Western Shores

The Compass Series, Book 4

By: Lise Gold

Narrated by: Addison Barnes

Madison Wilson, a marine biologist, has recently graduated and is ready to start her adult life with her first job as a research technician in Santa Cruz. After moving to Capitola, a sweet and colorful beach town in Northern California, she is immediately enchanted by her new house, as well as her beautiful landlady, Ally.

Ally Santos, a widow and single mother, is relieved to be rid of the fuss of holiday tenants, as she’s busy enough with her highly gifted son Theo and her bar, Western Shores. When a young, pink-haired girl moves into her pink house, she’s hoping life will get calmer, but nothing could have prepared her for the curious attraction she feels toward her new neighbor....

Is Ally ready to embrace her feelings for someone who is not only a woman but also 17 years her junior? And is Madison ready to take on the challenge of instant full adulthood with all its trappings, instead of slowly easing into it?

©2020 Lise Gold Books (P)2020 Lise Gold Books

Spot on

I found this story very close to home! It was very accurate in terms of the doubts and insecurities of an age difference relationship. Very enjoyable read and liked the positivity that came with the story.

Fantastic!!!

Great book! You truly can’t go wrong with a Lise Gold book! She is such a talented writer. The entire Compass series is worth the listen. Each book works as a stand alone book and blends seamlessly with the rest of the series as well. I also love that she has kept the same narrator throughout the series because when characters from the other books come into play, the voices are still consistent. And the narrator, Addison Barnes does an amazing job!

Age is just a number

Ally and Madison fit together perfectly Madison may be younger than Ally but she was more sure of their relationship right from the beginning. Theo really was a great kid. The story is so vivid and beautiful. There is no shortage of hot scenes between Ally and Madison. Very well done 👍🏼

Lil Pink House’s for you and me.

Loads of colorful characters filled these pages. It peeked my now, new, interest in underwater life. I may have to go back to my fish tanks. Off to my next Adventure.

Nice Listen, but not quite 5 stars...

I enjoy Lise Gold's audiobooks, and this was no exception, but this one didn't have that extra something to make me feel it deserved a perfect rating. If I could give it a 4.4 out of 5 stars, I would have. Narration was very good, but not amazing - just like the story, which was also very good, but not amazing. I liked all the characters but there were times in the later chapters that I sort of got bored with the character with the kid. sorry. still, if you want a good romance with no angst or drama, and some decent sex scenes (again, not amazing), then get this book

Lovely story, awesome narration

With Northern Vows, the fifth and final book in the Compass series, being released next week, I wanted to get back in the mood and reacquaint myself with the characters. I had not had time to listen to this audiobook yet, so it was perfect. I don’t have much to add to my first review, except that Addison Barnes’ narration is still as good, the chemistry between Madison and Ally is still as strong, and I still love them both individually and as a couple.

Here's a shorter version of the review I wrote when I first read the book:
I fell in love with Lise Gold‘s books with Northern Lights, the first in the Compass series. The characters in this book and the following one, Southern Roots, make up one of my favourite couples in lesfic. There’s Melissa Brayden‘s Jess and Brooklyn and there’s Hannah and Kristine.

Western Shores is the fourth – but not last, yay! – book in the series. I’m not an age gap fan but the issue is addressed from the start, delicately, in pure Lise Gold fashion. The attraction between Madison and Ally flows organically from the first time they meet. Lise Gold has a knack for creating the sweetest, kindest and most charming characters, and Madison falls perfectly in that category. Not only do I understand why Ally would fall for her but I don’t see how she could not. It also helps that, even though Madison is twenty-three and only just starting her life as an adult, with her first job and all, Ally’s life has been rather stagnant in recent years. Madison comes into her life at a moment when everything is about to change anyway. Ally might not see it that way at first, but the timing is ideal.

As usual, the author writes chemistry really well and her love scenes (I’m not only talking about sex here) make my heart melt. The first night Ally and Madison spend together is delightful and a little heartbreaking. And it only gets better from then on.

My fave of The Compass Series!

I really loved this book. Great story, great characters, and great narration! A must read!

A fave

I have listened to this book at least three, maybe four times since I bought it a couple months ago. I absolutely love it. It’s a simple romance; not a lot of conflict, and not as much traveling to exotic places as Lise Gold tends to write into her other books; but that’s a part of the draw. Getting to know Ally, Theo and Madison and the love story (both romantic and familial) that develops between them is a sweet and touching experience. And the sex scenes are HOT lol. As for the performance, Addison Barnes continues to be a fantastic and under-appreciated talent. She makes a mellow, sweet story that much more enjoyable with that unassuming and even-paced way she has of narrating. She’s a perfect fit for this book.

Definitely recommend!

As south and north this one

Is an excellent book, loved the story, I didn’t care for the east one, gave up on it after almost half. But this one. Not only it is well written which wnaderful story line and characters it is wonderfully narrated.

Another excellently woven addition to the compass series!

As usual Lise Gold doesn’t disappoint. This modern age gap romance is fun and up lifting. The author depicts a captivating seaside town where a widowed bar owner comes face to face with a growing passionate crush on her rental tenant. There are even a few juicy bits of southern gossip in regards to all your favorite Presley residents!