Harbor Lights by Sherryl Woods

# of books read so far this year: 30
Date Finished: 5/30/2009

Description from back of book:

Struggling in his role as a newly single father, former army medic Kevin O'Brien moves home to Chesapeake Shores. He wants a haven for himself and his toddler son, surrounded by the family he knows he can count on. But Kevin is suddenly faced with a risk he hadn't anticipated — Main Street bookseller Shanna Carlyle. Shanna immediately recognizes Kevin as a wounded soul — she's had way too much experience with the type. Still, this charming O'Brien man and his son are almost impossible to resist. But just when the barriers are toppling, someone from Shanna's past appears. With their hard-won serenity threatened, Kevin and Shanna face their toughest challenge — learning to trust again.

What I LOVED:

• I LOVED Shanna. I loved the bookstore/game store. Perfect for a town like Chesapeake Shores.
  
• Of course, I love the small town feel of Chespeake Shores, and the sense of community and how everyone knows everyone and helps each other in times of need.
  
• I also loved the O'Brien Family dynamics. I found the banter between them entertaining, and enjoyed the chaos of a large family.
  
• I liked how Kevin came to terms with Meg's leaving all those years ago, and especially Meg, who was the inspiration to pursue his dreams from long ago of becoming an Environmentalist.
  
• I loved the fact that I was instantly hooked from the first page of this book. I was pleasantly surpried to read the
• I love the way Gram is able to hold everyonew in the family together.
• Most of all, I LOVED the budding romance between Kevin and Shanna and I thought they were perfect for each other!
  
• I LOVED how Henry's grandmother had a change of heart and Henry and Shanna were reunited.
  

What I HATED:

• Laurie (Shanna's friend). I thought she was really sel-centered and I wish she would've let Shanna live her own life instead of always trying to butt in. I couldn't STAND her.
• Mr. and Mrs. Davis- I hated the way they made Kevin feel guilty about "moving on" so soon after losing Georgia. I would think/hope they'd want him (and in turn, Davy, their grandson) to be happy.
  

However, I recently realized that whether I like or dislike a character shouldn't influence my feelings of whether or not I like a book. Sometimes a character, no matter how sweet or nasty they might be, is what completes the feel of the book.

A few other things:

I'm interested to see if Sherryl Woods will continue this series and where she will go with it, a reunion between Mick and Meg, Kevin and Shanna's wedding....more babies for them!!!I REALLY hope she will continue this series.

Flowers On Main by Sherryl Woods

Book 29 (for the year)

Blurb from back of the book:

When her last two plays are dismal failures and her relationship with her temperamental mentor falls apart, writer Bree O'Brien abandons Chicago and the regional theater where she hoped to make a name for herself to return home. Opening Flowers on Main promises to bring her a new challenge and a new kind of fulfillment.

But not all is peaceful and serene in Chesapeake Shores, with her estranged mother on the scene and her ex-lover on the warpath. Jake Collins has plenty of reasons to want Bree out of his life, but none of those are a match for the one reason he wants her to stay: he's still in love with her.

Jake might be able to get past that old hurt if he knew Bree was home to stay, but is she? The only way to know for sure is to take a dangerous leap of faith.

My thoughts:

I think I liked it better than the previous book. As always I really enjoyed this book, and I love how Sherryl Woods makes you feel as if your right there with the characters. I loved Bree and her ideas for a flower shop, and I loved the interaction between her and Jake, and I thought Jake's friends were hilarious! I am excited to see whats in store for everyone in Chesapeake Shores next month! I'm most anxious to see what will happen with Meg and Mick, and also Kevin and Georgia. I wish we could hear more about Connor!

Date Finished: 5/20/2009

ANOTHER survey from ANOTHER group

1. What author do you own the most books by?
Danielle Steel....I own most all of hers except for a few of her newest ones. I own alot of Debbie Macomber, Barbara Delinsky, and Susan Wiggs too.

2. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Any of the Virgin River men

3. What book have you read more than any other?
I don't re-read books.

4. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
I loved the Baby Sitters Club

5. What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber, Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

6. What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

7. What is your favorite novel?
Again cannot pick a favorite.

8. Who is your favorite writer?
Robyn Carr, Susan Wiggs, and Sherryl Woods..I also like the Stef Ann Holm books I've read

9. Who is the most overrated writer alive today.
Stephanie Meyer

Reading Survey

Got this from one of my book groups....

Why do you read? (escapism, stress relief, relaxation, improve yourself etc)

I read mainly for stress relief, relaxation, and to escape reality for a little while. It's nice to step into another world and be someone else for a short time.

When you are in the mood to read a favorite genre what genre would it be? And what author(s) would you look for to satisfy your mood?

Usually Contemporary Romance, and my favorite authors are Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods, and Susan Wiggs

If you were having the world’s suckiest week ever, what genre and author(s) would you turn to in order to escape?

Same as above OH! and Christian Fiction, more specifically Karen Kingsbury books.

If you needed a good cry which author(s) will guarantee you tear up?

Well I don't normally cry when reading. It takes alot to make me cry in general, but I have teared up on a few occasions

If you want a thinking readers book, what author(s) would you lean towards?

Jodi Picoult or Jacqueline Mitchard

If you needed sheer entertainment which author (s) would you choose?

I'm not sure....something in the Chic Lit genre perhaps. I got a huge Kick out of Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (though I know thats not really a Chick Lit book)

The Inn At Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods

I finally finished The Inn At Eagle Point this past Wednesday (5/13/09). It took awhile to finish it because I seemed to keep putting it down to read other books. I do think, however that it was more ME than the book itself, because once I started reading, I really did enjoy the book. Sherryl Woods is great at making the reader feel a part of the book and the towns she creates are towns I wouldn't mind living in. Cheseapeake Shores is ne exception. The way she describes the town somewhat reminds me of the town in her Sweet Magnolias Series.

