No Place Too Far is the second book in Kay Bratt’s A By the Sea Novel series. Having read the first book in the series, True To Me, I was happy to have the opportunity to read an ARC of this next book in the series on NetGalley.

As in the first book, the story is set in Maui, which I enjoyed. We pick up with most of the main characters from the first book and a few new, including Woodrow, a service dog!!! There are hints of romance growing stronger, a bittersweet example of true love, and a little more suspense that had me holding my breath for a bit. I LOVE a perfect ending and this one was just that! I am anxious to return to Maui again as soon as the next in the series is available!!

I was approved this book by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Maggie and Quinn have both been through some challenges in this book. Quinn deals with her family and Maggie deals with her stalker. I love the twists and turns in this book. It kept me wanting to read more! Would highly recommend to my library.

A memorable story with interesting characters and location . I had not reac the first book in the series, but this stood fine alone. I thought certain relationships were rushed towards the end in a way that felt a bit unrealistic. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I have to admit, I was first drawn to this story because it takes place on Maui. My husband and I got married and honeymooned there last year, and we instantly fell in love with the island.

That being said, I enjoyed the book. It was nice being able to recognize all of the places that were mentioned, and I loved the history and culture that was weaved into the story as well. The characters and the friendships between them made me love the story even more, and I would love to read more about them in future books.

I know the whole point of the story was that Maggie was forced to uproot her life to protect herself and her son, but for me it went a little downhill when Maggie finally encountered her stalker. It seemed a bit too rushed. The ending felt rushed as well. I would’ve liked a few more pages and even another chapter to bring the story full circle.

Regardless, I definitely recommend this book! I thought it was a great summer read (though I wish I could’ve been reading it on Maui).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3402452284

When Maggie Dalton follows her close friend Quinn Maguire to Maui, she does so because she is in danger and trying to escape a stalker. Both women have been broken in some ways by their lives and are trying to remake themselves; neither trusts the world or many people. But in Maui, they begin to find healing and begin to recreate their lives and trust again. I truly enjoy Kay Bratt's voice. This book is in part a romance, but it is much more. She's a wonderfully descriptive writer so it was a little like a great vacation -- minus the air fair and ocean breezes. Her characters, even her minor ones, are round, not mere vehicles to move plot. And there are multiple plot lines, all of them well-written and developed. I highly recommend this book. It should be noted that it is the second book in the By the Sea series, but it stands alone just fine. That being said, I encourage you to grab True to Me and enjoy Quinn's story as well -- I predict by the time you finish No Place Too Far you'll be clamoring for #3!

No Place Too Far is full of characters that are struggling within themselves but growing all at the same time. It explores family and friend relationships that are intense and complicated. It takes place on Maui and I felt like I was on the island right along with the characters. The plot has some very tense moments and unexpected twist. A must read after True to Me. Don’t pass it up!

Another memorizing read from Kay Bratt ❤

I'm not quite sure how I survived the wait for this book, but I'm so very glad I did. After reading the first in this series (True to Me-- go ahead and grab that one if you haven't read it yet) I was ecstatic to return to paradise to check on Quinn and Maggie. And I trust Bratt to handle my heart with care, so I had no problem opening myself up to laugh and cry and hurt and find redemption within her pages.

And she did not disappoint. Layer upon layer of relationships, conflict, self-discovery, Hawaiian culture, suspense, romance, and selfless love are artistically woven together to create a story that truly took my breath away. Despite it's intricacy, this is an extremely easy read that is pretty much impossible to put down.

There is a perfect blend of mystery and anticipation and sweetness and sass, all impeccably researched (or lain out honestly, from experience) -- something for every kind of reader, which I find to be true for all of her books. You will adore this novel, trust me, and you'll be left dying for more just like I am.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own!*

Another awesome book. I got to learn so much about Hawaiian history and what a beautiful place Maui is. Maggie is such a likable person as well as her son, Charlie. Maggie came to Maui to escape her stalker. She is making new friends and got a job at the veterinary clinic. Will something from Maggie's past turn her life upside down? Maggie wants to be an independent person and do things on her own. Quinn, her best friend, has her own past issues but is very successful at running the Inn. Could there possibly be a love interest between her and Liam? Quinn has her own past issues to deal with and when things come to light, will she be able to persevere and stay in Maui or will she have to run. We all want to be independent and do things on our own, but sometimes it is ok to ask for help. I highly recommend this book!!

