Sweet Beginnings: A Candle Beach Novel (Candle Beach series Book 1)

A good easy read, nice story. Definitely recommend for a holiday read.

This is a lovely story, a typical girl needs her life changing; an opportunity presents itself but girl finds it hard to change; girl meets boy, falls in love but each find it hard to accept each others faults; major event happens, etc... It's written in such a lovely way that I couldn't put it down, started it way too late in the evening which resulted in a very late night/early hours finish! It was worth it though as I really enjoyed reading it.Dahlia has always run away from challenges, if things got too hard she'd move onto something else. When her Great Aunt Ruth died, she leaves Dahlia a bequest which could change her life forever. However, there are stipulations which mean she forfeits half the money if she runs away when things got difficult, (which you know they are!).She tries her hardest, but things happen which test her resolve, people put obstaclescan she make a success of things this time instead of taking the easy option?Garrett has always found it hard to deal with unreliable women, having been brought up with a Mother who flitted from place to place. Can he put aside his reservations to get to know Dahlia and find his soul mate? Maybe, he can reconcile with his Mum too?Can Candle Beach bring two people together?I loved reading this, even better it's the 1st in the series, so I'm looking forward to the rest of them. A new author for me too, which is a bonus.

When Dahlia found out she had inherited a bookshop and house from her great aunt and that it meant giving up her hopes and dreams of travelling the world and instead moving to Candle Beach she is not very pleased and hopes instead to put a manger in charge of the shop and continue with her life but things are never as they seem and she soon realises she will have to make the move. As soon as she arrives she meets Garrett, an author, who has settled in the town and Dahlia gradually gets drawn into life at Candle Beach and tries to make a go of the shop, but tragedy strikes. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more in the series.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I found the characters pretty well rounded and was invested in the story.I did find both main characters a little annoying, Dahlia, seemed to fold at the slightest hint of challenge and Garrett was just plain arsy! There was, however, enough likeable I each of them to keep me routing for a happy ending.I have to say I was more invested in Dahlia's relationship with the bookshop than I was with her relationship with Garrett, for that reason I found the ending a bit disappointing, that part of the story was really not concluded. The whole ending seemed a bit rushed, going from high drama to happy ever after in a matter of pages .

This was an ok read. The characters were interesting enough and the setting was good too. The plot was mostly ok. I got frustrated with Garrett being so rigid and Dahlia annoyed me with her constant wavering.

Ok

The story was a nice, gentle tale, but there were too many characters, which I found confusing.

It's ok for bedtime reading