source: review copy via Pump Up Your Book Promotions
Title: Mermaid Beach (Moonlight Harbor Series Book 7)
Author: Sheila Roberts
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
rated: 4 out of 5
blurb:
Bonnie Brinks and her all-woman band, The Mermaids, are the pride of Moonlight Harbor. They’re the house band at The Drunken Sailor, and that’s just the right amount of fame for Bonnie. A lifetime ago, she went to Nashville to make it big, but she returned home with a broken heart and broken dreams. Now she’s got a comfortable life and a brilliant daughter, Avril, who plays for The Mermaids alongside Bonnie and Bonnie’s mother, Loretta.
Avril has big dreams of her own. Her life in Moonlight Harbor is good–she loves singing and playing guitar with The Mermaids, and she has the sweetest, most loyal boyfriend a girl could ask for–but it all feels so…small. She can’t help wondering if there’s something more out there for her. And she doesn’t understand why her mom won’t support her going to Nashville to find out.
Meanwhile, Bonnie threw in the towel on her love life long ago, but Loretta sure hasn’t. She’s determined to be swept off her feet, and she wants the same for her daughter. When the hunky new owner of The Drunken Sailor turns the tables on the band and Avril announces she’s leaving Moonlight Harbor, Bonnie’s comfortable life seems to be drifting away. Will these three generations of Mermaids find their happy endings on the Washington coast? Or will the change in the winds leave them all shipwrecked?
“Blooming with heartfelt charm and swoon-worthy moments…” Woman’s World Magazine
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3D61pi2
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3J0dGs0
Target: https://bit.ly/3wlLGaS
Walmart: https://bit.ly/3XFUB2c
Apple: https://apple.co/3kvheIu
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61214883-mermaid-beach
my thoughts:
Mermaid Beach is the 7th installment in author Sheila Roberts Moonlight Harbor series but reads perfectly fine as a stand-alone. As the story begins, Bonnie Brinks is a single mom, an artist and musician living in Moonlight Harbor. She works part time in her friend’s real estate office. Bonnie’s daughter Avril is a high school music teacher. Her mom Loretta a.k.a. Glamma is a widow and the book starts on the brink of her 65th birthday. All three women are musicians and they formed a band called The Mermaids and they play regularly at the local restaurant/bar The Drunken Sailor. Bonnie and Avril both write songs, sing and play the guitar while Loretta plays the drums. In the past Bonnie has sold some of the songs she wrote so she still earns royalties but has settled into small town life rather than continuing to pursue her music career. Bonnie has a big secret about her past she’s been hiding from her daughter.
Also in the band is Avril’s best friend Gina but she has just announced she’s leaving to Nashville to follow her country music dreams. Avril has always wanted to go to Nasville and become a big country music star herself, but her levelheaded mom Bonnie has advised her to stay home and play it safe since she already has a band and a good career for herself. Much of the issues that arise between Avril and Bonnie are because of this, that Bonnie wants her daughter to stay close to home rather than leave for Nashville.
I loved this story, the small-town setting, the country music vibe and that the book is centered around strong, talented women. I was impressed with Bonnie and Avril’s song writing and lyrics. I enjoy reading books about family dynamics, especially mothers and daughters and that is what the heart of this story revolves around as the plot follows these three tight knit ladies. Bonnie decides she won’t give love another chance after having her heart broken in the past, Avril wants to spread her wings and finally fly and Loretta is dating a man who is exhibiting some shady behavior.
The story flowed smoothly and as I read I didn’t find a dull moment. The small-town setting was cozy, the supporting cast of characters weaved in and out of the storyline nicely and I liked Bonnie, Avril and Loretta right away.
Author Sheila Roberts hooked me in with her writing and I nearly finished this book in one sitting, I just had to know what was coming next. I was totally entertained.
Lastly, this pretty vibrant cover screams summer, I really like it. This was my first-time reading Sheila Roberts and I would definitely read her work again.
“Bonnie poured them each a glass, then stood at the kitchen counter and looked out. It was always windy at the beach, especially in late fall and winter. The canal could look like a glass on a lovely summer morning. This November evening the wind was whipping along the water, pushing it forward, stirring it up.”- Mermaid Beach by Sheila Roberts, 8% kindle version.
“At some point that was what she was going to have to do, step off the ledge she kept clinging to, step out and believe that, this time love would provide the net to catch her.” – Mermaid Beach by Sheila Roberts, 68% kindle version.
about the author:
With fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller – and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark and Lifetime channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she’s not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing.- quoted from Goodreads
Disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any kind of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. My copy of Mermaid Beach by Sheila Roberts came via Pump Up Your Book Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts .
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