Little Beach Bungalow (The Seaside Saga)
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
9th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Independently published (May 4, 2019)
Paperback: 332 pages
ISBN-10: 1090956851
ISBN-13: 978-1090956859
Kindle ASIN: B07PXT51LK
The cottage is nestled along winding Sea View Road, set back from the sandy street. Surrounded by swaying dune grass, it’s a shabby little beach bungalow with an open back porch overlooking a sparkling Long Island Sound. A sign propped in the front window says: For Rent.
Well, the cottage was For Rent … until one particular lobsterman booked a summer stay there. As Shane Bradford settles into the New England beach town of Stony Point, he unloads more than boxes and duffels. With his arrival, he unpacks secrets, and entwined histories, among his circle of beach friends. Old loves surface. New ones emerge, too.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Seaside Saga continues right where Night Beach leaves off. Kyle and Lauren off by themselves trying to get their relationship back on track after Kyle’s brother took almost everyone by surprise when he showed up for their vow renewal. The rest of the group assumes Shane has gone back to his lobster boat. Instead, he found a little bungalow for rent at the end of Sea View Road and decided to stay a while.
The group finds out basically one by one that the man is still in their midst when he basically releases hurricane strength issues that rocks the lives of many of the group I have come to love over the course of this series. One character seemed to have a breakthrough but my heart broke for all the others. This was a very emotional read. There are touches of humor but not enough to really lift my spirits.
I love the beach setting of this series and the characters. The author’s words take us right there, on the scene of everything that happens. With the use of flashbacks, we get another visit back to the beach friends history that this time makes an upheaval in the current times.
I am going to be frank, I really don’t like Shane. I was on the fence at the end of the last book but this time he really rubbed me the wrong way. I understand he was hurt by things in the past that kept him away for years, but there are better ways to deal with that pain. I have become invested in these characters and they have endured pains of their own. We still haven’t gotten the whole Shane/Kyle story. I hope that comes out soon, so the characters I love can heal.
Ms. DaMaio has a talent of getting her reader to feel deep emotions. She tests us and tempts us. She draws us in and holds us tight. While I don’t always like what is happening in the story I can’t put the book down. I need to know what happens next.
I don’t like that she leaves us with a cliffhanger either, but thankfully we never have to wait too long in between books. There are some major things that need to be dealt with so I am anxiously awaiting the next book, Every Summer. I also can’t wait to get back to what hopefully will be a more tranquil time at the beach.
About the Author
Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She enjoys writing about friendship, family, love, and choices while setting her stories in New England towns or by the sea. Currently, at work on her next book, Joanne lives with her family in Connecticut.
To learn more about the author, visit Joannedemaio.com. She also enjoys hearing from readers on her Facebook Page.
Check out my reviews of the previous books here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I really like her Christmas/winter books best. I think I just like that time of the year best!