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The Seascape Trilogy #1
Beyond the Misty Shore
The Seascape Inn.
Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J. MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancée. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve.
Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J. MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancée. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve.
266 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 1996
80 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Hinze
102 books329 followersVicki is the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 40 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of articles. She's recognized as an author and as an educator by Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. For seven years, she was a columnist for Social-In Global Network; before then, a radio-talk show host for Everyday Woman.
The former VP for International Thriller Writers, consultant to the RWA Board of Directors, and a consultant to multiple other writing organizations. She's a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., ALLi, and Southern Independent Booksellers Assn.
The former VP for International Thriller Writers, consultant to the RWA Board of Directors, and a consultant to multiple other writing organizations. She's a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., ALLi, and Southern Independent Booksellers Assn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 11, 2012
I did not finish this book. The mystical elements, "who done it?", and sexual volleyball was way too much. I'll throw in an extra floozy because the premise is great and if the book had more substance instead of revisiting the same things over and over again I think the entire book would be great too! I wanted to choke Maggie and T.J. for their constant "I want you but can't have you" interaction. I was going to grin and bear it to see if they ever siezed the moment but I had other books I really wanted to get to. I might go back but in all reality, this book drove me crazy on many levels.
July 30, 2016
I received this and its two sequels from Netgalley, for which I thank them. Not my usual fare, but for me good writing trumps genre – I've been pleasantly surprised enough times to almost balance out the unpleasant surprises. This sounded like a light, quick, enjoyable read. It sounded like a sweet, gentle romance with a sense of humor and a bit of a paranormal flavor. And that's what it was: it was sweet, it achieved funny here and there, it was comparatively gentle (which in my library usually means no explicit sex – in this case there was some), and there was a hint of otherworldliness – magic, even, particularly in the first half.
That's the good news.
For me, though, the sweetness, fun and engaging in the first half of the story, became a bit cloying by the time the couple in question got their act together. The endearments, the "does he love me" "does she love me" "do I love him/her" "should I tell him", all started to stale pretty quickly.
The "gentle" aspect of the story was swamped about two-thirds of the way in what I found to be some awkwardly phrased lust. The book had a strange sort of split personality: on the one hand it was woven through with Christianity, emphasizing the impression I had that this was going to be an old-fashioned sort of romance. However, it shortly turns out that the "hero", Tyler MacGregor, has been in the past rather slutty, and he's not alone. The sex scenes were introduced sparingly, which is a positive; writing in these scenes is rarely better than awkward, and is often howlingly bad. This didn't bring howls of outrage, but it did cause a few groans – no, not in a good way.
The magic, initially, hit the right notes. There is something strange keeping T.J., an artist, at the Seascape Inn, and he's been there for nine months. Every time he tries to leave the property he ends up flat on his back on the rocks. Which doesn't stop him trying. What I have a hard time understanding is that, apparently, he keeps trying in the same place, so that after nine months he's left a T.J.-shaped dent in the ground. Every day, apparently, he tries the same thing: he goes to the edge of the property, draws a line in the dirt, tries to step over it, is knocked out. It was, possibly, Einstein who said that the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It might also be a definition of … shall we say a lack of fundamental data processing functions?
The supernatural-ish happenings increase when Maggie Wright arrives, and that's about where this aspect of the book started losing ground for me. The book had a split personality, and so did this part of it: the "entity", as the two of them begin calling it, seems to yo-yo from being a particularly invasive match-maker to being mildly malignant.
Whatever the outcome, there are certain things done by this "entity" that I for one wouldn't be too quick to forgive … In fact, were I T.J. I think the next time I sat in front of a computer, which would be soon, the first thing I would be doing is www.goodsearch.com, keywords "Maine, priest, exorcism". And that web search would not be done from within the property boundaries of the inn; once I got out of there I would send for all of my possessions and never go back again. There was much made of the peaceful and restful and loving atmosphere of the place, but this was a good example of the difference between showing and telling: the reader is told that it's a good place and any spirits residing there must be good, but what is shown through the events of the story is kind of the exact opposite. Manipulation, physical attack, holding someone against their will, extreme invasion of privacy, outright mind control and brainwashing … this is less Casper and more Japanese horror.
There were good and bad aspects to the writing as well. The very first sentence of the book is "T.J. MacGregor tried to leave Seascape Inn, but every time he crossed the property's boundary line, he blacked out." For the next four and a half pages that one sentence is reiterated and reworded and expanded upon, along with information dump on his past. It was a close thing as to whether I was going to push through those first pages because of the heavy-handedness of it all. Unfortunately, the author's hand remained pretty heavy throughout.
I have to say I was a little disappointed in the lack of art detail in the book. T.J. is a painter, and a good one – honest enough to own he's not extraordinary, but he is good; it is his painting of the inn which, seemingly, sparks most of the plot. Granted, he has not painted in some time and has no intention of beginning again, which lets the author off the hook for the most part, but throughout most of the novel he might as well have been a lawyer or a pilot.
The book, overall, was … fine, kind of straight down the middle. I liked the main characters well enough (when they weren't irritating me); I liked the setting; I liked the slightly clichéd background characters. I liked the idea the story began with but hated the explanation – I hated the "entity", both the concept and the character. There are two other books set in the same place, with similar storylines; one of these days I might just give them a try.
That's the good news.
For me, though, the sweetness, fun and engaging in the first half of the story, became a bit cloying by the time the couple in question got their act together. The endearments, the "does he love me" "does she love me" "do I love him/her" "should I tell him", all started to stale pretty quickly.
The "gentle" aspect of the story was swamped about two-thirds of the way in what I found to be some awkwardly phrased lust. The book had a strange sort of split personality: on the one hand it was woven through with Christianity, emphasizing the impression I had that this was going to be an old-fashioned sort of romance. However, it shortly turns out that the "hero", Tyler MacGregor, has been in the past rather slutty, and he's not alone. The sex scenes were introduced sparingly, which is a positive; writing in these scenes is rarely better than awkward, and is often howlingly bad. This didn't bring howls of outrage, but it did cause a few groans – no, not in a good way.
