The Rosewood Diary

Driftwood Bay #1

by Teri Blake

Quin is about to lose all that was good about her history.

She never planned to return to Rosewood House, but now she’s coming back at her sister’s urgent request. When time runs out much faster than she imagined, Quin finds herself lost and alone.


As friends appear—including one rabbit with attitude—to support and help her deal with the truths her sister left behind, Quin must decide if there is healing in letting go of her past. Will her routine existence in New York lead her back to what is normal, or will the calming waves and her sister’s nurse, Paxton, be what her heart has been longing for?

Get the beginning of the Driftwood Bay Series, focusing on family, relationships, and healing from life's scars.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2021

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love sister sagas? Grab this one—and the tissues! This emotional start to a sea swept series is creative and introspective.

Read full review in the 2021 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was very well written and truly a joy to read. It made me really think about perspectives and how we sometimes only see things from our limited view. I would highly recommend this book and series to anyone to read and enjoy!

[Nethanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two sisters Ryla and Quin grow apart. But when they are ready to reconnect Ryla is very sick so it’s too late. She left her sister her diaries. Will that help Quin to see farther than her own life? And will the friendship with Ryla’s hospice nurse and neighbor Paxton help her os just more confuse her?
What an great emotional story. With very real characters and some life lessons and an adorable, okay not all the time. bunny Duggy.

[readcleancatmomtanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

This one touches your heart and makes you question yourself about choices you've made. I highly recommend this book. Grab those tissues.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

would love THIS but with faith included

[Wren Woodland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of Quin and Ryla, two sisters close in age, one raised as a golden child and one seemingly as an afterthought, causes lots of introspection. Quin was on the cusp of her career as an artist taking off with a big show when Ryla called insisting Quin put her first for the first time in her life. Very grudgingly Quin agrees and makes her unhappiness known to be called back to her childhood home on the beach when she discovers Ryla is near death. The heart condition that had been dismissed and glossed over for years has now overwhelmed Ryla life and she only has a short while left to live. As Quin takes a hard look at her attitude in the present and the past, through conversation and diaries, she discovers not only herself but the wonderful mystery of who her sister has become. This is a hard look at how we can easily see things, people and relationships through our own lens and blinders and how that lens can be distorted. All members of this family did and felt things to each other that wasn’t the whole picture and it took Ryla’s death to force Quin to look and examine her reality and check if it was truth. Paxton, the hospice care nurse who lived next door also had to decide which lens he looked at Quin with, Ryla’s emotion packed feelings or his own observations. Duggy the bunny is a welcome distraction and some comic relief.
One person found this helpful

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quin and Ryla maybe sisters but they grew apart from an early age, when she finally agrees to go visit Ryla who lives in thier family home on her own after her parents gave it to Ryla Quin has no idea what heart break she is in for. It's Ryla's last chance to tell Quin how she feels not only about her but also growing up and being in Quins shadow, but it's when Quin finds her sisters diaries and goes up to the attic does the truth about what it was like for Ryla growing up and forces Quin to look back and see things vin a very different light. I loved how Ryla was honest and factual with what she said to Quin when they were together as well as how gut wrenching it was for Quin to step out of her own wee world and see what was and had happened around her, but it's not all sadness there is also a chance at so much more for Quin if she really wants it. This was a fantastic read and I can not wait to read more in this series!!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have your tissues handy. Quin is determined to do whatever it takes to make it in the art world when she finds out the sister she has drifted apart from is dying. She is forced to face some uncomfortable truths in this book about herself and Ryla as she reads her diaries. Quin was self-centered and selfish, but her parents also put her first before her sister, focusing on her successes. I felt like they should have done more for Ryla with all heart problems when they showed up early on and not just brushed it aside as inconvenient. The outcome may have been the same, but maybe she could have gotten treatments or a heart transplant and had more healthy happy years. At first I thought Ryla's hospice nurse Paxton was abrasive, but I think he was just upset that Ryla had been suffering alone without family to comfort her. Mischievous escape artist bunny Duggy provided some light-heart funny moments in this emotional story.

