After their mother dies of an overdose and they spend a year in separate foster homes, sisters Daisy and Bea Davenport are adopted by their young aunt Stella and raised in the beautiful Northern California coastal town of Cape Sanctuary. The experience is so positive that Stella dedicates her life to fostering more children, a charitable organization to help foster families make the experience a positive one, and teaching at the local middle school. Now that her nieces are grown women living independent lives, Stella decides to fulfill some of the dreams she sacrificed years before. When she runs into the college sweetheart she left behind, she is given a second chance at love she’d never expected.

Bea, an artist who got pregnant by one of the foster kids (now a major rock star named Cruz) had a rocky marriage that ended in divorce years before. Now she’s eager to pursue a romance with her long-time friend, former NFL player and local football coach Shane, but, just as she’s about to act on her feelings, Cruz, who was attacked and injured by the jealous husband of a fan, shows up to convalesce and try to convince her to give him another shot. Should she try again for the sake of their daughter or hope for a future with Shane?

On the surface, Daisy seems to be the polar opposite of Bea, a repressed, sensible accountant who is averse to risk-taking…until she meets Gabe, a documentary filmmaker who pushes her to open up and question the way she’s been living her life. She is also carrying a secret that, if revealed, might make her carefully-constructed world fall apart. Why is she trying so hard to repress the carefree, creative parts of her personality?

Thayne, author of the Haven Point series, has written a complex, emotionally-satisfying standalone romance (three in one, actually) that has more than the typical plot points to happily-ever-after. There is the love between the three female protagonists, Stella’s admirable dedication to improving the foster care system, multiple points of view that help develop the main characters, and a couple of mysteries to be revealed. Give this to fans of Sarah Morgan and Susan Wiggs. Highly recommended.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Harlequin Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Oh, my. What a wonderful book. I have to say this is not my usual type of book, but I can't say enough about how great a story it is. Meet Stella, Daisy and Bea, an aunt who gives up the love of her life to raise her two nieces after their mother (her sister) dies form an overdose. Stella doesn't know that this has happened but as soon as she does she is there for both Daisy and Bea. While these girls are young, they have seen more of the seedier side of life than any young child should have to. Daisy is the oldest and is more of a mother to Bea than their own mom. After their mother's death they are put in foster care and separated. Bea lands with a good family, but Daisy does not. This affects Daisy more than anyone realizes because of what she went though. As adults they are both pretty well adjusted, but there are things from when they were younger that have made them into what they are. Bea is more flighty, Daisy too serious and closed in and Stella, well, she has always wanted a child of her own. There of course is a love element for all three ladies. Keep the names of Ed, Shane, Cruz and Gabe in mind while you are reading this story. Yes, there are only three women and four men mentioned, but they are all intertwined from the past to the present. Oh, also, remember the name Margurite. She plays an important role for Daisy. How will it work out? The only way to find out is to read this story..

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc for an honest opinion of this book.

THE CLIFF HOUSE by RaeAnne Thayne has everything: Second chance at love, friends to lovers, a new romance, family and a little French bulldog who will steal your heart. While reading, I found myself experiencing a whole range of emotions: Interest, confusion, frustration, happiness, heartbreak, gladness, sadness. You name it. From smiles to tears and back to smiles.

Daisy and Bea were teenagers when their mother died of a drug overdose. The time they spent separated in foster care left them with problems that their aunt Stella, who was barely 10 years older than the girls, had to help them deal with. The story picks up 20 years later with Stella continuing to open her home to foster children. Bea is a vibrant, successful artist with a daughter and a famous rock star for an ex-husband. Daisy is an accountant who is very private and seemingly lacks emotion. Several men are around to complicate their lives: An ex-husband and a man who saved his life, a handsome athlete and high school coach that they’ve all known since high school, and the town’s new doctor. They eventually sort it all out into three fascinating romances.

