The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak

 

Title:  The Seaside Library

Author:  Brenda Novak

Narrated by:  Amy McFaddon

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 17 minutes

Source: Checked out with Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Do you like to go to the beach?  If so, what beach is your favorite?  I live in Kewaunee which is on Lake Michigan so the beach is never far away . . . although I do not want to swim at the beach in November.

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak was the November pick for the Page-turners Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library and the April/May pick for the Brenda Novak Reading Challenge.  The book cover made me think this would be a relaxing beach romance, but it was more of an intriguing mystery set on an island.

Ariana has returned to where she grew up, Mariners Island, after twenty years.  Her two best friends, Ivy and Cam still live on the island.  Her teen years were filled with an unrequited love for Cam as well as a mystery that comes back when she returns to the island.  The remains of a missing girl are discovered, and the cold case is reopened.  Cam was the last person to see her alive and is the prime suspect.  Ivy and Ariana are his alibi, but they have held the secret for the last twenty years that they lied to cover for Cam.  He left them an hour before the time they gave in their statement.  As the mystery reopens, Ariana and Cam find that they may have feelings for each other as well.  Will the murderer be uncovered and will romance bloom?

I thought the murder mystery was interesting, but sad.  I did not guess the ending until the story lead me to the conclusion.  I did not care for the love story between Ariana and Cam.   Mostly because Cam was still married at the time.  He talks about how he doesn’t love his wife and only married her because she got pregnant, but when you talk about your wife that way to people, are you really giving your relationship a chance?  Ariana spends the night when his wife is away, and she catches them pillow fighting when they return.  They are like – we are innocent, but the wife is dubious.  I would be dubious too as I can’t imagine any scenario where it would be okay for my husband and I to have a “friend” over and be pillow fighting with them half dressed in our bed.  That is weird.  It made me not care for their romance at all.  I am not a fan of romance that starts when one of the characters is married.

Amy McFaddon was a good narrator, and the mystery story line kept me engaged with this audiobook.  I quickly finished it.  It did make for a good book club discussion on this novel.