Summer State of Mind - a baseball coach with broken dreams and a woman hoping for a fresh start come together in a North Carolina coastal town.

Daisy Stevens, a nurse, moves to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, seeking a fresh start after a traumatic work experience. Shortly after her arrival, an abandoned baby is brought to the hospital by Mason Thaysden, the local high school baseball coach who was once a star pitcher in his school days but never reached the big leagues. After saving the newborn, Mason is eager to get to know Daisy better and introduces her to his large family, which include his Aunt Tilley, a woman approaching sixty who has never recovered from the loss of her first love. Daisy, who has unresolved parental issues, is enjoying getting to know this new family, especially Mason. However, her primary focus is on the baby girl, whom she names Maisy, as the child's parents have yet to come forward. Could this baby be the key to her healing? And is Daisy someone who can offer some stability for Mason?

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey touched my heart. Although it's not a sequel of the 2021 book Under the Southern Sky, the story is once again situated in the coastal town of Cape Carolina and brings back some beloved characters. While the book deals with some serious issues, it is primarily a feel-good story featuring two appealing main characters you'll hope will find their happily-ever-after together.

Many thanks to Gallery Books for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction | Romance.

Publication Date: May 5, 2026.

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