This was the second novel in the By the Sea series set on beautiful Maui, and for the first half I didn't think it was as good as "True to Me". However, it redeemed itself in the second half which I was pleased about and it was nice that Quinn's story continued in this novel.

Maggie had a role in True to Me and I was hoping she would be given her own book. As a single mum trying to stay one step ahead of a stalker, Maggie thought she had finally found safety when arriving on Maui. I felt extremely sorry for her and can only imagine how terrifying and scared she must have felt knowing that her stalker was determined to find her. Additionally, she was trying to provide a happy, normal life for her young son, Charlie.

Maggie's service dog, Woodrow, stole my heart. He was the true definition of unconditional love and the devotion and loyalty he showed Maggie was heart-warming. It was clear from the author's writing and description of Woodrow that she deeply loves dogs.

With romance, suspense, realistic characters and family dynamics, "No Place Too Far" was a touching read full of heart. ( )

What do you get when you take a classic beach read, add a healthy dose of chick lit, and a pinch of cozy mystery? No Place Too Far - the latest and second entry in Kay Bratt’s By the Sea series. The perfect read for relaxing poolside on your next vacation, or to get you in the mood for planning that long-awaited trip to the islands.

Best friends Maggie and Quinn are both running. Quinn is running to the family she never knew she had. Maggie is running from a past shadowed by a now-jailed stalker, hoping the tropical paradise of Hawaii will finally allow her to feel at peace. Despite the best laid plans, however, both Maggie and Quinn find themselves in trouble from all sides.

Race along the sand with Maggie, Quinn, and a robust cast of quirky supporting characters, to the nail-biting conclusion of this tale of new beginnings, old friendships, and the sometimes uncertain nature of love. ( )

Amazing Follow-up. I wrote last year of the first book in this series that Bratt could spend the rest of her career in this world, and that I would not be disappointed. Here, she comes back to the world ostensibly to give best friend Maggie her story... that Quinn plays an even larger part in than Maggie played in Quinn's own story (where Maggie was present enough to be the obvious target of a direct sequel, but otherwise truly a secondary character). Bratt does a solid job of juggling both ladies, it just seems at times here that too much is being condensed into one book. To me, the tale here could have been told over three, maybe four, books rather than one and been more on par with the overall pacing and impact of True To Me. Going into specifics might get a bit too much into spoiler territory, so I'll simply say that to me, the division is this: Quinn gets a dedicated sequel. Maggie's story here gets its own dedicated book where Quinn becomes more of a secondary character rather than the co-lead she is here, and Maggie's own story is then broken up into effectively the first and second halves of the story here.

I know, I know. I've complained in other reviews about books being cut in half in almost blatantly obvious cash grabs, but I don't think Bratt would have done that in the above scenario. I think more time in each of these situations would have brought out much more of the depth of emotion that True To Me had, vs the constant "swinging for the fences" here.

But do not get me wrong: This is still truly an excellent book, one I am very proud to have read, and again, I want to come back to this world many, many more times. This is just me expressing my quibbles over pacing of a truly excellent book that to my mind *just* missed the "I can't stop crying and my mind is blown" level of amazement that True To Me brought. Truly a great book, and very much recommended. ( )

5 Stars for this anticipated second book in the By The Sea series. This book picks up where True To Me leaves off, but can totally stand alone on its own. I wavered between 4.5 and 5 stars, ultimately going with the 5 because I couldn’t get this story out of my head and am eagerly anticipating the next book!

This story follows Maggie, a young single mom to a adorable 4 yo, who escapes to Maui looking for a safe place to live and hide. Her bff, Quinn, has just opened an upscale small hotel on the less traveled side of Maui, and had encouraged Maggie to come. Maggie, is scared, lovable, coming out of her shell, mature and tackle her problem head on. Stalker... just the word alone takes fear to a new level. Ms. Bratt tackles this subject with brutal honesty and from a place familiar to her and many. Quinn, is more of a side story in this book, but no less important, dealing with her own drama and making hard decisions to protect her family, maybe at her expense. Secondary characters are wonderful, well written and come to life. They add so much to this story.

As in the first book, we are treated to the wonderful stories of the Hawaiian culture and folklore. I love how Bratt weaves this in and out of the book. I can’t wait for the next book to see happens next on this beautiful island to this special family.

Thanks to Ms Bratt, LakeUnion Publishimg and NetGallet for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone. ( )

No Place Too Far is the second book in the By the Sea series by Kay Bratt. I read the first book, True to Me and looked forward to reading this next book in the series.

No Place Too Far picks up pretty much right where the first book left off. Quinn is learning to navigate her new found family and building a relationship with Liam. Quinn's friend Maggie is also building a new home for herself and her son on Maui. As the book unfolds, a lot happens with both Quinn and Maggie. There are some tense situations and some very sweet moments which when combined result in a beautiful story.

I would not consider this book a stand alone. I would not have been able to enjoy this book as much without knowing the details from book one in the series. The beginning of No Place too Far was a little bit cumbersome to read because it was trying to recap a lot of the previous book. After I got past that section, I truly enjoyed it and will have no problem recommending this series.

My Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it. I see more books from Kay Bratt in my future. ( )