Discover the Captivating Tale of The Cottage on Pelican Bay

The Cottage on Pelican Bay by Brenda Jackson is one of the 24 for books for 2024 that I selected to read. I have already read the entire series. I shared my review of the first book in the series Love in Catalina Cove already. I’m pleased that I gained early access to the last book in this series, thanks to Netgalley, and I can provide you with this honest review now.

About The Cottage on Pelican Bay by Brenda Jackson

The Cottage on Pelican Bay Book Review 1

“Brenda Jackson writes romance that sizzles and characters you fall in love with.”
—Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author

Sometimes one hot night simply isn’t enough.

Two years ago, Zara Miller was heartbroken and stranded in a New Orleans hotel bar with a sexy stranger named “Saint.” One thing led to another and a night of unforgettable pleasure. Though contact info wasn’t exchanged—no strings attached—Zara hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him or that scorching night ever since. Now she’s returned to her hometown of Catalina Cove only to discover that her brother’s new hire is Evans “Saint” Toussaint, the one-night man she can’t forget.

Saint, like Zara, grew up in Catalina Cove, but they’d never crossed paths. Now, suddenly, they can’t seem to avoid each other. Despite an enduring attraction, Zara and Saint decide to keep their spicy secret in the past. Everybody knows everybody’s business in Catalina Cove, and they don’t need everybody knowing theirs—especially since they’ve both been burned.

But when their intense desire becomes impossible to ignore, they escape to Zara’s secluded cottage on Pelican Bay, where they’re free to explore whether their casual connection might be the lasting love they’ve both been missing.

Catalina Cove

Book 1: Love in Catalina Cove
Book 2: Forget Me Not
Book 3: Finding Home Again
Book 4: Follow Your Heart
Book 5: One Christmas Wish
Book 6: The House on Blueberry Lane
Book 7: The Cottage on Pelican Bay

My Review of The Cottage on Pelican Bay Book

I devoured the rest of the series in The Catalina Cove books when I had them. I jumped with eagerness when I was selected to review The Cottage on Pelican Bay in advance through Netgalley.

When I first started reading The Cottage on Pelican Bay, I was almost turned off because this book started completely differently from the rest of the series. Luckily, I was signed up to review it for my book challenge and because Netgalley gave me the opportunity. So, I finished the book in full.

This book started as an erotica book in a sense. While I do enjoy a few sexual scenes in a book, I’m not a HUGE fan of erotica-style books. There was a time when I couldn’t get my hands on them enough, so there is no judgment from me if these are your preferred readings.

Zara and Saint start their relationship with what they think will be a one-night stand. They use nicknames and don’t give out personal information. They have a very heated, passionate night together.

Lo and behold, they are both from the small town of Catalina Cove. This is when the relationship gets a bit more intriguing. Honestly, if the author had started the storyline off here and mentioned that they did have that heated night several years ago, I would have been all into this book from beginning to end. This would have followed more in line with the rest of the way the series was written.

While the beginning took me off guard, once we got back to Catalina Cove with the couple, I thoroughly indulged myself in reading this book in a timely manner. It was nice to read about their relationship unfolding and growing. Plus, we got to play catch-up with the rest of the Catalina Cove friends and read about another love story unfolding in the cove.

Brenda left this story with room to add more books to the series. If she does, I’ll also be in line to read them. Overall, this series has been a lot of fun to read this summer. I’m pleased I selected it as part of my reading challenge for 2024.