Sweet Melody: A Seabrook Romance

Sweet Melody is one of those books that is full of whimsy and has just the right amount of sweetness without giving you a toothache. Lindsay is the owner of a bakery in the small coastal town of Seabrook in the Pacific Northwest. She’s devoted her life to continuing her parents’ legacy even if it means losing herself along the way. Rhett is the son of a wealthy businessman and restauranteur. With his song writing career dwindling, he leaves Nashville I hopes of pleasing his father in the family business. He is tasked with scoping out Seabrook as a new opportunity, but he doesn’t anticipate his connection with Lindsay. This was such a whimsical and heartfelt read. That’s not to say it was without drama and hardship because it definitely was. I just got so wrapped up in both Lindsay and Rhett as well as all of the baked goods! One of my favorite characters was actually Catherine. She’s that strong, independent friend that’s 100% looking out for Lindsay and refuses to back down. I loved that she was always the voice of reason but still comes around when it matters most. Overall, if you’re looking for a light-hearted romance that also features som delectable desserts, this will be up your alley. Thank you to Just Read Tours and the author for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story about a determined young woman who's had her heart broken once and the songwriter who feels he can never make his dad proud. I liked Lindsay's perseverance but did feel like she bit off more than she could chew with buying the food truck. There was quite a bit of shop talk as she tried out different recipes and worried about her business failing. She was also angry at the family who had ruined her parents' business and was pretty bitter toward them. Rhett sounded like a good guy who just needed a break but who should have been honest with her sooner. He struggled to forgive his dad for how he'd been treated. He also wasn't sure if he should give up songwriting, which was his passion, to work for his dad's business. Lindsay's best friend was a strong Christian and a good witness to Lindsay about who God is. Neither Lindsay nor Rhett were Christians. There was some sweet romance. There's also another couple who are total opposites that seemed to be interested in each other and I hope the next book is about them! I thought the narrator did a good job but I definitely had to listen to it at at least one and a half speed. I would recommend this story if you like romance, especially centered around coffee and food! I received a free audiobook download of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

What I Loved: This story is set in a bakery, and I loved how much of the story really surrounded this store. It was fun to read about the relationship between the two characters and how it grew during experiences there! How I Felt: I love a sweet story, and that's totally what Sweet Melody is! Lindsay owns her bakery and has fallen on some hard times. She's got new competitors to deal with, a barista who can't work due to an injury, and some cruddy reviews to top it off. Her dream of owning her own food truck keeps getting further away with every setback. Then, Rhett shows up with his barista skills, and Lindsay hires him to save the day. The relationship was definitely a slow-burn. The two characters have personal backgrounds that they struggle with, and it makes them open up hesitantly. Their characters do have some wonderful chemistry, and it was a sweet relationship that you just need to see work out in the end. It's a clean romance, with a feel-good story that's perfect for a summer read by the pool! I listened to the audio version of this book, and I really enjoyed it! It thought the narration was well-done and drew me into the story! I was provided an advanced listener's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.