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Muir Harbor #2
A Seaside Wonder
In one evening, Indi's world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé . . . m ake that ex-fiancé.
Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine . . . or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with an intriguing owner—one who happens to share a name with someone from his grandfather's mysterious past.
More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from—though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay. But when her ex-fiancé returns to Muir Harbor, he brings news that shatters her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when lurking danger comes calling at her childhood home.
The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shop months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip win over his sister. He just might win over Indi, too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril . . . and take a chance on love.
Breathtaking romance, a captivating mystery, and an enchanting wintry seaside . . . return to Muir Harbor in bestselling author Melissa Tagg’s latest.
Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine . . . or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with an intriguing owner—one who happens to share a name with someone from his grandfather's mysterious past.
More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from—though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay. But when her ex-fiancé returns to Muir Harbor, he brings news that shatters her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when lurking danger comes calling at her childhood home.
The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shop months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip win over his sister. He just might win over Indi, too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril . . . and take a chance on love.
Breathtaking romance, a captivating mystery, and an enchanting wintry seaside . . . return to Muir Harbor in bestselling author Melissa Tagg’s latest.
394 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
115 people are currently reading
1296 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Tagg
25 books1,678 followersMelissa Tagg is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and Carol Award-winning author of swoony and hope-filled small-town contemporary romances. She’s also a former reporter, current nonprofit marketing strategist, and total Iowa girl.
Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not happily lost in someone else’s book or plugging away her own, she can be found spoiling her nieces and nephews, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next fictional hero. Connect with Melissa at melissatagg.com.
Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not happily lost in someone else’s book or plugging away her own, she can be found spoiling her nieces and nephews, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next fictional hero. Connect with Melissa at melissatagg.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
November 10, 2024
An absolutely adorable sequel that took me way too long to read. Life got in the way but it didn’t change my enjoyment of this one. Her writing is beautiful.
October 4, 2022
'You are not a mess. God sees what you're becoming. He sees the beauty you already are. He's not in a hurry and you don't have to be, either.'
Every time I read a Melissa Tagg novel, I immediately want the next. She's so good! I've been a fan since I read her first. She is unique in that she makes you 'feel' her stories. I love it when a book impacts me that way. Not just a good read, but a heart-moving story that settles in deep down and refuses to leave. Boy, I loved this book so much!
Tagg tackles some difficult questions here spiritually and I totally got where she was coming from. Life with Christ is not always easy. But we have a good, good Father who loves us. These characters have hard stuff in their lives and I loved seeing how they handled them.
Now, there is a mystery that has been running through the last two books and it's not quite solved it. A bit of it was revealed here, but I'm still dying to know what happens! There is another book in the series, though, so maybe I won't have to wait too awfully long. And there was some mighty good stuff going on in this one. I was weeping, gasping, smiling, laughing. So very good and honestly, deserves more than the five allowable stars. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. The opinion here is expressly my own.
Every time I read a Melissa Tagg novel, I immediately want the next. She's so good! I've been a fan since I read her first. She is unique in that she makes you 'feel' her stories. I love it when a book impacts me that way. Not just a good read, but a heart-moving story that settles in deep down and refuses to leave. Boy, I loved this book so much!
Tagg tackles some difficult questions here spiritually and I totally got where she was coming from. Life with Christ is not always easy. But we have a good, good Father who loves us. These characters have hard stuff in their lives and I loved seeing how they handled them.
Now, there is a mystery that has been running through the last two books and it's not quite solved it. A bit of it was revealed here, but I'm still dying to know what happens! There is another book in the series, though, so maybe I won't have to wait too awfully long. And there was some mighty good stuff going on in this one. I was weeping, gasping, smiling, laughing. So very good and honestly, deserves more than the five allowable stars. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. The opinion here is expressly my own.
October 7, 2022
About this book:
“In one evening, Indi's world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé...make that ex-fiancé.
Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine . . . or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister he barely knows—one who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with a name on its storefront window that sounds familiar, a hint of a mystery nudging him inside.
More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from—though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay. But when her ex-fiancé returns to Muir Harbor, he brings news that shatters her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when lurking danger comes calling at her childhood home.
