Series:
Sunrise Cove (Book 8)
Lexi Clark's life is falling apart around her, so when
she's summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all
the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and
especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath
Bowman.
Yep, Lexi's pretty sure being home again just might kill
her. She's an overachieving art appraiser who doesn't believe in trust, love,
or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of
life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can't refuse Ashley's plea to honor
their late mother's final wish to make amends with the people she'd wronged.
So, on behalf of her estranged mother's estate -- and with Heath in tow as the
executor -- Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling
addicted mother owed money to.
Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for
Lexi: for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record,
she doesn't like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she's built around
her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and
heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance.
Family. And unbelievably -- if you ask Lexi anyway -- love.
Good story of family, forgiveness, and both romantic and
familial love. Lexi left Sunrise Cove years ago when her parents divorced and
her father got custody of her. Though her mom was a gambling addict and a
neglectful parent, Lexi's father wasn't much better. Her stepsister, Ashley,
remained with their mother, Daisy. A year after Daisy's passing, Lexi returns
to Sunrise Cove to assist Ashley in carrying out Daisy's last wishes.
I enjoyed watching the interactions between the characters.
Lexi immediately has to face Ashley, the sister who stayed with their mother
and had an entirely different relationship with Daisy. She also comes face-to-face
with the executor of Daisy's will, Heath. Heath was her childhood rival and
later crush, with whom she had a complicated past. They must work together to
fulfill their mission.
A significant portion of the book focused on the
relationship between Lexi and Ashley. Lexi is closed off, reluctant to trust
anyone, and haunted by the memories stirred up by her return. Ashley is relentlessly
cheerful and full of life. She has missed Lexi and is determined to repair
their relationship. There are some heartbreaking scenes between them as they
reconcile their differing memories of their mother. I liked seeing Ashley work
her way past Lexi's walls and show her what sisters can mean to each other. It isn't
an easy process, and there are bumps in the road to reconciliation. I loved
seeing Lexi begin to open herself up to the possibilities.
I enjoyed seeing Lexi and Heath's relationship develop.
The sparks are there from the start, but memories of past encounters keep Lexi
from believing in them. Heath has emotional baggage of his own, but those
memories make him especially sensitive to her fears. I loved how he respected
her feelings and gave her the space to process the things she discovered. Some
mixed signals occasionally get in the way of progress, but that doesn't go on
for too long. I couldn't help rooting for them to find their way.
Besides facing her past, Lexi is also at a professional
crossroads. I ached for her and the events that had preceded her return to
Sunrise Cove, and I understood her devastation at what had happened. I loved
seeing her find new purpose in Sunrise Cove. I liked the twist at the end and
cheered for the decision she made.
The secondary characters were great. The people who
received Daisy's letters gave Lexi a new perspective on her mother. Heath's
grandfather was one of my favorites. He has no filter, and it was fun to watch
him jerk Heath's chain. I also enjoyed the close relationship between Heath and
his brother Cole and Cole's family. His nephew was adorable!
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