A SEAL's Oath: a second chance romance

A SEAL’s Oath by Cora Seton is the first book in the SEALs of Chance Creek. Navy SEAL Boone Rudman and his friends are creating a sustainable community with the hopes that, if successful, can be replicated anywhere in the world. When Martin Fulsom offers them land in Chance Creek, they take it. However, Fulsom is expecting families in the new town. Boone and his friends are as single as they come. Now Boone needs to find a wife or lose his chance at his dream. When he arrives at Westfield, he finds that it is already occupied by Riley Eaton, the woman who got away and has occupied his mind ever since. Riley is at a crossroad in her life. With no job and no prospects, she and her friends throw caution to the wind and decide to stay at the ranch her uncle inherited and create a Jane Austen style vacation for six months in Chance Creek. As Boone and Riley realize their plans for the land clash, can they find a way to help each other? Or will they destroy their chance for the futures they dream of? 

I love novels that feature military men and second chance romances. Of course, the cover caught my eye. Marriages of convenience as a trope seem a little far fetched but can make for a good romance. When I bought this book, the Jane Austen aspect in the blurb didn’t register. I added it to my To-Be-Read list and moved on. It came up on the list and I started reading. Boy, was I disappointed. I am not a fan of Jane Austen. And I do not get the appeal of someone who wants to live in “a simpler, more beautiful life-one that allows time for art, literature and music.” What? The Regency Era, simpler? Seriously? Whatever. But then Boone and his friends lecture endlessly about global warming and sustainability that it bogs down the story and you forget you’re reading a romance novel. I found Boone and Riley too immature and stubborn. Sadly, this book was not what I thought it was and by the end, I didn’t care if Boone and Riley found a common ground. I certainly will not be finishing the series. If you enjoy stories of Navy SEALs and love Jane Austen, you may enjoy A SEAL’s Oath. 

A SEAL’s Oath is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Beach House Romance: healing the past, building their dreams and maybe a future together

Beach House Romance is the first book in the Seahaven trilogy by Cora Seton. Emma Miller is 27 and at rock bottom. She’s broke, homeless, and trying to start over with a mountain of debt. Until one day, she learns that she and her estranged sister have inherited their grandmother’s beachside bed and breakfast, Brightview, and the Cliff Garden, she is thrilled. She will cook and run the B&B and Ashley can tend the garden. She finally sees a light at the end of the tunnel. Until he comes to Seahaven. Noah Hudson is 33 and a newly minted millionaire. He recently sold his shares in a successful business and can finally focus on his passions. His older brother, Andrew, is an architect and Noah will give him an unlimited budget to build a luxurious home on one of the last undeveloped oceanfront properties. There’s one snag. The property he just purchased is next to Brightview. Emma is furious to learn that her sister sold the Cliff Garden but can’t deny her attraction to Noah, an attraction that Noah replicates. Can they find a way to heal the past, build their dreams and maybe a future together? 

Beach House Romance is the first book I have read by Cora Seton, a name I recognize from various sites. I love beach reads. I love romance. So I was excited by this book. The story started off well and I was intrigued by Emma and Noah, their various life situations and troubling pasts. However, that intrigue quickly faded into frustrations as the chapters were long with changes back and forth in perspectives from Emma to Noah and back. This constant changing back and forth made the chapters way too long and bogged down. The story was fairly predictable, as most romances are, however, it was boring getting them. There were also way too many secondary chapters. I understand the author was trying to establish the community of characters but it got confusing. Even the romance was a bit bland for a romance novel. Overall, I was disappointed and I will not be continuing this trilogy. I am also reluctant to pick another Cora Seton book in the future. If you are a fan of Cora Seton, you may enjoy Beach House Romance. However, I did not enjoy it and do not recommend Beach House Romance. 

Beach House Romance is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook