What the novel is about:
How long will true love wait?
In scenic Burradeer Bay, the midnight beach keeps secrets.
When a plan to sail away with her forbidden love goes awry, Nola waits faithfully for Kento's return.
Decades later, after one too many clashes with Bronte, her high school dropout niece, Nola questions her own life choices, and flees.
A distinguished man arrives, and an antique coral ring links the past with the future.
But remorseful Bronte and frenemy Jasper can't find Nola.
Will Nola miss her second chance at love?
Midnight Beach is the second instalment of feel-good fiction author Amber Jakeman's Escape to the Coast series. The books may be read in any order.
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REVIEW
Amber Jakeman’s newest contemporary romance is a very touching dual timeline. It contains two love stories from two generations of the same family. The idyllic setting is on the coast of NSW in a fictitious town of Burradeer Bay. Nola, Erin, Kento, Bronte, Jasper and Susanna are part of a diverse and intriguing cast of characters.
Nola is a shopkeeper and her sister, Erin, works as a nurse. Nola has made many sacrifices in her life to help others. She has taken care of her father until his passing, provided for her sister so she could go to college and nurtured her niece. When her sister encouragers her to sell the business and divide the monies, she refuses. Nola loves her coastal home and does not want to leave in case her fiancé, Kento, returns. They had a plan to elope due to her father’s forbiddance of their relationship. Kento is part Japanese and this is held against him because of Japan’s part in the war. Nola is frustrated that people cannot see past Kento’s appearance: that he is a clever man with great abilities in mathematics, science and engineering. When Kento does not appear on the chosen night, she begins to worry. There are rumours of a man involved in drugs that the police are hunting down but she cannot believe it is him. She assures herself that once the furore has died down, Kento will come back for her.
But the days, months and years pass. She begins a ritual of walking at night on the beach, having midnight picnics, lighting a fire, putting on her mother’s bright green coat in hopes Kento will see her on the shore and rescue her. He promised to take her sailing across the world with him. Every time she hears REO Speedwagon’s song, Can’t Fight This Feeling, she stops what’s she’s doing to listen. In fact, everything she does that engages her senses, invokes memories of the special times they had together. But as time passes, her dreams begin to wane. She takes off the coral ring Kento gave her and puts it in a tin box and buries it beneath their Japanese maple. “When the autumn leaves dropped gold and red and coral around the tree, and when the bright green buds burst open in spring, she remembered their love.” And she continues to wonder: why has he not returned? Has he died?
Nola appears stuck in her memories, a prisoner to the past. This infiltrates her whole vision of the world around her. She does not welcome technology advancements such as the internet and computers and wants everything to remain as it was. Bronte and Jasper attempt to change her mind. These two infuse a lot of momentum and youthfulness into the story. It is a pleasure to watch Bronte blossom from an angry teenager to one who is responsible and cares about others. Jasper draws some of the best characteristics out of her, too. It is a joy getting to know him as well.
Erin sends Bronte to live with Nola hoping she can convince her to return to school. But Bronte tells Nola how she suffered from bullies and never felt she fit in. Nola understands and when her niece wants to explore her love of cooking, she supports her. It appears she has a talent in this area. In fact, her sweet treats add a wonderful addition to the business along with other great ideas she has to make the shop better. Jasper, also, works well with Bronte and together their skills prove complimentary.
This novel has a sombre and angry tone in parts and a deep sadness permeates the plot. But these feelings by the characters are justified. It’s quite easy to understand why Nola is the way she is. We want the best for her and hope her lost love will return and bring the joy and light back into her life. Amongst the grief, though, are little bursts of humour to brighten the literary canvas (mostly delivered by the younger characters). Ultimately there are great surprises and welcomed solutions. There is a natural expectation that Nola will enter the current age of communication and find healing for her broken heart. And that her niece, Bronte, will be given the space and opportunity she needs to grow and find her own strengths. As well as experience the tender innocence of young love.
This is an emotional story that showcases the nasty effects of prejudice and how damaging it can be. We see this with Nola and Kento: two souls who love each other but are kept apart by discrimination. Kento’s Asian appearance and being at the wrong place trying to do a good deed, leads to negative responses and false accusations. We are reminded to be cautious of judging others. But, this novel is also about lasting love, protective friendships, respect for others and the environment, family loyalty, generational healing, social and technological awareness and self-improvement (complete with a make-over!).
I was deeply moved by Midnight Beach and how a love so powerful could ride the waves of time; survive the prejudices and maybe get a second chance. This lovely dual timeline, takes us to the past but then moves us forward to the present to resolve the issues and obstacles Nola and Kento faced. Leaving us with a glittering ending filled with hope for their future. A heart-warming read. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Amber for a review copy.
