Book Review: Cottage at the Beach by Lee Tobin McClain

Author: Lee Tobin McClain

Title: Cottage at the Beach

Series: The Off Season #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Christian Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 301

Published: February 25, 2020

Where I got It: My shelf (Used Book Store)

Summary: 

Escape to the Chesapeake Bay, where beach life is full of love, surprises and second chances…

When an injury forces K-9 officer Trey Harrison onto the sidelines, his only thought is getting back to the police force where he belongs. And he’ll do anything to make that happen—even volunteer in a small waterfront community, just to please his boss. But no one ever said Trey had to enjoy it…

Since the surgery that destroyed her dreams of having children, schoolteacher Erica Rowe has grown even more dedicated to her work with at-risk teens. So she doesn't need some cop with a chip on his shoulder putting the program's future in jeopardy. But when Trey finally connects with the students, Erica's heart melts. And when, in a tender moment, he admits he longs to have children, her heart breaks. She's convinced he'd be better off with someone who can give him everything, but she can't seem to shake the hope that maybe love is enough…

Review:

Honest to goodness, I do not recall where I got this book. I want to say it was one of the used book stores around me *thinks for a long, long time*. Whelp, I don't recall, so that is what I'm putting down. Eeee. I'm terrible. It's been bugging me so much while reading this...where did I buy this???? Was it a gift????? Whoopsies. 

Okay, so we have Trey and Erica. Trey was injured due to a big mistake he made, and now he's trying to get back on track. He wants to get back on the force with his K9 pal. He'll do anything, including volunteering in a small waterfront community. Enter Erica, whose dreams of having kids were dashed due to a preventative surgery. With that dream gone, she has made a new one to help at-risk teens. She has set up a program, but she will have to work side-by-side with Trey, who is bitter and grumpy. Things change when Trey finally connects with her students and her crazy dog. He has found the key to her heart, but he wants more than what she can give him. Will it be enough?

This town is making me yearn for spring and summer. I want to sit on my porch in the sun and read! I can't wait!

I didn't realize this technically falls in the "Christian Romance" section until I was done reading it. I assumed it was just a clean romance, and that was fine. God was mentioned a couple of times, but it never overwhelmed the plot or made me feel uncomfortable like I was having it shoved down my throat. So yayyy for that. 

The beginning was a bit of a struggle. Yes, Trey had issues, but man, was he so unlikable at first. Once he chills out and you see the soft side of him, he will win you over. But man. It was touch-and-go for the first few pages. I'm glad I stuck to it.

I did want to smack both of them during a certain scene. JUST tell him, man. The way she went about it was terrible and mean. I get why he reacted the way he did. GRRRRRR!

And please....the proposal? WHY!? You had like ONE date, sir. CALM DOWN. *grumbles*

But I will say the epilogue was very sweet and nice. 

THE DOGS STOLE THE SHOW!

I hated the side stories. Okay...hate is strong, but it didn't help the plot along. It felt like filler and nothing more. Don't get me wrong, I liked the side characters, but their story could have waited until book 2. Maybe give us some teasers and etc, but meh. 

In conclusion.....this was entertaining enough. Some issues, but I couldn't walk away. I was invested! Not sure if I'll read book 2, but maybe? If the price is right. 

3 stars. 

Reading Challenge(s)

- Reading Romance Challenge #6 (Book starts with same letter as your name)

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

Format: 304 pages, Paperback

Published: July 7, 2024 by HQ Fiction GB

Fiction/borrowed

This felt heavier than I had expected.

Small southern town which seems to be filled with neonazis, racists, biggots, well you name it. And then Lula Dean gets the notion that books makes you gay, trans, everything that that is not Christian and right. So she bans most books from the library and opens her own little booklibrary thing on her front lawn.

The book is told in in many povs that gets their own chapter. Bad ones that think this is right, good ones that want to fight it, and then the middle people who I found interesting. The ones who went to see what crappy books she had and found other books inside. And those books changed their lives. They learned about rape, racism, antisemitism and wanted to change something in their lives.

An interesting book, and there is hope. Also for I really liked the epilogue for once. That one was cool

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.

Audiobook Review: A Change of Plans by Dennis E Taylor

Author: Dennis E Taylor

Narrator: Neil Hellegers
Title: A Change of Plans

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy, Short Story
Format: Audiobook
Published: October 22, 2019
Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

Earth is dying, and humanity is scrambling to set up colonies in other star systems. But the search process for habitable planets is not perfect, as the crew of the Ouroboros discover on arrival at their new home.

Review:

Gotta love a nice short SciFi. It's how I like 'em. Short, sweet, and to the point. 

Humanity is scrambling to set up colonies in other star systems because Earth is dying. The crew of Ouroboros has arrived to their new home, but it's not.........perfect. 

I've heard of the author, and I've been curious, so I decided to give this little short a chance. A little bit of a taste, ya know?

It sounds like this universe is set up. There seems to be more stories out there, but this story did fine alone. I was never confused, and that is a def a bonus for SciFi stories. Some authors get too stuck in the weeds of details. The author did a good job, so I may check out a full-length someday. If you like this author, give me a recommendation! I'm so dang picky with SciFi. 

So yes....we have a crew out on adventure. They are tasked to find other planets that might work for the humans. Earth is dying, and we need to colonize. Typical. The crew was nice, but I couldn't tell you any of their names, so they were slightly forgettable. Not bad, just atypical. 

The little battle was fun. 

The ending was nice. 

The narrator is a gem. I really like his voices. I've heard an audio or two of his and know his voice. It's nice, and he does well even with lady voices. 

Overall, this was a nice taste of SciFi. Perfect while working on an Excel for work. Quick and intense. 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #9

Audiobook Review: Garters, Ghosts and Wedding Toasts by Angie Fox

Author: Angie Fox

Narrator: Hollie Jackson
Title: Garters, Ghosts and Wedding Toasts

Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #15

Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Cozy mystery
Format: Audiobook
Published:  February 27, 2026
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

When Verity Long agrees to be her sister’s maid of honor, she expects wedding cake and champagne—not a dead hostess, a cursed honeymoon suite, and a ghostly bride reliving her tragic final moments. With a killer on the loose, a ballroom full of restless spirits, and Frankie stirring up trouble with a rogue ghost hunter, Verity must race to uncover the truth before Melody’s dream wedding becomes her worst nightmare.

Review:

Yayy book 15! Been waiting so long for this one (*cough* not that long *cough*)

Note......read the other books before this one. Lots of references, etc. 

The time has come for Verity's sister to get married! Verity hopes it will be a calm and beautiful wedding weekend filled with cake and champagne. But alas, that will not be the case.....the honeymoon suite is cursed, there is a ghostly bride reliving her tragic moments, a killer is on the loose, Frankie is causing trouble, and secrets everywhere. It will be up to Verity and team to find the truth and stop Melody's man from being the next victim. 

Always a blast. I simply love Verity and her crew. 

Loved the mysteries. So many red herrings and so many people (and ghosts) with motives. Who knows! I had zero idea until close to the end.

I'm still a little on the fence about our new narrator. This is her second one, and I am still feeling pouty about it. I loved our old voice, but this one is doing okay. Maybe the next book I'll finally settle in with her voice. Sighs. 

But yes, so much fun. Great characters. A fun local change. Wedding. Love. Ghosts. What more can you ask for?

Stamping this with 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #8