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Sea Glass Cove #1
The Abalone Shell
The message was undeniable… Fight for her.
Six months after her divorce, Hope St. Cloud is struggling with her guilt over leaving her daughter’s father. She needs a fresh perspective, and she knows exactly how to find it—by spending the summer at her family’s cottage in Sea Glass Cove. Surrounded by abundant peace and fond childhood memories, Hope and her daughter will be able to find a new rhythm with just the two of them.
Nothing could’ve prepared her for the immediate and tantalizing attraction to local gallery owner Owen McKinney. Or for his instant connection with her shy daughter.
It’s been three years since the accident that stole everything Owen held dear. That’s more than enough time to mourn and move on, but he can’t seem to let go… until Hope and her adorable daughter stroll into his gallery. In them, he finds everything he lost—all the joy and adventure that comes with being a family. But Hope’s divorce is still fresh, and he’s afraid she might’ve made a mistake divorcing her husband.
Then a sign straight from his past makes it clear that Hope and her daughter are his future, and he can’t let them walk away.
Six months after her divorce, Hope St. Cloud is struggling with her guilt over leaving her daughter’s father. She needs a fresh perspective, and she knows exactly how to find it—by spending the summer at her family’s cottage in Sea Glass Cove. Surrounded by abundant peace and fond childhood memories, Hope and her daughter will be able to find a new rhythm with just the two of them.
Nothing could’ve prepared her for the immediate and tantalizing attraction to local gallery owner Owen McKinney. Or for his instant connection with her shy daughter.
It’s been three years since the accident that stole everything Owen held dear. That’s more than enough time to mourn and move on, but he can’t seem to let go… until Hope and her adorable daughter stroll into his gallery. In them, he finds everything he lost—all the joy and adventure that comes with being a family. But Hope’s divorce is still fresh, and he’s afraid she might’ve made a mistake divorcing her husband.
Then a sign straight from his past makes it clear that Hope and her daughter are his future, and he can’t let them walk away.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2017
835 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Suzie O'Connell
43 books133 followersSuzie O'Connell grew up in a small town on the Kitsap Peninsula in Western Washington, but has called the mountains and valleys of Western Montana home for well over a decade. She has been writing stories since she was old enough to know how (the first she can recall was penciled in the second grade, about the mouse who went to the sea) and completed her first novel, Summer Angel, before she graduated from high school. After high school, tired of the endless rain, she attended college at the University of Montana-Western and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing. She is currently working on a Masters of Education and teaches high school English.
Suzie considers herself to be a rather quirky individual with ecclectic tastes in music, movies and books. She listens to just about anything, including pop, rock, country and techno and her favorite movies range from Grumpy Old Men to Lord of the Rings to Moulin Rouge to Pirates of the Caribbean. When it comes to reading, she prefers fantasy, science fiction, romance and literary fiction.
She firmly believes it's healthy to laugh at yourself, that best friends are worth far more than their weight in gold, and that home truly is where the heart is.
When she isn't writing, teaching or studying, Suzie enjoys playing in the mountains with her husband Mark, their daughter Maddie and their energetic golden retriever Reilly. She is also a hobby photographer, specializing in landscapes.
Suzie considers herself to be a rather quirky individual with ecclectic tastes in music, movies and books. She listens to just about anything, including pop, rock, country and techno and her favorite movies range from Grumpy Old Men to Lord of the Rings to Moulin Rouge to Pirates of the Caribbean. When it comes to reading, she prefers fantasy, science fiction, romance and literary fiction.
She firmly believes it's healthy to laugh at yourself, that best friends are worth far more than their weight in gold, and that home truly is where the heart is.
When she isn't writing, teaching or studying, Suzie enjoys playing in the mountains with her husband Mark, their daughter Maddie and their energetic golden retriever Reilly. She is also a hobby photographer, specializing in landscapes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 3, 2018
A beautiful beach setting attracted me to this story. I liked the characters. This is a sweet contemporary romance that stirs many emotions.
Want to read
January 16, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/16/2018)! 💝
June 7, 2023
Sweet romance. Loved the location and the characters.
January 26, 2018
The Abalone Shell is set on the Oregon Coast in a beautiful beach community. Owen McKinney owns a local gift shop where he makes the items for sale from the beach glass and abalone shell he finds on the beach. He lost both his wife and young son in a car accident when she drove off a cliff one foggy night three years ago.
Hope St. Cloud comes to the family cottage for two months to get a fresh start on her life as a single mother to her seven-year-old daughter, Daphne. The first day they go for clam chowder at a local place attached to Owen's gift shop and meet.
They are neighbors on the cliff with a view of the Pacific and the beach. The two cottages share a stairs for access to the beach and the normally shy Daphne asks to have Owen for dinner. This starts a friendship, dating and dealing with the emotional issues of his lose of his first wife and son and her divorce six months ago.
I loved the emotion and the sensitivity that Owen shows and how he shares his feelings with Hope and helps her find her balance. The Abalone Shell has a special meaning for Owen and he shares it with Hope in the most romantic manner, which I loved.
Hope St. Cloud comes to the family cottage for two months to get a fresh start on her life as a single mother to her seven-year-old daughter, Daphne. The first day they go for clam chowder at a local place attached to Owen's gift shop and meet.
They are neighbors on the cliff with a view of the Pacific and the beach. The two cottages share a stairs for access to the beach and the normally shy Daphne asks to have Owen for dinner. This starts a friendship, dating and dealing with the emotional issues of his lose of his first wife and son and her divorce six months ago.
I loved the emotion and the sensitivity that Owen shows and how he shares his feelings with Hope and helps her find her balance. The Abalone Shell has a special meaning for Owen and he shares it with Hope in the most romantic manner, which I loved.
May 9, 2017
I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down! Suzie O'Connell is a fantastic story teller!
January 1, 2018
Charming and sweet.
Hope needs to find herself again after her divorce. Quiet cottage over looking the water, perfect place to relax and maybe find happiness. Sometimes second chances at love come when least expected!
Hope needs to find herself again after her divorce. Quiet cottage over looking the water, perfect place to relax and maybe find happiness. Sometimes second chances at love come when least expected!
January 1, 2018
Simply Read
A lot of words, a sad story, and a sadder book. I wasn't happy with the ending. This book just left me sad.
A lot of words, a sad story, and a sadder book. I wasn't happy with the ending. This book just left me sad.
Read
January 5, 2019Ain't bad at all, it really stirs many emotions !
April 25, 2017
A cute and romantic clean read that will warm your heart. It's a story of new beginnings, of letting go of the past and coping with life's curve balls - but mostly of believing in love again.
It's a quick read but packed with beautiful descriptions and the emphasis on emotions, just the way I like a romance novel to be.
It's a sort of love at first sight story, and even though it might seem a little rushed, I personally felt it fit the characters perfectly. They were both scarred for different reasons, but meeting each other gave them both a reason to believe in love again.
The heroine's young daughter is super cute, and the hero's interactions with her will make you fall in love with him.
This is the first book I've read by this author but I definitely want to read the next one in this series.
*** I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily reviewed the book***
It's a quick read but packed with beautiful descriptions and the emphasis on emotions, just the way I like a romance novel to be.
It's a sort of love at first sight story, and even though it might seem a little rushed, I personally felt it fit the characters perfectly. They were both scarred for different reasons, but meeting each other gave them both a reason to believe in love again.
The heroine's young daughter is super cute, and the hero's interactions with her will make you fall in love with him.
This is the first book I've read by this author but I definitely want to read the next one in this series.
*** I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily reviewed the book***
June 22, 2017
Enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series. It was predictable but did discuss some areas that usually aren't covered and made me think about the other person. An easy summer read. I would love to stay in that cottage.
December 18, 2017
The Abalone Shell left me in awe. The scenery of Sea Glass Cove, the incredibly self-reflective and emotionally vulnerable characters and O’Connell’s familiar, comfy writing style combined perfectly to leave me breathless.
The Abalone Shell embodies O’Connell’s greatest strength, her ability to craft heroes and heroines who are just resurfacing after fighting through their darkest days. O’Connell explored that strength in depth throughout her Northstar Angel series and I was delighted to see her continue that exploration in this first installment of her new Sea Glass Cove series. In The Abalone Shell, we meet Owen and Hope. Hope has just divorced her husband and is visiting her family’s cottage in Sea Glass Cove with her young daughter. Owen lives and works as an artist in the area and is ready to move forward after grieving the death of his son and wife for the last three years.
The Unique
-In The Abalone Shell readers get introduced to O’Connell’s newest picturesque small-town, Sea Glass Cove. Like all of O’Connell’s other small towns, Sea Glass Cove has a homey feeling that pervades each page. The best part? Just like O’Connell’s other books, the setting is not the focus of this book! I like small-town romances, really I do, but sometimes I want to read a romance set in a small-town that doesn’t focus on the secondary characters or a town crisis. If you like small-town romances that keep a tight focus on the hero and heroine, then O’Connell’s work is perfect for you.
The Exceptional
-More often than not, widower romances are not my thing. In widower romances, I always feel like there is some reason the heroine is “better” than the hero’s first wife (the heroine is better suited for him, or the hero didn’t actually love his first wife). That pitting of women against one another, especially when one is dead, bothers me. Owen though, I actually completely and thoroughly loved Owen as a widower. What set Owen apart was that he loved his wife, Sam. Since her passing three years ago he’s mourned her and he made the decision, prior to the start of The Abalone Shell, to move on and find happiness. Hope isn’t replacing Sam and that’s made explicitly clear by O’Connell and through Owen’s actions.
The Imperfect
-This book, sadly, ended with an HFN (happy for now) instead of an HEA (happily ever after). These two deserve to be happy with each other FOREVER. In my mind, I’ve been glossing over the HFN and replacing it with an HEA honestly.
This book is everything I’ve been waiting for from Suzie O’Connell’s newest release; there were emotional highs and lows, a deep exploration of grief and incredibly lifelike characters. I’m pretty sure I would consider moving to Sea Glass Cove if it was a real place. I’d probably weasel my way into being friends with Hope and Owen too! 4.5 stars for The Abalone Shell!
Copy for review provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at Straight Shooin' Book Reviews.
The Abalone Shell embodies O’Connell’s greatest strength, her ability to craft heroes and heroines who are just resurfacing after fighting through their darkest days. O’Connell explored that strength in depth throughout her Northstar Angel series and I was delighted to see her continue that exploration in this first installment of her new Sea Glass Cove series. In The Abalone Shell, we meet Owen and Hope. Hope has just divorced her husband and is visiting her family’s cottage in Sea Glass Cove with her young daughter. Owen lives and works as an artist in the area and is ready to move forward after grieving the death of his son and wife for the last three years.
The Unique
-In The Abalone Shell readers get introduced to O’Connell’s newest picturesque small-town, Sea Glass Cove. Like all of O’Connell’s other small towns, Sea Glass Cove has a homey feeling that pervades each page. The best part? Just like O’Connell’s other books, the setting is not the focus of this book! I like small-town romances, really I do, but sometimes I want to read a romance set in a small-town that doesn’t focus on the secondary characters or a town crisis. If you like small-town romances that keep a tight focus on the hero and heroine, then O’Connell’s work is perfect for you.
The Exceptional
-More often than not, widower romances are not my thing. In widower romances, I always feel like there is some reason the heroine is “better” than the hero’s first wife (the heroine is better suited for him, or the hero didn’t actually love his first wife). That pitting of women against one another, especially when one is dead, bothers me. Owen though, I actually completely and thoroughly loved Owen as a widower. What set Owen apart was that he loved his wife, Sam. Since her passing three years ago he’s mourned her and he made the decision, prior to the start of The Abalone Shell, to move on and find happiness. Hope isn’t replacing Sam and that’s made explicitly clear by O’Connell and through Owen’s actions.
The Imperfect
-This book, sadly, ended with an HFN (happy for now) instead of an HEA (happily ever after). These two deserve to be happy with each other FOREVER. In my mind, I’ve been glossing over the HFN and replacing it with an HEA honestly.
This book is everything I’ve been waiting for from Suzie O’Connell’s newest release; there were emotional highs and lows, a deep exploration of grief and incredibly lifelike characters. I’m pretty sure I would consider moving to Sea Glass Cove if it was a real place. I’d probably weasel my way into being friends with Hope and Owen too! 4.5 stars for The Abalone Shell!
Copy for review provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at Straight Shooin' Book Reviews.
October 10, 2019
A gentle love story. Hope has been divorced for six months from Dan. She and her daughter Daphne have come to Sea Glass Cove, to the family cottage, for the summer, to relax and take stock. Hope is a writer, so can work anywhere. Soon after they arrive Hope notices a striking man in the cafe, he owns the attached shop, where he sells gifts and ornaments, many that he has made himself from shells, and glass, picked up on the beach. It turns out they live close to each other. They have an instant empathy with each other. Hope is distressed to find he is a widower, who lost his wife and young son in tragic circumstances a couple of years earlier. He has found it hard to get involved with the world since then, but his instant rapport with Hope and Daph has given him the anticipation that his life will change for the better.
They have a few blips on the way, but they are so obviously right for each other, and Daph loves him instantly, that everything had to work out well in the end. A lovely story for a lazy afternoon. It has the aah! factor.
They have a few blips on the way, but they are so obviously right for each other, and Daph loves him instantly, that everything had to work out well in the end. A lovely story for a lazy afternoon. It has the aah! factor.
April 23, 2018
Hope St. Cloud is a divorced mother of a young daughter. She takes her daughter to spend the summer at her family's cottage off the coast of Washington. There she meets Owen McKinney, whose wife and son died in a car accident three years ago. Hope and Owen have instant chemistry and her daughter, Daphne, loves Owen.
The story is about healing - Hope from her 15-year disastrous marriage and Own from his family's deaths. They help each other by being kind and friendly and caring. There was very little "drama" involved, except for when Hope's ex-husband shows up unexpectedly. The supporting characters were well-developed; I found Owen's sister Erin a bit annoying, but the author had Erin explain her actions and motivation to Owen, so ultimately, it made sense.
The story is about healing - Hope from her 15-year disastrous marriage and Own from his family's deaths. They help each other by being kind and friendly and caring. There was very little "drama" involved, except for when Hope's ex-husband shows up unexpectedly. The supporting characters were well-developed; I found Owen's sister Erin a bit annoying, but the author had Erin explain her actions and motivation to Owen, so ultimately, it made sense.
May 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was truly well written. I found myself totally immersed in the book and didn't want to put it down. All the emotions were real and totally believable. I found myself feeling their emotions as the two leads struggled to let go of their past to trust again and fully live again. The descriptions of the sea glass windchimes, the ocean, and the abalone shells were wonderful. Another delightful point in the author's favor was when the couple decided to come together for a night romping in the sheets, it was after they'd gotten to know each other and behind closed doors. Tastefully handled. I highly recommend this story.
November 28, 2022
This was a gentle and charming love story in a delightful setting between two people who need a second chance at love. Hope has finally divorced a man who was not good for her and Owen is slowly recovering after the death of his wife and son. It is attraction at first sight - I know one reviewer said it wasn’t possible to fall in love so quickly, but I don’t think there are rules to love and the love happens over the course of a few weeks. There are a few ups and downs but you get the HEA you expect. I don’t read much romance, I prefer stories where the romance is minor or a sub plot - but I did enjoy this book. It is a quick read, but it didn’t cost much so I’m not complaining.
July 22, 2024
A quick and easy read that doesn't take much concentration. A book you can easily dip in and out of. I've read a lot of tougher, heavier thrillers and real life memoirs lately and wanted something a bit more lighthearted to read for a change. This was just perfect for that. It would also be great for a car journey.
If you can see past the fact that the story isn't exactly believable with how quickly the 2 main characters start professing their feelings for each other, especially given what they've both been through, then this is worth the read. If you want escapism rather than reality this is for you.
If you can see past the fact that the story isn't exactly believable with how quickly the 2 main characters start professing their feelings for each other, especially given what they've both been through, then this is worth the read. If you want escapism rather than reality this is for you.
September 10, 2017
For me this was a one-night reading sensation. I couldn't put it down and couldn't fall asleep until I got to the end. This first book in a new series takes place in completely different surroundings than Northstar - from the mountains of Montana to the sea shore at Sea Glass Cove. I found the Northstar series to be more edgy, darker, exciting whereas Sea Glass was more emotional, lighter, but still enthralling. Suzie another great start to what I know will be a great series. I look forward to the next book.
March 5, 2018
To love life again
This book held my interest from the first page. I kept coming back to it during the night, when should have been sleeping. Maren Ferguson is a very good writer, as this book had me hooked after three pages. The characters were so real that you could met them on the street. The emotions from the people are very real. I've been divorced with children involved, from a parent who didn't care what his children did. This book is a very good to read. Thank you Ms. Ferguson for writing this book with heart.
This book held my interest from the first page. I kept coming back to it during the night, when should have been sleeping. Maren Ferguson is a very good writer, as this book had me hooked after three pages. The characters were so real that you could met them on the street. The emotions from the people are very real. I've been divorced with children involved, from a parent who didn't care what his children did. This book is a very good to read. Thank you Ms. Ferguson for writing this book with heart.
January 1, 2022
My first book by this Author - I was enticed by the lovely cover & the beach setting ..
A typical romance read - follows the tried and tested format of similar stories ..
I enjoyed the seaside town location and activities, but the characters were a little two dimensional and predictable ..
However, although this was short enough to be enjoyable, there was still too much repetition of 'thoughts & emotions' which I do find very tedious ..
2.5 rounded up to 3 for the inclusion of a Map ..
A typical romance read - follows the tried and tested format of similar stories ..
I enjoyed the seaside town location and activities, but the characters were a little two dimensional and predictable ..
However, although this was short enough to be enjoyable, there was still too much repetition of 'thoughts & emotions' which I do find very tedious ..
2.5 rounded up to 3 for the inclusion of a Map ..
January 20, 2018
Sweet, heartbreaking romance
This is a very sweet romance that pulls a man from a heartbreaking tragedy and a life of grief, to seeing the sun shine in the eyes of a struggling single mother getting over a divorce and her young daughter. The connection is immediate and easy but completely unexpected. There are a few bumps between them but they handle it like adults. Well worth reading.
This is a very sweet romance that pulls a man from a heartbreaking tragedy and a life of grief, to seeing the sun shine in the eyes of a struggling single mother getting over a divorce and her young daughter. The connection is immediate and easy but completely unexpected. There are a few bumps between them but they handle it like adults. Well worth reading.
May 12, 2019
Review
I loved this book! Hope finally divorced her husband, and decided to go to her family's cottage at Sea Glass Cove with her daughter for the summer to heal. She met Owen at his art gallery, and both of them felt an attraction. He had lost his wife and son in an accident, so both are hurting. But the ocean is slowly healing, as they spend time together. Looking forward to the next book.
I loved this book! Hope finally divorced her husband, and decided to go to her family's cottage at Sea Glass Cove with her daughter for the summer to heal. She met Owen at his art gallery, and both of them felt an attraction. He had lost his wife and son in an accident, so both are hurting. But the ocean is slowly healing, as they spend time together. Looking forward to the next book.
August 11, 2023
When two hearts meet
This story made me fall in love all over again because my man is the embodiment of the male protagonist in The Abalone Shell, and I am the writer. Sometimes a story seems so real and so close to a reality you are living, it's like its your story. The characters are real, and even though the location is totally different, it could happen anywhere. I loved this book and recommend it to any hopeless romantic like me.
This story made me fall in love all over again because my man is the embodiment of the male protagonist in The Abalone Shell, and I am the writer. Sometimes a story seems so real and so close to a reality you are living, it's like its your story. The characters are real, and even though the location is totally different, it could happen anywhere. I loved this book and recommend it to any hopeless romantic like me.
