The perfect getaway with many surprises

Synopsis

Tired of the city, Grace Clelland returns to Blue Sands, the quiet Cornish seaside village where she grew up. There she will meet old flames and old friends, rekindle old loves and ignite new ones in a novel that will have you dreaming of the soft crash of the waves on the shore, the feel of sand between your toes, overloaded ice-creams and smoky beach barbeques.

My review

Saying that Grace Clelland is having a hard time is surely an understatement… Her boyfriend Gavin broke up with her, and now she is fearing that a customer will press charges after a huge misunderstanding.
These last two episodes were just the tip of the iceberg, so being persuaded by her best friend Joan, Grace decides to return home to Blue Sands.
Quickly her summer back home turns out to be a blast from the past, and Grace faces her past decisions, and has new decisions to make, involving her own future.

In the first few chapters, I truly pitied Grace. Her boyfriend Gavin was in my opinion truly a wimp… His excuses are really the lamest ones, and Gavin should really start to grow some balls.
And also all the crap she had to endure at her work, I can honestly say I would have done what she did so much earlier!

When finally back in Blue Sands, she gets the shock of her life, because it’s obvious that Joan has been keeping a secret from her…

And I have to say, even if I would be initially angry with Joan with keeping that kind of information, I admired her positive attitude and willingness to be a happy person and not allowing to let something hold her back.

Being back home means for Grace that she has to face the decisions she once made. And also putting those decisions and consequences behind her. She realizes holding on to the past, is holding her back for a bright future that may lay ahead.

I loved reading how Grace started to feel home again, and shows that entrepreneurship on saving wat matters to her.
I was laughing when her artistic ideas turned out to be a disaster, but also felt a sense of proudness when finally the perfect picture was realized.

Going back home can make you feel like a failure, but sometimes going back home is exactly what you need. Memories are coming back, people that cared and you cared about, still love you no matter what.
And being back home, can make you realize what you truly want for life.
It can start with small steps, with starting back to surf, to use your old bike again to climb that mountain, and the wish to discover who the Masked Surfer is…
And maybe, why not, fall in love again with someone unexpected…

I found this a sweet, warming story about finding yourself again, fighting for the right cause and love. Love between old friends, lost loves, love for new friends and even love that shifts form.
The author wrote a beautiful story showing us that going back is not always a bad thing, but it can be the start of something new and wonderful.