Love these small town romances! Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson is the second book in her series Seashell Harbor, named for the fictional small coastal town it is set in. Each book in the series features a new set of characters and can technically be read as a standalone. This book tells Kit’s and Alex’s story.

Kit is a single mom and widow who is ready to begin moving on with her, in whatever form that may take. She’s ready to sell her deceased husband’s inherited home, return to college, and live on her own with their son. There’s only one problem to that: the house is a wreck and will cost more than she can afford to fix it up. Then enters Alex. Alex was Carson’s best friend and is still swimming in the grief of losing him. To make things right and take care of Kit and their son Oliver, Alex returns to Sea Shell Harbor to fix up the old house, but he doesn’t plan for old feelings to resurface.

This is a beautiful story of grief and its ever present fluctuation in your life. Kit is to the point in this story that she can remember her husband fondly without feeling overwhelmed, and yet there are still times that grief overshadows her and drags her under. Alex, in addition to losing his best friend, is dealing with PTSD that comes with being in a war zone. His therapist recommends that he do something to confront it and the house is his choice. While Alex and Kit avoid each other, it is the friendship that blossoms out of their shared grief that drives this story. The romance is achingly sweet here as Alex has harbored an unrequited crush on Kit since high school while Kit has always thought he didn’t like her at all.

Overall I really enjoyed Sea Glass Summer. Kit and Alex are an easy couple to root for and cheer on. I loved Ollie, Kit’s son. He’s feisty and a breath of fresh air, adding levity to the otherwise heavy topics. I love how Alex and Kit find each other in their shared grief. It’s heartbreaking and sweet all at the same time. If you enjoy sweet romance, I highly recommend this one.

After the death of her husband Kit is ready to finally go out there a better herself but that includes selling her late husbands house that's in pretty bad condition. Things get a bit complicated when her husband bestfriend, Alex, returns to help her out.

This was such a sweet book. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved seeing Kit getting out there and doing more for herself, while it was great and all to have a support system after her husbands death, she was beginning to feel like she was using this easier life as a crutch and feeling stuck. She made a list of things she wanted to improve and change and it was great watching as she was working on it. Then in comes Alex who there is a bit of a conflict with being that he's a bit stand offish and grumpy and while he's here to help her out it was interesting seeing the change in him as well. I loved seeing the romance and seeing Alex and Kits son spending time together it was pretty sweet. There was plenty to love and enjoy about this book and highly recommend you readers check this book out.

Listen I was trying to find a flaw because this book just cannot be real and perfect and I was only able to say that I wanted to read about the sexy times between Kit and Alex my goodness it seemed like it was absolutely on fire! I needed to make myself laugh after this emotional roller-coaster, Sea Glass Summer had me wanting more once the book ended I was left pondering what's next for these two and how can I convince Miranda to write a sequel!

Miranda Liasson writes such wonderful stories about living and the daily struggles, heartaches and the love and feel good moments. This was a second chance at love trope.

I could really relate to what Kit was going through, because my husband had some friends from the military that experienced the same catastrophic loss of the husband (a helicopter pilot) dying on a mission. Moving on is very hard, if not next to impossible. I can also relate to the survivor's guilt that Alex experienced, as it is so rampant among the military. Liasson did a fantastic job presenting those feelings.

Little Oliver was the icing on the cake. The way in which Alex interacted with him would have broken through the walls thrown up by anyone. Kit didn't stand a chance, even though she almost sabotaged the relationship. Alex's guilt was enough to have him ready to abandon the relationship multiple times, but the feelings were just too strong. Them working things out was painful at times, but so worth it in the end. This book left me feeling better than any book has in quite awhile!

If for no other reason, you need to read this just for Kit's reaction to Alex buying a pink toilet to put in the house she is going to sell. Alex is indeed all man!

