Summer at Coastguard Cottages: A feel-good holiday read Kindle Edition

Another sweet story by Jennifer Bohnet. This is the third story of her's I have read and while I did enjoy it I didn't find it quite as engaging as "A Year of Taking Chances" and "Rosie's Little Cafe on the Riviera".As with those other two books there are a cast of protagonists, with four primary characters in the case of this story. Carrie, one of the primary protagonists, is a 28 year old veterinarian who was adopted as a baby by her parents. She has recently learned that her biological dad has died and left her a sizable fortune which includes two houses. When she visits the houses she finds she is drawn to the charm of one of them and the village its in. She meets a young man who knew her birth father and who knows the name and location of her birth mother. So for much of the book the reader is left wondering who her birth mother is. In the end all is revealed and it is a bit bittersweet. The other three primary protagonists have their situations resolved and overall it's a happy ending.I plan to continue to read Jennifer Bohnet's works.

One thing I especially like about Jennifer Bohnet’s books is that she usually has two or three characters who are different generations in her books. I believe this makes it easy for her readers to find characters they can identify with.

a pleasnt way to spent some hours

A pleasant and a quick read.

The second title I’ve read from Bohnet, what strikes most obviously is the characters and their growth and transformation, even as they are in a ‘familiar to them’, at the Coastguard cottages. The cottages are four summer cabins, each owned by one of the four characters in the story: Bruce, Megan, Carrie and Guy, who all are having their own moments of crisis and hoping the setting will help them come to decisions. With insets from secondary characters, and plenty of soul-searching, the stretch for each to find their own new path while basking in the gorgeous coastal setting is a seemingly simple, yet decidedly complicated story. In all the best ways.From coming to terms with life without his beloved wife, to the dissection of a marriage on the rocks, a search for a birth mother after a windfall from an unknown and unmet father to the simple task of healing, each character comes alive and palpable: allowing readers into their own lives, stories and struggles as they completely burrow into your heart and head. Who hasn’t had those moments of questioning: who you are, why you are there, just where should you go now? With gentle interactions and friendships renewed and rekindled, the characters each find answers and new determination to move forward, changing their trajectories or finding comfort in the old and familiar. Bohnet gives moments of engagement and insight into each character: allowing them to develop and grow, even as you find yourself worrying for them, cheering them on, or wondering just why they don’t do things your way. Easing readers into the story that doesn’t just focus on each character’s moments of trial or interior monologue, but allowing for the interactions and subtle insets of each person’s story to unfold, presenting a rich tapestry of a tiny community, brought together by chance but bonding in support, camaraderie and shared struggles.Dialogue is natural and flows, with distinct voices of each coming through clearly: you feel the sorrow that weighs heavily on Bruce and Guy, feel Hazel’s frustrations, understand the tentative approach to the world that stands out from Megan as she struggles with redefining herself as wife or divorce, and then there is Carrie. Adopted and now searching to discover her beginning without the worry of money from an unexpected inheritance, her voice shows the questions as she works to define herself with the newfound knowledge and unending questions she has lived with forever. A wonderful read that shows that taking time to truly discover yourself in a setting that is familiar yet different from your everyday can help you to grow, discover and decide on your next moments.I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

It took me a while to warm up to this book. Perhaps it was because there were multiple main characters, but I didn't find myself invested in the story until nearly half way through the book. The characters do become interesting after a bit and the story is solid once it gets moving. I liked the way the author handled tying the various story lines together by the end of the book.I thought the descriptions of the locations used in this book were really good and the author made it easy for me to imagine being there alongside the characters. The events from the past that surfaced were all interesting and added a lot to the novel, giving it depth. I liked some characters better than others and was always excited to get back to their portion of the plot.Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read and I'm sure that others will enjoy it, particularly if they like romance books where there is more than just a single romance going on.This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Jennifer Bohnet is one of my favourite authors. If you haven't discovered her yet. I highly recommend that you read her books and what better place to start then with this feel good summer read.Five people are in a mission to change their lives this summer. For Bruce he is learning to survive without his wife by his side. Megan is hoping that this summer will help to patch up the cracks in her marriage. Carrie is looking for her birth mother trying to find out where she has come from. After her father unexpectedly leaves her a small fortune in his will. Guy had been through the mile these last few months and is hoping that the summer will help to put his life back on track again, and Hazel is going through her mid life crises at the same time as trying to raise a stroppy teenage daughter.Everyone books in to stay at the beautiful Coastguard cottages but unexpected events change everyone's life's.This book is fantastic. It had wonderful descriptions, (I would love to go and spend a few weeks at the coastguard cottages) wonderful characters that you really feel for and romance wish them all the best and want them to find happiness and a fantastic story. With some laughout loud moments and lots of love.This book is perfect for fans of romcom and chicklit books.

This is the 1st book I've read by this author, I really enjoyed it so I will look out for more to read.An interesting story of some cottages which were mainly privately owned holiday lets whose owners meet over the Summer holidays and a woman who receives an unexpected bequest. For most of the book there is no connection between the 2, then it becomes clear.Carrie, a woman in her late 20's is a vet, she was adopted as a baby. She receives an inheritance which changes her life.Bruce is the owner of 1 of the cottages, this Summer is going to be difficult as he lost his wife earlier in the year and being in the place they loved so much is going to be hard.Karen is the owner of another one of the cottages, a wide and mother, she inherited the cottage from her parents. She arrives for the Summer without her husband, needing a break from their difficult marriage.Guy is renting one of the cottages from a friend, keen to put the past behind him he seeks sanctuary at the cottage, but the past catches up with him.I wonder if there is another book here to be written. There is another set of owners whose story hasn't been told, and then there's the rest of Carrie's story wiring to be written.A really enjoyable book and well worth a read.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and It will not be the last. I must admit though when it began with Carrie & her mother in a solicitors office where Carrie was told she had inherited properties and money I wondered what it had to do with coastguard cottages. It soon became clear. Each chapter is in segments where the charaters stories unfold. We meet Bruce whose wife had died a few months before, Jane, her husband and 2 grown up children. Guy who is renting one of the cottages. We did meet others as well as Carrie. I do not know the area very well, but I feel I know it better now. The story takes place over 1 summer. I would like to think that a follow up book can be written, where it picks up the following summer. PLEASE !! I Can well recomend.

I absolutely loved this book. Beautiful cover. Enjoyed right from the 1st page. Love when a book grabs your attention this quick. The Coastguards cottages. Sounded like an idyllic place to go for the summer. There was a mix of different characters. All really nice and complemented each other well. Each character had there own story to tell. Didn’t want this book to end. Really hope this author writes a follow up. This was the 2nd book I’ve enjoyed with this author and would look out for her in the future

Really enjoyable read and very satisfying conclusion. Not too frivolous characters and situations just right! Anyone who wants a good summer escape from the daily routine and to be by the idyllic seaside without leaving the comfort of your armchair.

The story has a great setting so even if you arn't lucky enough to be jet setting somewhere sunny this summer, you can be transported to the idyllic Devonshire Coast whilst you read about the characters lives.The book focuses on three main characters of which the chapters alternate so we get to find out more about each one and their lives at Coastguard Cottages. All three characters each have things they need to deal with in their lives and it was a bit like watching your favourite soap seeing how everything was going to unfold.There is a bit of something in here for everyone that enjoys this genre of book. It's an easy read with nice characters that the readers will be interested in. It did take me a while for the story to grab hold with the swapping to the different the characters but overall was a good read and a good book to pack on your hols or enjoy in the comfort of your back garden in the warmth of the sun.