Stranded on the Beach

Holiday Acres #1

by Noelle Adams

A forced vacation on the beach. The man who broke her heart. A second chance at love.

Rebecca Holiday's sisters force her to take a two-week vacation on the beach for some much needed rest, but then she runs into the man who broke her heart, the only man she's ever loved. When they decide to spend time together, it's supposed to be closure, but what they discover is a second chance at love.

The Holiday Acres series

Stranded on the Beach (Book 1, Rebecca and Phil)
Stranded in the Snow (Book 2, Olivia and Scott, published in the Snowed in for Christmas anthology)
Stranded in the Woods (Book 3, Penny and Kent)
Stranded for Christmas (Book 4, Laura and Russ)

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Holiday, Fiction

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2018

About the author

Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn't stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Reviews

[Carvanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread review:

Awww, I really enjoyed reading this one again. I’d forgotten how much I loved the way Phil was with Rebecca as she waded through what it was she really wanted out of life. The location of this story also adds its own charm to the story.

Original review:

When Rebecca’s sisters leave her stranded at a forced vacation on the beach, the last thing she thought would happen was she would run into Phil who had broken her young heart. There is a lot of history between their families and Phil’s ultimate reaction to it had been to force her to make an impossible decision and then he just left. Now they have the opportunity to find closure and they begin to work toward that end. However, this closure is looking a lot like involvement and it’s possible that Rebecca’s heart is going to get broken all over again when her vacation is over.

This couple reunites with lots of anger and the story has a great enemies to lovers vibe going on. However, it doesn’t take long for them to quickly move into a more comfortable position of friends. I enjoyed watching as they both struggled through their awkwardness at wanting more but knowing that wasn’t what this was about.

Rebecca is a heroine who simply isn’t sure what she wants out of life and I could actually understand her because not every woman is meant to have a power career. Some just want to be a wife and mother. It was really kind of nice watching her as she learned to reach for what she wanted. The fact that Phil was the one to help her do that reaching was awesome. He helped to direct her on that path and I do love a hero who recognizes what the heroine needs and sets out to do what they can to help her.

There is a bit of angst as they must once more face the past and their decisions from that time as well as the decisions they will make now. The pace of this book is very easy and it can be read within a short afternoon. Rebecca’s and Phil’s chemistry is quite sizzling and interestingly, it is Phil’s additional determination that she take what she needs that helps to ignite the smexy scenes.
I am excited about what the rest of these sisters will face as they each find their heroes.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dual POV
Safe H/h apart for 7 years both with others during that time but neither able to be in a relationship; no ow/om drama
Triggers no apparent triggers

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novella in a series of 4 about the Holiday sisters. They run a resort together called Holiday Acres that started as a Christmas tree farm by their father Jed and is now a thriving business that includes rental cottages, an event center and Christmas themed shop.

The Holidays had a falling out with the Matheson family and it caused a lot of pain for all of them, but especially for Rebecca Holiday who had been dating Phil Matheson. Phil and Rebecca had broken up, Phil left town and it's been seven years since the initial fallout. In that time the Holiday sisters had discovered it was their now deceased father who was at fault and had tried to make amends with the Mathesons, but the only one who'd taken them up on their offer was Russ, Phil's uncle who now works with them at Holiday Acres.

Rebecca is on a forced vacation, her sisters Olivia, Penny and Laura having dropped her off at a beachside town for 2 weeks of rest and relaxation. The death of her mother a few months prior to cancer and the constant stream of weddings at Holiday Acres has worn her out. She's thinking that maybe a vacation is a good idea when she runs into Phil who lives there. He's as shocked to see her as she is to see him, and the way they'd left things means there are hurt feelings on both sides. But closure to mend those wounds and move on with their lives sounds like a better deal than they've had to date. And when spending time together rekindles the good feelings they shared, will they discover that closure is the opposite of what they really want?

I really enjoyed this second chance romance! Noelle Adams writes likable characters who, like all of us, make rash decisions and then have to fix things. She also makes her characters empathetic so that you can see both sides of the story when it comes to a falling out.

