The Heartwood Sea: falling in love again with an old flame and one's hometown

The Heartwood Sea is the first book in the Heartwood Sisters/Carter’s Cove series by Elana Johnson. Alissa Heartwood is captain of the fishing boat which supplies The Heartwood Inn, her family-owned and operated business on an island off the coast of South Carolina. She’s content until one day her ex-boyfriend arrives in town. Shawn Newman grew up on the island and has returned to acquire land for his boss’s new resort planned for the island. The land he must buy is the land the Heartwoods own. He knows they won’t sell so he doesn’t put his energy into making the deal. However, he finds himself drawn back into the beauty of the island and the woman he left behind. But will Alissa open her heart to him again? 

The Heartwood Sea is a clean, sweet second chance romance. Alissa still stings from the heartache left behind when Shawn left the island and she resists seeing him when he returns. But the old flame still has some spark. I enjoyed Alissa and Shawn’s rekindled romance. I enjoyed Shawn as he realized there was more to the island than just his hometown and his old love. He rediscovers the magic of the island community. Overall, The Heartwood Sea is a great quick, weekend/beach read. It has a bit of romance, a bit of drama and a heartwarming conclusion. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend The Heartwood Sea. 

The Heartwood Sea is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook