The Beach Reads Bookshop + Giveaway

Running a bookstore on a quaint Chesapeake island is exactly the life Deena Clark would have chosen for herself–but helping billionaire businessman Luis Dominguez figure out fatherhood is part of the package. Can bonding over books and one little girl help them open their hearts to each other?

My Review:

The kind of ‘slice-of-real-life’ mixed with romance that I’ve come to expect from this author. McClain creates enticing settings and intriguing characters and it’s so easy to lose yourself in one of her stories. I’ve really been enjoying the Hometown Brothers series — this is the third book (and the last, I think) but reads well as a standalone. The central theme of the series revolves around foster brothers who find their way back to the Chesapeake island where they bonded together as teens. Edgy back stories and a sense of homecoming feature in each book.

And, egads, this time round it’s also a billionaire romance which is a trope I usually avoid, however, McClain does it justice and for all his misguided ways, Luis was surprisingly relatable. He has a lot of growing to do but then instant fatherhood will do that to a guy. 🙂

Deena has become the guardian of her best friend’s toddler and contacting the wealthy father for child support seems like the best way to provide the special needs resources little Willow is going to need. Trouble is, once Luis discovers he has a daughter, he’s not about to relinquish custody. Deena suddenly finds herself in a whirlwind of activity all instigated by a man who is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it.

And that means a move to Teaberry Island — the best place to raise a child as far as Luis is concerned. Where he’ll have family and friends around for support since his workaholic ways mean he’ll end up being a weekend father. Hence the need to lure Deena to the island as his caregiver.The dangling carrot is her very own bookshop! (Be still my heart, I want a hero who would buy me a bookshop!)

Of course the romance is complicated, and not without angst and there’s a secondary plot involving a woman I really disliked for most of the book. lol Every time we switched to Carol’s POV I had to brace myself. Thankfully she mellowed by the end.

A captivating conclusion to the Hometown Brothers series. I’ll be sad to leave Teaberry Island — it’s definitely a place I’d want to live if it wasn’t fictional!

Of note: This is not a Christian Fiction selection, but it is a clean read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Beach Reads Bookshop, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 3, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.