Manatee Bay: Retreat

Treasure Seeker Beach #1

by Amy Rafferty

“Annie Williams, what are you hiding?”

The secret she’s sworn to protect with her life is about to see the light of day. And this time, there is nothing she can do to keep it buried.

From Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author...

Annie Williams is no fool.

She knows her marriage to Roger Davies has been a well-rehearsed lie she’s told herself over and over for years…
Anything to keep the old wounds in her heart from opening again.

When Roger announces their beautiful lie is finally over, everything Annie has built and dared to dream of is about to shatter around her.

Soon, Annie’s darkest secret comes tumbling out from its hiding place.

A place she thought she had left behind, buried deep beneath the sands of Manatee Bay…

Seeing Tom Howard with her best friend back on the island she once called home is more than she can bear.
Annie and Tom are still drawn to each other, but Annie finds the thought strictly forbidden. There is nothing between them anymore.

Or is there?

Back in the Bay, Tom is busying himself to keep from thinking about Annie.
But the return of his once true love makes this impossible…

Dive into Manatee Bay, where strong, free-spirited heroines, family secrets, lifelong dreams, and friendships intertwine in an unforgettable trip where the sun kisses the sea.......

This is book 1 of 6 in the Treasure Seeker Beach Romance Series.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2022

About the author

Amy Rafferty writes uplifting, clean romance filled with heart, healing, and the kind of hope that lingers long after the last page. Known for her coastal settings, later-in-life heroines, and unforgettable family bonds, Amy's books offer second chances and emotional journeys wrapped in love and mystery. When she’s not dreaming up her next story, she’s sipping tea by the sea and treasuring time with her family.

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Reviews

[Betty Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off with Annie and Roger's divorce which came out of nowhere. Annie and her children return to the place where she grew up and she runs into her first love Tom. She discovers several shockers about Roger and they keep on coming! Her children also discover secrets that were hidden from them. I thought this was well written and extremely plausible. I read it in one sitting. I can't wait for the story to continue.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this authors stories.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie and Roger Davies have been married for 37 years and have four adult children. Things may not have started out good for the couple, but they eventually built a happy life for themselves. Or so Annie thought. She’s stunned when Roger comes home one night and announces he wants a divorce, and he wants it immediately. He has plans with another woman.

Annie is devastated to say the least. She quickly learns that Roger wasn’t the devoted husband she thought he had been. Now Annie must start her life over. First, she has to sell her business and the family home. Annie had no idea what kind of financial trouble Roger had made for them.

Annie’s children are quite supportive of her, not so much of their father. Annie and her children decide to spend some time with her father on Manatee Bay. Part of her doesn’t want to go since she hasn’t been back for 37 years, but she decides it’s time to leave the past behind and get on with her new life. She’s stunned when she runs into her old lover Tom Howard. She fears all of her secrets are about to be revealed, including why she hadn't returned to the beach community in 37 years.

This is the first book in the Treasure Seeker Beach series. I read the prequel a few weeks ago and loved it. I love this one even more as get to know the characters better. It picks up 37 years after the prequel. Just as a warning - these books are written with cliffhangers so it’s really important to read them in order and get to know these characters.

I truly feel as if I’m already friends with Annie and her crew. My heart goes out to her and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. It's a sweet, emotional romance that tugs at the heartstrings.

These are short novellas and can be read in one sitting. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon. I’m looking forward to the next one. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember, nothing is ever truly lost, and it can be found if you look or work hard enough to recover it, in the dream.

