This holiday season, practical and rational Anna Bell will do anything to save her family’s mini-mart from going under in her small beach town known for its traditions. But with all of the debt and bill collectors her dad accumulated before his passing, she’s aware her mom may have to sell to the buyer who has just made an offer.Impetuous and optimistic Peter Locke is known as the new billionaire … billionaire in town who is buying up failing businesses, presumably to inject them with “new life” and turn them around for a quick profit. When Anna discovers Peter is the buyer who made an offer on the Main Street Mini-Mart, she’s determined to convince him that keeping with tradition is the way to go so he doesn’t make changes to all her dad built with such love and care.
Spending time with Peter gives Anna the first feelings of comfort and joy since her dad passed. And she has to admit the changes he makes to the Christmas lighting ceremony are positively delightful. In fact, his enthusiasm and warmth soon has Anna falling head over heels for him. As their relationship blossoms, Anna worries he’ll learn her initial motivation for spending time with him was to help her family’s business.
Will Peter discover the truth about Anna and walk away from her? Or will the magic of Christmas give them both the best gift of all: love?
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Anna comes home to help out after her father’s death. Her family is trying to hang onto his business, but there are so many debts that it might not be possible. Peter moves to Blue Moon Bay looking for a change, and has been busy buying property and distressed businesses. He finances the town’s Christmas festivities, and makes a few changes. Anna spends time with him, but doesn’t tell him who she really is, hoping that she can change his mind about buying her father’s store. They discover that despite different backgrounds, they have more in common than they thought. This is a really nice clean story about learning to accept the changes that life throws at you. I’m a latecomer to this series, and just started reading books by this author recently – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book so far.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kissed by the Bay Book 8 is another great book by Susan Hatler. Each book is connected to the previous ones but you meet new people each book.
After Anna’s father passed away, she’s moved back to Blue Moon Bay to try and save the family business but her mom and brother realize they may have to sell to Peter who has offered to buy it. Peter has purchased other properties in town and has made changes to bring in more tourists. Anna isn’t happy about selling the business since it was her father’s dream and she doesn’t want to see it changed. She’s also realizing she likes Peter but she won’t let him know that and she won’t let him know her last name. Can she convince Peter that tradition is better than change or will she realize some change is for the better? Can they compromise? Will love happen between them? Once again the Blue Moon Bay Legend will be at work in the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book eight of the Kissed by the Bay series a well written Christmas story it has a very good storyline, the book has a surprise ending that I enjoyed reading. Anna Bell and Peter Locke will have alot to overcome to get their happy ending, not listening to each other is one of them. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the eighth book in the Kissed by the bay series. I thought this is a nice hoilday romance. Peter and Anna are delightful characters. They are both a joy to read about. This book was well written and a good storyline. It held my attention throughout the story. It was easy to read and a page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Anna loves tradition just like her deceased father did. She was helping her best friend, Kari, decorate her Kari’s Kaleidoscope shop and bemoaning the little bells they used to use versus the huge blown up Santa that threatened to knock her off the ladder! Kari told her the Santas were the “new rule” for the shops and Kari was just complying. Kari’s business was still doing great for the past 3 years, unlike Anna’s family’s business, the Main Street Mini-Mart. Without her dad, she was having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. And her mom and brother were trying to untangle the financial mess of their business and the bills piling up. Strange, but Kari seemed to be holding something back from her as they walked toward the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Anna’s mom had gotten an offer for the business that she was seriously considering. Many of the struggling businesses in Blue Moon Bay, a small beach town on the California coast, were being purchased by Peter Locke. But Anna doesn’t want to lose the family history associated with their business, so she wants to write into the contract that they can’t make any changes since they won’t have any say about it otherwise once it’s sold!
Anna and Kari continued toward the tree-lighting as an out-of-towner tried to step out in front of the parade. Anna grabbed his arm and pulled him back, chastising him that he would get crushed crossing the street there with the parade. He was amused at the questions she raised and the obvious fact she had no idea who he was. But later she starts to think maybe she can influence Peter so she will get her way and traditions and the town he is buying up won’t change. It was a sneaky plan, but then she realizes that her heart is opening up to Peter who maybe isn’t a bad guy after all. Is there a future for the two of them?
This was an adorable story about the tiny town of Blue Moon Bay, immersed in its traditions, including the legend of kissing under a blue moon. Is there any truth to that legend? The town and its characters are wonderful. Come for a visit – I’m sure you’ll choose to stay!
Peter and Anna are not the high school sweethearts you always figured would marry or find their way together.
Anna moves home around the death of her father. Peter comes to Blue Moon Bay to help sustain and build fresh life into the businesses that have long been in town, but are now failing.
Can their affection and attraction survive the loss of old traditions and the introduction of so much new?
So many old families have lost their former businesses and positions in town.