For Phil, the scandal unfolding in his home town was too much for him and he'd left, hoping Rebecca would leave with him and hurt when she'd said no. Now they have the chance to hash out what really happened and Phil can see that he made a mistake in expecting Rebecca to choose him over her family. But he's still wary about getting too emotionally involved and risking his heart.

Phil's father might have been the wronged party in the family feud between the Mathesons and the Holidays but he'd also been an emotionally controlling alcoholic and Phil had learned to keep his feelings under wraps. His relationship with his brothers Scott and Kent has also suffered. Having Rebecca back in his life forces him to look at how things are now and whether he's really happy away from his family who keep trying to entice him back into the fold.

Once they get over their initial awkwardness they remember what they liked about being together and with Rebecca on a two week holiday deadline they feel free to reconnect intimately in some sexy love scenes. It's Rebecca who realizes that she's fallen for Phil again but this time he'll have to step up if he wants to keep her. It's a lovely lighthearted romance with a happy ending, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of these two families as romance appears to be in the cards for more of their respective siblings!

This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-str...

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a serial the author put out via email. Now it's available for free in eBook format.

It's a nice second chance romance with a likable hero and heroine. There isn't anything super memorable about it, but I like the author's writing style. She is an auto-buy for me.

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nicely written second chance romance. East to read and engaging. 💕

[Graylark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok.

Noelle Adams does the one-perspective romances beautifully, but the dual-perspective ones (alternating heroine and hero POVs every chapter) tend to be iffy. There's a lack of tension here as you know everything that's going on from both sides and there are no surprises.

The problem was kind of boringly solved. Hero had a problem, realized it, changed it. The end.

Nitpick: The word "closure" was said by or thought by the characters 47 times in this book. I was very tired of it by the dozenth time.

[Jen_C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eyerolling! 😵😵😵😵😵

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca is the youngest of four girls and is always taking care of everyone but herself. So her sisters decide they are going to surprise her with a two week vacation. While there Rebecca happens to run into Phil, the ex boyfriend that broke her heart.
Phil left their hometown long ago. He could not take the drama anymore, but in the process of leaving the drama begins he also left his girlfriend Rebecca. Not many people knew where is was so he was shocked when he ran into Rebecca many years later.
I really enjoyed reading this story. I love the storyline and the characters. There was definitely a lot of romance in this book. I loved watching how they reconnected and even worked through their problems from the past rather than ignoring them. If I had to pick one thing I didn’t care for in this book I would say the sex scenes where a bit much for my personal taste, but they were not bad and for me that did not take away from the story at all. I am excited to read more from this series. For me this series seems like it will be one of those series you fall in love with all the characters and don’t want to end. It makes we wish for a real Holiday Acres I could visit.

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a second chance at love novella that happens when the couple meet up four years after they split up.

Rebecca has lost her father and six months ago she lost her mother, however she and her three sisters have been heading up the business, but the sisters felt that Rebecca needed a break and stand her in a house on the beach, only the sisters have something else planned too.

Phil left home four years a go as an angry boy and has been living a shell of a life until Rebecca turns up on the pier that he fishes on.

A chance at closure for the pair has them spending time together again, however they get more than they bargained for.

The novella is everything i have come to expect from this author, sweet, sexy and with an optimistic HEA with the start of getting to know at least two other the other sisters who will also get their own HEA.

[romancejunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca and Phil have loved each other since childhood, and she had actually thought she would marry him someday, but after her father betrayed his they split up in a hurtful way and inconsciously have been holding on to their old feelings since. So her older sister and his uncle decided together to let them stranded together for two weeks to make them face the past and have some closure.
The moment they first meet again though, both remember the other's fault's in their old wounds and angry feelings ressurge. But after she calls her sister and discovers that the two being together in the same place was proposital and her sister tells her to resolve things with him, they both agree.
But when they began spending time together their feelings for each other are rekindled, will they have a future together the second time around?