The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shop months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip win over his sister. He just might win over Indi, too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril . . . and take a chance on love.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Muir Harbor” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Talks about God, prayers, & faiths; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Going to a chapel; A quote from St. Augustine is said; On one Sunday, Indi thinks that she really would rather hide away in her workshop than go to church; Indi feels like God doesn’t see her or answer her prayers anymore, but recalls a time that God answered her prayers when she was a child; Indi & Holland have a discussion about God answering prayers & wondering if He’s just saying ‘no’ (a conclusion to their hurt is not really said at this point, but discussed later separately with other people); Indi was angry at God for asking her to do a hard decision that left her in a hole in her heart *Spoiler* ; At one point, Philip wonders why he isn’t hearing God’s voice on a topic; Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, services, a sermon, & a pastor; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of a Bible; A couple mentions of a Nativity scene; A couple mentions of someone believing that something wasn’t a coincidence but from the Divine; A couple mentions of blessings; A mention of someone having a come-to-Jesus experience; A mention of someone not knowing another from Adam;
*Note: A mention of Indi saying that she has too many ghosts; A mention of someone looking like they saw a ghost; A mention of feeling bewitched by a town; A mention of a teen saying that goats have demon eyes.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘geez’, a ‘holy buckets’, a ‘holy crap’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘sure as blazes’, a ‘where in blazes’, two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘darn’, two ‘for Pete’s sake’s, two ‘oh my gosh’s, two ‘oh my word’s, three ‘holy cow’s, three ‘heck’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, three ‘sheesh’s, three ‘what the heck’s, five ‘gosh’s, six ‘shoot’s, seven ‘dumb’s, and eleven forms of ‘stupid’; A mention of Philip thinking of a name for someone that he doesn’t usually say out loud; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Eavesdropping; Being held at gunpoint, Being threatened, Being choked, Fighting, Pain, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); A close car crash, almost hitting a deer, & landing in a ditch (the people and deer are fine, up to semi-detailed); Philip has a panic attack (semi-detailed); Grieving the loss of family members & what could have been (both Indi, Philip, and side characters); Philip’s mother left him at his grandfather’s house after his father’s death and he’s felt unwanted since then (& struggles with resentment towards her for it); Indi drinks champagne at a wedding; Many mentions of deaths & grieving (a fiancé, fathers, a mother, daughters); Mentions of a car crash, death(s), & a missing toddler (Book #1 covers more about this); Mentions of fights, fighting, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of criminals, crimes, intruders, break-ins, stealing, vandalism, arrests, an accidental theft, trespassing, & someone being pushed down the stairs (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a recovering alcoholic & drinking; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of divorces & how a father hasn’t been in contact with his daughter for twelve years; A few mentions of a man flinging himself off a cliff & being in a coma afterwards; A few mentions of the Vietnam war & a death; A few mentions of a bar; Mentions of a teen into the high school party scene and drinking; A few mentions of teenagers breaking into a rec center; A couple mentions of a train accident & death (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a close car crash; A couple mentions of Lil being left on Maggie’s doorstep when she was a toddler; A couple mentions of a woman living her life drinking and depressed; A couple mentions of champagne at a wedding; A couple mentions of rumors; A mention of someone doing a noble thing and not stepping off of a cliff (meaning literally or metaphorical is not said); A mention of jail; A mention of con-artists; A mention of pipe tobacco; A mention of needing to pee;
*Note: Mentions of HGTV & Hallmark; Mentions of brand names & items (Jell-O, Peanut M&Ms, Reddi-wip, 7-Up, Levi’s, iPad, iPhone, Keurig, Tupperware, & Band-Aid); Mentions of websites (Google, Uber, Airbnb, & Spark Notes); Mentions of TV shows, movies, & characters (Jeopardy, Star Wars, Gandalf the Grey, Willy Wonka, Clark-Kent, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Batman, & Robin); Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of the Narnia books; A mention of Disney.
Sexual Content- a chin kiss, five cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a almost (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed) kiss, a not-detailed kiss, five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses, a detailed kiss, and a very detailed kiss (including being pulled into his lap); Remembering a kiss (semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, & exes; A few mentions of a father’s “little sidepiece” (a woman after his divorce); A few mentions of crushes; A few mentions of flirting; A mention of a newly married wife saying she can be very persuasive to her husband in a suggestive tone; A mention of a couple being caught canoodling; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: *Spoiler* ; A handful of mentions of a married couple struggling to get pregnant & their prior miscarriages (*Spoiler*); A few mentions of some adoptees not wanting to find their biological parents (like Indi being not curious about them at all) and those who want to know about them; A couple mentions of the Santa at the mall kissing the top of kids’ heads being sketchy.
-Indiana Joy “Indi” Muir, age 28
-Philip West, age 34
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 2018-2019 (Prologue in 1969)
396 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but adoption & biological families were a huge part of that story and since that’s such a near and dear topic to my heart, I loved how the author highlighted how broken and yet how beautiful adoption can be. Those parts really made this story to me—and while it might sound corny, I truly mean it—touched my heart. The faith content wrapped into those elements were so raw and real, but so honestly written.
On a lighter note, I’m not sure what it is about awkward, giraffe-like male leads that I enjoy reading about so much, but Philip matches that description to a ‘T’. I literally laughed at loud at times with him and Indi, they were so cute together and I loved that they were able to talk about deeper, personal topics and react well to the other’s past and feelings. It felt like a healthy relationship, even if a few parts were too kissy for my tastes.
I’m very eager to read the third and final book in this series once it releases next year. I was excited to read Indi’s story after the first book and now I’m even more curious about Lil’s story.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this honest review.
“In one evening, Indi's world falls apart. Enter the shy professor her family mistakes for her fiancé...make that ex-fiancé.
Professor Philip West never wanted to return to Maine . . . or his grandfather’s miserable old house. But after his mother’s death, he’s now the guardian of a teenage half sister he barely knows—one who doesn’t want anything to do with him. He longs to help her heal, but he’s exhausted and numb, desperate for relief of his own. Maybe that’s why he’s so easily distracted when he happens upon the little shop with a name on its storefront window that sounds familiar, a hint of a mystery nudging him inside.
More than a decade has passed since Indi Muir made the heartbreaking decision she’s never recovered from—though she’s certainly tried. She has a full life running her shop and creating the artsy pieces that fill its shelves. If she can just stay busy, she’ll keep her hurt and regret at bay. But when her ex-fiancé returns to Muir Harbor, he brings news that shatters her carefully built walls. Things only get worse when lurking danger comes calling at her childhood home.
