The Secret of Ruby's Lighthouse A totally gripping and heartbreaking page-turner

Meg Carter thought finally her dream comes true when her friend is proposing and she her greatest wish to have kids will come true. After finding out that he waited that she turns 40, hence the question about kids is of the table, she breaks off the engagement. As also her job is not going to well for Meg is the perfect time to spend more than only some days with her great-aunt Ruby on the charming island Dune Island. So she ends up helping Ruby running her inn and is present when finally Simon, the grandson of the former owner of the house, who left it to Ruby as they were old friends, shows up on the island. Neither his father or himself were so far interested in the land which was left to them right next to the inn and which gives everybody this perfect view to the Lighthouse and easy access to the beach. When Simon informs Ruby, that he is selling his land to a developer so they can build a resort, this seems to be the biggest threat till Ruby has a stroke right before she wants to reveal a big secret to Meg and Simon. All she can manage to say is “The Lighthouse holds the key”. This is the 7th book of a series. I was not aware of this hence I can confirm you can read this as a standalone book. I really liked this story. The author is creating such a wonderful atmosphere on the island that I wished to be there as well. I really liked that we have her characters which are 40+ and for me really realistic. For me a really nice romance which is also about family, secrets, fighting for dreams and new beginnings. Ruby the elderly inn owner is a wonderful character, especially when we learn during the book her secrets. Meg is not giving up on her hopes and is not willing to accept now that she turned 40 she will never be a mom (what others indicate). That she takes her time on the island to help her great-aunt, how is she trying to find a way for the inn to survive well written. Simon as widower who needs to handle all his problems is an interesting character and I really like how he is changing during the book. His kids Abigail and Cody were brilliant written! For me it was fun whenever they showed up in the story, the way they are and also to read how this family learns to adjust to the strokes of fate they were going through. So a good story, in a wonderful setting with great characters.