Thanks to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Favorite Quotes:

Well, I’m going to give you the advice I wish someone had given me. You can’t allow fear to call the shots. Because fear has a really loud voice, and it will always talk you out of things. And listening to it will make you feel better, for a while. But then time passes and you see that you’re still exactly where you were before— stuck. Except suddenly you find that you’re a lot older and still haven’t accomplished what you really want.

He tried to remember at what age the good sense to be embarrassed kicked in. Hopefully not at age five.


My Review:

I always enjoy picking up a book by this author. Her emotive word choices, perceptive observations, and descriptive storytelling have an easy fluidity that effortlessly draws me in with completely depicted scenes scrolling like a smooth movie reel behind my eyes. The cast of characters was varied, authentic, easily knowable, and endearingly fractured with grief while struggling to find themselves again. I adore this unique grouping of friends and am eager to see what happens in the next installment.

I absolutely adored this book. It's a first for me from the author Miranda Liasson but I have been wanting to read her books for forever. It's sweet, it's clean, it's everything that I want in a contemporary romance novel.

The story and world building are utterly fantastic. All of the characters are well fleshed out and have interesting personalities. I wish I had friends like these. I wish this place really existed. However, I am just happy about the fact that I can always go back and visit any time I want. Ollie is adorable, I absolutely loved Kit and her family. They literally throw themselves into anything, even when they may or may not agree with their daughter's choices.

At first, I wasn't a huge fan of Alex. I thought he seemed overly stiff and just generally hard to get along with. But then you find out later that he is just an ooey gooey marshmallow on the inside, especially when it comes to Kit and her son Ollie. Once he really started to open up, you can see how well these two match up. Almost too well to be honest. It was a long road getting there but it was a road well worth the trip.

Seeing both of them able to open up and move past their grief even a little bit made my heart extremely happy. The pain, fear, want, and need were very palpable. It just pulls on your heartstrings. You ache for them to get together and to be able to heal.

This may have been my first book of Miranda's but it certainly won't be my last. I absolutely loved this book and I recommend this book to everyone. Especially if you could use a huge dash of happiness these days.

What a amazing book on friendship, grief, and new love. Kit lost her husband in the service. His best friend came back to town to help her fix up the house that was inherited to Carson. Kit is a stubborn and strong woman. Although she doesn’t feel strong. She has been in a holding pattern of grief and living through Carson’s Letters to guide her. Alex his best friend has been in love with her for years but has always guarded his feeling so no one knew. They both share the grief of losing Carson. Ollie is Kit’s son and she is ready to step out and start living again. Her and Alex become friends and truths become known. Love blossoms but Kit doesn’t know if she’s fully ready.
The friendship bond these 3 women have is written so well in this series. I can’t wait for The next book. The loyalty this group of friends have is full of love and closeness. Alex is welcomed in and loved right away. Great characters and story line.
I received a advance copy for a voluntary honest review.

I just love reading books about two people falling in love. By the time I'm done, this warm, happy feeling comes over me. It's so fun reading the scenes, and picturing these two people fall for each other no matter how hard they try to fight it. Miranda Liasson gave me so many happy feels with this book. I felt the chemistry, love, and passion between Kit and Alex. I could also feel their pain and grief from loosing Carson. As a reader, when an author can write so brilliantly that you can see the scenes play out so vividly in your head, and you feel every emotion that goes through the characters, you just have to praise them for outstanding work. Miranda Liasson is pure brilliance. This book, it's characters, and it's charming story will stay with me always.

Finding love when you least expect it, and fighting it all the way. This book is so full of emotion that it will keep you turning the pages until the very end and then wishing there was more. Loved the banter between Alex and Kit. Kit is a single mom raising her son, Ollie and trying to give him the best summer ever. Alex has arrived in Seashell Harbor to help fix up the house that his combat brother left his wife when he passed on. But one innocent kiss between Alex and Kit changes everything.

I highly recommend this perfect beach read. Loved the building romance between Kit and Alex. Alex was wonderful role model to Ollie. Loved the friendship that Darla, Hadley and Kit share. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone.

ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley and Forever

Sea Glass Summer is book2 in the Seashell Harbor series by Miranda Liasson and up next is Kit, her son Ollie and Alex.

Alex has had feelings for Kit since high school but his decreased best friend, Carson got her first. Now Alex is fulfilling a promise to make sure Kit and Ollie are taken care of. What starts between Kit and Alex as adversaries takes a turn and maybe these to can find a way to heal the past and move to a HEA.

This books has all the feels, tension, family, friends, mourning Carson and finding a way to the future…

What a marvelous 5 star read. You'll find yourself laughing and crying along with Alex, Kat and Ollie as they forge ahead after a tragedy.

Alex and Carson were best friends growing up and when a bit of spilled punch altered their future, they continued. Entered the service together becoming Navy Seal pilots. When a freak accident during training makes Alex sick and in the hospital, Carson replaces hom in a mission that ends up costing him his life.

Struggling with survivor's guilt and his need to care for his best friend's widow and son, Alex heads back to their home town to help Kat renovate the inheritance her husband left her.

Sparks fly, tempers too and passion is ignited but can Alex and Kat overcome the past to build the future they deserve? A wonderful beach read and although part of a series this is a standalone story.

Net Galley and the publisher offered me an ARC but the review and opinions are voluntarily submitted. This story is too good to miss!

Each time I've picked up a Miranda Liasson book, I've been taken to a community I'd like to visit where I've met people I'd like to befriend. Once again, that's the case with the second book in Liasson's Seashell Harbor series: Sea Glass Summer.

One of the things I'm most enjoying about this series is the three women at its core. Kit, Hadley, and Darla are friendship goals. Childhood friends who have returned to their hometown and solidified their bonds as adults, I love how they support one another, challenge each other, and don't hesitate to tell the hard truths when necessary. Their scenes together are some of my favorites in the series.

Then there's the romance. Liasson aims straight for the heart in this book and does not miss. There's so much depth of emotion, so many layers for both Kit and Alex to navigate. I enjoyed the slow burn of their journey, the time that is taken to steer them gradually through the murky waters of grief, and guilt, to understanding, self-forgiveness, and love. I enjoyed the journey each of them took individually as well as the one they took together. These two are so realistic, so relatable, and very endearing. It wasn't difficult to be come emotionally engaged with them both, to be their sideline cheerleader as their hearts slowly heal and the friendship that grows between them deepens into something more. I shed tears with them, laughed with them, and happily celebrated their hard-won love.

Another highlight for me is Ollie, Kit's young son. Such an adorable character and so very realistic. His evolving relationship with Alex is one of my favorite threads in the book.

If you're a fan of the Seashell Harbor series, you will undoubtedly enjoy catching up with Hadley and Tony (Coming Home to Seashell Harbor) and will mostly likely be as curious as I about where the tenuous relationship between divorced couple, Darla and Nick is headed next. I don't know when their book will be published but I am already eager to read it.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

A beautifully written story about starting over after loss. Kit lost her husband overseas, and has struggled to overcome her depression and grief in order to take care of their son. Now she is on a mission to get her life together, and part of that is fixing up- then selling, the home of her husband's dreams. Determined to do it alone, she is stunned and infuriated when her husband's best friend Alex shows up and offers to help, despite being told no.

Alex is living with years of guilt piled on his shoulders. First, for not being able to save his best friend, and second, for being in love with his best friend's wife for years. So as a penance, he is determined to repair the home that is falling into decay and make it into home that will bring Kit the money she needs to start over again.

Two hearts full of love. Two people determined to stay aloof from each other. When fate gives you another chance at love, you can't be foolish enough to walk away.

Kit Blakemore has been grieving the loss of her husband, trying to raise her young son alone, and trying to find her way back to living again. She wants to go back to school to secure their future, first though she must sell the fixer upper home her husband bought. The house has been on the market for what seems like forever. Kit is struggling, but when she goes to see the house, she is in for a surprise. Can Kit let the one man who infuriates her help her?

