The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#FirstLine~ Someone was trying to bust into the cottage next door.

A great read that was quite engaging. I loved the characters and the setting. I know when I read Thayne, I am going to read a book that keeps me engaged and makes me happy. Thayne is a safe, go-t0 author to read when you want to be guaranteed a great read. Her books invoke emotions and make one feel like anything is possible. They are perfect reads for anyone who wants to believe in miracles and see the good in the world!

I absolutely adore my visits to this idyllic community of Haven Point! Despite being the eighth book in the series, this one can be read completely on its own. You do get some brief moments with previous characters; however, there was never a feeling that something was missing.

This installment follows the budding relationship between Megan and Elliot. I thoroughly enjoyed the slow-burning romance that developed between them as past miscommunications and events become understood. The charm of this series is discovering how two seemingly incompatible people ultimately bring out the best in each other. Over the course of the story, a friendship is forged through a willingness to be open and trusting, which gradually forms into a passionate, yet incredibly adorable romance.

Thayne's characterizations are remarkably realistic and create a world that I highly anticipate returning to. Again, the children featured in the story, are written with just as much care and consideration as the adult characters, which continues to bring an inspiring and endearing quality to an already heartwarming book.

The unsolved case was unexpected and brought in an added layer of mystery and intrigue, as was discovering that Elliot was a true crime author! I'm a huge fan of that genre and found myself wanting to learn more about his books. I also couldn't help thinking that it would be awesome if the author wrote those books herself, but published them as though he was the writer, taking fan fiction to a whole new level!

I cannot stress enough how graceful and effortless Thayne's writing style truly is. Each story crafts a solid picture of everyday people encouraging others to make a difference in the world around them. As Elliot reflects: "No matter what sort of muck he waded through, he had figured out early in his career at the FBI that he could keep that ugliness from touching the core of him with thoughts of Haven Point and the people he loved who called this place home." Regardless of the negativity circling close by, these books are wonderful escapes that provide powerful images reminding us to seek out goodness and light.

One of my very favorite things about RaeAnne Thayne's books is the sense of community in Haven Point so how would I like a book that doesn't spend much time there? Turns out - quite a bit! I do love a good road trip romance. I don't think there's any better way to get to know anyone than in a road trip situation.

I like that Elliot and Megan have a history. It isn't the usual second chance kind or even the friends forever turned more kind of relationship. I liked the complexity that that history added to the story as well as how their preconceptions (mostly Megan's) changed as they got to know each other better. They're both complicated people but aren't prickly and there is a lot going on below the surface.

I loved the way the relationship developed even when it had its setbacks. The setbacks didn't feel contrived and I could definitely see both sides of the argument. I really enjoyed the way Thayne wrapped everything up. My only complaint is that the next book isn't Luke's! This was a lovely sweet slow burn romance with enjoyable characters. Can't wait to read more by Thayne!

This is my first book by this author. I had just come off of a couple back to back heavy books and wanted something lighter to perk me back up. The descriptions of the cottage setting made me remember many summers when I was young where we would rent cabins during the summer. There is nothing quite like waking up on an early summer morning in a cabin by a lake. But I digress! Megan and Elliot - along with their romance - felt realistically paced. I’m sure the author’s steadfast fans will enjoy this installment!

In RaeAnne Thayne's The Cottages of Silver Beach, the 8th installment in the Haven Point contemporary romance series, this sweet love story would enchant you with a heart-warming plot line. For Megan Hamilton, she had been the innkeeper of her family's inn in Haven Point, Idaho, and had put her dreams on hold twice. First she had to help take care of her grandmother before she had died, and then with her sister-in-law's disappearance seven years ago, she gave her brother a lending hand. She had lost a lot in her life and had given up a lot too, especially when her boyfriend Wyatt died a few years ago. Then Elliott Bailey re-entered her life and rented one of her cottages for some down time. As a FBI agent and true crime writer, he had nursed an injured shoulder and needed quiet. But for Megan, her brother Luke had been under a cloud of suspicion for her sister-in-law's disappearance for seven years and lived a hard life. When she caught Elliott digging into the case, she became suspicious and later got to know him better. Later, they took a road trip to Denver for her first photo exhibit at a gallery, when they got to know each other better and the chemistry was red-hot as a burning flame. The closer they get to the truth of what happened, the more they question their feelings for each other and a possible future of new beginnings of second chances.

