What do you think?
Rate this book
Weathering Doves Harbor #3
Lightning & Thunder
Levina McKay left Doves Harbor and never looked back. She’s been doing it on her own, making ends meet for her and her daughter, Aurora. But when she receives a wedding invitation, she can’t turn it down, she has to be there even if it means digging up the past. She never thought she would see Beck again. Seeing him in the flesh has her booking the first flight out of town.
Beck Ashley has only had two loves of his life; surfing and Levina. When he finds out that his first love is in town he’s rattled, when he finds out she has a child, he’s devastated. But when he sees her for the first time and she looks just like him, he’s speechless.
The past isn’t what it seems. Beck has lived in the belief that he was left behind without a second thought. Levina has lived in the belief that he left her to be a single mother to their daughter. When the circumstances keeping them apart appear not to exist, it’s like keeping lightning and thunder apart.
Beck Ashley has only had two loves of his life; surfing and Levina. When he finds out that his first love is in town he’s rattled, when he finds out she has a child, he’s devastated. But when he sees her for the first time and she looks just like him, he’s speechless.
The past isn’t what it seems. Beck has lived in the belief that he was left behind without a second thought. Levina has lived in the belief that he left her to be a single mother to their daughter. When the circumstances keeping them apart appear not to exist, it’s like keeping lightning and thunder apart.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 16, 2026
4.5⭐️ – Thank you so much Kate Jensen for yet another ARC opportunity 🥹 three out of three, and what a wonderful adventure this has been!
I was slightly apprehensive as I tend to avoid any books that heavily feature parenting/pregnancy/children (for personal reasons), and while they definitely are important central aspects of this story I am very glad I did not pass up on this one ❤️🩹
I will keep it as vague as possible while trying to give you a sense of what to expect (because I personally do not enjoy reading a review that details the entire story and so that is how I like to write my reviews).
Kate did a remarkable job with yet another well rounded, emotionally available & mature MMC who as soon as he's given the chance to step up to the plate will do it without a shadow of a doubt. She also gave us a strong, selfless & incredible FMC who is while being complex & unafraid, learns she can in fact trust again & does not need to shoulder it all alone.
I knew Beck to be level headed sweetheart since the beginning of the series & I was so delighted to see my instincts DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Despite the shock & devastation of the situation and his still very present feelings for Levina, he did not hesitate to make the difficult decisions when it came to the wellbeing of his daughter Aurora.
Aurora is the most adorable kid ever & getting to see her relationship unfold with both Levina & Beck but also all the side characters was just absolutely wonderful and made my inner child's heart squeeze tight.
I really enjoyed all the flashbacks to their youth & seeing their budding love develop. The found family aspect was truly a treasure; from Beck's parents to the couples from the previous two books, as well as all the girlfriends rallying behind & supporting Levina, it all brought such a sense of community that I kept finding myself teary eyed.
As someone who has often lacked that in my own youth, I know how incredibly scary & incredibly beautiful of a feeling it is to trust other people with your heart again.
The storyline contained no toxic behaviours, no ridiculous amount of miscommunication, no unnecessary shock factors.
Instead we got a heartbreaking backstory that slowly and realistically evolved into a REAL & HEALTHY relationship where the main focus was Aurora's well being before the romance was even really given a second chance.
Despite the painful & difficult subjects, in the end it's a story full of heart & soul & laughter that has deeply healed some long forgotten parts of me 🥺
I was slightly apprehensive as I tend to avoid any books that heavily feature parenting/pregnancy/children (for personal reasons), and while they definitely are important central aspects of this story I am very glad I did not pass up on this one ❤️🩹
I will keep it as vague as possible while trying to give you a sense of what to expect (because I personally do not enjoy reading a review that details the entire story and so that is how I like to write my reviews).
Kate did a remarkable job with yet another well rounded, emotionally available & mature MMC who as soon as he's given the chance to step up to the plate will do it without a shadow of a doubt. She also gave us a strong, selfless & incredible FMC who is while being complex & unafraid, learns she can in fact trust again & does not need to shoulder it all alone.
I knew Beck to be level headed sweetheart since the beginning of the series & I was so delighted to see my instincts DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Despite the shock & devastation of the situation and his still very present feelings for Levina, he did not hesitate to make the difficult decisions when it came to the wellbeing of his daughter Aurora.
Aurora is the most adorable kid ever & getting to see her relationship unfold with both Levina & Beck but also all the side characters was just absolutely wonderful and made my inner child's heart squeeze tight.
I really enjoyed all the flashbacks to their youth & seeing their budding love develop. The found family aspect was truly a treasure; from Beck's parents to the couples from the previous two books, as well as all the girlfriends rallying behind & supporting Levina, it all brought such a sense of community that I kept finding myself teary eyed.
As someone who has often lacked that in my own youth, I know how incredibly scary & incredibly beautiful of a feeling it is to trust other people with your heart again.
The storyline contained no toxic behaviours, no ridiculous amount of miscommunication, no unnecessary shock factors.
Instead we got a heartbreaking backstory that slowly and realistically evolved into a REAL & HEALTHY relationship where the main focus was Aurora's well being before the romance was even really given a second chance.
Despite the painful & difficult subjects, in the end it's a story full of heart & soul & laughter that has deeply healed some long forgotten parts of me 🥺
April 3, 2026
The world of Weathering Doves Harbor has become such a comfort place for me! This is book three in the interconnected stand-alone series & I knew exactly how I expected to feel after reading.
This one was centered around Beck and Levina! I absolutely loved Beck in the first two books and was so excited to hear this one was for him.
Their love story wasn’t only just a “second chance” romance. It was a bittersweet outlook and reminder that life, with all its intricacies, is unexpected and beautiful all the same.
They fell in love as kids and it never changed. Even when six years apart got in the way.
I know “secret baby” or “secret pregnancy” get a lot of hate but this one was more than just a trope. As to not spoil anything, I’ll leave it at this: our MCs weren’t purposely left in the dark. It also wasn’t a one-night stand gone wrong. It was youth, people & life getting in the way. And it was so good & wholly adorable.
I’m so excited for more! I’m convinced who the next book will be focused around and I can’t wait!💜
This one was centered around Beck and Levina! I absolutely loved Beck in the first two books and was so excited to hear this one was for him.
Their love story wasn’t only just a “second chance” romance. It was a bittersweet outlook and reminder that life, with all its intricacies, is unexpected and beautiful all the same.
They fell in love as kids and it never changed. Even when six years apart got in the way.
I know “secret baby” or “secret pregnancy” get a lot of hate but this one was more than just a trope. As to not spoil anything, I’ll leave it at this: our MCs weren’t purposely left in the dark. It also wasn’t a one-night stand gone wrong. It was youth, people & life getting in the way. And it was so good & wholly adorable.
I’m so excited for more! I’m convinced who the next book will be focused around and I can’t wait!💜
April 21, 2026
This was my first read by Jensen Kate and I was immediately pulled in by how calm and beautifully detailed the writing felt. Every scene was painted so vividly that I could almost feel the ocean air and the weight of everything left unsaid.
Beck completely stole my heart. He is the definition of a green flag. As a partner, as a friend, and most of all as a father. Watching him step into Aurora’s life without hesitation broke me in the softest way. That first breakfast scene lives rent free in my head. The way their bond bloomed so naturally and unconditionally had me tearing up more than once.
Levina, on the other hand, was harder for me to sit with. I understand her pain and the choices she made, but knowing she had chances to fix things and didn’t take them made me feel frustrated. Still, the connection between her and Beck was undeniable. It was intense, emotional, and constant. Truly lightning and thunder in every moment they shared.
What really stayed with me was the warmth of it all. The found family, the friendships, the quiet support system surrounding them. And as a girl mom, this story hit deeper than I expected. It made me think about love, about choices, and about what the future might hold in ways that felt both comforting and overwhelming.
A heartwarming, emotional second chance romance that lingers long after the last page.
Beck completely stole my heart. He is the definition of a green flag. As a partner, as a friend, and most of all as a father. Watching him step into Aurora’s life without hesitation broke me in the softest way. That first breakfast scene lives rent free in my head. The way their bond bloomed so naturally and unconditionally had me tearing up more than once.
Levina, on the other hand, was harder for me to sit with. I understand her pain and the choices she made, but knowing she had chances to fix things and didn’t take them made me feel frustrated. Still, the connection between her and Beck was undeniable. It was intense, emotional, and constant. Truly lightning and thunder in every moment they shared.
What really stayed with me was the warmth of it all. The found family, the friendships, the quiet support system surrounding them. And as a girl mom, this story hit deeper than I expected. It made me think about love, about choices, and about what the future might hold in ways that felt both comforting and overwhelming.
A heartwarming, emotional second chance romance that lingers long after the last page.
April 20, 2026
I received an ARC copy from the Author, so I am loving my honest review.
