THE CLIFF HOUSE by RaeAnne Thayne has everything fans will love, with enough surprises to give you more than one book boyfriend to sigh over.

Daisy Davenport McClure and her sister Bea’s childhood had a positive outcome because of their Aunt Stella. She took them in when their mother died of a drug overdose. The trauma before and after their mother’s death affected their entire lives, even though Stella’s love softened the memories.

When Bea’s famous rocker ex-husband is attacked by a crazy fan, he descends upon Cape Sanctuary with his entourage, much to Bea’s annoyance. Oh, she’d love for Cruz to spend time with their daughter, Marisol, but can she avoid him for the month or more he plans to stay? And what about her best friend, Shane, who’s living in her guest house? Is he really just a friend?

Daisy is also overwhelmed since Cruz brought the man who saved his life to Cape Sanctuary with him. Apparently, the gorgeous man who tried to talk to her in the toothpaste aisle at the grocery needs to heal his injury. Gorgeous men don’t try to talk to plain Daisy, ever. Now he’s everywhere she looks, and he seems to know her like no one else can, or should. Will his questions make her run and hide, or will she finally confide in him?

Stella Davenport receives the best 40th birthday present, ever, and she plans to keep this news secret for a while longer – not everyone will be as excited as she is about it. They’d be happy for her, of course, but this news will cause a few ripples among those who love her and will think her insane. And then there’s that college boyfriend she hasn’t seen for twenty years that shows up on her doorstep.

I’ve been a longtime fan of RaeAnne Thayne’s romances, but she surprised me with this book. The style is different. I wasn’t sure I’d like so many point-of-views, but it became addictive. There were a few repetitive moments but not enough to bump me out of the story. I imagine trying to keep repetitiveness down to a minimum is the hardest thing to do as a writer when creating a story with so many characters.

Even though you could consider this a small-town romance, the influx of famous people all in one novel made it glitzy and a bit eccentric and a lot different from Thayne’s previous novels. There’s a rock star and his entourage, several artists, including a documentary filmmaker and photographer, as well as one artist whose real identity is secret, plus a lot of foster children that Stella cared for over the years, and several adorable animals and children to tug at your heart. A bevy of interesting, fun, heart-wrenching, and heartwarming moments await you in one delicious novel.

Those who know me well and love me anyway know that I cannot resist books with artists in them. Add in a photographer and a rock star, and I can’t believe my luck. This novel had many of my favorite themes, including a lost dog who melted my heart. Needless to say, I enjoyed this story very much.

The characters were entertaining, and there were multiple black moments to worry over before the happily-ever-afters. Yes – you read that right, there are several love stories to fret over. I noticed some inconsistencies that could be trimmed up, but I was reading an early advanced copy, so those probably have been fine-tuned before publication. I know this going in when I read an ARC, so even though they may make me bump a bit when I come across them, I don’t lower my rating for things that could easily be remedied when published. I only mention them now as they were the only things that slowed my reading. That’s rare for me.

That means this novel style worked for me and kept me interested. This is the type of book that gets better the more pages you turn. The beginning is entertaining, but with multiple characters it took a bit to keep it all straight in my head. Once I got over that hurdle, I read faster and faster the further I got. I became invested in their lives and hopeful for their future.

Of course, each character has something to overcome to get to their happily-ever-after, and I wasn’t always sure they’d figure it out. That left me unsure enough to wonder if they’d get their act together in time for a happy ending, or whether we’d be left hanging for a sequel. I’m happy to say that the end was wonderful and more than I expected. That doesn’t mean it was easy getting there and that everyone behaved in a way I expected. What would be the fun in that?

RaeAnne Thayne has surpassed her previous success by creating a novel that readers will gobble right up. It’s fun. It’s angsty. And it’s unexpected. Just what the romance doctor ordered. Fans will love it.

A Recommended Read!

Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of RomanceJunkies.com.

Okay this was not what I expected! I love Thayne's romance but they're definitely a bit on the sweeter side. I mean I always love the characters and they frequently have some pretty significant and darker issues but there's always a touch of sweetness. I guess I was expecting the same here and there's was a bit more edge than I was expecting. I mean the edge was low key and this was definitely heartwarming but I can't even quite explain it. Maybe it was a change of tone? Maybe it was a bit of tension in the relationships? Regardless, I didn't feel quite like I was reading a RaeAnne Thayne. And while I love Thayne's romances I don't mean this is in a negative way at all.



The relationship between the three women is complex. They love each other and are clearly there for each other and are very supportive but they also have secrets that run deep and don't always use their best judgement in trying to protect the other.