The magic, initially, hit the right notes. There is something strange keeping T.J., an artist, at the Seascape Inn, and he's been there for nine months. Every time he tries to leave the property he ends up flat on his back on the rocks. Which doesn't stop him trying. What I have a hard time understanding is that, apparently, he keeps trying in the same place, so that after nine months he's left a T.J.-shaped dent in the ground. Every day, apparently, he tries the same thing: he goes to the edge of the property, draws a line in the dirt, tries to step over it, is knocked out. It was, possibly, Einstein who said that the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It might also be a definition of … shall we say a lack of fundamental data processing functions?
The supernatural-ish happenings increase when Maggie Wright arrives, and that's about where this aspect of the book started losing ground for me. The book had a split personality, and so did this part of it: the "entity", as the two of them begin calling it, seems to yo-yo from being a particularly invasive match-maker to being mildly malignant.
Whatever the outcome, there are certain things done by this "entity" that I for one wouldn't be too quick to forgive … In fact, were I T.J. I think the next time I sat in front of a computer, which would be soon, the first thing I would be doing is www.goodsearch.com, keywords "Maine, priest, exorcism". And that web search would not be done from within the property boundaries of the inn; once I got out of there I would send for all of my possessions and never go back again. There was much made of the peaceful and restful and loving atmosphere of the place, but this was a good example of the difference between showing and telling: the reader is told that it's a good place and any spirits residing there must be good, but what is shown through the events of the story is kind of the exact opposite. Manipulation, physical attack, holding someone against their will, extreme invasion of privacy, outright mind control and brainwashing … this is less Casper and more Japanese horror.
There were good and bad aspects to the writing as well. The very first sentence of the book is "T.J. MacGregor tried to leave Seascape Inn, but every time he crossed the property's boundary line, he blacked out." For the next four and a half pages that one sentence is reiterated and reworded and expanded upon, along with information dump on his past. It was a close thing as to whether I was going to push through those first pages because of the heavy-handedness of it all. Unfortunately, the author's hand remained pretty heavy throughout.
I have to say I was a little disappointed in the lack of art detail in the book. T.J. is a painter, and a good one – honest enough to own he's not extraordinary, but he is good; it is his painting of the inn which, seemingly, sparks most of the plot. Granted, he has not painted in some time and has no intention of beginning again, which lets the author off the hook for the most part, but throughout most of the novel he might as well have been a lawyer or a pilot.
The book, overall, was … fine, kind of straight down the middle. I liked the main characters well enough (when they weren't irritating me); I liked the setting; I liked the slightly clichéd background characters. I liked the idea the story began with but hated the explanation – I hated the "entity", both the concept and the character. There are two other books set in the same place, with similar storylines; one of these days I might just give them a try.
March 20, 2012
Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com
I want so badly to tell you about this book and why you should read it but there are not enough words to tell you how wonderful this book is. It is rare I give a book 5 stars but this book is most deserving. There is something magical about this book. It feels like a romance novel from years gone by even though it is set in the present. It makes you believe you are there and watching the love unfold instead of turning pages. Seascape Inn is a place you want to visit.
This book reads like a movie. Have you seen the movies "Somewhere In Time" or "The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan"? OK this is dating myself but then if you have not seen them you should. Anyway, this book has the feel of these timeless movies. The softness of love as it grows between the characters and the mystical spirit that is there to guide not haunt make this book worth the read. More than worth the read it is worth owning the book and never letting it go. Luckily this is the 1st in a trilogy and I can not wait to enjoy the other two books.
I want so badly to tell you about this book and why you should read it but there are not enough words to tell you how wonderful this book is. It is rare I give a book 5 stars but this book is most deserving. There is something magical about this book. It feels like a romance novel from years gone by even though it is set in the present. It makes you believe you are there and watching the love unfold instead of turning pages. Seascape Inn is a place you want to visit.
This book reads like a movie. Have you seen the movies "Somewhere In Time" or "The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan"? OK this is dating myself but then if you have not seen them you should. Anyway, this book has the feel of these timeless movies. The softness of love as it grows between the characters and the mystical spirit that is there to guide not haunt make this book worth the read. More than worth the read it is worth owning the book and never letting it go. Luckily this is the 1st in a trilogy and I can not wait to enjoy the other two books.
January 18, 2012
While I enjoyed this, mostly, I really wanted them to get to the POINT much sooner than they did.
I read this type of book to see a couple realize that they DO love each other...and to enjoy their HEA.
This story had a bit of mystery, is that a ghost, or not? Why can't TJ leave the property? What, or who, is Miss Hattie communing with?
I got a bit tired of Maggie and her insecurities...and TJ and his hard nosed "I will not LOVE" mentality.
Their conflict was dragged on long after it should have been resolved, at least to my mind.
And, Tony, the GHOST, it was hard to tell if he was good or bad. He seemed to be telling them totally OPPOSITE things. "Go, stay, YES, NO." So, that was a bit confusing.
I found myself skimming when Maggie and TJ would start sinking into their "EMO-NESS"...
LOVED Miss Hattie! And the villagers in Maine were a riot.
If they had quit talking themselves down, I would have given this another star.
I read this type of book to see a couple realize that they DO love each other...and to enjoy their HEA.
This story had a bit of mystery, is that a ghost, or not? Why can't TJ leave the property? What, or who, is Miss Hattie communing with?
I got a bit tired of Maggie and her insecurities...and TJ and his hard nosed "I will not LOVE" mentality.
Their conflict was dragged on long after it should have been resolved, at least to my mind.
And, Tony, the GHOST, it was hard to tell if he was good or bad. He seemed to be telling them totally OPPOSITE things. "Go, stay, YES, NO." So, that was a bit confusing.
I found myself skimming when Maggie and TJ would start sinking into their "EMO-NESS"...
