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Summer Secrets #1
The Summer Beach Town
Victoria Drake is tired of feeling stuck.
Sick of waiting for her long-term boyfriend to man up and propose to her, when Victoria receives a surprise wedding invitation from her cousin, she takes the plunge and returns to her childhood hometown of Chance Bay, Rhode Island.
But returning home means facing up to old secrets...and old lovers. Her past boyfriend Eddie’s father disappeared without a trace – and in small towns, rumors never die. Caught up in a swirling mystery about the true story behind his father’s disappearance, Victoria distracts herself from her estranged family by unraveling the enigma of the man she used to love.
Eddie never forgot about Victoria…and when he hears she’s returned home, he bears the town’s suspicious eyes just to see her. Victoria doesn’t believe Eddie is a killer. But Eddie has secrets he’ll take to the grave, and Victoria is only scratching the surface...
Can Victoria overcome the bitterness of failed relationships and embrace a second “chance" for love in Chance Bay? Or will her old spark with Eddie become dashed by the turbulent waves of doubt and distrust?
The Summer Beach Town is a clean, feel-good contemporary women’s fiction summer beach read that has mysteries with later-in-life love.
Sick of waiting for her long-term boyfriend to man up and propose to her, when Victoria receives a surprise wedding invitation from her cousin, she takes the plunge and returns to her childhood hometown of Chance Bay, Rhode Island.
But returning home means facing up to old secrets...and old lovers. Her past boyfriend Eddie’s father disappeared without a trace – and in small towns, rumors never die. Caught up in a swirling mystery about the true story behind his father’s disappearance, Victoria distracts herself from her estranged family by unraveling the enigma of the man she used to love.
Eddie never forgot about Victoria…and when he hears she’s returned home, he bears the town’s suspicious eyes just to see her. Victoria doesn’t believe Eddie is a killer. But Eddie has secrets he’ll take to the grave, and Victoria is only scratching the surface...
Can Victoria overcome the bitterness of failed relationships and embrace a second “chance" for love in Chance Bay? Or will her old spark with Eddie become dashed by the turbulent waves of doubt and distrust?
The Summer Beach Town is a clean, feel-good contemporary women’s fiction summer beach read that has mysteries with later-in-life love.
58 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 8, 2024
unsure
I chose this book based on the cover which is so pretty! So far I am unsure about this story. It feels very disjointed and I can’t clearly see a path or plot. I haven’t been able to connect with a character and it feels as if things are randomly thrown in like this “missing” person. I’m hopeful that as the series progresses it will get better.
I chose this book based on the cover which is so pretty! So far I am unsure about this story. It feels very disjointed and I can’t clearly see a path or plot. I haven’t been able to connect with a character and it feels as if things are randomly thrown in like this “missing” person. I’m hopeful that as the series progresses it will get better.
June 30, 2024
It took me awhile to get into this story. I don’t why, it just didn’t have the starting that just drew you in from the beginning. But as you get into the story it starts drawing you in. The life that Victoria has lived has not been easy & what she went through at only 19 years old was hard. She has never been close to her mother & that made everything harder for her. She has dealt with a lot of heartaches in her past & going back home to Chance Bay to her cousin’s wedding & to help her Aunt Helen and Uncle Boris, who's dealing with cancer treatments, is very nice of her. She is trying to do the right thing to help them & yet her mother keeps picking at her. The poor girl can’t do anything right.Her mother is very controlling & try’s to control everything she does from the time she first comes by to see her. She doesn't like that Victoria moved away & she could no longer try to tell her how to live her life. Her mother found a much younger boyfriend at a casino & he, Colby has moved from Texas to their small town, Chance Bay & moved in with Victoria’s mother. That her mother doesn’t want to talk about, but she want to butt into everyone else’s life & tell them how to live their life, but she doesn’t what anybody telling her what she should or shouldn’t be doing!. Victoria’s sisters Viv & Val like CJ and happy for their mom, but Vince is trying to ruin their relationship, but then Vince doesn’t like anyone’s happiness. Victoria at least has her aunt and uncle's home to go to to get away from her mother & calm down.. There she can go for some peace & quiet in her life. It’s so hard to even imagine her aunt & her mom are sisters, they are so different. Some of the information came out about her younger life & why she left town. Interesting to see how this all works out and then there's Eddie, the love of her life who's reeling from his dad's disappearance and struggling with life looking after his pain in the neck step-mother who may also be a murderer.
I received this ARC for free & I’m giving my review for free & in my own words. Looking forward to the next book.
I received this ARC for free & I’m giving my review for free & in my own words. Looking forward to the next book.
