Stella, now 40, became guardian to her two pre-teen nieces when she was in her early twenties. Daisy, at 30, is on the surface a staid accountant with a high wall around her emotions, resulting from an unsettled childhood taking care of her younger sister Bea until her srtist mother OD'd causing the girls to be separated and sent to foster care. Beatriz, two years younger, was the 'wild child' who ran away from Stella's at 17 to marry her baby daddy, rocker Cruz Romero. Now Stella, who never married but devoted her life to teaching and fostering many children -- including Cruz -- has found herself pregnant from an IVF procedure and is on cloud nine. Daisy also has another secret, she is the real person behind a reclusive artist. Bea's settled down and is raising her 11-yr-old daughter when Cruz returns home and decides he wants to try again, only Bea doesn't want o as there's someone else in her life now.

All a bit confusing at times, but rest assured there are HEAs for all three women.. There's obviously sex going on but like the author's other books, it's not detailed.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

2.5 stars

This is the first book I've read by this author. There were a lot of characters, and I had to flip back and forth on occasion to keep some of them straight. I think I would've preferred fewer characters with more development (Daisy, in particular). The story was a bit predictable, but it was okay. Sweet but not super deep.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

I was sent invite to read right before the Holidays, read to start the new year
I have read RaeAnne before, I was excited to see her 1st hardcover

Cape Sanctuary and the Davenport girls- a special place for each of them
Three Oaks- Aunt made it a safe, supportive, safe place to grow up
Open Hearts- an organization that is important to each

3 women struggle with love and life and their decisions with both

Separate paths merge into a shared path

This is a romance novel in the best sense of the word, where the outcome is expected. However, the characters are well-drawn with real life experiences. Definitely a feel-good story.

I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this story and I did, but it felt like a group of random novella type stories with a cast of thousands put together into a novel. I would have liked more detail on a fewer number of characters. Daisy was a great character, but there wasn't nearly enough development for her!

Recognizing that I received an ARC, there were quite a few editing errors where another characters name was used instead of the character in the scene, but that sort of thing gets missed all the time and gets sent to print which can be very confusing.

You get three romances for the price of one in this book. Daisy is steady, boring, responsible and has a secret life. Beatrize is her sister and in many ways, her total opposite. When they were kids they were raised by their aunt, a recent college graduate who chose the girls over her life plans--but was the choice necessary? All three of these women are looking at changes in life; they can either reach out and grab the offered good or cling to yesterday. Which will they choose?



Like all of Thayne's books, this one does not show anything beyond passionate kissing, though there are enough out-of-wedlock children to make it clear that her characters are not chaste in the traditional sense.



Mostly the book is what you'd expect; a sweet romance without much more substance. The relationship between the women does get a little more play than in the typical romance novel; but in the end, it is a romance novel and the end is hardly a surprise.



I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade: B.

To be published 3/1/19 at 8:45 p.m.

Three related women find their lives changing and rotating in this captivating and engaging novel set on the California coast. Stella Davenport was barely in her twenties when she became guardian of her two teenage nieces. Finally, finding herself pregnant at forty, she is relishing the experience-good and bad- and simply joyous at the idea of her own child. Daisy Davenport McClure, niece number one, has an independent nature and a wall three feet thick around her emotions. Caring for her sister, Beatriz, while their mother failed repeatedly at her duties caused the wall to form and stay. Beatriz, the flighty niece, has settled down and is raising her daughter. When her ex-husband decides he wants to reconcile, Beatriz is determined to hold her ground in the “NO WAY” category. As their lives move forward, so do the challenges for Stella, Daisy and Beatriz.

Thanye has never let me down, and still hasn't. with this book. Daisy, ever practical, also has a secret she is hiding, but once it is shared - things really begin to happen. She has a sister whose daughter would like her mother to get back with her father instead of having to split her time between them. However,................this probably is not be the best course of action. Stella.a the aunt who rescued both girls from foster care when their mother could no longer care for them is a tower of strength for all of the, but while she has fostered many many children,she would like to have a baby of her own. Three women who love each other, and the people they encounter in their lives make for a very readable book.

I love that this is a stand alone book. it seems everything is a series now. I really like the story line and loved the characters. This is a story line that is being carried out in real life every day--raising children of other family members due to drugs or just bad life choices

Outstanding story about creating family in all the ways that can happen. Daisy and Bea are sisters raised by their young aunt after being orphaned when their Mother overdosed. We get the story of both of their lives and loves along with Aunt Stella, her sacrifice and love for them and now her desire to have a baby. I loved every word of this book.
Warm, sweet and touching.

I love when an author can make you forget the “real world” because you are so wrapped up in a great novel!!! RaeAnne Thayne has definitely done for me with The Cliff House!

Stella Davenport put her personal life on hold when she was younger to become the legal guardian and “mom” to her nieces, Beatrix and Daisy. Now that Bea and Daisy are grown, 40 year old Stella finds herself with new beginnings she never thought would come to fruition.

As for Bea, she’s very content raising her 11 year old daughter, but has always wanted to give her daughter the perfect family. Bea and her ex-husband were childhood friends that grew into more, but once he became mega famous as a musician, things fell apart. Divorcing her husband was for the best...right, or should she be looking in a different direction?!??

And lastly, Daisy has seemingly always been straight laced and played everything by the books. She lost her husband years ago and putting herself out there again isn’t in the cards...or so she thinks!!

I really enjoyed getting to know the Davenport family!! I feel like I flew through this novel because we got three stories in one book- loved that!! RaeAnne Thayne has a knack for writing strong and realistic women who completely ROCK!! I also found the California beach town of Cape Sanctuary so charming (I seriously wish I could visit lol). The Cliff House is a 4.5 star read that every romance novel fan needs to read!! I’m looking forward to reading more RaeAnne Thayne!!!

Stella Davenport put her own life on hold when she took in her two orphaned nieces; her dreams of marriage and motherhood seemingly over. Now the girls are adults, Daisy is cautious and determined not to make the same fatal mistakes her mother did. Beatriz dropped out of high school, had a child and got divorced, all by age twenty. Three women linked by blood and a shared history try to find a way to create a future they can all be part of. This is ultimately, a story of sacrifice and putting your own dreams on hold for those you love