[Dayse Dantas · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring and cringe

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/07/...

3 stars — Well bummer. I was kind of disappointed in the writing for this one. I mean, it was super quick and easy to devour…but it was also kind of flat and shallow. Like something in the writing felt forced instead of natural or something. I noticed it the most in the steamy scenes — like maybe a really talented audiobook narrator could have acted it out better, but when I tried saying some of the sexytimes dialogue out loud, I literally cringed. It was…well not realistic in my mind. But maybe it’s just me.

I think I wanted to like this one more than I did. I remember reading book 2 in this series as part of a Christmas anthology and really loving it, and thus wanting to read all the Holiday sisters stories. But this one just didn’t have the same magic for me. Or maybe, just 2.5 years on, I’m that much of a different person? I don’t know. I’ll give the other stories a try since they’re short.

Rebecca and Phil were both solid characters, if a little flat. I kind of wish I’d learned a bit more about Phil’s past with his father and family. We get strong hints, but not enough to really understand his level of disconnectedness and fear. He ended up feeling pretty emotionally stunted…which, is reasonable. But. I don’t know. I really don’t know why it was sort of meh for me.

I think the same can be said for Rebecca — we got hints of depth, but not enough to satisfy me. I just had a harder time connecting with her.

As I said, the steamy scenes kind of put me off. Phil’s constant talking about how Rebecca was so hot and fiery for a quiet girl just…I don’t know…for some stupid reason it rubbed me wrong. I seriously can’t articulate why though, so take it with a grain of salt.

I’m really hoping that the writing just improved as the series went on, and so I’ll enjoy the 3rd and 4th books more. But maybe it’s partly just the kind of characters? Ah well.

[Tirza · Rating 2 out of 5]

With this book, I just don’t know. It was first released as a serial novel, but I didn’t read it then, since the story just didn’t really appeal to me. When it came out in book-form, I accepted the opportunity to review it from Ms. Adams.
But the series so far hasn’t really been my thing.

This book is a bit too slow for me. It doesn’t really have the light humor and sweet moments that I look for when reading Noelle Adams’ books. They have their serious, heart-felt scenes, which are important, but this one was too heavy for me. Rebecca is not a character that I really liked. She tried very hard to be down-to-earth, but came across to me as a bit too silly and emotional, making a big thing out of everything Philip does when they reconnect.
Philip himself is also just not a guy I would like as a person. Show me a little backbone, but don’t become embittered by an old grudge against an entire family. All in all, both of the main characters were a little too dramatic in my eyes.

I feel kind of bad by giving a negative review, since I like this author so much, but this one I just do not like.

[Nalini Warriar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweethearts reunited. 3.5 *
Rebecca Holiday and Phil Matheson were close once and then it all fell apart. Now she’s renting a beach house in the same town as Phil. They run into each other again and neither is too thrilled about it as it dredges up past transgressions.
Dormant attractions are awakened as they both try to adjust to this new reality. It begins with wanting closure and ends with Rebecca and Phil getting closer.Rebecca is one of fours sisters and yes, each sister gets a book with HEA and they all hook up with Phil’s brothers and one with an uncle.
My only quibbles are with Phil’s dialogue when he’s in bed with Rebecca. He’s always saying ‘You…, there you go’, instead of expressing his feelings for her. Scratch that. The dialogue between them both is awkward and very unsexy. I shudder at their shenanigans in the hot tub, stressing my conviction hot tubs are indeed bacterial frappes.
Adams has a light pen (or rather key-board), the story moves along without too much distraction. She keeps it an emotional ride. Sometimes, Adams loses her way with words.

