A Chance Love

The Inn at Dune Island #1

by Fiona Grace

Life gets turned upside down for April Faith when her daughter leaves for college, her corporate job jades her, and her husband abruptly walks out. April realizes she has lived life too long for others, and she needs a major change. She remembers Dune Island, her childhood summer home off the coast of Georgia, a place where nothing could go wrong in the world—and she needs to revisit what remains of her family’s historic beach house and see if she can restore it, turn it into an inn, open the door for a new life—and maybe, even, a new love…

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Womens Fiction, Mystery

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

Reviews

[GREGORY · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after starting just the beginning to see if it would work for my wife. I ended up reading it right to the end. The reason, I was waiting for that point when the story grabs you and is so good you do not want to put it down. It never came & it never came because it is the beginning of a series. It seems to not provide any kind of excitement because it is saved for the next book? Having said this I enjoyed the idea of the book. But unlike many other writers of serials, in this book Grace did not provide sufficient progress to satisfy this reader's patience & willingness to read on with no reward. The heroine always gets beaten up after trying so hard & it gets boring to say the least. I have found one that is the first of 3 books but in 30 pages provides sufficient excitement & the promise of rewards long before the book is over. She can then decide if or if not to carry on to number 2. This book just did not provide the enjoyment to make it worthwhile reading & then gambling on getting nothing but the same in book 2.
Added 5/13/24-The book I had my wife read and that I read first is Secrets Hidden In The Glass by Cate Beauman. It is a 3 book serial, but we will not read on per my review of that book.

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems that way too many books are following the same theme. An unhappy woman changes her life meets the man of her dreams and life is good. This book was no different, - it just didn’t have anything to offer.
Life is too short to read bad books!

[Angel Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. It has a sort of not quite cliffhanger ending. There are numerous story threads left dangling everywhere.

I won't be reading anymore from this series.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

April

April can't believe what she is hearing. Carl, the man she married 19 years ago and had a beautiful daughter Georgia with who just left for college, is telling her he wants a divorce and wants to travel and see, wait for it, circuses! Who does that?? So, since her life is so upside down, she quits her job. Her boss has given her another assignment that she hates, and she has had enough! Especially since he had told her it would be at least another 10 years before she could make partner. She is done. So she decides to go to the one place where she always loved to go as a child with her parents before they divorced, Sandcastle. After arriving, she's not so sure it was the smartest choice. She hears the locals talking about her beloved house and not in a good way. Then, when she actually sees the place, well she is even unsure if she can stay. Just as she's ready to call to see if she can get a room at a nearby hotel, her daughter calls. It seems Georgia has decided college isn't for her and is calling it quits after only a few weeks. So April makes a decision to have Georgia come to Sandcastle and be with her. Together, they will be able to handle things. What happens when Georgia gets there? What about April's mom, Caroline? How does she fit into everything? How will April deal with what Carl does? Who is Nigel and how does he fit into all this? Only one way to find out is to read this great story by Fiona Grace.

[Cara Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life gets turned upside down for April Faith when her daughter leaves for college, her corporate job jades her, and her husband abruptly walks out. April realizes she has lived life too long for others, and she needs a major change. She remembers Dune Island, her childhood summer home off the coast of Georgia, a place where nothing could go wrong in the world—and she needs to revisit what remains of her family’s historic beach house and see if she can restore it, turn it into an inn, open the door for a new life—and maybe, even, a new love…

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very exciting and honest!

A woman who can't say no to her mother, her husband nor her boss. Unhappy with the life she has lived to please others she's stunned when her husband wants a divorce. He yearns to travel the world in order to watch circuses in other countries. Fed up at last, she retreats to her families beach house and finds it a wreck. Determined to repair the house, one thing after another turns her life into a near disaster. Being honest with herself and with others turns out to be a blessing.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

visions of ruin

April suffers a series of blows, making her think she is at a loss. Instead of being honest with those closest to her, she runs away to her childhood vacation home to start over. The only thing that is missing for me is knowing how April’s friend Rose made out in the end.

