"On a Coastal Breeze" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On a Coastal Breeze (May 5, 2020) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

Island living is a breeze.  Or it should be. Madison “Maddie” Grayson is in a good spot: she’s in better control of her anxiety and panic attacks (she’s a worst-case-scenario worrier), she’s newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, and she’s opened her own independent practice. But a monkey wrench in the form of Ricky O’Shea has moved to Three Sisters Island. Pastor Rick now, Maddie has a tarnished past with him in her own eyes (Kindergarten through Senior Prom). He looks pretty much the same (tall and gorgeous), though older, and he oozes confidence, strength and fearlessness. His entrance onto Three Sisters Island was by parachuting in, after all. Maddie tries her best to avoid him, but the island is small, and her office is in the basement of the house that doubles as Pastor Rick’s church office and home. Neat. She’s going to have to face him and their past eventually. Rick is ready to talk, but is Maddie ready to “Look Fear in the Eyes and Smile?” Because she needs to. It doesn’t take a therapist to figure that out!

            Maddie isn’t the only one with struggles. Cam (Camden), the eldest sister, is working to bring sustainable energy to Three Sisters Island. She only knows how to give a project her all, which means her fiancé (Seth Walker) and adopted son (Cooper) feel like they’re on the backburner. Would going all-in for them be another “project” in Cam’s eyes? Will she and Seth ever get married? Blaine, the youngest, is at an impasse when it comes to culinary school. She’s certainly got the ability and creative talents for it, but something major that only Maddie knows about is going on, and because of it, Blaine has lost her sense of taste. Taste!  And she’s a culinary student! Is taking time to travel Europe and find her “culinary voice” what Blaine needs to do or is it a sign she’s slipping backward? Their dad, Paul, has turned 60, and he’s finding it hard to make decisions. He also finds himself focusing more on the Camp Kicking Moose customers that he finds needling instead of all the good of the camp. Is he not the people-person he thought he was? Is he just a “grouchy old innkeeper?”

            Is it wrong of me to feel good about myself when fictional characters have problems bigger than mine? Because I felt real good about myself while reading this story. The sisters all annoy me as if I suddenly have sisters to be annoyed with, but they each know how to be plucky, which I appreciate. The setting is vibrant in these summer months in Maine. The Graysons are a family continuing to rebuild relationships and grow in faith. The family drama is plentiful, marking the characters as distinct and memorable. I’m definitely looking forward to Blaine’s story, as I sense that I empathize with her struggles the most.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”