Second Chances at the Beach with Turtles and Love

 

Welcome to the Love Books Summer Extravaganza Tour for Catherine Michaels' novel Sand, Sea, & Second Chances: A Gulf Island Romance.

About the Book:

Kate Fiore is eager for a fresh start. Unemployed after a corporate takeover and scarred from a failed marriage, she hopes a temporary contract as an aquarium marketing manager will be a breath of fresh air. But a lockout and awkward misunderstandings plague Kate's arrival at her summer rental.

Luke McAllister will fight to preserve his family and tight-knit coastal North Carolina community. So when he's paired with Kate to lead the big local fundraiser and sea turtle patrol, the ardent islander clashes with the accomplished city woman. But even as their disagreements heat up, he can't deny their irresistible attraction.

Sparks fly between the two as she learns to appreciate his passionate environmentalism and he slowly lets down his wall. But when Kate's contract ends and silence follows, Luke fears letting her go may have cost him his one chance at forever. Can their hearts rekindle across miles and months?

 Book Review:

While I was drawn to the novel by its description, it took me a little while to really connect with the characters from this novel. Kate and Luke’s first meeting was, well, not as meet-cute as one might hope. The experiences Kate has of trying to fit in with a tightly knit Southern town are a bit tense and also relatable—although the town and aquarium welcome her warmly after a short while. About halfway through, however, I liked the characters more; as they opened up to each other and the story progressed, my interest also grew. Bonus: Sea Turtle Love! Overall I give this story four stars.

 Thanks to Love Books Tours as well as the author and her publisher, for a review copy of this novel. All thoughts about the book are my own.