The Inn At Eagle Point starts out 15 years earlier when Megan O'Brien walks out on her husband and five children, due to her husband's workaholic tendencies. She doesn't actually say goodbye to her children, just sneaks away while they are sleeping. The youngest, Jessie, is only 7 at the time so in the years to come has a hard time adjusting to some things without the support of her mother. Abby, her older sister steps in and gives her the love and support she needs. Unfortunately, Abby is really the only one who maintains a relationship with Megan,once she(Abby) moves to New York.

Jump ahead 15 years and Jess is trying to open The Inn At Eagle Point in an old Victorian home on the beach. This "old" home needs alot of work and Jess tries hard to fix it up. She does a great job, but some of her ideas are too "big" which causes her to be in danger of foreclosure. Once again, Abby comes to the rescue and comes home to Chesapeake Shores and help get things back on track. She also runs into Trace, her old boyfriend, who she broke up with without much of anexplanation when she moved to New York after college. Trace's father owns the Chesapeake Shores Community bank, and Trace agrees to come run that bank for 6 months. One of his first jobs is deciding the future of The Inn At Eagle Point, which is how he crosses paths with Abby. He agrees to let Jess keep the Inn open under the condition that Abby oversees all financial matters, much to Jess's dismay, but she agrees to go along with it.

There are immediate sparks between the Trace and Abby, and Abby's five year old twin daughters just adore him. Abby and Trace decide to give their relationship one more try. They begin talking about a future but neither are sure wherre they will end up. Abby assumes she will be going back to New York once the Inn opens and Trace is not quite sure he wants to go back. Trace ends up buying a home that Mick O'Brien built, and Abby takes a new job in Maryland, thus putting her closer to her family, and allowing her to stay with Trace.

At the very end of the book Bre makes an appearance in town, and this sort of leads into the next book Flowers On Main.


The O'Brien's also have 3 other children. Bree, Kevin, and Connor. I'm anxious to hear about them also. Jess did bug me at times with her irresponsible spending habits, and her occasional disrespect of Abby's time and money, but other times I could relate to her on some level. And I thought that the sparks between Abby and Trace were predictible. I figured that they'd end up together again, which is what I hoped for. Again, I loved the setting in this book. Both the small oceanside town, and the Inn. I have since started reading Flowers On Main, and I'm looking forward to meeting Abby and Jess's other 3 siblings.

Date Finished: 05/13/2009

Diamonds In the Rough by Diana Palmer

Things I like about Diana Palmer's Diamonds In the Rough

• I love the fact that one underlying theme is that Money can't buy happiness. John tells Sassy repeatedly that she has so few material things, yet she considers herself to have many blessings, whereas he has alot more than she does (material things) and he feels empty.
  
• I love Sassy. I love the way that she steps in and takes care of everyone around her. But I also love that John comes in and takes care of HER for a change.
  
• Of course, I love the setting--small town, ranch, with a little romance thrown in.
  

The only thing I didn't like about the book was how John lied to Sassy about who he was. I didn't see why that really mattered. I also thought that she sure forgave him fast....that almost seemed a little fake to me, not that I expect FICTION books to sound realistic anyway.


I am definitely eager to go back and read The Men of Medicine Ridge now, so I can get the background story on John's brother, Gil. I am also hoping that Diana Palmer will continue this series. I would like to see Sassy have a child or two (or three!)

Date Finished: 5/10/2009

Summer On Blossom Street By Debbie Macomber

Summer On Blossom Street was so awesome that it kept me up until 2:30 in the morning reading! I loved this book! It included all the same characters as in last year's book, Twenty Wishes, which I loved. Anne Marie and Ellen had just returned from a trip to Paris, one of the things on Ellen's list of 20 wishes. Helen's biological father also turns up and asks Anne Marie if he can at least meet Ellen and tell her who he is. This happens to be another one of Ellen's 20 wishes. Lydia and Brad decide to adopt a child, and they are very excited until late one night they get a call from the social worker asking them to take in a teenage girl for two nights, which turns into a week, which turns to LONGER! At first they're not sure how they will get through it, the girl is really moody and stand-offish, but as time goes on, she becomes a special part of the family and The Goetz' end up adopting her! I actually cried during this part of the book.

Most of the book is centered around a new class that Lydia teaches at A Good Yarn. It's called Knit To Quit. We also meet some new characters. Phoebe, who is trying to get over her ex-fiance who cheated on her, and Hutch, who's doctor suggests he take up knitting to help lower his blood pressure. Alix also takes the class so she can quit smoking, because she plans to get pregnant soon. During the course of the class, Phoebe and Hutch fall in love and soon they announce they're getting married! Soon after, Alix announces she is pregnant!

I can't wait to see what next years book will bring!! I only wish Debbie Macomber would write a Christmas On Blossom Street book! Maybe someday she will.

The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber

Over the weekend, I read The Matchmakers by Debbie Macomber. It was a quick read, and in my opinion one of those stories where you know what the ending will be. My predictions were correct. Little Matchmakers is a story about an 11-year old boy who longs for a father, and begs his mom to start dating. They meet former pro-football player Gavin Parker, who happens to be a single dad to 13-year old Melissa who longs for a MOTHER! The kids join forces and try to get their parents together.

Debbie has written a couple other books with this same type of storyline. Darling Daughters and Yours and Mine. I thought all 3 of these books were cute stories and all had happy endings!