Honestly? I love it. However, I will forever miss reading about this couple and the previous ones in Weathering Dove Harbour.
The relationship is very healthy with them clearing up the misunderstandings between Beck and Levina. I especially love how well written Levina was since she came off relatable in some parts of her character. It made it very easy to fall in love with Levina and Beck development together. Chef kiss 💋 for another wonderful MMC as well.
P.S.
I think Levina was a strong single mother, since motherhood never comes with a roadmap or a guide.
^
I love how this was also portrayed.
I can’t wait to buy it in paperback for a shelf trophy and to lend out to my friends.
Honestly? I love it. However, I will forever miss reading about this couple and the previous ones in Weathering Dove Harbour.
The relationship is very healthy with them clearing up the misunderstandings between Beck and Levina. I especially love how well written Levina was since she came off relatable in some parts of her character. It made it very easy to fall in love with Levina and Beck development together. Chef kiss 💋 for another wonderful MMC as well.
P.S.
I think Levina was a strong single mother, since motherhood never comes with a roadmap or a guide.
^
I love how this was also portrayed.
I can’t wait to buy it in paperback for a shelf trophy and to lend out to my friends.
May 4, 2026
{ARC}
Read this before it was put here so I don’t remember everything from the book… however I do remember enjoying it!!! I loved the moments between all of the characters and the setting was just gorgeous!!
The only thing I remember being my little tick about this book was that it went slow then quick then slow again, k would enjoy an even paced book more. But it was still sooo good I could look past it and just enjoy reading this!!
After reading this book I looked up the other books in the series (yes I started with the latest book cause that me hahah), and wanted to deep dive into them!! I’ll definitely do it when summer reaches cause it feels like it’s the best time to read them
Read this before it was put here so I don’t remember everything from the book… however I do remember enjoying it!!! I loved the moments between all of the characters and the setting was just gorgeous!!
The only thing I remember being my little tick about this book was that it went slow then quick then slow again, k would enjoy an even paced book more. But it was still sooo good I could look past it and just enjoy reading this!!
After reading this book I looked up the other books in the series (yes I started with the latest book cause that me hahah), and wanted to deep dive into them!! I’ll definitely do it when summer reaches cause it feels like it’s the best time to read them
April 20, 2026
Enjoyed this one! I’ve liked Beck since book 1 and he did not disappoint. I love a childhood friends to lovers and second chance. Aurora was so cute! Beck jumped into fatherhood and was such a good dad to her even though he missed 5 years of her life. Levina was the best single mom before Beck re entered her life, I admired her. Love this found family!
April 20, 2026
I've really enjoyed every book in Doves Harbor so far, and this one is no exception! This is such a sweet second chance romance and watching Beck and Levina's reunion and seeing how they grow as a family is so sweet and special. Seeing Beck as a dad, and how all of their friends react to the news was absolutely perfect! I'm already so ready for the next book in this town!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you’re looking to get out of a book slump, this is the book you need to pickup. It had me absolutely hooked right from the beginning. I was in a slump for about 3 weeks, I just couldn’t find anything that spoke to me like Thunder & Lighting.
To start off I was lucky enough to not only receive a chance to ARC read for Thunder & Lightning but her other two books in this interconnected series as well.
• You can tell how much detail she has put into her work by the way of her writing and intermixing previous characters. It made the book that much more enjoyable to read!
Vi 💋 She stepped into motherhood without a roadmap, learning as she went, making mistakes but never making excuses. There was a quiet strength in the way she carried herself. She figured things out on her own. Not because she had to prove anything to anyone else, but because her daughter deserved stability, warmth, and a life that never felt like it was missing something, unlike what she had growing up. I absolutely applaud the author for the way she was able to write Vi and changing the cycle of parenting for her own daughter. 10/10. ALL while battling her emotions when it came to her ex, Beck.
Beck 🤌🏼 Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect for his POV’s. In the first couple of books, I couldn’t get a great read on him. So it felt as if I was coming in blind to his own story. But when that man speaks, you LISTEN. Oh my goodness. It’s so very clear that this man was and has been holding every other woman to Vi and nothing compared in the slightest. I loved getting both previous glimpses into their lives at teens and seeing the correlation to their adult lives. I also love the fact that this man was not afraid to show his emotions. In my opinion that is a HUGE bonus for any MMC.
Overall, I’m extremely glad that I got the chance to read this as an ARC. I’m probably not going to shut up about it for the foreseeable future 🫢😛.
Jensen Kate, you my lovely friend have absolutely hit it out of the park. 🖤
To start off I was lucky enough to not only receive a chance to ARC read for Thunder & Lightning but her other two books in this interconnected series as well.
• You can tell how much detail she has put into her work by the way of her writing and intermixing previous characters. It made the book that much more enjoyable to read!
Vi 💋 She stepped into motherhood without a roadmap, learning as she went, making mistakes but never making excuses. There was a quiet strength in the way she carried herself. She figured things out on her own. Not because she had to prove anything to anyone else, but because her daughter deserved stability, warmth, and a life that never felt like it was missing something, unlike what she had growing up. I absolutely applaud the author for the way she was able to write Vi and changing the cycle of parenting for her own daughter. 10/10. ALL while battling her emotions when it came to her ex, Beck.
Beck 🤌🏼 Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect for his POV’s. In the first couple of books, I couldn’t get a great read on him. So it felt as if I was coming in blind to his own story. But when that man speaks, you LISTEN. Oh my goodness. It’s so very clear that this man was and has been holding every other woman to Vi and nothing compared in the slightest. I loved getting both previous glimpses into their lives at teens and seeing the correlation to their adult lives. I also love the fact that this man was not afraid to show his emotions. In my opinion that is a HUGE bonus for any MMC.
Overall, I’m extremely glad that I got the chance to read this as an ARC. I’m probably not going to shut up about it for the foreseeable future 🫢😛.
Jensen Kate, you my lovely friend have absolutely hit it out of the park. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have loved the Dove Harbor series so far. I enjoy the friend group a lot and love seeing them all grow in each story. However, I had some issues with this book. I really love Beck as a character, he’s the epitome of a good friend and a good guy. But I did not like Levina whatsoever. I think that the entire basis of her story was immature and unforgivable. I just couldn’t enjoy the romantic aspects of this book because I personally couldn’t move past it. She was forgiven way too quickly, in my opinion. And then somehow Beck was written out to be the bad guy, not once but twice, because of her immaturity. With that aside, I really loved reading Beck and Aurora’s story and chose to focus on that because that was the true “love” story for me. The two of them together made me smile. So I read this more as a dad and daughter finding their footing with each other than a romance.
• second chance • dual timeline • found family • his baby/secret baby • it’s always been you • high school sweethearts • family secrets •
• second chance • dual timeline • found family • his baby/secret baby • it’s always been you • high school sweethearts • family secrets •
April 21, 2026
✨️arc review✨️
4🌟/5
Levina left Doves Harbor and never looked back, but then she receives a wedding invitation that she can’t turn it down so now she’s back in her past.
Beck has only had two loves in his life: surfing and Levina so when he found out that not only the love of his life is back in town but she’s has a daughter too he’s devastated
So what’s going to happen when they found out that the past isn’t what it seems?!
Lightning & Thunders was such a beautiful story, very touching and definitely such an emotional roller coaster.
With Beck and Levina everything felt so natural like they were just destined to find each other’s back, I enjoyed seeing how they found a way to clarify the misunderstanding between them in the healthiest way possible.
But that I love the most was seeing Beck and his child build a beautiful bond it was honestly so heartwarming
This book was a very good reading I highly recommend it!
4🌟/5
Levina left Doves Harbor and never looked back, but then she receives a wedding invitation that she can’t turn it down so now she’s back in her past.
Beck has only had two loves in his life: surfing and Levina so when he found out that not only the love of his life is back in town but she’s has a daughter too he’s devastated
So what’s going to happen when they found out that the past isn’t what it seems?!
Lightning & Thunders was such a beautiful story, very touching and definitely such an emotional roller coaster.
With Beck and Levina everything felt so natural like they were just destined to find each other’s back, I enjoyed seeing how they found a way to clarify the misunderstanding between them in the healthiest way possible.
But that I love the most was seeing Beck and his child build a beautiful bond it was honestly so heartwarming
This book was a very good reading I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was the healthiest Romance I have ever read. I felt toxic for anticipating for a dramatic downfall for the characters, but they took a moment from each other and found a way to clear up the misunderstanding between the two or him seeing how he messed up. Then for him to improve on communicating his point to her to make her feel safe on relying on others. I love how Levina was able to find her community and answers not just for her but for Beck too for what happened 6 years ago
Also you're telling me this is the third book? This is a well written stand alone that you didn't need to go back to other books to understand the previous ones. I enjoyed that there was context about each side characters without having to have it distract from the main plot of the book
Also you're telling me this is the third book? This is a well written stand alone that you didn't need to go back to other books to understand the previous ones. I enjoyed that there was context about each side characters without having to have it distract from the main plot of the book
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one made me cry- a really emotional read! Beck and Levina were once each other's everything until she disappeared overnight with no explanation.
