"Whoever said all you need is love was an idiot."
Description:
Twelve years ago, Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a pact that no matter where their lives took them, they’d return to Nantucket Island’s Brant Point Lighthouse on July 30, their shared golden birthday, and continue their tradition of exchanging birthday wishes. But that was before a tragic accident upended both of their lives, irrevocably pulling them apart.
Their worlds collide just months before that particular day when Louisa’s fledgling event planning company is hired by the local Coast Guard station, where she discovers Cody has recently returned to the island as the second in command. As they plan a regatta fundraiser, hoping to promote positive PR in the community, neither can deny the fireworks each encounter ignites. But working together also brings up memories of the day Cody’s father died, revealing secrets that have Cody and Louisa questioning everything they thought they knew and felt about their families and each other.
About the Author:
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small town romance and women's fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists. Her novel, Just Let Go, won the Carol Award in 2019 and Just One Kiss was a 2020 Christy Award Finalist.
A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.
Connect with Courtney online at her website (courtneywalshwrites.com) or on any of these social media platforms:
Facebook.com/courtneywalshwrites
Instagram.com/courtneywalsh
Twitter.com/courtney_walsh
My Thoughts:
I confess, I’ve only read a couple of Courtney Walsh’s books so far, despite the fact that I’m immediately drawn in as soon as I start one. I finally sat down to read If For Any Reason and absolutely loved it, so when I saw this one was set in Nantucket as well, I couldn’t resist! Though this book ended up being a hard read for me, I still greatly enjoyed it.
"You only get a handful of years on this planet.
Running seems like such a torturous way to spend them."
One of my very favorite things about Ms. Walsh’s books is how authentic the characters are - and how they become dear friends of mine by the end. I loved getting to know Louisa and Cody, through their messiness and pain, laughter and memories. Louisa is so kind and bubbly, often thinking of others and wanting to love them well. Cody on the other hand doesn’t really seem to like people at the beginning of the story. He’s withdrawn and focused on atoning for his father’s death. I greatly appreciated the kindness and gentleness with which the author handled the topic of grief. My own father actually passed while I was about halfway through this book, and I almost didn’t finish it right now. But I’m glad I did, as there were several truths I found that encouraged me amidst everything happening in my life.
I do have to say, if you’ve lost a loved one, specifically a father, I would recommend having tissues nearby. This story is beautifully written, but also heart-wrenching at moments. And some of the best wisdom comes from Maggie Fisher, who I just adored. If I had to choose a favorite character from the book, it would probably be Maggie.
"Louisa wouldn't say that Maggie was a hoarder - at least not to her face - but
the woman had crammed so much stuff into her cottage, it was a miracle she ever found
her way to the front door."
Honestly, my only negative comment is that the ebook lied to me! It told me I should’ve had more pages, but there’s an excerpt at the end! So in my mind, this book ended much too soon!
As always, thank you so much for stopping by!
I hope you enjoyed my review! And possibly the light-hearted quotes I found to share. There's been a lot of sadness around me lately and I needed some smiles. :)
Per usual, links are below if you'd like to learn more about the book! We're going to be a little extra busy the next couple weeks, so though I'm hoping to add another review, we'll see what time allows.
Have a lovely day!
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