Book Club (Alers)

Set on breathtaking Coates Island, off the coast of North Carolina, bestselling author Rochelle Alers' new series debut brings together three book-loving women whose summer will offer a chance to rewrite their own stories . . . For three decades, the Seaside Café has served delicious meals to locals and island tourists alike. Kayana Johnson has moved home to help her brother run the café-and to nurse her wounds following a deep betrayal. Between cooking favorite recipes-creole chicken with buttermilk waffles, her grandmother's famous mac and cheese-and spending time reading, Kayana is trying to embrace a life free of entanglements, while staying open to new connections . . . After striking up conversation with two customers, Kayana suggests a summer book club. Each week, they'll meet on the patio to talk about their favorite novels. But there are plot twists awaiting them in real life too. For schoolteacher Leah, this two-month sojourn is the first taste of freedom she's had in her unhappy marriage. Cherie, filled with regret about her long-term affair with a married politician, discovers a powerful new passion. And Kayana finds a kindred spirit in a reclusive visitor who's ready to make his true identity known, and fill this summer with new possibilities . . .

In Rochelle Alers' thoughtful, heartwarming series set on a picturesque North Carolina island, one woman's seemingly perfect life unravels-and a new chapter begins . . . It's been almost a year since Leah Berkley Kent left her lavish Richmond home to spend two months on Coates Island, North Carolina. There she found friendship with two extraordinary women, Kayana and Cherie. Together they formed a summer book club, meeting weekly at the Seaside Café. Leah also found the courage to finally stand up to Alan, her domineering husband of twenty-eight years. With her twin sons now grown, Leah decides to return to Coates Island again this summer. Alan's explosive reaction only convinces her that her marriage, and her old life, may be ending. But what comes next? Helping out at the Seaside Café, Leah grows closer to Kayana's widowed brother, Derrick. He knows what it's like to start over-he traded a Wall Street career for a beachfront house and a slower pace. Derrick is drawn to Leah, but wonders if she's truly ready to move on. It'll take a summer filled with lazy beach walks, bold new horizons, and book club meetings rich with shared laughter and support, for Leah to find the answers she's been looking for . . . Praise for The Inheritance "The ambiance and flavor of New Orleans are on full display." -RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars "A novel that resembles female bonding romance series like The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. . . . Capitalizing on its assets: the sensuous Big Easy setting and the rarely encountered middle age romance." -Kirkus Reviews

Set on a charming North Carolina island, the latest novel in National bestselling author Rochelle Alers' unforgettable, heartfelt Book Club series tells of one woman whose past comes calling-even as a new beginning beckons . . . Cherie Renee Thompson is finally ready to dive into change. After two summers vacationing on Coates Island, she's now a permanent resident, studying to be a teacher, and has formed invaluable friendships with two remarkable women, Kayana and Leah. Their summer book club, which meets weekly at the Seaside Café, has taught Cherie to seize the day. And as the ex-mistress of a powerful politician consistently unable to commit, Cherie is determined not to waste any more time-or try romance again . . . When Cherie meets new sheriff and ex-army veteran Reese Matthews, there's an immediate, undeniable spark between them. For his part, Reese has survived ongoing loss and believes that Cherie is as open and uncomplicated as she appears-until her former flame returns. Free of his responsibilities, he's offering Cherie the luxurious life he always promised . . . Now, in a summer of glowing potential, tranquil days, and book club meetings filled with insight and caring, Cherie must weigh past dreams against new chances, search her heart for what's real-and what will fulfill her most. "Mature, realistic protagonists, a plethora of family and friends, and a well-researched and thoughtful story that skillfully straddles the line between romance and women's fiction beautifully sets the stage for this fascinating series to come." -Library Journal on The Inheritance