It was a glorious November morning in Pelican Crossing. Rachel Mason gazed out her kitchen window to where, in the distance, she could see tiny figures on the beach and surfers out in the ocean, her mind going to the message which had awakened her in the early hours...
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The Blurb
Christmas is coming to Pelican Crossing, bringing with it a host of surprises.
Fifty-eight-year-old widow Rachel Mason thought she had her life all figured out – running her quaint Bed and Breakfast, spending time with her grandkids, and keeping her loyal West Highland Terrier by her side. But when her son announces a Christmas surprise, Rachel's world is turned upside down.
Luke Findlay, widowed, retired, and looking to check off items on his bucket list, suddenly finds himself back in his hometown of Pelican Crossing, where he is tasked with temporarily running the local vet clinic.
When the new vet turns out to be Rachel’s teenage crush, and her son’s Christmas surprise is very different from what she anticipated, her life becomes unexpectedly complicated. But then, Luke receives a surprise of his own.
As Rachel and Luke reconnect, sparks fly, and old feelings resurface. But with Luke's impending departure and Rachel's unforeseen responsibilities, can their newfound connection survive?
Fans of heartwarming romances will love this story of second chances and unexpected love.
My Review
This is a heartwarming book that is ideal for the Christmas season.
I love a book which features characters of mature years. In this book, the narration switches between Rachel and Luke. Luke had been the boyfriend of Rachel's older sister when they were young and she had a huge crush on him. She hasn't given him much thought in the intervening decades but when he reappears in Pelican Crossing it becomes very evident to Rachel that the attraction is still there. When we read the chapters told from Luke's perspective, we quickly realise that their connection is mutual.
Who doesn't like a book with a second-time-around romance? This had everything that I wanted from a book of this genre. It is character led and I really felt as though I knew Rachel and Luke by the time I finished this book.
Set in Australia at Christmastime, I had to keep reminding myself that it was beach weather in Pelican Crossing. Let's be honest, in most Christmas books, it snows. Despite the fact that a white Christmas is very rare here in the UK, it always almost snows in books, and it does add a little magic to the story. So, it took me a little adjustment to imagine Christmas trees and turkeys but accompanied with swimming on the beach. I had to keep reminding myself that this was Australia! However, Christmas is Christmas wherever it is celebrated and it was lovely to read a book in a different setting.
I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the setting, the characters and the plot. A second-time-around romance in a beautiful setting with a dog thrown in. This was absolutely my cup of tea and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre of book.
Book Details
ISBN: 979 8580544120
Publisher: Independently published
Formats: e-book, audio and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
About the Author:
After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations, and historical fiction set in her native Scotland. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her trips to visit family in Scotland, in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them. Maggie has been called the queen of mature age fiction and her writing has been described by one reviewer as like a nice warm cup of tea. It is warm, nourishing, comforting and embracing.
From the small town in Scotland where she grew up, Maggie was lured to Australia by the call to ‘Come and teach in the sun’. Once there, she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of over thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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