04.22.2021 AN INVINCIBLE SUMMER BY: MARIAH STEWART @TLCBOOKTOURS

Publisher : Montlake (May 1, 2021)
Publication date : May 1, 2021
Language : English

It was a lifetime ago that recently widowed Maggie Flynn was in Wyndham Beach. Now, on the occasion of her fortieth high school reunion, she returns to her hometown on the Massachusetts coast, picking up right where she left off with dear friends Lydia and Emma. But seeing Brett Crawford again stirs other emotions. Once, they were the town’s golden couple destined for one another. He shared Maggie’s dreams—and eventually, a shattering secret that drove them apart.

Buying her old family home and resettling in Wyndham Beach means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters, but it also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love and finally confronting—and embracing—the past in ways she never thought possible. Maggie won’t be alone. With her family and friends around her, she can weather this stormy turning point in her life and open her heart to the future. As for that dream shared and lost years ago? If Maggie can forgive herself, it still might come true.

MY REVIEW:

I had been craving some easy and light summer reads with a plot line that will keep me engaged and entertained, so it was fortuitous to have come across an opportunity to read and review Mariah Stewarts' newest book for a blog tour. 

Mariah Stewart is a beloved author that writes amazing contemporary romance, mysteries, romantic suspense, and women's fiction with a fabulous fan base - and I have yet to read one of her 41 published books. There was no better time, and I was so glad I did. This first book in a series, An Invincible Summer was also part of the Amazon's first reads for April 2021. 

This story is about recently widowed Maggie Flynn who returns to her hometown of Wyndham Beach on the Massachusetts Coast to attend her fortieth high school reunion. Looking to start over, she finds her old family home for sale, which means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters. Her friends Lydia and Emma could not be happier but does it also mean another chance with Brett Crawford? 

I found the writing to be engaging and readable. I loved the characters and the friendships that surround Maggie. Though this was about a middle aged woman, I found that the perspectives and point of views of Grace and Natalie made this read relatable for a wide variety of audience. I have always enjoyed a great second chance story, reading about complex family dynamics, revealing deeply hidden family secrets, friendships, forgiveness, and a great dramatic plot like those written in this book that had me turning those pages. I am definitely a fan of Mariah Stewart's writing and look forward to reading some of her back list. 

This book certainly was a great start to a fantastic series and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of forty-one novels and three novellas and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. She is a RITA finalist in romantic suspense and the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO Award for excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Magazine. A three-time winner of the Golden Leaf Award presented by the New Jersey Romance Writers, Stewart was recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award (which placed her in their Hall of Fame along with former recipients Nora Roberts and Mary Jo Putney — very excellent company, indeed!)

After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?