I love women's fiction set in a small town that features a large family or group of friends who are interconnected in numerous ways. Since that's the set-up for The Inn at Walker Beach by Lindsay Harrel, published by Blue Aster Press, it's no surprise that I really enjoyed this it. The story focuses on two women who are at very different stages of life but have a great deal in common.
Jenna, a 27-year-old single mom, seriously lacks self-confidence because she feels her past bad decisions messed up not only her life but also the lives of her mom, older sister, and 10-year-old son. She's currently managing her depression and anxiety, but both have impacted her life in significant ways. Oh, and she's been in love with her boss for years, but he doesn't know it.
Elise, a 60-ish wife and mother, feels lost since her six children don't depend on her like when they were young. Her husband recently had an affair, and although their marriage continues, their relationship is broken. Elise's habit of comforting herself through food is impacting her health, self-worth, and outlook on life.
When both women, along with a few other residents of Walker Beach, receive mysterious invitations to meet at a rundown bed-and-breakfast, none know it's the creation of the Barefoot Sisterhood or how this disparate group of women will impact each other's lives and those of women who have experienced abuse.
I really appreciated the honest ways in which Ms. Harrel addressed both main characters' health issues. Having some familiarity with depression, anxiety, and obesity, I felt the ways these conditions impacted their lives was realistic. It was also interesting to see how the romantic storylines played out since both couples had existing relationships. Elise and Jenna each made decisions I didn't anticipate which increased my enjoyment of the novel.
While the setting and some characters connect to the author's Walker Beach Romance series, this is the first in a spin-off series. It's not necessary to read the first series to enjoy this novel, but I'm definitely putting those books on my TBR list.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author; all opinions are my own.
Jenna, a 27-year-old single mom, seriously lacks self-confidence because she feels her past bad decisions messed up not only her life but also the lives of her mom, older sister, and 10-year-old son. She's currently managing her depression and anxiety, but both have impacted her life in significant ways. Oh, and she's been in love with her boss for years, but he doesn't know it.
Elise, a 60-ish wife and mother, feels lost since her six children don't depend on her like when they were young. Her husband recently had an affair, and although their marriage continues, their relationship is broken. Elise's habit of comforting herself through food is impacting her health, self-worth, and outlook on life.
When both women, along with a few other residents of Walker Beach, receive mysterious invitations to meet at a rundown bed-and-breakfast, none know it's the creation of the Barefoot Sisterhood or how this disparate group of women will impact each other's lives and those of women who have experienced abuse.
I really appreciated the honest ways in which Ms. Harrel addressed both main characters' health issues. Having some familiarity with depression, anxiety, and obesity, I felt the ways these conditions impacted their lives was realistic. It was also interesting to see how the romantic storylines played out since both couples had existing relationships. Elise and Jenna each made decisions I didn't anticipate which increased my enjoyment of the novel.
While the setting and some characters connect to the author's Walker Beach Romance series, this is the first in a spin-off series. It's not necessary to read the first series to enjoy this novel, but I'm definitely putting those books on my TBR list.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author; all opinions are my own.