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Ana Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stranded on the Beach is the first book in the Holiday Acres series and it was a serial novel Noelle Adams wrote to her newsletter's subscribers last summer. The Holiday Acres will tell stories about two families that grow apart because of business decisions their fathers had and that changed all the way these people related. Rebecca and Philip were in love a few years back but since her father took his from the business, the families had a feud and they separated. It was not Rebecca and her sister's fault and once they discovered how wrong their father was they try to make it right. However, Phil and his brothers are having a hard time to forgive and move on. He isolated himself in a beach town trying to forget and move on with his life. Oddly this is the same city that Rebecca is "forced" to have a few days off on vacation. They reunite in an awkward kind of way and their love story is folded so beautifully in the hands of this author. She is generous enough to give us this story for free and it is so great to see these characters in this book. Give it a chance that you will love it!

[Terric853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a teenager, Rebecca Holiday was in love with Phil Matheson. Seven years ago, when she was 18 and he was 19, he left their hometown forever and only came back when his father and hers died together in a car accident.

Phil and Rebecca's fathers had been friends their whole lives, but when Phil's father began telling everyone in the town that Rebecca's father had gotten a loan to start up his business from Phil's grandfather in return for a portion of the profits - which Phil's family never saw - their families embarked on a feud that tore apart the whole town. That was when Phil decided to leave.

Seven years later, Rebecca is burned out from caring for her mother who died six months earlier from cancer. Her sister, Laura, decides she need a two-week vacation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and, so, rents her a house there, taking her car, her phone and her credit cards. The first day there, Rebecca runs into Phil, who assumes she's stalking him.

After a few heated conversations, they both decide that they need closure and agree to work together to achieve it. You can see what's coming, right?

[Sydney S · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite Noelle Adams book so far, but it was fine. I didn’t really want to read this first book for a few reasons: 1. I don’t like beachy settings, 2. it’s finally starting to get chilly here in the Deep South, so I’m feeling winter reads right now, 3. I generally don’t like second-chance romances.

But here we are, because I really want to read the rest of the series while it a cold, and I trust Noelle Adams. She has a way of making me enjoy tropes I usually hate. And it was a good book. Simple, sweet, and cozy, nothing unique. Just highly readable.

All of her smut is basically written from the same formula, even her stuff under her Claire Kent pseudonym. I don’t usually mind it, but it bothered me a little here.

Spoiler-ish:
I had a weird feeling when the MMC says he has 2 brothers and a young uncle, so I checked the descriptions for the next 3 books, and yeah, all 4 Holiday sisters get with Matheson men. I don’t like that at all. Imagine the holidays together and how all their kids will be double related.

And yet, I’ll continue, because Noelle Adams is like a comforting blanket, and because I want to be reading wintery books.

[Jessica CW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stranded on the beach I was lucky enough to receive the advance serial for in which each week a new chapter was released.
The youngest sister that takes care of everyone is being exiled into mandatory vacation- and it’s not her first choice. It’s a beach sure, but she’s too busy to take that time to herself- that’s why her family gamed up against her. What’s even better is the first love she buried deep down resurrects when that very first love is in the exact small beach town....but will this be a problem or a mystery solved....

Let me tell you, I am a huge Noelle Adams fan and already this series has captured my attention. This book is a sweet reunion where a couple has to patch things up, recover, and move forward....maybe even move on, but only after they give closure for two weeks.

It’s a sweet, cute, steamy hallmark sort of story, that makes you warm and fuzzy after you want to yell at them for not getting it together.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this but it ended up being super spicy. 🥵
Our characters Rebecca and Phil have a second chance at their previous relationship after they run into each other when Rebecca is on a forced vacation thanks to her sister.
I wish we got to see more of Rebecca and Phil's backstory. They felt very surface level in terms of personality. They were kind of... bland, for lack of a better word. Their previous relationship and why they broke up was explained well, but I wanted to know more about them as people so I could care more about them.
I liked the whole concept of "closure" that our characters were trying to have so they could move on, but that "closure" just felt like a lot of s3x ☠️ Which good for them but also maybe talk about things that need to be resolved? Idk just a thought.
The ending was satisfying and this book had a lot of cute moments. If you're a fan of second chance romance and family feuds, you may enjoy this one!
I also really enjoyed the author's writing style, so I will be continuing this series.

