Review: The Path to Sunshine Cove by RaeAnne Thayne

THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE

RaeAnne Thayne
Publication date: March 30, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: HarperCollins/Harlequin
4 Stars
 

She knows what's best for everyone but herself...

With a past like hers, Jessica Clayton feels safer in a life spent on the road. She's made a career out of helping others downsize--because she's learned the hard way that the less "stuff," the better, a policy she applies equally to her relationships. But a new client is taking Jess back to Cape Sanctuary, a town she once called home...and that her little sister, Rachel, still does. The years apart haven't made a dent in the guilt Jess still carries after a handgun took the lives of both their parents and changed everything between them.

While Jess couldn't wait to put the miles between her and Cape Sanctuary, Rachel put down roots, content for the world--and her sister--to think she has a picture-perfect life. But with the demands of her youngest child's disability, Rachel's marriage has begun to fray at the seams. She needs her sister now more than ever, yet she's learned from painful experience that Jessica doesn't do family, and she shouldn't count on her now.

Against her judgment, Jess finds herself becoming attached--to her sister and her family, even to her client's interfering son, Nate--and it's time to put everything on the line. Does she continue running from her painful past, or stay put and make room for the love and joy that come along with it?

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Jess travels light and uses her no-nonsense approach when helping her clients downsize and declutter their homes. When she arrives in Cape Sanctuary, with her vintage Airstream trailer in tow, she is combining work with a family visit. Her sister Rachel lives in Cape Sanctuary with her husband and kids and, while they stay in touch, there is a distance between them. Upon her arrival, she immediately has a run-in with Nate, her client's son, and they get off to a rocky start.

Rachel's life may look picture-perfect from the outside, but she feels anything but. She tries so hard to present an Instagram-worthy persona, but her son's recent autism diagnosis has her floundering. Her tight grip of control is slipping and she lashes out at her husband just when she needs him most. With her sister Jess in town for a few weeks, Rachel wants to regain the closeness they once had, but Jess seems content to keep their surface-level relationship as-is.

There was so much to enjoy in this one. The main characters were such good, decent people and their struggles, and their reactions to them, felt so realistic. Jess was independent and could be a little prickly, but still found herself becoming attached to Nate, his mother, and his daughter. I loved Nate's mother Eleanor and how she drew Jess in so quickly, becoming both a friend and a mother-figure. I enjoyed the chapters from Nate's point of view as he navigated his relationship with his teenage daughter as well as his feelings for Jess. And poor Rachel was so overwhelmed... it was easy to sympathize with her. It was obvious she loved her husband, and he adored her, but they were feeling so disconnected from one another. These characters are what drew me into the story so quickly and had me invested in their lives.

This is only the second book I have read from Thayne and both have been such feel-good stories that were exactly what I needed at the time. While these characters were dealing with some serious issues and had heartache in their pasts, the tone was never too heavy. I certainly recommend this heartwarming tale to readers who enjoy stories of family connections with a side of romance. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

THE PATH TO SUNSHINE COVE

RELEASES ON MARCH 30, 2021

 

MEET RAEANNE THAYNE

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

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