It's al about challenging your assumptions and the secrets of the past. Emma, who has been widowed for ten years, has built an arts center where she concentrates her efforts. She's still coping with the news that her husband had a long term affair when another surprise turns up- the eight year old daughter of her son. Winnie brings new life to Emma, as does Owen, who is the romantic interest. There are several plot lines running through this (including the stories of some of the artists). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a bit trope-y but it's also a relaxing and heartwarming read.

All That We Are is the third book in the Wyndham Beach series by Mariah Stewart. It was heartwarming, loving, kind, compassionate, and so much more. This is Emma’s story; widowed for 10 years she learns of the infidelity of her late husband. As she processes that reality, someone knocks on her door who will change her life and her son’s forever. This is a story about family, second chances, and the unconditional love Emma gives to a young stranger. I loved the entire series and highly recommend it!

this was such an interesting book! i am so thankful to netgalley for letting me read this one early! such an amazing plot and characters!! blew me away!!!

A fantastic read for anyone, but especially for those, like me who is over 50, and loves reading about older women finding their HEA.

Here we meet Emma, a widow, who is thrown a few curveballs. She discovers her husband had a long term affair; that her son may have an eight year old daughter and she meets Owen, a possible love interest. While dealing with these curveballs she is also organizing a 3 month residential art retreat that would enable artists to focus on their art without any distractions. Join Emma as she navigates her life with the support of her two best friends.

Ms. Stewart is a great storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you NatGalley and Montlake for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful story.

Emma is a widow of ten years who unexpectedly discovers her late husband had an affair with his assistant that lasted years until his death. Heartbroken, she falls back on her friends and her art center to keep her mind off her complicated emotions. From there, at least three other main subplots come up and it starts getting crowded.

Overall, the book is too long and overexplained, and there are too many things happening at the same time and too many characters to keep track of. I also thought the murder investigation (yes, that happened) was a lazy way to get rid of someone that would've gotten in the way of everyone's happy ending. Ultimately, it's a small community story with easy to love, charming characters, and no one less than perfect is allowed.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book. It is one you can not put down. It is a story about three friends, who have known each other all their lives. They have helped each other through divorce, death of your partner or child, adoption, weddings, and grandchild showing up at your door that you didn’t know you had. It is about family being there even if they are not related by blood.

Love this author, love this series. When you are in your 50's it is nice to have a series to read that you can relate to. Because these women are your age and you can relate to what they are going through. And the story lines hit your heart. You need to read this series !

All the books in this series have been wonderful reads, but I think this is my favorite. I think it is because it encompasses the three friends and what their friendship and families have meant to them. It is so heartwarming and especially with Emma and the surprise that turns up on her doorstep and how this young life would make such a difference to her life. She is reeling from a betrayal that she has found out about her dead husband of ten years and then she finds out that one of her artists that she has in residence for the summer in trouble and they must protect her. It’s not how she saw her summer going, but Emma takes all of these things in her stride. Even her romance with Owen Harrison, whose family has been in Wyndam Beach for decades. Emma is looking for more in her life and can Owen be the man for her and love her like she deserves.

I love how Emma’s relationship with Winnie develops. Winnie is one of my fav characters. For a young child of ten, she has seen and felt so much in her young life and she just wants to be loved and belong. She will break your heart. Then you have the preconscious Daisy who adores Emma too, and will soon become her granddaughter when Chris marries her mother. The arrival of Winnie has Natalie feeling anxious because she is not sure Winnie will fit into the family. Natilie could be a bit irritating sometimes, which put me off her a little bit, but Mariah Stewart soon makes me love this character too.

I love how Mariah Stewart has given us a wonderful, mature women who find love the second time around and give them strong personalities while being the wonderful woman that they are. You will want to be their friends and live in the wonderful town of Wyndam Beach. I hope that she has a book four which will give us Chris and Natalie’s wedding as well as Grace and Linc’s and see how all the residents of Wyndam Beach are faring. Oh, and have a few tissues ready...

