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The Music Shop (Harmony Bay Book 6): A Small-Town Women’s Fiction and Sweet Romance Series of Later-in-Life Second Chances

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🎵 She chose a new life…
Now she has to decide how fully she’s ready to live it.


Maggie Donovan came to Harmony Bay to escape a life that no longer felt like her own.

What she found instead was something she never expected—
a place to belong…
a life built on her own choices…
and the quiet possibility of something more.

Now, with her past finally behind her and a future she’s chosen beginning to take shape, Maggie is no longer asking who she is.

She’s asking what comes next.

Because building a new life is one thing.

Letting yourself fully step into it… is something else entirely.

As the town comes together in the wake of unexpected challenges, and the music shop faces a future that will require more than hope to protect, Maggie finds herself standing at the center of something she never could have planned—

A life filled with connection.
With purpose.
With people who see her clearly… and stay anyway.

And for the first time, she isn’t standing alone.

Meanwhile, Tiffany is discovering that the life she was raised to want may not be the life she chooses after all.

As she finds her own path—one built on instinct instead of expectation—she’s forced to decide what she’s willing to leave behind… and what she’s finally ready to claim as her own.

Because in Harmony Bay, second chances don’t arrive all at once.

They build.
They deepen.
They ask you to choose them—again and again.

And sometimes, the most important choice isn’t starting over…

It’s deciding you’re ready to stay.

💖 The Music Shop is an emotional small-town women’s fiction and sweet, slow-burn romance series about second chances, self-discovery, family, and the courage to build a life that finally feels like your own.

Perfect for fans of Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, and heartfelt Hallmark-style stories.

🎶 Come home to Harmony Bay, where broken chords become beautiful again.

👉 Continue the series and experience the moment everything begins to fall into place.

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2026

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About the author

Kel Summers

79 books103 followers
Kel Summers writes clean women’s fiction romance books with a focus on later-in-life and second chance love. Her writing captures the essence of hope, self-discovery, and growth, resonating deeply with readers who appreciate stories of love and new beginnings.

Her personal journey, fueled by her own struggles and heart-breaking loss, led her to leave behind her life in Georgia and venture to the peaceful shores of the Florida Keys. It was there that she found solace, inspiration, and the courage to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an author.

With her toes in the sand, a pen in her hand and her faithful and furry canine companion Ivy by her side, she creates tales of love, resilience, and the power of second chances. Through her books, Kel offers readers a chance to escape into beautiful and peaceful coastal settings, where her characters experience personal growth, rekindle lost passions and find love when they least expect it.

Kel Summers’ books resonate with readers seeking heartwarming stories that transport them to the beach, where love and new beginnings flourish. Her clean and uplifting romances capture the beauty of later-in-life love and the profound impact it can have on one’s life. With each new release, Kel continues to captivate readers and remind them that, no matter the challenges faced, there is always an opportunity for healing and a chance at finding true happiness.

Discover the healing power of second chances and the magic of love in Kel Summers’ later-in-life and second chance clean romances.

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5 stars
140 (72%)
4 stars
39 (20%)
3 stars
14 (7%)
2 stars
1 (<1%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
1,763 reviews13 followers
April 28, 2026
🎵 She perfected her life. She perfected her marriage. She just forgot to include herself.

After twenty-five years of striving to be the perfect wife in a world where she never quite belonged, Maggie Donovan’s carefully curated life fractures in a hospital hallway — and her escape to the quiet Gulf Coast town of Harmony Bay becomes the first real choice she’s ever made for herself.

For decades, Maggie believed perfection was the price of belonging. A polished marriage. A controlled image. A daughter raised to follow the same rigid path.

But inside a small-town music shop tucked between palm trees and ocean breezes, something long buried begins to stir.

Nora Hale, the shop’s warm and intuitive owner, offers presence without pressure.
Andrew Hale — steady, kind, and quietly compelling — offers friendship without conditions.

For the first time in years, Maggie isn’t being measured.

As she reconnects with music—and the parts of herself she abandoned to survive—she’s forced to confront the truth about the life she built with a man who valued optics over intimacy—and decide whether it’s finally time to choose happiness over fear.

Because starting over isn’t just about leaving.
It’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.

This contemporary sweet, small-town women's fiction slow-burning second chance later-in-life romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in the Gulf town of Harmony Bay, a small town in a charming coastal community, where the sunrises and sunsets are magnificent and majestically painted across the sky in vibran hues, and characters who are a female heroine who is divorced and a male hero who offers friendship without conditions, who are both captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the music shop, an inspired romance where later-in-life self-discovery, second chances, finding love in a charming coastal community, starting over, sisters, chaos/drama, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the music shop and contemporary sweet, small-town women's fiction slow-burning second chance later-in-life romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly emotional, intriguing, and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle Dodge.
643 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 12, 2026
This is a clean book. Plot twist! It was supposed part of a series of 6 books and ends and this is book 6. However, we now have a Book 7. (Can’t wait!). You need to read the prior books (1-5) to understand the plot in this story.

