The writer in me tries to find the right words to describe what’s occurred. I’ve whittled it down to two sentences. I was lost. She appeared.
Leslie Pike
The Beach in Winter
Format:
Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
It’s said no man is an island. But writer Parish Adams is out to prove them wrong. Broken and unable to bear the violent death of his child, he’s isolated himself on a private beach in Maine. He finds no comfort in the warmth of relationships. For Parish, the cold Atlantic Ocean is company enough.
Scarlett Lyon’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Single and independent, living in Montana, nothing was tying her down. Then her sister’s fatal accident changes everything. She finds herself guardian for her nephew Sam. Now she must relocate to Martin’s Beach. And more jarring than that, become a mother figure.
Three wounded hearts. Two passionate souls. One tempestuous beach in winter.
Point of view:
1st person. Alternating between Scarlett & Parish’s perspectives.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is the second book in the Lyon Family series. Book 1, A Love for All Seasons is a prequel short story about how the Lyon parents met. You could easily enjoy this without it, but that’s a fun listen if you have a chance.
Pike put me through the wringer with all the feelings in this book. And I loved every minute of it. Grab the tissues fellow listeners, you’re going to need them.
Parish is grieving the loss of his son and Scarlett is new guardian to her 13yo nephew after the loss of his parents. Pike weaves a budding romance through the healing process that all three of these precious souls are going through. The poignant mix of grief, anger, happiness, love, and finding a “new normal” is wonderfully crafted here.
I like that they each have individual relationships – Scarlett & Parish, Scarlett & Sam, and Sam & Parish. Pike gives them all experiences so that they all get to know each other and I adored getting to know them too. I was thrilled with the way she wrapped things up and gave them the perfect epilogue.
I’m looking forward to Nobel’s book, A River in Spring.
Narration:
Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden are an absolute dream team and they elevated an already fantastic book to another level. It’s an art to bring all the emotions of this writing to life without overdoing it and they were perfection here.
Content Warning (spoilers):
alcohol abuse, death of Parish’s son in a school shooting, non-descript suicide of minor character, suicidal ideations by MC, death of Sam’s parents/Scarlett’s sister & BIL, near drowning of MC & dog
While I already owned the ebook, I did receive a copy of the audiobook from Home Cooked Books and am leaving an honest review.
About the author:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Leslie Pike, has loved expressing herself through the written word since she was a child. The first romance “book” she wrote was at ten years old. The scene, a California Beach. The hero, a blonde surfer. The ending, happily forever after.
Leslie’s passion for film and screenwriting eventually led her to Texas for eight years, writing for a prime time CBS series. She’s traveled the world as part of film crews, from Africa to Israel, New York to San Francisco. Now she finds her favorite creative adventures taking place in her home, in Southern California, writing Contemporary Romance.
You can connect with Leslie Pike here:
About the narrators:
You can connect with Joe Arden here:
You can connect with Maxine Mitchell here:
My Favorite Quotes
Every year in the lead up to the holidays, followed by his birthday, I go darker. This time it started earlier and it’s more intense. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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Neither of us are speaking, but all kind of messages are being exchanged silently. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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How do I politely ask him to slam me against the wall and fuck me senseless? – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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Something never felt before passes from her to me and back again. I have no trouble identifying the impression. It’s the feeling this is one of the most purely real moments of my life. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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“Van, pull up your pants! Otherwise your pee pee’s going to escape,” my mother says. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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The writer in me tries to find the right words to describe what’s occurred. I’ve whittled it down to two sentences. I was lost. She appeared. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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“I’m home!” Sam calls from the hall. “Stop kissing.” – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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Everything I hoped for and all I’m meant to be has been here all along. On this grey, cold, beautiful spot on earth. On the beach in winter. – The Beach in Winter by @AuthorLPike #Audiobook narrated by @NarratorMaxine & @TheRealJoeArden
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Rellim Reads 