April 30, 2025
3,5 ☆
It's a lovely story about finding new love and moving on from their previous relationships. And the emotions that come with that
In a beautiful setting (with a map 🤩 )
But sadly, I kept wondering how old these characters were (I'm guessing in their mid 30s, but I can't be sure 🤷♀️)
I also would have liked a bit more interaction with Hope's family (We never met the parents or the brother and his family. Only the cousin and his son briefly)
All in all, it is an enjoyable quick read
It's a lovely story about finding new love and moving on from their previous relationships. And the emotions that come with that
In a beautiful setting (with a map 🤩 )
But sadly, I kept wondering how old these characters were (I'm guessing in their mid 30s, but I can't be sure 🤷♀️)
I also would have liked a bit more interaction with Hope's family (We never met the parents or the brother and his family. Only the cousin and his son briefly)
All in all, it is an enjoyable quick read
May 25, 2017
Suzie has done it again! She has a unique way of presenting personalities that you feel like could be your neighbors. There was definitely a chemistry and a passion for living life well between the main characters Hope and Owen. Although both endured hardships in life, they were able to overcome them to find love with each other. A fun summer read!
January 20, 2018
Very good
I enjoyed reading this book very much. Hope took her daughter to her family's cottage. She met Owen who ran a gallery in Sea Glass Cove. Hope was divorced and Owen had lost his wife and son 3 years earlier. Watching how Maren Ferguson brought them together was interesting. There were misunderstandings along the way but Maren kept you interested to see what happened. This is a good book and I already started the next book. I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed reading this book very much. Hope took her daughter to her family's cottage. She met Owen who ran a gallery in Sea Glass Cove. Hope was divorced and Owen had lost his wife and son 3 years earlier. Watching how Maren Ferguson brought them together was interesting. There were misunderstandings along the way but Maren kept you interested to see what happened. This is a good book and I already started the next book. I highly recommend it.
January 21, 2018
One shell
A sweet story of love. Initially, I wanted the story to be longer and deeper. But like an abalone shell, this story is complete in itself. Two fractured people meet in a diner on the West Coast. Both are picking through pieces of broken things, searching for something to hold on to. Life is the journey, not the pieces you sift through.
A sweet story of love. Initially, I wanted the story to be longer and deeper. But like an abalone shell, this story is complete in itself. Two fractured people meet in a diner on the West Coast. Both are picking through pieces of broken things, searching for something to hold on to. Life is the journey, not the pieces you sift through.
January 26, 2018
Sweet and emotionally satisfying story
I really liked this novel. The characters were well-developed, and everything made sense. Their issues were believable, and the story is heartwarming. The author knows how to write, so I wasn’t mentally correcting words and sentences as I read. Great read.
I really liked this novel. The characters were well-developed, and everything made sense. Their issues were believable, and the story is heartwarming. The author knows how to write, so I wasn’t mentally correcting words and sentences as I read. Great read.
February 12, 2018
I enjoyed this book very much. A good story about divorce, learning to live alone with a child, finding new roots, moving to a new place. Then you meet a gentleman with a sad past, still raw from the memories but something just clicks and you realize this is where you are to be.
A good story of losing old loves, losing loved ones and finding new loves and finding new life.
A good story of losing old loves, losing loved ones and finding new loves and finding new life.
April 1, 2018
HOPE is back at Sea Glass Cove with her daughter to recover after a tough divorce. When she mets Owen, her neighbor, she feels an instant attraction. Owen has lost his wife and son a few years back and he is struggling to go on with his life again. Can they have a future together and be happy even with the burden they carry? A sweet story about, love, second chances, and happiness
July 25, 2020
Predictable but enjoyable clean romance
This is a nice, lightweight, summer beach-read. A divorced mom with an adorable daughter, go to stay at the family beach cottage. In the years the mom has been away a cute guy moved in next door...
This is the first of a series but it doesn’t leave you hanging.
This is a nice, lightweight, summer beach-read. A divorced mom with an adorable daughter, go to stay at the family beach cottage. In the years the mom has been away a cute guy moved in next door...
This is the first of a series but it doesn’t leave you hanging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews