Sea Glass Island - Sherryl Woods (Mira - June 2013)

Series: Ocean Breeze (Book 3)

With her two younger sisters heading for the altar, will Samantha Castle exchange old dreams for new ones? Lately she'd rather be on the North Carolina coast with family than in New York with agents and actors. Though she vows not to let her teenage crush on Ethan Cole influence her decision, it's hard to ignore her feelings for the local war hero.

Ethan lost more than his leg in Afghanistan. He lost his belief in love. Even being surrounded by couples intent on capturing happily-ever-after won't open this jaded doctor's heart. It's going to take a sexy, determined woman -- one who won't take no for an answer.

Very good conclusion to the series. Samantha is an actress who lives in New York and is headed home for her sister Emily's wedding. In the previous book, Wind Chime Point, her career was slowing down, so her sister Gabi, a PR specialist, helped give it a boost. That boost didn't last, and now Samantha realizes that she's lost the passion that drove her early career. Going home will give her the chance to look at her options and come up with a plan. Getting involved with her teenage crush was not in the plan.

Ethan came home from the war after losing part of his leg and opened a clinic in his hometown. After being dumped by his fiancée because he wasn't "whole," Ethan became jaded and cynical about love. As the best man for Emily and Boone's wedding, he's surrounded by people that do believe. This puts him at a disadvantage when the bride's family seems determined to push him into Samantha's arms.

I liked both Samantha and Ethan. Samantha is independent and focused, even when she's having a career crisis. Her family means everything to her, which shows in her determination to do whatever her sister needs. She is also very observant, a side effect of her work as an actress. Ethan is a good man whose heart was stomped on by his ex. It did a number on his confidence in his appeal to women, and as a result, he built up some pretty solid walls around his heart. The only ones who get through them are the kids he works with. I loved seeing him use his experiences to help children adapt to injuries like his.

I loved watching the development of the relationship between Samantha and Ethan. As maid of honor and best man, they need to be able to work together. Because her family is well aware of that teenage crush, they are determined to push Samantha and Ethan together whenever possible. Though the sparks fly whenever they are together, Ethan is particularly resistant. It doesn't take long for Samantha to be ready to see where those sparks take them. She knows that she is risking heartbreak, but if she can break through his walls, it will be worth it. I loved seeing how well she understood Ethan and his fears and knew when to push and when to back off. Ethan knew he was fighting a losing battle, but his fears went very deep. Just when things looked very promising, they found themselves in the middle of a minor scandal. I wanted to shake Ethan because he used what happened as an excuse to push Samantha away, convincing himself that she would leave anyway. I was also mad at him for failing to support her when she needed him. He did finally redeem himself in a very satisfying manner, but he still let his pride hold him back. I loved Samantha's strength as she stood up for herself and her needs. I liked his big moment at the end as he finally let go of his fears and his pride. The epilogue was a great wrap-up for the book.

A good part of the story was spent on Samantha's career crisis and what she was going to do about it. I loved watching her at the high school and how the drama kids inspired her. I especially liked her connection with Cass. I ached for Samantha when she had to deal with Ethan's attitude and lack of belief in her plans. It was hard to see Samantha's insecurities over her chances to make those plans work, especially when she hit that bump in the road. It was great to see the support she got from her family. When they talked about bringing in guest actors, etc., I immediately thought of Bree from Flowerson Main. It would have been fun to see her provide some advice to Samantha.

Sand Dollar Cove - Nancy Naigle (Crossroads Publishing - May 2015)

Escape to the shores of Sand Dollar Cove, a quaint beach town on the North Carolina coast. When Elli Eversol returns to Sand Dollar Cove to rebuild her grandparents shops on the old fishing pier following last fall’s hurricane, she’s faced with bigger problems. For one, the pier has taken a much more serious hit by a recent Nor’easter. Secondly, the boy who broke her heart, Holden Moore, is back in town too and tempting her, only her heart is telling her he’s still not one to be trusted. So she keeps her focus on her family and the Buy-A-Board campaign project so she can put those funds to good use and spare her heart.

When Brody Rankin answered the online request to help router names into boards purchased in a campaign to save the shops on the pier in Sand Dollar Cove, he’d really just been trying to do a good deed and get a closer look at the sleepy little town where his mega-company is planning to build an east coast warehouse. Will this well-known playboy be able to resist a woman who loves the ocean as much as he does, or will he leave Sand Dollar Cove behind?