The one bright spot amid Indi’s turmoil is the shy stranger who wandered into her shop months ago and his moody but lovable sister. As she confronts her past and the mysterious threat facing her family, she’s intent on helping Philip win over his sister. He just might win over Indi, too, if they can overcome old secrets and wounds, outrun rising peril . . . and take a chance on love.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Muir Harbor” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Talks about God, prayers, & faiths; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Going to a chapel; A quote from St. Augustine is said; On one Sunday, Indi thinks that she really would rather hide away in her workshop than go to church; Indi feels like God doesn’t see her or answer her prayers anymore, but recalls a time that God answered her prayers when she was a child; Indi & Holland have a discussion about God answering prayers & wondering if He’s just saying ‘no’ (a conclusion to their hurt is not really said at this point, but discussed later separately with other people); Indi was angry at God for asking her to do a hard decision that left her in a hole in her heart *Spoiler* ; At one point, Philip wonders why he isn’t hearing God’s voice on a topic; Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of churches/chapels, church going, services, a sermon, & a pastor; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of a Bible; A couple mentions of a Nativity scene; A couple mentions of someone believing that something wasn’t a coincidence but from the Divine; A couple mentions of blessings; A mention of someone having a come-to-Jesus experience; A mention of someone not knowing another from Adam;
*Note: A mention of Indi saying that she has too many ghosts; A mention of someone looking like they saw a ghost; A mention of feeling bewitched by a town; A mention of a teen saying that goats have demon eyes.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘geez’, a ‘holy buckets’, a ‘holy crap’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘sure as blazes’, a ‘where in blazes’, two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘darn’, two ‘for Pete’s sake’s, two ‘oh my gosh’s, two ‘oh my word’s, three ‘holy cow’s, three ‘heck’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, three ‘sheesh’s, three ‘what the heck’s, five ‘gosh’s, six ‘shoot’s, seven ‘dumb’s, and eleven forms of ‘stupid’; A mention of Philip thinking of a name for someone that he doesn’t usually say out loud; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Eavesdropping; Being held at gunpoint, Being threatened, Being choked, Fighting, Pain, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); A close car crash, almost hitting a deer, & landing in a ditch (the people and deer are fine, up to semi-detailed); Philip has a panic attack (semi-detailed); Grieving the loss of family members & what could have been (both Indi, Philip, and side characters); Philip’s mother left him at his grandfather’s house after his father’s death and he’s felt unwanted since then (& struggles with resentment towards her for it); Indi drinks champagne at a wedding; Many mentions of deaths & grieving (a fiancé, fathers, a mother, daughters); Mentions of a car crash, death(s), & a missing toddler (Book #1 covers more about this); Mentions of fights, fighting, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of criminals, crimes, intruders, break-ins, stealing, vandalism, arrests, an accidental theft, trespassing, & someone being pushed down the stairs (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a recovering alcoholic & drinking; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of divorces & how a father hasn’t been in contact with his daughter for twelve years; A few mentions of a man flinging himself off a cliff & being in a coma afterwards; A few mentions of the Vietnam war & a death; A few mentions of a bar; Mentions of a teen into the high school party scene and drinking; A few mentions of teenagers breaking into a rec center; A couple mentions of a train accident & death (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a close car crash; A couple mentions of Lil being left on Maggie’s doorstep when she was a toddler; A couple mentions of a woman living her life drinking and depressed; A couple mentions of champagne at a wedding; A couple mentions of rumors; A mention of someone doing a noble thing and not stepping off of a cliff (meaning literally or metaphorical is not said); A mention of jail; A mention of con-artists; A mention of pipe tobacco; A mention of needing to pee;
*Note: Mentions of HGTV & Hallmark; Mentions of brand names & items (Jell-O, Peanut M&Ms, Reddi-wip, 7-Up, Levi’s, iPad, iPhone, Keurig, Tupperware, & Band-Aid); Mentions of websites (Google, Uber, Airbnb, & Spark Notes); Mentions of TV shows, movies, & characters (Jeopardy, Star Wars, Gandalf the Grey, Willy Wonka, Clark-Kent, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Batman, & Robin); Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of the Narnia books; A mention of Disney.
Sexual Content- a chin kiss, five cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a almost (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed) kiss, a not-detailed kiss, five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses, a detailed kiss, and a very detailed kiss (including being pulled into his lap); Remembering a kiss (semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (up to semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, & exes; A few mentions of a father’s “little sidepiece” (a woman after his divorce); A few mentions of crushes; A few mentions of flirting; A mention of a newly married wife saying she can be very persuasive to her husband in a suggestive tone; A mention of a couple being caught canoodling; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: *Spoiler* ; A handful of mentions of a married couple struggling to get pregnant & their prior miscarriages (*Spoiler*); A few mentions of some adoptees not wanting to find their biological parents (like Indi being not curious about them at all) and those who want to know about them; A couple mentions of the Santa at the mall kissing the top of kids’ heads being sketchy.
-Indiana Joy “Indi” Muir, age 28
-Philip West, age 34
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 2018-2019 (Prologue in 1969)
396 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but adoption & biological families were a huge part of that story and since that’s such a near and dear topic to my heart, I loved how the author highlighted how broken and yet how beautiful adoption can be. Those parts really made this story to me—and while it might sound corny, I truly mean it—touched my heart. The faith content wrapped into those elements were so raw and real, but so honestly written.