The strength of this novel is in the three main female characters, none of which is stronger or more important than the others. Their well-written stories are woven together seamlessly. While it is predictable that HEAs will be involved, it is not predictable how and when they will get there.

I have read many books by RaeAnne Thayne, and I have always come to expect an expertly told story that assumes the intelligence of the reader. I have also come to expect a wonderful romance without having to resort to numerous sex-scenes. THE CLIFF HOUSE does not disappoint on either front. It earns five stars from me.

I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions.

I am a RaeAnne Thayne fan, but I am even more of a fan of her stand alone books. With a little less romance and more plot and characters, her stand alone books are just top notch.

At a young age two sisters - Daisy and Beatriz, lost their mom to drug use and after a stint in foster homes their young aunt took them in and raised them. Through bringing them in she made some major life choices and did a lot to put them first. Now as adults they are all living around each other and this book takes a snapshot of a few moments in their current life and at the same time tells the story of how these three women ended up where they are now.

I loved each and every woman in this book for the character that they were. It was so easy to see how the past shaped them into the women they were and the bond between them. I really enjoyed reading about the big cast of characters that surrounded the women and even though the cast was big, it was so easy to keep everyone straight. There were a few eye roll moments that reminded me I was reading fiction, but they in no way took away from the bigger story.

I know this is a stand alone and that is a part of why I love it, but I wouldn't mind a sequel that took place a few years after the conclusion of this book and took another snapshot into these women's lives and where they are then.

RaeAnne Thayne has given us another sweet romance with complex characters and real life struggles. This is a story of second chances, and finding one's self as well as finding that true love.

The Cliff House is a novel containing three gripping love stories and the relationship between two sisters, and their aunt who had taken them in and raised them as if they were her own.

The Cliff House is a wonderful standalone novel by RaeAnne Thayne. I've been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne's series for years, but this is the first stand-alone novel of hers I've read.

The Cliff House follows the ladies of the Davenport family, Bea, Daisy and their Aunt Stella. They are a family with secrets, yet still very close. Things are about to change for them though.

It was fun to follow the family on their journey, I laughed and I also cried at their troubles. I enjoyed the different viewpoints that were used to tell the story.

I received a copy of the book from Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheCliffHouse #NetGalley

I love RaeAnne Thayne. I think she is a wonderful and descriptive writer. I just prefer her romance title. This one is for sure Women's Fiction, and just didn't hold my attention.

A beautiful heart warming story. Captures your heart with the totally believable characters. Can’t wait to read another book by this author.

Title: The Cliff House
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

After the death of their mother, Daisy and Beatriz were raised by their aunt Stella, barely 10 years older than Daisy. Stella gave up all her dreams to raise the girls, but now she’s hoping for a chance to realize her deepest dream—and maybe get a chance to correct a mistake she made long ago.

Bea made a happy life for herself after her marriage ended. Her beautiful daughter keeps her on her toes, and her art keeps her fulfilled. She’s even wondering if there’s something more between her and her best friend when her ex-husband shows back up, eager for reconciliation. It would make their daughter happy, but what about Bea?

Daisy works hard, gets thing done, and never, ever takes risks. That’s the way to get hurt, and Daisy has had quite enough of that, thank you. Until she meets a handsome stranger who makes her question everything she thought was true.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cliff House. The characters are so distinct yet make such a perfect family. I could relate to all of them and their struggles—poor Stella—and I wanted them to find happiness. An enjoyable read!

RaeAnne Thayne was a journalist before she started writing fiction. The Cliff House is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Rating 4.5 stars!

When I heard this book was available for review - The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne - from Little Bird Publicity, I was all over it! I have read a couple of her over 60 books in the past, and I have never been disappointed, so I was very excited to get my hands on this book.  While there was an electronic copy of the book available on NetGalley, I really wanted to get my hands on a print copy since they've always been my favorite to read.

Now that I'm home recovering from a recent hospitalization, it was awesome to sit down and read this book cover to cover in one sitting.  It was so refreshing to read an entire story all at once - I need to do this more often!

