“Lee Tobin McClain dazzles with unforgettable characters, fabulous small-town settings and a big dose of heart.”–Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author There’s no better place to spend Christmas than on the Chesapeake Bay, where it’s always the perfect season to start over. Former police officer Paul Thompson has come to the little town of Pleasant Shores to heal his PTSD. The … his PTSD. The prescription involves volunteering, therapy and, most of all, a stable routine for his young son. Falling for Amber Rowe, however, would make that stability impossible. Even though she immediately bonds with little Davey, Amber’s future is filled with uncertainty, and Paul can’t bear to see his son love and lose someone else.
Amber got to know Paul’s late wife while writing a book about cancer. In doing so, she learned a secret that could tear Paul’s world apart. Keeping her distance is the best way to avoid unwittingly causing turmoil for a man she’s come to care about more than she ever intended. But as Christmas draws near and their joint volunteer project develops, so does the depth of their feelings. And soon, Amber will have to choose between keeping a promise and committing to a risky love…
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CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST, Lee Tobin McClain’s book 3 of The Off Season series, is an emotional and heartwarming clean romance between Amber Rowe, a cancer survivor and Paul Thompson, former police officer and a widower with a young son. Before her death, Paul’s wife had shared a secret with Amber that could jeopardize her relationship with Paul. CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST will dazzle readers with unforgettable characters and fabulous small-town settings. Lee Tobin McClain cleverly interweaves a subplot of intrigue concerning Amber’s friend, Mary, into Amber’s life, revealing their hurts, fears, and deep friendship. I received this complimentary (copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This is a really good book. Once I started reading it I just could not put it down. This book made me smile and cry in parts.
I this book most of the characters have a past that haunts them. Paul is an ex police officer who has PTSD from a shooting that happened. Mary’s is from her late husbands daughter. And Amber’s is from her sickness.
Through it all they learn to rely on each other and find the happiness that makes this a perfect small town. Especially with the magic of it being at Christmas
Delightful and Emotional!
Christmas on the Coast is a story full of heart and hope. My emotions were hooked right from the very start. These characters are so full of personality. They feel so real. I have become so very attached.
Lee Tobin McClain pulls at your heartstrings with this one. Love heals the heart in this magical Christmas read. I absolutely adore this small town read and I can’t wait to visit again. The Off Season has become one of my most beloved series!
This was a good story but it honestly wasn’t one of my favorites with all the complicated drama and negative characters.
The main characters Paul and Amber both have alot of emotional baggage and medical issues that they try to work thru during this story. All the while trying to help each other but fight the growing “forbidden” attraction. Meanwhile Paul’s inlaws keep coming into town sabotaging his friendship with Amber and complicating things with his young son.
Also throughout this book, Amber’s bookstore owner friend Mary has complications as a person from the past tries to bully and manipulate her. Mary tries again and again to help her and forgive, but it seems to escalate the abuse more.
This story deals with complicated life issues like infidelity, cancer, murder, bullying, guilt and abuse. These are real life situations so this book is definitely not as “light hearted” as I would have hoped or wanted. But elements like love, forgiveness, acceptance and God’s grace are also portrayed.
This book was nicely written and I have read several other books by this author that I have enjoyed more.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
In Christmas on the Coast, I enjoyed going back to the cottage for police officers suffering from PTSD located on the shore of Chesapeake Bay! I admired Amber Rowe for her good attitude now that she has recovered from cancer! Her future looks good but she knows it can come back. Amber’s new neighbor is Paul Thompson who is suffering from PTSD after a school shooting. Paul is a good male protagonist as he cares for his preschool son following his wife’s death from cancer. You will wonder when Paul will learn the secret that Amber knows about his son and what this will do to their relationship. This Christmas season has lots of complications! You will enjoy this contemporary story about a middle age couple. I received a complimentary copy of Christmas on the Coast from the author, Lee Tobin McClain. This is my honest opinion.
A woman who has survived cancer, a policeman with PTSD, a little boy, and a townful of helpful, friendly people. They all add up to a story full of heartwarming moments, seemingly insurmountable problems, and love that complicates it all. The author sets wonderful, complex characters in a small town coastal setting for a story that will melt your heart and keep you reading to a satisfying ending. I was given a copy of this book by the author but was not required to write a review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
Christmas on The Coast is another great book in The Off Season by Lee Former Police officer Paul Thompson has come to this little town because he needs to heal because of his PTSD. Little does he realize he will meet Amber Rowe who his son Davey will bond with! This is such a great book I gave it a 5 star if you have never read you should you won’t be disappointed This is another great book by Lee Tobin McClain she always writes great stories !
