Who doesn't like a book title that just kind of grabs your attention? Add an author that has so many books under her belt that have been best sellers and you have my attention.

I was in a funk with my reading preferences and needed a change of pace!

While I love reading, lately my personal life has made sitting and reading a wish that was not going to come true. But, and here's the truth, I needed something to lift me out of the dark places that I was in.

A good story with characters that have grown and changed with all the curve balls life can sometimes throw at you, was what I needed!

Fern Michaels hit all of these points for me with her first book in the Twin Lights Series, Smuggler's Cove!

Madison and Lincoln are living a good life filled with every good thing you could think of. Their mother has sheltered them most of their lives even though they are privileged, they are not your typical spoiled rich kids. This works in their favor when their father is arrested and jailed for insider trading and fraud. Madison uses her keen sense of style to carve out a path in the fashion world as an editor for La Femme magazine. Her younger brother Lincoln goes into wealth management with a keen eye to doing the "right" things with money! Especially after witnessing the mayhem and hatred people had after his father's arrest and conviction.

Madison and Linc have left the past behind and worked hard to shed themselves of their father's image. Both change their names and go on to be very successful in their new reality. It wasn't easy, but both of them are happy with the work ethics and their lives as they work hard to be anything opposite to what their father was.

They now learn that their uncle (their dad's brother) has passed away and left them the marina at Smuggler's Cove.

Madison and Linc are hoping for a beautiful place that they can quickly sell and divest themselves of this marina. Neither one of them knows anything about fishing, clamming or anything else to do with boats. This is out of their scope of knowledge and selling it seems to be the right thing to do. That was until they arrived at the marina to find a dilapidated dock, some fishing boats and not much else.

Now I've set the background for you and it's time for you to get the book and read what happens next! Let's just say that all their plans are turned upside down and with it their lives will take a whole new direction. You will enjoy finding out all the ins and outs that Madison and Linc navigate as they make decisions that will have some lasting effects.

Smuggler’s Cove by Fern Michael is a heartwarming story of family survival. Siblings Madison and Lincoln.’s world of wealth and privilege crashes down around them when their father is sent to prison for fraud. The two are able to turn their lives around to become both very successful adults. They inherit a marina on the Jersey Shore shrouded in mystery., complete with the myth that Captain Kidd buried treasure there and hid the map.

This is the first and probably last Fern Michaels' book I'll read. Apparently, it's the first of a new series and basically an introduction to the town of Smuggler's Cove and the characters. The first half of the book was unnecessary to the story. As each character is introduced, their backstory is told. Most of the characters don't even make the final cut. I though it was kinda boring. Others clearly love this author. Just not for me.

Well…while this book, Smuggler’s Cove, ended up being a fun cozy as I had hoped, but I had a tough time trying to figure out what was going on through the first part of the book.

Madison and her brother Lincoln were raised in an elite setting. Money is nothing and they have everything they ever wanted. Don’t even realize there is any other lifestyle. Through it all, they have a mother that obviously loves them and a father who is distant and has no time for them. But his distant attitude is not even the beginning of the problem.

As you can see from what I remember, this story had a somewhat interesting plot. It is just that between the beginning of the book with Gwen and the time when young Madison must get away until she grows up and arrives in Smuggler’s Cove, I was lost. I got one generation mixed up with another and that’s because the story jumps decades without any cohesiveness. It made the whole beginning seem rather disjunct.

Amongst all this were good characters, some that you love and some that you hate. A story that begins to grab you but not til halfway through. As much as I would really like to complain, I kept reading all the way to the end. I think the reason was the writing and the characters. I think I was just so discombobulated at the beginning that I really thought I didn’t like the book. First impressions can mean a lot.

Smugglers Cove
Follow Madison and her brother Lincoln as they go from being privileged, to becoming successful in their chosen fields to inheriting a shabby, run-down marina. It's a very captivating book with many endearing characters! I truly enjoyed it and can't wait to read book 2 in the Twin Lights Series. 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc

The book begins with a short history introducing the reader to Smuggler’s Cove and the legend of a hidden treasure. The story then follows the life of Gwendolyn Wainwright and Jackson Taylor and their two children.

Gwendolyn Wainwright was born into a middle-class family in a small town in Connecticut, and her backstory follows her through college and later moving to New York where she gets her first job and meets Jackson Taylor, an up- and-coming hedge fund manager and scrappy young man determined to be rich. A little more than a year later they were married. Two years later Jackson has moved up in the financial and social world, and he tells Gwen it’s time to have children. Gwen bears two children two years apart, Madison and Jackson. While Gwen enjoyed the lavish life, she found herself in a loveless marriage. Jackson is dominating and controlling, concerned only with making money and interacting with the rich and affluent who can benefit him. After 20 years of marriage and the children are in college, Jackson is arrested for wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud and false filings with the SEC. Their world, as they knew it, crashed.

From there the story follows the life of Lincoln and Madison and how they overcome adversity. They both live in New York and have successful careers. Lincoln, a successful financial consultant, marries Olivia, Madison’s best friend, and Madison becomes the Editor-in-Chief of a fashion magazine. After being notified that their uncle has died, the siblings learn he has left them a marina situated in Smuggler’s Cove in Navesink, New Jersey, between the Navesink and Shrewbury rivers along the Jersey shore. With thoughts of a lavish marina and summer beach get-away, Madison, Jackson and Olivia go to see their inheritance only to find it in shambles with a rundown shack, deteriorating dock and a few skiffs. They decide to rebuild the marina and over time gradually fall in love with the small town and its people. Renovations have been postponed due to the discovery of Dennis Farrell's body, who was the head of a treasure hunting group, found underneath the marina dock. It appears that Farrell was looking for the map and hidden treasure on the marina’s property when he died.

This is not a tense drama or a keep-you-on-the-edge of your seat story, but a book about the life of a family and the legend of a buried treasure. This is the first book of a new series. The characters are well developed and the plot interesting and sets the stage for a sequel. My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

A new series is unfolding from the much loved author Fern Michaels she introduces the little town of Smuggler’s Cove, quietly located on the bank of the Navesink River, just a ferry trip from the hustle and bustle of New Jersey.
Smugglers Cove has a fascinating history as it was the known haunt of pirates. It was also considered as a safe haven for the Dutch traders in the 1600’s before notoriety set in with pirates who operated in the area deliberately causing shipwrecks.
The most notorious of all was Captain William Kidd, whom legend has it, buried much of his stolen treasure somewhere along the shore; treasure hunters have been searching for it ever since!
When Madison Tylor and her brother Lincoln inherit a dilapidated marina from their Uncle they are in turns excited and horrified, but soon come to the conclusion that perhaps this is a gift which, while unexpected could be something they need to understand, in order to be able to give back to a community who rely heavily on the income derived from a place much beloved by their uncle.
Both Madison and Lincoln have had to rebuild their lives from a very young age, becoming successful in their chosen fields. Even though Madison has to come out from behind the wall she has established, Lincoln and Olivia, his wife and long-time friend of Madison find this legacy a breath of fresh air.
As always in their lives when things are looking almost too good to be true, an old map of the area on display in the refurbished marina is stolen, which looks like the work of a notorious treasure hunting gang operating in the area.
Where this will lead them, they have no idea, but they are determined that they will not back away for the challenge. Perhaps it is exactly what they need.
Fern Michael spends considerable time in forming her characters in Smugglers Cove, as she details them individually before bringing all the strands together to build a captivating story based on wealth, theft, destruction, rebirth and change which is also full of the very essence that creates a good story; survival and intrigue.
The Twin Light Series is set to become a great read when you want a little light relaxation set in the intriguing area of Smuggler’s Cove.

This was an enjoyable read - a solid 3.5 rounded up. I love Fern Michaels books and this one is right in the middle. My biggest disappointment is the book ends in a quasi-cliffhanger. I like series books but appreciate when most storylines are wrapped up and then we get to re-visit in the next book. The back stories in this read really took up a lot of time and once the story got going all the details from them really weren't necessary in my opinion. I think the slow start bogged down the important parts of the book. The story at the marina is fun and I look forward to reading the next in the series and hope it has a great resolution. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to the Author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Although Fern Michael's has written more than 150 best-selling books, this was my first book by her.

I found it a bit slow moving with a lot of character development, but it is still a delightful read.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC.

Smuggler's Cove by Fern Michaels
This story starts out with Gwen and she grew up in CT, moved to NY when she finished school and took on small jobs, met others who they liked and roomed together saving money.
Story goes back in time to their relatives lives over the generations. We end up with Lincoln and Madison, brother and sister to Jackson. Notice the presidents names, it's a family thing.
After their father is taken away for financial fraud and locked up their mother takes care of them and as they are in boarding school directs them to get their belongings and where to go from there.
Love that we then follow their lives over the years and how they end up in unlce Kirby's marina in NJ.
Love the small facts about flounder, winter and summer, the ferry from NY to NJ, the locations, the travel and how to renovate a marina, clothing industry and so much more.
There is something for everyone in this book.
Quite the read how it all turns out, never saw it happening as it did.
Received this review copy from Kensington Publishing a via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

#SmugglersCove #NetGalley.

