The Sand Dollar Sisters

by Amy Rafferty

One inn. One mystery. One chance to begin again.

After a devastating divorce and the loss of her family’s historic hotel, almost-sixty Jess Bryant is ready to disappear—until a crumbling seaside inn on Anna Maria Island offers one last shot at starting over.

With her twin sister by her side and a brooding handyman who seems tied to the inn’s shadowy past, Jess begins rebuilding what’s broken. But the island has secrets—and Jess is at the center of them. Dreams that don’t feel like dreams. A love story lost to time. And the ghost of Rose Holt, the inn’s former owner, whispering through the walls.

What starts as a renovation becomes a journey of healing, hope, and heart—where every sand dollar holds a wish, and every broken thing has the power to be made new.

If you love later-in-life heroines, coastal settings, cozy mysteries with a hint of magic, and clean second-chance romance, you’ll fall in love with The Sand Dollar Sisters.

Grab Book 2 today and discover the island where second chances are always in season.

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2025

About the author

Amy Rafferty writes uplifting, clean romance filled with heart, healing, and the kind of hope that lingers long after the last page. Known for her coastal settings, later-in-life heroines, and unforgettable family bonds, Amy's books offer second chances and emotional journeys wrapped in love and mystery. When she’s not dreaming up her next story, she’s sipping tea by the sea and treasuring time with her family.

I always love to hear from you and get your feedback. Email me at books@amyraffertyauthor.com and Follow Me on Amazon. https://amazon.com/author/amyrafferty

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Reviews

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put the book down. Who is behind what is happening? Is history really going to repeat itself? There’s so much intrigue and suspense! Recommend
Looking forward to Book 3, and the rest of the series

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2

I can not wait to read book three. I can not wait to see what happens at the Anna Maria Inn series

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will get so caught up in this book that you will not put it down until you reach the end. Is history repeating itself? Who is causing all the problems?
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Terry T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a sweet latter in life, second chance, cozy mystery romance.
Some of the lines I really like --- “And to be honest, whenever I come back to the inn, it’s like coming home to your parents and getting a warm, loving welcome.” ---“I felt that. It felt like I’d finally found my way home.” --- “Keep your friends close and suspects closer?” --- “I didn’t just buy an inn. I bought a whole new life, which opened up a side of me that had been closed for too long.” “But the moment I stepped into the inn the first day I arrived… it was like I had come home, and here I found the me that was buried beneath years of trying to be someone I wasn’t.” --- “It’s this inn. I’ve started to believe there is a little magic here as it brings out the true nature inside you.” --- “It’s like history is repeating itself. Carl is your Trevor, and Bryon is your Simon." --- “Good grief! What on earth is that? Are we under attack? Is there an air raid?” ---
Who cut the brakes on Jess's car? Who's sabotaging the work on the Inn? Who shot Tug? What's Charles up to? Who's framing Bryon for attempted murder?
I loved Jess and Byron's story and I can't wait to read Book 3 to get the answers.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One inn. One mystery. Once chance to begin again.

This contemporary clean second chance romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building on Anna Maria Island, where the sunrises and sunsets are magical are magnificently painted across the sky in vibrant hues that can be seen for miles, and characters that are later-in-life heroines, resistant, intelligent, nice, captivating, and realistic. Jess Bryant almost-sixty is ready to disappear after a devastating divorce and the loss of her family's historic hotel, until a crumbling seaside inn on Anna Marie Island one last shot at starting over, with her twin sister and her husband by her side, a brooding handyman who seems tied to the inn's shadowy past, Jess begins rebuilding what's broken, the island has secrets, deception, and Jess is at the center to them, dreams that don't feel like dreams, a love story lost to time, the ghost of Rose Hold, the inn's former owner whispering through the walls, what starts as a renovation becomes a journey of healing, hope, love, and heart, where ever sand dollar holds a wish every broken thing has the power to be made new, coastal mysteries with a hint of magic, cozy clean second chance romance, drama, heartfelt emotions, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her reader's hearts and attention with the sand dollar sisters and a sweet, clean second chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world where love and loss, and second chances collide; resulting in an unforgettable journey with emotions running high leaving readers needing Kleenex/Puffs.

[Patty Duplechin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Bryant, now divorced from her husband, she buys Anna Maria inn with the help of her sister. It needs a lot of work but when she walks in the front door, she feels like she’s where she belongs now. With the help of the caretaker, it will come together like it was meant to be. Jess is being a sleuth because there’s a mystery to be solved. Twist and turns happens. She needs to solve it. Can she? Will she? I didn’t want to put it down. The characters are wonderful. Can’t wait to read what happens next. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

More action happening. After Carl takes Jess’ car he is involved in a serious accident. Maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. It seems the brake lines were cut on the car. Who wants to hurt Jess?

Cally comes to town to visit her dad. Jess and Cally read Rose’s diary to try to unravel the mystery from the past.

Will the intrigue and mystery from the past repeat itself? Danger at the inn with break ins and shootings.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review my honest opinion.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you review a mystery without giving away too much? I really think Amy Rafferty is trying to do me in, dragging me into this story and Jess’s life. There is too much excitement for an old lady, in addition to now having to wait to find out what happens next. I’m not sure I can last for 4 more installments. Okay, in this book, Jess has to deal with her ex-husband, Carl, everything she thinks she knows comes under questioning, Tug is injured, and the inn doesn’t feel like a safe haven. Now the impatient drumming of fingers starts.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all things Amy Rafferty, and this does not disappoint; this is book two in The Anna Maria Inn Series. With Jess, her twin sister Jules, and Jules husband as the new owners of the Inn; is history repeating its self? Was Jess the intended target for the car crash, is someone really trying to kill her, or scare her off? Now Byron is taken into custody, as Rose's husband was; and then sent to jail and died there!! Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I can't wait for the next book in the series!!!

[Alison Hoeksema · Rating 5 out of 5]

This episode carries on from the car accident ending Book 1; but was it an accident? The events at the inn seem to mirror those of the past, and the ghost of previous owner Rose drifts in at appropriate moments. The discovery of her diary only adds to the tension, and the arrival of Jess's daughter Cally adds another dimension to the developing yarn. The pace is fast, and the book is short, leaving you ready for the next episode!
I received an ARC from the author, but my opinion is given voluntarily.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery continues

Jess and Bryon are working to renovate the Inn and get to know each other. But things aren't going smoothly. Things are disappearing and items just fixed turn up broken. Add to this stress, Jess finds out Byron is part of the family who owned the Inn, in fact he is Roses grandson. Before he can explain, Carl, Jess ex, and his girlfriend show up. He tries to extort money from het and takes her car. Next thing they know, Carl has crashed her car. He's not dead but he does warn to be careful and that she is in danger

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of this captivating and intriguing series and it is every bit as enthralling as book one. There’s more mystery, more suspense and more drama as the renovations of this old inn continue and I found myself totally hooked and drawn into the story. Wonderful world building, fantastic characters, there are more questions to be answered, more mysteries to be solved, who can be trusted and who is out to harm?? I cannot wait to read book three!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold unto your hats. Who would ever imagine the disasters which keep befalling these characters as they are attempting to renovate an old inn as well a solve a decade's old mystery of murder and subterfuge. I will be holding my breath for the next installment of this captivating story by a very talented author.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC. Thank you Amy.

Jess & Byron have gotten into quite a little mystery surrounding the inn. Byron’s daughter shows up unexpectedly to stay. Jess’s ex husband & fiancé come to take her car. Tug tries to protect Jess & Byron. There’s a lot going on. Will Jess get any answers from Rose’s journal?

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb story!

Another winning book in the Sand Dollar Sisters series. This book is a nice short, easy read with huge impact. So many tragedies and so many unanswered questions. I love the plot and the characters and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Mary Ann Speel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuation of the series by an author who gets your attention and keeps it. The mystery continues with the h now concerned about her ex husband who was involved in a serous accident in what was her car which he took claiming it was no longer hers according to the divorce decree. Things continue to happen at the inn she purchased and is fixing up, things that were repaired are once more needing repair. They can’t figure out why. Then one day she finds a box that was buried by a previous owner and she begins to read it. She knows that the breaks on her car had been tampered with and that was the cause of the accident. When her daughter comes to visit due to her father’s accident she insists that her mother read the journal to her and the events reported are similar to the events occurring now. She wonders if the H will be killed so that the h can be defenseless and lose the inn which someone else wants and cannot get with her owning it and getting the help of the H. Thus the book ends. Definitely is a story that gets your attention and keeps it. More exciting things occur as the story progresses. Hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did. Recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries and H’s and h’s that you fall in love with. Enjoy! Received this book free as member of authors ARC team.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

Awesome book! It had everything to keep me interested and invested with suspense. The storyline is so intriguing and entertaining, I love it! I had no trouble relating with the characters and love a good second chance read. This is definitely a page turner that does not disappoint. Ready for Book 3!

[BM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are hotting up. This author has the flair for drama and dramatics. This short story series is definitely turning out to be a saga full of twists and turns, if the first two are anything to go by.
The storyline of Jess's issues seem to mirror those of Rose. Both lives appear to be plagued by a greedy man intent on destroying them. Both are caught up in lies, deceit and possible murder

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story just keeps getting better.
With the accident, which may have been for Jess, there is just so much going on.
The biggest question is - is history repeating itself? The parallel between Rose's story and Jess' story are uncanny. Carly brings some interesting questions to the mystery of Trevir's accident.
Can't wait for book 3.

[Jan Tomalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 is packed full of mystery and intrigue. Jess is investigating past events so it appears that someone wants to stop her. This is really a page turner! Now, on to Book 3!
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery!
Who is doing all the killing? It started over 80 years ago. Is it a family who really wants the inn for some reason or is this just coincidental?
First, Simon was arrested 80 years ago. Now someone else close to the situation has been arrested for the attempted murder of someone. What is so important about the inn?

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess is horrified at the near death experience she had. She has to deal with sabotage and someone out to kill her. A captivating read which has you on the edge of your seat . I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers .

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone hit the reverse button.
This can't be happening.
What a read from start to finish, a real page turner.
Can this be repeating itself?

I am on the edge of my seat, AMY!!!!
Get me to book #3 QUICK!!!!

[Danette Fowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoying this series. There is so much that happens in such a short period of time. It is so intense, you have to keep reading until the book is finished. Can hardly wait for book 3.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barbara Kaake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is excellent story about Jess and a accident with her ex husband being injured in her car and who is causing this and the mysteries in the past about the inn. I am enjoying this very much and can’t wait for the next book. Thank you for this story with suspense and drama.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery is growing

Oh things are heating up. Someone is lying, trying to kill someone, but who?
Who is the attempted murderer? Who is the intended target?
Be ready for a big cliffhanger too.

I am invested in these characters so much. I want Jess to get a happy ending.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartwarming seaside tale of second chances, family bonds, and healing. When Jess Bryant discovers a mysterious inn on Anna Maria Island, she’s drawn into its past—and toward a hopeful new future. Light romance, a touch of magic, and sisterhood make this a cozy, uplifting read.

[Laurel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is actually the next two to three chapters in this clean cliffhanger. This took me less than fifteen minutes to read. I don't normally buy a lot of books. This series looked interesting, so I bought the first three. Not happy.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super story.. Wonderful suspense and relationships.. I can't help caring about these people.. I love Byron, all the great subtext going on.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed.