Return to Rosewood Beach

By: Fiona Baker

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

A heartwarming family saga about the bond between siblings, laughter, love, and new beginnings.

Julia Owens never planned to return to her hometown of Rosewood Beach. Her life in New York, working long hours at a high-powered ad agency, is exactly what she always dreamed of.

But when she loses her job and then learns that her father has passed away, everything changes. Drawn back to the small coastal town for the funeral, she reunites with her mother and three siblings, only to discover some shocking news: their father’s hidden gambling debts have left The Lighthouse Grill, their beloved family restaurant, on the brink of ruin.

Determined to help her mother save the restaurant from a rival family eager to swoop in, Julia settles in for what she believes will be a short stay. But every day spent with her siblings—as well as her run-ins with the ruggedly handsome single dad next door—make her question the big-city ambitions she once held so tightly.

Cooper Harris, the charming father of a rambunctious two-year-old girl, is exactly the kind of distraction Julia insists she doesn’t need. But as chance encounters lead to an unexpected friendship—and maybe something more—she starts to wonder if there’s room in her carefully planned future for a man raising a toddler.

With her mother reeling from the new revelations and her siblings juggling their own secrets, Julia throws herself into preserving The Lighthouse Grill and her family’s legacy. As she does, she begins to realize that sometimes the path you never thought you’d take… is exactly where you belong.

Take a trip to Rosewood Beach, where the water is warm, the sand is soft, and the Owens family is waiting to welcome you into their lives! This sweet and uplifting women’s fiction series is the perfect bookish escape.

©2025 Fiona Baker (P)2025 Blue Nose Publishing

Good palette cleanser!

Return to Rosewood Beach is an enjoyable coastal women’s fiction story to get lost in, and ended up containing more layers than I was expecting.

Julia returns to her small, close-knit coastal hometown upon the death of her father, in order to reunite with her mother and siblings and assist in planning the funeral. What she doesn’t expect is a friendship with Cooper, a local single dad. When a secret is revealed that puts their family’s restaurant in danger, that friendship becomes something she relies on…and maybe more.

I enjoyed the majority of this book, but I do wish that we had a bit more explanation in some spots. I appreciated Fiona’s exploration of the Owens family dynamic, and how Julia interacted with each sibling and with her mom. Her budding romance with Cooper, and how she grows a relationship with his daughter, is really sweet and a good palette cleanser.

This was my first experience with Amy McFadden as a narrator. I have an appreciation for her vocal talent and I do think she’s a great voice actor, but her delivery of Julia’s character in particular just didn’t mesh with what I personally envisioned.

Return to Rosewood Beach

4 stars – Audiobook Review
Heartfelt, cozy, and beautifully narrated by Amy McFadden.
Return to Rosewood Beach is a warm, emotional escape full of charming characters and small-town atmosphere. The narrator brings the story to life with natural pacing and expressive emotion, making it easy to get lost in the setting and relationships. Perfect for listeners who love comfort reads with depth and a touch of romance.