"Genoa Bay" is a romantic story. Brandy Beauchamp, a widowed mother, tries to establish her new life as a bed and breakfast owner in Canada. But nothing comes easy for Brandy. The book contains many conflicts for Brandy and leaves the reader guessing what will happen next.

The writing was crisp and interesting. The book is an entertaining read. I recommend it higly. ( )

This is my first time reading any of Bette's work and I really enjoyed it. As a young Navy pilot had lost his life in a fiery crash, and leaving behind a wife and little girl. Brandy Beauchamp as a widow still lived in Florida with all the other navy people but she just didn't fit in with their group of friends any more as she was single and the others were couples. She worked as a graphic designer and loved what she did, but with the Navy holding up the life insurance for her husband, she was having a hard time making ends meet. When she got a call telling her that her "Mother" so to speak Mattie had had a stroke and was in a coma she and her little girl left to go to Canada to check this out. Mattie was not her real mother and was really just a very close friend that had taken her in when she was a teen and a run away from an alcoholic mother and a step-father that was abusive. Brandy left her little girl in Tenn. with the parents of her dad and went on to Vancouver Island to check on Maggie. Maggie never came too but died and when Brandy found out that she had inherits the old home that was once a bed and breakfast, how will she handle this. She has no money and the house was in terrible shape so she picked up her little girl and went back to Florida to try and decide what she needed to do. I really enjoyed this book and hope to get to read more of Bette's work. This book was sent to me free form Kregel Publisher for my honest review.

This story takes place in British Columbia where newly widowed Brandy heads to Vancouver Island to see the woman Maggie, who raised her, who is very ill. She takes her daughter Gabby with her. Maggie dies and as Brandy goes through the bed and breakfast that was Maggies home in preparation in clearing it out,she decides that she wants to make the house into a successful business. Although she has no money she moves with her daughter Gabby to start a new life in Canada. The property has been neglected and it will take a lot of money and work to get the building in order. This property is right on the water with a walking path to the marina and is the perfect setting for a for a bed and breakfast. As the work goes along Brandy has a lot of obstacles to work through.
A developer wants to buy the property but Brandy will not sell. She is then beset with difficulties that never seem to end. Fires break out and she runs out of money and not sure if she can trust her new neighbor. She wonders if she is doing the right thing and questions her faith. She meets a young woman and her sister who she takes into her home because their grandmother is ill. With their help they soon get the place ready. Then the worst happens, a fire breaks out and Gabby is injured. Brandy questions whether the house is worth all the time and energy she has put into it and the danger to herself and her daughter and if her faith is strong enough.
This is a heartwarming story of love, faith,courage and the belief in oneself. This book was very good and I enjoyed it a lot. Full of suspense and romance, just the right combination of both to keep me interested. ( )

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book. I have a hard time sticking with a book if it doesn't grab me in the first 20-30 pages. However, I stuck with it and found it to be an enjoyable read. Brandy was annoying, but she grew on me. All in all, a good read. ( )

Simply put, this was a wonderful book. Though it took a little while to get going in the beginning, I appreciated all the set up once I got further into the novel.

But Genoa Bay had it all: Romance, intrique, great writing and fascinating, multi-layered characters.

In short, everything you want out of a good book. ( )