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jonetta 's review for:
The Boardwalk Bookshop
by Susan Mallery
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Six months ago, Bree Larton, Mikki Bartholomew and Ashley Burton were strangers. It was serendipitous when all three were eyeing (literally) a prime beachfront property for sale in Los Angeles. It was too large and expensive for them individually but after sitting down over coffee together, they realized their combined businesses and resources would be ideal. So, Driftaway Books, The Gift Shop and Muffins to the Max became The Boardwalk Bookshop and one shared space on the beach. Their becoming friends was a lovely bonus. Business life was good but their personal lives…not so much.
Bree’s troubled upbringing left her commitment phobic and down on the possibility of love, even when the right one showed up. Mikki’s amicable divorce was working pretty well until she began dating and met a wonderful man. Ashley and her boyfriend were deeply in love with each other but he was unwilling to ever marry, a surprise she stumbled upon.
I got caught up in these women’s lives from the onset as they were interesting and had so many layers. I loved their relationships with each other and how supportive they were even though they’d only been friends for a short time. On the surface, their issues didn’t seem that complicated but as the story progressed, they became much more nuanced and less clear cut. The men in their worlds were all decent guys, none of them doing anything that would easily cast them as heels. I found myself going back and forth about their situations, totally immersed in trying to figure out the right resolution.
This was a wonderful exploration of modern day, mature relationships that had lots of edges and considerations. Bree, Mikki and Ashley were beautifully developed and fleshed out, so much that I felt a kinship with them and wished their store was a real one. I listened to the book and Tanya Eby’s storytelling skills were ideal for these characters. Each time I had to pause I couldn’t wait to get back to these women to see where they’d land. It was a great listening experience about three women confronting relationship challenges that were realistic, relevant and not so easy to figure out…just like real life.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Bree’s troubled upbringing left her commitment phobic and down on the possibility of love, even when the right one showed up. Mikki’s amicable divorce was working pretty well until she began dating and met a wonderful man. Ashley and her boyfriend were deeply in love with each other but he was unwilling to ever marry, a surprise she stumbled upon.
I got caught up in these women’s lives from the onset as they were interesting and had so many layers. I loved their relationships with each other and how supportive they were even though they’d only been friends for a short time. On the surface, their issues didn’t seem that complicated but as the story progressed, they became much more nuanced and less clear cut. The men in their worlds were all decent guys, none of them doing anything that would easily cast them as heels. I found myself going back and forth about their situations, totally immersed in trying to figure out the right resolution.
This was a wonderful exploration of modern day, mature relationships that had lots of edges and considerations. Bree, Mikki and Ashley were beautifully developed and fleshed out, so much that I felt a kinship with them and wished their store was a real one. I listened to the book and Tanya Eby’s storytelling skills were ideal for these characters. Each time I had to pause I couldn’t wait to get back to these women to see where they’d land. It was a great listening experience about three women confronting relationship challenges that were realistic, relevant and not so easy to figure out…just like real life.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)