I enjoyed the first book about Cape Sanctuary by this author (see my review of The Sea Glass Cottage), so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed.
Aside from being a place I would love to visit Cape Sanctuary reminds me of the towns that my parents and I used to visit on weekend drives. Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, there were no shortage of such towns.
To me, a setting that invokes good personal memories is almost as important as the plot or the characters. It certainly can help to put the reader in a positive frame of mind for reading.
I liked the way the author shaped this story.
First off, I thought the job that the job Jess had was fascinating. It was indicative of her true nature and in direct conflict with the prickly outer shell she exhibited – especially the one her sister thinks she has to break through.
I actually found myself wishing that Jess existed and would be available to help me and my mom clean out her house. There are 50 years of memories waiting to be sorted, and it will not be easy. Do people with jobs like Jess exist in real life?
I digress.
I appreciate how this isn’t a typical romance book, although there is romance involved. I thought the point/counterpoint of Jess figuring out what Nate meant to her and Rachel trying to juggle her homelife and realizing what Cody actually did for the family was interesting.
One thing that stood out to me in the previous book and is again present here is how well the author captures teenage girls. Sophie is a real person, not a caricature of a teenager. Her moodiness is perfectly accurate for her age, as is the way she capitulates (in relief) when someone offers her an alternative.
A potential surfing disaster headed off with the offer to build sandcastles is an excellent case in point.
I also thought that Rachel was a perfect example of today’s social media conscious society. She obsesses over everything being perfect for Instagram or her blog even as her home life is messy and complicated.
What she didn’t initially realize was that her desire for everything to be perfect kept her from spending quality time with the family – which would have ultimately made her life easier.
While Jess and Rachel were at odds with each other initially, I liked how they came together and realized each other’s strengths. The same could be said about Nate and Sophie as he juggles learning how to parent a teenager. It’s all about family.
Ultimately, I found that to be the strongest message. When we stop to actually listen to each other, we can learn so much more than hanging on to assumptions and past interactions.
Words to live by.
I hope we get to visit Cape Sanctuary again. I’ve become fond of it.
Facebook: @AuthorRaeAnneThayne
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Author Bio: New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.