The Cliff House is a story of three women and their emotional journey with themselves and one another. There's Stella, who walked away from the man she loved to raise her nieces, Beatriz and Daisy who had become orphaned because of their mother's overdose.  Before Stella took them in, both girls were changed forever by the foster care system.  Maybe somehow, though, some of those scars will heal as each of these women finds love and acceptance. 

The story picks up 20 years later with Stella continuing to open her home to foster children. She has a great job as a teacher, she's always wanted more. She has a secret and it's a big one - she finds herself pregnant at the age of forty from a sperm donor and IVF. 

The nieces - there's Beatriz (Bea) Romero, who became a young wife and mother to Mari, but is divorced after a rocky marriage even though she has a bit of a wild side.  Her rock star ex-husband is back and wants to reunite with her, but she has her heart set on someone else.  And then Daisy Davenport McClure... she's an accountant who follows the rules and keeps her heart guarded. When Daisy happens to meet a man by chance, she realizes that maybe taking a small risk or two might be a good thing.

The strength of The Cliff House is definitely in the main three female characters.  While none is stronger or more important than the others their stories are well written and woven together effortlessly.  The Cliff House was an addictive read with plenty of story packed into it all at once.  Readers will be very satisfied by the ending of this heartwarming story.

I was provided with a complimentary advanced reader copy from Little Bird Publicity in exchange for my post.  I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was fantastic! Thank you!

RaeAnne Thayne is a newer to me author. I have only just started reading her books this year but so far I have loved them! She is such a strong and seasoned writer and that experience shows in her stories.

When this one came up for review, I was on board not only because I have enjoyed her books, but I was also looking for something a little lighter to break things up.

Lately I have been reading a lot of thrillers and more heavy duty novels, and not that she writes fluff (far from it) but there is something so satisfying about a book with a happy ending!

Summary

Three women—two sisters and their aunt—and the cliff house on the northern California coast that served as a beacon to them all…

After the death of their mother, sisters Daisy and Beatriz Davenport found a home with their aunt Stella in the beautiful and welcoming town of Cape Sanctuary. They never knew all the dreams that Stella sacrificed to ensure they had everything they’d ever need. Now, with Daisy and Bea grown, it’s time for Stella to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from them—a secret that will change their family forever.

Bea thought she’d sown all her wild oats when she got pregnant far too young. The marriage that followed was rocky and not destined to last, but it gave Bea her wonderful, mature, now eleven-year-old daughter, Marisol. But just as she’s beginning to pursue a new love with an old friend, Bea’s ex-husband resurfaces and turns their lives completely upside down.

Then there’s Daisy—sensible, rational, financially prudent Daisy. She’s never taken a risk in her life—until she meets a man who makes her question everything she thought she knew about life, love and the power of taking chances.

In this heartwarming story, Stella, Bea and Daisy will discover that the path to true happiness is filled with twists and turns, but love always leads them back home (summary from Goodreads).

Review

While this book was a little heavier than I might have liked, that didn’t stop me from enjoying it to its fullest and I was thrilled with the way the book ended—-no spoilers just know that even if this book is a little emotional at times, it was worth the read!

I loved how the story of three women and their journeys were realized. As a younger reader (late teens and early twenties) I often by passed women’s fiction or books like this, mostly because I didn’t feel like I could relate to the characters. Now as an adult in my late thirties, I can totally relate to many of these characters and their journey’s and can appreciate it more than I ever could as a younger woman.

What I loved about this book was not just the journey for each of the characters but the theme of love in this book. Not just romantic love, but the power of love in general whether it be romantic love, familial love, or self love. I felt encouraged and happy about this book even if at times my heart broke for some of the characters.

This was a lovely book and one that I really enjoyed the more that I read it. It would be a perfect beach/vacation read or just something to read on a lazy summer day. Thayne is a fabulous writer and you can’t go wrong with any of her novels!