A sweet story with just a touch of romance and a little suspense...this is really a saga type story with a couple of main characters and their own troubles that tie in together as best friends lives often do.

Maggie is on the run from her past, with her son Charlie in tow. She heads to Maui to start a new life, alongside her best friend, Quinn. Life is starting to look up for her and she begins settling into her new normal. But then, her email is hacked and there are hints someone from her past may be hot on her trail again. She is happy in Maui with her son, best friend, and job. Will she stay or will she run again?

This had a good amount of suspense, love and friendship. I connected with the characters and enjoyed the story. Also, Hawaii is my happy place so I loved that it was the setting for this story. This is the first book I’ve read, written by this author, and I will be trying some of her other novels.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the second book in Kay Bratt’s “By the Sea” series. It is beautifully written with believable characters and the perfect Maui setting. I really enjoyed the Hawaiian culture sprinkled throughout the story, and honestly felt like I was there on the island while I was reading. The ending absolutely wowed me! I just wasn’t expecting it! I’ve been smiling ever since I finished. I do highly recommend No Place Too Far. You won’t be disappointed! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

No Place Too Far - A wonderful read

Set in beautiful Maui, this is a story of old and new friendships; of family coming together after a betrayal; and unexpected twists that haunt the main character. The characters are down to earth, the storyline is enjoyable, and the suspense is just enough to give the story some mystery. No Place Too Far has several meanings in the story, so it was the perfect title. If you haven’t read the story previous to this, “True to Me” be sure to read the first, as there is some backstory that continues into this book. Both are wonderful reads that you won’t want to put down.

Kay Bratt writes heartfelt, meaningful books with great characters, and this one is no exception.

Maggie has been on the run from a stalker for over a year. When the opportunity comes to move to Hawaii to be close to her best friend, and an ocean away from her stalker, she takes it. Finding her feet is hard, but she is finally settling down when the worst happens...her stalker finds her, even though he is supposed to be in prison. She is back on alert, but how far can you run on an island?

Book two in the By the Sea series, you get to see more of Quinn, Maggie's BFF, and her new life in Maui. There is romance, suspense, and a twisty little plot line that may keep you guessing. Doggies and hunky veterinarians add a bit of spice, as does a past love of Maggie's. Altogether a nice read. 4 1/2 stars.

No Place Too Far by Kay Bratt is the second book in the new By the Sea series. In this story, readers return to beautiful Maui as Quinn’s friend, Maggie Dalton, begins to renew her life with her son, Charlie, on the island after her stalker was sentenced to prison. Maggie begins a new job at a local vet clinic with the handsome Dr. Joe Starr and meets the eccentric staff including Juniper, the no nonsense receptionist with brightly colored hair and a nose ring. As she begins to live again and find new friends, her worst fears come to life as her stalker may have been able to find her again despite being in prison. Just as Maggie is learning to deal with this possibility, Quinn is adjusting to reuniting with her family as well as her new relationship with Liam. When a reporter threatens Quinn’s new life on the island, her only solution is to run. Has Maggie’s stalker truly found her on Maui? Will he attempt to come to the island? Will Quinn run or will she stay and fight for her new family and home?
No Place too Far is an awesome sequel to True to Me and I enjoyed following up with Quinn and her story as well as learning more about her long-time friend, Maggie. Maggie’s story with a stalker is creepy and eerie and I can only imagine the paralyzing fear that she and victims of stalking must deal with during the stalking and in the aftermath. In this digital world of email, social media and more and more of life existing through online connections, it is easy for someone to find another person and it makes it extremely hard for someone to truly hide. I enjoyed all the new characters especially Joe and Juniper. I look forward to see them along with Quinn and Maggie in book 3 and beyond in the By the Sea series. Overall, No Place Too Far is about standing firm and fighting for yourself, your loved ones, and your freedom. I highly recommend No Place Too Far!