I was given a copy of this book by the author and Netgalley for my honest review.

I have mixed emotions about this book. I didn’t like the way a couple of the characters acted. They redeemed themselves but the situation between Emma and Owen was resolved too quickly. Emma understood his reasons but they never really addressed them. I did enjoy the book with the exception of those 2 issues. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Put this book at the top of your list to read! This book just about tore my heart out! Such an amazing story! Winnie above all will steal your heart. What a wonderful confirmation that love always prevails. Bravo Ms Stewart! This is the 3rd book in a series but I think it could be read as a stand alone. That being said the first two do provide some background and are also excellent books! Probably best to read all three :)

The Wyndham Beach series is one of my favourite comfort reads. Having read the stories of two of the friends in the previous books I was really looking forward to the story of the third friend, Emma..and this didn’t disappoint.

Emma runs a successful art gallery; is the mother of a pop star and the widow of a banker. Going through papers one day she discovers secrets about her husband which completely derail her, undermine her confidence and present her with a different vision of the past…Struggling to come to terms with things, she throws her energies into promoting an artists retreat and then a child arrives on her doorstep who claims to be her granddaughter…

Everything that I love about this series is here in abundance - the gorgeous setting including the beach, the town with its lovely shops…the wonderful and now very familiar characters - Maggie and Liddy and their partners and families; gorgeous female friendship and a plot which is uplifting, comforting and life affirming. From all the wonderful detail of the furnishings of the different beach chalets for the incoming artists, to the wedding dress details (I’m not telling you whose wedding!!) this is a delight. Most of all I love this series because it features women in their 50s facing dilemmas, grabbing life chances and being really positive role models.

I don’t know if there will be any more in this series …but I really hope that there are. I can’t wait to visit Wyndham Beach again.

Very many thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for my digital copy of this book.

This was an ok summer read to me. A relax on the beach paperback I wouldn’t worry about if anything happened to. But I read to finish not because I was fully invested.

In the decade since Emma Dean’s husband died, she’s maintained a peaceful and organized life in her hometown of Wyndham Beach—until she finds evidence of her husband’s longtime affair. How, Emma wonders, can a man who’s been gone for ten years still break her heart?

Still reeling from the betrayal, Emma must focus on the group of artists she’s invited to take up residence at the art center she founded, one of whom is secretly seeking refuge from her abusive ex. Toss in a charming businessman who’s returned to town with eyes for only Emma, and it’s becoming a most interesting summer.

And the biggest surprise of all is about to ring Emma’s doorbell and turn her life completely upside down yet again.

As Emma struggles between what was and what is, she discovers that the life she really wants—however unexpected—is just within reach, if she’s willing to fight for it.

Four star read!

This was the first book that I read by Mariah Stewart and it won’t be the last. This novel All that we are is the third in the series and whilst it can be read as a stand alone, you might be like me and go back and read the first two afterwards. Which in my opinion only added to the story.
All that we are is the story of Emma in the group of three friends Liddy, Maggie and Emma. Emma finds out that her late husband was having an affair and in finding out the answers, releases herself from him. I loved her son, obviously! And it was a great story of friendship and strength. Highly recommend

I have loved this entire series but this was THE BEST ONE YET! I loved everything about this book - the characters, the story line, the pacing … all of it!

I highly recommend this series to anyone. Add these to your summer beach read list for 2023. You won't be sorry!

Thank you #netgalley and #montlake for the eARC.

An enjoyable story about Emma, a middle aged widow who is living in Wyndham Beach, and is surprised one day when a little girl called Winnie turns up at her door claiming to be her granddaughter. This is a story about family, relationships and friendship which I read as a standalone, not realising it was part of a series. It works well on its own and this doesn’t affect the storyline.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this book.