[Diana Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

Rebecca and Phil were once young lovers who’s families grew together, their fathers were friends and business partners. One family flourished while the other struggled and it was found that Phil’s family had been deceived by Rebecca’s. It put a wedge between the families and Phil left Rebecca with a broken heart.

Seven years later, Rebecca’s sisters held an intervention and insisted Rebecca take a two week vacation at a small little beach town. It turns out Phil lived and worked at the beach town. The sisters thought it would bring the couple “closure”, instead it brought them together.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca finds herself on an unexpected holiday away from her family. They think she works too hard in the family business and helps everyone else out but doesnt focus much on herself.

But what a coincidence she finds herself stranded at a holiday home, no smart phone, no car but just down the road from Phil her high school sweet heart who broke her heart seven years ago.

A great holiday read that takes you on a fairly predictable storyline, but its well written and its great light entertainment.

Its not a book for young readers due to some of the sex scenes in the book, but definitely well written for adults.

[Birty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is, at best, a typical second Chance romance with no mystery or twists or turns. Rebecca has not recovered from being dumped by her high school boy friend, Phil. Seems that Phil hasn’t gotten over her either, but a long-standing disagreement between their families has kept them apart for 7 years. When they find each other while Rebecca is on a vacation, which their families made happen, they enter a physical relationship for “closure.” There are no surprises with what follows. I skipped many parts just to finish the book. Just an ok read.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Losing a loved one is devastating. Having a lover disappear, is a lot worse. Rebecca has had all the trauma she can handle. When her sisters send her to the beach for a bit of R&R, she doesn't know what to expect. To have her long lost boyfriend Phil show up, she just wants to disappear. For the two of them to finally get past mistrust caused by their fathers, it takes more than her vacation and spending time with Phil. While this story is short, Ms. Adams keeps the drama going and holds the reader's interest throughout.

[Joan]

By page 5 of Stranded on the Beach I was thinking.. Okay....so your family dump you, alone, without phone, car, credit cards etc in a thwacking great house by yourself for a fortnight to help you relax? Really. I’d go effing insane!

And what a cruel thing to do to someone who is so emotionally and physically fragile that her family think she is in desperate need of a holiday.

What happens next is even worse in my opinion.

dnf

[Trashy Katie]

I usually adore this author, but I could not get over the premise to enjoy the book and gave up less than a quarter through the book. I tried to get past the whole you need a vacation so your loving sisters are forcibly giving you one, but then they took her cell phone and credit cards. Nope - those are tactics that abusers use. Also, they deliberately put her in the path of an ex with no way to leave? Not okay!

[greenapplemojito · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent, short, and nice romance read. Nothing very interesting was happening but given the small size of the book, the pace, and the writing, it felt relaxing and nice (and to add again, quick).

It's a second chance romance of once childhood friends turned lovers who are now frenemies thanks to the forced close proximity due to family meddling! We also see in this book a potential introduction to the next books/book couples in the series.

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca and Phil were teenage sweethearts but haven't seen each other for seven years because of a family feud. When she goes on holiday they finally meet again.
Nothing much happens but it's full of breathless emotion and I really loved it. I read it in one sitting which is pretty rare for me these days.

[Darcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance love

Oh I love a second chance at HEA so much. Phil and Rebecca’s love for one another shown bright every time they were together, even when they didn’t realize it or want to believe it. Watching them work through the past and compromise on what their life would be was amazing.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Watching Rebecca and Phil find their friendship again. Not that much substance steamy scenes are a little overplayed but all in all lend interest where it could be very dull. Amazes me how much you can pack into,a short amount of time guess it does happen. 3 Stars from me read it for yourself and make up your own mind I did.

[Stephanie Bolen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the others

Rebecca was kind of a wishy washy person. And be honest Phil with his bike and lean body ain't exactly daydream material. I kept picturing Shaggy from Scooby Doo. They obviously live in a made up world because there is no way they are living any kind of life with the "jobs" they have. No wonder he rides around on a bicycle.