Beach Heart - by Grace Greene (Paperback)

About the Book

Trying to recover from loss, a young widow, Emma Dance, returns to the place of her happiest childhood memories at her aunt's oceanfront home in Emerald Isle, NC. But time has moved on. Is there room for more here? A new future? A new life?

Book Synopsis

Emma Dance has the chance to reclaim the happiest time of her life or leave it behind and build a new future. Which will she choose?

Emma made her best childhood memories at the beach at Emerald Isle, NC with her great aunt, Eva, at her aunt's home, Beach Heart. Years later, Emma finds herself a widow, broken emotionally and financially, and at odds with her stepson Macon. He's grown now, but only ten years younger than Emma, and they'd been close. The final fracture of their relationship occurs when Emma sells the family home to cover debts incurred during her husband's long illness, and this is one more heartbreak piled on top of many others. On the lowest day of her life, she receives the unexpected gift of her aunt's oceanfront home. Emma hardly questions it. She's simply grateful for a place to hide from life while she recovers-and may even be able to reclaim the happier days she remembers from the past.

But time and life don't wait, and memories are only that-memories.

The beach is lovely, yes, but nothing else is the same, and Emma discovers that keeping the gift may be more of a burden than she can manage.

Emma finds unexpected blessings mixed with heartache, and secrets that her return will now expose. She will have hard decisions to make-decisions that will impact her present and her future, as well as that of others.

Review Quotes

Beach Heart...also serves as a great introduction to Greene's style for those who have never read her books before as well as a familiar voice telling a new story with some wrinkles we don't always see even from Greene herself. Truly an outstanding book, one great to read on a beach somewhere if you get a chance - or anywhere else if you don't. Very much recommened. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Jeff Sexton, BookAnon.com

I thoroughly enjoyed Grace Greene's Cub Creek, Wildflower House, and Barefoot Tides series, but had never read her Emerald Isle, North Carolina series. Beach Heart is an Emerald Isle, NC single title novel, but is related to her Emerald Isle series. Like all of her other books, the characters in this book quickly become your friends. You will cheer for them and cry with them as they face life's challenges and pleasures. Beach Heart might come across as just another beach vacation read, but don't be fooled by the cover. The words of wisdom shared in this story are meaningful, heart-warming, and truly inspiring. I give this book five stars, and most highly recommend it, as I do each of the books in the series mentioned above. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Christian Fiction and More (.blogspot.com)

Once again, Grace Greene has swept her readers to the wonderful Emerald Isle, with its beautiful beaches and kindhearted residents. This stand-alone novel is a delightful way to start your summer reading, as you explore the community and get to know Emma and understand her troubles. The people she meets and the connections she makes, make this story just that more enjoyable. I truly loved everything about this book, even down to the enthusiastic dog who lives down the beach. Beach Heart should be at the top of your summer reading list. It's beautifully written and exactly the escape read everyone needs right now. I highly recommend it! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Susan TheBookBag