I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

“Someone once said, it doesn’t matter how many times you fall. It matters how many times you get up.”

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Audrey, NY editor and recent divorcee, inherited a three-storey house and inheritance money from a distant relative, Aunt Ruth, who m she wasn’t even sure was a relative. In a journey to find herself again, Audrey decides to move hours away from New York to Cape May, and in the process of fixing the house up, finds a treasure map. But the map leads to so much more than treasure.

This was such a quaint little tale of self-discovery. I laughed a lot, especially when Audrey was juggling so much attention, she seemed so unaware. Anyhow, the characters were great, and Lee was my absolute favourite character of all. The journey Audrey went on was incredible, and I truly believe this is something a lot of people struggle with after divorce and it was nice to have some older characters portrayed rather than the usual younger 20-somethings. I also need this house in my life!

I rated this four star, because I found that the ending was rushed. Until the last couple of chapters, this took a really nice leisurely pace, but it was almost missing something in-between the last few chapters. I felt as if a lot of questions were answered, such as about Danny, and his obsession about the map. Although it was a really great story, those last few just moved too quickly.

Recommend for a nice cosy read.

This story is a cute, fun little coffeeshop read as the main character described one of the books that she was reading during the story (little meta fun ;) )
There is a simple, but heartwarming storyline in this book - which is that of a woman who is trying to rediscover herself after her divorce and figuring out how to start over in a new life. An inheritance from a forgotten relative jumpstarts that process and the overall plot of the book and from there the protagonist starts to rebuild not just her life, but also this house that she inherited.
During this process, she discovers a family mystery and discovers some romance - some which works out and some of which really does not.
This works has excellent writing that really draws the reader in and lets them feel and react for the characters.
This is an excellent slice-of-life comfy mystery story to bring on a trip or read on a chilly afternoon.

An editor for a major publishing house inherits a Victorian mansion on the beach in New Jersey. She's reeling from a divorce and looks forward to learning more about her aunt who owned the home. The story nicely portrays her vulnerability, in spite of being obviously intelligent, and also adds a bit of history to the plot. The book is set in the 1970s, and at times, I had to remind myself of that when I wondered why they didn't just look up something on the internet! This was a good story with good characters.

This was a charming and delightful read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the small beach community. Audrey is finalizing her divorce when she inherits a Victorian mansion in a New Jersey beach town from her Aunt Ruth. Audrey is an editor in a New York publishing house, but they are allowing her to work from home, so she packs up and moves into the mansion. During some renovations, Audrey finds a treasure map hidden in a wall which sends her searching for answers from the past. During her search she makes some new friends and has a few relationships emerge.

I loved the interaction between the characters and the friendships that developed. Audrey made some great strides in growth after her move as well. This book had a nice historical mystery and an amazing love story as well.

Thanks to Solstice Publishing through Netgalley for a copy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Sorry, but I found this really disappointing. The characters were flat and one dimensional. I found it difficult to engage with Audrey or Lee or indeed any of the characters - who seemed to be mere cyphers rather than fully fleshed out individuals. The signposting about which characters we could trust, and about events which were obviously going to happen seemed to be broadcast from the earliest opportunity. I found there was so much padding - descriptions of meals, decor, people that the pace was slowed down interminably.

Sorry, this was not my cup of tea. I’ve read books set in old houses in this part of the USA which were far more atmospheric and evocative: Barbara Michaels and Phyllis Whitney were absolute masters of the genre back in the day. Btw - Why the setting was the 1970s puzzled me.

Sorry - I’m sure this will interest some readers, but I guess this just isn’t. my cup of tea. I really like the idea of older characters being at the forefront of a story but sadly the author did not do justice to these characters, and the story was hardly original. I’m sure the author put in a lot of effort into this but sadly I didn’t like it.