Book Info and Rating

Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Expected publication: March 26th 2019 by HQN Books
ASIN B07CS6BDRS
Free review copy provided by publisher, HQN Books and Little Bird Publicity, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: women’s fiction

I had kind of an interesting reaction to The Cliff House. First of all, RaeAnne Thayne is an author I usually enjoy, so I was expecting to be charmed by this story. And it is, like yesterday’s book, very charming.

In some ways, the story reminded me more than a bit of several of Susan Mallery’s standalone books. Just as in her recent California Girls, and particularly in her Daughters of the Bride, The Cliff House is the story of three closely related women. In today’s story, those women are sisters Daisy and Bea, and their aunt, Stella, who raised them after the death of their mother, Stella’s older sister Jewel.

In The Cliff House, each of the Davenport women finds love, fulfillment, and a closer relationship with the other two. But the road to getting there is rocky in many, many ways.

On the romantic front, those romances are very different. The man who Stella left behind in order to get custody of her nieces returns to her life with a pre-teen daughter in tow. His advent in Cape Sanctuary occurs just as Stella discovers that the “turkey baster” did the trick. She’s 40 and has just that moment learned that she is pregnant by artificial insemination with a baby she plans to raise on her own.

Bea finally figures out that she is in love with the man who has been her best friend since 5th grade. Her timing, however, is equally off, as her great revelation occurs just when her rock star ex-husband comes back to town. And while Bea is certain she is no longer in love with the man, he’s putting on a full-court press to get her back – and she can’t help but wonder if getting back together with the father of her pre-teen daughter might not be the best thing for Marisol – if not for herself.

Last but not least, practical, sensible Daisy makes the mistake of falling for both a man and a dog whose presence in Cape Sanctuary is only ever going to be temporary. Daisy learned the lesson a long time ago not to ever depend on anyone because they might be taken away. It’s what’s happened to her before, with disastrous consequences. Why risk her heart when she is certain that it will all happen again?

And the heartbreak certain does come, but not in the way that any of them had imagined. And not in any way that can’t be gotten past if not over, but only if they each learn to rely on the people around them – and on each other.

Escape Rating B: As I said, I had an interesting reaction to this story. The town of Cape Sanctuary is a lovely place, and we get more than a glimpse of what draws people to the little town on the California coast.

The events of the story are wrapped around Cape Sanctuary’s annual Hearts and Arts Festival. The Festival benefits the non-profit association that Stella founded to raise awareness of the difficulties of finding Foster Parents and to provide financial support for some of the people willing to take on that necessary work.

Stella started the Foundation after raising not just her nieces, but after opening her home and her heart to other children in need of fostering. It’s a worthy cause and seems to be a terrific event.

All of the romantic and relationship entanglements are intertwined with the planning for the event and the execution of it, giving readers a chance to see the town work and see this family of women work so well together.

I really liked Daisy’s story and her romance with an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Who also happens to be the man who saved her ex-brother-in-law’s life after a knife attack by the jealous husband of one of his many, many groupies. But Daisy’s life is firmly tied to Cape Sanctuary and Gabe’s life and work are always on the road.

Daisy’s story was interesting to me in part because Daisy had so many interesting secrets that she kept so close. And keeping those secrets kept her from opening herself up, not just to romantic love but also to the love of her sister and her aunt. Daisy is the person who does the most growing as part of her arc of the story.

Daisy’s story was also the only one of the three that did not somehow revolve around motherhood. As someone who is childless by very definite choice, both Stella’s desire to become a mother at any cost and Bea’s unwillingness to tell her cheating ex to go fly a kite because it might be better for their daughter if they got back together didn’t work for me – although I fully recognize that most readers will have more understanding of Stella’s situation than I did.

Bea’s story drove me a bit batty, because her daughter would not be better off watching her father disrespect her mother by cheating on her over and over (and over) again. When they split she might have been too young for it to really register, but at 11 she’s more than old enough to understand, if not infidelity, at least that her father made her mother miserable and would be doing it again.

So, of the three romances, Daisy’s worked really well for me (and the secret she was keeping from everyone was absolutely delicious!). I recognize that Stella’s plight was well-written but just wasn’t my cuppa, and that I wanted Bea to get hit by a clue-by-four.

It is a lovely, well-written story, and one or more of the romances, as well as the deep, abiding love between the three women, is bound to appeal to lots of readers. Hopefully you!

I have read and enjoyed a few RaeAnne Thayne books and was eager to dive into The Cliff House when I heard there was a new standalone for me to jump into. Although I have given this one a three-star rating, know I had a big debate with this one. A part of me wanted to round my three-point-five-star rating up, and I almost did, but the part of me that compared it to my other RaeAnne Thayne reads had me rounding down.

I did have a lot of fun with this one – as always, RaeAnne Thayne sucked me in deep and I was happy to devour the book in a single sitting – but it is not my favourite read from the author. It dealt with plenty of topics, it had some great characters, but I feel as though some of the things were never dealt with as deeply as they could have been. In some ways, I believe I would have enjoyed this one more as three individual books, allowing us to go even deeper into each of the characters stories.

As it was, The Cliff House was an addictive read with plenty packed into it. We have wonderful characters and individual stories that tie together so well. We get to see so much throughout, experience many facets of life, and everything that happens leaves you unable to put the book down. It’s a story that dealt with a lot more than I expected, one that packs a punch on many fronts.

If you’re a fan of any RaeAnne Thayne series, I certainly recommend giving this standalone a read.

A heartfelt story rich with family connections, community appeal and happily ever afters! RaeAnne Thayne has a powerful voice that always manages to bring each small town she crafts to life in our minds. Her characters in this particular coastal town are an aunt and the grown nieces she raised all looking for that special person to share their lives with while life continues to revolve around them. The story line is full of warmth, love and a fair amount of strife before they find their ways through to the happiness they all deserve. When three couples are fighting for the limelight, I always wish we could have delved a little deeper into each one in the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of them on their way to their future lives!

Stella Davenport turned her life upside down without hesitation to take in her orphaned nieces years ago. She left behind the future she had planned out, and though she mourned for the past, she assumed she had made the right decisions at the time. Now the time has come for her to make a decision that will affect her future greatly. She had dreams she gave up, but there are still some she can make come true and she's determined to do so!

Daisy McClure was always the structured niece, and she continues to live a life barren of spontaneity even now, but she has a side of herself that she keeps hidden from even her closest family. Meeting an intriguing man might lead to the discovery she never expected, but it also leads her to see that there's a life out there she's been afraid to lead. He's a wayward soul, she's planted in structure ... can they make their worlds coincide or is it only meant to be a fleeting love?

Beatriz Romero was the wild child niece, leaving home and becoming a young mother way earlier than her aunt would have liked. Now back in town with her way too grown up daughter, she's beginning to see sides of her life that she once took for granted ... like the best friend who is starting to feel like so much more! When her ex shows up in town for an extended visit, will it put the breaks on the relationship that might have been turning into all she ever wanted?

This has been my favorite title from this author yet!! The Cliff House, while still very reminiscent of RaeAnne’s writing style was so very different than her Haven Point series. With a perfect blend of substance and fluff, her books are always a pleasure and The Cliff House definitely did not disappoint!

A great story of three women finding their way in this life and searching for true love. Interesting story line, intriguing characters. I was hooked from the beginning. A great read.

Whenever RaeAnne Thayne has a new book coming out I know that I will soon be reading a book about family dynamics, love, and finding a way in life. The Cliff House is the story of three female family members who come together under the not so best of circumstances. As they grow up they start to find their way in lives but still come back together to support each other in their times of needs.

Each woman has their own story which gets told in their own chapters. This could almost be 3 separate stories although their stories intertwine perfectly. Each woman has a story to tell, love to find, and the support of each other. They must overcome their own fears, their own hang-ups, and open their hearts again. I enjoyed getting to know these women and the men who were loving, protecting, supporting, and challenging them.

