven-year-old son, Jonah, loves the sea, unlike Maeve who is terrified of it. But she knows she can't keep Jonah away from the sea or the truth forever..
My Opinion
This was a delight to read. This is definitely a feel good story that will have you hooked from the beginning. Helen Rolfe is quite a new author to me but I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. The book does get off to a slow start, but stick with it, you will not be disappointed.
A lovely heart-warming read.
Rating 4/5
March 6, 2023
The last few chapters of this book really got me. The whole book recounts a fateful night 12 years ago that changed this group of friends lives forever. They all reacted differently, but ultimately all living lives apart from each other, until they all decide it’s time to come home. We get each of their point of view and an update on their life. Then we get to see old sparks reignite and we’re constantly thinking ‘will they it won’t they?’
I have to say the twist at the end about Jonah wasn’t really a surprise as I guessed quite early on, but I still had no idea how the dad was going to react, nor how they really felt about each other until the story progressed further.
Nina and Leo were great together and I liked how they slowly felt their way with reconnecting as friends and clearing the air about past hurts before realising they had more to give other.
All in all it was a nice quick read for a lazy weekend.
I have to say the twist at the end about Jonah wasn’t really a surprise as I guessed quite early on, but I still had no idea how the dad was going to react, nor how they really felt about each other until the story progressed further.
Nina and Leo were great together and I liked how they slowly felt their way with reconnecting as friends and clearing the air about past hurts before realising they had more to give other.
All in all it was a nice quick read for a lazy weekend.
March 16, 2023
If you need a great feel good story then this is the one for you to get stuck into. It brought warmth and comfort to me reading it. After something terrible happens when spending a summer with her grandparents Nina is not looking forward to going back many years later, she has to confront the love of her life that she left behind so many years ago and how will that reunion be? also she is there to sort out her grandfather's boathouse but she can't think of anything worse than selling it. Can she change his mind before it is too late? We meet a few other characters in this book with real life situations. It was lovely to see how friends can still be friends after so many years apart. A great community to feel your heart with goodness. I got swept away into this book and I hope you do too.
March 26, 2023
Eagerly awaited this new book by Helen Rolfe, and wasn’t disappointed.
Written in her charming style, full of characters that are believable and real to life. This book tells a story of friendship and love that actually withstood the test of time after a life changing incident which sent them all on a different path. Meeting up twelve years later and discovering they all had missed the Bay and each other. Soon their old feelings led to rekindled relationships, a long held secret was finally told after a drama unfolded.
This is a lovely, warm read and the ending is just perfect.
Maybe leading onto another book?
I hope so.
Written in her charming style, full of characters that are believable and real to life. This book tells a story of friendship and love that actually withstood the test of time after a life changing incident which sent them all on a different path. Meeting up twelve years later and discovering they all had missed the Bay and each other. Soon their old feelings led to rekindled relationships, a long held secret was finally told after a drama unfolded.
This is a lovely, warm read and the ending is just perfect.
Maybe leading onto another book?
I hope so.
March 15, 2023
My heart is full having devoured Nina and Maeve’s stories in just one sitting. Full of emotion and history - this is a beautiful story of reconnecting with memories and being brave.
Helen Rolfe has such a way with words and stories and I loved being with the friends at Stepping Stone Bay. I could just imagine watching the waves and hearing the water on the stones as Leo and Nina sat on the veranda of the cabin. Being reintroduced to familiar characters at the cafe was lovely and new additions were wonderful- Jonah was a particular favourite.
Helen Rolfe has such a way with words and stories and I loved being with the friends at Stepping Stone Bay. I could just imagine watching the waves and hearing the water on the stones as Leo and Nina sat on the veranda of the cabin. Being reintroduced to familiar characters at the cafe was lovely and new additions were wonderful- Jonah was a particular favourite.
March 4, 2023
I’ve yet to read one of Helen’s books that I don’t love! They are such heart warming stories full to the brim of wonderful, well developed characters who all have such interesting, yet believable, back stories making them real people who you want to get to know. I loved the setting of this one, I could hear the ocean and feel the breeze! I smiled so much reading this, as well as shed a few tears…and there was a wonderful twist at the end! Wonderful read!
March 10, 2023
I have to be honest I skipped most of this book, got to 25% through and the amount of time "stepping stone bay" and "13 stepping stones" was used was irritating jumped to 85% and then read most to the end, there were no surprises and had guessed most of it, its an easy read but nothing new or exciting, sorry.
March 12, 2023
I found this a slow starter but once I got into it, this book is a really good read. Slightly predictable maybe but none the less very enjoyable. I liked the setting and the characters an easy weekend read.
September 15, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! I picked it up as an afterthought at the library and wasn't sure if it would be "for me", but I have barely put it down all day from start to finish. I could see a lot of the things coming, but I absolutely adored it!!
April 8, 2023
Audiobook version: easy listen with a well flowing story line and good narration by Candida Gubbins. Not my favourite of Helen Rolfe’s books but still a nice story.