I really enjoyed the change of POV as each woman has quite a story to tell. I especially enjoyed the time with Daisy's character as not only did I appreciate her love of logic and order but she also had the most intriguing secrets. Bea could be a bit dense and there were times I wanted to shake her but more in a loving way than an exasperated way. She could be kind of clueless but I could understand where she was coming from so it wasn't to irritating. As well I enjoyed Stella's character evolution as she had spent so much time taking care of everyone else while never focusing on her own wants and desires. It was fun watching all the characters evolve and find their own happiness.



I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Not only are the three main characters likable and realistically flawed but the men who inhabit their lives are as well. These are characters I really liked getting to know and I was sad to see them go as I read the final page. To sum up - RaeAnne Thayne can do no wrong and I will be reading all of her books!

Stella raised Bea and Daisy when their mother- her sister- died. She's just turned 40 and she's got a secret (a good one). Her college love interest is back in town with his daughter. Daisy has a secret too (also a good one). Bea's ex-husband, a rock star, is recuperating in Sanctuary Cove from a knife attack which also seriously injured Gabe, a documentary film maker. These three women are a circle who you will enjoy. Fiercely protective of one another, they also hide things from each other. This touches on foster care but it's really multiple love stories. Oh, and there's several dogs, including Louie, a quite adorable French bulldog. You can guess where this is going but it's a HEA and a second chance romance all in one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good relaxing read.

RaeAnne Thayne's latest novel is a terrific novel of three women and their journey to find love. Bea and Daisy were taken in by their aunt, Stella, after their mother's death. But in the year before they went to live to Stella, both girls were forever changed by the foster care system. That year away from family changed the lives of all three women in fact and maybe just maybe, twenty years later some of those scars will heal as each finds love and acceptance.
While each of these women do find romance, this book is more about their emotional journey with themselves and one another, making this book fall more into the category of women's fiction that strictly romance. A wonderful read, that had me hooked from page one.

This book was written by one of my favorite authors.
The story line was good, however I felt there was too much going on with the characters. The main story was about two sister's and their aunt, however it broke into separate stories for each of them. This was distracting to me and hard to keep up.
I did give it three stars though because I really enjoyed Daisy's story and the mystery behind her. I also felt that the book had a lot of places that held my interest.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

I'm very happy I got this heart warming and entertaining book.
I loved the style of writing, the fleshed out characters and how the author develops the plot and talk about feelings and emotions.
It was a very good reading experience and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.

A story of family, sisterhood, and connection deeper than time and distance, a tale of love, hope, and trust, a journey to learn to dare to take the leap of love, jump into the unknown, and trust the soulmate will be there to catch you just when you need it.
There's a lot of living and loving in this story of three women living in a small California coastal town. Ms. Thayne tells stories that go directly to the hearts of the readers. She draws characters that are easy to connect with, to learn to love and care for, to cheer them to live their best life. I loved the message of hope that was the silver lining of the tale, how the ladies used creativity to express themselves, and how dedicated and giving they were regarding the turbulent world of foster care and parenting.
Each of the women was on the threshold of a new chapter in their lives, that included finding the soulmate. There's the second chance with the first love from college days, there's the best friend to lovers romance, and there's the practical sister falling completely and unpractically in love with a man visiting the town. Each romance is sweet, with a touch of angst and turbulence. As it often is the case, in my opinion, with simultaneous romances in one book, and multiple points of views to the tale, none of the couples gets the depth and growth, or the potential development that could have been there. Also, with Bea, her best friend and his girlfriend, and her ex, there's the third - and fourth - person drama in romance that is in general, not for me.
Yet even with these two strikes to my personal wishes or taste in the romance genre, this story had me from the first chapter, it pulled me in and brought all the feels to the surface. There were joy and cheer, passion to life and adoration of the loved ones. I sighed, I teared up, I felt the tension, I felt the loss, the sorrow, the sadness, and also the elation and delight, and most of all the hope, the wish, and trust for the fulfilling future.
An uplifting and inspiring novel that celebrates women, life, love, and family.
A true treasure to read
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

This story is about Stella, Bea and Daisy. Stella raised her nieces, Bea and Daisy from the time they were very young in Cape Sanctuary. Bea got pregnant, married and divorced and is now happy with her 11 year old daughter dating an old friend. Her ex husband is now in town upsetting the apple cart. Stella is ready to expand her life now that the girls are older and wiser. Daisy is about to discover that love can be a joy as well as a trial. Stella is raising money for her foster care organization and Bea and Daisy are offering some great ideas. This is a wonderful story about women who are strong and connected. RaeAnne Thayne is one of my favorite authors, her stories are always heartwarming and happy ever after. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A romantic story of three couples who for one reason or another are unable to say, "I love you" for fear of losing a friend, losing control, or admitting they were wrong decades ago. A take of fostering, family, and a French bulldog. Read and enjoy.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet novel about family and the love of two sisters for their aunt who raised them. Fairy tale endings for everyone.

