A Sea for Summer: A Second Chance Beach Read

Shelley Kassian

May 2021 · SPK Publishing

About this ebook

In book one of Places in the Heart, “Shelley’s near rhapsodic prose allows her stories to bloom. She is able to capture not only our attention, but also our compassion” (Grady Harp).

Friends have a strict no-spouse rule for significant others at their seaside retreat, but this year they break with tradition.

A pastry chef, Claire’s heart is breaking. Her marriage is crumbling, but her determined mother has a plan. Claire’s annual friends retreat morphs into a couple’s weekend to bring a husband and wife back together. The new couple experience at Daydream Island might be the key for a second chance at love.

A numbers guy, Peter understands he’s made mistakes and he’s not certain if his mother-in-law’s surprising, but welcome, intervention will change anything. The division between him and his wife has grown as wide as the ocean and therapy sessions might only create more distance. But if there’s hope of lessening the divide and rebuilding their life together, he’ll get down on his knees and make a plea with his heart.

Will Claire and Peter get beyond their pain and follow their hearts back to the love they once shared, or will this plan ruin what’s left of their marriage?

Don’t miss A Sea for Summer, A Second Chance Beach Read.

Ratings and reviews

I really rather enjoyed this story, I find that most of the romance stories I pick up and get into for a much needed change of pace, end up being very repetitive, in that one betrays the other, usually in some form of an affair of the heart and the story ends up going on a journey of the other healing and moving on with their lives. While I do enjoy most of the stories that I have read that follow this pattern, it was really nice to read something that took a different turn all together. While yes there was some betrayal of the heart involved, there wasn't anything done that couldn't be worked upon and it became more about a story of the healing of a couple, and the individuals within that relationship, rather than a single individual. I really enjoyed the focus on how they worked on a very key and important piece within any relationship, communication, and in the end it really brought the story together. The ending had a very nice simple touch to it, and the story as a whole drew me in rather nicely. This really was a nice change in pace for me and as there are other books that are to follow this one, I look forward to picking up the next ones and seeing what becomes of the other characters mentioned within this story. One I would reread and eventually purchase for myself! - happy reading!

About the author

SHELLEY KASSIAN is the multi-published author of several fictional books, including the Women of Stampede novel, The Half Mile of Baby Blue. She’s passionate about the craft of storytelling and considers herself a genre crosser, given her stories navigate the margins of dark fantasy––romantasy––and romance. A history enthusiast, she’s traveled to the UK and France, to explore secret gardens and medieval castles, having an avid interest in Anne Boleyn and the Tudor period.

Shelley’s taken creative writing courses, held board positions within professional associations, retains a Professional Editing Certificate, and attends conferences to further her writing career. Drawing on her expertise, an author has mentored novice writers, but her passion comes alive while scribing her own stories into novel-length fiction. Shelley shares her life with her husband, adores her adult children and grand pets and lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.