Annie Williams and her 4 children are going home to Manatee Bay Florida after she divorced her cheating husband of 37 years and packed up her life. However, Roger is still causing trouble and it's washing over the family and opening up long supposedly heal wounds

Things are not what they seem and Annie and former love Tom Howard are about to be forced to work together as the past has run into the present. How will it affect the future will unfold in the next book in the series which IMHO can't get here fast enough! Highly recommended 5/5

[Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily areas and reviewed it]

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place 37 years after the prequel.
Annie is getting ready for her anniversary. Roger asks for a divorce.
Roger's starts the domino's tumbling.
When Annie and her kids return to Manatee Bay to regroup from Roger's betrayal old feelings and wounds are opened again.
As Annie runs into old friends Dianne and her ex Tom, her children are doing some sleuthing.
Roger, it appears, has done more than just cleaned out their retirement and bank accounts, he may have lied all those years ago.
Secrets are being revealed whether Annie, Tom and the children are ready.
This ends in a bit of a cliffhanger.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie is heartbroken when husband Roger walks in on their anniversary announcing he wants a divorce. It seems he has fallen in love with coworker Rochelle.

Amid decisions about selling her house, Annie’s 4 children come to town and convince her to go to her father’s Manatee Bay Inn for the summer

Even before reaching Manatee Bay, Annie is confronted with a person she hoped to never see again

Intrigue about their former relationship surfaces. Maybe the past isn’t really in the past. Ex husband Roger seems to be shadier than Annie realizes. Family secrets and lost love are revealed

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This voluntary review is my honest opinion.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

fabulous start to the new series.
Amy Rafferty writes great stories, put together in instalments to build up the drama and mystery.   This first in series is no exception.  The story begins with present day matters but develops from the prequel which recites the story of Tom and Annie meeting and marrying at 18 years old.The present day recites the many years of marriage to Roger, recent divorce and there are a lot of questions relating to past and present issues and relationships. Roger is the only one who is able to shed light on events and he is missing.  It looks like the lives of Tom and Annie, for the last 37 years is grounded on lies and deception.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie thought she was happily married. That was until Rodger came home on their 37th anniversary to tell her he wanted a divorce. “Why? What did I do?” “It’s not you, it’s me” is how he responded.

Their 4 children help Annie pack up her life and move back to Manatee Bay where she grew up. Unbeknown to her, her old love has also moved back. There is some very strange unresolved mystery to their time together that needs urgently to be resolved, or they’re both in a lot of hot water. How did this happen? Who forged the documents? So much to learn as the series continues…

Disclaimer:
I am part of the ARC team. I received this book from the author, voluntarily read and reviewed it.

[Ellen Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

On her 37th wedding anniversary Annie's husband Roger asks for a divorce. Her children convince her to go back to Manatee Bay to help her father. Their pilot turns out to be Annie's first husband Tom. If this book is a sampling of what is to come, It's going to be a great series. Secrets come to light and a lot is learned about Roger. You just can't help but keep reading till you get to the cliffhanger. Amy Rafferty has done it again, lured us into an amazing story.

I was given this advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place 37 years after the first book. Annie Williams is ready to celebrate her wedding anniversary in a special way. What she doesn’t expect that instead of celebrating, her husband asks for a divorce. She and her children are devastated to find out that he is having an affair. Her grown children help her put their home up for sale and convince her to move back to Manatee Bay where her widowed father is still living. She finds some big surprises when she is there including the fact that her first marriage may never have been annulled! This book really makes you anxious to read the next one.
I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in this new series was full of interesting characters, drama, and intrigue that quickly had me guessing what might happen next.  I liked the hints about mysteries that were to come too.  I cannot wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about family secrets, lost love, and second chances. When Annie's darkest secret is revealed, more questions come to light. I enjoyed the mystery and finding out what happened all those years ago. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Annie's and Roger's 37 wedding anniversary, Roger tells Annie he wants a divorce. With nothing else to do or go; Annie and her children (adults), return to her childhood home; Manatee Bay. Anything and everything can and does happen. Loved the plot, gorgeous settings, and intense, complex characters! Book two is awaiting!!

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait until the next book is available.

[Dorothey Thompson]

I really enjoyed this story. I did not realize it was several short stories until the finish, but it was great, so I continued on.

[Alanna Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good continuation of the Manatee Bay series. It leaves you with a cliffhanger so be ready.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha]

I DNF this book. I was listening to the Audio and it was horribly done. Couldn’t listen to it