On a lighter note, I’m not sure what it is about awkward, giraffe-like male leads that I enjoy reading about so much, but Philip matches that description to a ‘T’. I literally laughed at loud at times with him and Indi, they were so cute together and I loved that they were able to talk about deeper, personal topics and react well to the other’s past and feelings. It felt like a healthy relationship, even if a few parts were too kissy for my tastes.
I’m very eager to read the third and final book in this series once it releases next year. I was excited to read Indi’s story after the first book and now I’m even more curious about Lil’s story.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this honest review.
December 11, 2022
"I just wonder if maybe we're better off not trying so hard to let go, not wriggling so fiercely to be free of the ache or the hurt or the wondering or any one of the crappy emotions that come as a result of the wounds we carry. ljust wonder if instead of asking God to take the pain away, we invite Him into it" - Lillian
Sometimes you read a book and when you finish, you just want to hug the book, sigh..and process all the feelings.. This is one of those books. There are so many elements and layers to this book. It's perfect for the holidays.
All the cozy and warm wintery feels, yet it's not just a cozy read. It has a depth that truly spoke to my heart.
So many impactful quotes. I believe this is my favorite Contemporary CF book that I've read this year.
Indi Muir has struggled to redeem herself for years. She feels like the complication in her family. The one who always makes a mess of things. But suddenly, God brings along Philip West and a series of circumstances that begin to teach her so much more about herself.
There's mystery, a lot of romance, rich character growth, deep faith, and tender redemption.
It's a story of learning to hope and trust in God, even when He doesn't give us all the answers.
Sometimes you read a book and when you finish, you just want to hug the book, sigh..and process all the feelings.. This is one of those books. There are so many elements and layers to this book. It's perfect for the holidays.
All the cozy and warm wintery feels, yet it's not just a cozy read. It has a depth that truly spoke to my heart.
So many impactful quotes. I believe this is my favorite Contemporary CF book that I've read this year.
Indi Muir has struggled to redeem herself for years. She feels like the complication in her family. The one who always makes a mess of things. But suddenly, God brings along Philip West and a series of circumstances that begin to teach her so much more about herself.
There's mystery, a lot of romance, rich character growth, deep faith, and tender redemption.
It's a story of learning to hope and trust in God, even when He doesn't give us all the answers.
July 26, 2023
It is a “wonder” I thought I could refrain from punning off of the title. But honestly, after once again marveling at this author’s paintbrush-stroke words for bringing to life both epic landscape and inner turmoil, I’m just in wonderment at how many angsty balls were kept in the air here and how they were all so satisfyingly caught.
This is the second in a series that by law must be read in order. Do not pass “Go” if you have not read book 1, chaos reader.
And it starts off so charmingly with our shy, professorial hero in a mortifying creeper situation but also perfectly placed to catch and champion our girl at her lowest. And that was one of my favorite parts of this story: it gets heavy (nothing too dark but don’t miss my content notes if you have triggers) but such great reciprocity with being there when the other is falling apart and yet all the sweet teasing moments to balance out the emotional baggage as plentiful as acres of blueberries. We have very strong kismet vibes. Ms. Tagg was like “You think two weeks to fall is too soon? Hold my Trinna’s tea cup”. Like her older brother, Indi Muir proves all you need to find love is the healing powers of Muir Farm and a fortnight. Yes, some stuttering adorkableness and piercing gray eyes don’t hurt either.
So much to love here: not just HEA for a couple but healing for a whole family dynamic, a hero who’s only just learned her name and has unwittingly begun his descent, a single guardian situation where the work is truly put in, some reveals you love to have guessed and some you didn’t expect, frequent mentions of imperfect/in progress faith, wonderful, swoony chemistry to go with I-see-you emotional depth. Such a fabulous series. I wonder what new wonders the conclusion will bring. Ok, I’ll stop.
Content notes: kissing only. There’s working through feelings of parental abandonment and parent loss grief on page, mention of teen pregnancy, on page adoption grief, on page brief panic attack. Brief mentions infertility struggles and recovering alcolohism for secondary characters.
This is the second in a series that by law must be read in order. Do not pass “Go” if you have not read book 1, chaos reader.
And it starts off so charmingly with our shy, professorial hero in a mortifying creeper situation but also perfectly placed to catch and champion our girl at her lowest. And that was one of my favorite parts of this story: it gets heavy (nothing too dark but don’t miss my content notes if you have triggers) but such great reciprocity with being there when the other is falling apart and yet all the sweet teasing moments to balance out the emotional baggage as plentiful as acres of blueberries. We have very strong kismet vibes. Ms. Tagg was like “You think two weeks to fall is too soon? Hold my Trinna’s tea cup”. Like her older brother, Indi Muir proves all you need to find love is the healing powers of Muir Farm and a fortnight. Yes, some stuttering adorkableness and piercing gray eyes don’t hurt either.
So much to love here: not just HEA for a couple but healing for a whole family dynamic, a hero who’s only just learned her name and has unwittingly begun his descent, a single guardian situation where the work is truly put in, some reveals you love to have guessed and some you didn’t expect, frequent mentions of imperfect/in progress faith, wonderful, swoony chemistry to go with I-see-you emotional depth. Such a fabulous series. I wonder what new wonders the conclusion will bring. Ok, I’ll stop.
Content notes: kissing only. There’s working through feelings of parental abandonment and parent loss grief on page, mention of teen pregnancy, on page adoption grief, on page brief panic attack. Brief mentions infertility struggles and recovering alcolohism for secondary characters.
September 25, 2023
There's not very many authors who I can say deliver excellent stories of quality every single time they release a new book but let me tell you, Ms. Tagg is one of them! Returning back to Muir Harbor we're in Indi's story and this one was rich in emotion but not so much that the story felt heavy. The characters bring a lightness to the heavier feelings but the depth of the plot and character background layered with theme of self-forgiveness, enduring love, and hope are what make this story so, so good.
February 9, 2023
This book 😭😭🤍
October 7, 2022
I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to get my hands on this and read it. I friggin love it! I'm enjoying this second book in a series even more than the previous one. Even though this is the second book in the series and picks up right where book one left off, I still advise reading it in order.
This narrative has so much heart and charm, and I couldn't be happier with it! The narrative of Indi and Philip is presented in A Seaside Wonder. On the worst night of Indi's life, these two cross paths. The bad news kept coming, one after the other.
The meeting of Philip and Indie was perfection! I adored how their relationship developed since they were so understanding of one another's circumstances. It seemed extremely logical. As their lives intertwine, Philip and Indi start to find healing after burying their feelings regarding life altering experiences.
Other characters were also well developed, complicated, and intriguing, not just the two major ones. Readers may relate to all of them since each of them adds depth and meaning without leaving out any of the characters.
The story had a good pace and was interesting from beginning to end. What I truly adore about the author's writing is how magically it makes me feel, if you know what I mean. It almost makes me feel like I'm in an imaginary world.
With a dash of mystery and a dash of faith, a lovely and jumbled-together family is presented in the charming setting of a little Maine town. I couldn't wait for the release of the upcoming series!
I thank to Larkspur Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to received an advance reader copy in return for my honest review.
*Reviewed on NetGalley, Goodreads & My Blog.
This narrative has so much heart and charm, and I couldn't be happier with it! The narrative of Indi and Philip is presented in A Seaside Wonder. On the worst night of Indi's life, these two cross paths. The bad news kept coming, one after the other.
The meeting of Philip and Indie was perfection! I adored how their relationship developed since they were so understanding of one another's circumstances. It seemed extremely logical. As their lives intertwine, Philip and Indi start to find healing after burying their feelings regarding life altering experiences.
Other characters were also well developed, complicated, and intriguing, not just the two major ones. Readers may relate to all of them since each of them adds depth and meaning without leaving out any of the characters.
The story had a good pace and was interesting from beginning to end. What I truly adore about the author's writing is how magically it makes me feel, if you know what I mean. It almost makes me feel like I'm in an imaginary world.
With a dash of mystery and a dash of faith, a lovely and jumbled-together family is presented in the charming setting of a little Maine town. I couldn't wait for the release of the upcoming series!
I thank to Larkspur Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to received an advance reader copy in return for my honest review.
*Reviewed on NetGalley, Goodreads & My Blog.
December 2, 2022
How do I even begin to describe the impact this book has had on me? This book is a lot of things but one thing I know for sure that it is: Hope
I adored the first book in the series but this one had a depth, raw, & realness to it that I wasn’t expecting. It had heartbreak and loss. But there was also so much love and hope waiting on the horizon of every single page. A lot like how God is. We often just see what’s going on around us that’s bad or not going right. It sometimes feels like things will never change and we will be stuck in the messes of our life. But God is always there and working on our behalf. There is always hope on the horizon when His hand is in it. He never leaves us….He stays.
I have so many highlights from this book but I just wanted to leave this one here:
“She's figured out how to live in the tension between honest heartache and steadfast hope. She's put her trust in a God who...who maybe doesn't make every crack disappear, but who holds all her broken pieces tenderly.
Who heals her simply by being with her. Staying with her."
I adored the first book in the series but this one had a depth, raw, & realness to it that I wasn’t expecting. It had heartbreak and loss. But there was also so much love and hope waiting on the horizon of every single page. A lot like how God is. We often just see what’s going on around us that’s bad or not going right. It sometimes feels like things will never change and we will be stuck in the messes of our life. But God is always there and working on our behalf. There is always hope on the horizon when His hand is in it. He never leaves us….He stays.
I have so many highlights from this book but I just wanted to leave this one here:
“She's figured out how to live in the tension between honest heartache and steadfast hope. She's put her trust in a God who...who maybe doesn't make every crack disappear, but who holds all her broken pieces tenderly.
Who heals her simply by being with her. Staying with her."
June 20, 2023
A sweet story with so much depth and feeling. While it can be read as a stand-alone I suggest you won’t want to miss the previous book and get to know recurring characters and the mystery surrounding Muir Farm and its family.
Indie and Philip's meet-cute has me laughing out loud, the best meet-cute I had ever read. clean-closed door, a few kisses, and swoony romance. There is something for everyone. mystery, romance, humor, family dynamics, complex main characters, world-building, and character-building.
If you like a touch of mystery in your romance, and a cozy blueberry farm setting, I think you'll love this series. Fun entertaining easy read!
Thanks, NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Indie and Philip's meet-cute has me laughing out loud, the best meet-cute I had ever read. clean-closed door, a few kisses, and swoony romance. There is something for everyone. mystery, romance, humor, family dynamics, complex main characters, world-building, and character-building.
If you like a touch of mystery in your romance, and a cozy blueberry farm setting, I think you'll love this series. Fun entertaining easy read!
Thanks, NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this. It is a Christian romance with mystery and suspense, and the second in the Muir Harbor series. As with the first one, I really liked the setting and the characters. It had more suspense than the first one, which I liked, and cleared up a little of the mystery. I am really looking forward to the next one.
October 9, 2022
A Seaside Wonder was a captivating tale, packed full of characters who were carrying around deep and complicated emotional wounds. I absolutely loved the way Phillip and Indi met and connected with each other so early on in the story. And although there were things in both of their lives that they were working through, it was through their time together that it felt as if they grew and healed the most emotionally.
This is book two in the Muir Harbor series and continues on with the mystery that was set up in book one. You could probably jump into book two and learn enough to enjoy the novel, yet I know that for me it was wonderful to reconnect with the characters from Autumn by the Sea. I really enjoyed learning more about the mystery that continued on into this story, but even more, I was totally invested in both Phillip and Indi’s relationship and the individual backstories that played such an important part of the people they were in this novel.
I loved the growth that occurred for so many characters in this book. Some learned to rely more on God, while others recognized that maybe they just needed to allow themselves to ask Him why He allowed certain things to happen. But I most enjoyed the beautiful connections and relationships that developed between the various characters in the story. They all felt so real to me and I am anxious to read more in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
This is book two in the Muir Harbor series and continues on with the mystery that was set up in book one. You could probably jump into book two and learn enough to enjoy the novel, yet I know that for me it was wonderful to reconnect with the characters from Autumn by the Sea. I really enjoyed learning more about the mystery that continued on into this story, but even more, I was totally invested in both Phillip and Indi’s relationship and the individual backstories that played such an important part of the people they were in this novel.
I loved the growth that occurred for so many characters in this book. Some learned to rely more on God, while others recognized that maybe they just needed to allow themselves to ask Him why He allowed certain things to happen. But I most enjoyed the beautiful connections and relationships that developed between the various characters in the story. They all felt so real to me and I am anxious to read more in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
October 2, 2022
I’d give this book a hundred stars. As Melissa always does, she beautifully captures the complications of a life lived with pain and purpose intertwined with faith and family. I adore Muir Harbor, and I think this sequel is even better than the first book (which I also loved)—highly recommend reading them in order though as this one picks up almost exactly where book one left off. The ending left me with a satisfied happy sigh, but I cannot WAIT to read book three!
December 3, 2022
Such a great setting and wonderful characters in this series. I can't wait for book three to learn more and Lillian and Wilder.
December 23, 2022
A sweet romance with layers of emotional depth and a mystery. I so enjoyed this novel. Melissa Tagg is a go to for me when I'm looking for a romance that will pull me in and feel good. Fans of Denise Hunter should absolutely try this book. You're going to love it.
September 23, 2022
Ok.
NOW I'm completely, totally hooked.
I need more. I need book #3
This second visit to Muir Harbor and Maggie Muir's family....well, it was just great!
This book overlaps just a little bit with the first book. But, we are now seeing life from Indi's point of view. And this overlap brings clarity to things I didn't even realize I needed.
Indi has always been one to rush from one thing to the next. And she didn't even stop to think why.
I liked getting to know her, and understanding her "why".
Once again, Melissa Tagg brings a sweet story with so much depth and feeling.
You will be left pondering this one for awhile after you finish reading.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
NOW I'm completely, totally hooked.
I need more. I need book #3
This second visit to Muir Harbor and Maggie Muir's family....well, it was just great!
This book overlaps just a little bit with the first book. But, we are now seeing life from Indi's point of view. And this overlap brings clarity to things I didn't even realize I needed.
Indi has always been one to rush from one thing to the next. And she didn't even stop to think why.
I liked getting to know her, and understanding her "why".
Once again, Melissa Tagg brings a sweet story with so much depth and feeling.
You will be left pondering this one for awhile after you finish reading.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
December 2, 2024
This is a beautiful story! I enjoyed it even more than the first one! Sweet romance, wonderful family dynamics, profound messages of faith Hope and healing, and an enchanting setting make this an addicting read that I highly recommend! But make sure you read this trilogy in order because this one continues where the first book ends. Rumor has it that the third book is the best of the bunch so I can hardly wait to check it out! These are all currently available on Kindle unlimited.
October 24, 2022
This is an awesome book…I love it!! Lots of faith and chunks of wisdom throughout!! Here’s a small example…
“There's still beauty and joy and love waiting for you on the other side of your pain.”
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in general but also to someone struggling or need of encouragement.
“There's still beauty and joy and love waiting for you on the other side of your pain.”
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in general but also to someone struggling or need of encouragement.
October 15, 2022
This one is ah-mazing!! I absolutely loved everything about this story. The storyline was perfect between the mix of mystery, romance and family issues. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!
October 10, 2022
This book is just SUCH a good read!! Wonderful characters that you just can’t help but delight in. I loved watching Philip and Indi grow over the course of the book. The background characters and families are full of surprises and beautiful, teary-eyed moments mixed with plenty of chuckles. And that mystery lingering in the background…I need book 3!!! Plus, I can’t wait to find out more about Lilian and Wilder. It’s going to be so good.
