Into the Blue
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Into the Blue, the third book in Kay Bratt's By the Sea series takes you on an emotional journey filled with hope for a happily ever after. Jules Monroe is a woman whose hard work and dedication has built a rewarding life for herself and her family. Now in her late fifties, she gives selflessly to her husband, kids, community, and their charter business. But everything comes to an abrupt halt when her body says enough, and her mind yearns for respite and a place to hide from past hurts.Oldest son, Jonah Monroe, is a veteran haunted by a childhood tragedy. His past includes things he isn't proud of and can't quite shake. When his chance to be a hero finally arrives, it comes with strings attached. Will he accept the kindness of strangers to help bring his family back together, or will his demons continue to be his downfall?Maui isn't always the safe paradise it's made out to be and when ancient island superstitions threaten to rob the Monroe family yet again, they must all find a way to deter the impending disaster.Praise for Kay Bratt novels: "Kay Bratt is a masterful storyteller, and the story's pacing and descriptions of Maui left me always wanting more. Highly recommended for book clubs!" -Anita Abriel, international bestselling author of The Light After the War"A baring-of-the-soul emotional story that leaves you with a heart full of love and hope." -Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author"Kay Bratt captures a mother-daughter relationship with an authenticity rarely seen in novels." -Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author"Book clubs will love Bratt's latest!" -Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author"Will sweep you away until the very last page. Don't miss it." -Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author"This is the kind of book that will get shared by friends and chosen by book clubs. A phenomenal story of life and love." -Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love "Kay Bratt reminds us that there is always hope, and that home and family can be found in unexpected places." -Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Closer Home "Book clubs will love the powerful message of this unique novel." -Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son "Kay Bratt delivers on all levels in this emotional and tense story of loss and resilience." -Emily Bleeker, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author"Bratt is a master of location, it's even more of a pleasure when the ride takes place on Maui." -Lea Geller, author of Trophy Life
Series
Series
3 primary books#3 in By the Sea
By the Sea is a 3-book series with 3 released primary works first released in 2014 with contributions by Kay Bratt and Shannon Symonds.
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Satisfying (Seeming?) Conclusion. After Bratt rushed things a bit with Book 2 of this series (No Place Too Far), combining elements that I felt - and mentioned both to the author and in the review - could better be done in multiple books, here she takes the same approach. Yet here, the story is more condensed generally, taking place over just a week or so and having two concurrent storylines that work quite a bit better as a pairing. In one, Jules, the true matriarch of this series, has a medical issue that sidelines her yet gives her a compelling storyline. In the other, and happening concurrently, her youngest daughter has gone missing - and Jonah, the PTSD-suffering Iraq veteran who decades earlier already lost one sister (see Book 1 - True To Me) has to find her.
As with much of this series, it is loosely based on Bratt's own daughter's adventures living in Hawaii - the author's note at the end actually notes a much more perilous event that made the news there in the last few years as the inspiration for the missing daughter piece.
And as with Bratt's immediately prior book to this series, Dancing With The Sun, this book is essentially a love song to one of her own daughters, and another cry of just how strong her love for that daughter is.
Bratt's writing, at least in the time I've known it, has always been about putting her real world heart on her sleeve and then pouring it into “paper”, while creating worlds that allows her to explore and convey the emotions she is feeling at any moment. It makes her personally vulnerable - but also makes for some of the most compelling reading of the last few years. This story is ultimately no different here. Read it because it is truly an excellent book, one where she took the (light) criticism from its predecessor and largely corrected. Knowing a bit of the backstory - and I haven't noted anything here beyond that which she has said (IIRC, in much more detail) publicly - only makes it that much richer.
Very much recommended.