I was in the mood for a good summer beach read, and when I spotted Saltwater Cove by Amelia Addler sitting on my TBR list, it seemed like the perfect choice. Sometimes you just want a book that feels like an escape, and a story set around an island community with romance and a little mystery sounded right up my alley.
It turned out to be exactly the kind of book I was looking for.
A Fast-Paced Start
One of the first things I noticed about Saltwater Cove was how quickly the story pulled me in. The book starts at a good pace and kept me interested throughout. I never found myself struggling to get through it or wondering when the story was going to pick up.
The story follows Margie Clifton, a 48-year-old divorcee who is starting over after being given a property on San Juan Island. Her fresh start includes the possibility of a new business, time with her adult children, and an unexpected romance with Hank Kowalski, the town’s chief deputy sheriff. Hank is dealing with his own complicated history after losing his wife, so neither of them is exactly walking into this new relationship without some baggage.
That combination of starting over, family dynamics, romance, and secrets gives the story plenty to keep you turning pages.
I Wanted More From the Romance
My biggest criticism of the book is also probably the thing that kept me from loving it quite as much as I wanted to.
I would have liked more character development, particularly when it came to Margie and Hank’s relationship.
There is definitely chemistry and an interesting setup between the two characters, but I found myself wanting more time with them. I wanted to see their relationship develop a little more naturally and really get a better sense of what brought them together beyond the obvious attraction.
For me, that additional development could have made the romance much more satisfying.
That said, I don’t think it ruined the story. The book still kept me interested enough that I wanted to see where everything was going.
There’s More Than Romance Going On
While the romance is an important part of Saltwater Cove, there is also a mystery woven through the story.
And there are definitely some surprises along the way.
I won’t get into the details because I think some of the fun comes from discovering them for yourself. There is also a mystery that isn’t completely resolved by the end of this book, which means you’ll need to continue into the next installment if you want all the answers.
Normally, I can go either way with a cliffhanger or unresolved mystery. In this case, I was curious enough about what happens next that it worked for me.
Of course, it also means I now have another book on my reading list.
Imagine that. 😂
An Easy Weekend Read
One thing I really enjoyed about Saltwater Cove was how easy it was to settle into.
I read the entire book over the course of a weekend, which is always a good sign for me. When a book can keep me reaching for my Kindle instead of finding ten other things to do, it has done something right.
The story isn’t overly complicated, and the pacing makes it easy to keep moving through the chapters. It would be a great choice for a vacation, a lazy weekend, or an afternoon when you want to escape into a fictional seaside community for a while.
The Westcott Bay series is set on San Juan Island, giving the books that Pacific Northwest island atmosphere that makes them especially appealing for readers who enjoy a strong sense of place.
My Final Thoughts
Overall, Saltwater Cove was a very enjoyable summer read.
I went into it looking for something light enough to read over a weekend but interesting enough to keep me turning pages. It delivered on both counts.
I would have liked more development in the relationship between Margie and Hank, and I think stronger character development could have taken the story from a good read to a great one for me. Still, the pacing, family dynamics, romance, and mystery kept me invested.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance with family drama, secrets, mystery, and a beautiful island setting, Saltwater Cove is worth adding to your summer TBR.
And fair warning: if you don’t like leaving a mystery unanswered, you may want to have Book 2 ready to go.
Because you’re probably going to want to know what happens next.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Saltwater Cove is Book 1 in Amelia Addler’s Westcott Bay series, which continues with Saltwater Studios and subsequent books following the Clifton family and their adventures.
Read it: If you’re looking for a quick, sweet summer romance with a little mystery mixed in.
Best for: Beach bags, vacations, weekend reading, and readers who enjoy clean romance and women’s fiction.