I recommend picking up your own copy ASAP. Meet the women who call Cliff House home and learn their stories.

The Cliff House is a really wonderful read - I think my favorite from this author. It abounds with love and family and care for the wider community. Stella is a middle school teacher, a "mother" to her two nieces and a beloved foster mother to many another child. But... she is only forty and she hankers for her own child.Her two nieces are now grown women, a credit to her and themselves - yet some things are not yet sorted. Bea is a great mother to Mari, born of a marriage to a rock star, that has long since ended and she is so ready to move on.   Daisy is a talented financial advisor and accountant, but a little tight and buttoned up. She carries some secrets and surprises though.

The story explores the issues of the importance of foster care, and for each of the women a second chance at becoming firstly more themselves  and secondly a relationship for each of them that promises to be very fulfilling.It was a story I just kept reading, there is an adorable dog or two, women who care about each other and men who each have their strengths and abilities to be there for the women they have come to love. A secret here and there, past mistake, some tension and loss, and some big hearted giving.This stand alone book is RaeAnne Thayne's first ever book in hardcover and it is certainly worthy of it.

Every time I open a new RaeAnne Thayne novel I put a box of tissues beside me because I know she is going hit me right in the feels. THE CLIFF HOUSE was no exception. The story follows three women, two sisters (Daisy and Beatriz) and their aunt (Stella) who saved them from foster care and raised them.

I'm not sure how Ms. Thayne strikes the perfect balance of family drama, multiple romances, and personal discovery. She packs so much story into a relatively short amount of pages, and I am in awe. I fell in love with the small coastal town she created and the intricate, yet delicate dramas she weaved.

If you were a fan of Sarah Morgan's THE CHRISTMAS SISTERS, you're going to like this book. The camaraderie, the family tensions, the found family, it's similar while still feeling fresh and new. All three women had secrets and watching them learn to trust and love in their own ways was beautiful and had me reaching for those tissues more than once.

The only thing that kept this book from being a full five stars was the number of times I wanted to smack a few of the characters. I appreciated it at the beginning of the story, but I was frustrated by the end when the same problems kept cropping up, especially with Daisy. I was hoping for a better payoff with her character than I got.

Overall, this was a lovely story with sweet romances and fantastic writing, everything you expect in a RaeAnne Thayne novel.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

I absolutely adored THE CLIFF HOUSE by RaeAnne Thayne and it has quickly become my favourite book from this author so far.

When Daisy and Bea's flighty mother died suddenly when they were children, they were separated and spent a year in the system before their young aunt, Stella, heard what happened and saved them. Now they are all grown women with their own lives, careers, and families in the stunning town of Cape Sanctuary but as always life has its problems. Daisy has a busy career but she doesn't trust herself to fall in love and is even hiding a huge part of herself from her sister and aunt whom she adores. Bea has a successful career as an artist and adores being a mother to her daughter. She has even started to realise that her long-term best friend may just be the man of her dreams when her charismatic ex-husband arrives back to town determined to win her back. And then there is Stella. A woman who gave up everything to raise her nieces, and who has since dedicated so much of her life to teaching and helping those in foster care who needed her. Now she is ready to do something just for her but she is unsure how her family will react. And when the man she pushed away all those years ago turns up on her doorstep, it may just change everything.

Compelling from the very beginning, THE CLIFF HOUSE by RaeAnne Thayne oozes warmth and connection and I never wanted this story to end. There is drama, secrets, romance, and heartbreak all threaded through this engaging story but it is the strength, courage, and love that these three women embody that really makes this story special. I loved all of the characters but my heart had a special place for Daisy who had built such a wall around herself to hide behind and it was great watching her trust herself again.

THE CLIFF HOUSE by RaeAnne Thayne is an exceptionally good story about sisterhood, strength, and love and I highly recommend it.