Spring in Lobster Bay means fresh starts, busy days at the inn, and preparations for the annual Springtide Festival. But when a leaky ceiling leads Jane Carter and her sister Andie to uncover a hidden closet, they find a decades-old journal belonging to Lillian Whitmore—a woman who vanished without a trace.
As Jane and Andie dig deeper, old secrets surface, tying Lillian’s disappearance to their own family history. Meanwhile, Claire settles into an unexpected partnership, Maxi prepares a gallery exhibit celebrating the town’s past, and Jane wonders why opening her heart to Mike still feels so hard.
But when a stranger arrives, quietly asking questions, Jane realizes the past isn’t as buried as she thought—and someone may still be looking for answers.
A cozy, heartwarming story of family, friendship, and the secrets that refuse to stay hidden.
As the final notes of Springtide Secrets, the eighth and last book in Meredith Summers' delightful Lobster Bay series, faded, I was left with that satisfying, yet bittersweet, feeling of having completed a truly beloved journey. This audiobook truly delivered, earning a solid 4.5 stars from me. Summers has a real knack for crafting cozy mysteries that are more than just a whodunit, and Springtide Secrets is a prime example. The mystery itself, sparked by Jane and Andie's discovery of a hidden journal belonging to the long-vanished Lillian Whitmore, was wonderfully engaging. As they delved into the decades-old secrets, I found myself completely engrossed, piecing together clues right alongside them. What made this particular mystery so compelling was its deep ties to the Carter family's own history, adding layers of personal intrigue and emotional depth that resonated throughout the narrative. Beyond the central mystery, it was the familiar comforts of Lobster Bay that truly shone. I loved catching up with Claire as she navigates her new partnership, and Maxi's preparations for her gallery exhibit celebrating the town's past added another charming layer to the community. And, of course, Jane's ongoing journey of opening her heart to Mike continued to be a relatable and heartwarming thread. Summers masterfully weaves these character arcs into the fabric of the story, making them feel like old friends I was genuinely invested in. The arrival of a stranger, quietly asking questions, ratcheted up the tension perfectly, reminding Jane (and me!) that even the most buried secrets can resurface. It was a clever touch that ensured the mystery remained front and center while still allowing for the cozy, heartwarming elements to flourish. For a final book in a series, Springtide Secrets hit all the right notes. It provided a satisfying conclusion to the central mystery, offered fulfilling developments for our beloved characters, and beautifully encapsulated the themes of family, friendship, and the enduring power of secrets that have defined this wonderful series. While I'll certainly miss my visits to Lobster Bay, this was a truly fitting and enjoyable farewell.
Springtide Secrets is the 8th book in the Lobster Bay series. It is a set of women's fiction stories, often with a minor mystery mixed in. All the stories in the series can be read as a standalone book.
The annual spring festival is gearing up, driving excitement in the town for all the visitors to come and enjoy the festivities.
The owners of the local inn discover an almost century old diary in a hidden closet while having a roof repair made.
This leads to a developer causing problems for the inn in order to buy the inn from the owners at a discounted price.
There are developed characters, some humor, and some misdeeds.
The 8th book in the Lobster Bay Series was another quick, easy read about the town of Lobster Bay and all of its sweet and quirky inhabitants. This time the mystery surrounds the Tides Inn and a connection to the past.
I have read the whole series and it’s good easy reading but not great. A few things that would have made an additional star would be less mentioning of the salty sea air, it becomes annoying as a part of the descriptions of EVERY PLACE the Inn, restaurants, festivals, art galleries, etc. I know its a big part of The MAine experience but no one uses it as often as these books do.
The friendships are wonderful but a bit unrealistic in how often these women are able to meet for coffee and girls nights out (never mind how any of them don’t gain huge amounts of weight with how many high calorie pastries they consume with these coffee dates never mind the breakfasts the sisters are always grabbing at the Inn . Perhaps if they were all retired they would be able to spend so much time together but all are late 40’s early 50’s and working at least part time.
Also much is made of the older sister Andie’s previous life and job in NyC. By the last few books location changed to her having been in Boston.
Little details perhaps but those are the things that bring an added star!
I read this the end of March and am remiss in posting this review in a timely manner. This book is the eighth in the Lobster Bay series which is a women’s fiction series by Leighann Dobbs writing as Meredith Summers. I have enjoyed every one of these books and this is no exception.
I like that there is a minor mystery in each story. This one comes about when some water damage being repaired in a room reveals a diary hidden in a secret closet.
Also, a local developer is causing the inn issues. He is annoying throughout the story.
I enjoy that the story ends with a warm fuzzy feeling for those involved. I recommend this series and this book if you like stories about friends and family helping each other out.
This series started a conversation with my husband and I because we had his parents both diagnosed with dementia last winter because we wanted them to move to a nursing home.My father in law suffered a stroke in April 2024.My mother in law had 2 falls resulting in brain bleeds within a month last winter because.They refused to move and it ruined the relationships with my mother in law and my mom! My mom kept lecturing me about our decision even though I’d begged her to quit giving me unsolicited advice on the situation and just be my friend! I was so close mother in law but she never forgave me for wanting to move them! She suffered a fatal fall in July. I don’t plan on talking to my mom again unless she starts treating me as a 55 year old grown adult capable of making my own decisions!
Another lovely entry into the lovely world of Lobster Bay. These can be enjoyed as standalones, but are more fun with the back story of previous books. This one has a lovely historic mystery that is solved. I'm unhappy that some of the details of Andie's life were changed...she used to live in NYC and work at Christie's but in this book her back story was changed to Boston. Hoping the author can fix that continuity error. Otherwise a delightful light romance series.
I am giving Springtide Secrets a five-star rating because it was about new beginning and new friendships with a twist of mystery included. I enjoyed reading Springtide Secrets, as well as all the other books in the Lobster Bay series. I would absolutely.recommend The Lobster Bay series to anyone who enjoys reading about friendships and family.
I am loving this series! Ms. Summers is a wonderful storyteller. Her attention to detail makes the story one that I want to keep reading to find out what happens. The characters are people that I would like to know better. The town sounds what a town should be - caring about their neighbors and helping each other. I’m starting the next one!
Another book in the Lobster Bay series that did not disappoint. Romance, little mystery thrown in a good wholesome read about a small town and lives of sisters Jane and Andie running a successful Inn and Antiques shop, Claire owner of the Bakery starts an unexpected partnership and Max prepares a gallery exhibit.
This series is always a great read. I enjoy the characters of Lobster Bay and their sleuthing , simple life and friendships. I love the quiet simple lives in this charming community. I highly recommend this series.enjoy.