Thanks to Harlequin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jess is back in Sunshine Cove for two weeks. After serving in the military and wandering the country for business, she's ready to finally come home to see her sister and face her demons. Rachel, Jess's sister, seems to have it all figured out. The perfect family is depicted on her Instagram feed, but behind closed doors, her marriage is struggling with her son's recent autism diagnosis. Nate is still grieving the loss of his father, while trying to raise his teenage daughter and help his mom move on with her life. Told in three perspectives, The Path to Sunshine Cove tells the story of a two families trying to come back together after trauma, both recent and past. It touches on issues of childhood abuse, the foster care system, and military life.

The setting in this book was absolutely idyllic. The coastline, the beaches, just everything made me want to pick up and travel to this tiny northern California town for a vacation. I also really connected to Rachel's character. She was just so real in her struggles of motherhood and as a wife. Marriages take work, especially when your child has special needs, and the constant day to day can test you. I liked how the author showed Rachel as an influencer, living one life for her followers and another in private, and all the pressures that go along with it.

While there were some redeeming qualities about the book, it was just okay for me and fell a little flat. I struggled with the amount of POV's in the book, because just as I would be able to get in the head of one character, it would switch to another, which was distracting, especially with how uneven the chapters were. The book covers about a two week time span and while a lot happens, also a lot doesn't happen. For me, the chemistry between Nate and Jess was completely surface-level and very low steam. They talked a lot about wanting to kiss each other, without actually going for it.

Also, on a side note, the ARC formatting was all over the place and very hard to follow. There were several typos in each chapter, as well as no paragraph breaks. This was completely distracting at times and made some sections of the book hard to read.

This was such a fascinating women's literature/romance novel because it has three points of view in alternating chapters. Jess is the co-owner of Transitions and travels to Cape Sanctuary to help a client get rid of clutter. Nate is the client's son, a single father and owner of a construction business. And Rachel is Jess's sister, a social media influencer struggling in her marriage after her toddler son's recent autism diagnosis.

The best romances have well written secondary characters, who help to explain the arcs and personalities of the protagonists. This books goes deeper, showing how Jess and Rachel responded to a traumatic childhood in different ways. Figuring out their relationship becomes crucial for Jess to begin to have a relationship with Nate.

This was a very sweet book about family and what love looks like.

TW: abusive relationship, murder, cancer

Thank you to Harlequin, NetGalley, and Let's Talk Books for the eARC.

There is just something about RaeAnne Thayne that makes me want to take a whole day off to read her books. The Path to Sunshine Cove is no exception!

The Path to Sunshine Cove by RaeAnne Thayne takes us to a beautiful spot in the American North West and a gorgeous spot on the coast. Here we have a house in need of decluttering, well so Eleanor the seventy year old owner declares.

Jess has a business that declutters. She arrives in her Airstream for the work to begin.  At first Nate's son is a little anti when he finds a strange Airstream parked beside his mother's house, but soon comes around. Living in Cape Sanctuary is also Jess's sister Rachel. The women were once very close but now the relationship is strained. As well Rachel's life all round seems strained - what is going on there? The two women have a past that is tough and haunts their lives still.

Nate has a thirteen year old daughter, Sophie who at the moment is rather put out by her Dad and is rather short and even at times surly with him. According to her it's his fault.

So lots of relationships that seem to be in crisis. But of course when we face into a crisis there are always two paths we can take at least. What will Rachel and Jess do about each other? Will Nate and Jess embrace their growing attraction for each other? Oh the choices!

This a sweet, gentle story that touched me the more I read and really enjoyed the way things worked out.

Jess Clayton drives around the country in her 1993 Airstream named Vera uncluttering people's lives for her company Transitions. It's too bad, she's cluttered with too many of her own issues to take any joy from her life.

In RaeAnne Thayne's new novel, THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE (Harlequin) Jess returns to Cape Santuary, where she grew up and her sister, Rachel still lives with her family. Thirteen years ago, Jess and Rachel suffered a traumatic event that pulled them apart, but both in their own way, misses the other.

Jess pulls up to the home of Eleanor Whitaker, where she's been hired to clean out her house, after her husband passed six months ago. Instead of a warm welcome, Jess is greeted by a rude man. Nate Whitaker threatens to call the police if she doesn't get off his land. Jess is former military and not in the mood to take any of his crap, when she has a job to do. Eventually, Eleanor returns home and calms everyone down, but Jess is still angry at her arrogant son, Nate.

Jess' company, Transitions helps people get rid of stuff, while remembering certain times in their lives. It's a four part process. The stuff is either kept, donated, sold or thrown away. It's an emotional time for the client and Jess protects her heart from ever getting too attached. Jess is a mix of vulnerability and bravado, but always ready to run away from her feelings. She spends quality time with Rachel, her family and all the Whitakers wiggle into her heart.

You know this is going to end well. It's a RaeAnne Thayne rom-com. But it takes some healing to get there. THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE is about how life is a journey, a continuous path. Some times are treacherous, arduous and complicated, but eventually we discover the beauty and grace. A journey is easier and more beautiful when helped along by the ones you love.

