Good story. I felt that the relationship, between Mikayla and Gem was a friends to lovers slow burn romance. I really liked these two characters together. Gem was an interesting character, because she's a trained social worker, but at times could come across as very unaware of her shortcomings especially when it came to her deciding what to do about her job, and family situation. As for Mikayla, at first she came across as gullible and innocent, but once I started to read this book, I got a pretty good sense of who she was, even though she was at loose ends and going through a divorce, you could just tell that she had a strong personality and a good head on her shoulders. The supporting characters were well written and helped to move the story along, and the addition of seahorses as pets was awesome as well. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

This has been the story that begins the series of romances set in Oceana, at least that's how it appears from the cover. Oceana being a Mobile Home Park run by Gem, who is one of the daughters of the couple who founded the camp. Since her father had some health problems, Gem has had to take over the management, having to abandon her professional career as a social worker. She is still not convinced that this is her ultimate goal, but her father seems to force it on her, not wanting the business to get out of the family's hands.

And the other protagonist of this book has been Mikayla, a recently divorced woman who is trying to rethink her future after having been only one hundred percent wife since the moment of her marriage. Now she does not seem to know well what she wants to do with her life and a chance opportunity causes her to exchange a house that she has in London, product of the divorce deals, for a mobile home in Oceana.

Mikayla's mission at Oceana is to contemplate her future and decide what to do with her life. And Gem, who is instantly attracted to Mikayla, will find in her a support and a voice of reason over her doubts regarding her role in Oceana and her previous professional activity.

So the story is about how these two women, mature, with background, without pretensions, find in each other what they didn't expect.

The story has been a bit slow paced, favored by the many thoughts and doubts that they have, repetitive as well. At one point Gem has a slightly exaggerated attitude, which causes some misunderstanding. But overall it's been a pretty classic romance.

Mikayla has been a dutiful wife to Craig, a man entrenched in his career and now wanting to start a family. However, Mikayla never wanted children and turns out can’t have children. Craig promptly serves her with a divorce, but feels guilty and compensates her well. They sell their house and Mikayla has nowhere to go. So she decides to do a formal house swap with a friend of her sister. The friend, Brandi, gets Mikayla’s vacation home in London and Mikayla gets Brandi’s home at Oceana Mobile Home Park in San Diego right near the water.

Gem is the property manager for Oceana and welcomes residents with kindness and a family atmosphere, the same as her father did. Her father’s health and memory have been declining, so she’s given up her dream job of being a social worker to care for him and the park.

When Gem and Mikayla meet they have an instant connection. Mikayla is also sweet and caring with Gem’s father, Tripp. Eventually Gem and Mikayla begin to spend time together as Gem performs a number of repairs at the various properties in the park. Their relationship grows and reaches a change with the birth of seahorses in the tank at Brandi’s home. The seahorse portion of the book is simply fascinating.

I loved this book because I felt like I was reading a book about two adults at point of change in both of their lives. For the most part they work together through the changes and come up stronger in the end. 4 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading this lovely story, I want to live in Oceana Mobile Home Park! I absolutely loved each of the characters in this story (well, except Craig of course) and don’t get me started on the seahorses!! Mikayla & Gem’s story had mostly ups but a bit of downs, both together and individually. Each of them, of course, have their own baggage they’re carrying with them as they make their way from friendship to a romantic relationship.

Mikayla is newly divorced and looking to find who she is again when she finds herself swapping homes with one of her sister’s friends! Little does she know the place has this thing about it that helps its residents find what they’re looking for. Gem’s family owns the Community and quickly befriends Mikayla. Each of them are harbouring feelings for each other but once they each give into them we find our main characters falling in love.

The book starts as a slow, slow, slow burn between the two main characters with almost the first half of the book taking place in just about a week. Time quickly jumps ahead several weeks in the book and we find Mikayla & Gem happily together. Of course there is angst in this story…what romance book doesn’t have that? But one swim in the ocean brings them back together.

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Lovely!