Ms. Thayne's books always delight me. She has a knack of providing character and setting descriptions that transport you into the story. You feel a kinship with the characters and understand where they're coming from and what life has in store for them. It's a unique talent and shines in this book.

Stella adopted her nieces as soon as she discovered here sister Jewel had passed. Unfortunately, Bea and Daisy had been put in the Foster system with some disastrous results. It was a long road once Stella got custody of her nieces and there were lifelong ramifications for all of them. Stella gave up the love of her life, Daisy learned to never trust in love, and Bea looked for love in all the wrong places. This is a coming of age story for three magnificently, strong wormen set in a small tourist town in California. It should be a must read for all Rae Anne Thayne fans and a wonderful introduction to a great author if you've never read her books. I was sorry to see the story end as I hated to stop reading! This story hit it out of the ball park for me.

I was provided a free ARC eBook from the Publisher and Net Galley in exchange for my honest comments.

I don't know RaeAnne Thayne personally; if I did, I'd tell her that I want to pull a Mary Poppins and dive into the town of Cape Sanctuary and hang out with the cast of characters she created in her latest novel: The Cliff House. It's a variety of wholesome love stories -- amongst sisters, long lost first loves, best friends, and new acquaintances. The small-town vibe Thayne dreamt up reminded me of Stars Hollow, the town Amy Sherman-Palladino created for the Gilmore Girls TV show. Because readers get chunks of chapters from each of the primary adult characters, this story feels well-rounded and all the characters well-developed. The Cliff House is magnificent and shouldn't be missed!

This novel was a charming contemporary tale of life, love, and romance in a coastal setting with a strong focus on family ties, fostering, and taking risks. As always, Thayne provided a beautifully crafted novel that tugs on the heartstrings with descriptive passages and likeable characters. Elements of adversity, heartache, and stubbornness were perfectly balanced with an abundance of hope, discovery, and heartwarming healing.

A copy of this title was provided via NetGalley with thanks to Harlequin and Ms. Thayne. All thoughts expressed in this review are strictly my own opinion.

This was a very good and easy read. This has become one of my favorite authors and can't wait to read the next one.

Very heartwarming story with lots of love! In true RaeAnne fashion, the story leads to lots of self-reflection for the reader. :) There are quite a few characters in the book...if you like to hear about lots of stories at once, this book is for you!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

After the death of their mother, Beatriz (Bea) and Daisy spent some time in foster care before being raised by their Aunt Stella. Raising her two nieces at a young age, inspired Stella to go on and be a foster parent and start an organization to raise money for children and families in the foster care system.

Each woman has her own issues in this book. Stella walked away from the man she loved to raise her nieces. She has a fulfilling job as a teacher but wants more. She has a secret and it's a big one. Bea became a young wife and mother. She is divorced after a rocky marriage, but her ex-husband is back and wants to reunite. But Bea doesn't want to reunite as she has her heart set on another man. Daisy is an accountant who is guarded and likes to play by the rules. She also has a secret. But when she meets a man by chance, she realizes that maybe taking a chance or two would be good for her.

There are three romances going on in this book and I was invested in each of them. Typically, with more than one romance, I prefer one over the other but not in this book. I was rooting for all of them. I found their stories to be heartwarming and sweet. The romances and feelings felt real and believable. This was a sweet and rewarding story. Of course, it was a little predictable but the journey to get there was an enjoyable one. I was also happy that nothing in this book felt rushed. My biggest complaint with romance books is that the entire book is filled with longing, angst, witty dialogue, etc. to have the book end abruptly when the couple in question declares their love and they run off to happily ever land. Thankfully, this book, as I mentioned, did not feel rushed. Plus, there was an epilogue when made me a very happy reader.

I also enjoyed the themes in this book - family, relationships, best friends, trust, starting over, motherhood, creativity and hope. I also like how the women are dedicated to the foster care system and giving back. For me this was a feel-good book that did touch on some difficult subjects as well.

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

Great story! This novel seemed a little different than her other books but it was very enjoyable. Great heartwarming story of two sisters and their aunt. Highly recommended!