October 2, 2022
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING
November 9, 2022
From the plot itself Indi goes through life as an artist and business owner. The novel seems to go back and forth I think, it is difficult to tell as there wasn’t any signs such as titles saying ‘Then’ or ‘Now’.
The novel begins with a man writing a letter to how he felt the day he met Indi. But then we are in what I presume is the ‘Present’ and this man seems to have his grandfathers letter about Indi, the same one. But then the storyline goes into how ‘the grandfather’ and how they met whilst still in the same storyline of the young guy arriving at this store.
I was very confused trying to follow this storyline. I do not usually have issues with novels and their storylines in terms of following it. Therefore it is clear from my experience of this novel that it couldn’t be followed properly.
Overall I did find this novel confusing to follow as it was not completely clear. However the cover is lovely and I do not want to be harsh therefore I did not give this novel a 1 star.
I was sent this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Review: https://clife.blog/?p=6861
The novel begins with a man writing a letter to how he felt the day he met Indi. But then we are in what I presume is the ‘Present’ and this man seems to have his grandfathers letter about Indi, the same one. But then the storyline goes into how ‘the grandfather’ and how they met whilst still in the same storyline of the young guy arriving at this store.
I was very confused trying to follow this storyline. I do not usually have issues with novels and their storylines in terms of following it. Therefore it is clear from my experience of this novel that it couldn’t be followed properly.
Overall I did find this novel confusing to follow as it was not completely clear. However the cover is lovely and I do not want to be harsh therefore I did not give this novel a 1 star.
I was sent this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Review: https://clife.blog/?p=6861
October 30, 2022
Absolutely wonderful! The characters, the charming setting, the hint of mystery - all create a story that reels you in and makes you wish the town of Muir Harbor and its residents were a real place. Highly recommend!
February 12, 2023
•SERIES• Muir Harbor #2
•GENRE• Contemporary
•WHERE• Muir Harbor, Maine
•WHEN• Present Day
•SEASON• ❄️
•SPICE• 🔥
•FAITH• ✝️✝️✝️
• MAIN CHARACTER AGES •
Indi - 28
Philip - 35
• STYLE •
Dual POV
•THEMES•
- Don't let grief hold you back
- Strained sibling relations
- Open adoption
- Seeing and knowing someone else
- Regaining a sense of wonder at life
- Hope / moving on / letting go of regrets and what-ifs
- Opening up, letting in people you trust
- God restores broken hearts
- God doesn't clean up our messes for us, but walks with us through our struggles
•QUOTES•
"I just wonder if instead of asking God to take the pain away, we invite Him into it"
"I spent a lot of years—decades, really—holding on to a picture of what I thought my life should’ve looked like. So much so I think I sometimes missed out on the beauty of what it did look like.”
"I needed a reminder that love isn’t a single flower, once plucked and gone forever. It’s the soil underneath, rich and ready to grow a whole garden of living color. A lost bloom leaves a gap, no doubt, and mourning that is only right. But there’s still watering and tending and nurturing to be done. There’s joy and life and love still waiting for us.”
“You are not a mess. God sees what you’re becoming. He sees the beauty you already are. He’s not in a hurry and you don’t have to be either.”
"If it feels more pressuring and stressful than it does joyful, then no, I don’t think you’re required to do it forever. I think you have the freedom to walk away if you want. As long as you’re walking away because you truly want to.”
"Emotions mean you’re alive. They mean you have a heart that’s working. You and the things you feel and the experiences you’ve gone through aren’t a complication to our family. I’m so sorry we ever made you feel that way.”
There’s still beauty and joy and love waiting for you on the other side of your pain.
"Maybe that’s what prayer is sometimes—not so much about the answers we get or don’t get, but the questions we need to ask.”
•GENRE• Contemporary
•WHERE• Muir Harbor, Maine
•WHEN• Present Day
•SEASON• ❄️
•SPICE• 🔥
•FAITH• ✝️✝️✝️
• MAIN CHARACTER AGES •
Indi - 28
Philip - 35
• STYLE •
Dual POV
•THEMES•
- Don't let grief hold you back
- Strained sibling relations
- Open adoption
- Seeing and knowing someone else
- Regaining a sense of wonder at life
- Hope / moving on / letting go of regrets and what-ifs
- Opening up, letting in people you trust
- God restores broken hearts
- God doesn't clean up our messes for us, but walks with us through our struggles
•QUOTES•
"I just wonder if instead of asking God to take the pain away, we invite Him into it"
"I spent a lot of years—decades, really—holding on to a picture of what I thought my life should’ve looked like. So much so I think I sometimes missed out on the beauty of what it did look like.”
"I needed a reminder that love isn’t a single flower, once plucked and gone forever. It’s the soil underneath, rich and ready to grow a whole garden of living color. A lost bloom leaves a gap, no doubt, and mourning that is only right. But there’s still watering and tending and nurturing to be done. There’s joy and life and love still waiting for us.”
“You are not a mess. God sees what you’re becoming. He sees the beauty you already are. He’s not in a hurry and you don’t have to be either.”
"If it feels more pressuring and stressful than it does joyful, then no, I don’t think you’re required to do it forever. I think you have the freedom to walk away if you want. As long as you’re walking away because you truly want to.”