Alex de la Cruz made a promise to his best friend that he would look out for his wife and son if something should ever happen to him. Now that his friend has passed on, Alex has a plan how he can help. He must renovate and help Kit sell the old Victorian relic that her husband bought before he passed. Can Alex keep his long-harboured feelings for Kit aside while he tries to help her?

Miranda Liasson brings us such a sweet story of love lost and new beginnings. All the characters were very well written, and I loved getting to know Kit, Alex and especially Oliver. The struggles the characters faced were written with such depth and dimension, I was drawn right into the small town of Seashell Harbor and the people that lived there. I was gifted an advanced readers copy by Forever Publishing, so my thanks to them. My review is entirely my own. This is an awesome series my friends and a solid five star book.

Sea Glass Summer is the second book in the Seashell Harbor series. The first book, Coming Home to Seashell Harbor is Hadley and Cam's story. Sea Glass Summer is Kit, Alex and Ollie's story. Ollie is a sweet little boy, five years old. The son of Kit and her husband Carson. Strong protector never made it back from his military mission. Grieving Kit moved herself and her son into her parents house for support mentally but after three years there she is ready for them to have some breathing room and her to get on with her life.
The fixer upper Victorian beach house her late husband owns is a total money drain but she vows to put everything she has into it to fix it up and sell it. She's noticed her son has lagging confidence and frankly she does as well. She's convinced being out on their on will help this tremendously.
Grieving deeply for her husband she promises herself she will do all she can to keep her husband's memory alive for her son.
Fixing the beach house has taken more money than she realizes so when her husband's best friend Alex offers to help with the repairs at cost she finds it's an offer she can't refuse.
Alex is grieving right along with Kit because he and Carson have been best friends for so long.
Spending so much time with Alex she finds herself falling for him and he has had feelings for her for forever but with her being married never acted on them.
I love how the relationship between Kit and Alex moves slowly and respectfully. He loves Ollie and includes him in many things. All looks great in this relationship until Kit finds out a secret Alex has been keeping and it devastates her. Will the relationship be able to recover and go back to where it was? This book is so down to earth,homey and realistic. It brought me to tears a few times.
I highly recommend it!

Pub Date 28 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Sea Glass Summer is my favorite book in this series so far. I really liked Alex. He was the perfect match for Kit and was great with Ollie and Rex.

I love the small town of Seashell Harbor and can't wait for my next visit.

I have only read one other book by Miranda Liasson, which was in another series. This one was just as wonderful! At first I wasn't sure about this one. It didn't take long to before my heart was squeezing. I loved the storyline of healing hearts. She wrote excellent characters. I was completely invested in them. This was refreshing romance. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this book. This is my voluntary and honest review.

Kit Blakemore is trying to figure her life out since her husband has died. She is in a rut and her friends and parents are worried about her. She is also trying to figure out a way to give her son a fun Summer. Alex de la Cruz was in the military with Carson Blakemore. He is still dealing with survivors guilt. He has come home to help Kit get the house that Carson and her bought together ready to sell. From the very beginning they clash about everything. It also extends to Ollie, who is struggling. What Kit never knew is that Alex has had a crush since high school. Alex believes he has no right to have feelings for Kit. Sometimes you need to let your friends smash bubble so that love can find the way..

What a beautifully written story! We get all the feels in this one as we learn about Kit and Alex's past with Carson. While they both mourn Carson, there is healing as they learn to move forward and cherish the past, embracing the present with all it has to offer. The love of family and friends there to help with each step, even providing a few gentle pushes along the way. Ms. Liasson has another winner! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Moving forward.

I thought this was a very good story, where we meet Kit and her son Ollie as they are learning to move forward after the loss of her husband.
There's a lot of emotions to work though but it was well done and done with a deft hand. Their dynamic is changing as Alex is bringing a missing piece to their little family.