LOVED Miss Hattie! And the villagers in Maine were a riot.
If they had quit talking themselves down, I would have given this another star.
April 9, 2014
I really wanted to love this book--- the first of a trilogy, set on the Maine Coast, paranormal elements, along with romance, but did not. I almost didn't finish it, but I got to the end, eventually. Too much repetition, too many games between the reluctant couple, and in general, just TOO MUCH, and NOT ENOUGH, at the same time. Unlikely I'll read the others in the set.
January 9, 2012
Way to go Vicki Hinze, love it!
If you’re looking for a book that has a little of all the elements that make a great read then this is your novel. It has just the perfect balance of humor, mystery and just the right percentage of romance with a pinch of paranormal. You will enjoy learning all that T.J. has gone through and how he struggles to understand what is happening to him and how Maggie’s determination to get answers develops into friendship and a relationship.
You will find the characters are intriguing and have depth, the novel to be fast moving so much so you will not be able to turn the pages quickly enough and you'll wish you could peer into a crystal ball to see what will be happening next. This book has an excellent plot, and intriguing characters with a location that is realistic and captivating.
I really like the balance of this book, it’s a book that you will not only enjoy but one you will share.
Thanks Goodreads!
If you’re looking for a book that has a little of all the elements that make a great read then this is your novel. It has just the perfect balance of humor, mystery and just the right percentage of romance with a pinch of paranormal. You will enjoy learning all that T.J. has gone through and how he struggles to understand what is happening to him and how Maggie’s determination to get answers develops into friendship and a relationship.
You will find the characters are intriguing and have depth, the novel to be fast moving so much so you will not be able to turn the pages quickly enough and you'll wish you could peer into a crystal ball to see what will be happening next. This book has an excellent plot, and intriguing characters with a location that is realistic and captivating.
I really like the balance of this book, it’s a book that you will not only enjoy but one you will share.
Thanks Goodreads!
April 4, 2016
This was so hard to finish. Take away the repetitive thoughts / dialog and there is barely a story left. A predictable snooze fest. Doesn't really qualify as paranormal because it doesn't take that storyline very far. Basically a "When Harry Met Sally" romance novel that plods along.
April 15, 2012
A Love Story with Heart, Healing...and Ghosts
Artist T.J. MacGregor had come to the Seascape Inn to heal. To find peace. There had been a sense of something almost magical about the place on his first visit years ago, and after suffering yet another painful loss and a crushing personal blow, coming back to Seascape had offered him the only hope he could find. That was nine months ago. He still hasn't left.
He can't.
Whenever he tries to so much as step over Seascape's property line, his body is seared by a crushing and bone-deep cold, a brutal cold that strips him of consciousness and leaves him passed out and shivering. His hope has become his prison. His haven a hell. And he has no idea how to break free.
Two years ago, Maggie Wright's cousin Carolyn died in a mysterious car accident that Maggie suspected wasn't all that accidental. Only now can Maggie follow through on a promise she made, a promise to investigate what really happened, to find out why Carolyn was where she was when the car crashed, and maybe even discover who had caused the crash. Maggie had her suspicions and they began and ended with her cousin's fiancé, the respected artist Tyler James, also known as T.J. MacGregor. But she has to find him to question him.
She tries his studio in New Orleans first, but instead of answers, or the man himself, she finds a painting that practically reaches out and embraces her in a cocoon of peace and protection. A painting that shouldn't still exist, if the stories of Carolyn's accident are true. It is a piece she couldn't come close to affording on her own, but the sense of serenity she feels when she gazes at it is one she hasn't felt since she was a child. In that instant, Maggie knows she's going to the place in the painting, the Seascape Inn, for a stay. It is almost a compulsion. Or a quest for something she hadn't realized she desperately needed.
It's her good luck that the very man she seeks to question about her cousin literally trips over her as she is toting her luggage to her room in the inn just days later. Well, it's some sort of luck, at least, as meeting the surly and antagonistic man who probably had a hand in her cousin's death doesn't exactly strike her in any way good. In fact, he pushes every one of her seriously annoyed buttons, and despite the situation...or maybe because of it...she revels in doing her level best to return the favor.
She hasn't even gotten a chance to pin him down for answers before something...odd...about the inn they share starts to seep ever-so-slowly into her consciousness. There is peace - at times - and a feeling of being watched and weighed when no human eyes are around. Then there are those episodes she sees from her window. Inexplicable episodes of...something...when she spots T.J. down by the beach, when she sees him try - flailing and batting at an unseen assailant as he does - to step across some line she can't fathom. When he passes out and collapses from the effort. Every time.
Something is very weird at the Seascape Inn. Something Maggie doesn't understand but can't deny. And it's starting to draw her closer to the one man who not only obviously wants nothing to do with her, but who may have been responsible for the death of her cousin.
~*~
For all that I read, or maybe because of it, I'm rarely surprised by a book. There are always going to be books that are better than I expected, some that aren't as good as I'd anticipated, and occasionally a book blurb doesn't accurately represent the book's contents. That's just how it goes and it's not what I mean by being surprised. That's a part of it, maybe, but it's not the whole.
Beyond the Misty Shore surprised me. It was a wonderful love story. And it was so much more. It was a ghost story. A mystery. A sexy romance. It was quirky. Funny. Had moments of tragic loss and gentle hope. It had cute characters with small-town appeal. Stubborn characters with sardonic wit. It was weird. Even a little scary sometimes. It was written with poise and grace and had passages that were so beautifully lyrical they were almost poetic. It was, in a word, unique.
I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by the creep-factor. Or for the characters to grow on me so quickly. Or for the obviously haunted inn to be so subtly and sublimely woven into a story centered in the gift of timeless, selfless love and healing hearts. This book was just so much more than I expected on every front. It exceeded all expectation.
The relationship between Maggie and MacGregor, tense at first, then warming, but quirky and fun throughout, enchanted me. Both are wounded. Both find solace at Seascape and eventually with each other. Their neediness and yearning for peace was intrinsic to them but didn't make them grasping or needy. Their wounded wariness made them real. The metaphorical teeth they bared at each other because of it made them a lot of fun. And the sparks they struck off each other made me chuckle...and eventually pant.
I loved them for their humor when they needed to keep the fear of several big unknowns at bay. I felt for how their growing feelings for each other stirred their panic over their loss of control. They tease each other, and fight loudly, and I adored that. I understood who they are and sympathized with how damaged they were. They were as close to perfect for each other and as characters as any I've read in recent memory.
The grandmotherly Miss Hattie, caretaker of Seascape Inn, was a charming enigma. The woo-woo element of the place was both chilling and heartening at turns. More than one force was at work in the place, not all my questions were answered about that, and I sure did spend a good portion of the book debating on whether the haunting elements were well-intentioned or not. The book clung tight to its mysteries, for sure. All of that was icing on an already pretty fantastic cake, because it kept me thinking.
And simply, it was very beautifully written. It perfectly captured the scene and setting, the history and the mystery, and the deep, complex, sometimes conflicting emotions that are startingly realistic despite the fantastical situation. Powerful emotions, hearty story of love, loss, forgiveness and hope, sweeping romance. This book, quite literally, had it all. I loved it.
If you're a fan of the chilling spine-tingle of haunted houses, characters you want to bop on the head while they make you laugh, groan, and breathe heavy, and romance so powerful it makes your chest ache, this book is for you. If you love stories about the healing of wounded hearts and the magic of the most powerful sort of love, this book is for you. If you like two characters who squabble their way headlong into a relationship while the world around them watches and gossips as small towns do, this book is for you. If you like exquisitely strong writing that pulls you into a story that has all of that, this book is for you. It was, unquestionably, for me.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Bell Bridge Books via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Artist T.J. MacGregor had come to the Seascape Inn to heal. To find peace. There had been a sense of something almost magical about the place on his first visit years ago, and after suffering yet another painful loss and a crushing personal blow, coming back to Seascape had offered him the only hope he could find. That was nine months ago. He still hasn't left.
He can't.
Whenever he tries to so much as step over Seascape's property line, his body is seared by a crushing and bone-deep cold, a brutal cold that strips him of consciousness and leaves him passed out and shivering. His hope has become his prison. His haven a hell. And he has no idea how to break free.
Two years ago, Maggie Wright's cousin Carolyn died in a mysterious car accident that Maggie suspected wasn't all that accidental. Only now can Maggie follow through on a promise she made, a promise to investigate what really happened, to find out why Carolyn was where she was when the car crashed, and maybe even discover who had caused the crash. Maggie had her suspicions and they began and ended with her cousin's fiancé, the respected artist Tyler James, also known as T.J. MacGregor. But she has to find him to question him.
She tries his studio in New Orleans first, but instead of answers, or the man himself, she finds a painting that practically reaches out and embraces her in a cocoon of peace and protection. A painting that shouldn't still exist, if the stories of Carolyn's accident are true. It is a piece she couldn't come close to affording on her own, but the sense of serenity she feels when she gazes at it is one she hasn't felt since she was a child. In that instant, Maggie knows she's going to the place in the painting, the Seascape Inn, for a stay. It is almost a compulsion. Or a quest for something she hadn't realized she desperately needed.
It's her good luck that the very man she seeks to question about her cousin literally trips over her as she is toting her luggage to her room in the inn just days later. Well, it's some sort of luck, at least, as meeting the surly and antagonistic man who probably had a hand in her cousin's death doesn't exactly strike her in any way good. In fact, he pushes every one of her seriously annoyed buttons, and despite the situation...or maybe because of it...she revels in doing her level best to return the favor.
She hasn't even gotten a chance to pin him down for answers before something...odd...about the inn they share starts to seep ever-so-slowly into her consciousness. There is peace - at times - and a feeling of being watched and weighed when no human eyes are around. Then there are those episodes she sees from her window. Inexplicable episodes of...something...when she spots T.J. down by the beach, when she sees him try - flailing and batting at an unseen assailant as he does - to step across some line she can't fathom. When he passes out and collapses from the effort. Every time.
Something is very weird at the Seascape Inn. Something Maggie doesn't understand but can't deny. And it's starting to draw her closer to the one man who not only obviously wants nothing to do with her, but who may have been responsible for the death of her cousin.
~*~
For all that I read, or maybe because of it, I'm rarely surprised by a book. There are always going to be books that are better than I expected, some that aren't as good as I'd anticipated, and occasionally a book blurb doesn't accurately represent the book's contents. That's just how it goes and it's not what I mean by being surprised. That's a part of it, maybe, but it's not the whole.
Beyond the Misty Shore surprised me. It was a wonderful love story. And it was so much more. It was a ghost story. A mystery. A sexy romance. It was quirky. Funny. Had moments of tragic loss and gentle hope. It had cute characters with small-town appeal. Stubborn characters with sardonic wit. It was weird. Even a little scary sometimes. It was written with poise and grace and had passages that were so beautifully lyrical they were almost poetic. It was, in a word, unique.
I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by the creep-factor. Or for the characters to grow on me so quickly. Or for the obviously haunted inn to be so subtly and sublimely woven into a story centered in the gift of timeless, selfless love and healing hearts. This book was just so much more than I expected on every front. It exceeded all expectation.
The relationship between Maggie and MacGregor, tense at first, then warming, but quirky and fun throughout, enchanted me. Both are wounded. Both find solace at Seascape and eventually with each other. Their neediness and yearning for peace was intrinsic to them but didn't make them grasping or needy. Their wounded wariness made them real. The metaphorical teeth they bared at each other because of it made them a lot of fun. And the sparks they struck off each other made me chuckle...and eventually pant.
I loved them for their humor when they needed to keep the fear of several big unknowns at bay. I felt for how their growing feelings for each other stirred their panic over their loss of control. They tease each other, and fight loudly, and I adored that. I understood who they are and sympathized with how damaged they were. They were as close to perfect for each other and as characters as any I've read in recent memory.
The grandmotherly Miss Hattie, caretaker of Seascape Inn, was a charming enigma. The woo-woo element of the place was both chilling and heartening at turns. More than one force was at work in the place, not all my questions were answered about that, and I sure did spend a good portion of the book debating on whether the haunting elements were well-intentioned or not. The book clung tight to its mysteries, for sure. All of that was icing on an already pretty fantastic cake, because it kept me thinking.
And simply, it was very beautifully written. It perfectly captured the scene and setting, the history and the mystery, and the deep, complex, sometimes conflicting emotions that are startingly realistic despite the fantastical situation. Powerful emotions, hearty story of love, loss, forgiveness and hope, sweeping romance. This book, quite literally, had it all. I loved it.
If you're a fan of the chilling spine-tingle of haunted houses, characters you want to bop on the head while they make you laugh, groan, and breathe heavy, and romance so powerful it makes your chest ache, this book is for you. If you love stories about the healing of wounded hearts and the magic of the most powerful sort of love, this book is for you. If you like two characters who squabble their way headlong into a relationship while the world around them watches and gossips as small towns do, this book is for you. If you like exquisitely strong writing that pulls you into a story that has all of that, this book is for you. It was, unquestionably, for me.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Bell Bridge Books via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
May 3, 2022
I love a good mystical romance, especially one set at a maybe-haunted inn on the shores of Maine, so, needless to say, I was excited to read this book. The setting was deliciously haunting and mystical, and the romance was interesting, but I had a few problems with it in the long run. The two main characters, T.J. and Maggie, bickered and sassed each other way more than was necessary. What started out cute really grated on my nerves when it became apparent it wasn't going to stop. The mystery was intriguing, and Miss Hattie was a dream, but I need character growth in a story like this, and there just wasn't much at all with T.J. and Maggie.
In summary, I liked the setting and mystery in this mystical book, but the romance left a lot to be desired. I think it just wasn't my cup of tea, but others might enjoy it.
3/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
In summary, I liked the setting and mystery in this mystical book, but the romance left a lot to be desired. I think it just wasn't my cup of tea, but others might enjoy it.
3/5 stars.
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 30, 2024
Maggie doesn't trust men because of her father and so when her cousin, Carolyn, dies she blames her fiancé, Tyler James McGregor.
She seeks him out to find the truth and manages to find love with a little push from a ghost. Everything happens at an inn that McGregor painted and that entices people to visit it. This story is most intriguing and enlightening at the same time. If you love love then you will love reading this book.
She seeks him out to find the truth and manages to find love with a little push from a ghost. Everything happens at an inn that McGregor painted and that entices people to visit it. This story is most intriguing and enlightening at the same time. If you love love then you will love reading this book.
April 18, 2021
There are the bones of a good story in here but the execution was painful. Way too much time spent by both of them, but Maggie in particular, on doubts and angst and constant over-thinking. By the time we finally get to the point where Maggie’s tells the whole truth, I was just sick of her and waiting for it to end.
May 9, 2018
Misty shore
Book was a little long winded but the characters were believable and honest and there was a good story line. I liked the paranormal aspect of the book. Fun read...
Book was a little long winded but the characters were believable and honest and there was a good story line. I liked the paranormal aspect of the book. Fun read...
September 18, 2022
Did not mean to give 4 stars only three, skipped through a few pages as it was repetitive in places not too bad though
March 13, 2016
Title: Beyond the Misty Shores - Seascape Trilogy Book 1
Author: Lizzie Ford
Published: 10-14-11
Publisher: Belle Books
Pages: 268
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Erotica; Ghost; Vampire; Fae; Shifters; Werewolves
ISBN: 9781611940640
ASIN: B005WECDJA
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
.
Tyler MacGregor, a renowned artist, has come to the Seascape Inn in Maine to find peace and heal following the death of his fiancé, Carolyn in a car accident. Marketing Director, Maggie Wright, Carolyn's cousin vowed to find out how her cousin really died and why. Having to care for her mother until now she sets out to keep her promise. She first seeks out TJ MacGregor. When she arrives his apartment she finds him gone, but she also finds a painting of the Seascape Inn. While she gazes upon it she is filled with a sense of peace and a compulsion to go to the Inn, which she follows. Upon her arrival she finds TJ, who seems tortured. In her nightly visions she see him trying to battle and invisible barrier that will not let him leave. As the search for answers the two grow closer, but the spirit that resides in Seascape Inn will not let them go. What does it want with the two? Does it mean harm or is it holding there for a reason? Will they held there forever or will they be allowed to return to their former lives.
When I first heard about Beyond the Misty Shore I thought, light romance with a touch of the paranormal. I was wrong. There is a romance, but there is so much more. There is a super natural force that has control over their comings and goings. The characters will draw you to them with the emotional highs and lows. They each have their quirks and individuality. My favorite would have to be Miss Hattie and the ways she cares for her guest. She sees their real needs and helps them to guide them to help fulfill those needs. She and the resident spirit work together. The pace may seem slow in a few spots but on the whole moves at a steady pace. This is book one in a three book series. The books work together as a whole, but each book ends with no cliff hangers. I rated Beyond the Misty Shores 4 1/2 out of five. It kept my attention and left wanting more. I would love to visit Seascape Inn and meet all the people TJ and Maggie did.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyon...
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Author: Lizzie Ford
Published: 10-14-11
Publisher: Belle Books
Pages: 268
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Erotica; Ghost; Vampire; Fae; Shifters; Werewolves
ISBN: 9781611940640
ASIN: B005WECDJA
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
.
Tyler MacGregor, a renowned artist, has come to the Seascape Inn in Maine to find peace and heal following the death of his fiancé, Carolyn in a car accident. Marketing Director, Maggie Wright, Carolyn's cousin vowed to find out how her cousin really died and why. Having to care for her mother until now she sets out to keep her promise. She first seeks out TJ MacGregor. When she arrives his apartment she finds him gone, but she also finds a painting of the Seascape Inn. While she gazes upon it she is filled with a sense of peace and a compulsion to go to the Inn, which she follows. Upon her arrival she finds TJ, who seems tortured. In her nightly visions she see him trying to battle and invisible barrier that will not let him leave. As the search for answers the two grow closer, but the spirit that resides in Seascape Inn will not let them go. What does it want with the two? Does it mean harm or is it holding there for a reason? Will they held there forever or will they be allowed to return to their former lives.
When I first heard about Beyond the Misty Shore I thought, light romance with a touch of the paranormal. I was wrong. There is a romance, but there is so much more. There is a super natural force that has control over their comings and goings. The characters will draw you to them with the emotional highs and lows. They each have their quirks and individuality. My favorite would have to be Miss Hattie and the ways she cares for her guest. She sees their real needs and helps them to guide them to help fulfill those needs. She and the resident spirit work together. The pace may seem slow in a few spots but on the whole moves at a steady pace. This is book one in a three book series. The books work together as a whole, but each book ends with no cliff hangers. I rated Beyond the Misty Shores 4 1/2 out of five. It kept my attention and left wanting more. I would love to visit Seascape Inn and meet all the people TJ and Maggie did.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyon...
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
March 29, 2012
Beyond the Misty Shore is a delightful romance with just a touch of fantasy and a heart warming message about the role of trust and faith in truly loving another.
Set in the Seascape Inn of Maine, it features a matchmaking innkeeper and her ghostly helper, who gently intervene to help a tortured artist and a female guest find the peace and happiness their troubled hearts need.
T.J hasn’t been able to paint for two years, ever since his fiancé died in a car crash that one of his paintings of the Seascape Inn mysteriously survived. He came to the Inn to heal himself and hasn’t been able to leave for 9 months. Every time he sets foot across the boundary line of the property, he blacks out and no one can work out why.
Enter Maggie. She has come to Seascape to look into her cousin, T.J’s fiancé’s death and suspects that T.J may have had something to do with it. She doesn’t tell him what her mission is and the longer she leaves it, the harder it is to do so.
All romances have something that keeps the potential lovers apart and must be overcome if they are to be together. In this case it’s the fears and prejudices they have developed in response to their life experiences. Trust in the opposite sex is a huge issue for both of them. She was burned by an abusive father and he by his dead fiancé who he discovered never loved him. She merely wanted the position in society that being his wife would have brought her.
T.J also struggles with his own lack of judgment in what constitutes love and Maggie, in particular, finds it almost impossible to have faith that she could ever have a profound and lasting love relationship with any man. Ms Hinze writes this story with great emotional depth and realism as with the help of the wonderfully wise Miss Hattie, the characters slowly grow towards the realisations that free them to love fully.
The end is fitting for a romance and as it appears that there is a sequel, it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all romance lovers.
Set in the Seascape Inn of Maine, it features a matchmaking innkeeper and her ghostly helper, who gently intervene to help a tortured artist and a female guest find the peace and happiness their troubled hearts need.
T.J hasn’t been able to paint for two years, ever since his fiancé died in a car crash that one of his paintings of the Seascape Inn mysteriously survived. He came to the Inn to heal himself and hasn’t been able to leave for 9 months. Every time he sets foot across the boundary line of the property, he blacks out and no one can work out why.
Enter Maggie. She has come to Seascape to look into her cousin, T.J’s fiancé’s death and suspects that T.J may have had something to do with it. She doesn’t tell him what her mission is and the longer she leaves it, the harder it is to do so.
All romances have something that keeps the potential lovers apart and must be overcome if they are to be together. In this case it’s the fears and prejudices they have developed in response to their life experiences. Trust in the opposite sex is a huge issue for both of them. She was burned by an abusive father and he by his dead fiancé who he discovered never loved him. She merely wanted the position in society that being his wife would have brought her.
T.J also struggles with his own lack of judgment in what constitutes love and Maggie, in particular, finds it almost impossible to have faith that she could ever have a profound and lasting love relationship with any man. Ms Hinze writes this story with great emotional depth and realism as with the help of the wonderfully wise Miss Hattie, the characters slowly grow towards the realisations that free them to love fully.
The end is fitting for a romance and as it appears that there is a sequel, it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all romance lovers.
January 31, 2016
Welcome to Seascape Inn. Here you will meet the inn keeper Hattie, T.J. MacGregor and Maggie Wright. I would say these three are thrown together, but that wouldn't be true. T.J. MacGregor is a recognized artist. Seascape is very familiar to him. He finds himself drawn back there after his the death of his fiancee, Carolyn. He needs the time and this place to heal. There is a problem though, every time he tries to leave he can't. He struggles against something until he passes out. He has been stuck there for nine months.
Maggie has been looking for T.J. for quite some time. She blames him for the death of her cousin Carolyn. When she sees a painting T.J. did, that was supposedly in the car with Carolyn when she died, Maggie is sure he is guilty. After all that could be the only reason the painting is there. Since she can't find him, and the painting seems to be calling her she drives to Seascape Inn. There she finds T.J. She has witnessed first hand T.J.'s inability to leave. She knows how uncomfortable her being there makes him and she does everything possible to make him more miserable. That is until she finds that she is not only becoming friends with him, but developing true feelings for him.