Mikayla is sorting her life and discovering herself as a bisexual after a divorce when she borrows a home in Oceana. Gem, who is a property manager at Oceana is welcoming and kind but her heart isn’t in taking care of her father’s business but as he is in poor health she feels she has little choice. When they meet, they have a connection neither of them expected to find.

This was such a sweet story about coming to terms with change, assessing wants and desires over morals, and putting yourself first. There was a lot of realisation for both Mikayla and Gem, who both needed some guidance to find their way through rocky and difficult times and probably wouldn’t have without one another. It was a reminder that sometimes to find your way again all you need is space, a change of perspective, and a little relaxation and fun.

Both Gem and Mikayla shared similarities, especially when it came to people pleasing and putting pressure on themselves. They were both good and pure of heart. Mikayla’s spirit had been dampened by all that had happened but Gem’s stayed infectious no matter what. They were both a little on guard, which made them a perfect match to find trust in one another and open up about what they were really thinking and feeling.

Just a lovely story with lots of heart and sentiment. Great to explore reflecting and resetting everything while being true to yourself. Hope this isn’t the last we have seen of Mikayla and Gem as I think exciting times wait ahead.

I really enjoyed romance. This is my third book by the author and I love her dialogues. The conversations aren’t just fillers but are about getting to know each other, letting the reader learn more about the characters at the same time. Mikayla is newly divorced after 12 years of marriage. She didn’t want or anticipate the divorce. She is left financially well off but now needs time to figure out what she wants to do with her time and talents. Her sister suggests a house swap with an artist friend of hers who lives at the beach.

Gem manages the Oceana Mobile Home Park that her dad started. She is a social worker but has spent the last four years caring for her father and running the park as his health and memory decline. There is a new age vibe as she claims the place helps people find what they are looking for. Mikayla is fascinated by Gem and the two become friends quickly. I like that Mikayla accepts her attraction to Gem with ease. And I love learning about the sea horses too.

A few other side characters are introduced who I assume may be part of future books as this is promoted as a series. There is some drama moments that are worked our quickly by this mature people who can resolve things with conversations. Some issues are brought up but disappear from the story like the ex husband (she tells him to give her space) and Mikayla’s mother. I left the story thinking the couple is on their way to a HEA. Hopefully updates for them will happen as the series progresses. (4.5 Stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

For the past 12 years, Mikayla has always played the homemaker and dutiful wife role to her high flying husband. When he asked for a divorce, everything that Mikayala is familiar with is suddenly lost. When her sister suggested a house swap, she took the chance and with it reinvented and rediscovered herself and found love.

The first meet between Gem and Mikayla was filled with good vibes and layered with attraction. The ladies were good people who might have challenges in their lives but became the pillar of support for each other. It was heartening to see Mikayla brush aside her past, cast away her doubts and pick herself up again. Overall an easy and comfy read.

I just reviewed Tides of Love by Kimberly Cooper Griffin. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Mikayla is coming out of a divorce and trying to find her feet in life. She was married to a man but is aware of her bisexuality, so the plot does not develop around that. Gem, to help her dad, manages the place where Mikayla went to live, but this is not what she wants to do forever. I liked that the author went deep into both characters and we are able to understand how they became what they are in the present of the book. There are struggles, but they are able to solve them. The sea horses were a plus. I wanted to be able to stop by and see them just like everybody did in Oceana.
This was my first Griffin's book and I want to read more of her.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Mikayla is adjusting after getting a divorce she doesn’t know who she is without being a wife but she has a chance to find out. She decides to swap houses with her sister Ashe friend Brandi who an artist while she figure out where she wants to live and do with her life. Gem is youngest of her five sisters who has lives of their own so she the one who runs Oceana Mobile Home Park with their father whose health hasn’t been great lately. Mikayla and Gem meets and hit it off as they grow closer so does their feelings. I enjoy this read I like that’s it’s about two people who wasn’t looking for love found it in each other as they help each other grow.

This was cute and I had a good time. I loved that Mikayla didn't have a personal crisis over her sexuality, not that there's anything wrong with that. She just accepted that she really wanted to kiss Gem and that was that.

I received an arc through netgalley.