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#Review of Back to the Beginning (a Mer Harbor series novel #1) by Christina Ann Gist w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @GoddessFish #contemporaryromance

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christina Ann Gist will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mer Harbor is a small, coastal town in Southern California. Everyone knows everyone, and nothing is a secret among Mer Harbor residents. Some hope to escape someday, while others find the charm of the town enticing, and never leave.Everley Romero and Heath Mitchell had always planned to take on the world together. To leave Mer Harbor and pursue their dreams. It all seems to crumble when a tragic loss sends them in different directions. Almost ten years later, Everley finds herself on the receiving end of a bitter divorce, leaving her no choice to return to the home – and past – she’d hoped to leave behind for good. Heath is building a good life for himself in Mer Harbor. When he crosses paths with Everley, he learns that they’ll both have to face a past full of heartbreak and loss that they’ve both tried to bury.

Read the Excerpt

“Hey sweetheart.” Heath sat down on the grass by the headstone that marked where his little girl was buried. “I brought you a daisy.” He pulled the little white flower from his coat pocket and laid it next to the stone.

She couldn’t answer, and the grave was nothing more than a memorial, but visiting and talking as if she were listening made him feel better. “I know your birthday’s not for another two weeks,” he continued, “but I’ve had a rough few days.” He choked up, “It’s been nearly eight years, yet I still feel as if we lost you just yesterday. Your mother’s come back into town, and that’s probably part of the reason it hurts so much more right now.”

“Sorry,” someone whispered softly. Heath looked up and saw Everley walking towards him, stopping a short distance away. “I didn’t know you were here… I can come back later. ”

“Nonsense,” he said quietly, “there’s plenty of room here.”

Everley hesitated, then started shaking. “I haven’t been here since the funeral. It was always too painful-” whatever else she was going to say was lost in mumbles as she started crying.

Heath stood and crossed the distance she’d left between them. He expected her to pull away when he wrapped his arms around her, but she stayed, burying her face in his chest as he tried to calm her. She continued talking, but it was hard to understand her muffled words. It sounded like apologies, but he couldn’t quite make out for what. “Shhhh,” he soothed, “it’s all right… I’ve got you.” He felt her arms wrap around his waist, and he squeezed her tighter, letting her know he wasn’t going anywhere.

Let me start by saying that book has a lot of angst in it.  Now typically, that’s a DNF for me but with this one, I just had to see how it was all going to play out.  Since this is a childhood sweethearts/second chance romance, my heart and mind were into it…big time.  Oh my, Everley and Heath had a bunch of stuff to work out before they got to the end.  Especially, Everley.  Man, that girl was messed up in the head.  She really tore at my heartstrings with her struggles throughout the book.

She had to go through the heartache of the breakup with Heath, rebounding with an idiot, finding her way back to Heath and the friends she left behind.  There was one thing that I would have liked a bit more closure on were her parents but that’s just me.  Did I mention the threats and mishaps along the way?  Nope.  Trust me, I loved that in this book.  It broke up the angst factor and brought a bit of suspense into it and it was great.  I didn’t see it at first but it made perfect sense in the end.  Great job.

Heath has got to be the most patient man on the planet.  He took his time with Everley in the book.  He knew just how to push her but never to be mean.  Everything was literally in Everley’s hands throughout the book but Heath was there always there to lend a hand/shoulder/lips, whatever when she needed it.  Plus, he is a baseball coach.  *sigh*  My son’s high school baseball coach is hot and trust me, I picture that man has Heath.  😉

Ms. Gist has written a real winner and a great start to a series that I can’t wait to read.  Brandi is a hoot.  She has some things to deal with and I loved how Everley handled it.  Not to mention, Ryan and Harper.  I can’t wait to get into their stories.

About the Author:

Telling stories before she could even write, Christina grew up knowing she wanted to be an author. She “published” her first stories with construction paper and handwritten pages for her family and friends. Now, with the magic of technology, she’s able to share her characters and stories with the world.

When she’s not writing, you can find her dabbling in her other favorite hobbies such as photography, stargazing, and of course: looking for her next adventure.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinaanngist

Website: https://www.thesaltynomad.com

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Back-Beginning-Mer-Harbor-Book-ebook/dp/B088NGYB4H/ref=sr_1_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 thoughts on “#Review of Back to the Beginning (a Mer Harbor series novel #1) by Christina Ann Gist w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @GoddessFish #contemporaryromance

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