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A review by attytheresa
The Cliff House: A Clean & Wholesome Romance by RaeAnne Thayne
4.0
I am happy to report that RaeAnne Thayne is back! After her last few series entries which were intensely disappointing (thinly plotted, repetitive, half-hearted series continuations), she has delivered a lovely engaging stand-alone.
Set in a small town, Cape Sanctuary, on the Northern California coast, it is narrated by 4 principle characters: Sisters Daisy and Beatriz, their young Aunt Stella, and Gabe, a famous documentarian who took a knife in the gut saving Bea's rock star ex from a crazed stalker. Each has healing to do of one kind or another. Daisy, a CPA and financial advisor, hides behind structure, control, and order, terrified of giving her heart and trusting anyone. Bea is an artist and single mother struggling to both stand up to her ex and with stong emotions towards her best friend who does not seem to reciprocate. Stella is a teacher who has fostered many children including Daisy and Bea, but now wants to have a baby all her own. Gabe's own unconventional childhood and rolling stone lifestyle make it difficult to accept the string sense of homecoming he is feeling around Daisy and Cape Sancturary. And into the mix are thrown the mystery of the identity of the artist creating gorgeous whimsical painted furniture, a cute French bull dog named Louie, and Stella's long lost love.
Lots of healing happens here in Cape Santurary, with a few new trials and losses along the way before all reach their happy ever afters. This is a story of family and friendship, of healing, and of all the different loves that come into one's life.
My one serious criticism is that Thayne still, as in her recent series additions, too often repeats the same almost identical background summary sentence several times through the book. Here it was most evident in Stella's chapter, describing what happened with the love of her life. Both she and her editors need to be more alert to this crutch.
Set in a small town, Cape Sanctuary, on the Northern California coast, it is narrated by 4 principle characters: Sisters Daisy and Beatriz, their young Aunt Stella, and Gabe, a famous documentarian who took a knife in the gut saving Bea's rock star ex from a crazed stalker. Each has healing to do of one kind or another. Daisy, a CPA and financial advisor, hides behind structure, control, and order, terrified of giving her heart and trusting anyone. Bea is an artist and single mother struggling to both stand up to her ex and with stong emotions towards her best friend who does not seem to reciprocate. Stella is a teacher who has fostered many children including Daisy and Bea, but now wants to have a baby all her own. Gabe's own unconventional childhood and rolling stone lifestyle make it difficult to accept the string sense of homecoming he is feeling around Daisy and Cape Sancturary. And into the mix are thrown the mystery of the identity of the artist creating gorgeous whimsical painted furniture, a cute French bull dog named Louie, and Stella's long lost love.
Lots of healing happens here in Cape Santurary, with a few new trials and losses along the way before all reach their happy ever afters. This is a story of family and friendship, of healing, and of all the different loves that come into one's life.
My one serious criticism is that Thayne still, as in her recent series additions, too often repeats the same almost identical background summary sentence several times through the book. Here it was most evident in Stella's chapter, describing what happened with the love of her life. Both she and her editors need to be more alert to this crutch.