Christmas on the Coast

GIVEAWAY

MCCLAIN, LEE TOBIN

CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST

There's no better place to spend Christmas than on the Chesapeake Bay, where it's always the perfect season to start over.

Former police officer Paul Thompson has come to the little town of Pleasant Shores to heal his PTSD. The prescription involves volunteering, therapy and, most of all, a stable routine for his young son. Falling for Amber Rowe, however, would make that stability impossible. Even though she immediately bonds with little Davey, Amber's future is filled with uncertainty, and Paul can't bear to see his son love and lose someone else.

Amber got to know Paul's late wife while writing a book about cancer. In doing so, she learned a secret that could tear Paul's world apart. Keeping her distance is the best way to avoid unwittingly causing turmoil for a man she's come to care about more than she ever intended. But as Christmas draws near and their joint volunteer project develops, so does the depth of their feelings. And soon, Amber will have to choose between keeping a promise and committing a risky love...

My Review:

Excuse me while I check for bruising after all that emotional sucker punching. My heart has been pummeled and I might have gotten a bit teary by the end of this story. I also felt rage over injustices and exasperation over thoughtlessness and deep, abiding sorrow over how sometimes life just isn't fair! In other words, I'm an overwrought pretzel of colliding emotions. Happy sigh -- just the way I like to feel at the conclusion of novel.

McClain has crafted an explosive second chance love story made all the more powerful by the seasonal setting. This is the third book in her Off Season series but it can be read as a standalone. I've read the first book, but missed the second (though I'll definitely be backtracking.) I'm as attached to the secondary characters as I am to the protagonists and there's a riveting sub-plot that contributed to all my angsting and stewing. 

A bloodhound, a cute kid and Christmas-y vibes bring solace to the emotionally charged romance. And touches of humour. All wrapped up in a small town setting. It doesn't get any better than that!

I enjoyed the audible version of this book narrated by Sandy Rustin who delivered a flawless performance that kept me captivated.

Please note: This is not a Christian Fiction selection, though it is a clean read.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is available in paperback or ebook format -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas on the Coast, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 21 2020. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!