Return to Promise Cove

Promise Cove #1

by Casey Dawes

She’s a middle-aged rule follower. But there aren’t any rules for a dead husband with secrets or a second chance at true love.

Kelly Richards is forced to return to the tiny town of Promise Cove, Montana to handle an unexpected inheritance. She’s determined to sell the place quickly and go back to the life she knows. But a chance encounter with a first love makes her question everything she believes is true.

After a grueling career in the New York City police force, Ryan Svoboda came home to Promise Cove. Kelly’s unexpected return upsets his carefully constructed life. Can he tell her how he feel—how he’s always felt—before it’s too late?

Can Kelly break out of her rut to find real happiness? Will Ryan let her slip away from his life again? Or will they find the courage to reach for a second chance at love?

Return to Promise Cove is the first in a later-in-life contemporary romance series set in a small town of artists on a northwestern Montana lake. Curl up in your favorite beach or armchair and enjoy this feel-good romance.

Purchase Return to Promise Cove now to begin a new series set in the grandeur of the Montana Rockies.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2021

About the author

Casey Dawes writes non-steamy contemporary romance and inspirational women’s fiction with romantic elements.

She and her husband are traveling the US in a small trailer with the cat who owns them. When not writing or editing, she is exploring national parks, haunting independent bookstores, and lurking in spinning and yarn stores trying not to get caught fondling the fiber!

Claim your free collection of short stories! Go to her website, www.CaseyDawes.com, to discover how.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely grateful to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of her upcoming latest novel. What a wonderful story !!! Kelly's husband passes away suddenly. Her kids are growing up and no longer need her. She discovers her husband may have had secrets. Then she learns her grandmother left her a retreat in Montana and she is forced to go home and face her past. And decide where she belongs. Either in California where she feels safe, or in Montana where there is much to be learned. Her first love, her oldest friends. Will she play it safe or will she finally put herself first and find herself and her purpose ??? It's a story of love, loss, friendship and hope. Loved it !

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated by Kelly’s journey to figure out the next step in her life. She has been a mother and wife for years but now she is a widow and an empty nester. She believes she needs to keep the home in California for the kids to return to but life throws her a curve ball. Her grandmother, who she loved dearly, left her the retreat she owned in Promise Cove. For Kelly, she just wants to sell but she can’t unless she spends time on the property first. Returning to a place that filled her childhood with such joy and promise becomes a new awakening for Kelly. Meeting her old friend Ryan that she had a crush on also opens her up to ways she never expected. For Ryan, he always hoped Kelly would return to Promise Cove, so having her back gives him hope. Now, can he and the community remind her of what she found as a child to convince her to stay. This story has me wanting to visit the retreat in Promise Cove. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written second chance romance with strong characters in Kelly and Ryan. She has a choice to make. Will she go back to the life she knows or start over at the retreat she inherited in Promise Cove. It's a story of hope,love and new beginnings. The author brings a sweet feel good story and moves it fluidly,delivering a beautiful story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love second chance stories, this one twisted at the heartstrings.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Kelly never thought she would be back to Promise Grove but one call changes everything and now she is here and having to not only reflect on what has happened in her life from the past but also present and where does she go from here. You not only get great characters that slowly share their pasts but also a tory of friendship spanning years, reliving fond memories as well as a love story and seeing that no matter your age you can still have a HEA with love and life. Bring on the next book as I need to what happens to these friends next!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey you have done it again! Kelly is a widow whose children are now out on their own and starting their own lives. She is a wife and was always there for her husband before he passed away. Now she is wondering what exactly she is going to do with her life. She has her music and always wanted to be a concert pianist but put it on hold because everyone always comes first in her life and she is always on the back burner.....
Then she receives a package that tells her she has inherited a retreat center that her grandmother has run for years but she must come see it to learn about it and she can't sell it without being there. This is a place that she could escape her overbearing mother in the summers and where she had a great group of friends. BUT, it is in Montana and she is from Boston and California. What the blue blazes would she ever do in Montana. But she knows she has to settle this estate so takes the summer to do just that.
When she gets to the small town she runs into her old friends who have stayed there and finds out that the town has become a haven for artistic people. She moves into the reserve and starts her journey. Then unexpectedly she runs into her first love.
Now what is going to happen, there are so many ups and downs in this story and Casey takes us on a marvelous ride of working through not only the characters issues but it brings up ones we probably share if we are honest.
This is book one in the series and you need to follow up on the rest as we learn how all the occupants of Promise Cove are living their lives and coming together. You won't be disappointed.

[Vicci Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Characters!

This book has perhaps the best assortment of secondary characters that I have encountered in many, many books. I won’t rehash the plot because you already know all about it if you’re this far in.

Ryan was a doll from the word go, he was sensitive, caring, strong and of course romantic. Our heroine Kelly was who I never warmed up to and I really tried to. She seemed to like maybe 4 people, and she wasn’t one of the 4. To me she is a cross between a Stepford wife and a bitter woman even before her husband was killed. For being over 40 she vacillated more about everything, except being the perfect hostess, than an entire group of 16 year old girls. Ryan could be excused if he did walk away and keep walking thanks to her issues.

Future books in this series ought to be gems if we keep running into the people we met in this book. Few typos, clean and sweet read. I just couldn’t round it up to 5 stars though.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Later in life, Kelly is dealing with empty nest as her late husband is dead almost a year, her daughter has got a job up in San Francisco and staying with her boyfriends family. Her son has gone to the east coast to intern with her father in law's firm, and she has an empty nest.
While she's deciding what to do, she gets a pkg in mail from her great grandmother's lawyer about her inherentance. She has left her her estate and the retreat she runs. She has to run it, and it's all hers or sell it and receives a portion, and the rest goes to charity for. Going to Montana, she has no intention of staying... but once she gets there and reconnects with old friends, she has not seen seen her teens she starts to have second thoughts. Will she take the risk and start over??
I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story.
It’s a second chance in life, in love. What I really enjoy? The characters are in the mid age if you can consider 40 middle age. Anyway, Kelly is a widow and torn between old and new . The old life was quiet home with busy husband and growing children, the new is uncertainty and secrets they coming unexpected.
Will she follow her heart and open to new?
Enjoy reading!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise cove

I was hooked right away. This is a delightful contemporary romance full of past relationship, emotional struggles, and healing future. I liked getting to know all the characters and their lives. This was a delightful read that draws reader's into the story that you just can't put down. Highly recommend.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyable sweet small town romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Richards and Ryan Svoboda meet again when she comes back to the tiny town of Promise Cove, Montana to handle an expected inheritance. I enjoyed seeing their story come together. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the whole story of this book. The characters are strong, likable, and interesting. I've known real folks who have followed their hearts for a "second chance" romance and the author does a great job in developing this story.

[Bobbie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful love story. Just right for this time of year. If you want a read to make you smile, lift your spirit this book would be perfect.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book with an interesting story line. The characters are strong, and the story flows quickly and smoothly. I enjoyed reading this story.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craving filled

This book was just what I needed after an emotion filled week took place. It just took me away and I really liked the book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance romance novel. You wonder about your first loves. I thought Kelly had a good number of important issues to deal with, and it was nice to read about her journey.

[Shirley Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the supporting characters and setting better than the main character and plot