I read this as a stand alone novel before realizing it was in a series! I don't feel that I was missing any crucial information without reading the first one, but I am intrigued enough to read the third installment to the series. This book is much more than a cliche summer beach read. There is depth to the characters and there were a few twists I didn't suspect.
When 35 year old Emily decides to restore her father's old house along the coast of Maine and turn it into a successful B&B she is met with unforeseen challenges and gifts. Is she simply trying to escape her previous life in NYC? Is this really want she wants? How much is she willing to give to make it work? How can she reconcile her old hectic and busy life in NYC with that of a much more calm atmosphere in Maine? What really happened to her father? The book explores themes such as finding yourself and what it means to love.
I really enjoyed this book. Partially because I've always wondered what it would be like to own and manage a quaint B&B. I spent time at a B&B in Bar Harbor, Maine once and continued to imagine the scenery just as I experienced it. When you experience something of such beauty and peace, it is quite difficult to return to "real life" where things are messy and fast-paced. The description of the house, coast of Maine, and attention to detail really add life to the book.