When a struggling bakery owner is rescued by a wannabe songwriter with hidden culinary talents, they discover they can make sweet harmony … if they can only learn to work together. Rhett Foster longs to change the world with his music, yet he can’t even finish writing one song. Battered by a string of failures and disillusioned, he returns home to Portland, Oregon. While he desperately wants to … home to Portland, Oregon. While he desperately wants to create a chart-topping hit, his dad mandates a new mission: move to coastal vacation hotspot Seabrook, Washington and expand the family’s successful restaurant chain.
In danger of destroying her late parents’ legacy if she doesn’t diversify her menu, Lindsay Carmichael will try anything to save her bakery. But with a tiny budget and an injured employee who can’t work, she has no choice but to sink the last of her savings into buying a dilapidated food truck and hiring Rhett as a part-time barista. What she doesn’t know is that the handsome songwriter has a secret … one that could destroy her business and her heart.
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Sweet Melody is the first book of what I hope develops into a series set in idyllic Seabrook, Washington. On the one hand, the plot is a familiar one – girl meets boy, attraction and friendship soon grow into something more, but certain facts are held back that could crush any chance for a positive outcome – yet the skill and execution of author Heidi McCahan elevates the story to so much more. It’s a fun, heartwarming, emotionally engaging read with compelling spiritual truths gently woven in. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed every minute spent with these characters.
One striking thing about this book is the beautiful backdrop of Seabrook, Washington – a peaceful, idyllic setting that becomes a tourist hotspot during certain seasons. It’s the perfect location and community for the story of Lindsay and Rhett, and I think readers will fall under its spell – maybe even visit there if ever in the area.
Rhett and Lindsay are appealing, relatable lead characters, both with past situations that make them not quite ready for a relationship. This story blends the careers of baking/food truck with music/song writing, and they were totally believable. I longed for Lindsay to succeed with her business and for Rhett to finally be able to write the song on his heart. I didn’t even mind waiting for things to come crashing down when Rhett’s family secret was revealed, the author’s writing was that good.
Past experiences had given both Rhett and Lindsay reasons to question the goodness of God, which touches most of our lives at times. Communication, forgiveness, restoration and redemption play key parts in the story. Whether mistakenly or not, Rhett felt that what he had to offer would never be enough for his Dad. Everyone needs someone like Rhett’s friend, Jae, in their lives – a friend who can speak truth in gentle ways. Jae reminds Rhett that God doesn’t see failure when He looks at us, and that He uses circumstances to teach important truths. Jae’s words – that his life was “everything I never knew I wanted” – especially spoke to me.
As I said earlier, I do hope for more Seabrook stories because the story of two secondary characters begs to be told – that of Catherine and Micah. Catherine, a close friend who helps Lindsay in her bakery, is a successful author who just happens to have a politician father with presidential aspirations. Micah obviously cares about her, but past issues or addictions make him feel unsuited and unworthy. Now there’s a story to be told!
Sweet Melody is “a cut above” within the contemporary romance genre. A recommended read and an author I want to follow.
I received a copy of this book through Prism Book Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.