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Haven Point #2
Redemption Bay
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne brings you back to Haven Point—a place made for second chances…
McKenzie Shaw would do anything for her beloved hometown of Haven Point. It may be small and struggling, but it's never let her down…unlike gorgeous, infuriating Ben Kilpatrick. He was her childhood hero until he closed his family's factory, leaving the town's economy in shambles. Now he's back—his tech firm is considering opening a local facility. For Haven Point's sake, McKenzie has to grit her teeth and play nice.
What could a town filled with painful memories ever offer Ben? He left Haven Point behind years ago, for good reason. Yet seeing the town through the eyes of McKenzie—its fiery young mayor—he suddenly has his answer. If only he can resolve the animosity crackling between them, Ben may have found the place where he can build ties and find healing…a place where love arrives when it's least expected.
McKenzie Shaw would do anything for her beloved hometown of Haven Point. It may be small and struggling, but it's never let her down…unlike gorgeous, infuriating Ben Kilpatrick. He was her childhood hero until he closed his family's factory, leaving the town's economy in shambles. Now he's back—his tech firm is considering opening a local facility. For Haven Point's sake, McKenzie has to grit her teeth and play nice.
What could a town filled with painful memories ever offer Ben? He left Haven Point behind years ago, for good reason. Yet seeing the town through the eyes of McKenzie—its fiery young mayor—he suddenly has his answer. If only he can resolve the animosity crackling between them, Ben may have found the place where he can build ties and find healing…a place where love arrives when it's least expected.
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 30, 2015
1271 people are currently reading
2469 people want to read
About the author
RaeAnne Thayne
313 books3,875 followersI'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
September 21, 2017
I figured it out. I know what my disconnect with this series is. I can't believe I didn't see it before. The problem is the Haven Point books are too fucking wholesome. A few makeouts. Barely, at that. With not even a boob grab or an erection to be seen (or felt). Pretty sure the Teletubbies are more R-rated than this book. What kind of candycane world is this place even set in.
Okay, so, obviously I'm the one with the problem. Not the book. But it's just hard when you're throwing characters with cancer, characters with brain tumours, characters who don't live past thirteen, all over the place. Sprinkling tragedy around like a trail of breadcrumbs. And then you expect me to get excited over a little tongue action. It's just a downer, man. Where can I channel this sad frustrated sadness (that, to be honest, didn't make me sad but just made me sigh). Nowhere.
Anyway, I actually kinda liked REDEMPTION BAY better than book one. Despite the fact that there were a few conflict-y elements that were beat more than an already-beaten-and-dead horse who was then brought to life as a zombie!horse and then smacked around again (sorry for imagery), I preferred this couple. The antagonism got old (see above re the poor poor undead horse) but these kind of hate-to-love or dislike-to-reluctant-like are some of my favourites of the tropes. But it wasn't enough to bump this up to a three in my snobby, miserly, mental rating system.
I can see why people like these books, don't get me wrong. It's the equivalent of a Hallmark movie. But there's a reason I don't like those. They are just too obvious. Too wholesome. And, in this case, too repetitive. And I'm repeating myself on that score to prove a point.
Sorry, Thayne, we won't be getting along.
Okay, so, obviously I'm the one with the problem. Not the book. But it's just hard when you're throwing characters with cancer, characters with brain tumours, characters who don't live past thirteen, all over the place. Sprinkling tragedy around like a trail of breadcrumbs. And then you expect me to get excited over a little tongue action. It's just a downer, man. Where can I channel this sad frustrated sadness (that, to be honest, didn't make me sad but just made me sigh). Nowhere.
Anyway, I actually kinda liked REDEMPTION BAY better than book one. Despite the fact that there were a few conflict-y elements that were beat more than an already-beaten-and-dead horse who was then brought to life as a zombie!horse and then smacked around again (sorry for imagery), I preferred this couple. The antagonism got old (see above re the poor poor undead horse) but these kind of hate-to-love or dislike-to-reluctant-like are some of my favourites of the tropes. But it wasn't enough to bump this up to a three in my snobby, miserly, mental rating system.
I can see why people like these books, don't get me wrong. It's the equivalent of a Hallmark movie. But there's a reason I don't like those. They are just too obvious. Too wholesome. And, in this case, too repetitive. And I'm repeating myself on that score to prove a point.
Sorry, Thayne, we won't be getting along.
July 27, 2020
Edit to add that the author decided it would be a good idea to DM me and let me know that she loves Latinx people and knows several...as if that somehow has bearing on anything. Pro tip for authors: don't do this. Ever.
This is a prime example of why white authors shouldn't write characters of color.
For the most part, Redemption Bay is your typical small town contemporary romance. Everything is cutesy and heartwarming and cheerful. Except for the absolutely terrible portrayal of the female protagonist, I probably wouldn't have had too much to say about this book. In fact, if McKenzie Shaw had been white, I wouldn't even be writing this review.
Except McKenzie Shaw isn't white, so here we are.
McKenzie Shaw, the heroine / female protagonist of this romance, was born with the name Xochitl Vargas. Her parents were a married lawyer and a paralegal he met on business. Young Xochitl was raised by her single mother and never met her father until several years later, when her mother died(?) and she had to leave California and go live with her biological father (and his wife) in Idaho.
Once in Idaho, young Xochitl's step-mother is rightfully upset by this evidence of her husband's affair, but she wrongfully takes this upset out on an innocent child. At some point, it is decided that Xochitl's last name needs to be changed to Shaw so she "fits in better" with the family. Also at this point, it is decided to change Xochitl's first name because it's too foreign/exotic/[insert your racist adjective of choice].
Enter McKenzie Shaw.
The adult version of McKenzie that readers are introduced to in Redemption Bay is remarkably well-adjusted. She seems to harbor no ill-will toward her racist father and step-mother. She references her absolutely horrific (by real-world standards) upbringing only vaguely and briefly and without any sadness, resentment, or indignation. For all intents and purposes, this woman is your average vanilla white lady, just with some "unique" facial features.
Nowhere does the author address the trauma of having your identity stripped from you and then being forced to conform to the colonizers' expectations. Clearly, RaeAnne Thayne wanted the "benefit" of a Latino character but wasn't willing to do the work of careful and respectful representation. So how exactly do you get an "exotic" or "diverse" character without doing any real leg-work? Easy: (1) kill off the non-white parent, (2) forcibly assimilate your character into white culture, (3) ignore any kind of fallout from that kind of oppression, and (4) proceed with your bland, derivative storyline as if that character truly is white.
Honestly: how dare you strip away a little brown girl's identity and heritage from her and then pretend that it was anything than what it was: oppression. Redemption Bay is a piece of racist horseshit. Fuck this book, and fuck everyone who put this out on shelves.
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This is a prime example of why white authors shouldn't write characters of color.
For the most part, Redemption Bay is your typical small town contemporary romance. Everything is cutesy and heartwarming and cheerful. Except for the absolutely terrible portrayal of the female protagonist, I probably wouldn't have had too much to say about this book. In fact, if McKenzie Shaw had been white, I wouldn't even be writing this review.
Except McKenzie Shaw isn't white, so here we are.
McKenzie Shaw, the heroine / female protagonist of this romance, was born with the name Xochitl Vargas. Her parents were a married lawyer and a paralegal he met on business. Young Xochitl was raised by her single mother and never met her father until several years later, when her mother died(?) and she had to leave California and go live with her biological father (and his wife) in Idaho.
Once in Idaho, young Xochitl's step-mother is rightfully upset by this evidence of her husband's affair, but she wrongfully takes this upset out on an innocent child. At some point, it is decided that Xochitl's last name needs to be changed to Shaw so she "fits in better" with the family. Also at this point, it is decided to change Xochitl's first name because it's too foreign/exotic/[insert your racist adjective of choice].
Enter McKenzie Shaw.
The adult version of McKenzie that readers are introduced to in Redemption Bay is remarkably well-adjusted. She seems to harbor no ill-will toward her racist father and step-mother. She references her absolutely horrific (by real-world standards) upbringing only vaguely and briefly and without any sadness, resentment, or indignation. For all intents and purposes, this woman is your average vanilla white lady, just with some "unique" facial features.
Nowhere does the author address the trauma of having your identity stripped from you and then being forced to conform to the colonizers' expectations. Clearly, RaeAnne Thayne wanted the "benefit" of a Latino character but wasn't willing to do the work of careful and respectful representation. So how exactly do you get an "exotic" or "diverse" character without doing any real leg-work? Easy: (1) kill off the non-white parent, (2) forcibly assimilate your character into white culture, (3) ignore any kind of fallout from that kind of oppression, and (4) proceed with your bland, derivative storyline as if that character truly is white.