This was an excellent story with three strong women characters. I loved the way Stella was reunited with her one true love. I loved the way Beatriz stood up to her annoying egotistical first husband to find some independence and then finally giving into her growing feelings. I loved the way Daisy the shyest and most reserved finally let herself go back to her true self and found her true love. It was a great love story for three members of a family. I also enjoyed the highlight of the need for foster families and how wonderful and rewarding it can be to become a foster family. It was an extremely enjoyable read!!!!

RaeAnne Thayne's new stand-alone novel is about three women on the precipice of change. The events that transpired years earlier will determine their futures unless and until they find the courage to go after the future they desire.

When sisters Daisy and Beatriz were young girls, orphaned after their mother overdosed, they were taken in and cared for by their young aunt, Stella. Stella hadn't even graduated from college at this point. Daisy and Beatriz were 11 and 9 years old. They all grew up together while their new family unit became strong.

Beatriz became a wife and mother while still in her teens. Her marriage may not have succeeded but she now had a lovely and smart daughter as well as an ex-husband who maintained a presence in his daughter's life. Lately he seems interested in rekindling their relationship. She's been there, done that and doesn't want to move backward. She'd like to explore her feelings for her best friend since fifth grade!

As the novel opens Daisy meets a stranger in the toothpaste aisle of the grocery store and he's convinced they've met before. She's certain they haven't. She'd remember meeting him. Daisy is the serious sister and has always taken on responsibility well beyond her years. That habit has proven hard to break - much to her detriment. It's made her closed-off to expressing her emotions and that has made her life quite lackluster until her unexpected second meeting with 'the stranger'. Will she open herself up to the possibility of experiencing more in her life?

Stella receives news on her 40th birthday that, while not a surprise, will definitely be life-changing. She also finds out that the only man she ever loved has moved to her town. Their lives become entwined from day one and give her hope for what she once thought an impossibility - a second chance. 

I loved every minute I spent with the women in the gorgeous coastal setting of Cape Sanctuary, California. It's a story of learning to trust and being open to new and second chances. Recommended to fans of Women's Fiction and RaeAnne Thayne.

What a great ready by RaeAnne Thayne! I was not sure what to expect from this book, but I got so much more than I ever thought could be in one books! We not only get one, but three love stories that we get to see unfold as we follow Stella, Daisy and Bea in this lovely read. I love how RaeAnne Thayne makes you feel like you fit right in with the everyday lives of the characters. I fell in love with all the characters in their own special way.

When Stella was in her early twenties, she took custody of her nieces Daisy and Beatriz that had become orphaned because of their mother's overdose. Neither Daisy nor Bea's father wanted to have anything to do with them so they had gone to the foster system. Not only had the girls been thrown in foster care, but they had been split up. Thank goodness for their Aunt Stella that was able to take them in.

We found out that when Stella took the girls in, she gave up a relationship that she truly wanted to work, but thought that it would be better to not drag him into having to be a father figure to the girls. Stella has always wondered what could have been with their relationship. One day when Stella is expecting for someone else to be at her door, she is faced with Ed, her long lost love, at the door. What is he doing back in town? Did he know where she lived all along? There are plenty of questions running through Stella mind when she see's Ed.

Daisy Davenport McClure is the older of the girls and has always felt it her responsibility to take care of her younger sister Bea. Daisy has a secret that she has kept from her family for a while now. Will she ever be able to come clean about her big secret? Daisy is a very quiet and reserved person. When Daisy meets the man who is responsible for saving her ex-brother-in-laws life, she knows that there is something about him, but will Daisy let herself get involved with someone she doesn't really know?

Beatriz (Bea) Romero is the youngest of the sisters and has always had a wild side to her. When she was seventeen, she married Cruz Romero and ran off with him to build a life with him and accomplish their dreams. Well, Bea gets pregnant and has their daughter Mari. When things began to fall apart for her and Cruz, Bea knew what she had to do and that was be a good mom for Mari. Cruz had moved back into town for a month or so and has decided that he wants to make amends with Bea. Bea knows that this is not a good idea and the only reason she will even consider it is for Mari. In the meantime, Shane, Bea's longtime best friend is living in her pool house and he and Cruz tend to not get along all that well. What in the world is Bea going to do?

Stella finds herself pregnant at the age of forty from a sperm donor and IVF. While everything is going on with her organization, Open Hearts, will she be able to hold everything together? This is such a great story because we get to follow these three women in their journey to find love. There is a lot of self realization that goes on in this story. I thought that everything flowed really well in the story line. I enjoyed this read so so much! Thanks to RaeAnne Thayne for sure a great read. I can't wait for more form her in the near future!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy!