This was a sweet light contemporary read and a promising start to a new series. There was a lot of character packed into this quick little read and it really set up this location, Crescent Cove, well. I liked the intimacy of the cove and could easily see how this can develop into a series.Meg Alexander hasn't returned to Crescent Cove in years. As a kid here maybe she had stars in her eyes, but one summer changed all that and she has been a practical focused woman since left. Her sister needing help while she's out of town to run the family beach houses forces Meg to return for a short while. Still she's determined to look at it as a good thing even if she wants nothing more than to be gone. The last thing she needs though is more reminders of the reason she left. Losing her boyfriend and the love of her young life to a tragic death on the sea keeps Meg well away from the water. One guest check in throws her straight back into her memories...both the good and the bad.Caleb McCall is back in Crescent Cove with a purpose. His recent hospital stay had him thinking of things he hadn't in years. He felt compelled to return to the cove and look for the one thing he always wanted. Somehow he's not surprised to find Meg back in the cove and the attraction he had for her when they were kids is not diminished one little bit. No matter her reticence he's determined to help her find that belief in magic she's lost over the years after their shared tragedy. Maybe all she needs is a little bit of love.I really enjoyed the way the author created such a strong backstory for these two in such a short space. It allowed me to jump into their romance without questioning the strength of their feelings for each other. There's a lot of history between these two and that shared history is built out of a lot of strong emotions. Caleb is of course a stalwart bulwark to lean on as Meg finds her freedom again. I enjoyed watching her blossom back into a fully rounded person after the way she shut herself down for so many years. Their banter was fun and Meg's internal debate and hesitation was very believable. The chemistry between these two was instantaneous and vibrated off the page. I really felt like by the end of the story Meg was well on her way to healing and Caleb was just the man to help her find the joy in life again. Plus their dog was adorable. :DThe writing here creates a lovely picture of this cove and really draws the reader in. There's an intimacy to the surroundings that lends itself well to romance, and I felt I could see this location beautifully without being overwhelmed with descriptions. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what other wonderful connections are to be found in Crescent Cove. Beach House Beginnings is a short novella that is just that, the introductory novella to Christie Ridgway's Beach House No. 9 contemporary romance series. It is quick, hot and just a bit angsty, with a too quick romance and a lusty couple who find a "happily ever after" years after they meet on the same island beach. She was in love with his cousin and has spent years agonizing over his death and drowning of his cousin and leading a stale life, while he spent those same years going forward and becoming a success just as his much admired cousin would have wanted him to. Coincidences abound, but they're attributed to the love woo woo that come from Beach House No. 9 where this couple meets again. This is cute, short, and a great beach read, even as everything happens too quickly. I like the premise, however, and am thinking of giving the first book of the series a try.
What do You think about Beach House Beginnings (2013)?
A heartwarming story of love and loss and beginning again.
—Emma
A sweet and promising prequel to a new series.
—devyani
Read it on a whim...short and sweet .
—DAbears0327
