Melissa Bourne and Andrew Wyatt were neighbours in the country town of Bangalow in Australia. Friends, good friends were all they’d ever been. This situation suited them both until Andrew found someone else. Surprised at her jealousy and with an international job offer in hand, Melissa left the country. She accepted a job offer in Boston, met Jonathan Brinkley, married and settled into life in … the U.S.
Five years later she returns to Bangalow for a visit with her father, shortly after the death of Andrew’s mother. The two meet briefly at the funeral, and the day before she flies back to Boston providing an opportunity to rekindle their relationship and to recognise that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship. Melissa returns to the States in turmoil.
* * *
Over Byron Bay is a story of friendship. A deep friendship that neither Melissa nor Andrew were prepared to risk for love.
It’s a story of heartbreak and hope. Of two people with extraordinarily bad timing.
It’s a story or relationships within and between families.
It’s a turbulent story of running away and of new beginnings set between Bangalow, Boston, Brisbane and Byron Bay.
A debut novel which will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.
more
A wonderfully written story but do keep the tissues handy.The story revolves around Melissa who goes home for the funeral of her friend’s mother and ends up sleeping with Andrew before leaving Australia to fly back to her loveless marriage in Boston, breaking Andrew’s heart. As it turns out, Melissa discovers that her husband was killed in a car accident at the same time she was having the trust with Andrew. Awkward! So with no ties to Boston, Melissa flies back to Australia to live with her father and discovers on Christmas day that Andrew is engaged to be married. I won’t spoil what happens next because there’s several twists and surprises that will have you reaching for the tissues. I highly recommend this one
This is the first story I have read from this author, it is her debut book released in 2018 and the first in a series, set in Bangalow around Byron Bay on the New South Wales Hinterland it is a story of friendship and finding love, Melissa Bourne and Andrew Wyatt grew up as neighbours and best friends, but was there more to their friendship?
Melissa was happy with her life and her friend Andrew but when graduation comes along and Andrew finds a girlfriend Melissa decides to take off to America and start a new life for herself she married Jonathon and settles well into her new life, but five years later things start to go downhill and Melissa decides that a trip back home to visit her father would do her the world of good but it will change her life forever.
Andrew has been doing well in the five years Melissa has been away but when she returns home for a holiday in time for his mother’s funeral Andrew needs to catch up, he is hoping to have a good talk to Melissa but the night before she leaves things go a bit further than that but Melissa flees back home and Andrew goes after her only to be told there is nothing for them.
This is a story of bad timing for both Melissa and Andrew things seem to always get in the way for them to get back together and discuss their future, it takes them a long time and a tragedy for them finally to find the love that had always been there. This story moves fast and there is lots happening, a very well written story in a beautiful setting it is a story that will appeal to many people.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Sometimes tragedy rips people apart, sometimes it can help bring them together. This is a story about loss and recovery, appreciating the daily joys of our life and finding our way back to what (and who) we really love. It’s an emotional ride, but delicately and expertly written. You’ll love it if you like the tearjerker genre.
Beautiful, heartfelt, touching story and a face pace read. These characters parted ways and five years later found each other again. Two lost souls reuniting. Jane, the author, did a wonderful job creating such a love story that entailed a sensitive heartbreak that brought tears to my eyes. So when reading this one, grab the kleenex because you’re going to need them.
Remember the song from the show “Hee Haw”, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” This is this story. It is emotionally painful, and times I would think, “These two are so self-centered that they can’t see the forest for the trees.”. If they were a real couple, I would think God is keeping them apart, because they are blind. The characters are extremely well-develop and at times take a life of their own. Will they survive the climatic events of this book for their HEA or will they continue in their stupid decisions and selfishness? I give this imaginary marriage 3 to 5 years.
Full of emotion and second chances. I’m usually not a big fan of contemporary romances, but this one treats the best-friend-turned-jealous trope with respect and twists them at the same time. A true friendship is nothing to waste, and this book shows exactly that. The family ties and legacies make the story stronger than just that of two people. Sweet irony works to make the story end happily.
I really enjoyed the treatment of grief and sorrow within each character, how different people handle loss in differing manners. The details of Australia fascinated me, and while there are a couple grammar errors here and there, they didn’t detract from the over all story line and magic of the tale. Both Melissa and Andrew are strong characters, and I really enjoyed some of the supporting characters, like Scott.
Definitely a good read for those who enjoy heartache, HEA, and missed chances made good.
I love a good star crossed lovers story, and this one did not disappoint. The characters encounter a great deal of loss and the author handles it beautifully. She also does a wonderful job of reminding us that our choices have consequences. Over Byron Bay is an emotional journey with a perfect ending.