Reunited at a mutual friends wedding with a surprise in tow they quickly reconnect. Watching Beck grow into his new role was a definite emotional rollercoaster and I think he is the biggest "cinnamon roll" of the Doves Harbour crew so far.
I love how you get glimpses into the lives of the characters from past books and insight into what might happen next.
Thank you for the ARC and all thoughts are my own.
Reunited at a mutual friends wedding with a surprise in tow they quickly reconnect. Watching Beck grow into his new role was a definite emotional rollercoaster and I think he is the biggest "cinnamon roll" of the Doves Harbour crew so far.
I love how you get glimpses into the lives of the characters from past books and insight into what might happen next.
Thank you for the ARC and all thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Jensen, for giving me the ARC of this book. I’ve always said her writing is so engaging, and this one was no different. It kept me hooked throughout! This was such a sweet, tender, comforting read and I loved it a lot. I wanted to read Beck’s story from the moment he was introduced in the first book and safe to say, I completely fell in love with his and Levina’s story.
One thing I absolutely loved was how much focus was given to Aurora. Instead of being used just as a plot point, we actually get to see her life, how Beck and Levina navigate co-parenting while slowly finding their way back to each other. I really appreciated how their relationship and parenting were balanced so well, with Aurora always being the priority.
There’s no unnecessary toxicity in this book, which made it even more refreshing. Even in their early twenties, both Beck and Levina handled things with maturity... it was so nice to read. Beck is such a wonderful character, the way he stepped up as a father and supported both his girls while still respecting Levina’s space really stood out to me. My heart ached thinking about everything Levina must have gone through, even from the small glimpses we got. I’m so glad she had Beck and the whole group supporting her, it made everything feel lighter!
I also loved all the group scenes. It’s always fun to revisit characters from previous books and get little hints about what’s coming next... I can already guess the couple! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a light, sweet second chance romance <3
One thing I absolutely loved was how much focus was given to Aurora. Instead of being used just as a plot point, we actually get to see her life, how Beck and Levina navigate co-parenting while slowly finding their way back to each other. I really appreciated how their relationship and parenting were balanced so well, with Aurora always being the priority.
There’s no unnecessary toxicity in this book, which made it even more refreshing. Even in their early twenties, both Beck and Levina handled things with maturity... it was so nice to read. Beck is such a wonderful character, the way he stepped up as a father and supported both his girls while still respecting Levina’s space really stood out to me. My heart ached thinking about everything Levina must have gone through, even from the small glimpses we got. I’m so glad she had Beck and the whole group supporting her, it made everything feel lighter!
I also loved all the group scenes. It’s always fun to revisit characters from previous books and get little hints about what’s coming next... I can already guess the couple! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a light, sweet second chance romance <3
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved Lightning and Thunder! Levina, Beck, and Aurora were the cutest little family!
This was such a great read! Levina and Beck have such a sweet and special relationship. It was so nice to see them grow together! I’m such a sucker for second chance romance!
💜second chance
💜high school sweethearts
💜secret baby
💜it’s always been you
Thank you to Jenson Kate for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
This was such a great read! Levina and Beck have such a sweet and special relationship. It was so nice to see them grow together! I’m such a sucker for second chance romance!
💜second chance
💜high school sweethearts
💜secret baby
💜it’s always been you
Thank you to Jenson Kate for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2026
ARC review!
I really like this series and all the characters in it however this story felt a bit rushed. It starts of with something HUGE but it gets forgiven and forgotten in just about two seconds. Sadly took me out of it. I did however like the back and forth with Aurora.
It’s a good book. Just not as amazing as the previous two entries in this series.💕
I really like this series and all the characters in it however this story felt a bit rushed. It starts of with something HUGE but it gets forgiven and forgotten in just about two seconds. Sadly took me out of it. I did however like the back and forth with Aurora.
It’s a good book. Just not as amazing as the previous two entries in this series.💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Jensen for sending a copy of this arc! It was so comforting and amazing to be back in this world with these wonderful characters and getting to know these new ones better. Her MMCs never miss. I’ve loved every one in this series and Beck sure hit the mark. He was wonderful in every way. This was a beautiful story with so many elements. I read it in one day.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews