The Beach House, Book 1

Clearwater Bay #1

by Megan Jacobs

"Who was this Grace Waterstone? Obviously she was related to me, but how? Why had she never reached out to me before? Why hadn't my grandmother ever mentioned her? Why on earth did I get the house when surely there must be a more direct relative?

Alyssa Waterstone doesn't need anyone. A high-flying criminal defense attorney, she's smart, independent, and living in the fastest lane of all - New York City. The more she drives herself in her career, the more she can forget her tragic past... until a manila envelope arrives one day with strange and unexpected news.

Alyssa is forced to leave the city behind for a small seaside town called Clearwater Bay, where she'll find a deepening well of mystery. And a handyman whose gentle eyes seem to be calling her home...

In the first instalment of “The Beach House” series, Alyssa has to keep reminding herself that she doesn't need anyone. Not a mysterious late relative, not her peppy assistant, and definitely not alluring Liam Carter...

Genres: Chick Lit

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2020

Reviews

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my dreams, I am always about to enter a beach house so I simply couldn't resist learning the story of the woman about to enter "The Beach House." I wanted to learn her name and her story. Alyssa Waterstone is the woman's name and what a story! Opening a letter at work in the city of New York to learn you've inherited a house at the beach in a small seaside town called Clearwater Bay. Alyssa is living my dream! I simply couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Even though the house needs so much work that Alyssa can't even stay there while the work begins my sorrow for her dissipated quite quickly as the handsome handyman even brings coffee for their first meeting. The shock came as I was thoroughly immersed in the seaside setting the story comes to an abrupt end. I could hardly believe my eyes so there was only one thing for this reader to do. Yes, you guessed! I downloaded Clearwater Bay, #2. :)

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um. Well. I knew this was a 'short read' but I was expecting a whole story - you know - beginning, middle, end, all neatly wrapped up in the last paragraph. It can be done - I've read plenty of short stories that simply knocked my socks off!

Anyway, this popped up on my Kindle and (bleary eyed) I downloaded it, hoping for something short and sweet before I dragged myself out of bed and began the onerous task of putting myself together ready for the day ahead. That's one problem with getting older - it takes longer to deal with all the various medications than it does to put make-up on, though I've more or less given up on make-up now. I'd need a trowel to hide the wrinkles.

So I started reading - wondering within second why Alyssa doesn't sack her totally incompetent, rude, lazy assistant (I'd have had her out that door before she could say 'Lissie' one more time) and then wondering how the hell some handyman can think he can re-wire re-plumb and repair the ceiling in a house in ONE WEEK!! (I"m planning to have my bathroom redone in a few months. Its going to take a week to do anything like a decent job.... tiles removed, shower removed, retiled, refitted, new sink, electrics...)

And why does Alyssa need to be there when the work is done??

Anyway, I was wondering what the point of the story was when................

It finished. Just when it was (maybe) beginning to get interesting.

This isn't a 'book' - It's a sample. My review is probably longer and has more of a beginning, middle, end!

WHY post a whole novel in bits?? Why not post the whole thing in one go? It made no sense to me and still doesn't.

What is has done is made me determined not to read the next 4 'books' (though 'books' is the wrong word. Episodes? Chapters? ) Had it all been together, I might well have read to the end of the whole thing, but not now. Which means the author misses out on 4 fifths of the KU royalty she would have got had this 'book' been .... well, a BOOK!

the end.

[Bree Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope.

[Joan mooney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really?

I have never been so annoyed over a book in my life. Started out really good. I was interested. Good plot-good characters, things were building into a great story. AND POOF! It ended. Like I had just read the first couple of chapters and that was it. Here, download book 2. Only it isn’t compatible with my device. I will avoid this author forever even though she seems to be quite talented. I’m not real happy with Kindle at the moment either

[Sam Andersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars: At 38 pages, actually 33; it is the shortest novella I’ve ever read. I kept wondering how a complete story could be concluded in so few pages, well obviously it cannot: There was no ending at all. Apparently, you have to read the entire series to get any type of ending. All I can say is that it didn’t stop in mid-sentence! I did not appreciate this unusual format, although it could’ve turned out nicely as it was a well written beginning. However, it did NOT entice me enough to go in search of book 2. I won’t be reading any more of her books and am wondering how her overall rating is 4.05. I only saw one review over a 2 and the higher marks were only Stars and that seems suspicious to me. She could be a good writer, but not in this manner.

I received this book free from the author and publisher and write this review voluntarily,

[Sherry Bledsoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have been a fairly good novel.....

Might have been a fairly good novel if Ms. Jacobs had made it a novel rather than a "Chapter Book" out of it. This concept worked well for Stephen King in " The Green Mile" but Stephen King she is NOT and I felt cheated that the book ended after only several chapters and your expected to keep downloading every 50-75 words to hear the next installment of the book! This was a turn off for me......Though since the second installment comes under my Kindle Unlimited membership I am going to download one more "Chapter Book" and she better " WOW MY SOCKS OFF " or I am through with this whole experience of the: ........stay tuned to this channel reading!!!

[elise buhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of booklets (actually chapters marketed as books) is alright. There is a lack of flow due to the strange choice someone made to issue what amounts to one book as 5 separate books! Each book needs to be checked out. By the 4th one, I was sufficiently tired of waiting yet again for the “book to download, that I nearly dropped the series. It’s an okay story but far from being worth the trouble. I did go on to finish but it wasn’t worth it. Don’t do a book that way ever again unless the book is strong enough to make it worth the additional interruptions and wasted time.

[Trinity Spears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author knows how to put a story together. All the pieces are there mechanically which make up a story. Writing is brilliant in places and I look forward to finishing out the series. BTW... for those complaining that it's a short story... yes, it's a series of short stories that can be picked up as one book put together, as well, OR be read as a series of shorts. Zero complaints about this and the first book stops at a logical stopping point, as an author. Well done, overall. Highly recommended.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me, and I applaud her for doing so
What stands out the most is the clarity and detail in this quick read. The author throws you into the protagonist's life with immediate curiosity. And you cannot help but get involved in the annoying help and the very handsome handyman. With promises of interesting subplots.
As the mystery unfolds, it transports you to a beach house wrapped in faulty wires and a beautiful shoreline. Overall, a delightful story.
Book two is waiting.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beach House has a good plot, is well written (as all books by Megan Jacobs), and has humor. The only negative point is that it´s too short and you have to wait for the next book to continue reading the story (but this seems to be a trend as many author´s are doing the same). If you want time out of daily life this is a good book to be downloaded.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Crissy Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a great series!
Megan Jacobs presented an intriguing start to a woman’s journey in discovering the past and finding love. She did a fantastic job of drawing you into the character’s world with flowing imagery and fast-paced events. I loved the chemistry between Allyssa and Liam and I can’t wait to read book 2.

[Nancy George · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the book was disappointing when I was halfway through book one and it suddenly finished. The book did not need a series of five when one book would have been sufficient. I'm sorry but I will not be reading Megan Jacobs again if she is going to continue to do a five book series when there is no need. Too expensive for what you got.

[Cecly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing introduction

This was an intriguing introduction to this series.
Already I anticipate secrets and revelations, drama and confusion.
Alyssa and Liam seem to sizzle for each other, but I will wait to read the other novels in this series.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story starts off really well but I didn’t realize this book was divided into 5 books when I purchased the kindle edition. I will probably not purchase books 2 through 5 to read the rest of the story.

[JoAnn Schaltenbrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading

Enjoyed reading about Alyssa. She is a lawyer and she received a letter with the key for the beach house. Now she has to find out who Grace is and check out the beach house.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lawyer inherits a house from someone she does not know
Super busy — but totally wants to see the house, And is surprised every step of the way, Looking forward to the next book!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[patricia doman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Can't wait to read Beach house book 2! It seems like it will be a story to tell. It makes you wonder what tales the Beach house will hold. If you like stories of your families past and the excitement they tell and hold then read on.

[Ashley Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can’t give it more that one star because it was just a chapter…seriously not a short story, not a novella, it was just a chapter!!! I seriously just removed the rest of the series from my goodreads book count because they were just the rest of the chapters of this book.

[Sharon Pritchard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible experience

This book was the shortest most weird thing I ever read. Just as you just get going it ends. Bad news for me

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to read more! Ended way to abruptly!

[joann hodosi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short books

I hate when books abruptly end like this. Will not get anymore of your books. And won’t buy book 2.

[Arati · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 1?! More like Chapter 1. Where is the rest of this book?! 38 pages and done?! No way.

[JYGarner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute quick read

I was able to read this in about 40 minutes and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next installment.

[lois c lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I, love this book and the next one also i will read them all and any more of your books .... Lpv

[KJPK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters have really interesting backgrounds- the story is definitely a quick read. Book 2 has a super promising plot development according to reviews, excited to read!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book, more like a couple of chapters. Not sure what I think yet. Too short.

[Renee Helton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy for my honest review....
Like the story but not sure that I like it broken down into multiple books... I am not used to reading a book that is continued like this...

[Joanne Bandfield-Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

This was a short story that felt like just the start of something very interesting. I can't wait to read more.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was too short for a review, but seems to be a familiar premise…single woman inherits an old beach house from unknown relative.

[Mrs J Freeland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shortest book I've ever read

This is more like a chapter than a book. Took me all of 20 minutes to read and I won't be going back for the rest.