REVIEW: Cottage at the Beach by Lee Tobin McClain

Cottage at the Beach by Lee Tobin McClain is the debut book in her new series, The Off Season. This story has all the good feels and heartwarming aspects present in this author’s stories. She always writes likeable characters with major issues to overcome and has done so again in this book.

Erika Rowe has rented a cottage on the Chesapeake Bay in Pleasant Shores, Maryland. Pleasant Shores is not a major tourist destination. Actually it is a quiet small town. Erika and her sister Amber visited their aunt here in their youth. Now, after the death due to cancer of their mother and the cancer treatments for Amber, Erika has scored a teaching job in Pleasant Shores. Erika has fulfilled her quest to bring Amber and niece Hannah to Pleasant Shores. Teaching at-risk teens is the perfect job for Erika. It fulfills her nurturing nature. Erika had screening done and since she was at risk for cancer had a hysterectomy. No babies for Erika. Her at-risk students and her goldendoodle Ziggy are her major life fulfillment now. Then she is assigned an assistant as part of a program for disabled police officers. He’s good-looking, hot and has quite an attitude. Hmm. How is this going to work out?

K-9 Officer Trey Harrison has been injured on the job. His boss thinks Trey’s atttitude contributed to what happened when he was injured. Trey admits that his divorce and his attitude might have been a contributing factor. Returning to his job as a K-9 officer in Philadelphia depends on his recovery and how he does performing for the program for disabled police officers – assisting Erika Rowe with her at-risk students. When he meets Erika Trey feels attracted to her. Maybe his time in Pleasant Shores will be better than he expected.

The drain and concern of taking care of a loved one with cancer and after receiving cancer treatment is front and center here. Lee Tobin McClain outlines how overwhelming this care and concern can be. We also see how an injury that means the possibility of never getting back to a much loved, meaninful job can be very draining. The author has Erika and Trey meet and discover that together life is so much better. I love this author’s voice and her stories. Cottage at the Beach is a great beginning to another Lee Tobin McClain heartwarming small-town romance series.
 

Book Info:

Publication: 02/25/2020 | Harlequin | The Off Season #1

Escape to the Chesapeake Bay, where beach life is full of love, surprises and second chances…

When an injury forces K-9 officer Trey Harrison onto the sidelines, his only thought is getting back to the police force where he belongs. And he’ll do anything to make that happen—even volunteer in a small waterfront community, just to please his boss. But no one ever said Trey had to enjoy it…

Since the surgery that destroyed her dreams of having children, schoolteacher Erica Rowe has grown even more dedicated to her work with at-risk teens. So she doesn’t need some cop with a chip on his shoulder putting the program’s future in jeopardy. But when Trey finally connects with the students, Erica’s heart melts. And when, in a tender moment, he admits he longs to have children, her heart breaks. She’s convinced he’d be better off with someone who can give him everything, but she can’t seem to shake the hope that maybe love is enough…