[Sandra Sorola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. How do you deal with loss when it hits you full force. Quin at first seemed very unlikable. She came off at first as someone who was only interested in herself. But as you read you discover that she is a product of her parent's making. The hurts and love she will soon read about in her late sister's diaries hits her full force. She eventually grows enough to learn that she was ultimately responsible for the way her life turned out, but was coerced into it by her parents. They chose one daughter to embellish and one to leave by the wayside. They loved them both but gave different vibes to each of them. One, she could succeed beyond her wildest dreams and one, she was limited to what her life could be. It took a Hospice Nurse to show the older sister just what the younger sister was.
This was an incredibly sad story, but it came around in the end to show you how much you can learn from someone else's life and how it was lived.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book

I wasn’t sure, when I first started reading, whether I would like it. I kind of didn’t like Quin at first, but I started to understand the dynamic between the sisters. I hated that Ryla died so early in the book. But I guess it was necessary to the plot for it to happen that way. Once Quin started reading the diaries everything started to become clear. The appearance of the parents was almost like a setback. I really didn’t like them to start with, possibly prejudiced by the diaries, and I never did warm up to them. I could almost see how things got to be the way they were. As for the other characters, I didn’t think they were as well developed as they could have been. I couldn’t quite see either Paxton or Karla as well as I wanted to. I do plan to read further in the series.

[Sharon M. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose wood Diary

Quin has been summoned to her childhood home during the biggest showing of her art career. When she gets there, reluctantly, she finds that her sister Rayla is dying. Now is the time to talk about the past and set everything right. The story is very poignant and touching. Rayla has a few things she wants to say and Quin must make some life changing decisions. A hospice nurse helps Quin over the hardest part of the passing and the decision making. If the rest of these books are anything like this one they all should be on your reading list.

[Debra Pease · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated people situations

Beautful and sad story. Good characters. It helps to remind oneself that everyone has issues in life of some sort. Whether or not its family, siblings or self esteem. We all have personal stuff to deal with that contributes to who we are today. Some need counseling to deal with and others are fortunate to have good friends to help. And ultimately though not mentioned at all in this story is that there is a Good God who loves us more than anything and in spite of ourselves.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read! It's well written, keeps you turning the pages and is 100% enjoyable. A great escape from everyday life that we all need at times. The characters are fun, engaging and you love getting to know them. A great start to a new series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cecly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and beautifully written, this novel is a must-read for every family, those with children and adults suffering through the trauma of childhood insecurities.
Quin and Ryla are two sisters, one raised loved, and over affected, the other not so much. When one is dying, the other must step up and heal wounds from childhood that the other didn't even realize were there.

[Anita Rohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn

Her sisters journals help her to discover truths and realities while seeing things from a different perspective yet knowing neither was wrong they just came at things from different directions. A bit tragic,some heavy thoughts and a precocious rabbit and a good neighbor round out the story

[babrara wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Diary to remember

Teri wrote a very emotional and loving story. It was how 2 sisters lived so separately away. Then one got sick and was dieing and wanted her sister to come home so they could be together. She left her diaries for tho oldest to read after she passed. I couldn't put this book down. It truly made you think about life.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful start to a new series! This is a well written book that was absolutely wonderful. It will keep you turning the pages and make you stop and think. I loved it and can't wait for the next book in this series!

[Linda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, touching story of sisters, family and relishing them while you can. Discord and differences face all siblings, but this book shows us to grab hold and work or at least talk them out before it is too late. Very enjoyable story that will stay with you a long time.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and heartwarming story with endearing characters. Family always adds an unexpected twist. Some twists and turns with plenty of drama thrown in. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and enjoyable read

This book was well written and very interesting. It had sad parts and then happy parts. It dealt with life and families and dynamics and communication and romance and friendship! I really enjoyed reading it!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful well written story of two sisters Quin and Ryla. As close as they were growing up they have drifted apart. It's a lesson on love , life and death. Make sure you have a box of tissues.

[D'anah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

An interesting 'take' on gaining a new perspective on life and self by seeing things through your sister's eyes. It was a good outcome with a happy and satisfying ending.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story of the complex relationship between two sisters and the way they grew apart over the years was a reminder that time can pass too quickly and our memories of shared events can be very different.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, touching story, with great characters.

There are many touching moments and also many life lessons.

[Heidi McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed this story, especially Duggy. That sweet rascally rabbit provided a welcome comic relief during the intense moments.

[Dorel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I read by Teri Blake. I liked this book's storyline. This book's storyline was sad 😞. I liked Quin's character. I liked Paxton's character. I liked the ending.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quin and Paxton are great characters with awesome chemistry. I enjoyed this touching story of her relationship with her sister. This is a sweet, clean romance.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book to read about family, small town, and love.

[Judy Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt

I loved this story because of its truth and how complex families are . Communication is so vital
no one can read your mind just be honest like Paxton.

[Christine Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this book was interesting enough for me to get the book. That being said the storyline kept me reading all afternoon. The plot pacing is spot on and the characters are well fleshed out. A really enjoyable read.