Can a desire to keep the town alive with fresh ideas survive criticism and new monies and people?
Love, life, death and love that surpasses time. Sweet KU romance!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout.
I read this book and most of the books in this and other series from this author on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited!
I love reading about Blue Moon Bay, the legend and the people of the town. Anna wants desperately to hang on to the way things were. Peter is such a great guy and loves life. They both have suffered the loss of their father’s and want to honor them but in different ways. Things start out a little shaky with these two but the ending was amazing. Loved how the legend played into not only their love story but … No spoilers – you have to read this book to find out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A cute, short read.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Kissed by the Bay
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
This is a sweet story that is maybe a little too short. I really enjoyed the characters and loved this little town. This is a sweet, clean romance.
Anna’s family business is in trouble. When Peter makes a generous offer to buy them out, Anna is determined to protect her father’s legacy. She and Peter start to fall for each other, but what will happen when he learns she has an ulterior motive?
This sweet Christmas romance novella is an opposites attract story. Anna wants to preserve tradition, while Peter looks for ways to innovate and improve on the status quo. Because it’s a novella, it isn’t quite as substantial as Hatler’s other books. It’s an upbeat story, and despite the Christmas theme, it would make a good beach read.
Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Rating:
This was a fun novel. It was a Hallmark-style story with great characters. They both were the best versions of themselves. They had good intentions but were apologetic when it went wrong. Their love story was exciting. I liked how this one brought this set together. Hopefully, we get love stories for the rest of the single characters.
The story Anna. She’s moved back to Blue Moon Bay because her family shop is suffering. They are going to have to sell to make a living. That’s why she devises a plan to get the buyer, Peter, to keep the mini-mart traditional. But things start going haywire when she falls in love.
I wrote this voluntary review in exchange for an ARC copy.
This is a beautifully written story of tradition vs. change.
Anna has returned home after her father past away to help with the family business. Peter is in town buying up property looking to improve the town, Anna and Peter are at odds with each other, but the chemistry between them is strong. Will will they be able to find a a happy medium?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Anna has a hard time to cope with the idea that her mother will sell the family run mini mart after her father’s death. But when she meets the man who wants to buy the shop, she begins to see possibilities.
A cute love story, not very realistic, but fun to read. A Hallmark story line, perfect for the Christmas season. Well-written and entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is just something about small towns that seems to be conducive to really good sweet romances and Susan Hatler definitely knows how to write them! On the surface, Anna and Peter are total opposites and are mixing together as well as oil and water. Will they realize that they have the same goal to improve the economy of this seaside community and still manage to maintain the charm and traditions of the lovely small town and also discover that Christmas can be truly magical and love is the greatest gift to give as well as receive??
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author keeps on giving us wonderful characters that we can connect with. Cannot get enough of the residents of Blue Moon Bay.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have loved every book I have read so far from Susan Hatler. This book was a wonderful story of loss, hope and love. Anna just wants to keep her family’s mini-mart running and save the business like her dad would of wanted. Unfortunately there is too much debt and not enough money to help save the only thing her mother and her have left. Will Peter, the new billionaire in town save her family business and find love also or will Anna’s misgivings of trying to save the family mini-mart ruin her chances of love and happiness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If only she had been honest with Peter in the beginning. But instead of convincing him she was falling in love.
A very cute Christmas story. Needs to be on your Christmas reading list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a very quick but cute read. It continues in Blue Moon Bay and especially the legend of the two star-crossed young lovers that were never meant to be. Here we have Peter Locke who comes to town and is buying up all the failing businesses and turning them around. Anna Bell’s family owns the mini-mart. Unfortunately it isn’t doing so good and the family is being forced to sell. Anna hates change, especially since her father just passed away in November. It is her last link to him and his dream.
Unfortunately this book isn’t written in a dual POV so we only see Anna’s side. There were times when she was a little stubborn and childish. But as the story evolves more, we see where she really starts to understand that change can be good.
If you love a really sweet, clean romance, then you will love this one. There are only a few scenes that the two characters just kiss. While this is a part of a series, you really don’t have to go back and read them all to understand a few of the characters and the legend. The author did a really good job of explaining things.
This is a very sweet and heart warming holiday read. I love the banter and humor. This has a great plot line and characters. While a bit predictable, this is an amazing and clean romance.
I am voluntarily leaving a honest, unbiased review.
At the highest level, you could describe this book as being about the battle between ‘new’ and ‘old’. Anna loves the traditions she grew up with. Change makes her uneasy, so she holds tightly to those rituals of her childhood. Peter’s a born fixer. He can’t look at something that isn’t working without wanting to make it better. Can this pair of opposites find common ground? The ending on this one kind of snuck up on me. I had gotten so used to the sweet, almost comedic, stories of the earlier books in the series that I hadn’t expected this one to bring me to tears with its emotional epilogue.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.