relzreviewz.com Beach Haven by T.I. Lowe

Synopsis:~

From the bestselling author of Lulu’s Café

Free-spirited Opal Gilbert seems to have everything she needs to keep living a happy life in Sunset Cove as she refurbishes vintage furniture to sell at her funky ocean-side boutique, Bless This Mess. Until Lincoln Cole, a new-to-town ex-Marine nursing deep wounds and harboring hurts he can’t seem to shake, wanders into her shop. Opal knows a person in need when she sees one and offers Lincoln a job in her workshop. But the brooding former soldier has no interest in Opal’s offer. Thanks but no thanks.

But then a hurricane strikes, damaging Bless This Mess. Feeling guilty for how he treated Opal, Lincoln decides to help her repair the store. And soon it becomes clear Opal wants to restore not only her business, but also help Lincoln find restoration. As much as Lincoln tries to keep her at arm’s length, Opal’s well-meaning meddling begins to heal his wounds . . . and capture his heart almost before he realizes it.

Necee’s take:~

“Isn’t the sound of the ocean the sweetest lullaby ever composed?”

A sweet, seaside read with a message of hope, healing, and forgiveness. The characters are messy and beautiful. There is beautiful imagery and deep friendships that have me looking forward to more of this series. In Beach Haven Lincoln comes in with a chip on his shoulder that makes relationships difficult. He is in a world of hurt from a military injury and just can’t seem to get his head together. Opal sees through his attitude and wants to help him overcome his pain. Her quirky ways annoy, and yet draw him. I loved the rawness of Lincoln’s character as he battles his injuries. Opal is truly the heroine and I love how her shells represent prayers. She is a very inspiring character filled with devotion, tenacity, and love for anyone close to her.

“Opal may be dressed in a ditzy flamboyant package, but that’s a mere disguise. Underneath is one wise soul who sees everything and loves it all. Good or bad.”

Her beautiful spirit, heart, and sassy ways, draw him out and makes him hope for a better future. As their friendship grows, the romance percolates and makes for a budding romance. Their were some swoony moments that almost made my heart stop…

“So he reached out and gathered her hand in his. And just like that, the goodness and rightness of Opal Gilbert overtook him. He didn’t ever want to let go.”

Though they desire a relationship, they both recognize his past is a huge barrier. As he works toward his healing, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, he finds a greater hope. He realizes his past doesn’t have to define him. That God can restore and bring about a hope for his future.

“Nothing was too far gone to be restored, even though its new purpose might be different from its original one.”

This was my first book by Lowe and I look forward to more from her. Beach Haven was a beautifully written and inspiring read. I recommend it for anyone that loves a deeper message with a beachy community feel. If you enjoy Toni Shiloh or Melissa Tagg, you will love T. I. Lowe.

I received a copy of the book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

Tonya “T. I.” Lowe is a native of coastal South Carolina. She attended Coastal Carolina University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she majored in psychology but excelled in creative writing. In 2014, Tonya independently published her first novel, Lulu’s Café, which quickly became a bestseller. Now the author of twelve published novels with hundreds of thousands of copies sold, she knows she’s just getting started and has many more stories to tell. She resides near Myrtle Beach with her family.