Series: Heaven’s Cove #5 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 18th May 2023
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Small Town, Romance
4.2 Stars
One Liner: Enjoyable and heartwarming
Alyssa is a former nurse, now living in Heaven’s Cove as a tour guide and part-time worker in a mini supermarket. She rents the caravan in Madga’s backyard and is doing her best to stay away from her past.
Magda is a seventy-plus woman with a successful ice cream parlor and a love for baking. She has been in love with Stan, her best friend, for years but hasn’t yet gathered the courage to share her feelings.
Jack is back in Heaven’s Cove to take a break and care for his father, Stan. Jack’s impending divorce and other troubles make him appear broody and rude.
How will things change when Jack and Alyssa cross paths, and Alyssa finds a map of an old secret connected with Jack’s family history?
The story comes from the limited third-person POV of Alyssa, Jack, and Magda.
Don’t rely on the Goodreads blurb. It’s not 100% accurate.
My Thoughts:
This book is the fifth in the series and reads very well as a standalone. A few recurring characters appear for a brief while (Rosie and Liam finally get married in this book).
The use of three POVs (in the third person) makes it easy to understand their backstories and views without any unnecessary jumps. There’s a prologue from the past, and it connects with the central plot.
The book has sort of enemies to lovers and grumpy vs. sunshine tropes, though the focus is not entirely on romance. It’s one of the subplots and adds an additional flavor to the story.
Jack and Alyssa are easy to understand, though Alyssa’s secret doesn’t feel as complex as it sounds. I did feel a little disappointed here, especially since there isn’t much exploration of the secret or her feeling about it after the reveal. Comparatively, Jack’s track is more defined and clear.
However, Alyssa’s desire to dig deep and find out more about the smugglers and Charity’s death shows how much she needs others to be happy. She is a sweet person, ready to help and support, but respects boundaries.
The writing flows well and sustains a good pace throughout. I could finish the entire book in a couple of hours. It blends a bit of mystery, family drama, friendships, love, etc., to create a wholesome package.
I also love that not everyone gets a perfect happy ever after but still has something to live for and cherish. The ending is bittersweet yet heartwarming. The touch of reality works well in this one. Quite a few types of love are explored seamlessly, each unique yet similar to the other.
To summarize, The Path to the Last House Before the Sea is a beautiful addition to the series and a highly satisfying read. Pick it up when you want something relaxing, entertaining, and touching.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #ThePathtotheLastHouseBeforetheSea
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