The Nantucket Inn

Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #1

by Pamela M. Kelley

Lisa Hodges needs to make a decision fast. Thanks to her dead husband's gambling addiction, her bank account is dangerously low. In her early fifties with a large, waterfront home on Nantucket to support, Lisa hasn't worked in over thirty years, has no in-demand skills and is virtually unemployable.

Her only options are to sell the house and move off-island, or, she could use her cooking and entertaining skills and turn her home into a bed and breakfast. She desperately needs it to succeed because she has adult children with problems of their own and wants to stay close to them.

Her oldest daughter, Kate, has a fabulous career in Boston--working as a writer for a popular fashion magazine and engaged to a dangerously handsome photographer, who none of them have met.

Kate's twin, local artist, Kristen, is growing frustrated with her relationship with an older, separated businessman.

Youngest daughter, Abby, is happily married to her high school sweetheart, and they've been trying to have a baby. But it hasn't happened yet, and Abby wonders if it's a sign that maybe their marriage isn't as perfect as everyone thinks.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Contemporary, Beach Reads, Womens Fiction

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 19, 2019

About the author

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two. :)

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is worst, most amateurish, poorly written book I’ve read in a long time. It’s as if the author read a few Ellin Hilldebrand novels set on Nantucket and thought to herself, “oh, I can do this” - a little local color, a family story, describe some yummy food and lovely interior decorating - and you’ve got a best seller. Sadly, this novel had more descriptions of menu items than plot. As the author was so knowledgeable about self publishing I thought that’s it: she self published because no serious publishing house would take this dribble.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Hodges lived on Nantucket and had done so for a long time. Now that her husband had died, and Lisa had discovered the state of their finances, she knew she needed to make a decision. Sell the house and move away from Nantucket, or turn her home into a B&B. Her son Chase, was all for the B&B and said he'd help her modify the house to keep her area private. Meanwhile Lisa's eldest daughter Kate had just arrived back home from Boston, where she'd been retrenched from her position with a popular magazine on the same day she discovered her fiance in bed with another woman. Kristen, Kate's twin, was an artist, and with a man who was separated but not divorced. Abby, Lisa's youngest, was married to Jeff and they'd been trying to fall pregnant, including rounds with IVF, and their relationship was becoming rough.

As the family members, all close and loving, tried to work their way through the weeks and months ahead, changes were in the wind. The B&B saw some unexpected guests, Kate settled into life back home and Kristen had some wonderful news. But would life continue to have ups and downs on the beautiful Nantucket island?

The Nantucket Inn is the 1st in the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series plus my first by Pamela M. Kelley and I thoroughly enjoyed it. With excellent characters, normal, down to earth people, a great plot and a feel good vibe about the whole book, I can easily recommend it, and I look forward to the next in the series.

[Laura Corriveau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very amateurish writing. I only completed this book to see how relationships would work out, but the end left me flat. I know Kelley is planning on a second book, but not sure I will put myself through another one. Don’t know what all the 5 star ratings are about ..... I only awarded the book 3 stars because I love Nantucket.

[Jennie Lanz · Rating 1 out of 5]

So poorly written. The author never met a comma she didn't like. The characters were one-dimensional and boring. By the end of the book, all their problems disappeared because they all found a man!

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw someone post about this book on Instagram and decided to buy a copy because of their enthusiasm for it (and the entire series!). I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed it too. This is a women’s fiction novel that takes place on Nantucket and follows the Hodges family- the mother Lisa and her three daughters. Each has their own story to tell which will be relayed in later books so this one is basically an introduction to them and how their stories start, I think. It sort of reminds me of an Elin Hilderbrand or Kristen Woodson Harvey book (especially her Peachtree Bluff Series). So, if you enjoy either of those then you might really love this one! Would I recommend it? Absolutely. I already bought the second one in the series!

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Women’s Fiction
• Family Dramas/Stories
• Wholesome Reads

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Jennifer (not getting notifications) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a sweet, easy, and predictable book.
Do not read if you are hungry. Haha

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I enjoyed all of the background on Nantucket and this book definitely made me want to visit there since everything sounds so fun. I think Kelley has a good eye for describing people, places, and food. Seriously the food that was described sounded awesome. I really wish recipes had been included. That said, I think it was a little lacking with the romance portion and character development. I also think that doing the whole fade to black then showing actual moments of intimacy between the heroes/heroines was a little lame after a while.

"The Nantucket Inn" follows widowed mother of four, Lisa Hodges. Lisa finds out that her husband was a secret gambler who depleted their savings and retirement. If she doesn't find a job she will end up having to sell her home and even then, may not have enough to live on. Her friends come up with her turning her home into a bed and breakfast as well as advertising as an Airbnb since she has a large home with a ton of empty bedrooms. Lisa lets her children know (Kate, Kristen, Chase, and Abby) who all support their mom and do what they can to help. While this is going on, three of her kids (Kate, Kristen, and Abby) are going through some romantic upheavals.

So, Lisa I thought was really level headed. It's shown she loves their children and I wish that Kelley had touched upon anger that she should have felt towards her dead husband. The way everyone kind of just glossed over it was a bit much after a while. I also don't know if I bought her romance either. There was no sizzle there.

Kate's sub-plot was interesting, but once again things just kind of happen to her and everything works out. It just ends up fizzling out before we get to the end of the book. Her potential love triangle could have been interesting (and I say this as someone who loathes that trope) because at least we would have something more to read about than her writing process. Guess what, reading about a character writing a book is not interesting. Unless you are Stephen King and it's part of the plot (see Bag of Bones).

Kristen's sub-plot once again could have been interesting, but girl needs help. She seems to be someone who needs to be in a relationship. I hope the next book actually shows more of her personality off since I found her to be pretty bland.

Abby's entire sub-plot bugged the crap out of me. I don't want to spoil but she needed to get over herself. And once again things are just magically resolved. A normal person would have been really ticked off with her.

Chase was barely in this, but we hear about how some random woman broke his heart when he was in high school so now his mother doesn't approve.

There are a lot of secondary characters to keep straight in this one too (love interests galore and ex love interests too) so that's why I say more down below about the books needing to just follow one person per book.

The writing was okay, I just needed more ompfh or something. Kelley plays with a few obstacles, but they are quickly dealt with. Lisa is initially denied the ability to advertise as a bed and breakfast though she can still rent out her rooms. We hear that some of the neighbors kind of suck, but we just get a few lines here and there. Lisa has a love interest with an ex, and there are noises being made about how she may try to ruin things. And it just goes on and on. Everything is pretty much addressed pages later and there's no real push/pull going on. I have to say that I was also disappointed that we hear about two potential love interests with regards to Kate, but we only find out who she is with when Kelley brings it up in the epilogue. I wish that we had seen the beginnings of that relationship in the next book. It was a bit jarring to go from hey we're just friends to all of a sudden they are in love.

The flow was pretty good though I think that maybe Abby's subplot could have been in the next book. It really didn't add anything and there was already a lot going on with Kate, Kristen, and Lisa. We also get slight mentions of Chase here and there, and he occasionally shows up, but he is barely in this book which was odd. I assume that Kelley will have the follow-up books touch upon the siblings and Lisa, but I wish that Kelley had devoted each book to a separate person since it would have been nice to follow that character's arc and we could see more development. Since this one was only 248 pages there wasn't a lot of time to devote to everyone which was unfortunate.

The setting of Nantucket sounds great. The description of the place and the festivals sound like a lot of fun.

The ending is a HEA for at least two of the characters and then there are further signs that things are up in the air for three of the characters. I assume the next book will follow up on that.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, this book sucked me right in. I am a sucker for most Nantucket based stories. Whenever I think of Nantucket, I automatically think of Elin Hilderbrand - I love her books. I had never heard of this author, but I am glad I gave it a chance. Some of the 'drama' is a little soap opera-ish, but typical for the genre. It isn't over the top. I personally enjoyed the characters and reading along to see how their stories evolved. This book probably won't change your life, but it is sweet, predictable, and an easy, nice read.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lisa Hodges, a middle-aged woman living on Nantucket, is running low on money because her dead husband had a secret gambling problem. She decides to open her home up to guests as a bed-and-breakfast. Meanwhile, her four adult children also live on Nantucket and also have lives and problems of their own- except her son Chase, who is in like one scene and then apparently busy for the rest of the book. Lisa’s oldest daughters, Kate and Kristen, are both very talented- Kate at writing and Kristen at art. But both are in relationships with men who aren’t quite good for them- perhaps some other prospects will come around. Meanwhile, Lisa’s youngest daughter Abby is having some trouble with her marriage, which has always felt rock-solid.

Pros:
•Uh…it was short? And pretty much nothing sad happens, so if you want a very light book, this one’s good.