Honestly: how dare you strip away a little brown girl's identity and heritage from her and then pretend that it was anything than what it was: oppression. Redemption Bay is a piece of racist horseshit. Fuck this book, and fuck everyone who put this out on shelves.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
April 23, 2019
Always a pleasure to read any book by RaeAnne Thayne. I really enjoyed reading Redemption Bay. Mckenzie Shaw shut up her shop on a beautiful evening. I could well imagine my self in beautiful surroundings Haven Point with sail boats on the clear blue waters of Lake Haven. The town relied on tourism, but Haven Point was dying because of one person Ben Kilpatrick. Mckenzie as mayor wants to revitalise the town whose business were gone. But with no mistake about it, Ben Kilpatrick is back in Haven Point, no one knows why as he hates Haven Point, he did his best to drive the people's town into the ground. What possible reason does Ben Kilpatrick have for returning back to Haven Point? Another one of the best reads I've had. I can most certainly recommend this book.
September 22, 2016
Thayne brings this small town to life in a big way with her latest Haven Point novel. The novel is simultaneously emotional and romantic, leaving you with a feeling of redemption. Thayne takes the concept of second chances and spins it, proving that second chances really do happen in all walks of life. She also shows that life can be funny at the most inopportune moments. My heart may have been on my sleeve throughout, but that didn’t stop me from laughing at the characters’ antics. The story itself is intricately and realistically crafted, providing an endlessly enjoyable tale for readers.
I loved how emotionally and intellectually involved these characters were in this story, both with one another and with the town itself. The main characters were counterpoints to one another, creating a contrast that not only highlighted their personalities but truly allowed readers to see deep into the relationship. Thayne showcases all sides of the story, allowing readers to get to know all of the characters, not simply the two at the forefront.
Thayne has once again created a fantastic novel that takes readers deep into the lives of her characters. It was a heart-warming and enjoyable novel that I truly treasured.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I loved how emotionally and intellectually involved these characters were in this story, both with one another and with the town itself. The main characters were counterpoints to one another, creating a contrast that not only highlighted their personalities but truly allowed readers to see deep into the relationship. Thayne showcases all sides of the story, allowing readers to get to know all of the characters, not simply the two at the forefront.
Thayne has once again created a fantastic novel that takes readers deep into the lives of her characters. It was a heart-warming and enjoyable novel that I truly treasured.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2015
2 Stars! Such a disappointment!
As much as it pains me to say this, Redemption Bay was not an enjoyable book. One of the things I love about RaeAnne Thayne's writing is her ability to engage a reader and allow them to feel, see the good in people, and journey with them as they overcome the obstacles that life has thrown at them. Well...I felt alright...I felt a lot of animosity towards the heroine, Mac, and found Redemption Bay to be an exhausting and aggravating read.
I don't know what it is about this series and the judgmental female protagonists and townspeople. I've never gotten that vibe in any of this author's other books and series, and I have read quite a few of them. In her Hope's Crossing series, which precedes Haven Point, I found every book a delight to read. While the main characters might have struggled in the beginning with their relationships, I never felt the hostile attitude from the featured couple, or I should say heroines, that I'm finding here. In Snow Angel Cove, the first book in the Haven Point series, I had issue with this same aspect, but fortunately the heroine redeemed herself, almost to late, but I did end up enjoying the book. Here however, even after Mac finds out the truth about the boat factory, Ben's reasons for closing shop, and what he did for the employees, which I thought was above and beyond his responsibility, Mac still ragged on him. She just couldn't see past her own bitterness and preconceived notions about Ben and allow herself to see what a good man he was. Her expectations of him were ridiculous! I wanted to reach inside the book, grab hold of her and shake some sense into her thick skull. She annoyed the heck out of me as well as a lot of the townspeople. I honestly didn't care if their town fell down around them, that's how much they grated on me, and Mac was their ringleader.
For all that Mac annoyed me, I loved, loved Ben...he was a gem, and so swoonworthy!! For the life of me I can't understand why the author couldn't give him someone who was worthy of this love, because I think he should have run screaming from Mac! I adored him, appreciated his thoughtfulness, and hated that so many people treated him like a leper. He had such a difficult childhood, and the reasons behind it is disclosed, and I found it to be incredibly sad. It's a wonder he had the ability to care so much about others the way he did.
Another plus was watching Ben's growing attachment to Hondo, and revisiting with Aidan, Eliza and Maddie, from Snow Angel Cove.
Unfortunately, I won't remember Redemption Bay as a book that filled me with warmth and hope, as so many of this author's books do, but for the judgmental heroine that I wanted to slap. I understand that not every couple is going to find an immediate attraction to one another, I actually prefer that they don't, it's part of the journey to love and acceptance. But, when it takes nearly 95% of the book for one of the characters to recognize that she's being ridiculous with her unfounded opinion of the person she's supposedly in love with, well that's just a bit too much drama and angst for me.
I'm hoping that the trend I'm seeing in this series takes a turn and the author goes back to writing characters that embrace their differences and help each other to overcome the difficulties that they've faced in the past.
Will I continue to read RaeAnne Thayne's books and the Haven Point series...you bet I will! Not every book is going to please every reader and this author has a proven track record with me. Evergreen Springs(Haven Point, #3) will be out September 2015, and it's definitely on my list of books I'm looking forward to read!
December 6, 2015
The second in a series is an interesting point; you don't know what the patterns are going to be and what features will persist to tie the stories together so you can't be certain that what you liked in the first would be as strong in the second (if you didn't like the first, of course, it's unlikely you'd be reading the second). And honestly, I liked Snow Angel Cove better than this book. But then, I liked that one a lot, so it's a bit unreasonable to expect an author to maintain that degree of attachment.
And now I'll stop comparing this to the first book, because doing so is a big disservice.
I found McKenzie engaging enough on her own that I'd have enjoyed the story just to spend more time with her. She's the mayor of Haven Point and got the job pretty much by default. That doesn't mean she doesn't love the town or that she doesn't want the job. It just means that it's a small town and a thankless job and she's fundamentally giving enough to overlook the burden and step up for the work. What I particularly found engaging is how lonely she really is (though she, herself, doesn't see it). She's friendly with everyone and has lots of people around her all the time, but you can see how she yearns for closer connections and someone to be completely at ease with. She's "on" pretty much all the time because in a small town, you just can't hide and let yourself go. So it was interesting to see herself finding at least some release with Ben, even before she feels she can actually trust him not to be the jerk she thought he was in the beginning.
Ben is harder to cozy up to. He's withdrawn and moody. He has cause, or I wouldn't have been able to stand it long, but it still wore on me while reading. The damage done to him as a little boy was heartbreaking but also kind of hard to relate to—not because it was out of character or completely alien. Everything made sense and hung together very well. But it was an unusual set of circumstances and a really bad interaction with a man who was unworthy of being a father. So his emotional damage seemed insurmountable for much of the story and that just sucked so badly for McKenzie that it was a little hard to see her finding him to be the person she could open up with and truly be herself around. He gets there in the end, though, so I'm not complaining.
The real artistry is that Thayne pulled off the reconciliation of their very different relationships towards the town of Haven Point. It helped that It also helped that Ben and McKenzie so clearly need each other and they make a great team together. It was a bit hard to go through the pain they would inevitably unleash on each other, but it was well worth it by the time they get together.
So yeah, this was a solid four stars throughout, for me. I enjoyed the ride, had a hard time putting it down, and loved the cathartic resolution in the end.
And now I'll stop comparing this to the first book, because doing so is a big disservice.
I found McKenzie engaging enough on her own that I'd have enjoyed the story just to spend more time with her. She's the mayor of Haven Point and got the job pretty much by default. That doesn't mean she doesn't love the town or that she doesn't want the job. It just means that it's a small town and a thankless job and she's fundamentally giving enough to overlook the burden and step up for the work. What I particularly found engaging is how lonely she really is (though she, herself, doesn't see it). She's friendly with everyone and has lots of people around her all the time, but you can see how she yearns for closer connections and someone to be completely at ease with. She's "on" pretty much all the time because in a small town, you just can't hide and let yourself go. So it was interesting to see herself finding at least some release with Ben, even before she feels she can actually trust him not to be the jerk she thought he was in the beginning.
Ben is harder to cozy up to. He's withdrawn and moody. He has cause, or I wouldn't have been able to stand it long, but it still wore on me while reading. The damage done to him as a little boy was heartbreaking but also kind of hard to relate to—not because it was out of character or completely alien. Everything made sense and hung together very well. But it was an unusual set of circumstances and a really bad interaction with a man who was unworthy of being a father. So his emotional damage seemed insurmountable for much of the story and that just sucked so badly for McKenzie that it was a little hard to see her finding him to be the person she could open up with and truly be herself around. He gets there in the end, though, so I'm not complaining.
The real artistry is that Thayne pulled off the reconciliation of their very different relationships towards the town of Haven Point. It helped that It also helped that Ben and McKenzie so clearly need each other and they make a great team together. It was a bit hard to go through the pain they would inevitably unleash on each other, but it was well worth it by the time they get together.
So yeah, this was a solid four stars throughout, for me. I enjoyed the ride, had a hard time putting it down, and loved the cathartic resolution in the end.
November 19, 2025
McKenzie Shaw loves her home town community of Haven Point. Ben Kilpatrick would be happy never to step foot in the town again. When the town’s fate is left in Ben’s hands, McKenzie must do everything she can to show why the town is worth saving. Will McKenzie loose her heart and her town while she tries to convince Ben?
Redemption Bay is a touching story of losses, love and healing. Ben struggles with memories from a tormented past while McKenzie rallied from the difficult times to make new and better memories.
I found this story to be absolutely delightful. Redemption Bay is a story of second chances for love, the town and friendships.
I received this ARC copy of REDEMPTION BAY from Harlequin -
HQN Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
Redemption Bay is a touching story of losses, love and healing. Ben struggles with memories from a tormented past while McKenzie rallied from the difficult times to make new and better memories.
I found this story to be absolutely delightful. Redemption Bay is a story of second chances for love, the town and friendships.
I received this ARC copy of REDEMPTION BAY from Harlequin -
HQN Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
December 23, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
McKenzie Shaw is the mayor of Haven Point and she would do anything for her hometown and the people who live there. But when Ben Kilpatrick comes back to town, her blood runs cold. McKenzie once found herself infatuated with Ben, but when he turned his back on the town and let it go downhill she knew she couldn't just let that go. But when she learns that Ben is here doing some scouting for a new facility that could bring jobs and prosperity to Haven Point, she knows that she will have to be "nice" to him to show him that Haven Point deserves it. Ben has a war of feelings going on inside him, and the last thing he wants to do is be in Haven Point again, it brings back bad memories for him. At first McKenzie and Ben spend time together, and trying to ignore the chemistry they feel for each other, and even though the past comes back to haunt them, they will need to learn to let go of the past when love gets in the way....
The Hero
Ben Kilpatrick has some horrible memories of Haven Point. He grew up in Haven Point, but when his younger sister was diagnosed with a deadly disease, his father turned on him in a very brutal way. He went from a loving father overnight to a man who belittled his son for the tiniest infraction. Even though Ben became a stronger person because of it, it ruined his childhood and teen years. His relationship with his mother is strained even though she suffered just as much as he did. Ben was a character that at first I didn't know if I would learn to like him. From the first book, we get some powerful negative emotions about him. But we see that not everything is black and white and Ben has had to deal with his own demons. I found Ben to be quite the hero, a man still trying to get over emotional baggage from his past and not trying to let it affect him too much. Even though he feels quite a bit of animosity from the town and especially McKenzie, I did like that he didn't let it get him down. I grew to really like his character throughout the book though, and I was impressed with how Thayne handles his flawed character to love.
The Heroine
McKenzie is not a passive woman to just let her town go downhill. She is a fighter and she has to deal every little thing concerning the town. She has a strong backbone and is quite stubborn and determined. McKenzie loves Haven Point and would do anything for the people who lived there and to make it a better place to live. What I was most impressed with was how selfless her character was in this one. She always puts the needs of others above her own. Now I loved McKenzie, her character was fun and spineless. I liked how bulldozed over problems and gets things done even if she is new at the job. I like how happy her character was despite what she went through growing up. She took the best of what she has in life and makes lemonade out of sour grapes.
Plot and Story Line
Redemption Bay follows shortly after book one, and we get Ben and McKenzie's book. And these two were simply fantastic together and I loved the fireworks that they put out. Now this I don't think was quite as good as book one...but it was still dang good!!! I had a blast with Ben and McKenzie and some of the secrets that become revealed were unique and unexpected. The story is just as well written and I like how this author had me falling in love with a character I wasn't sure that I would like and boy did I end up cheering for him. We get to see more enchantment of the small town of Haven Point. And I think I fell in love with it even more. I was quite enchanted by the community of Haven Point. I love how they stand together and do what is best for the town as a whole. The romance between Ben and McKenzie develops slowly and gradually, even though have some great chemistry it takes a while for them to act on it (considering they aren't the best of friends) it makes sense. But what Thayne does with these two is brilliant, their relationship became so real for me. These characters Thayne writes are very compelling and feel so human and people you could be friends with in real life. I love how this author just pulls you into a story that is endearing and full of emotion.
The Cover
Such a pretty night scene by the lake!!! I just love the lights and candles, with the mountains in the backdrop.
Overall View
Redemption Bay is a story you could never regret reading....it is simply magical with a quaint small town culture, characters that win your heart and a story that you don't want to end. A DELIGHT!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="24907"]
Summary
McKenzie Shaw is the mayor of Haven Point and she would do anything for her hometown and the people who live there. But when Ben Kilpatrick comes back to town, her blood runs cold. McKenzie once found herself infatuated with Ben, but when he turned his back on the town and let it go downhill she knew she couldn't just let that go. But when she learns that Ben is here doing some scouting for a new facility that could bring jobs and prosperity to Haven Point, she knows that she will have to be "nice" to him to show him that Haven Point deserves it. Ben has a war of feelings going on inside him, and the last thing he wants to do is be in Haven Point again, it brings back bad memories for him. At first McKenzie and Ben spend time together, and trying to ignore the chemistry they feel for each other, and even though the past comes back to haunt them, they will need to learn to let go of the past when love gets in the way....
The Hero
Ben Kilpatrick has some horrible memories of Haven Point. He grew up in Haven Point, but when his younger sister was diagnosed with a deadly disease, his father turned on him in a very brutal way. He went from a loving father overnight to a man who belittled his son for the tiniest infraction. Even though Ben became a stronger person because of it, it ruined his childhood and teen years. His relationship with his mother is strained even though she suffered just as much as he did. Ben was a character that at first I didn't know if I would learn to like him. From the first book, we get some powerful negative emotions about him. But we see that not everything is black and white and Ben has had to deal with his own demons. I found Ben to be quite the hero, a man still trying to get over emotional baggage from his past and not trying to let it affect him too much. Even though he feels quite a bit of animosity from the town and especially McKenzie, I did like that he didn't let it get him down. I grew to really like his character throughout the book though, and I was impressed with how Thayne handles his flawed character to love.
The Heroine
McKenzie is not a passive woman to just let her town go downhill. She is a fighter and she has to deal every little thing concerning the town. She has a strong backbone and is quite stubborn and determined. McKenzie loves Haven Point and would do anything for the people who lived there and to make it a better place to live. What I was most impressed with was how selfless her character was in this one. She always puts the needs of others above her own. Now I loved McKenzie, her character was fun and spineless. I liked how bulldozed over problems and gets things done even if she is new at the job. I like how happy her character was despite what she went through growing up. She took the best of what she has in life and makes lemonade out of sour grapes.
Plot and Story Line
Redemption Bay follows shortly after book one, and we get Ben and McKenzie's book. And these two were simply fantastic together and I loved the fireworks that they put out. Now this I don't think was quite as good as book one...but it was still dang good!!! I had a blast with Ben and McKenzie and some of the secrets that become revealed were unique and unexpected. The story is just as well written and I like how this author had me falling in love with a character I wasn't sure that I would like and boy did I end up cheering for him. We get to see more enchantment of the small town of Haven Point. And I think I fell in love with it even more. I was quite enchanted by the community of Haven Point. I love how they stand together and do what is best for the town as a whole. The romance between Ben and McKenzie develops slowly and gradually, even though have some great chemistry it takes a while for them to act on it (considering they aren't the best of friends) it makes sense. But what Thayne does with these two is brilliant, their relationship became so real for me. These characters Thayne writes are very compelling and feel so human and people you could be friends with in real life. I love how this author just pulls you into a story that is endearing and full of emotion.
The Cover
Such a pretty night scene by the lake!!! I just love the lights and candles, with the mountains in the backdrop.
Overall View
Redemption Bay is a story you could never regret reading....it is simply magical with a quaint small town culture, characters that win your heart and a story that you don't want to end. A DELIGHT!
Click To Buy On Amazon
[foogallery id="24907"]
November 7, 2015
Very good small town romance between two people who are a lot alike, yet also very different. McKenzie was briefly introduced in Snow Angel Cove as the new mayor of Haven Point. Ben is mentioned as the hometown boy who moved away, and when he inherited the family business closed it down. His neglect of the business properties he owned in town added to the general opinion that his actions have been responsible for the town's economic woes. McKenzie is not happy to discover that Ben is back in town after so many years away.
McKenzie loves the town that she has called home since she was ten years old. As the mayor, she is determined to make it the successful town it was back then. When she discovers that Ben is back in town and living next door to her, she has no problem letting him know just how low her opinion of him is. What she doesn't expect is that the remnants of her childhood crush on him are still there, and being fanned by a very adult attraction to him. When she finds out that Haven Point is in the running for a branch of his business, she realizes that she needs to attempt to be nice and show him everything that the town has to offer.
Ben is really not happy to be back in Haven Point. He left when he finished high school and has never returned, not even for his father's funeral. He is Aidan's business partner (Snow Angel Cove) and the one in charge of checking out possible new locations. Aidan has also told him that he needs a vacation and this will kill two birds with one stone. The problem is that he can't look at the town without remembering why he wanted out.
I loved McKenzie. She's an upbeat person who tries to keep a positive outlook on things. Even when she's dealing with grumpy neighbors/townspeople, she keeps in mind what makes them that way. I understood her grudge against Ben and how hard it was for her when she realized that she was going to have to "court" him for the town. By spending time with him, she soon learned that there was more to what happened than she knew, and her attitude began to soften. I loved seeing her show Ben the side of the town he hadn't really seen as a kid.
Ben was terrific. Through McKenzie's memories, we saw the boy who loved his sister and mourned her illness and death. We also got to see the memories of his father and how his emotional abuse affected Ben. Though he seems cold when he first comes to town, there are glimpses of the man underneath, such as when he's playing with the dog. I liked that he told McKenzie why he was there, but was also honest that his intention was not to use Haven Point for the business. He didn't mislead her there. As the days went on, I loved seeing how he started to relax and open up a bit, such as inviting McKenzie and the boys on his boat. He also began to see the town in a slightly more positive light. Then the revelation of a secret from his past changes everything he thought he knew.
I loved seeing the relationship between them develop. The attraction is hard to resist, even though they try. McKenzie will start to respond, but then is reminded of her anger with him and her mistrust of his motives, and will pull away until the next time it flares up. Ben is just plain reluctant to get involved. He knows she is tied to the town, and it is the last place he wants to be. The attraction that pulls them together begins to develop deeper roots, and sharing their pasts increases the understanding between them. Then a misunderstanding about the new facility causes a big blowup between them, with hurtful things said. It doesn't look good for the relationship or the town. Then a disaster threatens the town and Ben sees McKenzie and the people in action, showing him just what she had been trying to tell him all along. I loved his "aha" moment, when he finally understood. Even better, was when each realized that to have it all they had to risk it all. The epilogue was great, and tied up the book quite neatly.
I also liked the continuing theme of family, with all its good and bad sides. McKenzie's past shows how her arrival in Haven Point could have turned out far differently. I liked how her relationship with her father and sister were shown to be so good, but that her relationship with her stepmother was understandably strained. It wasn't made out to be a terrible thing, it just was what it was and was accepted. Ben's family relationships, on the other hand, were terrible. As each bit of it was revealed, it became more understandable why Ben was the way he was. His interactions with his mother were hard to see because he was so conflicted. I did begin to suspect what the secret was before it was revealed. I also liked that it was handled in a realistic manner, with Ben struggling to accept it all, though there seems to be hope for it all to work out.
McKenzie loves the town that she has called home since she was ten years old. As the mayor, she is determined to make it the successful town it was back then. When she discovers that Ben is back in town and living next door to her, she has no problem letting him know just how low her opinion of him is. What she doesn't expect is that the remnants of her childhood crush on him are still there, and being fanned by a very adult attraction to him. When she finds out that Haven Point is in the running for a branch of his business, she realizes that she needs to attempt to be nice and show him everything that the town has to offer.
Ben is really not happy to be back in Haven Point. He left when he finished high school and has never returned, not even for his father's funeral. He is Aidan's business partner (Snow Angel Cove) and the one in charge of checking out possible new locations. Aidan has also told him that he needs a vacation and this will kill two birds with one stone. The problem is that he can't look at the town without remembering why he wanted out.
I loved McKenzie. She's an upbeat person who tries to keep a positive outlook on things. Even when she's dealing with grumpy neighbors/townspeople, she keeps in mind what makes them that way. I understood her grudge against Ben and how hard it was for her when she realized that she was going to have to "court" him for the town. By spending time with him, she soon learned that there was more to what happened than she knew, and her attitude began to soften. I loved seeing her show Ben the side of the town he hadn't really seen as a kid.
Ben was terrific. Through McKenzie's memories, we saw the boy who loved his sister and mourned her illness and death. We also got to see the memories of his father and how his emotional abuse affected Ben. Though he seems cold when he first comes to town, there are glimpses of the man underneath, such as when he's playing with the dog. I liked that he told McKenzie why he was there, but was also honest that his intention was not to use Haven Point for the business. He didn't mislead her there. As the days went on, I loved seeing how he started to relax and open up a bit, such as inviting McKenzie and the boys on his boat. He also began to see the town in a slightly more positive light. Then the revelation of a secret from his past changes everything he thought he knew.
I loved seeing the relationship between them develop. The attraction is hard to resist, even though they try. McKenzie will start to respond, but then is reminded of her anger with him and her mistrust of his motives, and will pull away until the next time it flares up. Ben is just plain reluctant to get involved. He knows she is tied to the town, and it is the last place he wants to be. The attraction that pulls them together begins to develop deeper roots, and sharing their pasts increases the understanding between them. Then a misunderstanding about the new facility causes a big blowup between them, with hurtful things said. It doesn't look good for the relationship or the town. Then a disaster threatens the town and Ben sees McKenzie and the people in action, showing him just what she had been trying to tell him all along. I loved his "aha" moment, when he finally understood. Even better, was when each realized that to have it all they had to risk it all. The epilogue was great, and tied up the book quite neatly.
I also liked the continuing theme of family, with all its good and bad sides. McKenzie's past shows how her arrival in Haven Point could have turned out far differently. I liked how her relationship with her father and sister were shown to be so good, but that her relationship with her stepmother was understandably strained. It wasn't made out to be a terrible thing, it just was what it was and was accepted. Ben's family relationships, on the other hand, were terrible. As each bit of it was revealed, it became more understandable why Ben was the way he was. His interactions with his mother were hard to see because he was so conflicted. I did begin to suspect what the secret was before it was revealed. I also liked that it was handled in a realistic manner, with Ben struggling to accept it all, though there seems to be hope for it all to work out.
April 21, 2015
Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne is a 2015 HQN publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This second book in the Haven Point Series hooked me in right off and while I liked the first book, this one was a stronger installment.
McKenzie Shaw has found her niche in Haven Point. She owns a floral shop and is the town' s mayor. After her foray into big city life, she returned to Haven Point to care for her father, and ended up finding happiness here.
Ben Kilpatrick is a billionaire businessman whose life is in the hustle and bustle of Portland's big city life. He couldn't wait to get out of Haven Point and once he made his escape he never returned, not even for his own father's funeral. However, he did inherit his father's business, but instead of running it himself, he let someone else handle the investment, which resulted in the closing of the town's one major factory, causing lost jobs and revenue and the town has dried up. However, Haven Point is a possible location for a new business enterprise, so for the first time in many years, he is going home.
When McKenzie hears rumors that Ben Kilpatrick is back in town, she blows it off. But, she soon learns the rumors are true when she finds herself face to face with the man she once looked up to, but now blames for the sad shape of Haven Point, a man she detest more than any person on earth.
When she discovers the reason Ben is in Haven Point, she decides to swallow her resentment and anger in hopes of showing Ben just how awesome Haven Point is, in hopes of getting him to consider setting up his business there, hoping to revive the town.
Will Ben choose the big city advantages or will he discover Haven Point is perfect for his business and his personal life too?
I loved McKenzie from the very beginning. She could have spent her life sucking on sour grapes after her awkward upbringing, but instead she looks at the positives in life and puts the negatives in the proper perspective. She is very mature, is capable of seeing a situation through the eyes of all concerned, and her back story proves she just has a kind and nurturing heart. She is a really nice person, except where Ben is concerned, but after she begins to spend a little time with him, her icy attitude toward him begins to melt.
Ben is has a hard time seeing Haven Point through McKenzie's eyes. Mainly, this is because of his childhood and the very bitter resentments he still holds against his deceased father and his mother, who he believes should have come to his aid as a child, but didn't. So, Ben has a cold demeanor, despite feeling a certain electric charge between himself and McKenzie.
He really comes to admire her sunny disposition and would like for more to develop between them, but under the circumstances that seems impossible, Still, it doesn't stop him from trying. ( Grin) But, before his time in Haven Point is up, Ben will receive some shocking news from his mother that puts everything in an entirely different light.
But, as he grapples with this revelation, the business minded part of himself still can't see Haven Point as a good place to set down roots. But, the more time he spends in Haven Point, the more respect he has for this community, for small town life, for family, friends, and McKenzie? Well, there is no denying the chemistry between these two, but will their feelings deepen? Or will their difference be too much to overcome?
Small town romance is still a big favorite of mine and I loved the sense of community this story brought out. People helping others, supporting others, and genuinely caring about the environment they live in, wanting to see it prosper and grow. This is a very emotional, uplifting and inspirational story.
