Good story of family, forgiveness, and both romantic and familial love. Lexi left Sunrise Cove years ago when her parents divorced and her father got custody of her. Though her mom was a gambling addict and a neglectful parent, Lexi's father wasn't much better. Her stepsister, Ashley, remained with their mother, Daisy. A year after Daisy's passing, Lexi returns to Sunrise Cove to assist Ashley in carrying out Daisy's last wishes.
I enjoyed watching the interactions between the characters. Lexi immediately has to face Ashley, the sister who stayed with their mother and had an entirely different relationship with Daisy. She also comes face-to-face with the executor of Daisy's will, Heath. Heath was her childhood rival and later crush, with whom she had a complicated past. They must work together to fulfill their mission.
A significant portion of the book focused on the relationship between Lexi and Ashley. Lexi is closed off, reluctant to trust anyone, and haunted by the memories stirred up by her return. Ashley is relentlessly cheerful and full of life. She has missed Lexi and is determined to repair their relationship. There are some heartbreaking scenes between them as they reconcile their differing memories of their mother. I liked seeing Ashley work her way past Lexi's walls and show her what sisters can mean to each other. It isn't an easy process, and there are bumps in the road to reconciliation. I loved seeing Lexi begin to open herself up to the possibilities.
I enjoyed seeing Lexi and Heath's relationship develop. The sparks are there from the start, but memories of past encounters keep Lexi from believing in them. Heath has emotional baggage of his own, but those memories make him especially sensitive to her fears. I loved how he respected her feelings and gave her the space to process the things she discovered. Some mixed signals occasionally get in the way of progress, but that doesn't go on for too long. I couldn't help rooting for them to find their way.
Besides facing her past, Lexi is also at a professional crossroads. I ached for her and the events that had preceded her return to Sunrise Cove, and I understood her devastation at what had happened. I loved seeing her find new purpose in Sunrise Cove. I liked the twist at the end and cheered for the decision she made.
The secondary characters were great. The people who received Daisy's letters gave Lexi a new perspective on her mother. Heath's grandfather was one of my favorites. He has no filter, and it was fun to watch him jerk Heath's chain. I also enjoyed the close relationship between Heath and his brother Cole and Cole's family. His nephew was adorable!
I enjoyed watching the interactions between the characters. Lexi immediately has to face Ashley, the sister who stayed with their mother and had an entirely different relationship with Daisy. She also comes face-to-face with the executor of Daisy's will, Heath. Heath was her childhood rival and later crush, with whom she had a complicated past. They must work together to fulfill their mission.
A significant portion of the book focused on the relationship between Lexi and Ashley. Lexi is closed off, reluctant to trust anyone, and haunted by the memories stirred up by her return. Ashley is relentlessly cheerful and full of life. She has missed Lexi and is determined to repair their relationship. There are some heartbreaking scenes between them as they reconcile their differing memories of their mother. I liked seeing Ashley work her way past Lexi's walls and show her what sisters can mean to each other. It isn't an easy process, and there are bumps in the road to reconciliation. I loved seeing Lexi begin to open herself up to the possibilities.
I enjoyed seeing Lexi and Heath's relationship develop. The sparks are there from the start, but memories of past encounters keep Lexi from believing in them. Heath has emotional baggage of his own, but those memories make him especially sensitive to her fears. I loved how he respected her feelings and gave her the space to process the things she discovered. Some mixed signals occasionally get in the way of progress, but that doesn't go on for too long. I couldn't help rooting for them to find their way.
Besides facing her past, Lexi is also at a professional crossroads. I ached for her and the events that had preceded her return to Sunrise Cove, and I understood her devastation at what had happened. I loved seeing her find new purpose in Sunrise Cove. I liked the twist at the end and cheered for the decision she made.
The secondary characters were great. The people who received Daisy's letters gave Lexi a new perspective on her mother. Heath's grandfather was one of my favorites. He has no filter, and it was fun to watch him jerk Heath's chain. I also enjoyed the close relationship between Heath and his brother Cole and Cole's family. His nephew was adorable!
