Maggie Blackbird

Today, I’m hosting author Karen Stewart’s latest release Sunset Bay, a contemporary romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Title: Sunset Bay
Series: N/A
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Karen Stewart
Length: 274 pages
Release Date: November 29, 2024
Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Blurb: A self-professed hot mess express, Joy Sinclair is a 54-year-old divorcee living back at home in Sunset Bay. Tired of blind dates and a lack of eligible men, she’s resigned to being single. That is until she is literally knocked off her feet by a good looking stranger. Jeremy is only staying long enough to help his father recover from a broken foot. Is there any point even getting to know him?

Joy’s mother Helen Sinclair is 80 years young and a real sassy molassy. She dresses outrageously, talks to her dead husband Sam and nudges Joy out of her comfort zone as often as she can. Meeting Jeremy’s father Hank at the local seniors centre, Helen suddenly finds herself with a busy social life.

Love is in the air with a wedding, birthday party, prom night and a major weather event all conspiring to shake things up.

Celebrating the messiness of finding yourself and the courage to follow your heart, Sunset Bay is a journey of love, loss, hope and new beginnings.

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Available at:

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Not an auspicious start to the day. I strive to be a glass half full kind of gal. Not always Miss Mary Sunshine, all sweetness, and light, but a person who attempts to see the positive in situations. This morning, however, things went south the moment my mother showed up at the breakfast table.

“Mom,” I uttered calmly and carefully. Hopefully, my smile masked what I’ll admit was a tiny bit of concern.

 “Any reason you’re wearing that outfit?” Cheese Louise. Talk about a grand entrance. With an overly dramatic swish and sashay, my mother displayed her eye blinding outfit. A bright pink poncho, clashing floral capris pants, gaudy striped toe socks with sandals, an enormous floppy straw hat, and umpteen Mardi Gras necklaces. The outfit I’d worn to a “Tacky Tourist” costume party six months before.

“Getting ready for Halloween?” Mr. Byrd asked tactfully while others at the table raised their eyebrows and smirked.

My superpower is anxiety, and I felt butterflies gathering in my stomach.

 “Right.” I quickly put my arm around my mom, guiding her into a chair.

“You won first prize with this costume, so it’s perfect for Halloween,” my mother explained. Halloween is months away, but it was a handy way out, and I was grateful.

“Who needs another coffee?” Hands shot up around the table and that was all the interruption required to restart conversations. You can believe Miss Mardi Gras and I will be having a chat later.

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The blurb hooked me. I wanted to read about a woman in middle age finding love again. I love Vancouver Island, and the setting sealed the deal for me.

First, the characters are lovely: Joy, Helen, Hank, and Jeremy. But the conflict is extremely minimal. I would categorize this as women’s fiction with romantic elements since most of the plot focuses on Sunset Bay and the people, along with Joy and Helen’s business, a nice bed and breakfast with interesting customers.

I enjoy some backstory, but it’s quite heavy. Still, it gives the reader a chance to get a peek inside of life before the passing of Helen’s husband.

If you enjoy women’s fiction with light romance, this book is perfect for you. It has a great small-town vibe with lots of interesting people at the senior’s centre. It’s also great that Helen has a POV since she also has the chance to contemplate romance.

The writing is excellent. The characters are very real. And the descriptions of the area put the reader right in Sunset Bay.

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Calling her work life eclectic, Karen Stewart has been a 911 operator, a freelance writer and photographer, written commercials for radio stations, performed fifty weddings as a wedding commissioner and for twelve years was the owner/operator of a busy bed and breakfast.

Sunset Bay is her first book, and checks off the number one item on her bucket list.

Mostly retired, she lives in a small seaside town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She’s happiest spending time with her three grandsons and their adorable dog Roo.

Follow Karen: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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