Breakwater Bay

Breakwater Bay #1

by Shelley Noble

An abandoned baby, a glorious old Newport mansion, and awakening romance combine in Breakwater Bay, an engaging story that echoes the flair, humor, and emotional depth of Kristin Hannah's popular novels

Preservationist Meri Hollis loves her latest project, restoring one of Newport's forgotten Gilded Age mansions. And with summer approaching, she'll be able to spend more time with her Gran on the Rhode Island shore. She has a great job, a loving family and she's pretty sure her boyfriend is going to propose on her thirtieth birthday.

But everything Meri believes about family, happiness, truth and love is shattered when her family's darkest secret is exposed.

Thirty years before, Meri's neighbor and friend, Alden Corrigan, took his father's dinghy out to fish. In a sudden storm, he rushed to help a woman stranded on the breakwater. She was just a girl . . . a very pregnant girl who disappeared soon after they reached safety-But not before she left behind a very special gift.

Now that the truth it out, life will change for everyone in Breakwater Bay, and Meri and Alden will have to make decisions that could insure their future together . . . or separate them for good.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Audiobook, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Relationships

370 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Shelley Noble is a multi published fiction author whose books have been translated into seven languages. She writes women’s fiction as Shelley Noble and is also the author of several amateur sleuth mystery series, written as Shelley Freydont.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. She also consults on various dance and theatre projects, most recently the world premiere of a full length Tom Sawyer ballet commissioned by Kansas City Ballet.

Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.

She lives near the New Jersey shore. In her spare time she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and boardwalks with vintage carousels.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ihrem 30. Geburtstag erhält Merielle von ihrer Großmutter einen Brief, den Merielles vor vier Jahren verstorbene Mutter Laura hinterlassen hat. In dem Brief erklärt Laura, dass Merielle nicht Lauras leibliche Tochter ist. Für Merielle ist dieses Geständnis ein Schock. Von ihrer Großmutter erhält Merielle dann noch ein altes Tagebuch von Laura, in dem diese die Umstände von Merielles Geburt aufgeschrieben hat. Auch Alden, ein langjähriger Nachbar und guter Freund, spielt eine entscheidende Rolle dabei. Zu diesen aufwühlenden persönlichen Angelegenheiten kommen noch berufliche Probleme hinzu…
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Mir hat es viel Spaß gemacht, dieses schöne Buch zu lesen. Es ist eine warmherzig erzählte Familiengeschichte mit einer Prise Romantik. Die Liebesgeschichte bleibt immer etwas im Hintergrund, ist aber dennoch immer spürbar und schön zu lesen.
Die Autorin hat dabei einen angenehmen, leichten Schreibstil, so dass sich das Buch flüssig lesen lässt. Obwohl es eine eher ruhige Geschichte ist und das Buch gute 480 Seiten umfasst, tritt beim Lesen keine Langeweile auf.
Ich konnte mich auch gut in die Protagonisten hineinfühlen, die sehr authentisch und lebendig geschildert werden.
Wer also gerne Familiengeschichten liest, der sollte sich diesen Roman einmal näher anschauen.Von mir gibt es auf jeden Fall eine Leseempfehlung!

[Ahona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I begin, I just want to note that I received this book as a Good Reads First Reads book.

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't. The premise and summary from the back of the book seemed interesting enough, and I was really looking forward to it. However, the book just fell short of my expectations. I think that the theme had potential, but the author just did not develop it enough, and the whole time I was reading the book, I just felt like nothing really happened.

The main 'conflict' of the story was introduced within the first 20 pages or so of the book. Now, ordinarily, this wouldn't pose as too much of a problem, but in this case it was because nothing actually ever happened (I say 'conflict' because it didn't seem to me that there was really anything to solve). Anyway, I don't see the point in introducing the main 'conflict' until you've sufficiently connected the readers to your main characters. I felt like before we even knew anything about Meri or Alden, the reader was put into this position where we were supposed to feel shocked for them and then root for them to figure things out and live happily ever after.

Overall, the book seemed really repetitive and mundane to me. I felt like we were just reading about Meri's daily routine (and sometimes Alden's) with a little bit of 'conflict' thrown in. There was nothing that made me excited to keep reading more or to keep me genuinely interested in what was happening to the characters. And to top it all off, the ending was entirely too rushed with nothing really actually getting resolved because there was no true conflict to begin with. In all honesty, I think I wondered more about what was happening to minor characters than the main ones. I guess the only redeeming quality of this book was that the writing was not terrible.

I never truly understood the phrase in regards to writing "show, don't tell" until I read this book. I suppose it was an ok book to read for free, but I would not recommend anyone to go out and buy it. I feel bad writing such a not-so-nice review, but I don't think I'll be picking up another Shelley Noble book any time soon. Unless I get it for free.

[Selena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book, but overall, I found it to be very boring. There was no mystery, Meri finds out almost everything about her past in the first 30 pages or so. The rest of the novel sort of dragged and seemed rather pointless. I didn't care about her work as a restorer, or what happened with that project. There was no romance, and I found it annoying that the author kept hinting at one between Meri and Alden, but nothing happened. Also, she kept referring to him as being old. When one person is 30 and the other is 42, I don't find it to be that big of an age difference. I wasn't invested in any of the characters. One other issue I had was with the way the novel was written. It seemed there were a lot of sentence fragments. There were so many sentences that could've been combined. I found it irritating. There was nothing that made me want to finish this book, and I skimmed the last 70 pages or so.

[Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you so much. =)

I have a love/hate relationship with this book.

My full thoughts to come soon. Maybe tomorrow.

I feel a book hangover coming on....

[Once · Rating 3 out of 5]

OUT's Review

Revelations always catches my attention and this book opens with a life changer. Meri Hollis has an amazing family, a job she loves and a boyfriend. She thought she had her life planned out. On the day of her thirtieth birthday, she was pretty sure her boyfriend was going to propose. Instead, her family reveals a secret and turns her life around. On top of this, her boyfriend doesn't propose but tells her he is going away. What an awful way to start such middle age.

With such revelation at the beginning of the story, I was expecting more surprises, plot twists and well, drama. Unfortunately, the story felt short to my expectations. As the story proceeds, Meri begins to doubt her feelings toward her boyfriend. Yet she struggles because the one person she had always trusted, Alden, had known the truth and had kept it away from her. But as always, Alden is always and as promised, is there to protect her. I wish we could’ve read more about their new relationship as they discover their true feeling for each other.

Breakwater Bay is well written and well rounded in age group. Although the story did not exceed my expectation after the big reveal, Breakwater Bay is a book of discovery and new way to look at life.

[Nancy Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes we are shaped by our surroundings, sometimes by circumstance and sometimes by fate. Breakwater Bay tells the story of several people whose lives were altered by the decisions of others and elements out of their control. This is a story of a grandmother who has been carrying secrets for years, a middle-aged man coming to terms with a bad marriage that produced two good kids, living alone and feeling the void, and painstakingly seeing a promise made as a young teenager coming to an end. It tells the story of a girl whose life has been altered by her mother's death, a need to keep those she loves close to her side and living out her dream in the conservation and preservation of century-old homes that, even while empty and bare, still have a voice and a story to tell. Little does she know that while she slowly and meticulously peels the old layers of paint to reveal the true beauty of the home, that layers of her own life will soon be chipped away to reveal a life she never knew. There is always a question of whether it is better to let sleeping dogs lie, but the truth is that once the lid of Pandora's box has been removed, there is no going back.

[Keyanna Shelnutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank you for giving me the chance to read this amazing book. It is truly one of my favorites. It is so unlike any other book I have read. Meri finds out that her life is based on a secret that changes her entire life. A secret that her family kept for thirty years. I was inspired by Meri's dedication to restoring historic houses. I was also inspired by Alden's dedication to Meri. He made a promise when he was twelve to look after Meri. Most people don't have the dedication to keep such a promise. I love how at the end that they find that they are truly meant for each other and it goes further than the promise Alden made to Meri's mother. I loved how there was a variety of age groups involved in the book. Readers can relate to the age group that they are in. I loved this book so much. I recommend this book to readers that are looking for a good book to read.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book rich in depth and story line, Breakwater Bay is one that will resonate with many readers. It has a touch a history, a touch of mystery and family drama that creates a story worth reading and one to be remembered. 3.5 stars

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meri Calder-Hollis goes back to her Gram's house to celebrate her 30th birthday with her grandmother and her dad. But along with a wonderful meal and a cake, she receives the surprise of her life: she's adopted. With the reality she thought she knew gone, she's reeling and searching for answers about her past, present and future and what she thinks she wants and what her heart tells her she wants. Nice storyline - she works at restoring old homes and you get a glimpse of what historic renovations involve and life in Newport, RI. Good read.

[Teresa Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

On her 30th birthday, Meri's confident, happy life takes a hit. At her birthday dinner at her beloved grandmother's house, she is given the news that she was adopted, perhaps illegally. Than, her about-to-be-fiance boyfriend Peter announces he is heading to the west coast for a summer internship. The story works through Meri's angst from there, sometimes with great success, at other times less so.

The negative first. I found Meri's relationship with Peter unbelievable and handled in a very odd manner. He announces that he is leaving for the summer and never considers discussing it with her in advance, but this seems to have little effect on Meri. He takes a job at an uncle's law firm and is so quickly involved with high-profile cases that he has no time nor interest in calling, yet expects Meri to want to join him. What is he doing exactly? He's not even accepted into law school. All of this seems to make very little difference to Meri, who was not confident enough of Peter to even tell him of her new family history. In the end, the addition of Peter to the story seemed superfluous, added little to the storyline other than (obviously) distracting me.

However, the rest of the story and the characters were a hit with me. Meri is in historic preservation, a field that fascinates me and that has at times been a bit of an avocation. Her work, her family, her friends, Gran's neighbor and Meri's protector Alden, and Alden's children were all compelling. The locations were nicely drawn. Other than Peter, the story kept me turning the pages and rooting for the ending that, though increasingly obvious, was welcomed. i will certainly read more from this author when it becomes available.

I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK:

I loved the main character in this book. intriguing plot idea!

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

The things I liked about this book:
-The setting. Rhode Island will always have a special place in my heart.
-The main character's job was relatively unique.

So. I listened to this audiobook and I am so frustrated writing this right now. The book starts with a very dramatic opening scene, and then flatlines for the rest of the book. Then it turns to the exact beginning of Legally Blonde, where the lead believes her boyfriend is going to propose, but then decides to leave her for law. For some strange reason Mary (even though she shows no emotional reaction to this and talks to him maybe twice throughout the whole novel) still thinks she might marry him.

Mary has no personality and is dreadfully bland.
The romance is actually kind of uncomfortable if you think about it, because Alden raised Mary. She was 13 when he first got married. It just feels strange to me. He still plays the role of caretaker for her for most of the book. I was hoping for some sort of romance pay off at the end, but it was SO anticlimactic.
There was no complexity to this book. The 'bad' characters were 100% bad, with no redeeming qualities or depth. The whole book was boring and mundane, the dialogue was flat, and the relationships between characters were dreadfully cliched/uninteresting.

This was a bit of a scathing review but I'm disappointed I spent so much time on this book, even listening to it at 1.6x speed audiobook.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK this book is good but it feels like maybe it's been translated or something. (It hasn't.) Like she just called someone a "known quantity." She definitely meant "known commodity". And a lot of the phone calls and conversations feel written strangely- like the conversation is glossed over too much and then the author forces you to draw conclusions you wouldn't draw naturally from the text, by the way people react/respond to the conversations moving forward. Strange. That said, it is definitely entertaining. The main character reminds me of the main character in Hailey Lind's cozy art mysteries- a capable, not-super-into-dating-but-also-obnoxiously-blind artist with a sweet, useful, varied, gang of friends. WHAT is up with Meri and Alden's relationship!? I get the whole slow-burn-love thing but the author could have then NOT MADE SUCH A POINT of him being around so much when she was a baby, watching her, changing her, "staring at her in her crib for hours". It's like, pick a side! Either of those would be sweet, but BOTH leaves a weird pedo taste in my mouth, but then he's written like such a lovely person that feels weird too! Strange.

[JayeL]

Meri has a good life that is upended on her 30th birthday when a secret about her life is revealed. She goes on a quest to find the people who are part of the secret and discovers that something new isn't always better.

I read this because it was recommended since I enjoyed The Glass Kitchen. I thought it ended abruptly. It could have used an epilogue to tie up some of the loose ends.

[Deb Blackbourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Are My Parents?

Nora is a young lady who has lost her mom. She is still in touch with her dad. She also sees her “Gran” frequently. Her Gran lives on the family farm & is a widow. Alden is a gentleman who lives across the dunes. He checks on Gran quite often. Nora goes to the farm & sees Alden, whom she knew in the past as Nora was friends with Alden. As Gran & Nora a need Alden’s help, it becomes apparent to Gran that Nora & Alden have feelings forever but never shares her thoughts. Do they finally succumb to their feelings or do they decide to stay friends?a

[Laura Aase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. Meri renovates old houses- this was very interesting plot line! She is expecting to become engaged on her birthday but instead finds her boyfriend moving to California for an internship. She also finds out that she was adopted in a very strange story. I loved the friendship between her and Alden but was she really that clueless? Liked the daughter relationship too and the ocean setting.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

atch uo !c other new auther author and listened to all three of her books and want more! great stories and naand haws rrevieration byKristen Potter ! ive been behind on my reviews and have to catch up but when you have a little surgical procedue theres nothing like audible.com thank you so much ! i love love this author

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out exactly the way I expected it to after reading the description on the back. There was a plot twist or 2 and the journey was enjoyable enough with a good overall feel of the setting. The end was disappointingly abrupt, but sufficient I suppose.

[Nancy N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, a tad predictable. If it was a movie, you’d find it on the Hallmark Channel. Just hate how it ended. Leaves it with the ending you’d expect, but then, it just ends. Needs a part 2 to be worthwhile. Call it a beach/pool/road trip read.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book today in just a few hours. Really enjoyed it. A secret long kept hidden revealed on her 30th birthday. Will it change everything ? Great lead female characters ! Loved Nora in this book ! And her dad ! Great book !

[Luthien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Disappointing.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beach read, if only I were at the beach!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a little bit obvious early on in the book (except for the dad who was a lawyer.)

[Creativeuser15 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute story with realistic characters, unique plot, and a pleasurable read. I'm taking off 1 star because the end was a bit hasty and rushed. Other than that, great summer read! :)

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice story about a woman finding out she was adopted and the secrets behind her birth. cute love story.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beach read...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read!! Great start to this series. Looking forward to reading the next. Love, friendship, family, humor.......good reading!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep waiting for something to happen and I waited in vain.

[Keightley8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who places value on the sense of place, I particularly enjoyed the setting of Little Compton, RI. The story was sweet, and the character development was strong.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book, what an incredible story!!