Three generations of women. Two weeks at the beach. One decision that changes everything.

When Becca Dalton inherits part of a coastal Florida resort from the husband who abandoned her twenty-four years ago, she intends to sell her share quickly and return to her carefully constructed life as a corporate attorney. The last thing she needs is to get tangled up with the family her ex left behind.

But Amberjack Shores—with its charming beachfront cottages, historic inn, and struggling fishing business—awakens something in Becca she thought long buried. As she reluctantly works to revitalize the business, she finds herself drawn to both the stunning coastal property and the complicated family that calls it home.

Meanwhile, Becca’s artistic daughter Katie finds herself swept into an unexpected romance with local photographer Jake, whose laid-back approach to life challenges everything she thought she wanted. Between crashing weddings, surfing lessons, and moonlit beach walks, Katie begins questioning the rigid path she’s always followed.

As mother and daughter imagine new possibilities at Amberjack Shores, the long-buried secrets surrounding Chris Dalton’s disappearance begin to surface. With her heart newly open to love and belonging, Becca must confront the mysteries of her ex-husband’s past—a past that threatens to unravel the fragile new connections she’s only just begun to trust.

Titles in The Amberjack Shores series include: The Island Inn ~ Island Secrets ~Island Storms ~ The Island Guest ~ Island Dreams ~ The Island Wedding ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or fade to black, or only kissing.

Title:  The Island Inn
Series:  The Amberjack Shores #1
Author:  Laura Abbott
Published:  March 19, 2025
My Rating:  4 stars

The Island Inn begins the Amberjack Shores series with an introduction to this intriguing three-generation family whose lives are about to change drastically with the death of one man.

Becca Dalton and her daughter, Katie (who is about to begin her medical rotations), travel to Florida after being tracked down by a determined attorney to inform Becca that her husband, Chris, who had abandoned her and their daughter twenty-four years ago, had died and left her an inheritance. Becca had never met Chris’s family, and perhaps in some corner of her mind, had always held some resentment that they never contacted her.  But, whatever, she and Katie were enough family for her.  Until now, when possibilities and new information about the man who had abandoned them come to light.  Neither Becca nor Katie has any idea of how this trip will change things for them, discover an unknown family, serious secrets held close for far too long, and perhaps, budding romances that will change the direction of their lives.

I enjoyed The Island Inn by Laura Abbott very much.  I’d describe it as women’s fiction with a bit of intrigue and a touch of romantic possibilities.  As this is a five-book series, I’m not surprised that we aren’t given all of the Dalton family secrets immediately.  I was easily swept up in the various family members’ lives, liking some, skeptical of others, but always intrigued by the bits of information revealed.  It was a solid introduction to the series, giving me just enough to spike my curiosity in wanting to know more.  Yes, there is the slightest cliffhanger ending… but really, it simply leads into the next book with a hook to pull you further in to this family’s situation.  I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, but this one was enough to have me think “Oh, really, then bring it on” instead of being frustrated, an additional bonus of binge-reading a series where the next book is readily available.  I had a good time here, and if you enjoy a well-written, beach location story with interesting characters, then you’d enjoy this one.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)