All that we are is the third book in the Wyndham beach series, which evolves around three life-long friends in their mid-fifties, Lydia, Maggie and Emma, and their hometown on the Massachusetts coast, Wyndham beach. The women have been friends since school and have shared many ups and downs together.
In the first book, An invincible summer, Maggie was in the center. The second book, Goodbye again, tells Liddy's story. In this third book, which will be published on December 13th, we finally get to know more about Emma. The first two books were both positive novels with strong female characters, life-long friendship, forgiveness, hope and second chances. Book 3 is much anticipated and I can tell you right now: It will not disappoint!

It's been ten years since Emma's husband, the town banker, has died. Emma leads an organized life in her hometown of Wyndham city and everything is peaceful. Until she finds out that her husband had an affair before he died. Emma is devastated. How can someone that's been gone for a decade still hurt her so much? Her son is a famous superstar singer. He headlines at concerts and has a special someone in his life as well. He doesn't visit as often as she would like.

So Emma needed something to give her life meaning again. She has founded an art center and invited a group of artists to take residence there. She has to focus on them now even though the betrayal still hurts.
Among the artists is someone who seeks refuge from her abusive ex and to make things even more complicated, a dashing businessman who came back to town sparks some butterflies with Emma.
The biggest plottwist will be an absolute lifechanger. Emma must find a way to make sense of it all, but she has her faithful friends to help her through and she finds out that she can get what she wants, as long as she has the guts to go for it.

After the first two heartwarming books in this series, book three does not disappoint either. A suiting addition to the series: Just as it's two predecessors it's filled with hope, friendship and second chances. Each friend has filled a book with their own life-changing events now and if you read all three of them, what stands out is the message of hope, turning over a new leaf and begin again. New life, new meaning, new love.

I grew really fond of the strong female characters and their life-long friendship they maintained since school and their growth as personalities. Other characters in the book are just as lovable. To me, the characters and their relationships with eachother are the real strength of the story.
I liked the plot also. The setting with the art center is very original. A superstar singer for a son is quite entertaining as well. I liked the fact that he is not arrogant like stars often are. The twist was very well written. The surroundings are absolutely marvelous. I want to live in Wyndham beach now!

Emma's journey is heartbreaking but it warms your heart to read about her finding her way and coming out stronger. To mourn the betrayal of your love is already hard but when he's deceased a decade ago, where do you start? Maybe that's why the new romance felt a bit uncomfortable somehow.
The pace is a bit slow and sometimes things were repeated. It didn't bother me, but I noticed that without it, the pace would have been higher which might have benefited the plot. Fortunately, the strong characters carry the story so it doesn't get disturbing anywhere.

Personally, I got what I hoped for reading this book and I am looking forward to read more. Mariah Stewart is a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of several series, not just Wyndham Beach, but also The Chesapeake Diaries, and The Hudson Sisters, as well as stand-alone novels. The beautiful surroundings, the strong characters, family, friendships and love as well as messages of hope and second chances made me fall in love with her work.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Montlake and Mariah Stewart for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. My views are my own and voluntarily given.

Long time friends, family, and love weave a wonderful pattern in this novel. In the third Wyndham Beach novel, Emma relies on her friends Libby and Maggie to help her through turmoil on many fronts. Every day brings joy from her maybe granddaughter Winnie and her tasks to open the summer artists program. Just when everything is right at the same time, it is not.
A thoroughly enjoyable and charming story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Fun Fun Fun read. Lots of things going on in this story. Heartbreak, romance , artist. Stewart does a great job with this book Read it

All That We Are by Mariah Stewart is a look into what happens, when ten years after the death of a spouse, you discover they had cheated on you.

For ten years, Emma Dean had lived a quiet life after the death of her beloved husband. But when she found a receipt for a gift that was not for her and discovered that he had a longtime affair, she was heartbroken. It changed everything for her. But it couldn't stop the fact that she had to welcome her inaugural group of artists to an artist residency she had founded. As it turned out there were several souls in the group who had a lot to teach Emma as the months of the residency moved on.

As always, Mariah Stewart creates a spellbinding world in which you can lose yourself, as I did when I got lost on Wyndham Beach with the artists. Thank you to the author, Montlake and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.