Read
January 30, 2024Dnf
May 26, 2024
(3.5) slow start but it was so cute loved the ending
September 5, 2024
Amazing easy holiday read. So wholesome, predictable but with a couple of turns. Such a feel good happy read, I couldn't put it down. My first Rolfe and definitely not my last.
January 31, 2025
A lovely story couple obvious parts but a good read. I like the way the author writes her books
August 11, 2025
A sweet English seaside story
January 5, 2024
The Boathouse by Stepping Stone Bay is a warm, comforting read full of secrets and sheer determination.
The story starts as Nina makes her way to her family’s cabin, after years away. We’re thrown in alongside Nina as she rediscovers Stepping Stone Bay and all the surroundings from her childhood.
The chapters are mainly told from three perspectives; Nina, Leo and Maeve. Friends from a decade previously, we are given an insight into each of their thoughts and feelings as they move back into the bay (or in Leo’s case see the other two move back in). Two of three fled following an incident that had an impact on all their lives, so to have them all brought together again felt powerful. There are also some later chapters told through Leo’s brother, Adrian,’s perspective who has also returned to the bay. I enjoyed following each of them, learning of how they slot back in to each other lives despite having been away for such a long period.
All of the characters in the novel, together, create a really nice community and the way the new and old characters combine and embrace their surroundings once again is heartwarming. My favourites are Walt and Camille, Nina and Leo’s grandparents. They are such lovely and caring people, you can feel their warmth through the pages.
Following Nina as she arrives and, subsequently renovates the cabin, allows you to really feel as though you are experiencing things alongside her. I loved watching her character change and grow, move on from things in her past and embrace new and different ones.
Helen Rolfe provides a lot of backstory and the learning of the past and present is fascinating. How this develops with each character is intriguing and I really like the way everything is entwined. Alongside this, the whole premise and idea of the unknown and of a ‘fateful night’ kept me guessing.
The story starts as Nina makes her way to her family’s cabin, after years away. We’re thrown in alongside Nina as she rediscovers Stepping Stone Bay and all the surroundings from her childhood.
The chapters are mainly told from three perspectives; Nina, Leo and Maeve. Friends from a decade previously, we are given an insight into each of their thoughts and feelings as they move back into the bay (or in Leo’s case see the other two move back in). Two of three fled following an incident that had an impact on all their lives, so to have them all brought together again felt powerful. There are also some later chapters told through Leo’s brother, Adrian,’s perspective who has also returned to the bay. I enjoyed following each of them, learning of how they slot back in to each other lives despite having been away for such a long period.
All of the characters in the novel, together, create a really nice community and the way the new and old characters combine and embrace their surroundings once again is heartwarming. My favourites are Walt and Camille, Nina and Leo’s grandparents. They are such lovely and caring people, you can feel their warmth through the pages.
Following Nina as she arrives and, subsequently renovates the cabin, allows you to really feel as though you are experiencing things alongside her. I loved watching her character change and grow, move on from things in her past and embrace new and different ones.
Helen Rolfe provides a lot of backstory and the learning of the past and present is fascinating. How this develops with each character is intriguing and I really like the way everything is entwined. Alongside this, the whole premise and idea of the unknown and of a ‘fateful night’ kept me guessing.
June 6, 2023
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
A close group of friends encountered a devastating accident 12 years ago in Stepping Stone bay that led to the majority of them leaving. As they start to return to the bay they start to face their individual demons. Nina’s grandad has decided to sell his cabin and she has the job of fixing the cabin up ready to sell, knowing her childhood sweetheart and love of her life lives in the cabin next door. Maeve emigrated to Canada with her family who have now returned along with Maeve’s son Jonah. Jonah loves being near the see and helps out Leo in the surf shop, Maeve is terrified of the sea and won’t let Jonah anywhere even close to it. Can Nina bare to sell the cabin once she has spent the time doing it up and can she rekindle her relationship with Leo?
Can Maeve learn to love the sea and allow Jonah to enjoy it?
Great read.
A close group of friends encountered a devastating accident 12 years ago in Stepping Stone bay that led to the majority of them leaving. As they start to return to the bay they start to face their individual demons. Nina’s grandad has decided to sell his cabin and she has the job of fixing the cabin up ready to sell, knowing her childhood sweetheart and love of her life lives in the cabin next door. Maeve emigrated to Canada with her family who have now returned along with Maeve’s son Jonah. Jonah loves being near the see and helps out Leo in the surf shop, Maeve is terrified of the sea and won’t let Jonah anywhere even close to it. Can Nina bare to sell the cabin once she has spent the time doing it up and can she rekindle her relationship with Leo?
Can Maeve learn to love the sea and allow Jonah to enjoy it?
Great read.
September 12, 2023
I enjoyed this, but the storyline was a little predictable. Characters were likeable and it was nicely brought together at the end.
June 6, 2023
Loved the story and characters
August 10, 2023
3.5 stars
A feel good book. A bit of drama, a little romance and a happy ending.
A feel good book. A bit of drama, a little romance and a happy ending.
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