Hi, I’m Julia Mitchell, and you may have read or heard about my romance story with my surfer boy hero, Sean, in Winning Julia’s Heart. Sean and I recently married, and I’d love to see my younger sister, Billie, meet the man of her dreams.
Billie and I are adopted and we made a pact to search for our birth mothers. Well, actually, the pact was ninety-nine percent Billie’s idea. I had my doubts about the wisdom of undertaking the search. I love and adore my adopted parents and the blessed life they have provided for me. Their faith is strong, and I believe God placed me in their family for a reason. It’s where I belong, and I honestly could have been content to never search for the truth about my birth parents. You can learn more about what happened on my journey in Winning Julia’s Heart.
Many months have passed since Billie and I lodged the government forms, and my sister won’t talk about the subject. Billie has always been a little bit secretive. I’m not sure what to think, but I’m praying she’ll have a joyful reunion.
Billie has moved out of my Sydney apartment and she’s renting a beach house in a little seaside town called Sapphire Bay on the South Coast of NSW, Australia. I have no idea why she wants to live hundreds of miles away from us in a small town.
Merimbula Beach on the South Coast of NSW, Australia
Sean and I are heading to Sapphire Bay soon for a nice family Christmas by the beach and a week long beach mission camp. I’m glad Billie’s beach house has plenty of room because I’m not fond of the idea of sleeping in a tent. Our friend from church, Zach Montford, will also be staying with us at Billie’s home during the mission week. Zach’s having a career break from his usual high flying banking executive role in Sydney, and he’s doing youth work for a few months with a church in a nearby town.
I’m going to let you in on a secret. I’m hoping Billie and Zach will hit it off and become good friends, or more. Billie’s going to feel lonely in Sapphire Bay unless she makes a few new friends. I know she’s reclusive and likes her own space, but I’m praying she’ll really like Zach and work on resolving her faith issues. All the single girls at church have been vying for Zach’s attention, and my beautiful sister could be the one who’ll catch his eye.
You can read Zach and Billie’s story, and laugh at my attempts to learn to how to surf, in Seaside Proposal.
Here’s the book description for Seaside Proposal:
Billie Radcliffe has a secret.
And she isn’t sharing it with anyone, including Zach Montford. Even though she feels an instant connection with the good-looking banker and youth leader, she’s wary of rejection. Besides she’s only in the close-knit beach community until she meets the one man who can fill in the blanks about her history.
Zach hopes his temporary stint with the church will help him decide whether to go into full-time ministry. Though his career plans are uncertain, he’s sure about his growing feelings for Billie. When a shocking revelation throws everything into question, Zach and Billie have a chance to put the past to rest … and walk into the future together.
~~~
Narelle here. I hope you’ve enjoyed catching up with Julia today. Seaside Proposal is the third book in my Sydney Sweethearts series that was originally published in 2015 by Harlequin Heartsong Presents. The second edition ebook is available on preorder now, and the story is partly set in the fictional seaside town of Sapphire Bay.
Do you have a favorite seaside town you like to visit, or a seaside town you dream about visiting one day? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I live in the USA. My favorite beach I visited once is in Bermuda. But since I live closer to the New Jersey shore, I like Ocean City, no bars and family friendly.
My daughter and I went to Amelia Island in Florida this May. It’s really a nice seaside town. I enjoy any beach. I really don’t have a favorite.
Hi Narelle! I have visited beaches on both US coasts (California – Pacific Ocean, Florida, and Virginia- Atlantic Ocean), but prefer beaches closer to home. The state of Michigan has over 3,000 miles (5, 000+ km) of shoreline on 3 of 5 Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron & Superior) with many resort towns and over 120 lighthouses. Living in a resort town in SW Michigan we have beautiful sandy beaches and a historic lighthouse. Warren Dunes state park has a huge sand dune. So year around I enjoy Silver Beach, Lions Park Beach, Jean Klock Beach, Rocky Gap Beach, Grand Mere Beach, and Weko Beach. Each beach has pristine sand and their own identity. Some are more family friendly with play equipment. But all have the most romantic sunsets – sights made for romance stories. Best wishes.
Coolum Beach on The Sunshine Coast, QLD for us.
My favourite is Agate Beach in Namibia. The water is a beautiful aquamarine and one can collect agates as one walks on the beach. The sign however, is the best – “This beach is safe to the best knowledge of Luderitz Town council. However entering and swimming at this beach is at own risk.”
welcome today. no I dont have a sea side town I visit. We have thought to visit our daughter in CA and she lives 15 min from the beach.
I guess my favorite beach is the one of the ones near me, though we have about 72 miles of beaches in Brevard County!!