I’ve enjoyed other Fiona Grace’s books. I love her characters and plots. Editing is good. Although this is a stand-alone book, there are questions unanswered that me want to read on.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Chance Love
Fiona Grace

The perfect read for a cosy evening.

This story is about family and how to really care about yourself and those you love. A definite must-read!

[Noor369 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually didn’t like it this much ! Maybe 50-50
I thought April is kinda of sticky character to her daughter
And her money helped her to go through it all!
Yes i got emotional when she said to her daughter i never realized that when i was saying yes to everyone i was say saying No to you!!
Thats true , we should be aware of our yeses and noes to people and how it effecting us !

End.

[Bubby D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should have been sleeping

Should have been sleeping
Stayed up to finish this
Heartwarming story of women
reconsiling their generational connection
Each finding her own truth
And supporting the other's dream
Th story and the transitions felt real
Totally relatable
HEA on the horizon

Received an ARC

[k mandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This required a lot of skimming to get through it. It read almost like a fantasy with how all the DIY major construction fell into place in 95% of the instances. I can allow for some leeway because it is fiction but this was just too far over the top. Character development was a bit above average at times but they were never fully developed.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story!

I loved this book! It was so clean and wholesome, no sex, a great story! A mother and a daughter, each finding themselves and each other, each following what they wanted instead of what others wanted for them. It has so many insights into life, and lessons to be learned. I totally recommend A Chance Love, and thank you Fiona Grace for such a fine story!

[Mary Tuohy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot, characters and setting of this audiobook, therefore I am giving it five stars. However I am very disappointed that the narrator is a synthesized voice. There are many voice actors that could’ve done an excellent job. I am also now wondering are this authors books written with AI? If so I feel jipped.

[Wendy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved It

Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. What a satisfying read. Can't wait to see how April and Nigel's relationship develops. Excited for the next book in the series.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mothers and daughters work on their relationships along with an old house on the beach. This book has the most stupid husband in the world. Who quits a marriage to see circus acts around the world? What an idiot!

[Kathy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

This book answers the question on inhow to heal mother and daughter bonds. The ties between mothers and daughters fracture because dreams change and goals are not met, but in thus story they are healed during a hurricane.

[erocchio]

nice beach read (in the winter). pretty predictable love story but lots of ramifications about life expectations. April has a lot to learn about making her own choices and the fallout of those choices

[Lydia Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Beautiful story love the horses themes and the bed and breakfast. April is a go getter. Her husband missed out on a good woman. Georgiana is strong Despise her up bringing. Storms usually bring families together.

[Bewaji · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is like a story out of HGTV, renovations 1.0. Apart from the first few chapters of April’s husband walking out of their marriage, that was it. No romance to speak of, except at the end when April reunited with her mom.

[Yokanda R. Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

I love how I was immediately pulled into the story from start to finish. The characters were well developed. I'd love to see each of them have their own stories turned into a book!

[Dave and Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a Phoenix, a family fights back from the ashes of their past mistakes

How could you not love this story. Hard truths for all of the women in one family come to the surface, and a warm understanding comes to the surface.

[Virginia Reck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast fun story

The plot was good and focused on mother and daughter relationships. The author included humor with the drama in the story. I will check out other books the author has written.

[Lori Weyrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Realistic

The idea that a teenager and her Mother could singlehandedly renovate a house that hadn't been lived in in 30 years was extremely unrealistic as was the storm that turned into a hurricane an hour before hitting...total fluff

[Rochelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book in the Dune Island Series. Easy read (listen) but way too much angst for my liking. I prefer characters who are sassy and strong willed. I purchased the second audio book to check if this author redeems herself. The Digital narration wasn’t too bad.

[Neerja · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars.

[Q Cash · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick audiobook. It wasn’t bad but not good either. Think Nick Sparks but not as good or suspenseful.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook through the local library app. The story was fun and inviting.

[Cindy Rieder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I typically love Fiona Grace. This was just different.

[Cindy Schoen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring!

[gloria marquardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story.

Something good always comes from bad. So much happened yet it was all turned into a Wondreful dream come true.