The Mendocino Beach House

Mendocino Beach #2

by Nellie Brooks

Beth suddenly finds herself at a crossroads in life - and in charge of the family's old beach house. Ready for a new beginning, she decides to renovate the old home and rebuild the relationship with her estranged daughter. Settling into the new community full of quirky characters, Beth soon finds that the small town of Mendocino beach is full of surprises. It doesn't take long for new neighbors, old friends, and middle-aged secrets to march straight into Bethany's rambling cottage garden!

Each book in this three-book series will follow one of three friends in the captivating world of Mendocino Beach, where wonderful characters find support, romance, and second chances amidst the stunning coastal scenery. With each turn of the page, readers will be swept away by the charm, depth, and beautiful setting. From heartwarming friendships to unexpected adventures, this feel-good sisterhood saga entertains and enchants until the very end!

Genres: Fiction

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

Reviews

[Courtney Denker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Think Hallmark movie, the nice but overly cheesy kind! There’s a time and place for an easy read like this, but where the first book in the series was heartwarming, this one was nauseatingly sweet. Hoping the final book in this trilogy tones it back down a touch now that everyone has found their lost dad, gotten engaged after a week, saved the town’s bookstore, and survived their secret undercover military operation…

2.5 stars

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heartwarming, wonderful story of love and friendship, healing and new beginnings. Beth is the second of the book club friends to find a new path in life, and a new chance at love. After years of grieving her husband, Beth takes a chance on a new life in more ways than one as she suddenly inherits a beach house—which comes with a hot, intriguing neighbor. I really enjoyed seeing Beth blossom as she renovates her new home and grows closer to Mateo. I love that Beth gets to find love again with such a swoony hero. And one who’s an excellent cook, no less! She deserves all the good things.
Life holds yet another surprise for Beth as she gets an unexpected visitor, a young woman called Lily. Their friendship is one of the highlights of the story.
As per usual, I find myself completely in love with not just the characters but also the wonderful setting of the story, utterly seduced by flowers and tide, wine and delicious food. We also get to reconnect with Hannah and Sara, though sadly the latter still finds herself more or less trapped in an unhappy marriage. The great friendship between all the women of different ages and life experiences in this series is so heartwarming and uplifting. I always feel happier and more optimistic after reading a Nellie Brooks novel.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief synopsis from the book cover:

Beth suddenly finds herself at a crossroads in life - and in charge of the family's old beach house. Ready for a new beginning, she decides to renovate the old home and rebuild the relationship with her estranged daughter. Settling into the new community full of quirky characters, Beth soon finds that the small town of Mendocino beach is full of surprises. It doesn't take long for new neighbors, old friends, and middle-aged secrets to march straight into Bethany's rambling cottage garden!

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Contemporary Fiction
Womens Fiction

Review:

This is a beautiful uplifting feel good story about second chances and moving on. An interesting story, nicely written, uplifting and full of feel good elements, set in an idyllic quaint seaside village, of Mendocino Beach. The characters a group of three friends who are close and support each other through everything life brings their way.

Overall:

An uplifting and heartwarming story with nice realistic characters.

[Deanna Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read

This book had a lot going for it, if not a bit predictable. And like many toward the end editing errors. Where times didn’t line up etc. like Lily arrived from Maine in a taxi. Beth drove her to a hotel, then had to go pick her up. Lily suddenly lost her shyness and seemed to take over on a shopping trip, that it said they did in Lily’s car! Where did that appear from. Was a bit too perfect how it all wrapped up in the end. So many different tales. A bit annoying how it was stretched out to find out who Margaret Potter was and why she had left her beach house to Beth’s husband Ben (now deceased) but all in all I like Nellie’s books. Realized toward the end that Audrey and Zoe were from another series

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story filled with love and friendship. Beth’s story is about recovering from the grief of losing her husband, accepting new a new love interest and meeting new friends. All the characters come together as a community and we get to revisit friends from previous books. Loved the feelings between Mateo and Beth. And the welcome extended to Lily and Henry.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[SylviaV · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mendocino Beach House by Nellie Brooks.

This book is part of a series but reads as a stand-alone book. This is a clean wholesome story about friendship, community, second chances and letting go of the past in order to take a chance of a Happy Ever After ending. I liked the story, at times it was a bit too hallmark perfect but I was engaged with the characters and the overall story arc. A great beach read. 3 stars.

[Lynn Garofalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT author she kept it simple, not overly. Descriptive, like some authors who just need to add

Very easy reading, not to many characters to follow. As I read the book it was changing the story line completely. I like that and for me a book anyone could read not all sex page after page.

[Maisie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chance to catch up on the lives of the inhabitants of Mendocino Bay. A couple of new characters and a mystery attached to the beach house provide another enjoyable read and lots of warm fuzzy moments in their story. A book perfect for those moments of relaxation and wondering what happens next in their journey.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth gets a surprise that leads her to her very happy ever after. When she inherits a cottage on the beach she has no idea about all the special things that are about to happen. I enjoy these wonderful characters and this beautiful location.

[Betty Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet!

This the best and sweetest story. It’s written to help you feel a part of being there. I loved the characters, well almost all of them! The descriptions were so visible I could picture them. Very good read.

[Jeanette S. Stracner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute novel!

Nellie Brooks did a great job. Beth met Meteo and Lilly. Very interesting friends, very interesting families. Each was cute, the interest of each was funny. Lilly was a good friend for Beth. Jeanette Stracner

[Cynthia Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beach House

This is a very pleasant series of making new a friends a starting over. I really liked Beth in the first series and she and Mateo did not disappoint. Of course he is just as tender hearted as Beth. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Andrea Jo B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a light, easy read. Yes, some of the sappy love is cheesy, but that doesn't take away from the story! Finding friends in your 40s is real life tough, so reading a story of women that find their family through their friendship is relatable and keeps you engaged.

[Barbara Symons · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

Ok this is the middle book of the series and does a good job of carrying on the story and now on to the next book in the series.

[Barbara Dosemagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the people with their ups and downs but always lifting others. Wish more neighbors were thoughtful about others concern make a better world.... We are all human with faults and gifts.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series and mostly concentrates on Beth, although Hannah makes frequent appearances. There is also a new character introduced, Lily. I enjoyed it.

[Rose Grabowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth has an unexpected development that leads her to a happy life change. She inherits a cottage on the beach with unexpected benefits. Beautiful setting and characters.

[Donna Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the love shown throughout the book of friendships, new acquaintances, and new lovers.

[Joy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy an occasional "women's fiction" book, but this one was very slow reading for me. I enjoyed the characters very much so did read the entire book.

[Susan Mahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Wow, second chances for love and families both found and original. Here's to letting grief go and starting a new life.

[Nikki Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a lovely book evoking the loveliness of the seaside and friendships

[Brian LaPolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating!

I love the storyline between Beth and Mateo. I also enjoyed the continuation of Hannah and Alex. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

[Marie Inglee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself skipping over some lengthy descriptors and felt like the plot was a little too predictable and syrupy. However, the book kept my attention throughout!