"Emotions mean you’re alive. They mean you have a heart that’s working. You and the things you feel and the experiences you’ve gone through aren’t a complication to our family. I’m so sorry we ever made you feel that way.”
There’s still beauty and joy and love waiting for you on the other side of your pain.
"Maybe that’s what prayer is sometimes—not so much about the answers we get or don’t get, but the questions we need to ask.”
October 5, 2022
I've been so eager to return to this family in Muir Harbor, Maine. The setting is idyllic and I so enjoyed the first story that I couldn't wait to have more.
Indy is in the spotlight for this story. She's a character that you know has a LOT going on in her mind but she just doesn't let it out. It's like a pressure cooker in there. I loved the first meeting for Philip and Indy. It was humiliating for both them for different reasons but was a bit amusing from a reader's standpoint. I loved how Philip and Indy's relationship progressed and how steady and kind Philip was for Indy. He said the sweetest things. Both characters were easy to invest in emotionally. I felt connected to their struggles and their successes.
There is a bit of mystery swirling around that started in the first book (which I highly recommend you read first, but I don't think you HAVE to) and progresses in this book. It was a good added element that really leveled up the plot. The ending really left me longing for the next book because man, things are really ramping up. I loved family, this series and this book!
Content: possible triggers: adoption, abandonment. Kissing.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Indy is in the spotlight for this story. She's a character that you know has a LOT going on in her mind but she just doesn't let it out. It's like a pressure cooker in there. I loved the first meeting for Philip and Indy. It was humiliating for both them for different reasons but was a bit amusing from a reader's standpoint. I loved how Philip and Indy's relationship progressed and how steady and kind Philip was for Indy. He said the sweetest things. Both characters were easy to invest in emotionally. I felt connected to their struggles and their successes.
There is a bit of mystery swirling around that started in the first book (which I highly recommend you read first, but I don't think you HAVE to) and progresses in this book. It was a good added element that really leveled up the plot. The ending really left me longing for the next book because man, things are really ramping up. I loved family, this series and this book!
Content: possible triggers: adoption, abandonment. Kissing.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 12, 2022
A Seaside Wonder is the second in a series, as soon as I finished this book I found the first one. I really enjoyed this book, It has a great meet cute, a mystery and a love story, all set in a small town in Maine. I hope there are more books set in this town.
Thanks to NetGalley and Larkspur Press for my advanced review copy of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Larkspur Press for my advanced review copy of this book.
October 12, 2022
Loved it!
I really don't enjoy reading and analyzing books, and with this one I just can't. I could only absorb it, feel it, find myself swept away by the characters and story. It was a wonderful journey.
I really don't enjoy reading and analyzing books, and with this one I just can't. I could only absorb it, feel it, find myself swept away by the characters and story. It was a wonderful journey.
Read
October 3, 2022rtc
November 8, 2022
This book gave me all the feels and is one of my most favorite reads of late! It just captured my attention and my heart and I am legit hoping book three in this series isn't too far away because I love Muir Harbor and just want more.
The first book in this series was wonderful, but this book just leveled up and is my favorite book of Melissa Tagg's to date. It was so evocative and beautiful. Definitely a ten-star read.
Indi and Phillip were adorable and so real. I loved the dialogue between them and the emotions and connection they shared. Indi's past made her vulnerable and raw and I think Tagg very sensitively and realistically addressed Indi's feelings and the struggle it was for her to move forward. The Christian themes of trusting God, a God who stays, and finding hope when it seems all is lost or forgotten was powerful.
I also enjoy the mystery that started in Autumn by the Sea and carried into this one. I am anxiously awaiting the conclusion and Wilder and Lilian’s story.
I definitely recommend this sweet contemporary romance.
The first book in this series was wonderful, but this book just leveled up and is my favorite book of Melissa Tagg's to date. It was so evocative and beautiful. Definitely a ten-star read.
Indi and Phillip were adorable and so real. I loved the dialogue between them and the emotions and connection they shared. Indi's past made her vulnerable and raw and I think Tagg very sensitively and realistically addressed Indi's feelings and the struggle it was for her to move forward. The Christian themes of trusting God, a God who stays, and finding hope when it seems all is lost or forgotten was powerful.
I also enjoy the mystery that started in Autumn by the Sea and carried into this one. I am anxiously awaiting the conclusion and Wilder and Lilian’s story.
I definitely recommend this sweet contemporary romance.
October 19, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and now looking forward to the next book in this series!
This is Christian mystery/suspense, a page turner for sure! I had to have answers, and yes, there are several questions, and a few are still lingering!
I loved how the author built this story and how the right people are put on the path they are supposed to be, oh, but there are surprises that end up on them too!
There is danger lurking, and some may not survive, but what an adventure you experience as you turn the first page! Some surprises even come out or wardrobes!
We are also gifted some sweet romance, and I'm hoping for more!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Larkspur Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
This is Christian mystery/suspense, a page turner for sure! I had to have answers, and yes, there are several questions, and a few are still lingering!
I loved how the author built this story and how the right people are put on the path they are supposed to be, oh, but there are surprises that end up on them too!
There is danger lurking, and some may not survive, but what an adventure you experience as you turn the first page! Some surprises even come out or wardrobes!
We are also gifted some sweet romance, and I'm hoping for more!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Larkspur Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
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