Christmas on the Coast by Lee Tobin McClain
There’s no better place to spend Christmas than on the Chesapeake Bay, where it’s always the perfect season to start over.
Former police officer has come to the little town of Pleasant Shores to heal his PTSD. The prescription involves volunteering, therapy and, most of all, a stable routine for his young son. Falling for Amber Rowe, however, would make that stability impossible. Even though she immediately bonds with little Davey, Amber’s future is filled with uncertainty, and Paul can’t bear to see his son love and lose someone else.
Amber got to know Paul’s late wife while writing a book about cancer. In doing so, she learned a secret that could tear Paul’s world apart. Keeping her distance is the best way to avoid unwittingly causing turmoil for a man she’s come to care about more than she ever intended. But as Christmas draws near and their joint volunteer project develops, so does the depth of their feelings. And soon, Amber will have to choose between keeping a promise and committing to a risky love…
This is Amber Rowe and Paul Thompson and his young son Davey’s story.
Amber is a writer.
Paul Thompson is a Former police officer with PTSD.
AMBER ROWE WOKE up to the sound of a child crying and pushed herself to a seated position on the couch. “Hannah?”
Heart pounding, she looked around the living room of her little beach cottage and then checked her phone. Just 11:15 p.m.
Outside, a dog barked, and something, maybe a cat, yowled over the rattling November wind. Amber shoved her fingers through her hair, reflexively pressed at the scars on her abdomen and sucked in a deep breath, let it out. She’d been sleeping so heavily, dreaming.
Suddenly, footsteps pounded up her front steps. “Davey! Davey, are you in there?” came a man’s frantic yell.
“Daddy!” Davey ran to the door and Amber hastened after him. Scary Daddy wasn’t coming in here without an explanation.
Davey tried to open the door, but she put a hand on his shoulder. “Step over there a minute,” she ordered firmly, and opened the door a crack.
I highly recommend reading.
Christmas on the Coast by Lee Tobin McClain is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Lee Tobin McClain.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and publisher. I was not required to review it.
There was a lot going on in the book, which made for very interesting reading. However, the main focus is on Paul and Amber. They are both recovering; him from PTSD and her from cancer. Even though they both know that they should avoid one another, working together makes that impossible. Add to that Paul’s four-year-old that immediately fell in love with Amber, making things even more complicated.
The plot line between Mary and Imogene was also very compelling, as they had a past that needed to be dealt with. I loved how this story came together and would recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.
CHRISTMAS..ON..THE. COAST…Lee.Tobin.McLean
A cry of a child and the bark of a dog woke her, finding, a boy 4-5 years old, hugging a dog. Hot cocoa calmed his tears while she called her brother in law. Davey said mommy was in heaven and daddy was scary. The pounding on the door demanding for his son. They had just moved in, and he seemed okay. Till her brother in law came, and Paul shoved Davey behind him and pulled out a gun. A cop with PTSD. and nightmare’s, his boss had set it up for him to come here, and get his act together for Davey.
A story of both overcoming the past, the mistakes didn’t define who they were. Each day was a blessing, with love, for the three of them.
A heart warming story of second chances, and forgiving the past.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Christmas on the Coast by Lee Tobin McClain is the third book in her The Off Season series. This is an excellent edition to a heartfelt series.
Amber Rowe, single mother, author and cancer survivor, finds herself attracted to her new neighbor, Paul Thompson, after finding his four-year-old son, Davey, and his former K-9 dog, Sarge, in her yard late at night. Paul Thompson, single father, school resource officer and PTSD sufferer, is as attracted to Amber as she is to him. The two were previously, briefly acquainted when Amber interviewed Paul’s now deceased wife, Wendy, for a book about cancer. Both Amber and Paul are retreating from the budding relationship due to the possibility of a recurrence of Amber’s cancer. Neither one wants to put Davey through the loss of another mother. But the biggest impediment to the relationship is the secret that Amber is keeping.
