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Summer Beach: Escape to the Coast
How can you find your way home – past a tripwire? Sam's an LA computer-coding workaholic.
Jake's a failed rockstar who denies his songwriting talent.
When Sam returns to an Australian backwater to sell her family's beach house, her gruff neighbor stymies her plans – then steals her heart.
Beneath Sam's house lies the tragic time bomb that will blow her world apart.
With help from best friend Fliss and Jake, can Sam embrace her future – before it's too late? From popular feel-good fiction author Amber Jakeman, and following her House of Jewels series, comes Summer Beach , the first novel in Amber's Escape to the Coast trilogy.
Jake's a failed rockstar who denies his songwriting talent.
When Sam returns to an Australian backwater to sell her family's beach house, her gruff neighbor stymies her plans – then steals her heart.
Beneath Sam's house lies the tragic time bomb that will blow her world apart.
With help from best friend Fliss and Jake, can Sam embrace her future – before it's too late? From popular feel-good fiction author Amber Jakeman, and following her House of Jewels series, comes Summer Beach , the first novel in Amber's Escape to the Coast trilogy.
245 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2023
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Amber Jakeman
13 books68 followersAmber Jakeman writes feel-good fiction because your heart matters.
With readers in more than fifty countries, Amber Jakeman was a journalist, ghost writer and editor before succumbing to her addiction to uplifting endings.
Amber writes about hearts and hope and the power of love.
Her books touch on serious themes, yet with a light touch, an international flavour and positive resolutions.
Amber’s five-book House of Jewels series, launched in 2022, follows the fortunes of three generations of the fictitious Huntley family of jewellers in Australia, the US and France.
Summer Beach, the first in her Escape to the Coast series, was released in 2023, and Midnight Beach early in 2024.
Writing with gratitude on the lands of the Cammeraygal, Darkinjung and Awabakal people, Amber Jakeman warmly acknowledges Australia’s first storytellers.
Amber is available for author talks at libraries, book clubs, writers’ festivals and more. Please email amber@amberjakeman.com for details.
With readers in more than fifty countries, Amber Jakeman was a journalist, ghost writer and editor before succumbing to her addiction to uplifting endings.
Amber writes about hearts and hope and the power of love.
Her books touch on serious themes, yet with a light touch, an international flavour and positive resolutions.
Amber’s five-book House of Jewels series, launched in 2022, follows the fortunes of three generations of the fictitious Huntley family of jewellers in Australia, the US and France.
Summer Beach, the first in her Escape to the Coast series, was released in 2023, and Midnight Beach early in 2024.
Writing with gratitude on the lands of the Cammeraygal, Darkinjung and Awabakal people, Amber Jakeman warmly acknowledges Australia’s first storytellers.
Amber is available for author talks at libraries, book clubs, writers’ festivals and more. Please email amber@amberjakeman.com for details.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 24, 2025
Samantha Kelly’s dad passes away, her brother Rick is in charge of selling his house in Sydney while she returns to Burradeer Bay a small town on the coast of New South Wales to clean out family's unused holiday home.
As Sam goes through the clutter inside the beach house, she has no idea that beneath it lies a time bomb that will blow her world apart and bring back painful memories.
Jake Bannerman lives next door, Sam thinks he’s a greenie or a surfer and he actually makes guitars and was once a member of a band.
Fliss is Sam’s best friend from boarding school and she’s breaking their pact to stay single, she’s marrying Rob and wants her to be her matron of honour.
Sam is an IT consultant and lives and works in LA, after her first visit back to Australia, she realizes she misses living on the coast, the bushland and maybe Jake and prior to this she was a proud workaholic.
Summer Beach is the first book in Amber Jakeman’s Escape to the Coast series, she’s known for writing heart-warming and feel-good fiction, full of hope and possible love and she most certainly does.
The narrative has everything you want in a story, a single and successful woman and she meets an ex rockstar, who writes love songs, great supporting characters like Fliss, Rob, Arthur, Rick, Skye, Stevie, Tobie and Scoobie the sausage dog.
Jake has to convince Sam that there is nothing wrong with living a life full of love, music, joy and good memories, I highly recommend, four and half stars from me and I have already bought my copy of Midnight Beach.
As Sam goes through the clutter inside the beach house, she has no idea that beneath it lies a time bomb that will blow her world apart and bring back painful memories.
Jake Bannerman lives next door, Sam thinks he’s a greenie or a surfer and he actually makes guitars and was once a member of a band.
Fliss is Sam’s best friend from boarding school and she’s breaking their pact to stay single, she’s marrying Rob and wants her to be her matron of honour.
Sam is an IT consultant and lives and works in LA, after her first visit back to Australia, she realizes she misses living on the coast, the bushland and maybe Jake and prior to this she was a proud workaholic.
Summer Beach is the first book in Amber Jakeman’s Escape to the Coast series, she’s known for writing heart-warming and feel-good fiction, full of hope and possible love and she most certainly does.
The narrative has everything you want in a story, a single and successful woman and she meets an ex rockstar, who writes love songs, great supporting characters like Fliss, Rob, Arthur, Rick, Skye, Stevie, Tobie and Scoobie the sausage dog.
