Brittany Thompson has spent her whole life in peaceful Sand Dollar Cove lonely, loving the wrong men and mourning the loss of her beloved older brother Paul-the only guy she's ever been able to trust-when they were just teenagers. Her one escape is her café, Safe Harbor, where customers can gift meals to strangers along with handwritten notes of encouragement.
That is until a familiar face returns to town: rugged, brooding Ryan Osborne-the man Brittany had a schoolgirl crush on when they were young. And who was once her brother's best friend... Ryan's arrival brings back painful memories, and bumping into him at the charming café sends Brittany's emotions all over the place.
Brittany can't forget the way Ryan skipped town after Paul's death, leaving her to grieve alone, though as she watches him struggle to readjust to life in the cove, her heart softens just a little. But just as she and Ryan start to grow closer, bonding over their shared past, mysterious notes begin appearing. The messages encourage Brittany to think about the person she is and how her past led her here...
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It was the five words that struck fear into the soul of every mother: "This is the principal calling".
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(Bookouture, 20 March 2024, e-galley, 355 pages, #ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, BlogTour 21 March)
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This is a new author for me. I didn't realise Notes from the Cove was part of a series. I haven't read the other books. I don't think this had an impact on my enjoyment. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting. The book does a great job turning Sand Dollar Cove into the kind of place I could picture myself hanging out. Brittany is a great character. I felt really connected to her as she struggles to forge a new life for herself after losing her job and her lover while still grieving the death of her much idolised brother several years before. I enjoyed the way the story develops as Brittany starts to heal and find out the truth about her brother's death. I enjoyed this book a lot and found it well-written and engaging. I'd recommend this.