No Place Too Far
will be available September 1, 2020
in paperback, eBook and audiobook

If you have not yet read True To Me, I highly recommend it.
True to Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Check out my review for True to Me
https://observationsfromasimplelife.blogspot.com/2020/01/true-to-me-adventure-of-self-discovery.html

So grateful to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this amazing and beautiful book. Book 2 in the series ( True To Me is book # 1) and it was just as exceptional as the first book. In book # 1 we have Quinn's story and we are introduced to her friend Maggie. This book is Maggie's story. She moved to be with Quinn and to hopefully escape her stalker and feel safe for once. That is all I am going to say as I don't want to give too much away . If you read book # 1 and loved it or if you haven't but you love Kay Bratt, read the first book then get this one ! And if you have never read a book by Kay Bratt, well what are you waiting for ? Now is your chance !!!

Plot summary: Maggie and her young son Charlie have recently moved to Maui for a fresh start to escape a scary stalker and to reconnect with Maggie's best friend Quinn. The story follows both Maggie and Quinn as they encounter personal and professional challenges that test their ability to trust others and themselves.
My impressions: I really enjoyed this book! The setting on Maui was quite stunning, and I learned some interesting facts about Hawaiian culture. Maggie and Quinn were well-developed characters.
If I had one complaint about this book, it is that it is the second in a series, and there is not a complete exposition of the highlights from the first book. This would have clarified some things for me. I don't want to put any spoilers in this review, but I will say I had quite a lot of questions about Quinn's situation in particular. Further research has revealed that the first book explains Quinn's background. As soon as I finished "No Place Too Far" I downloaded the first book in the series and am reading it now.
Overall, I would recommend this to readers. Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book.

What a great book by Kay Bratt! The characters in this book were so relatable. They are real people with real lives who have real problems. The beauty of this book for me were the descriptions of the island. There was so much detail I almost felt like I was there seeing the landscape, the flowers, smelling and hearing the ocean. Definitely a book I would recommend! Thank you to Kay Bratt and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

As usual Kay Bratt has given her readers a story that is intriguing and well-told with characters whom they will care about. We met Maggie Dalton in Bratt's last book, True to Me,learning of how she had been stalked. Now Maggie has moved to Maui, hoping it would be a safe haven for her and her son, Charlie. No Place Too Far also continues her best friend Quinn's story, which will please readers of this series.

This story and the writing in general would be a five star read for a wide range of readers except for one thing. This book is heavily sprinkled with profanity, which is a shame because I doubt many of Bratt's readers would say that they wished one of her books contained more foul language, but I bet many will say they wish this one had contained less.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of No Place Too Far from the author via NetGalley. All opinions stated here are my own.

If I could give this book more than five stars, then I would! This was romance, mystery, cultural lessons about Hawaii and family relationships all rolled into one very well-written and heart-tugging book. Kay Bratt obviously pours her heart and soul into her books for her readers and it is so appreciated by this reader! There are actually at least two storylines going on in this novel, the first about Quinn and her familial dilemma and the second one about Maggie and her stalker that she has escaped and is finally feeling a little bit of safety. There is also the minor story about David and Julianne, a story that just pulled at all of my heartstrings. My favorite character was Woodrow. Yes, Woodrow is a dog, but he is one smart and intuitive service animal who knows just what to do for Maggie and when. Of course, I also liked the hunky men in the story, including Liam and Joe. I especially enjoyed Joe’s humor and acceptance of life’s changes. Finally, I pick Juniper as my favorite human character because she is so laughably quirky and a really good friend for Maggie, not to mention surprisingly intelligent. Bratt has written a book that will long stay in my memory banks as a book to read when I need to be reminded what forgiveness and love look like. Fans of contemporary fiction, domestic drama and mystery will want to pick up this book and enjoy it.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Maggie Dalton is independent. She has recently moved to Maui with her young son. She’s starting a new job and trying to leave her stalker behind, now that he’s in jail.

Quinn is Maggie’s best friend. Having recently found her family after 30 years, she is running her own inn on the island. She wants to find out who she really is, but feels conflicted being with her boyfriend, Liam.

These two women have a roller coaster of events in this book. It’s up and down, making me laugh and smile and scared and teary. I liked the strong female characters. I loved the descriptions of different parts of Maui, a place I haven’t been. I look forward to reading the next installment.