Seabreeze Inn

Exceptional Story! This is a Keeper!
This novel provides an exceptional story. It has historical elements, a sweet romance, an interesting mystery, and fine Women’s Fiction all in one. I became so caught up in the story that I didn’t want to put it down for anything. The story just flows. The reader doesn’t need to stop and think about which character is which or work to remember who said what and when. This is such a fine piece of writing that I am going to read more of this author’s work. I also will be keeping this book to re-read again. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.

This story has suspence, drama and some twists and turns. I truly enjoyed the characters. It kept my instrest throughout the book. It was well written I enjoyed the storyline. I look forward to the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Who wouldn’t be taken in by a gorgeous vintage home with views of the beach from every angle?

Ivy immediately fell in love with Las Brisas that she had no idea her husband had bought. She had planned to immediately sell when the realtor told her it would take over a year to even get someone interested so she changed her mind and decided to keep the home.

I fell in love with the house too…it sounded like a lovely place to live or to spend time. What made the house more intriguing was the fact that the house and the original owner had some history dating back to WWII.

Ivy and her sister Shelly made plans to turn the home into a bed and breakfast, but the city wouldn’t allow that zoning so they decided on renting rooms and having a wedding planning business.

Both Ivy and Shelley were lovable in their own way. I enjoyed their interactions and creativity.

Even though their business decision was moving forward there still was one problem in town for Ivy. Her problem was the mayor who was also her real estate agent that Ivy knew from high school.

A lot of things were going on in Ivy’s life including the death of her husband with secrets Ivy never knew about.

Meanwhile their mother and father had something to tell them and everyone was thinking the worst.

SEABREEZE INN is as delightful as the title sounds.

We get a glimpse of life in the charming town of Summer Beach and of beach living.

If you enjoy a light, breezy read, old houses with secrets, and characters with secrets, you will want to add this book to your TBR. Art lovers will also enjoy this book that slips in a little romance.

SEABREEZE INN is truly an enjoyable, lovely read that will lift your spirits and have you looking up famous artists and seeing if the town is real or fictional. 5/5

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read by Jan Moran. I have read almost all of her books and none has disappointed me.

I must admit that when the synopsis said Ivy’s husband blew their retirement money on a “beach house” I was thinking a “cottage”. Boy, was I wrong! He bought a house that was designed by Julia Morgan who designed Randolph Hearst’s Castle in San Simone CA. I doubt she designed anything “small”.

This book is the perfect blend of mystery and romance in a spectacular setting with a tad of historical fiction thrown in. And an added bonus for those who have read her Love, California series, the main character from Sparkle (Book 6 in that series) makes an appearance. It’s okay if you haven’t read the series (although you should for their delightfulness), it isn’t critical to this story.

The characters are believable and fun. Sisters Ivy and Shelly haven’t had much luck with men; Ivy especially is reluctant to get involved again with any man. Her focus is on trying to get this house that has fallen into disrepair into shape to rent out rooms. With limited funds everything is a challenge for her. Ivy and Shelly draw upon their business skills to meet the challenge.

They also have the challenge of trying to be accepted into the small close-knit community of Summer Beach. Ivy’s late husband antagonized everyone when he tried to have the house torn down and replaced by a high-rise building. Her ex especially crossed Bennett Dylan, the mayor of the little town – who just happens to be the guy Ivy had a major crush on the summer before she started college. Bennett is still recovering from the death of his wife so romance is the last thing on his mind.

Thrown into all this is a discovery that brings the FBI to town. Life isn’t boring in this little seaside town.

I love how the women in Jan’s stories are always intelligent and strong business women. At the core of all her books is a strong, close-knit family. The story evoked a wide range of emotions – frustration, anger, fear, jubilation, but most of all love.

A nice summer read that takes place on a beach at a lovely Inn. This was a very entertaining story that covers multi generaltions. A very fun read and would recommend this author.

The Seabreeze Inn is the first book in Jan Moran’s Summer Beach Series. Rather than read the actual book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an audiobook narrated by Erin Bennett.

Ivy Bay Marin has been in a deep funk since her husband, Jeremy, died suddenly from an aneurysm. Not only was it a very unexpected loss, but he was supposed to be in Ft. Lauderdale when he died in Los Angeles. But that was just the first of many nasty surprises. Their home was heavily mortgaged. He had put them in debt. And he had withdrawn his retirement account to purchase a deteriorating oceanside mansion in Summer Beach, California, not too far from her parents and brothers.

As Ivy is in such dire straits the only thing she can see to do is sell the California house and buy herself a small condo in her home of 20+ years, Boston. However, the house has been on the market for a long time with no interest. When her parents call all the family home for a big birthday celebration and a special announcement, Ivy and her younger sister Shelly, who is just out of a longtime on and off relationship, travel together to California.

Once there, the first stop is to meet with the realtor handling the sale of the house. Ivy has not seen the place before and is astounded by its possibilities. She has seen the realtor, Bennett Dylan, before and remembers the heartbreak of her young self the summer before college. On that house tour, Ivy makes a rapid decision; instead of selling she will take on the restoration and open as an inn with her sister Shelly, a horticulturalist, who will take on the overgrown and failing landscape.

Just like the rest of her prior two years since her husband died there are many obstacles, setbacks, and discoveries. But some of those obstacles are stepping stones, some of the setbacks are actually course changers, and some of the discoveries bring joy.

Although this story can definitely stand alone, I look forward to following the series! I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

A leisurely-paced seaside romance with an older couple
Audiobook edition: 5 stars overall, 4 stars story, 5 stars narration

I was quite pleased by this sweet (just kissing), small-town romance with a little dash of mystery. It can also be classified as women’s fiction, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and a second chance romance. The relationship development is very slow-paced between the 50-year-old heroine Ivy and her love interest Bennett of the same age, so readers should only buy this book if they like that kind of thing. However, some interesting subplots really kept my attention for the entire book: the mysteries with the house, Ivy’s perplexing dead husband, and Ivy’s congenial relationship with her younger sister Shelly. I love the setting in a small beachside town in southern California. I felt like I really got to know the town and the residents, and I am looking forward to listening to the second book in the series. I recommend this to all fans of women’s fiction and all fans of sweet small town romance.

The story is told mostly from Ivy’s perspective, with only about five chapters told from Bennett’s perspective. Ivy is mostly likable. For me, she does a little too much worrying and rehashing of things and delays taking any action in her love life. At least she people swift action about her business and financial situation. She does undergo admirable character development throughout the book. Ivy’s relationship development is quite slow, but it seems like it might continue in book #2. I really like Bennett and all of the minor characters. Ivy has a large and loving extended family who are all lovely people.

The narrator Erin Bennett did a perfect job. I love her alto voice with its lovely tone and melodious quality. She clearly made every character sound distinctive and believable. I am very impressed with Erin Bennett’s performance, and I am definitely looking up her other work. She was the perfect choice as the narrator for this cozy, uplifting story with a vibrant older heroine.

I requested and received a free audiobook copy via #AudiobookObsession, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
#AudiobookObsession Reviewer

Enjoyable characters- nice story and series

This is not a complete story; it’s a set-up for a series. I feel this is taking advantage of the reader. I did read the second book in the series, and the first 50 pages or so is a recap of the first book. These two books should have been one. It was a good story, but predictable, and I don’t plan to read books 3 and 4 of the series.

I enjoyed the book very much–I love beach stories.