Cape May, Book 1
From the publisher:
An emotional neighbors-to-lovers romance about a woman determined to heal from heartbreak in Cape May, who kindles an unlikely attraction for her grumpy neighbor with his own tragic past.
https://amzn.to/3GuoPSK
“I think about how a person can be like a Cape May diamond. A dull piece of quartz but when the tide changes, as it always does, they can become shiny and new again.”
Sometimes the tide that sweeps you away can bring you home…
After thirteen years of marriage and seven years of infertility with her supposed soulmate, Sophie Bennett’s life is turned upside down. Not only does she discover her husband is having a sordid affair, on her birthday, but his mistress is also pregnant with his baby. Seeking solace, Sophie flees to Cape May, New Jersey, a quiet coastal town where she spent many summers as a child. There she encounters Liam Harper, a brooding carpenter who seems intent to keep everyone at a distance. Despite his best efforts, Sophie recognizes the vulnerability under his prickly exterior, sparking a curiosity about him that she can’t ignore.
Liam Harper is walking around with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Haunted by a tragedy from his past that changed him forever, Liam doesn’t believe he deserves love or happiness. After being unexpectedly awarded permanent custody of his one-year-old niece, Liam’s script flips yet again. He doesn’t know the first thing about parenthood, and his gruff exterior makes it hard for him to ask for help. When the beautiful and heartbroken Sophie becomes his new neighbor, Liam never expects her to be the one to chip away his defenses.
As the two navigate their attraction and work to heal old wounds, emotions run high. If they want to change the tides of their futures, they must decide whether love is worth the risk. Will they walk away forever, or will fate step in and see them through?
This debut novel is the first book of a series set on the Jersey shore, and is a terrific slow burn romance. Sophie is 38 years old, and on her birthday she walks in on her husband in their bed with another woman. After being married for 13 years and struggling with infertility for most of their marriage, she never expected this kind of betrayal, which only gets worse when it turns out the new girlfriend is pregnant. Sophie feels like her life has been stolen from her, and there is a scene where she confronts the other woman that was memorable and inspiring.
Sophie flees to Cape May on the Jersey shore, where spent some of her happiest childhood summers. Because season hasn’t started yet, she gets a good deal on a small cottage behind a lovely Victorian home. The owner, Ellie, is an older widow who immediately takes Sophie under her wing. Ellie babysits for the man next door, Liam, who recently became guardian to his infant niece when his sister passed away. There’s no baby daddy in the picture, or on the birth certificate for that matter, and Liam’s parents can’t deal with it, leaving him as de facto guardian to Lucy. Sophie is thrilled to help out with the sweet baby girl, and she and Liam start spending some time together. They both have a lot of baggage, and do not rush into anything.
Sophie is a family and marriage counselor and never thought she’d be in this position. There is a psychiatrist in town, and she starts seeing him to help her get through the divorce. Turns out Liam is a long-time patient of the doctor as well, and has had some real trauma in his life that he is still trying to work through. I found it so inspiring that therapy is so well represented here. Sophie’s best friend is devastated that she’s moved away, but they stay in constant contact which helps with everything she is going through. She also makes some new friends in the small beach town.
As Liam and Sophie get to know one another, feelings start to grow. Liam has real issues with feeling like he is not deserving of love, and Sophie is skittish about getting into another relationship while the ink on her divorce is barely dry. But eventually, they both give in to their feelings and find their way to a happy ending. One of the standout aspects of the book is its realistic portrayal of emotional healing and the positive emphasis on therapy. The narrative underscores that recovery is a deeply personal journey, one that unfolds at its own pace.
Overall, Changing Tides is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant read that blends romance with themes of resilience, self-discovery, and second chances. It’s a charming and heartfelt story that explores love and personal growth between two characters in their late 30s—a refreshing change from the typical twenty-something protagonists. I especially appreciated the message that it’s never too late to start over or pursue happiness in whatever form it takes. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series, Chasing Stars, which comes out in September. This feels like my first beach read of the summer, and I loved it.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
CHANGING TIDES by Linny Mack. Page & Vine (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-1964264103. 387p.
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