I always know I’m in for a well-written, enjoyable, romantic read when I reach for the latest RaeAnne Thayne book. She is a must-read author for me. I love her talent for creating homey, small-town communities populated with endearing and lovable characters. The Cottages on Silver Beach features Elliot Bailey and Megan Hamilton who are thrown together after years of not seeing each other. Sparks fly as Elliot involves himself in a mystery surrounding Megan’s brother Luke. This book is a delectable combination of intrigue and romance sure to delight those who enjoy clean and wholesome stories. It is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Characters from previous books in the series make appearances in this one, which adds to the fun and enjoyment.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher/author/NetGalley. I was not required to post a review. All opinions are my own.

RaeAnne Thayne and the Haven Point series is a series to start at the beginning, but as with all romance series you can hope in and out of this one. There have been books in this series that I completely joined and ones that were just so so. I loved this one!

Megan Hamilton owns a small inn in town that has recently overcome a fire and is back up and running. Elliott Bailey who is from a prominent family in town has returned and Megan is not quite excited for him to return, but of course if you are a romance reader you know that this will only fuel the flame!

I can't completely pinpoint what exactly it is about this book that I completely adored, but I just did. I think it could have been the characters. Megan was just a joy to read about and it was easy to root for her and hope for her journey to end on a positive note. I also liked reading about Elliott Bailey. I am married a detective, former police officer and I always like reading a book with a LEO at the center and watching their brains work on the job and off the job!

Again, this is a series that you can dip in and out of, but the control freak in me likes to start at the beginning and read it in order!

The eighth book in the Haven’s point series delights like all of the others. Megan is reunited with Elliot when he rents one of the cabins she owns to recover from a work related injury and to work on his book. Megan once dated Elliot’s brother before he passed away and is good friends with his sisters but she never felt as if he liked having her around. While he is trying to help find out what happened to her sister-in-law , who disappeared years ago , Elliot realizes that he is falling for Megan. The Cottages of Silver Beach has a wonderful mix of mystery and romance.
Thank you Netgalley & HQN Books for the ARC of this book.

Great story! This is the 8th book in the Haven Point series. I've read most of them, they're very good. I really like the "returning back home" romances and this one was enjoyable. I would recommend.

My first thought with this book was that it was kind of a departure for Ms. Thayne. One of the main characters, Elliott, is an FBI agent. What? Wait a minute! Okay, here we go...we've got attraction between Elliott and the woman running the inn. Elliott and Megan (kind-of, sort-of) have a past together. No romantic relationship, but a past none the less. And there is definite attraction, no matter how much Megan wants to deny it. Now we're back in normal territory for a RaeAnne Thayne book. Then...she throws in the mystery of Megan's missing sister-in-law and did Megan's brother kill his wife??? Another curve.
If you're getting my drift here, it appears that Ms. Thayne is throwing in some suspense with her awesome romance story. The romance was pretty slow to develop, but the characters definitely had issues with each other, so that was totally understandable. The book was awesome as are all of Ms. Thayne's, and if you like more to your books that just romance...this will be a terrific pick for you! She did a great job of mixing the romance and mystery!

Megan Hamilton never really liked Elliot Bailey but she always got along well with the rest of his family. She is not at all happy to find out that he has returned to Haven Point for awhile and has rented one of her cottages on Silver Beach; in fact, she's ready to refund his money and send him away!

Elliot has been forced to take time off from his job as a FBI agent so he can use the time to write his next novel and investigate a cold case right here in Haven Point. The answers he finds are not going to please everyone, but Megan truly wants closure for her brother's sake, and is willing to work closely with Elliott.

I was drawn into the story and found it hard to put down and the mystery has an unusual ending.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

This is the eighth book in the Haven Point series, I’ve only read the last few, Serenity Harbor and Sugar Pine Trail. While they’re all set in the same world and you do get to briefly revisit characters from previous installments it’s definitely not necessary to read them in order, they stand just fine on their own. I always regret not starting at the first book though because these books are a true delight.

This book focuses on Megan and Elliot, she owns the local inn and he’s an FBI agent back in his hometown for a few weeks and staying at the inn. Megan’s sister in law vanished several years ago and her brother was close friends with Elliot and had suspicions that he was involved, so these two have a contentious history. I really liked the added bonus of an unsolved, light mystery to go along with a tender romance, it was something new and definitely helped maintain my interest.

As usual the characterization was great, when you finish a Thayne book you always feel like you have a solid sense of who these fictional people are and what they stand for. As much as I enjoyed the main characters the kids stole the show, (Megan has a niece and a nephew) they were adorable and brought some fun to the plot.

These books are the type you should pick up when you want to escape the world and shut out all the negativity. They’re light, funny and easy and they’re set in a idyllic little town that’s simple to imagine.