I have always enjoyed books by this author and am happy to see this new series find it's footing with a very strong follow up to the first book. 4.5 rounded to 5
This second book in the Haven Point Series hooked me in right off and while I liked the first book, this one was a stronger installment.
McKenzie Shaw has found her niche in Haven Point. She owns a floral shop and is the town' s mayor. After her foray into big city life, she returned to Haven Point to care for her father, and ended up finding happiness here.
Ben Kilpatrick is a billionaire businessman whose life is in the hustle and bustle of Portland's big city life. He couldn't wait to get out of Haven Point and once he made his escape he never returned, not even for his own father's funeral. However, he did inherit his father's business, but instead of running it himself, he let someone else handle the investment, which resulted in the closing of the town's one major factory, causing lost jobs and revenue and the town has dried up. However, Haven Point is a possible location for a new business enterprise, so for the first time in many years, he is going home.
When McKenzie hears rumors that Ben Kilpatrick is back in town, she blows it off. But, she soon learns the rumors are true when she finds herself face to face with the man she once looked up to, but now blames for the sad shape of Haven Point, a man she detest more than any person on earth.
When she discovers the reason Ben is in Haven Point, she decides to swallow her resentment and anger in hopes of showing Ben just how awesome Haven Point is, in hopes of getting him to consider setting up his business there, hoping to revive the town.
Will Ben choose the big city advantages or will he discover Haven Point is perfect for his business and his personal life too?
I loved McKenzie from the very beginning. She could have spent her life sucking on sour grapes after her awkward upbringing, but instead she looks at the positives in life and puts the negatives in the proper perspective. She is very mature, is capable of seeing a situation through the eyes of all concerned, and her back story proves she just has a kind and nurturing heart. She is a really nice person, except where Ben is concerned, but after she begins to spend a little time with him, her icy attitude toward him begins to melt.
Ben is has a hard time seeing Haven Point through McKenzie's eyes. Mainly, this is because of his childhood and the very bitter resentments he still holds against his deceased father and his mother, who he believes should have come to his aid as a child, but didn't. So, Ben has a cold demeanor, despite feeling a certain electric charge between himself and McKenzie.
He really comes to admire her sunny disposition and would like for more to develop between them, but under the circumstances that seems impossible, Still, it doesn't stop him from trying. ( Grin) But, before his time in Haven Point is up, Ben will receive some shocking news from his mother that puts everything in an entirely different light.
But, as he grapples with this revelation, the business minded part of himself still can't see Haven Point as a good place to set down roots. But, the more time he spends in Haven Point, the more respect he has for this community, for small town life, for family, friends, and McKenzie? Well, there is no denying the chemistry between these two, but will their feelings deepen? Or will their difference be too much to overcome?
Small town romance is still a big favorite of mine and I loved the sense of community this story brought out. People helping others, supporting others, and genuinely caring about the environment they live in, wanting to see it prosper and grow. This is a very emotional, uplifting and inspirational story.
I have always enjoyed books by this author and am happy to see this new series find it's footing with a very strong follow up to the first book. 4.5 rounded to 5
June 30, 2015
5 Reasons I loved Redemption Bay (and you will too!)
~Although the 2nd in a series...one doesn't need any back story to jump right in and enjoy Redemption Bay
~Haven Point - The small town setting with it's wonderfully unique history, gorgeous views and lakeside property. Who wouldn't want to live there?
~Thayne writes amazing characters that grab the reader from the first page. McKenzie has an interesting history and investment in the town which make her the perfect mayor. Ben is just handsome enough, just tortured enough by his personal history and just smart enough to not let it get in the way when it counts. Supporting cast that adds to feeling of family...especially McKenzie's sister Devin.
~A heartfelt romance that the reader can 100% get behind...no questions...no doubts...I loved it!
~Two beautiful, charming dogs: Rika and Hondo...don't animals make every story just that much better?
Final Thoughts
I loved just how much heart both of these characters had...especially McKenzie. This book is a winner all around...great pacing, plot, characters and an amazing setting that I can't wait to revisit!
~Although the 2nd in a series...one doesn't need any back story to jump right in and enjoy Redemption Bay
~Haven Point - The small town setting with it's wonderfully unique history, gorgeous views and lakeside property. Who wouldn't want to live there?
~Thayne writes amazing characters that grab the reader from the first page. McKenzie has an interesting history and investment in the town which make her the perfect mayor. Ben is just handsome enough, just tortured enough by his personal history and just smart enough to not let it get in the way when it counts. Supporting cast that adds to feeling of family...especially McKenzie's sister Devin.
~A heartfelt romance that the reader can 100% get behind...no questions...no doubts...I loved it!
~Two beautiful, charming dogs: Rika and Hondo...don't animals make every story just that much better?
Final Thoughts
I loved just how much heart both of these characters had...especially McKenzie. This book is a winner all around...great pacing, plot, characters and an amazing setting that I can't wait to revisit!
July 11, 2020
Total fluff chick lit (in a good way). It was a sweet romance, perfect for quarantine/escape reading. Quaint little town, plucky gal, and handsome love interest makes this an enjoyable read.
May 18, 2019
Redemption Bay, is the second installment of the Haven point series but can also be read separately as a stand alone. It’s a feel good contemporary romance that dwells a little in a toxic past of the protagonists: McKenzie and Ben. Just the type I’m devouring at this moment!💞🤷♀️
What immediately strikes you about this book is the lovely setting and the vivid scenic descriptions. The writing is simple and easy. It grabs the reader from chapter 1. McKenzie’s history with the town and her investments throughout makes her the perfect mayor. And handsome Ben with his own share of a tortured past is smart enough to not it let it get in the way when it counts. There are enough supporting cast that adds a cosy feeling but not make you lose focus. Though I would have preferred a bit more swoon to the romance. Also, did I mention that there are two absolutely beautiful dogs to add to this creamy delicious pie of a book!!!!😍
What immediately strikes you about this book is the lovely setting and the vivid scenic descriptions. The writing is simple and easy. It grabs the reader from chapter 1. McKenzie’s history with the town and her investments throughout makes her the perfect mayor. And handsome Ben with his own share of a tortured past is smart enough to not it let it get in the way when it counts. There are enough supporting cast that adds a cosy feeling but not make you lose focus. Though I would have preferred a bit more swoon to the romance. Also, did I mention that there are two absolutely beautiful dogs to add to this creamy delicious pie of a book!!!!😍
July 5, 2015
3.5 stars
"Redemption Bay" is the second book of RaeAnne Thayne's series set in fictional town of Haven Point, Idaho. It featured the feisty female Mayor, McKenzie Shaw, and Ben Kilpatrick, Aiden Caine's (from book #1, Snow Angel Cove) right arm man. I was quite intrigued with the two of them because I got the glimpse of McKenzie's animosity towards Ben from Snow Cove -- she practically hated his guts and I wondered what had happened.
This is a (very) squeaky clean romance (we only had kisses!). Thayne took her time to present her characters to me as a reader. Both McKenzie and Ben had their fair share of heartbreak. Interestingly, both were also results of a secret love affair. But they totally had different point of view when it came to Haven Point.
McKenzie LOVED the town. She loved that the town had given her 'new hope', so to speak. A town that embraced her. She came to Haven Point when she was ten years old, thrust into a new family after his mother died. While Ben hated the town. He hated what the town reminded him about: a bastard of a father who just made his life, and his mother's life hell).
I thought that part was written really well, I liked the layers that Thayne gave to her characters. What I missed, however, was the emotion. I felt that as a couple, Ben and McKenzie came rather flat and not as emotional as I would expect it to be. At one point, I also thought that Haven Point became that one hurdle between them. That McKenzie approached Ben because she wanted Haven Point to strife, while Ben's bitterness towards the town just made him dismissed it altogether as a possibility for a place to stay. Not sure I liked it.
BUT, I had to be honest that one scene that involved the whole town made me a bit choked up. I also couldn't stop loving both Ben and McKenzie's dogs *sigh*. This was a sweet story, it just lacked that IT factor for me.
"Redemption Bay" is the second book of RaeAnne Thayne's series set in fictional town of Haven Point, Idaho. It featured the feisty female Mayor, McKenzie Shaw, and Ben Kilpatrick, Aiden Caine's (from book #1, Snow Angel Cove) right arm man. I was quite intrigued with the two of them because I got the glimpse of McKenzie's animosity towards Ben from Snow Cove -- she practically hated his guts and I wondered what had happened.
This is a (very) squeaky clean romance (we only had kisses!). Thayne took her time to present her characters to me as a reader. Both McKenzie and Ben had their fair share of heartbreak. Interestingly, both were also results of a secret love affair. But they totally had different point of view when it came to Haven Point.
McKenzie LOVED the town. She loved that the town had given her 'new hope', so to speak. A town that embraced her. She came to Haven Point when she was ten years old, thrust into a new family after his mother died. While Ben hated the town. He hated what the town reminded him about: a bastard of a father who just made his life, and his mother's life hell).
I thought that part was written really well, I liked the layers that Thayne gave to her characters. What I missed, however, was the emotion. I felt that as a couple, Ben and McKenzie came rather flat and not as emotional as I would expect it to be. At one point, I also thought that Haven Point became that one hurdle between them. That McKenzie approached Ben because she wanted Haven Point to strife, while Ben's bitterness towards the town just made him dismissed it altogether as a possibility for a place to stay. Not sure I liked it.
BUT, I had to be honest that one scene that involved the whole town made me a bit choked up. I also couldn't stop loving both Ben and McKenzie's dogs *sigh*. This was a sweet story, it just lacked that IT factor for me.
December 30, 2015
McKenzie Shaw loves Haven Point, the small town she grew up in and is currently the acting mayor. When Ben Kilpatrick returns to Haven Point he doesn't get a very warm welcome from McKenzie, he had left the town and not looked backed several years before and hadn't taken care of all the properties and boat manufacturing company he'd inherited which eventually he shut down causing a loss of jobs and other businesses in the community.
Ben however has returned to Haven Point to scout out the town to see if it would be good for a new facility for his current tech firm. McKenzie vows to show him just how wonderful a place Haven Point is and prove to him the town and residents deserve the opportunity.
Another great read from RaeAnne Thayne filled with all the beautiful, heartwarming aspects of living in a small community where neighbors help each other. Filled full of community events and great characters it's hard to go wrong with one of these lovely novels.
Ben and McKenzie were both likable characters although I did at one point think McKenzie seemed a bit immature overreacting to something so couldn't give this a full five stars. Otherwise they both showed their emotional sides and each had their own strength that I admired.
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads, receiving a free copy in no way reflects upon my review and all thoughts are my own.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Ben however has returned to Haven Point to scout out the town to see if it would be good for a new facility for his current tech firm. McKenzie vows to show him just how wonderful a place Haven Point is and prove to him the town and residents deserve the opportunity.
Another great read from RaeAnne Thayne filled with all the beautiful, heartwarming aspects of living in a small community where neighbors help each other. Filled full of community events and great characters it's hard to go wrong with one of these lovely novels.
Ben and McKenzie were both likable characters although I did at one point think McKenzie seemed a bit immature overreacting to something so couldn't give this a full five stars. Otherwise they both showed their emotional sides and each had their own strength that I admired.
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads, receiving a free copy in no way reflects upon my review and all thoughts are my own.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 13, 2016
3.5 stars. (0-5)
This was a very good story with a slightly typical romantic basis...sure, it's a bit predictable but it was well written with really great character development and a couple of deep back stories to keep the reader engaged.
I was lucky enough to read this for free from Barnes and Noble via their "Readouts" Nook program! Each morning, a new chapter was released. It was a little frustrating when I wanted to keep reading, but it was 100% free and no review requested or anything, pretty great deal!
This was a very good story with a slightly typical romantic basis...sure, it's a bit predictable but it was well written with really great character development and a couple of deep back stories to keep the reader engaged.
I was lucky enough to read this for free from Barnes and Noble via their "Readouts" Nook program! Each morning, a new chapter was released. It was a little frustrating when I wanted to keep reading, but it was 100% free and no review requested or anything, pretty great deal!
June 3, 2015
I like this community of Haven Point, love how they all pull together. I loved how McKenzie loves the town, how she has it's best interest at heart. But there were times that McKenzie's actions towards Ben were out of control. She could only see him as the enemy, not someone who didn't think so well of her treasured home.
I liked how through out the book both of them were able to see a different side of things and how the town became a good place for both of them.
I liked how through out the book both of them were able to see a different side of things and how the town became a good place for both of them.
April 18, 2018
What's Ben Kilpatrick doing back in Haven Point when he always hated it and five years after he closed a factory, hurting the town's economy ? And why did he had to rent the house next to her's? That's what is wondering McKenzie Shaw, shop owner but especially the newly mayor of Haven Point. Once again, Ben is still holding the future of his hometown in his hands. McKenzie doesn't hesitate to confront him about his accountability for the town's recession but for the benefits of the community, she'll have to play nice and ask the others to do the same to help convince him to bring a major tech facility to Haven Point.
Ben couldn't tell why he came back to HP when he could have send someone else in his place. For closure maybe ? Grief made him leave at seventeen and he became a cynical billionaire. Faced with the mayor's hostility, a woman he remember as his late sister's best friend, he plan to stay out of her way, but it's easier said than done when you're living next door and your dogs befriended each other. And for a reason he can't explain, he can't stop thinking about her and her assurance and optimism makes him less serious.
It's my first time reading this author. So I don't know if this series is a spin off of an other or something like that. I just know it's the second book in the Haven Point series (because Goodreads "told" me ;p and that you can read it as a standalone). I may have choose this book for the cover (seriously it's so beautiful. Doesn't it make you wish you were right there on the dock, just chilling with a cup of tea or a beer and a book or with friends ?) How RaeAnne Thayne described the town also made me wish I was there, living in this little corner of paradise, participating in the festivals and meeting folks at the bay. I couldn't help but think there was just too many people who have or had some kind of life-threatening disease to be believable but other than that, I can't find fault with this book. The protagonists had well-developed personal history and I got the great sense of cooperation between the townfolks I expect from a small town setting :) I'm not in a hurry to read the other books like right this minute but they're going in my to-read list.
Ben couldn't tell why he came back to HP when he could have send someone else in his place. For closure maybe ? Grief made him leave at seventeen and he became a cynical billionaire. Faced with the mayor's hostility, a woman he remember as his late sister's best friend, he plan to stay out of her way, but it's easier said than done when you're living next door and your dogs befriended each other. And for a reason he can't explain, he can't stop thinking about her and her assurance and optimism makes him less serious.
It's my first time reading this author. So I don't know if this series is a spin off of an other or something like that. I just know it's the second book in the Haven Point series (because Goodreads "told" me ;p and that you can read it as a standalone). I may have choose this book for the cover (seriously it's so beautiful. Doesn't it make you wish you were right there on the dock, just chilling with a cup of tea or a beer and a book or with friends ?) How RaeAnne Thayne described the town also made me wish I was there, living in this little corner of paradise, participating in the festivals and meeting folks at the bay. I couldn't help but think there was just too many people who have or had some kind of life-threatening disease to be believable but other than that, I can't find fault with this book. The protagonists had well-developed personal history and I got the great sense of cooperation between the townfolks I expect from a small town setting :) I'm not in a hurry to read the other books like right this minute but they're going in my to-read list.
January 5, 2020
Can’t get enough of RaeAnne’s charming feel good stories.
September 26, 2015
Rated 3.5 - Will the small town of Haven Point get the financial support they need from the least likely of sources? Can Mayor McKenzie Shaw convince Ben Kilpatrick that Haven Point isn't just his haunted past but his optimistic future?
REDEMPTION BAY builds to a loving story, honing in on the characters' willingness to forgive once they know the full background behind someone's actions. McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick are the least likely couple because they are on the opposite ends of Haven Point's success. Author RaeAnne Thayne is a master at working through conflict that's honest and believable.
McKenzie Shaw is Haven Point's mayor and owner of a flower and gift shop in her hometown. Her days are long and activity-filled, so she looks forward to relaxing at her home on the lake. The last thing she expects to find is a new tenant living next door who will make her heart race and her temper flare.
The one place Ben Kilpatrick never wanted to revisit is his hometown of Haven Point. When he left after his sister's death, he never imagined coming back. But Aiden Caine needs Ben to consider Haven Point for a new business venture, in comparison to the neighboring town which is bigger with more amenities. Aiden thinks Ben needs a vacation and Haven Point is just the place to force him to relax, but Ben sees it as a place of old haunts and memories better left alone.
Ben doesn't understand Mayor Shaw's fierce animosity toward him since he feels he did the best he could, considering the circumstances of his inheritance. He never wanted the issues his father left him and the boat construction plant he closed was a financial decision he had to make. McKenzie thinks of Ben as the reason for her town's failure and she can't believe Aiden put him in charge of making a decision that could make or break her town’s future.
McKenzie forces herself to make nice with Ben in order to prove to him that Haven Point is the best place for their future endeavor. Can the Haven Point citizens rally behind her adequately to help change Ben's preconceived ideas about their well-loved town? Once McKenzie is forced to spend time with Ben as his escort to all the town's festivities, will she give in to the attraction that sizzles between them?
It took me a few chapters to warm up to McKenzie and Ben. They're both excessively devoted to their careers, often blindsiding themselves to what's truly important. McKenzie cares deeply about her town and the people in it, but she's so busy trying to satisfy everyone that she never truly takes time to nurture a personal life. Ben was badly hurt in the past so he pours all his energy into his work, avoiding personal involvement with anyone other than the few people he works with. That's how he ends up with his co-worker's dog when he passes away and Ben learns how to love the rambunctious German Shephard he never knew he wanted.
Ben has a lot of personal history to work through in this book but I really enjoyed his quiet nature. McKenzie is so focused on her town that if takes her a bit to realize that there may be something more to Ben's story than he's telling. I liked that they were acquainted as children and then reunited as adults. This book focuses on the idea that there's more under the surface of what we see, if we take the time to understand another person's viewpoint and the reasons behind their actions. Forgiveness and understanding are recurrent themes in this novel between several characters.
This second book in the HAVEN POINT series is filled with small town celebrations and activities. REDEMPTION BAY showcases the town's caring nature with the citizens' focus on helping their neighbors in need. We get to know McKenzie's sister Devin, a doctor, who is the main character of the next book, EVERGREEN SPRINGS available September 29, 2015. As always, the ending of REDEMPTION BAY is beautiful, filled with heartfelt emotions characteristic of RaeAnne Thayne's touching style, which keeps me coming back for more.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Print ARC provided by the publisher or publicist.
REDEMPTION BAY builds to a loving story, honing in on the characters' willingness to forgive once they know the full background behind someone's actions. McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick are the least likely couple because they are on the opposite ends of Haven Point's success. Author RaeAnne Thayne is a master at working through conflict that's honest and believable.
McKenzie Shaw is Haven Point's mayor and owner of a flower and gift shop in her hometown. Her days are long and activity-filled, so she looks forward to relaxing at her home on the lake. The last thing she expects to find is a new tenant living next door who will make her heart race and her temper flare.
The one place Ben Kilpatrick never wanted to revisit is his hometown of Haven Point. When he left after his sister's death, he never imagined coming back. But Aiden Caine needs Ben to consider Haven Point for a new business venture, in comparison to the neighboring town which is bigger with more amenities. Aiden thinks Ben needs a vacation and Haven Point is just the place to force him to relax, but Ben sees it as a place of old haunts and memories better left alone.
Ben doesn't understand Mayor Shaw's fierce animosity toward him since he feels he did the best he could, considering the circumstances of his inheritance. He never wanted the issues his father left him and the boat construction plant he closed was a financial decision he had to make. McKenzie thinks of Ben as the reason for her town's failure and she can't believe Aiden put him in charge of making a decision that could make or break her town’s future.
McKenzie forces herself to make nice with Ben in order to prove to him that Haven Point is the best place for their future endeavor. Can the Haven Point citizens rally behind her adequately to help change Ben's preconceived ideas about their well-loved town? Once McKenzie is forced to spend time with Ben as his escort to all the town's festivities, will she give in to the attraction that sizzles between them?
It took me a few chapters to warm up to McKenzie and Ben. They're both excessively devoted to their careers, often blindsiding themselves to what's truly important. McKenzie cares deeply about her town and the people in it, but she's so busy trying to satisfy everyone that she never truly takes time to nurture a personal life. Ben was badly hurt in the past so he pours all his energy into his work, avoiding personal involvement with anyone other than the few people he works with. That's how he ends up with his co-worker's dog when he passes away and Ben learns how to love the rambunctious German Shephard he never knew he wanted.
Ben has a lot of personal history to work through in this book but I really enjoyed his quiet nature. McKenzie is so focused on her town that if takes her a bit to realize that there may be something more to Ben's story than he's telling. I liked that they were acquainted as children and then reunited as adults. This book focuses on the idea that there's more under the surface of what we see, if we take the time to understand another person's viewpoint and the reasons behind their actions. Forgiveness and understanding are recurrent themes in this novel between several characters.
This second book in the HAVEN POINT series is filled with small town celebrations and activities. REDEMPTION BAY showcases the town's caring nature with the citizens' focus on helping their neighbors in need. We get to know McKenzie's sister Devin, a doctor, who is the main character of the next book, EVERGREEN SPRINGS available September 29, 2015. As always, the ending of REDEMPTION BAY is beautiful, filled with heartfelt emotions characteristic of RaeAnne Thayne's touching style, which keeps me coming back for more.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Print ARC provided by the publisher or publicist.
June 30, 2015
After
Snow Angel Cove
introduced Haven Point, a Montana lakeshore town with a depressed economy but a strong sense of community, I wondered how soon we would meet everyone’s most hated former resident, Ben Kilpatrick. Ben’s decision to close the boat factory that employed a third of the town was bad enough. His neglect of the remaining business properties he owned – a good portion of Haven Point’s downtown – only made things worse. McKenzie Shaw, recently elected mayor of Haven Point, has never forgiven him.
Now Ben is back, and he’s not any happier to be there than mayor McKenzie is to see him. Too bad he’s renting the house next door – and she’s also never gotten over her childhood crush on him.
The romance in Redemption Bay is fairly predictable, but it’s written with such charm and warmth and features such likeable characters that the predictability hardly matters. I enjoyed my second visit to Haven Point almost as much as my first. Rika, McKenzie’s cinnamon standard poodle, doesn’t add quite as much heartstring-tugging cuteness as Maddie, the little girl in Snow Angel Cove, but she’s a welcome addition to the cast. We do get a chance to see Aiden, Eliza, and Maddie again, and there’s a second-chance romance between two secondary characters, but most of the action is firmly centered on McKenzie and Ben. They are drawn to each other despite McKenzie’s anger and distrust, and Ben’s evident reluctance to get involved – with her or with the town. As you might guess, Ben has personal reasons for staying away so long, and McKenzie’s life hasn’t been all sunshine and roses, either. Their pasts help each of them to understand and sympathize with the other. But it’s not until disaster threatens the whole town that Ben begins to understand McKenzie’s devotion to the place, and to rethink his own relationship to Haven Point.
I always enjoy RaeAnne Thayne’s heartwarming romances, as much for their idyllic Rocky mountain settings as for the romantic relationships. Thayne is really good at creating small mountain towns – not perfect places, but communities where the majority of people care about others and pull together in an emergency. I’d love to vacation in Haven Point – or even live there. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the town!
3.5 stars
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are entirely my own.
Now Ben is back, and he’s not any happier to be there than mayor McKenzie is to see him. Too bad he’s renting the house next door – and she’s also never gotten over her childhood crush on him.
The romance in Redemption Bay is fairly predictable, but it’s written with such charm and warmth and features such likeable characters that the predictability hardly matters. I enjoyed my second visit to Haven Point almost as much as my first. Rika, McKenzie’s cinnamon standard poodle, doesn’t add quite as much heartstring-tugging cuteness as Maddie, the little girl in Snow Angel Cove, but she’s a welcome addition to the cast. We do get a chance to see Aiden, Eliza, and Maddie again, and there’s a second-chance romance between two secondary characters, but most of the action is firmly centered on McKenzie and Ben. They are drawn to each other despite McKenzie’s anger and distrust, and Ben’s evident reluctance to get involved – with her or with the town. As you might guess, Ben has personal reasons for staying away so long, and McKenzie’s life hasn’t been all sunshine and roses, either. Their pasts help each of them to understand and sympathize with the other. But it’s not until disaster threatens the whole town that Ben begins to understand McKenzie’s devotion to the place, and to rethink his own relationship to Haven Point.
I always enjoy RaeAnne Thayne’s heartwarming romances, as much for their idyllic Rocky mountain settings as for the romantic relationships. Thayne is really good at creating small mountain towns – not perfect places, but communities where the majority of people care about others and pull together in an emergency. I’d love to vacation in Haven Point – or even live there. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the town!
3.5 stars
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are entirely my own.
June 30, 2015
I love RaeAnne's books. This is the second book in the Haven Point series. This story is about McKenzie and Ben. McKenzie is the mayor of the small town of Haven Point and she also owns the flower shop. She loves this town and hates that when Ben inherited the family business he let someone else run it into the ground. Now the town is hurting for revenue. Ben comes back to a town he hates and vowed never to return to. He ends up renting the place next door to McKenzie. He has come to town to see if Haven Point would be a good location for his new business. McKenzie needs to convince he needs to put his business here to help save her town but will she lose her heart in the process? Read the book today to find out how it all ends.
July 11, 2015
4.5 stars
RaeAnne Thayne is one of my favorite authors because of her writing style. Her plots are believable, and so are her characters. They are facing issues many of us face or have in our past. They are also people with brains. Her female characters are not the brainless bimbo types who keep "secrets" or do the same stupid behaviors over and over and then whine about it that some authors write.
This is the 2nd in the Haven Point, Idaho, series and I'm enjoying this series as I did her Hope's Crossing one.
I look forward to #3 and more stories about Haven's Point.
RaeAnne Thayne is one of my favorite authors because of her writing style. Her plots are believable, and so are her characters. They are facing issues many of us face or have in our past. They are also people with brains. Her female characters are not the brainless bimbo types who keep "secrets" or do the same stupid behaviors over and over and then whine about it that some authors write.
This is the 2nd in the Haven Point, Idaho, series and I'm enjoying this series as I did her Hope's Crossing one.
I look forward to #3 and more stories about Haven's Point.
January 9, 2021
Mengampuni adalah kunci kedamaian. Berdamai dengan masa lalu yang pahit dan rumit adalah hal yang sulit namun bukan tidak mungkin 👌
December 30, 2022
McKenzie and Ben are a proper power couple. I love that they new each other as kids. The story of Ben’s sister along with his biological father are neatly woven. I thoroughly enjoyed the many back plots within this novel. Well done, Raeanne Thayne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2017
Author: Raeanne Thayne
First published: 2015
Length: 378 pages, 4762 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Haven Point.
Sex: Clean.
Hero: Co-owner of tech company.
Heroine: Mayor
Trigger: Domestic Violence (verbal)
Paranormal: excerpt from Snow Angel Cove
Ms Thayne's website says: "Stories of Hope, Healing and Heart". And that's pretty much what this book is.
A clean romance (since sleeping together would be wrong given their business relationship) that heals him. A town that's all heart. And a mayor that is overflowing with hope.
It's fine. It's enjoyable. It's a happy book.
Haven Point:
Book 1 Snow Angel Cove - Eliza Hayward and Aidan Caine
Book 2 Redemption Bay - McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick
Book 3 Evergreen Springs - Cole Barrett and Devin Shaw
Book 4 Riverbend Road - Wyn Bailey and Cade Emmett
Book 5 Snowfall on Haven Point - Andrea Montgomery and Marshall Bailey
Book 6 Serenity Harbor - Bowie Callahan and and Katrina Bailey
Book 7 Sugar Pine Trail - Jamie Caine and Julia Winston
References:
Author's website: http://www.raeannethayne.com/books/ha...
(ISBN ...)
-CR-
First published: 2015
Length: 378 pages, 4762 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Haven Point.
Sex: Clean.
Hero: Co-owner of tech company.
Heroine: Mayor
Trigger: Domestic Violence (verbal)
Paranormal: excerpt from Snow Angel Cove
Ms Thayne's website says: "Stories of Hope, Healing and Heart". And that's pretty much what this book is.
A clean romance (since sleeping together would be wrong given their business relationship) that heals him. A town that's all heart. And a mayor that is overflowing with hope.
It's fine. It's enjoyable. It's a happy book.
Haven Point:
Book 1 Snow Angel Cove - Eliza Hayward and Aidan Caine
Book 2 Redemption Bay - McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick
Book 3 Evergreen Springs - Cole Barrett and Devin Shaw
Book 4 Riverbend Road - Wyn Bailey and Cade Emmett
Book 5 Snowfall on Haven Point - Andrea Montgomery and Marshall Bailey
Book 6 Serenity Harbor - Bowie Callahan and and Katrina Bailey
Book 7 Sugar Pine Trail - Jamie Caine and Julia Winston
References:
Author's website: http://www.raeannethayne.com/books/ha...
(ISBN ...)
-CR-
November 23, 2016
I forgot to mention in my last review that, in spite of all the things that worked less for me in that book, something RaeAnne Thayne never disappoints with is scenery and her description of it. I truly love the way she paints a picture and while reading the Hope's Crossing series, it made me want to throw some clothes in a suitcase and leave for Colorado. With this series, she managed to do the exact same with her idyllic description of Idaho.
Haven Point sounds like it would be an amazing sight to see. The difference is that I will actually be travelling through Idaho next summer, so now I've got the unstoppable urge to look up a little mountain town to go visit. Kudos to the author for managing that.
I was less than sure about this at the beginning; in fact, I'd already begun suspecting that I was clearly not going to enjoy this series as much as the Hope's Crossing books. I could see where Ben's mom's storyline would take us and thought it was going to be incredibly tedious. I just have little patience for these types of "big secrets" that are glaringly obvious to everyone and then it's just a matter of waiting around until the main character finds out. But then Ben and McKenzie completely won me over, to the point where I didn't much care about the rest. Also, the dogs were pretty great.
Sidenote about RaeAnne Thayne's books, though: the amount of characters in both series that have lost one or both parents or have lost a spouse, is staggering. I can take one or two family dramas, it happens, but to have that many is a bit of overkill. Just a heads up that if that kind of thing bothers you, best stay away from these.
Haven Point sounds like it would be an amazing sight to see. The difference is that I will actually be travelling through Idaho next summer, so now I've got the unstoppable urge to look up a little mountain town to go visit. Kudos to the author for managing that.
I was less than sure about this at the beginning; in fact, I'd already begun suspecting that I was clearly not going to enjoy this series as much as the Hope's Crossing books. I could see where Ben's mom's storyline would take us and thought it was going to be incredibly tedious. I just have little patience for these types of "big secrets" that are glaringly obvious to everyone and then it's just a matter of waiting around until the main character finds out. But then Ben and McKenzie completely won me over, to the point where I didn't much care about the rest. Also, the dogs were pretty great.
Sidenote about RaeAnne Thayne's books, though: the amount of characters in both series that have lost one or both parents or have lost a spouse, is staggering. I can take one or two family dramas, it happens, but to have that many is a bit of overkill. Just a heads up that if that kind of thing bothers you, best stay away from these.
June 28, 2015
RaeAnne Thayne welcomes us again to Haven Point and it is wonderful to be back!!! We are effortlessly drawn to Thayne's rich, complex, and sympathetic characters. McKenzie Shaw is sweet, warm and caring and uses all her resources to take care of the people of Haven Point. Ben Kilpatrick is a local boy all grown up with a heartbreaking past and a grudge against the town he grew up in. Ben is now a strong, handsome, successful man who wants to leave his past and Haven Point behind. MCKenzie and Ben are thrown together as she tries to convince him to save the town she loves.
Thayne offers us more then a heart warming romance, she offers us brilliant insight into the complex problems and virtues we all possess. I am always taken with how brilliantly she creates a town and people we feel personally vested in. I love the complexity of Thayne's characters and the obstacles they have to overcome to find each other. I am always surprised and delighted by how thoroughly she draws me in and how much I love her towns and her characters.
You will love McKenzie. She and Ben will warm your heart and you will be rooting for them to find each other. The town's people will captivate you and make you long for many more visits to Haven Point. Thayne makes you love her characters and long to live in the sweet towns she creates. Ben and McKenzie will break your heart and then fix it as they overcome their pasts and their differing views to find each other. Redemption Bay is simply a wonderful book.
Thayne offers us more then a heart warming romance, she offers us brilliant insight into the complex problems and virtues we all possess. I am always taken with how brilliantly she creates a town and people we feel personally vested in. I love the complexity of Thayne's characters and the obstacles they have to overcome to find each other. I am always surprised and delighted by how thoroughly she draws me in and how much I love her towns and her characters.
You will love McKenzie. She and Ben will warm your heart and you will be rooting for them to find each other. The town's people will captivate you and make you long for many more visits to Haven Point. Thayne makes you love her characters and long to live in the sweet towns she creates. Ben and McKenzie will break your heart and then fix it as they overcome their pasts and their differing views to find each other. Redemption Bay is simply a wonderful book.
March 15, 2015
t is good to be back in Haven Point and to see who will be the next to find love. This time it is McKenzie Shaw and Ben Kilpatrick. It is hard to believe that they could ever get together but they do have some things in common.
I loved the story. Both McKenzie and Ben are great characters and their story unfolds in a very believable way. As usual Thayne’s story line is well thought out. Back-story happens when needed and adds to the flow. One thing I loved was something that was lacking. There were some hot kisses but no page after page of sex. I read an ARC so I hope that stays the same. It was refreshing to have all of the action mean something without all of the sex scenes interrupting the story line.
This is just book 2 in the Haven Point series. The town has some other great characters just waiting for their story.
Harlequin published Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne in
I loved the story. Both McKenzie and Ben are great characters and their story unfolds in a very believable way. As usual Thayne’s story line is well thought out. Back-story happens when needed and adds to the flow. One thing I loved was something that was lacking. There were some hot kisses but no page after page of sex. I read an ARC so I hope that stays the same. It was refreshing to have all of the action mean something without all of the sex scenes interrupting the story line.
This is just book 2 in the Haven Point series. The town has some other great characters just waiting for their story.
Harlequin published Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne in
November 1, 2015
Well, it's official. I'm enjoying the Haven Point series just as much as I did the Hope's Crossing series. RaeAnne Thayne just writes simple stories about good people that make you feel all mushy inside when you're reading them. Her female protagonists never come across as needy, weak women and her male characters are the kind of guys any woman would love to meet.
I really enjoy these books as a break from murder and mayhem.
I really enjoy these books as a break from murder and mayhem.
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