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book blog, book review, Meet Me at the Beach, pedometer geek, Randall Sykes, review, romance, V.K. Sykes, Vanessa Kelly
An autographed copy of V.K. Sykes’ Meet Me at the Beach was the latest Shelf Awareness Book Buzz giveaway this pedometer geek read. It’s a contemporary romance, and this is the extended review.
Meet Me at the Beach
By V.K. Sykes
Published by Forever, 2015
A division of the Hatchette Book Group
ISBN: 978-1-4555-5251-1
Meet Me at the Beach is written by V.K. Sykes, the husband and wife team of Randall Sykes and Vanessa Kelly, respectively. Previously, this pedometer geek read and enjoyed some of Vanessa Kelly’s historical romances, but this novel is categorized as a contemporary romance.
What this writing pair brings to romance tales is that there are distinct differences in the voices of the male and female characters. The narrative of the story goes back and forth between the perspectives of the two main characters of Lily Doyle and Aiden Flynn. When the story is being described through Lily’s eyes, thoughts, and feelings, it is obviously written from a woman’s perspective. So, too, is there a man’s perspective when it is Aiden’s thoughts, etc. being told. In particular, the language of each of these two characters sounds realistic for whichever one of them is speaking or (in particular) thinking.
Briefly, Aiden Flynn is a major league outfielder, who is returning home after being cut from his team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Ostensibly, he is home to deal with some family issues with his father Sean and brother Bram. When he left his island home of Seashell Bay years ago, he never looked back. His only regret: leaving Lily Doyle.
Following in her family’s footsteps, Lily Doyle is a lobster fisherman in this town off the coast of Maine. Unfortunately for her, she is working single-handed and barely getting by. The unspoiled community of Seashell Bay is comprised mainly of lobster fishermen including the Flynn family with whom her family has a long-standing feud. Adding to that feud is a possible land deal that will destroy the community’s livelihood.
Lily and Aiden have a history together despite their family feud. When he left, she was heartbroken. When he returns, all their history plus his vital role in the island controversy make for a spicy contemporary romance that is fraught with tension.
Overall, Meet Me at the Beach is a twist on the classic story of star-crossed lovers. Fortunately, this one is not a tragedy; it is a love story and an enjoyable one at that. This is the first of the Seashell Bay novel series, and its sequel, Summer at the Shore, has been recently published. This reader looks forward to reading that one as well.
Yes, like most novels, there are the usual What-the-tuck trends like Lily’s green eyes and hair being tucked behind an ear, but it is generally free of typos (always a positive!). Some of the erotic scenes are a bit graphic, and there is a smattering of profanity, but neither is pervasive. Mostly, it is about the slow building of the couple’s relationship. One minor quibble for this reader was the title, which doesn’t seem to fit with the story-line, as there was only one brief scene with the couple on a beach. This reader suspects that the title has more to do with connecting the titles into a coherent group for the series.