This is a perfect fit for readers who crave heartwarming, emotional, and romantic stories about the transformative power of love, healing, and second chances, particularly those who enjoy contemporary romance novels that explore themes of relationship growth, family, and communication.

I just reviewed A Sea for Summer by Shelley Kassian. #ASeaforSummer #NetGalley.

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all.

It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved her style of writing and character development.
It's an engrossing story, a second chance romance about making things work and marriage.
The characters are more mature and appreciated that they are realistic and relatable
An excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Claire is a pastry chef, and her husband, Peter, has his own business in finance. Their schedules do not work well for them to spend time together. They have drifted apart and may face a divorce. They go on a couple’s retreat trying to salvage their marriage. I thought the plot was believable. Over time, couples often become so immersed in their own jobs that they forget to connect with each other. As Claire and Peter work on their relationship, I thought some of the tactics to help them reconnect were helpful. However, I did not feel the events beyond the time spent at the couple’s retreat were as believable.

Shelley Kassian is a new to me author with A Sea for Summer, the first book in Places in the Heart. This story of Clair and Peter could happen to any married couple who have been married for quite a long time. The fact that they made it twenty-five years is such a wonderful accomplishment these days. Still it looks as if they won’t make it married one more month let alone another year.

I understood how these two workaholics could wind up with almost no time together. It happens easily enough. Mary, Claire’s mother says it best early on in the story, “Make time. A marriage is an investment; you need to give yours more attention. Stop ignoring the problem. When will either of you make an effort, when it’s too late?” So the question in the story is will they make the time needed for the investment of marriage.

Second chance stories are one of my favorite types of romance to read. In this case Claire and Peter have grown apart, no cheating or illegal activities to get in the way but still there is plenty of baggage. This is a realistic story of a marriage in trouble. Heart warming and some discussions that are heartrending too. The conclusion at the end says it all as to if it was worth the effort.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read about 6 chapters and I just can't read any more. In the first chapter or 2 we are not told how old these 2 are. They read like a couple of pouty teenagers and not the "middle aged" people they are supposed to be. I kinda liked Claire's friends, but not enough to finish the book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Claire receives quite a shock when her husband, Peter, informs her he is leaving. They are taking some time apart as they are on two different pages of their marriage. They have been married for 25 years, kids are grown, and they are drifting apart. Claire is devastated; however, does not know what to do and Peter leaves.

Peter, while driving away, realizes he does not want to leave his wife and does not know what to do. He shows up on his in-laws doorstep and asks for help.

Claire's parents devise a plan and enlisting the help of Claire's BFF's has Claire show up to a seaside retreat they partake in each year. Unbeknownst to Claire, on the 2nd day - her friends trick her into meeting with a counselor and out comes Peter!!! They decide they want to repair their marriage. Will the retreat work or will it be the final straw.

This book is labeled as book #1 in a new series. I am anxiously awaiting book #2!

Heartwarming story about a marriage that is not going well and how to heal issues in a marriage.
Finding a way to follow their hearts back to the love they once had, Claire and Peter must first rediscover themselves.
Family and forgiveness……
Can Claire and Peter rekindle their feelings for each other for a second chance at love? Read A Sea for Summer to find out!
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I read a lot of romance so I can tell quickly if it’s a good one or not. I think that the characters were well formed but I needed more. It just wasn’t a book that I would read again but it was a good idea. I think maybe it just wasn’t for me.