Forever on the Bay: A Novel

Evan Stone had many regrets in life, but he is in a better place now. He has overcome his alcohol addiction and is a police officer in the small town of Pleasant Shores where he feels like he has found a place to belong. His best friend Josh was worried about a case he was working on, and he had Evan promise to watch over his sister, Cassie, and help if needed. He also made Evan promise to never pursue her romantically because Josh knew his past and his struggles. Months after Josh was killed Cassie called asking for help. Can he maintain his sobriety while dealing with the pressure of his son Oliver staying with him and his feelings for Cassie growing? Cassie Thomas had survived cancer as a child, but her family still sheltered her. After witnessing her brother Josh being murdered, she returns to live with her mother. She longs to be independent and grow her business of making lookalike dolls for kids with serious illnesses and moving to Pleasant Shores was the first step for her. This was a beautiful story of regret, grief, and starting over again. Evan regretted the years he lost being a father to Oliver, but he wants to repair their relationship and help Oliver, so he doesn’t follow the same path he did. Cassie’s past had given her the strength and courage the pursue her goals. It was amazing to see her flourish and grow in confidence. This story will touch your heart and I highly recommend reading it. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Forever on the Bay by Lee Tobin McClain is book six in her The Off Season series. The standalone books in the series continue to get better and better. Evan Stone is the only single cop on the Pleasant Shores police force. His presence next door to the Victory Cottage is intended to deter criminals. Cassandra Thomas is the little sister of Evan’s best friend; only, she’s not so little any more. Living in Victory Cottage was supposed to help Cassie, not cause her more emotional pain. Will these two find a way to comfort each other without the complications attraction brings? More of the same is a good thing when it comes to Ms. McClain’s The Off Season series, and Forever on the Bay is more of the same. Readers familiar with the series will remember Evan Stone, and we’re introduced to Cassie Thomas, the latest inhabitant of Victory Cottage. These two characters are very well-conceived and interesting. The plot is intriguing and holds the reader’s attention. The setting still holds a prominent place, giving some local ambiance. This is yet another 5 out of 5 star read in this series. I recommend it to all readers of chaste romance and romantic suspense. My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

What a great way to wrap up the series. Just like in the previous books, I fell in love with the characters. I liked Evan and Cassie from the first. I loved how Evan was looking after Cassie’s safety while looking for her brother’s killer. Cassie was used to being treated like an invalid all her life and wanted to be her own person, and I liked how the author was able to accomplish this. I thought this was a great book and I recommend it. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.