My favourite beach ever was in Mombasa, Kenya. A group of friends and I rented a house next to the sea for a weekend. That fine, white Indian Ocean sand is like no other place I’ve been.
My favorite coastal town is Tofino, BC, Canada. The beaches there are great for watching the breakers roll in and for sand dollars and starfish. And we are always hoping to see whales or orcas!
Actual favorite place to walk IN the water would be Fort Myers Beach in Florida. The water is warmer and sandier and the shells more abundant!
My mom lives in New Zealand and she’s been to the Gold Coast in Australia. I’d pick that place for sure!
Since I live on the Oregon coast, there’s been many seaside towns that are my favorite to visit. One is Depoe Bay OR with it’s beautiful ocean waves & our favorite restaurant named Gracie’s Sea Hag….they have the most delicious clam chowder! The favorite spot there is called Spouting Horn because the way the rocks are on the shore, the waves hit a particular spot between the rocks & “spout” up and sometimes over the road! I love watching it when the winds & waves get wild :-)
The place we just vacationed to in May for the first time, is called Orcas Island WA. That would be another place I’d go to again for sure (I’d move there if we could)! You can walk right down to the beach & watch the water go by. It sits right on the bay and the view is gorgeous!
For fictional towns, I wished Hope Harbor was a real place! Irene Hannon has set the town on the southern part of the Oregon coast that sounds amazing. I’d visit it if it were real :-)
Hi, I have been to Puerto Rico and Hawaii and one day I would love to go back to visit. They are both beautiful. Thank you for sharing about this book, it sounds like a great read and I love the cover. Have a great day.
I have visited beaches in California, South Carolina and both of Florida’s coasts and my favorite are beaches on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
I wish I lived close to a beach town so I could visit.
Thank you so much for sharing. The town sounds wonderful. I have always dreamed of going to the Isle of Palms and the Charleston area. God bless you.
Hi Gina, I’d love to visit Bermuda, but it’s so far away from where I live in Australia. It looks like a gorgeous place to visit. Ocean City sounds fun, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Kathleen, Amelia Island sounds lovely. I’d love to visit Florida and discover the beaches and towns there. Thanks for commenting. 😊
no fav; any
I love going to Pakenham.
Sounds interesting looking forward to Billie’s story.
I am not sure I have a favourite little seaside town. We use to go to Kingston SE for a church picnic once a year or occasionally to Robe. Both are a country hour away. Both are fairly safe swimming beaches. I also caught my one and only fish there.
Hi Renate, I’d love to visit your Lake Michigan beaches and seaside towns. They sound amazing, especially the romantic sunsets. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Mary, I haven’t visited Coolum Beach in years – a beautiful spot in Queensland. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jeannette, The aquamarine water sounds lovely. There are beaches in Australia, primarily in the far north, that don’t permit any swimming due to risks including crocodiles. The stingers (bluebottles) that occasionally visit the southern beaches are no fun, either. We also have the risk of shark attacks that’s becoming a bigger problem in recent years in some places. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, I hope you’ll have a chance to visit the beach near your daughter. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, 72 miles of beaches sounds amazing! One day I will Florida and see your beautiful beaches. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Milla, The Mombasa beach sounds gorgeous. Fine white sand is something we do have at some beaches in Australia, and it’s so pretty and nice to walk on when it isn’t too hot from the sun. 😊
Hi Valerie, Whale and orca watching from the beach would be a big treat. The warm water in Florida would work for me! 😊
Hi Trixi, Gold Coast in Australia is stunning, with miles and miles of sand and rolling waves. It’s beach weather there almost year round, like parts of Florida. I’ve been Depoe Bay and it’s a beautiful seaside town. We were there in March, and I remember the chilly breeze and big surf. Orcas Island sounds amazing. I love visiting Hope Harbor in Irene Hannon’s books, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Alicia, Hawaii is gorgeous and I’d love to go back and visit again. The photos I’ve seen of Puerto Rico are beautiful. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jessica, I’d love to visit the Florida Atlantic Coast, and further north as well. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lucy, I live inland as well, and I don’t get to visit the south coast beach towns that are closest to my city as often as I’d like, either. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, You’re very welcome, and I’d love to visit those places in South Carolina, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi bn100, As long as the beach is clean and the water isn’t polluted, I’m happy to visit. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, It sounds like fun. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jenny, We’ll done on the fishing! I’ve heard Robe and the southern beaches in SA are beautiful. One day I’d love to take a leisurely drive along the coast from the Geelong side of Melbourne to Adelaide via The Great Ocean Road. Thanks for commenting. 😊