Synopsis

Two lives. Two stories. One fateful afternoon the family secrets are uncovered from the hidden depths of the yesterdays of the past.

Maggie ~ 1966: “I never thought my life would fall apart in the way that it did. Nineteen, alone, and with a baby on my hip, I fled from all I knew–the city I lived in, my friends, my parents, and him. It was the only thing I could do.

And that’s when I found Shadow Brook. A tiny town in Maine with a beautiful inn, and a place where I could forget about my past, locking the memories away along with the secrets that could shatter my daughters’ world. Secrets, I left in the attic where they belong, hidden far away from her.”

Rachel ~ 1996: “I never wanted my mother’s life or her run down inn in nowhere Maine. I wanted my life in New York. The one with my handsome husband, fantastic career, and the bustle of city life. Isn’t that when life likes to throw you to the wolves?

After finding my husband in bed with another woman and my mother passed away, I found myself not only the new owner of the inn, but also back in Shadow Brook, and face to face with old my high-school boyfriend, Luke. At least I can distract myself with the renovations, and I can finally clear out all of my mother’s things. Including an old box of journals and letters found in the corner of the attic.”

Each story in the Seashells and Second Chances Collection is about a strong woman overcoming hardships and finding her own second chance. Each story is a standalone novel and can be read and enjoyed separately from the others. If you love sweet and sensual contemporary romance with a dash of humor, you will love the stories in the Seashells and Second Chances Collection. Unlock this story and the others today.

Review

What a delightful story about love, heartbreak, forgiveness, and second chances.

This is the story of Maggie and Rachel, mother and daughter. The story flips back in forth in time between 1966/67 and 1996 from the point of view of both main characters. Maggie is a brave woman for the late 60s and trying to raise a child on her own. I loved watching her blossom and come into her own. Her daughter, Rachel, has her own issues starting with finding her husband in their bed with another woman. That sends her down a path that she never expected to take but it really was for the best.

As the story progresses, we learn more about Maggie and Rachel and their trials, tribulations, and joys. There were many things that might be a surprise to some but I just knew somehow these events were going to happen. But that didn’t lessen the story and there was even a time or two where tears were shed even though I knew what events were about to happen.

I loved all of the characters, even the not so nice ones aka Maggie’s parents, especially her mother. I think her mother was unhappy with her own life and took it out on Maggie. It is a shame that she was bitter because she lost out on many years in her daughter and granddaughter’s lives.

Both Maggie and Rachel found a second chance at love. Watching them experience love again was heartwarming.

“The funny thing about secrets is they can wound not only the one they are withheld from, but the one holdin’ them.”

This quote from the book couldn’t be any truer. There are many secrets, mostly kept from Rachel by her mother, but even Rachel kept some secrets. However, time reveals all secrets and it is a matter of how one decides to deal with those truths.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book and I will have to look into the other books in this series.  We give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

Growing up in Nevada, reading was always a pastime that took second place to trail riding and showing horses. When she did find the time in her youth to curl up with a book, she found enjoyment in the Saddle Club Series, the Sweet Valley High series, and the classics of Anne of Green Gables, The Box Car Children, and Little House on the Prairie. Although writing always piqued her curiosity, it wasn’t until September 2009 that she worked up the courage to put her passion to paper and started her debut novel.

When she’s not writing, Angela spends her days from dawn to dusk as a stay at home, homeschooling mom. She also works in her garden and takes care of her many farm animals, as well as loves to bake and cook from scratch. She doesn’t show horses anymore, but she still loves to trail ride her paint horse, Honky, as well as enjoys teaching her daughters how to ride their horses, Sunny and Cowboy.

In December 2014, Angela launched Long Valley Press.

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