by Vicki Hinze
- File Size: 665 KB
- Print Length: 266 pages
- Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (October 17, 2011)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
- Language: English
- ASIN: B005WECDJA
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Product Description“[A}clever
fusion of humor, mystery, and romance.” – Publishers Weekly“Powerful
and uplifting.” – Literary TimesWhimsy. Serenity. And a Touch of Magic.
The Seascape Inn.Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J.
MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s
cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancée. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast
determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is
bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy
that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking
answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve. Vicki Hinze is the
award-winning author of 24 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of
articles, published in as many as sixty-three countries. She is
recognized by Who’s Who in the World as an author and as an educator.
Visit her at http://www.vickihinze.com.
Review: This is an engaging “ghost” tale.
Maggie sets out to determine if there was foul play in the death of her cousin, Caroline. In tracking Caroline and her former fiance, T. J. MacGregor, Maggie sees a remarkable painting that draws her to Seascape Inn in Maine. She travels to the Inn before continuing her search but unexpectedly finds MacGregor there on the island. She doesn’t reveal her connection to Caroline as she begins to develop a sparring relationship with this handsome but rude and aloof man. Something repeatedly causes Maggie to feel empathy for him, encouraging her to try to help him even as he pushes her away.
T.J. MacGregor has been stuck at the Seascape Inn for nine months - literally. He may as well be a prisoner because each time he tries to move beyond the boundaries he passes out. He was originally drawn to the healing powers of the Inn to recover from grief at the loss of his parents. Now he has returned after Caroline’s accidental death but he has not been able to recover the healing peace this time. He has given up on his art because he believes his work caused the death of his parents and Caroline.
Slowly Maggie discovers the stories of the prior owners of the Inn and their great love for one another. There is a second couple too who committed their hearts to each other but were never able to share their lives as one of them died young. Maggie is enchanted by the stories but doesn’t believe in love herself having seen how her parents’ marriage was full of strife before her father walked away. She doesn’t expect any marriage in her future.
T.J. has tried to push Maggie away before he can hurt her too. Yet he doesn’t want to give her up and maybe -- if they can believe -- there could be miracles to change their lives.
Ms. Hinze weaves a tale of love that reaches beyond physical boundaries to pull Maggie and T.J. together. Can they get past their secrets, lies and fears to share such a great love?
I really liked this author’s wonderful use of senses: smell (warm pie), sound ([chair] scrapped against the floor; the fire ... snapped) and sight (a shower of sparks, visual image, eyes sparkling). Although there is a build up of sensual haze, the couple comes together in an act of loving, not merely in lust. I enjoyed the reluctant tug between the characters and the ghostly mystery. Although I preferred some of Ms. Hinze’s wonderful suspense novels more, this is still a satisfactory and engaging read.
He’d once experienced Seascape’s light, its healing magic–the object. Now, he experienced its dark side, its curse–its shadows.
Location 53.
She wanted him, and she feared wanting him or anyone else because she’d seen what wanting her father had done to her mother.
Location 2069.
Changed forever. Life-altering....Was that what was supposed to happen here? Change?
Location 2701
Read for the Publisher through NetGalley.
This is set in Sea Haven Village, Maine for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.