This book focuses more on Tiffany, with a little bit of focus on her mom, Maggie and her aunt, Liz. Tiffany is coming into her own realizing that just because her father and boyfriend want her to follow a certain path, it’s not her path. She growing and learning about herself. We see Maggie and how her relationship with Andrew is doing. And then Blake, who is the director of the community center, how he starts to connect with Liz. Such that the community center board has bets going on when they might get together.

This has been a really good series. Supposedly it was supposed to end with this book, book6. However, at the end I found out there is a part 7. Am I disappointed? Nope! Can’t wait for the next part. It’s been a great read.

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Suzanne Normandeau Legault.
460 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 13, 2026
Firstly, this is book 6 of the series. They must be read in order to capture this amazing story of resilience, determination and discovering oneself. This is book 6 and each book starts where the previous one ended. Maggie and Tiffany are together and decided they both want the same thing. Maggie accepts Nora’s offer of becoming co-owners of the Music Shop and she even buys a house and as for Tiffany, she comes to terms as well and knows she no longer wants to go back to her old life and accepts a job at the community center. Maggie and Tiffany both realized they don’t want the planned life with expectations and deadlines, but enjoy the feeling of being seen without being managed and that’s why Tiffany ends her relationship with Max. Jesse is the reason Tiffany feels all these emotions and wants to hang on to them and Andrew makes sure Maggie wants him as much as he wants her. We’ll have to wait for book 7 to find out. I can honestly say l’m addicted to this series and you’ll be as well the minute you read book 1.
892 reviews5 followers
April 21, 2026
Now first things first, this is the sixth book in the series and you have to read the first five or else this won’t make any sense. It was supposed to be the ending of the series but I am so glad we are getting another book. And now on to this book. This story was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed seeing how things were wrapping up and what all was happening with Maggie and family. I was not expecting to get as much of Tiffany and Liz with this book but it was a refreshing change up for me. That’s not to say the Maggie line was cut off or abandoned. But we got more of the others in this story. Watching both Maggie and Tiffany come into their own so much and so naturally was endearing and warmed my heart. These two needed exactly what they got and I was so happy for it. They build a life for themselves. Without the control and influence that they had been subjected to for so long. The things they deserve and need are coming to fruition and I cannot wait to see what the next book has in store.
Profile Image for Wendy.
756 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 16, 2026
3.5 Stars rounded to 4

This is part 6 of the series and they must be read in order as the story builds upon itself.

I was under the impression that this was supposed to be the last book in the series, but at the end we find out there will be a 7th coming.

For the first 5 installments, the focus was more on Maggie. With this book, we start to get others point of views, including Tiffany, Liz, Blake, and a smidgen of Jess.

This series is listed as a second chance romance, but it's a different second chance than we're typically used to. This is more of a second chance to find a real love that builds instead of expects. And really, it's a second chance at love for Maggie, Tiffany, and I'm predicting Liz as well.

I received an advance copy and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
454 reviews4 followers
April 21, 2026
Is a sweet small town, second chance later in life romance.
Is Maggie going to open up to Tiffany before it's too late? Will Maggie accept the patnership with Nora? Why does Tiffany feel like everything is closing in on her? Will Tiffany give in to her dad and Max? Who's going to win the bet? Will they get The Music Shop fixed after the Hurricane? What about all the damage to the Community Center and Theater will it repaired in time for the performance? Some questions will be answered questions others will be answered in Book 7.
I'm loving Maggie and Andrew's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her Book 7
Profile Image for Shuvai.
916 reviews19 followers
April 21, 2026
The Music Shop, Book 1 by Kel Summers really is a rollercoaster of emotions. Maggie’s world shatters with that phone call about her husband’s accident, only to discover his girlfriend at the hospital. That moment of betrayal sets the tone—raw, painful, and decisive. Maggie’s quiet strength in choosing to wait until her daughter returns to school before ending the marriage shows resilience and resolve.

It’s a gripping start to the series, blending heartbreak with empowerment, and promises more emotional twists ahead.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Julie.
179 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 18, 2026
ARC review
Antecdotal thoughts while reading
Help wanted
Making her own place in the world?
Possible friends to lovers for Maggie developing?
🏠 💙
What is it with the men just being "simply there"? They show up quiet, don't need to announce themselves, just acclimate right in to the area.
Maybe Liz and Blake??
Tiffany, I love the calm, decisive woman you are becoming.
🎸
🌀
Did the board members make a betting pool? 😆
Blake!!! Your bet!! 🐖 🪰 😅
💋 consent ✔️
Tiffany, you were made for that job/career.

The series as a whole 4 stars.
Profile Image for Andrea Stoeckel.
3,271 reviews136 followers
April 25, 2026
From the front row, Nora watched it all.

This was, we were lead to believe, the last of the Music Shop books but another is coming in May which I have pre ordered. The question I am left with is the lead of this review: Did Nora really see what we were seeing? That Maggie and Tiffany would find harmony in their lives when they came to Harmony Bay?

And the answer for these characters is a definite yes in big bold letters. Storms may come and go but when you are centered and peaceful you can weather them. Highly Recommended 5/5
1,164 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 14, 2026
Tranquility.

A heartwarming, emotional story as Maggie finds tranquility and builds a new life in Harmony Bay. I love how Maggie rebuilds her life with the support of family and new friends after being blind-sided by her husband's actions.  Not only does Maggie reset her priorities, but her daughter, Tiffany, also breaks free of unrealistic expectations to find herself.  

I read this book as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.
3,692 reviews20 followers
Review of advance copy
April 20, 2026
The Music Shop, Book 6, finds Maggie and Tiffany making life changes to stay in Harmony Bay full time as they enjoy the slower lifestyle. But with the good life comes the bad in the form of a hurricane. The Music Store and the Community Center both experience damage. Romance continues to slowly blossom for the primary characters possibly including Liz. The series continues in book 7.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
123 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2026
I enjoyed book 6 in this series and thought it was going to be the finale, but obviously not. All three women seem to have found what they were searching for. Maggie has reconnected with music and now has the music store and her budding relationship with Andrew. Tiffany has realized she can forge her own path and is falling for Jesse. Then buttoned up Liz has connected with community center director Blake and his little girl Rosie. Can’t wait for the next chapter in their adventures.
Profile Image for Johanna.
6,563 reviews112 followers
April 29, 2026
Book 6 in The Harmony Bay series. Books should be read in series order for maximum enjoyment.

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jacqueline Johnston Cotton.
2,568 reviews41 followers
April 30, 2026
I am thrilled there will be a seventh book in this series because romance for Maggie, Tiffany and Liz?! Yes, please! This amazing story has been a page turner. These characters have been well developed and really pull you into their story. It shows how life's twists and turns can show up when least expected. It's been a delightful blend of hope, heart, healing and second chances. It's been pure enjoyment from book to book.

382 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 12, 2026
Maggie & Andrew are settling into a good rhythm together. Tiffany & Jesse are spending a lot of time together. Tiffany has a job and is finally figuring out what she wants not what her father wants for her. Liz & Blake are working on the community center after the hurricane. Nora is there watching it all unfold every day at The Music Shop.

I read this book as ARC.
Profile Image for Diana.
770 reviews5 followers
April 20, 2026
This part is a quieter section of the story. Both Maggie and Tiffany are learning the concept of just letting things be what they are. There doesn't need to be a grand plan, a five year plan or a ten year plan. They are both finding themselves and this book sets Maggie, Tiffany and Liz all up for future romances. The nice thing is that this story isn't over- book 7 is on the horizon.
70 reviews
April 21, 2026
A wonderful warming story where romance is blooming and mother and daughter are figuring out what to do with their lives.
A delightful surprise as this story continues to book 7 , be sure to read these books in order in this series.
I got this as an complimentary copy for being an ARC reviewer and voluntarily give my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Michelle Shamy.
1,065 reviews14 followers
April 28, 2026
Excellent! This is by far one of my fave series. Maggie and Tiffany are growing so much. Maggie has finally found her footing and she’s running with it. Seeing the community as well has been awesome. Seeing so many different things taking place has really pulled this story together. I’ve loved every minute of this.
434 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2026
This installment of the Harmony Bay story did not disappoint. The transformation in Maggie and Tiffany has been such a beautiful thing to watch. I especially loved seeing them come into themselves and start looking forward toward what they want in the future. Seeing possibilities for love in Liz’s life was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. I cannot wait to see how this story wraps up!
821 reviews18 followers
April 25, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book. This is a fast read and continues from the previous books in the series. I found great characters and a great story. This is a perfect escape and I will be watching for more books by this author.
Profile Image for Tami Willard.
2,817 reviews16 followers
April 26, 2026
Must read in order. Can't wait for the next book. Now that they have gotten out of the toxic relationships some of their friends and enemies might be seeking a new status.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
89 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2026
Loved it…..can’t wait to finish the series! Both Maggie and Tiffany are finding joy, happiness and love in Harmony Bay. A total change from their previous life.
Profile Image for Monica Benbow.
77 reviews
May 5, 2026
A great continuation of the Music Shop books! Introducing 2 new characters and a possible love interest for Liz and seeing Liz in a new light!
14 reviews
June 29, 2026
Wonderful Story!

All of The Music Shop books are wonderful! I couldn't stop reading them. Kel Summers is a wonderful storyteller with relatable characters.
Profile Image for Sheri Jelinek.
83 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 21, 2026
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free, and this is my honest review.

Another great book from Kel Summers in this series. These really starts to focus on Maggie, Tiffany and Liz equally and we are seeing them all start to blossom into their new selves. When I started the book, I was feeling bittersweet as it was shown to be only 6 books in the series and this was the last one. Well, it was an incredible surprise as I finished the book, and Kel Summers announces a Book 7. I am so excited to continue the story as I think there is more to these ladies.
94 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 20, 2026
I ARC read this for Kel Summers.

I really enjoyed this one because it starts to feel like home to Maggie and Tiffany.

I loved how the characters are coming together and how their stories are being developed more.

I really love Tiffany in this book because she is starting to see what she can do herself, and she can choose what she wants.

Very well done!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews