A summer by the ocean promises new beginnings -- until
old secrets resurface.
Ismay Chalmers is ready for a relaxing summer
reconnecting with her fiancé at his family's luxurious beachfront cottage. But
before Remy can join her, a hurricane bears down on Mariners Island. Alone in
the large house, Ismay makes a disturbing discovery in Remy's childhood closet.
She's not sure what to make of it, but is relieved when the property's
caretaker, Bo, checks in on her.
Bo's home is damaged, so they temporarily shelter
together, and Ismay is comforted by his quiet strength. But the unannounced
arrival of a family member puts Bo back at his place and changes Ismay's summer
into something other than what she wants -- or ever expected. With so many
reasons to feel unsettled, Ismay finds herself turning to Bo, who gives her
more than a sense of security; there's something about him that makes her feel
alive, stirring her to wonder what life might be like if she chose a different
path…
As Ismay grows closer to Bo, she begins to hope the
reclusive caretaker might eventually let down his guard. But when she finds out
that he has secrets, too, she begins to question how well she knows any of the
men in her life -- and how well she can trust her own heart.
Good romance with a bit of suspense mixed in to make
things interesting. Ismay and Remy have been a couple for three years and
living together for two of them. They met at college, where Ismay was studying
to be a lawyer while Remy attended medical school. At the beginning of this
book, Ismay graduated and passed her exam, and Remy is studying for his finals.
They plan to take the summer off to spend time with each other and rejuvenate
their relationship, which has suffered under the stress of their studies. Ismay
has arrived at Remy's family beachfront cottage on Mariner's Island, where she
will hang out until Remy can join her.
Shortly after her arrival, the island is hit by a massive
storm, something the farm girl from Utah has never experienced before. While
searching for a flashlight or candles, she stumbles across some disturbing
items in Remy's old bedroom. She's relieved when the home's caretaker, Bo,
arrives to fix the generator and check on her. There is something about Bo that
makes her feel safe, so when the storm damages his house, she has no problem
inviting him to stay at the cottage with her. Matters become more complicated
when Remy's twin brother, Bastian, shows up unexpectedly.
First impressions: I liked Ismay. She has worked hard to
get where she is and is rightfully proud of her accomplishments. She grew up on
a family farm in Utah and had a solid value system. She is kind and courteous,
and I liked how she treated Bo as an equal rather than as a servant. She looks
forward to spending time with Remy because she feels they have drifted apart.
But after finding those things in his closet, she wonders how well she really
knows him.
I liked Bo, too. He has had a difficult life and, as a
result, keeps mostly to himself. He doesn't trust easily and is wary of Ismay
when he meets her. It doesn't take him long to realize that she differs from
Remy. I liked his protectiveness toward her and his neighbor, Honey. Bo also
has a big secret he has been keeping from everyone, which could change how
people look at him.
Remy and Bastian. I didn't like either one of them. Remy
is focused on himself and his goals and expects Ismay to go along with them. I
didn't like how he took her for granted. But in her conversations with him, I thought
something else was going on. Bastian creeped me out from the moment he
appeared. He is rude, crude, and far too interested in making obnoxious
comments to Ismay. There is also something odd in the relationship between the
two brothers.
Jack. Ismay's brother is going through a devastating
divorce that has left him reeling. Ismay invites him to come to Mariner's
Island to escape the gossip and decide what he wants to do. He has been
expected to follow in his father's footsteps as a farmer but realizes that may
not be what he wants from life. Jack is a nice guy and stays with Bo while on
the island. I liked how he pitched in to help with the storm cleanup and how
easily he made friends with Bo.
I liked how Ismay confided her worries to Bo. They worked
together to find out the truth about the things they found. The more they
learned, the more worried they became. There were several worrisome twists, and
I couldn't decide who the most likely culprit was. The more time she and Bo
spent together, the closer they became. This also contributes to Ismay's
concern over her relationship with Remy and leads to an examination of her
choices. I felt her confusion and liked seeing her take a hard look at her
options. Bo's secret comes out because of Bastian's underhanded actions, straining
the developing relationship between Bo and Ismay. I ached for both as they came
to terms with the revelation and what it meant to them.
The epilogue was an excellent wrap-up to the story.
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