I loved THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE. I'm a real fan of RaeAnne Thayne's novels. Her characters are people you want to know. Her novels are books you just want to curl up on a comfy chair with hot chocolate and read.

RaeAnne Thayne, can be counted on for a cast of troubled characters and this book is no exception. Past problems and tragedies are reexamined and brought to some closure. Relationships are rebuilt and new attachments are formed. A hopeful read.

RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful writer and her latest was a great read! The whole time I was reading, I wished I could be in Cape Santuary. I especially loved that there were chapters from Rachel's point of view.
I have already submitted an order to get this book for our library and can't wait to recommend it to our patrons!

I have reviewed this title for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening prior to the release date.

"The Path to Sunshine Cove" by RaeAnne Thayne
HQN
March 30, 2021
10-1335916369
Contemporary Romance


Jessica Clayton's occupation is enviable; she and best friend Yvette run "Transitions," a business where they help others downsize, whether they are moving to a smaller home, a parent passes away and the heirs need to sell, or a client wants to get rid of an accumulation of many years' worth of odds and ends no longer needed. With a vintage Airstream trailer, Jess affectionately calls Vera, she travels around the country to perform her services.

When she is offered an assignment from Eleanor Whitaker to dispose of unnecessary items in Cape Sanctuary, CA, she is eager to accept. She and the 70-year-old widow who is still grieving the loss of her husband six months prior bond over phone calls and emails leaving Jess anxious to meet her in person. There is another factor too why she is excited to be in this lovely seaside community. This is where her estranged sister Rachel and her family live, and Jess hopes to mend the discord between them. They both suffered a horrendous upbringing terminating in the death of their parents when they were teenagers.

Separated in different living situations, Rachel was adopted by a loving couple whereas Jess missed her sibling terribly and felt betrayed. When she came of age, she joined the Army and the rift between her and Rachel never seemed to heal. Now, she will be in the same town, and she is hoping they can reclaim the closeness they once shared.

Awed by the dramatic Whitaker House situated at the ocean edge, Jess cannot wait to start her new job. But as she backs her trailer into an empty spot on the lawn, she is accosted by a handsome young man who happens to be Eleanor's son, Nate. By his hostile greeting, she soon learns Eleanor did not inform him of hiring her, as he displays his protectiveness to his mother.

Nate is baffled because his mom did not mention she hired someone to clean out her huge home even though Nate and his precocious 13-year-old daughter Sophie live in a smaller home on the property. He wonders if she is considering selling the place, especially seeing she is grief-stricken after losing Nate's dad.

When Eleanor returns from her errands, she tells him of her desire to dispose of all the extraneous stuff in the huge house, though she has no desire to sell.

Once settled, Jess visits Rachel and their meeting is strained. She senses Rachel is under intense pressure, but she refuses to tell Jess anything. She and her husband Cody are raising two young daughters and a son, Silas who is autistic, so Jess believes this is what is causing her sister’s stress.

"They had always been different, Rachel quieter, happy to have a good book, and somewhat comfortable to read it while Jess always wanted to go on a hike, go swimming, ride her bike around the neighborhood. Something active and away from home.

"Despite that, they had been best friends, only two years apart. Rachel had known the deepest thoughts inside her. Shared trauma should have brought them even closer together. Instead, it had ended up driving a wedge they couldn't seem to bridge."

As Jess spends more time with the Whitakers she is drawn into their happy circle. Not only does she consider Eleanor the mother she wishes she could have had, but Sophie proves to be charming and she loves spending time with her. Nate—he’s another story. Jess deemed she would never get into a relationship. After what she went through with her parents, she cannot trust relationships, yet there is something mesmerizing about Nate—and it appears his feelings match hers.

Nate is a single parent to Sophie; his wife died many years ago while serving her country, and Nate, a busy contractor never realized the need or found the right woman who would make him want to marry again. With the few dates he went on, nothing went further than that—that is until now when he finds himself falling head over heels for Jess. However, what can he do? As soon as she finishes her work at his mom's house, she will be leaving. She is adamant about stating this fact.

Meanwhile, Jess's 30th birthday is approaching, and Rachel is planning the perfect party. She is very intense wanting everything to be just so and will not accept help from Cody or anyone, which is causing tension between them. When Jess arrives for her celebration, along with Eleanor, Nate, and Sophie, chaos reigns after Silas gets into the garden hose and makes a mess. Though Cody is excited his son is showing some signs of normalcy, Rachel cannot contain her anger, and she lashes out at Jess. Can the sisters ever reclaim the closeness they once shared?

"The Path to Sunshine Cove" addresses a heartbreaking and sobering topic and the effects of the pain it causes.

Jess and Rachel were extremely close when they were young but tragic family events have resulted in them being distant. Now Jess has taken a job near her sister to spend time with her and see if they can heal the relationship. Jess has been afraid to let people close but has a hard time resisting Nate, the son of her employer. This is a story about family and healing. The book has chapters from different characters viewpoints.
You can’t help but root for the people in the story, the characters are all extremely likable. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This is maybe the third book I’ve read by this author. It has all the elements I’ve come to expect from her books. A good story, wonderful characters and perfect amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Cape Sanctuary - town I want to visit -- or live in!

