At the River's Edge by Mariah Stewart (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"After taking stock of her life, Sophie Enright has decided it’s time for a break. Between a law career that’s become criminally dull and a two-timing boyfriend she’s done with once and for all, Sophie desperately needs some time to think and some space to breathe. The perfect place to do both is easygoing St. Dennis, Maryland, where Sophie can visit with her brother while she figures out her options. Once in St. Dennis, she discovers a shuttered restaurant and makes a bold move that is also a leap of faith. Sophie buys the fixer-upper in order to finally pursue her dream career."

My Thoughts:

This book was the perfect reminder of how much I enjoyed my reading experience last year with this series.  I've been meaning to go back to the beginning to see how it all started but I haven't taken the time.  Reading this book has me determined to do just that as soon as possible!  The thing about these books is that they are just so easy to immerse yourself in.  I found myself lost within the pages.  Thanks to all of the descriptions of the town, I am starting to feel like I know St. Dennis.  I can certainly picture this picturesque town in my mind!  Although this book is labeled as romance, I felt like it was definitely more focused on Sophie and her growth as an individual.  I found that really refreshing!  I loved seeing her take chances with her future and really go for her dreams.  It had me rooting for her!  The romance that developed between Sophie and Jason felt completely natural to me.  They didn't rush into anything but instead took the time to get to know each other slowly.  I really liked that.  I will admit that the romance between the two of them felt more like a second side story rather than the main storyline, but I was really okay with that.  In the end the best part of the book was watching Sophie grow and blossom.

All in all, I found this to be a quiet but comforting read.  I really, really am enjoying this series which makes me eager to get back to this series as soon as possible.  I love how character driven these books are and how the author has created such an amazing town that I would love to live in.  I can't wait to start back with the first book!  This series is becoming a must read when I need a change of pace from all of the thrillers and mysteries that I have been reading.  I would definitely recommend this series to both fans of women's fiction and fans of contemporary romance.  

Bottom Line:  An easy way to spend the evening lost in the pages.  

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts are my own!