McClain delivers a story that’s warm but not uncomplicated. The plot is interesting and believable. The characters are relatable. Little Davey and the dogs add charm and character. The scenery and the Christmas vibes add atmosphere. It takes more than love to get to happily ever after. In the end hope and faith are essential elements. Christmas on the Coast is another 5 out of 5 star read in this series, and I highly recommend it to all lovers of heartwarming romance.
There is an intriguing sneak peek of the next book in the series. I’m eager for its release.
My thanks to the author, HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (US & Canada) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Fans of Debbie Macomber and Jan Karon will love McClain’s heartfelt, wholesome, inspiring stories. I adore this small-town, costal setting, the endearing, complex characters, and their heartfelt stories of healing, hope and forgiveness.
Amber Rowe, who is finally recovering from a deadly illness, is surprised late one night when she hears a young child outside. Shortly after taking the boy and his dog into her home, Amber answers the door to come face to face with the boy’s father, Paul Thompson. Something seems off about the man, but he clearly loves his son and little Davey is glad to see his father.
Paul Thompson has had his challenges. After suffering PTSD from a traumatic event as a police officer, he moves with his son and the family dog to Pleasant Shores to take part in the Healing Heroes program. Part of Paul’s work with the program is as a community volunteer which pairs him up with Amber.
It’s vital that both Paul and Amber keep things strictly professional. Paul lost his wife to the same disease that Amber conquered, and he can’t take the chance of going through another loss. What Paul doesn’t know is that his wife confided in Amber before she died, sharing a devastating secret that would rock the foundation of Paul’s world if it were to be revealed.
McClain delivers another heartfelt, captivating read with a secondary storyline just as moving and compelling as Paul and Amber’s journey to forever. The characters are rich, complex and vulnerable, and so perfectly crafted that they feel more like lifetime friends than works of fiction. They’ll own your heart as you weep for their sorrows and celebrate their joy. This is the best Christmas romance I’ve read so far this year, and you’ll want to make this poignant, uplifting, extraordinary book your first read of the holiday season!
Amber Rowe has dealt with a serious illness several times and has been triumphant, at least so far. She interviewed other cancer patients and wrote a book about the struggle with this deadly disease. When the cottage next to her is rented, she is reacquainted with Officer Paul Thompson and his young son Davey. Amber had interviewed Paul’s wife Wendy for her book and is saddened to learn that Wendy had lost her battle. Paul is dealing with PTSD from an incident in his past and is part of the Healing Heroes project. An attraction develops between Amber and Paul, but a secret that she is unable to share with him may doom any chance of their future. Amber’s good friend, Mary Rhoades, has her own issues as she deals with an unexpected visitor to town who means to make trouble. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I loved reading Christmas On The Coast. I would recommend buying this book. You will feel God working throughout this wonderful story. I learned more about how cancer survivors and people suffering from PTSD suffer throughout their days. Lee will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. The characters in this book will be like family by the time you finish reading it. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review. I would give this a higher rating than a five star review if I could.
I enjoy reading small town romance especially the ones with a Christmas theme. The small town in Lee Tobin McClain’s book Christmas on the Coast is called Pleasant Shores and it a very charming small town. This story is the third book in this author’s Off Season series. The overall arc in the series is based on the Healing Heroes cottage where a wounded hero, whether physically or suffering from PTSD or both, agrees to stay for three months of healing and agrees to do a volunteer project. In this story police office Paul Thompson is suffering from PTSD after an incident while on duty and settles into Healing Heroes cottage. Paul and his four-year-old son Davey meet Amber Rowe. Amber and Paul are wonderful characters and Davey is a cute little boy who adds a lot to the charm of this story. I enjoyed all their interactions. I really liked all the Christmas festivities in Pleasant Shores. The town has some different ones like Crabby Christmas and By Golly Be Jolly Christmas Shopper Night on the first Monday in December. This is a heartwarming and emotion-packed read and I think small town romance fans will enjoy it.
This is the third book in a series.I was honored to receive an arc from the author.A charming second chance story with a touch ofheavier topics.Set in a town full of people you will fall in love with.
Book 3 in the Off-Season series is another emotional and touching story of second chances, letting go of fear, and moving forward. Again Lee Tobin McClain deals with a difficult subject (cancer), and does it in a realistic, sensitive, and heartfelt way. We get the story of Amber and Paul, as well as catching up with other residents of Pleasant Shores in this entertaining and compelling story.