Woman travels to house that has been in family for 6 generations to help clear out clutter

Change is inevitable, but still hard!

I read in 1 rainy afternoon
book had me enjoying sunshine and waves in my mind.

RaeAnne Thayne’s latest novel is a stand alone story about two sisters overcoming a horrific event that set their lives on different trajectories. When they end up in the same town Jess and Rachel are dealing with life on their own terms. Rachel is a social media influencer whose life isn’t quite as perfect as her Instagram posts would lead people to believe. Jess arrived in town to help a client declutter her large home. She didn’t expect the client’s son to make her question everything she’d done for years to protect her feelings. The Path to Sunshine Cove is a touching story of learning to rethink what’s important in life. I think fans of RaeAnne Thayne and stories about sisters will enjoy it as much as I did.

4 1/2 STARS!

RaeAnne Thayne always makes us feel like we are right there in the middle of the family! In her upcoming release THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE, she delves into the strained connection between two adult sisters who were torn apart by tragedy as teens and who are stumbling into a reconnection just when things seem to be falling down around one of their heads. There were a couple of items from the past that weren't fleshed out and addressed fully, but overall it was a phenomenal story with wonderful characters, intense storylines and so many feel good moments.

Jess and Rachel are both strong, determined women who went about finding their happiness in totally different ways. Jess feels the hurt of the past with a different bite than Rachel does, and Rachel feels like Jess's way of coping is a dig at her. Watching them work to reconnect is heartwarming.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of family drama mixed with a whole lot of heart and a side of romance or two.

The Path to Sunshine Cove offers everything I look for and expect when I read RaeAnne Thayne's books. Nate is a swoon-worthy hero, Cape Sanctuary is a gorgeous setting, and the concept of a professional organizer towing her own Airstream was really fun. As is often the case with Thayne's novels, interesting and likeable characters all pulled me in from the beginning. Jess, the heroine, is fierce and resilient yet also has a difficult past. The push-pull between Jess and Nate compelled me to keep reading, and I found all the characters' journeys enjoyable and plausible.
The secondary story arc featuring Jess's sister Rachel and her family was also well done.
This is an uplifting, satisfying read for fans of both romance and women's fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

RaeAnne's books remind me of that feeling you get while being wrapped up in a warm blanket in front of a cozy fire - even without a winter setting. They're comforting and healing. There's just something about the relationships, the family dynamics, that make these novels shine. While I didn't think Jess and Nate's romance was well paced (it happened WAY too fast), every other interaction was solid and believable. Sophie/Nate, Jess/Rachel, /Jess/Eleanor, Rachel/Cody....there is just a lot to love in this book. Her books just make you feel positive and uplifted, even when times are hard.

I love a main character with an interesting job, and Jess is one of them. Thayne thoughtfully developed Jess’s character so she’d be right enough based on her tragic past, but sensitive enough to work with others as she helps declutter and organize their homes. Besides the budding romance (which was written very well and I enjoyed seeing develop), Thayne established a terrific family relationship with Jess’s sister Rachel. I was worried Rachel would be a character I wouldn’t like, but I gave it time and by the end of the book I loved her!

This is a very good book. It is about the lives of two different sisters. How they were able to mend their love of each other and become a family again.

Another good book bu RaeAnne Thayne! This book has enough surprises and down to earth moments to keep you intrigued and enjoying the book. The idea of having someone to help clean out .the house is a conflicting idea for me so it was interesting to read the reasons why it could be good.

I love Raeanne Thayne books and this one is no exception. We are back in Cape Sanctuary in Northern California. Jess is a traveling worker who helps people declutter their homes. Her client this time is Eleanor. She also lives on the property with her son Nate and Granddaughter Sophie. This trip is more personal for Jess because her sister Rachel lives in Cape Sanctuary with her family. We learn that the sisters have overcome a traumatic past, but it has still left obstacles to overcome. Along with three adorable dogs, Cape Sanctuary is a fantastic place to land. Will Jess stay?

I enjoyed this clean romance/woman's fiction. Jessica and her sister Rachel survived a rough childhood and were eventually separated in their teens. Now Rachel is married and struggling. She has three children with the youngest recently diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. Jessica takes a job for two weeks that puts her in Cape Sanctuary where Rachel lives. She has served in the army and now runs a business helping people clean out and dejunk their homes. I would add I might consider paying someone to do that for me. Jessica and Rachel have stayed in contact but Jess would like them to be closer like they once were. Nate is the client's son. He is a single father of a 13 year old and is drawn to Jess. Neither wants a fling but there is attraction.

Each chapter is told from one of the points of view of the three main characters. It is a gentle story covering only a two week time span. Each person is dealing with things in their life. In a lot of ways it works and I could see their problems. Jess struggles with family and friendship bonds, Rachel is frustrated when she is anything less than perfect. I had a harder time seeing and believing the resolutions. It was more a potential HEA for me. I wanted the sisters to really talk and discuss their past not just plan a future trip. The romance was more complete particularly with the epilogue. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.