The inn itself is one of the characters. Hattie seems to know what is going on but chooses to let things unfold they way they need to for the good of all. Vicki has done a wonderful job of connection all things in a manner that leaves you wanting to read the rest in this series. I love the way the book is written, If you've read any of my other posts you know I am a fan of romance only if there is mystery or something else tied to it. I've never gone in for the mushy romance stories. Maybe that is why I find Vicki's books so intriguing. There is something here for everyone, so come and join us at Seascape Inn.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Maggie has been looking for T.J. for quite some time. She blames him for the death of her cousin Carolyn. When she sees a painting T.J. did, that was supposedly in the car with Carolyn when she died, Maggie is sure he is guilty. After all that could be the only reason the painting is there. Since she can't find him, and the painting seems to be calling her she drives to Seascape Inn. There she finds T.J. She has witnessed first hand T.J.'s inability to leave. She knows how uncomfortable her being there makes him and she does everything possible to make him more miserable. That is until she finds that she is not only becoming friends with him, but developing true feelings for him.
The inn itself is one of the characters. Hattie seems to know what is going on but chooses to let things unfold they way they need to for the good of all. Vicki has done a wonderful job of connection all things in a manner that leaves you wanting to read the rest in this series. I love the way the book is written, If you've read any of my other posts you know I am a fan of romance only if there is mystery or something else tied to it. I've never gone in for the mushy romance stories. Maybe that is why I find Vicki's books so intriguing. There is something here for everyone, so come and join us at Seascape Inn.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
December 23, 2011
Review:Beyond The Misty Shore by Vicki Hinze
4 STARS
I's a little different romance novel but good. Like to read the other two books in the series.
T.J. MacGregor is a well known artist. He came to Maine to heal from the tragic death of his fiance Caroline. T.J. has been at the bed and breakfast for 9 months. He tried to leave lots of times, but everytime he came to the edge of the property he would blackout. T.J. had to be dragged back into the property before he would come too.
Maggie has lots of questions about her cousin Caroline death two years ago. She was in bad car accident that caught on fire so bad she had to be idea by her dental records. The painting of Seascape Inn was not burned even a little bit. The Gallory said that she had stolen that picture the day of the crash.
Maggie for the past 2 years has been taken care of her mother after a bad injury of falling down the stairs. Now her mom could take care of herself she was going to look at Caroline fiance T.J. to see if he had any part of her death. She saw the painting of Seascape Inn and felt she needed to go their.
First she runs into T.J. at the inn. Then she see's T.J. passing out every day as he tries to leave. Then she keeps hearing a voice to help him. Caroline told him that she had no relatives even though she had lived from 12 to 18 with her aunt and Maggie.
Lots of weird things are happening at Seascape Inn now and in the past. Charming town is full of characters to get to know.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.
11/01/2011 PUB Bell Bridge Books
http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.c...
4 STARS
I's a little different romance novel but good. Like to read the other two books in the series.
T.J. MacGregor is a well known artist. He came to Maine to heal from the tragic death of his fiance Caroline. T.J. has been at the bed and breakfast for 9 months. He tried to leave lots of times, but everytime he came to the edge of the property he would blackout. T.J. had to be dragged back into the property before he would come too.
Maggie has lots of questions about her cousin Caroline death two years ago. She was in bad car accident that caught on fire so bad she had to be idea by her dental records. The painting of Seascape Inn was not burned even a little bit. The Gallory said that she had stolen that picture the day of the crash.
Maggie for the past 2 years has been taken care of her mother after a bad injury of falling down the stairs. Now her mom could take care of herself she was going to look at Caroline fiance T.J. to see if he had any part of her death. She saw the painting of Seascape Inn and felt she needed to go their.
First she runs into T.J. at the inn. Then she see's T.J. passing out every day as he tries to leave. Then she keeps hearing a voice to help him. Caroline told him that she had no relatives even though she had lived from 12 to 18 with her aunt and Maggie.
Lots of weird things are happening at Seascape Inn now and in the past. Charming town is full of characters to get to know.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.
11/01/2011 PUB Bell Bridge Books
http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.c...
April 25, 2012
This was one of those books that has a great mix of genres ...some romance, a paranormal element and a mystery....so much promise. Sadly it just wasn't able to completely deliver for me on that promise. Although on the whole the book was enjoyable, the Seascape Inn and surrounding town delightful, the romance sweet and the paranormal elements mysterious...I just was left feeling unsatisfied.
The pace of the book seemed very slow. Not a whole lot happens and when it does happen it seems drawn out and repetitive. There were many points were I contemplated putting it down, but the mystery did keep me interested enough to hang on and I was rooting Maggie and TJ as a couple.
Speaking of Maggie and TJ: I really liked both of the main characters as well as the secondary character of the innkeeper...by the middle of the book I sort of wanted to strangle them all. The romantic conflict seemed just way to drawn out for my taste...beyond the point where it was believable. And the innkeeper's insistence upon not meddling bordered on injury in my opinion. Thank goodness they seemed to come to their senses by the end and realize that they were meant to be together.
The paranormal aspect also completely puzzled me. I could not for the life of me wrap my mind around the entity's intent. It seemed to go from goodnatured and helpful one chapter to malicious in the next. And how did were the entity and the effect of the house related? I'm still not 100% sure.
I'm sure this book would appeal to those who like sweet romances with a punch of paranormal and don't mind a slow pace.
The pace of the book seemed very slow. Not a whole lot happens and when it does happen it seems drawn out and repetitive. There were many points were I contemplated putting it down, but the mystery did keep me interested enough to hang on and I was rooting Maggie and TJ as a couple.
Speaking of Maggie and TJ: I really liked both of the main characters as well as the secondary character of the innkeeper...by the middle of the book I sort of wanted to strangle them all. The romantic conflict seemed just way to drawn out for my taste...beyond the point where it was believable. And the innkeeper's insistence upon not meddling bordered on injury in my opinion. Thank goodness they seemed to come to their senses by the end and realize that they were meant to be together.
The paranormal aspect also completely puzzled me. I could not for the life of me wrap my mind around the entity's intent. It seemed to go from goodnatured and helpful one chapter to malicious in the next. And how did were the entity and the effect of the house related? I'm still not 100% sure.
I'm sure this book would appeal to those who like sweet romances with a punch of paranormal and don't mind a slow pace.
Want to read
March 17, 2012Reviewed by Kim:
I want so badly to tell you about this book and why you should read it but there are not enough words to tell you how wonderful this book is. It is rare I give a book 5 stars but this book is most deserving. There is something magical about this book. It feels like a romance novel from years gone by even though it is set in the present. It makes you believe you are there and watching the love unfold instead of turning pages. Seascape Inn is a place you want to visit
This book reads like a movie. Have you seen the movies "Somewhere In Time" or "The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan"? OK this is dating myself but then if you have not seen them you should. Anyway, this book has the feel of these timeless movies. The softness of love as it grows between the characters and the mystical spirit that is there to guide not haunt make this book worth the read. More than worth the read it is worth owning the book and never letting it go. Luckily this is the 1st in a trilogy and I cannot wait to enjoy the other two books.
Review can be found at www.books-n-kisses.com
I want so badly to tell you about this book and why you should read it but there are not enough words to tell you how wonderful this book is. It is rare I give a book 5 stars but this book is most deserving. There is something magical about this book. It feels like a romance novel from years gone by even though it is set in the present. It makes you believe you are there and watching the love unfold instead of turning pages. Seascape Inn is a place you want to visit
This book reads like a movie. Have you seen the movies "Somewhere In Time" or "The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan"? OK this is dating myself but then if you have not seen them you should. Anyway, this book has the feel of these timeless movies. The softness of love as it grows between the characters and the mystical spirit that is there to guide not haunt make this book worth the read. More than worth the read it is worth owning the book and never letting it go. Luckily this is the 1st in a trilogy and I cannot wait to enjoy the other two books.
Review can be found at www.books-n-kisses.com
February 26, 2012
Good story - very much a romance novel. The writing was a little stilted, unpolished, and although the storyline was unique and interesting, it did seem to be unnecessarily drawn out at times. There were a few times while the main characters were working out their feelings for each other when I found myself knowing where she was going with it, but not sure why or how it really helped along the story. But that said, there was a lot of good writing - the whole small town atmosphere came across beautifully, and even though I found myself relentlessly frustrated with the heroine at times, I couldn't help but root for them. Believable characters, touchingly sweet storyline, unique plot. All in all a worthwhile read.
February 13, 2016
This was a free download from the publisher, so I really can't complain, but it didn't work for me at all. I realized halfway through that it had been originally released 20 years ago, and it reads very much like a romance of that time. Too many secrets, Big Misunderstandings, "I want you but we mustn't!" etc. etc. Add in a mysterious paranormal "entity" whose actions make no logical sense and a sweet little old lady who likes to talk in aphorisms like "follow your heart," and it was all I could do to skim my way through to the end. Apparently the little old lady and the "entity" are back to control the love lives of two other couples in the remaining books of the trilogy, but I have no interest in reading them.
February 5, 2012
I did not love the main character, Maggie. She had some issues in her past that she could not let go, which is believable. I just felt that the author kept stuffing those excuses down my throat over and over again.
The other thing I did not like was that the whole relationship was based on a lie, that maggie was not woman enough to come clean about for WAY too long.
The supernatural element was fine, aside from the fact that it was harped on too much.
The main male character was fun. Tyler was a great guy,except for the occation of annoying insecurity.
Just a warning there was a pretty detailed sex scene that you can see from a mile away, easy to skip if you want to.
The other thing I did not like was that the whole relationship was based on a lie, that maggie was not woman enough to come clean about for WAY too long.
The supernatural element was fine, aside from the fact that it was harped on too much.
The main male character was fun. Tyler was a great guy,except for the occation of annoying insecurity.
Just a warning there was a pretty detailed sex scene that you can see from a mile away, easy to skip if you want to.
February 6, 2012
T. J. and Maggie are both likeable characters, and Miss Hattie is the perfect chatelaine for the mystical inn with its poignant history. There is much to appeal in this story, but too much of the movement is circular rather than linear. There are wonderful moments when T. J. and Maggie talk, but the extended interior monologues and the repetitious action slows the pace unbearably at times.
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2012/02...
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2012/02...
July 15, 2012
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads first reads giveaway. I found the characters to be realistic and overall the book was sweet and entertaining. My only criticism would be the extreme slow pace of the story. There is not much action and a lot of repetition. I also received the next to books in the series. I do plan to read them and look forward to see what happens in the Seascape series.
January 27, 2012
'Beyond the Misty Shore' has a good mixture of romance, mystery, humour and paranormal elements. The characterisation is well written with the friendship between BJ and Maggie nicely developed. If their conflict had not dragged on so long I would have given it 5*, but all in all it is a well balanced book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
December 6, 2013
I liked the setting and some of the characters but found the apparent ghost confusing. He spoke to Maggie and told her not to reveal her secret to Tyler, then a short time later, for no discernible reason told her it was time to share her secret. The purpose for the ghost and his actions weren't clear to me. I did appreciate the HEA ending.
February 5, 2017
Enjoyed it until 3/4 way through then it lost me a bit but I kept persevering. Became a bit predictable for me. Wanted to throttle both main characters towards the end. Elderly lady's story kept me going. Not sure how this can become a trilogy- guess I need to explore and find out....speedreading though this time.
April 10, 2014
I found this book a little confusing, what with all the convoluted verbiage. The story was good, but I kept getting lost in all the...stuff. It was a compelling story I couldn't put down, so I did like it. It was just a little hard going sometimes.
January 28, 2016
This is my first Hinze book, and it was a nice change of pace. Sweet, gentle, irrepressibly romantic. Just enough mystical element to create some drama but not so much so that it totally drives the plot. A nice change of pace indeed.
April 16, 2016
The Publishers Weekly blurb states: "clever fusion of humor, mystery, and romance."
I didn't find this novel to be particularly strong in any of those categories. I kept picking up other books to read that were more satisfying.
I didn't find this novel to be particularly strong in any of those categories. I kept picking up other books to read that were more satisfying.
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