On A Coastal Breeze – Suzanne Woods Fisher – Three Sisters Island #2 – Revell – Published 5 May 2020

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Synopsis

Everything happens for a reason, Maddie Grayson believes. But her motto gets sorely tested when the new minister parachutes into town and offers her a chance to change what happens next.

My thoughts

On A Coastal Breeze returns readers to the Three Sisters Island and the Grayson family. This second book in the series picks up where book one left off and continues the story with a new romance.

Cam and Seth are a couple, but waiting to plan their wedding and tell Cooper the truth about his parentage while Cam buries herself in the writing of grants to fund a power source for the island. Paul, the father of the three girls is unsure he has made the right decision in becoming a camp owner. Blaine has returned home from her first semesters of culinary school, but she is carrying a dark secret. And Maddie has started her own family counselling practice. But just as she gets her first clients, the island is graced with their new pastor and he is no less than the boy who tormented her right the way through kindergarten until she last saw him after senior prom. She is surprised to see him and the way the townspeople rally around him. Maybe he’s changed, but Maddie is sure they share too much history to kindle a friendship or explore what she might have felt for him before he broke her heart.

I loved that this book, this series, while featuring each of the Grayson sisters, really continues the whole family’s story. Maddie is the feature sister of this novel, as is her relationship with Rick, the new pastor. But it’s clear, that despite the way we left Cam and Seth in book one, that they don’t get an automatic happily ever after.

The three sisters are still as blind to their own faults while happy to point out the ares the others need to change. Maddie is my favourite of the three girls, and I enjoyed her story.

There is plenty of humour in this book, from Paul’s little duck that follows him around the camp to the endless irony in the sisters’ relationships and their constant ability to solve each others’ problems while ignoring their own. The other islanders also provide much comic relief, from the straight talking Cafe Owner, Peg Legg to the raucous fishermen.

A few sensitive themes are touched upon in the book, including Blaine’s secret as she returns from culinary school. This sets the scene for what promises to be a heartfelt third book.

I would have liked to see more scenes between Rick and Maddie. We only get their romance right at the end of the book. Fortunately, plenty of flashbacks to their youth give the readers background to their connect and reinforce their chemistry. We will, no doubt, see more of their growing relationship alongside Blaine’s story in the next book.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Adult fiction

Genre: Contemporary.

Themes: Romance, family, counselling, pastors, therapists, anxiety, islands.

Published: 5 May 2020 by Revell

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook. 320 pages.

ISBN: 9780800738648

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