Adult Review: Redemption Bay

 * Haven Point Book 2*

McKenzie Shaw loves her town, she's desperately trying to make the economy. Especially after Ben Kilpatrick left years ago and destroyed the once booming town.

Now he's back. And living next door to her.

McKenzie vows to be polite (after she yells at him for his past crimes) and then she learns that he's in a position to make the town soar to new heights. Sworn to secrecy, she has the town hopping to show him a welcoming community.

The more time she spends with him, the more she understands about his past and his reasons for escaping town the first time. Can she change his mind against the town without falling into her old crush. 

My Thoughts: I loved the first book in this series and of course gravitated towards this one. After a brief disappointment (I thought this was another Christmas story because of the lights on the boats), I fell quickly for this read.

I loved learning more about the town and it's history. I liked seeing characters from the previous books. I loved learning more about Ben (especially after so many comments in the first book, I wondered how he was going to become a likable character -but he really is!)

I love that McKenzie is the town mayor. I admire her patience with everyone giving her comments. I loved watching her in action from pulling together the festivals to dealing with the crisis. 

I loved the two dogs that formed an attachment. 

Haven Point sounds like a magical place: filled with great people, a sense of community, good friends, and of course romance. I just wonder how their library is :)

I can't  wait to read more in this series.

Cover Thoughts: A little misleading, but gorgeous!
Source: BEA 2015 - signed copy!

Final Thoughts: Read this series for the small town charm, the friendships, and of course the romance. 

Upcoming Adult Review: If You Only Knew

Rachel sees a sext sent to her husband. When she asks if he's having an affair, he denies it. She takes him at his word, but lately, she's wondering if her marriage is stale. How did she get into the rut being a stay a home mom?

Jenny's marriage fell apart in flames, but she's still friends with her ex-husband and his new wife.  She moves to the suburbs and opens her own bridal shop. Jenny moves into a house with a grumpy landlord, who just might be the one thing she needs right now.

Two sisters couldn't be more different, but they're there for each other when the going gets tough.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it's a little bit different from the author's other books. It's a women's fiction instead of romance. It had to the same humor, the same strong family bonds, and the same lovable flawed main characters who go through hell.

I loved Jenny - and her attempting to play nice with her ex-husband and his new family even though she was torn up inside. I loved learning more about her dress shop and how she dealt with her brides and their families. I liked her conversations with Leo - how she was more handy than him. I liked her interactions with Evander - he stole my heart. I want him to succeed so badly. 

I loved Rachel and her triplets. The triplets stole my heart - they were charming  entertaining, and sweet. 

I felt badly for their mother, who didn't have an easy life but who stung her daughters frequently. I hated that Jenny had to keep such a big secret to herself for all those years. 

While the men in the book moved the story, I felt that the heart of the novel happened between the two sisters.

Cover Thoughts: I like it, but it doesn't really tell much about the story
Source: Signed ARC at BEA!
Release Date: This book comes out August 25th

Final Thoughts: I devoured this book, loving the sisters' story. They've both brave independent women who find themselves. Right up my alley. Don't miss this one, add it to your TBR list now!

BEA Recap: The Books!

Cooking Class: A fun looking cookbook for kids - great pictures and lots of fun ideas

UnSlut: Important book for teens; part diary part memoir

Come Rain or Come Shine: My Grandmother used to love her books. I couldn't pass this up even though my Grandmother is no longer with us.

Truth According to Us: from one of the co-authors of the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society

Legacy of Kings: Super fun looking teen fantasy novel from the historical time of Alexander the Great 

Royal Wedding: Perfect read of more Mia and Michael

Rogue Wave: Love this mermaid series - action, friendship, and romance

Infinite in Between: I'm excited to read this one about five teens and their entire high school experience.

Soundless: A new Richelle Mead based on Chinese Folklore. Looking forward to this one.

Queen's Hat: A great picture book that showcases London

Some thrillers and historical books that I picked up:

Duplicity

Personal

Alert

War of Two

President's Shadow: Book 3 in the Beecher White series 

Survivor

Most Dangers: Vietnam book from the author of Bomb!

Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party: Fun read about a Princess with fighting powers

Newt's Emerald: Super looking forward to this Regency read with magic

Sunny Side Up: A fun graphic novel about a girl spending the summer with her grandfather

Blackthorn Key: A boy attempts to decipher the clues his master left behind that might solve the murders happening. Really fun read.

Upside Magic: What happens when you're magic isn't like everyone else's magic? Really really cute read.

Superman 

Walk on Earth a Stranger: New trilogy about magic and Gold Rush

Play On: Baseball, Chemistry, Love, and Secrets = sounds really good.

My Secret to Tell: Another thriller from Natalie Richards.

Zeroes: the new Scott Westerfeld

Black Widow: Forever Red. Super excited to learn more about Black Widow

Daughter of Deep Silence: Smart revenge thriller that sounds awesome

A History of Glitter and Blood: Fairies and war and unlikely friendships

Letter to the King: Randomly picked this one up

Clayton Stone at Your Service: Secret agents

White Hots Kiss: from the Harlequin Teen Breakfast

Golden Match: book 2 that looks super cute.

Mariella Mystery: Picked up for a library friend

League of Unexceptional Children: Real kids getting stuff done

Simon Thorn: new MG from Aimee Carter about a boy who discovers a race of animal shape shifters

Voyagers: 39 Clues type book set in space

City of Thirst: Sequel to Map of Everywhere

Girl Who Could Not Dream: MG from Sarah Beth Durst about a dream shop

Foxcraft: Random pick up.

Heartbreakers: A musician and a girl meet and their lives change

Never Always Sometimes: From the Harlequin Teen breakfast

Hello?: From my awesome friend Liza

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between: awesome book - loved it (review coming soon)

Truly Madly Famously: book 2 in a series about an actor in a blockbuster movie based on a book

Some presents for people at work plus:

Hold Me:  the newest book in the Fool's Gold series

If You Only Knew: the new Kristan Higgins book

Redemption Bay: Book 2 in a series that starts with a Christmas novel