June 13, 2024
My heart already is won over by Vicky. Wow, she has dealt with a lot of heartache in her past and going back home to Chance Bay to help her Aunt Helen and Uncle Boris, who's dealing with cancer treatments, is commendable.
Her mother is very controlling and doesn't like that Vicky moved away and she couldn't tell her how to live her life. Her mother did find a boyfriend at a casino and he, Colby or CJ, has moved from Texas to their small town, Chance Bay. Her sisters Viv and Val like CJ and happy for their mom, but Vince is trying to ruin their relationship.
At least Vicky has her aunt and uncle's home as her shelter and to keep some calm and peace in her life. Hard to believe her aunt and her mom are sisters! Some history of Vicky's came out regarding Johanna. Interesting to see how this all works out and then there's Eddie. The love of her life who's reeling from his dad's disappearance and struggling with life.
I received an early, free copy, ARC, and am leaving my free and voluntary review.
Her mother is very controlling and doesn't like that Vicky moved away and she couldn't tell her how to live her life. Her mother did find a boyfriend at a casino and he, Colby or CJ, has moved from Texas to their small town, Chance Bay. Her sisters Viv and Val like CJ and happy for their mom, but Vince is trying to ruin their relationship.
At least Vicky has her aunt and uncle's home as her shelter and to keep some calm and peace in her life. Hard to believe her aunt and her mom are sisters! Some history of Vicky's came out regarding Johanna. Interesting to see how this all works out and then there's Eddie. The love of her life who's reeling from his dad's disappearance and struggling with life.
I received an early, free copy, ARC, and am leaving my free and voluntary review.
June 15, 2024
Victoria's cousin Gia was getting married at home in Choice Bay. Victoria hadn't been back in years, but didn't want to disappoint Gia.
She had gotten pregnant at 19 years old and gave up her baby daughter to her Aunt Helen and Uncle Boris ( as they could not conceive). Only her family knew. She never told the father, Eddie. Nor was her now 20 year old daughter aware of the truth.
Her Uncle Boris had cancer and felt this was the time to let JoAnna know the truth. But, Victoria's mother disagreed with them all.
How will this turn out?
I received this ARC from Hayley and am leaving my honest review
She had gotten pregnant at 19 years old and gave up her baby daughter to her Aunt Helen and Uncle Boris ( as they could not conceive). Only her family knew. She never told the father, Eddie. Nor was her now 20 year old daughter aware of the truth.
Her Uncle Boris had cancer and felt this was the time to let JoAnna know the truth. But, Victoria's mother disagreed with them all.
How will this turn out?
I received this ARC from Hayley and am leaving my honest review
September 24, 2024
poorly written
I do not like writing bad reviews. I doubt it matters much on Kindle unlimited, but still makes me feel bad. I read another book by this author and it was very good. Therefore I downloaded the series on this one. No. I can’t even get a handle of what’s going on in the story. I was half was through before I actually understood the basic plot of the story. Not sure I’ll continue the series. My apologies to the author. I’m sure you have other books that I would like better.
I do not like writing bad reviews. I doubt it matters much on Kindle unlimited, but still makes me feel bad. I read another book by this author and it was very good. Therefore I downloaded the series on this one. No. I can’t even get a handle of what’s going on in the story. I was half was through before I actually understood the basic plot of the story. Not sure I’ll continue the series. My apologies to the author. I’m sure you have other books that I would like better.
June 15, 2024
A great start to a serial read by Haley Summers. This opener sets the stage with a relatable cast of characters, a story of past decisions and how they have affected those individuals up to the present and a mystery. This has all the makings of a great clean summer read. The book ends with a cliffhanger and it is not a complete story.
I received an ARC and I am leaving my opinion without influence from the author or publisher.
I received an ARC and I am leaving my opinion without influence from the author or publisher.
June 20, 2024
good start to a series
Not realizing that this was just “a chapter” in a “to be continued” series, I was reading as a quick romance. Turns out this is the beginning of what appears to be a good story.
Not realizing that this was just “a chapter” in a “to be continued” series, I was reading as a quick romance. Turns out this is the beginning of what appears to be a good story.
June 16, 2024
Great beginning to a wonderful series. Vicky is a strong, independent woman that I can relate to. I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review.
Read
June 24, 2024I enjoy a fast short yet interesting read and this one fulfilled my desire. Moving onto the second book.
December 14, 2024
Fast read!
The author writes a good story. Was an easy, fast read. I was surprised when I hit the last page...not realizing that the story continues in Book 2! Nice twist!!
The author writes a good story. Was an easy, fast read. I was surprised when I hit the last page...not realizing that the story continues in Book 2! Nice twist!!
February 4, 2026
Great book! Can’t wait to read the other books in this series! Love the beach town vibe. Based in Rhode Island!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews