Mia Maxwell used to have her dream job. She is a sought after wedding planner on Nantucket, with no shortage of business. But she is struggling a bit to get back to loving her job. It has been bittersweet to plan other people's weddings--ever since her own fiance died two weeks before their wedding.
That was a year ago and she was just starting to feel better, when she came back from a vacation to find her house burned down. So she will be staying with Lisa at the Beach Plum Cove Inn for a while, until her house is renovated. Mia's also worried about her younger sister and best friend Izzy--she has a serious boyfriend who has grown more controlling over the past year.
As it turns out, there are several member of the Hodges family that may be in need of Mia's services--she'll be planning not one but two weddings. There are a few road bumps along the way however.
Lisa has another long-term guest that she eagerly introduces to Mia. She finds this temporary neighbor equally intriguing and frustrating and she makes it clear that she's not even close to ready to date. She's not sure if she ever will be.
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. :)
While it was nice to visit with characters from past books in the series, this was a much shorter book. It appeared to me that the characters, their interactions and their relationships were not developed very much before we were rushed into the abrupt ending. Disappointing since this is a delightful series.
I have really enjoyed this series. I want to live in Nantucket and be friends with most of the characters. This is a series that you don't get bored or tired of reading about. I can't wait to read the last two books in this series.
This is such a good book! I truly adored reading it! A heart-warming & moving romance with old & new characters you cannot get enough of. The story flowed seamlessly that I couldn’t put it down...I loved every page. Mia, a wedding planner, returned home after vacation to tragic news about her home. She is still mourning the loss of her fiance, but is ready to get out a bit. Mia, has made a lot of good friends. I can't wait for the next book! A DEFINITE MUST READ!!
I enjoyed reading all of Pamelas Nantucket series in 3 days.
The series was heart warming. Between the Clovid Virus and After the 2020 election craziness I needed a rest! Each character In each book of the series brought more of the same people together a few in each book. I usually prefer action books about the legal systems but I needed a change. I was a small city girl growing up in the fifties and sixties in Michigan and the authors treatment of her characters evoked so many memories of friends and family I felt as though I went home.
Still enjoying the characters but feeling like the author spends more time talking about what they eat than what is happening in the plot. How many more times can we eat guacamole, peanut butter cookies, lobster quiche, and cinnamon coffee cake?
For a book called Nantucket Weddings, she really glossed over them, sometimes dedicating just a few paragraphs to a wedding.
Rather than keep introducing lots of new characters and glossing over the real events of the characters we already like, how about we dive into the plot?
I will finish the series, but growing less interested by the book.
I just finished the book, and couldn’t believe it ended so abruptly. It would have been nice if the characters, who were well drawn, would have developed more. It almost felt as if the ending was too premature to be true to the characters.
So this series is mainly to me a mindless soap opera of people living on Nantucket Island. Where they talk about how much lobster they eat but shouldn't, appetizers they eat but shouldn't, and drinks they have but shouldn't. I think I gained 10 lbs just listening to this audiobook.
We see two weddings, an abusive relationship, two people grieving together, and other relationship drama that continues to unfold.
Nantucket Weddings by Pamela M. Kelley 229-page Kindle Ebook Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #5
Genre: Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Relationships, Romance > Contemporary Romance; Adult Fiction, Beach Read¹ - light and breezy ² set on the beach,
Featuring: Nantucket, Massachusetts; Wedding Planning, Grieving, Renovations, Bed & Breakfast, Relationships Woes, Authors, Real Restaurants, Book Links
Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult situations
Songs for the soundtrack: "Marry Me" by Train, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⅗
My thoughts: 🔖Page 85 of 229 Ch. 10 - I'm going to have to ignore all the incorrect uses of blond/blonde. So far, this story is okay. Taking a break seemed to help, but I guess it doesn't matter when they add half a dozen new characters. Maybe that's why the sisters and friends were introduced twice. Mia's cool so far, but I hope they stop piling on the potential matches; 3 is overkill.
There were some continuity issues but I think like a sitcom you get to the point where you just don't care. I wasn't crazy about the love triangle or love interest but what really disappointed me was the stay-tuned ending. I mean I was page 227 at 99% and I still wasn't expecting it to end. I was very disappointed to see the last page was ¼ story and the rest thank you for reading.
Recommend to others?: At this point, you just might as well finish. There were plenty of feel-good moments.
Good news!! You can fall asleep at any point in this book and no matter where you leave off and pick up, you won't miss ANYTHING. Finished the book and I still can't tell any of the characters apart, nothing happens, and worst of all, it didn't even make me want to go to Nantucket (which is not at all hard to do).
Another good read in the Beach Plum Cove series. I always enjoy catching up with the characters in this Nantucket series. There is a lot of details about food which is enjoyable to read but not much character development. All in all a light easy read!
I’ve read all the books in this series and I’ve loved all of them! Such a fun, relaxing and enjoyable read with lovable and great characters! Now I want to spend some time in Nantucket!
In this book, the focus is on Mia, who is a wedding planner in Nantucket. Mia's fiance was killed in an accident 2 weeks before their wedding and it's been a tough year filled with grief for Mia. She is also concerned about her sister Izzy as she is worried about her relationship with her boyfriend. There are plenty of weddings scheduled including those in the Hodges family. I am quite sad to have finished the last book in this series. I wish there were more as I so enjoyed reading them. Looking forward to more books by this author.
Had to finish the series. This book wasn't necessary. Pretty much a repeat of the 4 other books in the series and *my goodness* was the narrator angsty in this one! It brought the story down for sure. I like a good, mindless read for sure. But if it is set on Nantucket tell me more about the locale. If you didn't already know that the only way to be happy is to find a partner and get married then Kelley is here to tell you. Unless you are gay or a person of color, because apparently on Nantucket there are no people like that. Am I being too hard on this book? Sure. It is what it is and *that* isn't deep or meaningful. Still, this one just didn't hold up to the other books. A two is probably generous.
I want to like these books because they are supposed to be based on Nantucket where I used to live but honestly, it's like a formula. In every book, the characters drink (chardonnay/cabernet) at (Millie's/Club Car/ Rose & Crown) and walk the non-existent in real-life beach of Beach Plum Cove. One character has a shop on the pier and they go to see the boats at the pier. No, it's North Wharf or South Wharf for shops and the Boat Basin for boats. Nobody says the pier, there's a bunch of them. So I was again disappointed in the mostly generic setting. There are also too many characters to keep track of and I couldn't keep track of who was getting married.
I love Pamela Kelley, but this book was a let down. It was a struggle to get through it, but since I purchased it, I finished it. Mia was boring and her sister Izzy was fickle. Sam acted possessive towards Mia at times which was annoying, because they barely knew each other. The only characters I did like in the book were Ben, Mia neighbor and Will, the contractor who worked on the condos. I wasn't surprised by her picking Sam, she chose the safer guy. It definitely felt rushed at the end, and it ended abruptly. Sorry Pamela, not your best work.
I have really liked the books in this series, but felt the last couple have been “rushed.” There has been little depth to the stories and minimal character development. I’ve enjoyed the fact these stories are an easy, stressless read, but a bit disappointed overall. I hope the latest in this series will be much better.
"Nantucket Weddings" by Pamela M. Kelley is a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and new beginnings set against the picturesque backdrop of Nantucket Island. The novel revolves around Mia Maxwell, a talented wedding planner grappling with personal tragedy while trying to navigate the complexities of her professional life. Kelley intricately weaves together multiple storylines, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected relationships and emotional journeys.
Mia Maxwell is the heart of the novel, a character defined by both her resilience and vulnerability. Once a passionate wedding planner, Mia's life took a devastating turn when her fiancé passed away just weeks before their wedding. This loss casts a long shadow over her life, making it difficult for her to fully embrace the joy she once found in her work. Mia's strength lies in her ability to empathize with others, making her a sought-after planner who can create truly special and memorable events. However, her flaw is her reluctance to move on from the past, which keeps her emotionally guarded and hesitant to open herself up to new relationships. Her friendship with Lisa, the owner of Beach Plum Cove Inn, provides her with a much-needed support system, while her concern for her younger sister, Izzy, highlights her nurturing nature. As Mia begins to plan two weddings for the Hodges family, she finds herself drawn into their lives, offering her a chance to heal and rediscover her own capacity for love.
The Hodges family adds another layer of depth to the story, with each member facing their own set of challenges and desires. The weddings Mia is planning bring together a diverse group of personalities, each with their own quirks and secrets. There are road bumps along the way, as family dynamics and hidden tensions threaten to derail the celebrations. The author uses these conflicts to explore themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and the importance of communication within families. One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is the exploration of Izzy's relationship with her boyfriend. As he becomes increasingly controlling, Mia grows concerned for her sister's well-being. This storyline adds an element of suspense to the novel, as Mia tries to protect Izzy from making a potentially harmful decision. Through Izzy's journey, Kelley addresses the issue of emotional abuse and the importance of recognizing red flags in a relationship.
One of the central themes of "Nantucket Weddings" is the power of healing and resilience. Mia's journey from grief to acceptance is a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity. The novel suggests that while loss can leave lasting scars, it is possible to find joy and meaning in life again. Another prominent theme is the importance of family and friendship. Mia's relationships with Lisa and Izzy provide her with a sense of belonging and support, reminding her that she is not alone in her struggles. The novel also explores the theme of second chances, as Mia hesitantly opens herself up to the possibility of new love. As she spends time with her temporary neighbor, she begins to realize that it is okay to move on from the past and embrace the future.
"Nantucket Weddings" is a heartwarming and engaging read that will appeal to fans of women's fiction and contemporary romance. Pamela M. Kelley's skillful storytelling and well-developed characters create a world that is both comforting and captivating. If you enjoyed this book, you might also like "The Summer I Met You" by Belinda Missen, which also features a charming seaside setting and a heartwarming story of love and self-discovery.