Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: Love is in the air in St Carys, but you'd never know it - the people of this seaside town are very good at keeping secrets...
The man Clemency loves belongs to someone else. She has to hide her true feelings - but when she ropes in an unsuspecting friend to help, wires start to get crossed.
For the first time in Ronan's life his charm has failed him in winning over the woman he wants. Loving her from afar appears to be his only option.
Belle seems to have the perfect boyfriend, but something isn't quite right. And now a long-buried secret is slowly rising to the surface.
The truth has a funny way of revealing itself, and when it does St Carys will be a very different place indeed...
My Thoughts: If you enjoy stories that are rich in characters with interwoven and entertaining stories, a book by Jill Mansell is what you need and Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay is an excellent choice.
I love how Jill Mansell creates stories that are full of many characters with vibrant personalities, giving them their own voices and storylines without confusing the reader or bogging them down in unnecessary detail. The story flows smoothly, allowing the reader a wonderful opportunity to get to know everyone in the story and the role they play. When I read a Jill Mansell novel, I know I am going to love the characters and will be drawn in their lives so fully, it feels like I know these people personally.
I loved how Clemency and Sam meet and at first she seems to be someone who is all over the place with her energy and enthusiasm. Like Sam, I was quickly drawn into her personality and enjoyed getting to know her. Their chemistry was wonderful and I felt just as morose upon learning that he is married. Fast forward three years later, Clemency and Sam meet again, this time he is dating Clemency’s stepsister, Belle, and they have a pact that they will not go after each other’s boyfriends. So now Sam is off-limits.
Belle is a little less likable, very spoiled and appears to have a very competitive streak where Clemency is concerned (long history there) and appears to take great pleasure in rubbing Clemency’s nose in the fact that she has this most amazing boyfriend and Clemency is still single. Of course, Belle has no idea that Clemency and Sam have already met. Clemency asks her work colleague and friend, Ronan, to pretend to be her boyfriend to shut Belle up. Belle also had a thing for Ronan back in the day but it never went anywhere.
I liked Ronan and loved his friendship with Clemency. Their attempts to appear like they were head over heels in love had me laughing myself silly as much it did them. Ronan has a reputation as a ladies man and a bit of a player so it was a lot of fun watching how this would all play out.
Supporting characters Marina, Ronan’s mom, Josephine, Kate the mail carrier and Verity added much depth and context to the story and the lives of Clemency, Ronan and Belle. This story also delivers several unexpected twists and surprises that I thoroughly enjoyed.
My Final Verdict: I picked up this book at the perfect time, looking for a story that would draw me in completely and give me the warm fuzzies I was looking for. I am committed to reading everything this author writes and I recommend you do too. Whether you are a fan of contemporary romance, women’s fiction or general fiction, this book will bring a smile to your face and a sense of contentment achieved by spending quality time with people you care about.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
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