The Cliff House - Contemporary Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne

Rating:  Very Good
Source: Little Bird Publicity

Description: After the death of their mother, sisters Daisy and Beatriz Davenport found a home with their aunt Stella in the beautiful and welcoming town of Cape Sanctuary. They never knew all the dreams that Stella sacrificed to ensure they had everything they’d ever need. Now, with Daisy and Bea grown, it’s time for Stella to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from them—a secret that will change their family forever.
Bea thought she’d sown all her wild oats when she got pregnant far too young. The marriage that followed was rocky and not destined to last, but it gave Bea her wonderful, mature, now eleven-year-old daughter, Marisol. But just as she’s beginning to pursue a new love with an old friend, Bea’s ex-husband resurfaces and turns their lives completely upside down.

Then there’s Daisy—sensible, rational, financially prudent Daisy. She’s never taken a risk in her life—until she meets a man who makes her question everything she thought she knew about life, love and the power of taking chances.

In this heartwarming story, Stella, Bea and Daisy will discover that the path to true happiness is filled with twists and turns, but love always leads them back home.

Genre: Fiction: Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I love RaeAnne Thayne and was really curious to see what she did with a more women's fiction format. 

My Impression:  Okay this was not what I expected!  I love Thayne's romance but they're definitely a bit on the sweeter side.  I mean I always love the characters and they frequently have some pretty significant and darker issues but there's always a touch of sweetness.  I guess I was expecting the same here and there's was a bit more edge than I was expecting.  I mean the edge was low key and this was definitely heartwarming but I can't even quite explain it.  Maybe it was a change of tone?  Maybe it was a bit of tension in the relationships?  Regardless, I didn't feel quite like I was reading a RaeAnne Thayne.  And while I love Thayne's romances I don't mean this is in a negative way at all.

The relationship between the three women is complex.  They love each other and are clearly there for each other and are very supportive but they also have secrets that run deep and don't always use their best judgement in trying to protect the other. 

I really enjoyed the change of POV as each woman has quite a story to tell.  I especially enjoyed the time with Daisy's character as not only did I appreciate her love of logic and order but she also had the most intriguing secrets.  Bea could be a bit dense and there were times I wanted to shake her but more in a loving way than an exasperated way.  She could be kind of clueless but I could understand where she was coming from so it wasn't to irritating.  As well I enjoyed Stella's character evolution as she had spent so much time taking care of everyone else while never focusing on her own wants and desires.  It was fun watching all the characters evolve and find their own happiness. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this read.  Not only are the three main characters likable and realistically flawed but the men who inhabit their lives are as well.  These are characters I really liked getting to know and I was sad to see them go as I read the final page.  To sum up - RaeAnne Thayne can do no wrong and I will be reading all of her books!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I will read anything RaeAnne Thayne writes.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy books with strong family relationships then this is a must read!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *