A Sea for Summer

Places in the Heart, Book 1

by Shelley Kassian

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Pub Date Jun 22 2021 | Archive Date Jun 15 2021

Romance

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Description

Friends have a strict no-spouse rule for significant others at their seaside retreat, but this year they break with tradition.

A pastry chef, Claire’s heart is breaking. Her marriage is crumbling, but her determined mother has a plan. Claire’s annual friends retreat will be morphed into a couple’s weekend to bring a husband and wife back together. The new couple experience at Daydream Island might be the key for a second chance at love.

A numbers guy, Peter understands he’s made mistakes and he’s not certain if his mother-in-law’s surprising, but welcome, intervention will change anything. The division between him and his wife has grown as wide as the ocean and therapy sessions might only create more distance. But if there’s hope of lessening the divide and rebuilding their life together, he’ll get down on his knees and make a plea with his heart.

Will Claire and Peter get beyond their pain and follow their hearts back to the love they once shared, or will this plan ruin what’s left of their marriage.

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ISBN	9781777069940
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Average rating from 9 members

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Featured Reviews

Paula W, Reviewer

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.

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Michelle B, Reviewer

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!