Jake has to convince Sam that there is nothing wrong with living a life full of love, music, joy and good memories, I highly recommend, four and half stars from me and I have already bought my copy of Midnight Beach.
January 29, 2025
29 January 2025
Author gifted me the paperback in return of being an ARC reader.
What happends when you are called back to the country you are born in to sell a house you grew up in? This is what Sam had to face when she had to go traipsing back to the Australian seaside. Somehow memories of her younger years had faded away until Jake next door unlocked a piece that was prized well in truly shut.
Jake also has issues of his own, a failed rockstar who denies his songwriting talent. Will he get past this terrible wedge of being stuck and stricken with grief?
I so enjoyed this easy read feel good story and before I waffle on too much I want to thank Amber Jakeman for gifting me the ARC, which is now published.
Hello rock star fans, where are you hiding? because I have news for you, this is very much up your alley way. Quitars, music and something quite special!!! The author has written lyrics to songs in this book! How about that, aye?
So this wasn't your typical girl meets her rock star idol, no these two were neighbours and the protagonist (Sam) didn't realise till later on who he had become.
Not only do we have music in this story, but we do have a dog as well. This one is called Scooby-Doo and it took me back to my younger years when I used to watch Scooby-Doo, Where Are You.
Romance is kept light and I do love this quote.
.
Quote
This was the kind of kiss that melted her slowly, like caramel, like dark chocolate with cherry liqueur — kiss with sizzle.
.
I was totally invested in this book as it had some beautiful scenery discriptions around the seaside in a small community where most people earned their moolah by being creative and selling their merchandise at the local shop. Look out for Hens, chickens and paintings, a quirky mixture that I particularly loved and went so well.
5 star review/rating.
Pauline Reid
Book Reviewer
New Zealand
Author gifted me the paperback in return of being an ARC reader.
What happends when you are called back to the country you are born in to sell a house you grew up in? This is what Sam had to face when she had to go traipsing back to the Australian seaside. Somehow memories of her younger years had faded away until Jake next door unlocked a piece that was prized well in truly shut.
Jake also has issues of his own, a failed rockstar who denies his songwriting talent. Will he get past this terrible wedge of being stuck and stricken with grief?
I so enjoyed this easy read feel good story and before I waffle on too much I want to thank Amber Jakeman for gifting me the ARC, which is now published.
Hello rock star fans, where are you hiding? because I have news for you, this is very much up your alley way. Quitars, music and something quite special!!! The author has written lyrics to songs in this book! How about that, aye?
So this wasn't your typical girl meets her rock star idol, no these two were neighbours and the protagonist (Sam) didn't realise till later on who he had become.
Not only do we have music in this story, but we do have a dog as well. This one is called Scooby-Doo and it took me back to my younger years when I used to watch Scooby-Doo, Where Are You.
Romance is kept light and I do love this quote.
.
Quote
This was the kind of kiss that melted her slowly, like caramel, like dark chocolate with cherry liqueur — kiss with sizzle.
.
I was totally invested in this book as it had some beautiful scenery discriptions around the seaside in a small community where most people earned their moolah by being creative and selling their merchandise at the local shop. Look out for Hens, chickens and paintings, a quirky mixture that I particularly loved and went so well.
5 star review/rating.
Pauline Reid
Book Reviewer
New Zealand
July 4, 2023
Summer Beach is a wonderful start to the new Escape to the Coast series by Amber Jakeman! I really enjoyed this novel from cover to cover and read most of it in one sitting as I could not put it down. As with all of Amber’s novels, there is always more than meets the eye. These are not just feel-good fiction stories. They cover rich and diverse themes exploring the behaviour of people. This meaty element adds another layer of interest for those who want a bit extra with their romance. Amber delves into the layers of a person’s heart and peels away the facades. She observes and explores in her stories, the reasons people do what they do. In this novel, the heavier topic of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is demonstrated. A very real condition that sees the victim experiencing flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety. You don’t need to have fought in a war to develop this condition for it can result from any traumatic life event. In this case, it is the loss of a child’s mother. Sam is all grown-up now and even though her mother died (a drowning) when she was little, her young mind was so deeply affected by what she saw and felt, the trauma became buried in her subconscious. And these wounds carried over into her adulthood. She did not know how much it affected her until returning to the place where the loss happened. Here painful memories are triggered.
Sam is an Australian who moved away a decade ago to LA to work in computer coding. After her father dies, she and her brother are left with his beach house on the central coast (NSW). Rick, her brother, lives in Victoria so she is the one to get the property cleared out and ready for sale. Rick needs funds and Sam has no intentions of moving back here, so getting someone to purchase the property as soon as possible is vital. But as you’d expect, things do not go as planned.
Sam is a workaholic and it is not until she comes back to set things in order, that this place begins to tug on her heart. Along with her neighbour, Jake, who first appears as gruff and agitated by her activity around the property. She wants to trim trees for a better view, among other things. He sees this as a threat to the environment and natural wildlife. Although he drives her mad, she is also attracted to him. Little does she know he is a hideaway rock star. And that after losing the love of his life in a sad event, ten years earlier, he left the performance industry vowing never to return. He now makes guitars for high profile musicians. But it is through his encounters with Sam, that his life begins to change. Jake also is visited by an important mentor music friend who encourages him to perform with his old band for a special benefit concert in Vegas. He accepts in memory of Lulu for the funds go to help those suffering from depression. Lulu took her own life and Jake blamed himself.
I loved so many things about this novel for it touches on activities dear to my own heart such as beach life and song writing. Music performance and composition is a large part of my past so I understand many of the musical references, guitar playing and writing of lyrics. Jake also is good working with wood. His guitars are exceptional but he can make other items, too. Again, these skills and talents are very relatable for me as they are part of my own family.
Amber did her research thoroughly and delivered believable well-rounded characters whose activities and responses are appropriate. She expertly covers emotional and mental battles of stage life, grief from loss of loved ones and family, post-traumatic stress disorder, workaholic tendencies, dealing with aggressive bosses and even puppy love between a boy and his dog. Lyric-wise the ‘Mermaid’ song is lovely and a focal point of the story for it carries a message of love from the past into the present. We learn how and why it was written and the beautiful sentiment behind it.
This novel oozes love, kindness, neighbourly care, courage and emotional healing. There’s unveiling of heart desires, finding new purposes and second chances. There’s clear demonstrations of actions and reactions and human responses to pain and suffering. Which is why I said, Amber’s novels are not just sweet love stories, they carry important life messages. They have great depth, initiate hope and reflect an understanding of human behaviour. I highly recommend this heart-warming and uplifting story, no matter the season. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Amber Jakeman for a review copy.
Sam is an Australian who moved away a decade ago to LA to work in computer coding. After her father dies, she and her brother are left with his beach house on the central coast (NSW). Rick, her brother, lives in Victoria so she is the one to get the property cleared out and ready for sale. Rick needs funds and Sam has no intentions of moving back here, so getting someone to purchase the property as soon as possible is vital. But as you’d expect, things do not go as planned.
Sam is a workaholic and it is not until she comes back to set things in order, that this place begins to tug on her heart. Along with her neighbour, Jake, who first appears as gruff and agitated by her activity around the property. She wants to trim trees for a better view, among other things. He sees this as a threat to the environment and natural wildlife. Although he drives her mad, she is also attracted to him. Little does she know he is a hideaway rock star. And that after losing the love of his life in a sad event, ten years earlier, he left the performance industry vowing never to return. He now makes guitars for high profile musicians. But it is through his encounters with Sam, that his life begins to change. Jake also is visited by an important mentor music friend who encourages him to perform with his old band for a special benefit concert in Vegas. He accepts in memory of Lulu for the funds go to help those suffering from depression. Lulu took her own life and Jake blamed himself.
I loved so many things about this novel for it touches on activities dear to my own heart such as beach life and song writing. Music performance and composition is a large part of my past so I understand many of the musical references, guitar playing and writing of lyrics. Jake also is good working with wood. His guitars are exceptional but he can make other items, too. Again, these skills and talents are very relatable for me as they are part of my own family.
Amber did her research thoroughly and delivered believable well-rounded characters whose activities and responses are appropriate. She expertly covers emotional and mental battles of stage life, grief from loss of loved ones and family, post-traumatic stress disorder, workaholic tendencies, dealing with aggressive bosses and even puppy love between a boy and his dog. Lyric-wise the ‘Mermaid’ song is lovely and a focal point of the story for it carries a message of love from the past into the present. We learn how and why it was written and the beautiful sentiment behind it.
This novel oozes love, kindness, neighbourly care, courage and emotional healing. There’s unveiling of heart desires, finding new purposes and second chances. There’s clear demonstrations of actions and reactions and human responses to pain and suffering. Which is why I said, Amber’s novels are not just sweet love stories, they carry important life messages. They have great depth, initiate hope and reflect an understanding of human behaviour. I highly recommend this heart-warming and uplifting story, no matter the season. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Amber Jakeman for a review copy.
August 25, 2023
Sam has returned to Australia from her busy life in LA and is cleaning up her late father's holiday house, eager to have it sold as soon as possible. She discovers that the house has a neighbour - Jake, a songwriter and guitar player who has no tolerance for out-of-owners who only see dollar signs. But he and Sam have more in common than she realises. And now she might have a reason to stay.
This was a charming book and a pleasant detour between heavier reads. I did feel that it could have used a structural edit and I thought the MCs were rather mean to each other at times (too mean, perhaps, to make things work). Ultimately, Summer Beach delivers exactly what it promises its readers - sweetness, romance and a sunny setting.
This was a charming book and a pleasant detour between heavier reads. I did feel that it could have used a structural edit and I thought the MCs were rather mean to each other at times (too mean, perhaps, to make things work). Ultimately, Summer Beach delivers exactly what it promises its readers - sweetness, romance and a sunny setting.
May 20, 2024
A nice light hearted book. While I enjoyed this book, I wouldn’t say the storyline was a real page turner. I did enjoy the setting of a rural country town set on the beach however. The storyline just felt a bit too rushed in the end.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews