When to choose between love and friendship…

Synopsis

It’s been over twenty years since Cass Marshall’s relationship fell apart, and she returned home to Bellbird Bay. Now, although happy with the success of her beachwear business, Cass often longs for someone special to share her life.

Nursing the wounds of a failed marriage, Mick Roberts has finally accepted his ex has moved on with her life. Determined to avoid his daughter’s attempts at matchmaking, he immerses himself in his whale-watching business.

When family sickness brings the two together, Cass wonders if her life is about to take a turn for the better. But with Mick’s ex-wife also being Cass’s best friend, a seed of doubt emerges.

This doubt intensifies when Cass’s recently widowed ex arrives in town, determined to use any means to drive a wedge between Cass and Mick as he fights for a second chance.

Can Bellbird Bay work its magic again and provide a happy ever after for Cass and Mick, or are they destined to spend the rest of their lives alone?

My review

Cass Marshall has always been very secretive about her relationship twenty years ago. The end of it drove her back home to Bellbird Bay, where now she is running successfully her own beachwear business.
Maybe saying that Cass is jealous of seeing everyone around her, including her best friend, seeing finding love again, but it stings a little bit.
Mick Roberts is still facing the fact of his failed marriage, even if he wishes his ex – wife all the best. But he for sure could go without his daughter’s matchmaking.
Cass and Mick have always known each other and were friends, but things start to shift between them. Yet with Mick’s ex – wife being Cass’s best friends, it’s not only a matter of following their feelings, but also keep loyalties.
But is it right to prioritize friendship over a chance at love? And what when there is a sudden reappearance in Cass’s life?

As usual it was a delight to return to Bellbird Bay. It is always so heartwarming to see ow people, no matter what age or background, are always able to find a(nother) chance at love. And the lovely setting for sure helps!

Perhaps this book was in a way more complicated than the previous books in this series. Because it’s already not that easy being in a new relationship, with growing feelings. But if you add in the equation that the love interest is the ex of your best friend, well, let’s make things even more complicated, why not!

From the start, Cass is facing different issues all at the same time. Not only is she looking after and taking care of her mother, but suddenly she finds herself with an unexpected lodger in the form of her sister’s son Justin. And then seeing everyone around her having romance in their lives, makes her wish for her own romance, but not the romance she lived twenty years ago.

It would be easy to judge Cass from the past. But I could also see how she was being played and even used by her ‘partner’, who was never even thinking about choosing Cass.
Yet I liked it how Cass has been able to put that past behind her, and create her own successful business.

And it was great to see how Cass just understood her nephew Justin, even if in fact they didn’t know each other that well before.
She also understands that perhaps it isn’t Justin who is the problem, but rather the parents, a.k.a. his father.

And obviously there is the blooming romance with Mick. we already knew that Mick made a mess of his marriage, and it seemed that he wouldn’t change.
But after a scare, I liked it to see how Mick understands his errors and that a change is needed.

It was lovely to see his interactions with his daughter, and how he would do anything to put a smile on her face, even if that means to allow her matchmaking schemes. All while he isn’t looking for love. But we all know that love doesn’t work that way, don’t we! 😊

So I truly liked to see the shifts in Cass’s and Mick’s relationship. While it starts with understanding each other with the care of parents, they rely more and more on each other, becoming friends and realizing that feelings run deeper than that.

I have to admit, while it was lovely to see the progress between Cass and Mick, I was a bit disappointed and even a bit angered towards Greta…
I couldn’t comprehend why she was so against Cass and Mick getting closer, especially as Greta herself had found her happy ever after with Leo…
It struck to me like she was jealous, instead of being happy to see her best friend falling in love.
So more towards the end I was glad that Greta changed her opinion, as I wouldn’t want to dislike her! 😊

Greta and her opinions didn’t make it easy for Cass to just go with the flow with Mick. it was truly a case of choosing is losing… Because if she listens to Greta, she would lose Mick and her chance at love. But if she chooses Mick, it would jeopardize the friendship with Greta.

Nevertheless, Bellbird Bay wouldn’t be Bellbird Bay if it wouldn’t work its magic also on this pair! And while I loved this journey throughout the whole series, it’s also with a sad heart that I finished the last chapter, as the whole series came to an end.
Maggie Christensen took us once again on a real trip, showing us that love perhaps doesn’t always go straightforward. And there may be a few or several bumps underway, but following your heart and persevere can bring you your own happy ever after.