First Chapter Review & Giveaway: Sunset Bay by Karen Stewart

 

Today's First Chapter Review is a romance novel that came to me from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions.  

BLURB: A self-professed hot mess express, Joy Sinclair is a 54-year-old divorcee living back at home in Sunset Bay. Tired of blind dates and a lack of eligible men, she's resigned to being single. That is until she is literally knocked off her feet by a good looking stranger. Jeremy is only staying long enough to help his father recover from a broken foot. Is there any point even getting to know him?

Joy's mother Helen Sinclair is 80 years young and a real sassy molassy. She dresses outrageously, talks to her dead husband Sam and nudges Joy out of her comfort zone as often as she can. Meeting Jeremy's father Hank at the local seniors centre, Helen suddenly finds herself with a busy social life.

Love is in the air with a wedding, birthday party, prom night and a major weather event all conspiring to shake things up.

Celebrating the messiness of finding yourself and the courage to follow your heart, Sunset Bay is a journey of love, loss, hope and new beginnings.

COVER: I'll admit, the cover of this one is the reason I even read the blurb. It gives off this 1970s Neil Diamond and Jonathan Livingston Segall kind of vibe. Reminds me of a t-shirt I might have seen in a beach shop one day. Just perfect for this book!

FIRST CHAPTER: Joy opens the story for us on another busy day at the Ocean Breeze Bed and Breakfast. As she speaks directly to the reader, she shares that she and her mother run this B&B with a brief mention of their guests. The reader learns she is also the regional wedding commissioner, and toward the end of the chapter, she meets with a young couple whose wedding she is presiding over. 

KEEP READING: I'm on the fence with this one. In this case, it is a good thing. As writers, we are warned about info dumps: sharing a whole bunch of information all at once that distracts from the present story. A majority of the first chapter is an info dump: it's about Joy's life and work, daily life at the B&B, her relationship with her mom, etc. And if it wasn't delivered by an engaging character who made me want to continue, and presented in one of the best and most easily readable fonts (Why isn't every book printed in this font?), then I likely would have passed. But...

There is something about Joy that makes me want to know her story--the full story. Like how she got to where she is in greater detail than I can learn from the book blurb. Looking ahead, the second chapter is by her mother, Helen, so we won't get to meet the male lead for a bit. Seems like Joy and Helen are strong enough characters to carry the reader through until he enters the picture. 

Read an Excerpt:

Not an auspicious start to the day. I strive to be a glass half full kind of gal. Not always Miss Mary Sunshine, all sweetness, and light, but a person who attempts to see the positive in situations. This morning, however, things went south the moment my mother showed up at the breakfast table. 

“Mom,” I uttered calmly and carefully. Hopefully, my smile masked what I’ll admit was a tiny bit of concern. 

 “Any reason you’re wearing that outfit?” Cheese Louise. Talk about a grand entrance. With an overly dramatic swish and sashay, my mother displayed her eye blinding outfit. A bright pink poncho, clashing floral capris pants, gaudy striped toe socks with sandals, an enormous floppy straw hat, and umpteen Mardi Gras necklaces. The outfit I’d worn to a “Tacky Tourist” costume party six months before. 

“Getting ready for Halloween?” Mr. Byrd asked tactfully while others at the table raised their eyebrows and smirked. 

My superpower is anxiety, and I felt butterflies gathering in my stomach. 

 “Right.” I quickly put my arm around my mom, guiding her into a chair. 

“You won first prize with this costume, so it’s perfect for Halloween,” my mother explained. Halloween is months away, but it was a handy way out, and I was grateful. 

“Who needs another coffee?” Hands shot up around the table and that was all the interruption required to restart conversations. You can believe Miss Mardi Gras and I will be having a chat later.

Calling her work life eclectic, Karen Stewart has been a 911 operator, a freelance writer and photographer, written commercials for radio stations, performed fifty weddings as a wedding commissioner and for twelve years was the owner/operator of a busy bed and breakfast. 

Sunset Bay is her first book, and checks off the number one item on her bucket list. 

Mostly retired, she lives in a small seaside town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She's happiest spending time with her three grandsons and their adorable dog Roo.

CONNECT WITH KAREN STEWART 

karenstewartwrites.com 

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PURCHASE LINKS: SUNSET BAY 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228843030 

https://amazon.ca/dp/0228843030 

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/sunset-bay/9780228843030.html 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunset-bay-karen-stewart/1146632175

https://www.booktopia.com.au/sunset-bay-karen-stewart/book/9780228843030.html 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780228843030

Karen Stewart will be awarding a

$10 Amazon/BN gift card

to a randomly drawn winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.