Rosemary Cottage

I was provided Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble from the BookSneeze program and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Knowing this book is the second Hope Beach Novel, I reserved the first book Tidewater Inn from the library before this book arrived on my doorstep. Many of the characters from the first book show up in the second book and the location is the same. However, reading Tidewater Inn is not necessary in enjoying Rosemary Cottage.
Rosemary Cottage has a little bit of romance on top of the mystery and suspense involved in Amy Lange's investigation into her brother's death. Amy is a midwife with parents who have their own plans for her, including leaving her brother's death labeled as a drowning. However, Amy has many reasons to be suspicious of her brother's death and she learns that things are not always as they seem.
A coastguard, Curtis Ireland, decides to help her with her investigation. He lost a sister in a boating accident and can relate to Amy's grief. But in their grief there is also anger and denial. The reader sees how these emotions cause them to become defensive and therefore interfere with their possible budding romance.
Through this story Amy learns, "No one was perfect. Trying to make believe only led to heartache" and from that realizes she needs to share her trials, not hide them.
Five stars.