The beginning of the book Smuggler's Cove, the first book in Fern Michaels new Twin Lights series, relied on Ms. Michaels amazing writing ability to hold my attention. The shifts in point of view and time kept pulling me out of the book in spite of the fact that each section hooked me with the flow of her words that carry the feeling that there is so much more to come, and of course, in Smuggler's Cove there was much more to come. Once the background was established, we met the college aged Madison and Lincoln Taylor whose parents and grandparents we were introduced to in the beginning of the book.
Madison and Lincoln lived lives of wealth and the privilege that comes with it, but unlike their father and grandfather, they have not let that special treatment and easy life create self-centered power-hungry people which was really fortunate because their father got caught in serious fraud by the SEC and their whole world changed in a day. With smart planning from their mother, their worlds, while limited, where not wiped out and they raised their heads and kept moving in the direction they wanted to go. They were aware that they were still among the fortunate and appreciated the opportunities that they had.
As middle age landed, they received news of a surprise inheritance that would change their lives and more importantly change them. How they came to react to the inheritance will win the hearts of reader who are sure to root them on through the remainder of the series.
I received a copy of the ARC of Fern Michaels's Smuggler's Cove from Kensington Books via NetGalley. The book hooked me deeply and I am anxious to see where life takes Madison, Lincoln, and their new friends.
#NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #FernMichaels #SmugglersCove #TwinLights

This is first book in a new series. The characters, relationships, and suspense are classic Fern Michaels and will definitely appeal to her long time fans. Recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced reader copy.

At the core, this is a feel-good story. I wasn't quite sure what I would think about it with the spoiled rich kids inheriting the marina. And it did take me a bit to get into it. But as things unfolded, there was more depth to the story than I initially expected. There was solid character growth, thankfully. As a result, the characters are realistic. There are ample red herrings to keep readers engaged. This is the first book in the series, and I would be interested in checking out future installments.

I’m so disappointed & I feel let down. I had to DNF this because I found it to be boring and not anything like I thought it would be.

A litle bit confusing to begin with, timelines etc. But an interesting story of Lincoln and Madison who had grown up as privileged children,
Until one day their world falls apart and all they have is a bequest, an old almost derelict marina. It is lovely to read how with the help of locals, Charlie and Crusty, they begin to put the whole thing back together, working side by side with people they may never have mixed with previously. I felt it finished with a jerk, but gather there is another book to follow.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book, which I enjoyed.

Smuggler’s Cove is my first Fern Michaels and I was amazed to see the number of titles including several series written by her, listed at the front of the book. Smuggler’s Cove is a short book and looks like it is the first in a new series.

Jackson Taylor had a difficult childhood and grew up to be a young man determined to have it all, wealth, prestige, the lot, at any cost. By the time his children, Madison and Lincoln, were teenagers Jackson’s fortunes were reversed in spectacular style and the children’s privileged New York lifestyle was gone. Several years later the now adult children learned that their Uncle Kirby had died and left them his marina at Smuggler’s Cove on the Jersey Shore.

So begins the story of how Madison and Jackson and Jackson’s wife, Olivia, became involved in the world of Smuggler’s Cove. It is good old fashioned story telling and Madison is the principal character. Back in the dark ages when I was young one of my favourite authors of light fiction was Judith Krantz and although her books centred completely on the fashion world, her style was similar to Fern Michaels’.

Smuggler’s Cove is a feel-good story, without being a fluff piece or sloppily romantic (although a romance is hinted at). Perfect for a cozy sit-down with animal of your choice on your lap and beverage of your choice close by. Thank you NetGalley for my reader’s copy.

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

I always love a Fern Michaels. I loved the characters. I loved the plot. I can't wait to see more of this series.

In Smuggler's Cove, Fern Michaels tells a captivating story of transformation and unexpected adventure. Madison Taylor and her brother Lincoln once enjoyed a life of privilege, but their lives took a sharp turn when their father was arrested for fraud, stripping them of their sheltered existence. Now, Madison is an accomplished fashion editor at La Femme magazine, while Lincoln teaches wealth management, both determined to leave their troubled past behind.

When an unexpected inheritance from their late uncle lands them the co-ownership of a dilapidated marina at Smugglers Cove, their plans quickly change. Instead of a luxurious property, they are greeted with a rundown dock and a few aging gas pumps—hardly the glamorous escape they hoped for. Their situation goes from bad to worse when a dead body is discovered floating beneath their dock, turning their new property into a crime scene and throwing them into a small-town mystery.

As Madison swaps her stylish wardrobe for cargo pants and flannel shirts, both siblings embark on a crash course in the quirky dynamics of Jersey shore life, fueled by pirate legends and a mysterious treasure map. Along the way, they not only face the complexities of the investigation but also discover hidden depths within themselves and their relationship as siblings. Smuggler's Cove is a delightful blend of intrigue, humor, and self-discovery that reminds readers that sometimes life's most unexpected turns lead to the greatest adventures.

This is the first book in the Twin Lights series. I loved the story and the quirky characters. Lessons to learn and a mysterious treasure map. I highly recommend.

A lighthearted read that has enough mystery and emotion to kep you reading til the end. It touches on the generational ties that families have and goes deeper into the sibling relationship. Loved the characters and the plot. Recommend.