When the Bennett family arrive at the shore house to spend the summer together, they bring more baggage than just suitcases… and mosquito bites, the crash of the ocean waves and the sounds of crickets at night… But when Kaye’s son and daughter arrive, late and uncooperative, it becomes clear the family desperately need to reconnect.
Kaye and her daughter Stacy have been quietly at odds for years and resentment has grown around words unsaid. Faced with spending the summer months in such close quarters, Kaye is determined to remind Stacy of happier times and why she once loved their beautiful beachside home.
But both Kaye and Stacy are holding something back. And only when a heart-stopping moment on the beach puts what Stacy most loves at risk are the two women finally able to set free the secrets in their shared past.
Will opening up to each other about what’s in their hearts allow the Bennett family to finally heal? A story of love, forgiveness and the power of family bonds, The Shore House is a heartfelt summer read, perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Pamela Kelley and Nancy Thayer.
What readers are saying about The Shore House:
‘Beautiful. This is a story of hope and faith. Reading this story made me feel good and the ending left me smiling! I can’t wait to read more of these wonderful, entertaining and heart tugging tales! Loved it!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved this book so much. It was so emotional and heart-warming at the same time. Shows how things can be forgiven even after decades.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Heidi isn’t simply a writer, she’s an artist… Her descriptions resonate with all your senses… you smell the ocean breeze, taste the summer corn, hear the slap of the screen door. Heidi creates people you care about. The Shore House kept me turning the pages from Memorial Day through to Labor Day. Do yourself a favor and spend a summer in Dewberry Beach.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘The Shore House is a wonderfully satisfying summer read. With the quaint backdrop of the shore community of Dewberry Beach, combined with the dynamics of family interaction, Heidi Hostetter has woven a delightful and descriptive tale.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved the characters and the story. The story unfolds with ease and a few surprises thrown in. I can’t wait to read more by this author.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘This is a gorgeous summer read… I devoured this book in just one sitting and this book has completely lifted my spirits. I adored this book and although this is my first read by this author, it definitely will not be the last.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I cannot say enough good things about this book. I wanted to be a guest at their shore house, I wanted to be invited to one of Kay’s summer parties. Each character draws you in to their world.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Wonderful book! I could not put the book down. Love the story of family and finding that way back to one another.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars
‘Loved this one. Really pulled you in and made you feel like you were going through what the character was. Such a heart-warming book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘The Shore House was a delight to read. It felt like an escape… A story of forgiveness and finding yourself. It is the perfect summer read.’ Goodreads reviewermore
The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter, published by Bookouture, is a stand-alone romance novel with a twist and the story made it difficult for me to rate it. An emotional and uplifting pageturner, promised in the blurb – and I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a complex story, spans a family and all her members.
Meet Kaye Bennett, her husband Chase, their children Brad and Stacy, a sil and grandchildren. That’s a lot of plottwists, believe me.
Kaye is the matriarch and she handles/rules her family with an velvet fist – annoying nearly everyone. And I wasn’t her biggest fan too.
Only the secondary characters made her bearable to me. Stacy, Chase and the sil are great characters and I loved to connect with them.
The Shore House is a slow burn, with great writing and a captivating storyline. 4,5 stars.
A lovely read! The Shore House encompasses, in a very truthful way, the trials of life, recovery from a serious health event and a spouse‘s respondent need to make every little thing absolutely on point to full recovery ( a drive I know intimately, having become a food nazi in trying to keep my father alive;) and yet, the family and the story don‘t end there. A young family‘s need tp learn how to adjust their roles with their two children and another on the way and a wanderlust son who has lived like a leaf in the wind and returns to the family as another‘s pawn.
Strong characters, gratefully so for this reader who is tired of Women‘s Fiction that ultimately resolves around the able functions of a man. Phffft!
Well done, Heidi Hostetter!
‘The Shore House‘ begins the ‘Dewberry Beach‘ series which in itself is a rather unique series as it will consist of the stories of the families along the shore, each with their own book. So while the location, the town, and such will remain (and perhaps we might run into a familiar face) each new book in the series will focus on the life, loves, and drama of one family. After finishing the Bennett family story I’m anxious to discover the next family on Dewberry Beach.
This was my first time reading this author and I completely enjoyed her voice, the way she brings the reader into the story with a strong sense of sight, smell, and always emotions. ‘The Shore House‘ shows one summer at the beach for one family who has faced a medical scare for their father/husband, but it also shows a daughter’s long-held resentment which has nothing to do with her strong marriage or adorable children yet longs for her career, as well as a favored son and the girl he brings along who really doesn’t fit or even try to fit in with her boyfriend’s family. There are enough emotions, anger, resentment, fear, and deep love lying under the surface throughout this family’s story to keep your own emotions always on high alert.
Most of what you’d want to know can be found in the cover description, the rest you’ll have a good time discovering firsthand as this family will face some rough waters this summer – but at their core is a strong love that cannot be denied. I enjoyed myself in this world. It’s full of what I want in what I’d consider a family saga in the sense of different points of view, voices raised in anger, and wavery with tears, and… eventually forgiveness. This is going to be a roller coaster of emotions, but you’ll be caught up in the lives of the Bennett family every step of the way. I will be keeping an eye out for the next title in the series – and in the meantime, I’ll go look up some of this author’s other works.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Bookouture via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter is the engaging story of an extended family and their summer at their house on the Jersey Shore. Life had been different for the three years since Kaye Bennet’s husband, Chase’s, near-fatal heart attack. She was so frightened it would happen again she had become unbearably controlling. Every part of his life was mapped out: what and when he could eat; when and how far he walked; what he could do with his copious spare time. Kaye had tricked their daughter Stacey to bring her husband, Ryan, and two children to spend the entire summer at the beach. She had tried to have her son, Brad, join them but she could not find him. He was not returning her calls or responding to her messages. She craved a family summer, needed it to the bottom of her soul. As it turned out she got exactly what she wanted but not without some growing pains.
Kaye is a traditional upscale wife and mother in her late 50s or early 60s. She has always been in charge of the house and the children. They called her, “the general,” and not without cause. She had never been close to Stacey, instead reserving herself for Brad; he seemed to need her more. Kaye was forced to face herself this summer and came out in the end better for it. The story is about a mildly dysfunctional family, which rights itself with some open communication and plenty of love. It is a wonderful story and deserves a close read. Hostetter got it right. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of The Shore House by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theshorehouse
This is the first in a series and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read it. I am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series. Kaye(mom) has decided she wants to gather her entire family at the shore house for the summer. It’s been a while since everyone has been together and as Chase in on the mend from a heart attack and she has become a control freak she decides this is the summer for it and will stop at nothing to make it happen. In her mind it will be a wonderful love fest for everyone. What she forgets, whether intentional or that she truly never realized the impact she had on her kids she thinks it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows. As with all families there is love, loyalty, jealousy, forgiveness, resentment, frustration, competition, heavily charged emotions, hurt feelings and pretty much every emotion that exists. It has been a while since the entire family gathered together at the shore house
and Stacy has her reasons for not wanting to be there. She is tired of feeling like she is second best and being manipulated yet again by her mother. Everyone is tired of it.
Kaye has on some rose colored glasses and believes she knows what is best for everyone, is clueless as to the negative impact she has on her family and truly has no idea how much anger and frustration she has created around her. And so the entire family gathers and doesn’t start out the way she wants to to. So without giving anything away, join this family on their way to dealing with settling past issues, learning to trust and lean on each other. Its an emotional journey during which they learn to cling to each other, learn to let old resentments go and find their way back to each other as equals. Its a lovely read set in a beautiful place and is truly heartwarming.
When the summons was sent out to her children to spend summer at the Shore House, Kaye Bennett hopes that reliving the wonderful, carefree memories will help her disjointed family reconnect.
That hope seems to be dashed before it has a chance to flower, when her son and daughter both show up late and determined to remain steadfast.
Hostetter has crafted a powerful narrative of family, with resentment and compassion in equal measure. The bond between mother and daughter is strong and unbroken, despite the hurts that both harbour within themselves. She skillfully tugs at heartstrings, keeping you turning pages for an engrossing read that you are loathe to put down when it ends.
A beach read perfect for this uncommon summer, Shore House is a curl-up-with-wine-and-your-cat kind of book.
[Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author, for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a review; the opinions herein are entirely my own.]
Favorite Quote:
… the master bedroom was directly above the kitchen, which was where Brad and Iona chose to settle their differences. Chase slept through it, oddly enough, but Kaye did not. She listened, like a Cold War spy, straining to hear and not at all proud of her curiosity.
My Review:
I giggle-snorted, smirked, and thoroughly reveled in this cleverly penned tale from start to finish. I was quickly drawn into the characters’ tangible vortex of complicated family dynamics and was dazzled by Ms. Hostetter’s effortless, crisp, wily, wryly humorous, and cunningly insightful writing. Her word voodoo was so strong I could smell the sea, hear the waves, and feel the sunburn. I want to know all about her curiously compelling yet deeply flawed characters; they intrigued me and left me with a taste for more. This was my first time wading into Ms. Hostetter’s pool but I am feeling the intense desire to splash further into her listings with a cannonball dive.
Warm and Tender Family Saga on New Jersey Shore
This is the first book in a new series. The story is filled with family love. Each segment of the family is struggling with finding balance in their lives. Loving is easy, but fear, hard work, family support and dedication all affects the balance of life. The story is well-told and subsequent episodes should be just as good as this story. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
A delightful read with more substance than I was expecting from a “beach read”.
I loved the diverse characters and their stories and the issues that each one was struggling with and brought with to the story.
The general theme of the story seems to be control – who has it, who is being controlled, what happens to the people being controlled and the ones controlling.
A great read which takes me back to my childhood family seaside vacations with grandparents; aunts; uncles; cousins; parents; siblings and dogs.
I look forward to seeing what else emerges from this shore town with the author’s pen.
I received an ARC for an honest review and I loved this book. It is about family, old friends, summers gone by and living life today. It is about going down memory lane, keeping traditions alive, and seeing how the choices they made have created the life they have today.
It wasn’t just an easy beach read, it was their journey and parts of this book felt like I was right there in the neighborhood and other parts were the complicated family relationships. I think every family has them and it was interesting to see how they interacted, dealt with an argument or two and what the younger generation learned that summer when they came back as adults.
Grab yourself a copy and even if you are still sheltering at home, books transport us to wonderful places and this book did just that. I haven’t been able to go to my happy place on the ocean yet this year, but reading this book I relived the memories from going there so many times over the years. It helped tide, yes, I meant to write it this way because the tide coming in and going out is one of my favorite things about going there. I smiled while reading the book and I am still smiling and happy after reading this book because it isn’t often a book that will remind me of so many wonderful memories of stepping back in time and thinking about the decisions I made back then created who I am now. This isn’t a beach read, this is also a wonderful book to read, while you are in a long, long winter, getting cabin fever and need something to get you through. I will read it again and again, I am so confident that this will get me through the long, long winters we have.
Great depiction of family dynamics, unresolved issues and how they come together and finally confront them, discuss problems and repair relationships.Overall a very enjoyable book. Great summer read. Thank you Heidi Hostetter and Net Galley for this ebook. Review and opinions solely my own.
I did not care for the characters at all. But I assume they were taken from
People in real life…
I enjoyed it