Cons:
•Oh GOD, where do I start? This book was honestly terrible. The writing was horrendous, and showed clear signs of lack of editing- sometimes the wrong character name was written, there were spaces missing between words and Kristen’s name was sometimes Kirsten. Given the characters’ description of their own writing processes probably should have been a red flag- Kate figures out who the culprit is in her murder mystery halfway through writing it. Kate’s writing experience gives us another clue- she self-publishes her book, and I suspect this book was self-published as well.
•This book reads like a person wrote up a description of what they wanted to happen in their book and then just published it. There is no descriptive imagery, just plain statements about what happened to characters and how they felt without fleshing anything out. The only real descriptions are descriptions of food…maybe she should have written a cookbook.
•The characters LITERALLY have ZERO emotions, and it honestly made me angry. So many times throughout the story something happens that should make a character mad and/or upset, and they just move on “maturely”. Here are some: all the children glossing over the revelation that their dead father had a gambling addiction, walking in on your fiancé sleeping with someone else and getting over it in 1 hour, Lisa’s friend outing Abby as pregnant to her husband before Abby told her husband and Abby not being angry at Lisa for not keeping her secret, Kate’s ex showing up at Kristen’s art show as if he wouldn’t have recognized his ex’s twin sister’s name and knew she would be there. It’s like all of these things are used as plot devices and the characters don’t react to them at all.
•This is miniscule, but everyone in the book thinks “The Beach Plum Cove Inn” is a great name but it does not roll off the tongue, and if it was such a great name, why is it not the title of the book?

Recommendation: I am so confused as to how this book got so many good reviews, because I don’t think it had many redeeming qualities. I recommend if you are willing to sacrifice the quality of the writing, story, and characters, for a short book that’s not very emotional. Avoid if that’s not the case.

[Angela P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was light and easy with nary a conflict that lasted longer than a paragraph and where every outcome was a pleasant one. Time had no meaning: if you want a BnB... it's there. If you want to write a book...blammmo. Book written and movie deal I the works. Do you like food? Lobster quiche is a secondary character that was more complex than the actual characters.

[Katie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and light hearted, while exceptionally mediocre. Painful in the way everyone gets a dream dude and dream job etc.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series. It follows Lisa whose husband has died and left her with very little money. She decides to open a bed and breakfast with the help of her four grown children. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the remaining books in the series.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this first book in A Beach Plum Cove series. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. You are going to want to be friends with these characters and you are going to want to stay at this Bed and Breakfast. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate is fired from her job and learns that her fiancé is cheating, so she moves home to Nantucket. Her mom Lisa has recently learned that her late husband had a gambling addiction which has left her nearly broke. Rather than sell her beautiful home, she decides to turn it into a bed and breakfast, and her first customer is an attractive unattached man. Meanwhile, her other daughters have romance troubles of their own. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual rating: 1.5⭐️💫. A half a star added because I did manage to finish it. I feel bad saying it, but this book was just awful. I felt it was plagued by poor writing, both grammatical, but also conceptually.

I am no where near an editor nor do I have an English degree and my grammar skills are poor. So if I’m catching errors you know there’s a problem. The dialogue was unrealistic, especially toward the beginning. People just don’t talk to other people, especially close friends and family, in such a stiff manner. Not everything needs to be said out loud between two characters; the narrator can carry more of the story load.

Character development was underwhelming. I don’t even understand why the Chase and Abby characters existed except maybe for the fact that the author was planning this to be a series so maybe she will give them more story later? I didn’t particularly find any of the characters stories all the interesting and definitely wasn’t invested in their relationships, past or present. Is Kate with Jack or Andrew? Which is which? Wait, who was Dylan? And why did he all of a sudden appear at an event in the last 40 pages? Again, the narrator could’ve just updated us with what became of him (not that we were worried or even cared) via ‘Kate heard from a friend or read on Facebook’. There is no need to have him pop back up in person for a few sentences and unexplainably link him to another character. It’s just odd. Sean🤷🏻‍♀️ Jeff🤷🏻‍♀️...I understand these characters exist to boost the story for our main Hodges, but I feel like they barely did that. Rhett was probably the only one I found somewhat interesting and was developed to an acceptable level.

I didn’t even care much for Lisa. She’s a Mom who’s a good cook who somehow opens a shockingly successful Bed & Breakfast with no previous experience and an unimaginable amount of ease. Is it really that simple to do?! Why did literally nothing go wrong? Furnace break down in the winter? A patron slips on icy stairs? A bat in the attic? Not even a bad review on Airbnb?! Give her at least some hurdle to overcome here?! Starting your own business is suppose to be hard right?

It seems so many of the higher reviews credit the setting and love for Nantucket? While I admit, I’ve never been there, however I think that’s exactly why I can say that I don’t think the setting was well established at all. I couldn’t really picture it (and I do live in a coastal New England town), but more specifically I didn’t FEEL it. I’ve read other books set on Nantucket that better convey the island, both visually and emotionally.

I know this is a guilty pleasure beach read, but even in that context, this book gave me nothing. I didn’t enjoy it while I was reading and it’s story and characters will not stick with me afterwards. I found myself clawing my way to the end just so it would be over😬.

[Lex B · Rating 3 out of 5]

All vibes no plot

🌊🎨🦞🤰🏼📓

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author and it was great. I will never get to Nantucket, because it is way out of my pay grade, but I love to read books set there and I feel like I know the area. I have traveled there many times in books and this was a fun trip. I really enjoy family based stories and I'm looking forward to moving on with this family's life.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy, predictable read. Amateurish writing but I liked the setting and the characters so I gave it 3 stars vs the 2 it probably deserves.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lisa discovers that her recently deceased husband had a gambling problem and now their house needs to be sold or for her to move. Then she discovers she can turn the house into an Airbnb or bed & breakfast. We also get to meet her four adult children who have relationship and job issues of their own.

All this takes place on the artsy, homy, yet rich island of Nantucket. Where everyone knows your name, money talks, and is out for themselves. Where everyone's problems are solved in a hot minute or through delicious sounding food. (Do not read this if you're hungry). And now because I know the backstory and drama of all four children, I need to keep on with the series lol.

Narrator was good and what helped sell the story.

[Carroto · Rating 1 out of 5]

Είναι ένα βιβλίο στο οποίο δεν γίνεται τίποτα. Τρώνε, πίνουν, είναι αγαπημένες και όλα τα προβλήματα λύνονται από μόνα τους και στον υπερθετικό βαθμό. Δεν έχει δουλειά? Ένας φίλος σου δίνει μια ιδέα που σε κάνει πλούσιο. Δεν έχει άντρα? Αρχικά, κακώς... Θα πω μία ατάκα του στυλ "Δεν χρειάζομαι άντρα για να είναι ευτυχισμένη", ωστόσο στην επόμενη σκηνή θα το χτυπήσω το γκομενάκι (όλοι όμορφοι, ελεύθεροι και σε μία μικρή κοινωνία, ενός νησιού με ελάχιστους κατοίκους - και εμείς σε κοτζάμ πόλη δεν βρίσκουμε ούτε αρσενικό κουτάκι ξερωγω). Έχεις όνειρο να γράψεις ένα βιβλίο? Όχι μόνο θα γράψεις, θα το εκδόσεις μόνος σου και θα βγάλεις και λεφτά αμέσως (γιατί είναι τόσο απλό) και θα το διαβάσει και μία ηθοποιός (προφανώς στο μυαλό της είχε την Reese Witherspoon) που θα θέλει να το κάνει ταινία.
Και δεν θα είχα θέμα γενικά με όλα αυτά, αλλά εγώ νόμιζα ότι διάβαζα conteporary και όχι fantasy.
Τέλος, εμφανίζεται μία αντίζηλος αλλά Δόξα τω θεώ παναΐα μου :" Δεν είναι πιο αδύνατη από μένα" (Υποθέτω ότι αυτό σημαίνει πως το γκομενάκι θα διαλέξει την κεντρική ηρωίδα που είναι σιλφίς"
...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story about a woman living on Nantucket, her grown kids, their lives and her friends. Think more woman's fiction rather than romance, although romance is touched on it's more centered around family and friends relationships.

Pamela's writing style reminds me slightly of Nancy Thayer and that's not a bad thing. I don't believe I've read anything by Pamela before but I definitely would again. I enjoyed the narrator too.

[Margie Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, predictable, light hearted read. I loved the setting and the descriptions of food (only wish there were recipes included). Sometimes you just need a break from reality, sit back and read a book where all conflicts are easily resolved!

[inkspillreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so much, but I couldn’t. It’s seriously filled with the most unrealistic life events. Suddenly everyone has left their relationships and moved back home near mom, who just randomly decides to start a bed and breakfast. Lose your job? No problem! Here’s a house of someone who won’t be there for a few months and go chase your dreams to write a book and suddenly you’re an indie author and published and making enough as an adult to survive off of.... Unhappy in your marriage and pregnant? Cool! Now avoid your husband and refuse to attempt to fix it. You’re an artist and randomly accidentally rear end someone? He just so happens to have opened an art studio and now he wants to feature you!
These things don’t happen. How are so many of these adults managing money? And all their relationships suck.
If I could get over all the single ness, and their obsession with dating, and how they’re all so weird about it and literally meet someone for the first time and they just leave them in their house to go shower (weird!) , I couldn’t get passed the many Missteps in the book, confusing characters and inserting the wrong names, saying this guy booked a room for a week and a few pages later saying “wow! I can’t believe he booked his room for a month!” And the entire book jumped from so many people and didn’t even have a plot line, it was a literal free for all that made my brain hurt.... and here I was so excited to have found the first 4 in a used bookstore, now I understand why.
2 stars because I actually finished it and it had an ocean in it, don’t worry, you’ll only be reminded to that half a million times while reading it.
I never leave negative reviews but this irked me too badly.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don't understand all these 4 and 5 star reviews. This is sort of like an Elin Hilderbrand novel for the Dollar Tree reader. The story: a widow must turn the family home on Nantucket into a B&B to survive. Not much of anything happens. She has 4 grown children each with their own small problems, all of which are easily resolved. The son shows up for the renovations, because, handily enough, that's what he does for a living, and then drops out of sight for the rest of the book. The lack of an editor is glaring. Obviously, there is an audience for this series but I won't be part of it.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its not that this is a bad book, it's not. It's just that it's like looking in on a family with a bit of relationship drama going on every once in awhile. It's the first book in the series so, I will give the second book a try. I listened to the audio book, it was done well.

[Amanda Hupe]

"This lovely story about the Hodges family feels like a vacation!"

Check out my full review at InD'Tale Magazine:

http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/...

[Madeline (always_reading1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable book with great characters I am looking forward to the next one.

[InD'tale Magazine]

This lovely story about the Hodges family feels like a vacation! The scenery description of Nantucket will make readers want to pack their bags immediately.

Read full review in the 2020 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Claudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can only give this 1 star; but I think ppl who enjoy chick lit, mental twinkie, escapist reads might like this.
I thought it was okay at first, then it became ridiculous. The premise was interesting, which is why I chose it. A middle-aged woman is widowed and has to earn a living after not working for ~30 years. But there's a huge plot hole here. She owns a 5 bdrm house on Nantucket with a private beach. No mortgage. Owns it! And this woman is worried about money??? That house is worth millions. Her adult kids are all having problems. One lost her job, another wants a divorce.
All of the page-filling crap usually found in chick lit and cozy mysteries is present in this story. Endless everyday banter, descriptions of what everyone is wearing and eating, how everyplace is furnished. Anything to avoid a plot. These ppl are constantly eating even though one of the daughters cannot finish a fancy restaurant portion of scallops. Her date polishes it off. Then she can only "manage" a couple of bites of a shared dessert. Her date scarfs the rest. He's probably still hungry. I really hate reading about women like this.
Whatever problems these people have are so easily solved, with stunning results, it's absurd. One wants to write a book and just happens to meet some French guy who is a successful novelist and is willing to just be friends, even though he originally wanted to sleep with her. Another wants to be an artist. She has a show and everything sells out at high prices and the gallery owner wants three more works next week. Mom turns the mansion into a B&B. Although the town wouldn't grant her a business license, it takes off on Air B&B. Of course, she also knows somebody who publicizes it somewhere. Connections are pouring out of the woodwork, pun intended. Anything they need is readily provided by somebody. The whole family is a smashing success in no time!
The last few minutes of this audiobook were so over-the-top and completely insane, I wanted to delete it right there. OMG, please!
This is one of the most inane pieces of garbage I have ever read/listened to. I will not waste my time on another installment in this series or on this author.

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fabulous book!
I truly enjoyed reading it!
It's a great start to this new series.
Can't wait for Book two!
It is an engaging & moving story.
Lisa, is a recent widow. With the insurance & savings, she would be
fine financially. That is until Lisa, uncovered a secret her husband hid
from her. With the help of her four children, old friends & new, Lisa,
opened the Beach Plum Cove Inn.
Great characters & romance,
make it the it the perfect read.
I loved everything about this must
read story!!!