The Cottages on Silver Beach in three words: Comforting, Warm and Sweet.

The Cottages on Silver Beach is the latest addition to the Haven Point series and truly one of my favorites of the series. There is a little mystery mixed in with the wonderful slow building romance between Elliot and Megan. Family issues and past hurts make their relationship improbable but sometimes the heart just wants what it wants and you have to take a chance. This could be the only chance Elliot and Megan have to put the past to rest and find their future together. A future they both desperately want.

I highly recommend this one.

Although this book is number eight in a series, it worked very well as a standalone novel for me. I really did not feel as if I was missing any information or any backstory on any of the characters. This book also works as a great book for summer reading! This book is a romance but it also has a mystery in it as well!

Not only does Megan Hamilton own the Cottages on Silver beach but she also lives in one of them as well. Living on the premises is helpful when crisis arises or there is a staff shortage. Plus, it gives her lots of opportunity to engage in her passion -photography. One evening she is relaxing on her porch with her dog Curly, when a car pulls up and out walks Elliott Bailey. She knew he was renting one of her cottages but didn't know he would be staying in the cottage next to hers. Megan and Elliot are not strangers to each other. Megan dated his younger brother and Elliott used to be best friends with her brother. Megan is not too happy to see Elliot and yet she is drawn to his smoldering good looks and attitude.

Elliot Bailey is an FBI agent and Author who has come back into town to finish working on his book, recuperate from an injury, and attend a family event. Plus, Elliot has been secretly harboring feelings for Megan for years. He tried to avoid her when she was dating his younger brother then when his friendship with her brother went south, he accepted that he and Megan would never be a couple. He had no idea that being so close to Megan would be so difficult yet intoxicating. Being near her brings his feelings for her to the surface, plus it reminds him of his lost friendship with her brother.

While both get to know each other again, we also get to know the other characters in the book as well. There is a lot more going on in the book, but I believe Curly the pug stole the show! This was a light romance with characters dealing with real life issues. I say light because this book is not steamy, nor does it have any sex scenes. I enjoyed how the two main characters got to know each other again and worked through their "issues". With romance books, it's a no-brainer that the two main characters are going to get together, but it is the journey on how they get there. I enjoyed these two characters journey and what I enjoyed most of all was that this book did not feel rushed. My biggest complaint about romance books is the rushed endings - where the characters tip toe around each other, have angst, misunderstandings, etc.,. the entire book to suddenly declare their love and have a rushed wedding all in three paragraphs (I'm exaggerating a little here - but I hate rushed endings). This book had a natural flow to it and never felt rushed or slow. I really enjoyed this book and thought this makes a perfect beach read. It was also a nice change to read something light yet enjoyable in between all the psychological thrillers I love to read!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

RaeAnne Thayne stories are my one go-to books that I re-read and that I buy immediately. They are heartwarming and just make a reader feel good. This is the continuation of the Haven Point series but it's important to point out that you do not need to read the previous books to enjoy each individual story.

This was such a interesting contemporary read. One thing I wasn't expecting was that mystery element in finding out the truth behind Megan's brothers wife's disappearance. It was a bit tough seeing what she was going through seeing how others were treating her brother differently as if he had something wrong. It was interesting seeing Elliot's point on what happened and how he was trying to help out and get to the truth of what happened. I loved seeing the connection between Megan and Elliot and if you love a good book with a bit of romance that is clean then you'll appreciate this book for that because I know I do. I loved that there was a bit of conflict to keep things interesting and a bit of romance to keep things going and the bit of mystery to keep the readers wanting to know what really happened? Overall a pretty enjoyable read, I really liked it.

With the the scent of pine and spruce and the picture of lake and mountains in my imagination as I read the first chapters of The Cottages on Silver Beach, I was hooked into another small town contemporary romance. I'd enjoyed the previous couple of books in the Haven Point series and so it was with anticipation I read into this story.

I liked very much Elliot Bailey the wounded FBI hero, who has carried all the expectations on his shoulders of being the eldest in the family, someone who doesn't want to disappoint his family and maybe reveal that his halo has slipped... or has it. I loved his values and totally agreed with him on many points, but none more on an important decision he took and his reasons why. He is as well as being a FBI agent - a crime writer and I really enjoyed seeing him embarrassed by the fan base he has engendered.

Megan the heroine is a talented photographer who also manages the family Inn. She has a difficult family background and many times doubts herself too often. When she is placed in close proximity to Elliot a long time attraction has time to develop between them. Mostly its a good one, with some great personal sharing, yet when the chips are down some disappointing miscommunications happen. I so hate that, but have to be honest and say in real life it happens so I can't be too hard on my bookish characters!

A mystery of what happened to Megan's brother Luke's wife threads its way through the book, she has been gone for many years. Luke has many a time been blamed for her murder, but what really happened. Well guess who can't keep out of that one. Elliot makes it his business to pursue it.

The final chapter had me looking forward in great anticipation to Luke's story and how that is going to pan out. So just lets say I am hooked into making that an auto read in my reading future! That's quite a turn around for me as some of this present book is set in Hope's Crossing and well... I just did not connect with the first book in that series and ditched the whole series. I just may have made a mistake!

I liked this story with Elliot and Megan finally getting their chance for love. Megan rents him a cottage because she need the business but she's not happy he's coming back and stirring up so many unhappy memories. Elliot needs a place to heal from a gun shot wound and think about his career with the FBI. I think I found Megan's brother's story a little more interesting than Megans is the reason I didn't love this story. This is book 8 in the Haven Point series and RaeAnne Thayne has delivered another good romance for the Bailey family. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved stepping into RaeAnne Thayne's world. This is currently the eighth book in the Haven Point series. If you are familiar with the series, or the Hope's Crossing series, readers will find many of the characters from previous novels. If you aren't familiar with either series, it's absolutely fine, this can be read as a standalone.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel, is the close community that exists in the small town of Haven Point. The families all know each other and are friendly and helpful. The scenery sounds idyllic and it makes for a cozy romance.
In The Cottages on Silver Beach, you meet Megan Hamilton and Elliot Bailey. Megan owns the Inn in Haven Point and Elliot Bailey is an FBI agent and true crime author. The two have a complicated history. Megan feels like, FBI agent Elliot is tight laced and rigid, keeping his emotions and feelings tightly guarded. Elliot, secretly has had feelings for Megan for years. Elliot had also once heard Megan and her friends refer to him as "Mr. Roboto" , which had stung Elliot. Megan noted that Elliot always seemed closed off and stand off-ish towards her, and assumed that he thought she wasn't good enough. All of this leads to the two denying their true feelings for each other.
Until Elliot rents the cabin next door to Megan. Elliot plans to attend his sister's wedding reception, work on his latest true crime novel, and get some rest after a possible career ending incident with the FBI, which left him injured. While there, Elliot decides to take a look at a seven year old case that involves Megan's brother, Luke and his missing wife.
While Megan doesn't appreciate Elliot's snooping into the case that's taken her brother and his children several years to recover from, she's hoping that Elliot can finally prove Luke's innocence in the case. Megan and Elliot soon discover that their feelings are undeniable. No matter how much Megan wants to push Elliot away - she can't get over how wrong she was about him. Elliot is caring and thoughtful and everything she wants in a man, but she's not sure how Elliot fits into her future plans, or even if he wants to be in her future.
To avoid any major spoilers I'll leave it there. This book had a lot of heart and made small town life sound idyllic, filled with starry nights and long walks. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves small town romance and a touch of mystery. Looking forward to reading more about Luke and Elizabeth's story!

I reviewed another of Thayne’s Haven Point novels, Sugar Pine Trail, last fall, and really enjoyed the way she mixed a cozy small town environment with equal parts of romance and light suspense, so when I was offered the opportunity to review The Cottages on Silver Beach this spring, I was delighted to accept.

In this novel, we see Haven Point during a shoulder season – it’s not the height of summer or winter, when most tourists visit – and we are introduced to inn owner and fine art photographer Megan and her dog Cyrus. Megan has lived at the inn since childhood, and run it for most of her adult life, and it’s not just a job to her, it’s truly her home. In fact, she lives in one of the eponymous rental cottages that are part of the inn.

We also meet Elliot, FBI agent and popular crime writer, as well as the childhood best friend of Megan’s brother. He’s in town for a family wedding, and rents the cottage next door to Megan’s.

The romance that follows is very much the story of two adults who are attracted to each other, but have baggage they need to deal with before they can act on that attraction. It’s alternately sweet and frustrating, which is proof that author Thayne writes believable, dimensional characters: sometimes you’re rooting for them, sometimes you want to shake them so they come to their senses, and most of the time, it’s a combination of both.

I also like the way Thayne’s created setting of Haven Point feels like a real town. It’s just cute enough to be a tourist destination, but neither the town nor its citizens are without flaws, and that lends to the feeling that this is a place you could visit, if you just knew where to turn.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book, neither to sappy nor too suspenseful, but a perfect balance of both, making it the perfect summer escape.