Terrific small-town story full of friends, family, and love. Elli spent her growing-up summers in Sand Dollar Cove with her grandparents and always saw herself eventually living there. But life intervened, and she has spent the last several years inland, building her real estate business. She returns to the cove to rebuild the shops and pier that were damaged in the latest hurricane, only to find that things have changed more than she expected. Her grandmother is feeling her age, the damage to the pier is worse than she realized, and an old boyfriend is back in town.

I liked the interplay of the various relationships. Elli and her grandmother were great. They have such a wonderful relationship. Nana may have slowed down some, but she is still full of life and enjoys taking care of people. I loved her practical outlook on life and how she uses it to help Elli over some rough patches. Elli's friendship with Pam is longstanding, and it was fun to see their "girl times" together. Elli also knows she can count on Pam when she needs her, such as the prep for the town council meeting.

Holden's appearance took Elli by surprise. She hadn't seen him since the summer before college when he broke her heart. He makes it plain that he'd like to get together with her again, but she's wary. There's still some attraction, but she's not sure about trusting him with her heart again. I admit that he bugged me, at times seeming almost stalkerish. But it was his actions at the town council meeting that showed his true colors.

I loved Brody. Elli found him when she looked for someone to help with the Buy-a-Board inscriptions. I really liked the way that he connected so quickly with Nana. They were so cute together, especially when he cooked for her. Brody is very laid-back and easy to get along with. He and Elli connect over their love of the beach and the woodworking he does for her. When things at the pier don't go well, Brody is the one who talks her back from the edge of despair and helps her look at things a different way. Unfortunately, there was a crucial bit of information that he didn't share with her that nearly ruined everything. I loved seeing him show a little bit of a vulnerable side as he made it right. His big moment at the end was great.

I liked the small-town setting. The hurricane's damage affected everyone in some way, and all hoped for something that would fix things before tourist season started. The way that the town council tried to put one over on the townspeople was maddening, and I laughed at the looks on their faces when so many people showed up for it. Even better was the plan that Brody helped Elli develop. It was so heartwarming to see the community pull together to make it happen. I also loved how welcoming they are to newcomers like Brody and Ed. Ed turned out to be an unexpected surprise who provided an interesting twist. I'd love to see him get a story of his own.

 

It Started with a Pregnancy - Christy Jeffries (HSE #2698 - June 2019)

Series: Furever Yours (Book 6)

It isn't puppy love.

But when one night leads to babies on the way, is a forever family far behind?

Animal rescue director Rebekah Taylor isn't a pet person -- or the family type. But now she's pregnant and a newbie parent to an adventure-loving stray dog nobody can catch. Kind of like Grant Whitaker, the fancy-free tech consultant who's not your typical daddy-to-be. Except this dude's sticking around. Can Grant persuade Rebekah to trust in him and the future they've started creating together?

Very good book. Rebekah is the director at the Furever Paws animal rescue. She loves her work, even if she isn't an animal person herself. She has also written off the possibility of relationships after wasting six years on one that ended badly. Which is why she is shocked to find herself pregnant after a one-night encounter with her bosses' nephew Grant, a man who is her polar opposite.

At first glance, Rebekah and Grant look like the most unlikely of couples. Rebekah is a super-organized rule follower who comes across as pretty uptight. She also keeps people at a little bit of a distance, never getting really close to anyone. Grant is a laid-back, committed bachelor who is always ready to have some fun. He is constantly on the go.

The development of their relationship is a bit rocky. Grant was drawn to her when he met her, but it wasn't until he saw her with her friends at a happy hour that he felt like they connected. He was surprised that he hadn't heard from her since then but looked forward to seeing her again now that he was back to see his aunts. Rebekah was not as happy to see him. She is still coming to grips with her pregnancy and hasn't yet figured out how to tell him. He is equally stunned by the news, but I thought he handled it much better. I loved that he immediately wanted to be thoroughly involved in every step. In fact, he was rather put out that Rebekah was so surprised. Having been burned by her ex, Rebekah finds it hard to trust that Grant will stick around the way he says he will, especially when he never seems to stay long in one place. I got a bit frustrated with the way Rebekah looked down on Grant because of his different way of doing things. She also is somewhat paranoid about anyone finding out about her pregnancy, while Grant would like to be able to share the news.

I did ache a bit for Rebekah, who is utterly convinced that she will be a terrible mother. Even though her parents were long-time foster parents, she never felt motherly toward any of the children they cared for. I did wonder a bit, right along with her, until the advent of the little dog Angus. Though she'd never had the desire for a pet, nor did she get involved with the ones at the rescue, she was drawn to this skittish little stray. There were some emotional scenes as she tried to lure the dog out of hiding with food, at the same time confiding all her fears to him. When she and Grant finally caught the little guy, she ended up as the pup's foster mom, with Grant along to help. I enjoyed seeing the softer side of Rebekah come out around the dog. Angus also served as a catalyst to the discussions she and Grant needed to have, as she looked at their differing attitudes with the dog and saw the same issues cropping up as parents.

With the amount of time Grant and Rebekah spent together, it was no surprise that the attraction between them continued to grow. Plus, with their prospective parenthood and their work with the animal rescue throwing them together, they also had a chance to get to know each other better, and the attraction turned to deeper feelings. However, there are still two things working against them. First, there is Rebekah's fear of trusting Grant to stick around and then having him leave. On Grant's side, there is the constant pull of family, as he rushes hither and yon whenever someone seems to need him, which feeds right into Rebekah's fears. With both of them, it's their mothers who provide the insight that opens their eyes to the truth. I especially liked Grant's "aha" moment and what he did about it. The epilogue was great, and I loved how Angus had a starring role in it!

I enjoyed the secondary characters. Rebekah's parents were great. I loved their technological ineptitude, which reminded me so much of my mother. There was a terrific scene between Grant and Rebekah's dad before Grant knew who he was. It did create a bit of trouble when he made the connection, but it all worked out. Grant's aunts, Bunny and Birdie, were adorable. I loved their big hearts in their work with the shelter. Though they sometimes gave the impression of being quite scatterbrained, there were also times when I thought they were much sharper than anyone gave them credit for. I laughed out loud at the airport scene at the end. Angus was fantastic. He broke my heart at the beginning with all he'd been through. I loved how he connected with Rebekah, and the changes in them both.

Carolina Dreaming - Virginia Kantra (Berkley - Feb 2016)

Series: Dare Island (Book 5)

After escaping a disastrous marriage, bakery owner Jane Clark has convinced herself that she has everything she needs -- her precious son, a thriving business, and a roof over her head. But the arrival of a handsome stranger on the island shows her exactly what she's been missing...

The only home Gabe Murphy ever had was the Marine Corps. He's working hard to rebuild his life. It will take a special place, and a special woman, to make him want to stay.

Now Gabe is determined to prove that he's worthy of Jane's trust -- and her love. But when her past reappears, that trust will be tested, and Jane and Gabe will have to fight hard to hold onto their love and make their dreams a reality...

Excellent book about two people who find love and healing with each other as they try to rebuild their lives. I was sucked into the story from the beginning as Gabe touched my heart. He grew up in a home with an abusive father and a mother who chose her husband over her son. While he had the benefit of a caring uncle, Gabe never felt that he had a home until he joined the Marines. But after leaving the Corps, Gabe had a run of bad luck, including time in jail for accidentally killing a man while trying to prevent a rape. He was acquitted of murder, but with everything that has happened, Gabe needs a new start. All he can think of is Dare Island and his friend and fellow Marine Luke Fletcher's family, who welcomed him with open arms years before.

I loved Gabe. His past and his troubles have worn him down to the point where it's easy for him to believe others' low opinions of him. But underneath that bad boy exterior is a man with a good heart. That heart first makes its appearance when he shares his sandwich with a stray dog. I loved how the dog sensed the goodness in Gabe and attached himself to Gabe. I could feel Gabe's relief at Luke's welcome, and also his determination to turn his life around. Gabe's encounter with Jane, her kindness to him, and the immediate pull he felt toward her, made him feel things he'd never felt before.

Jane's life hasn't been that great either. Her mother walked out when Jane was seven, leaving Jane with her busy police officer father. Tom didn't know how to relate to her, so Jane was frequently left alone, feeling isolated. She fell in love and married young, looking for the family she craved. Instead, she ended up with a man who abused her for years before she escaped and divorced him. Now she's trying to stand on her own two feet, running her business and raising her seven-year-old son. She is determined to put her past behind her and make better choices for her future. Jane has a nurturing heart and gets great satisfaction from taking care of the people around her, from her son and father to her customers and friends. Her kindness and caring have her helping Gabe, even as she realizes that she should stay away from him.

I loved the development of the relationship between Gabe and Jane. Both are wary of risking their hearts. It was sweet to see Gabe show his caring through the work he did on her shop. He was always on the lookout for ways to make things better for her. It didn't take long for him to realize that what he felt for Jane was more than just physical attraction. Jane is attracted to Gabe, both physically and emotionally, but she is afraid of making another mistake. I liked seeing her step outside her comfort zone as she tried to overcome those fears. The dinner scene at the bakery was awesome, but also magnified Jane's worries. Seeing Gabe's connection with her son, Aiden, dug him deeper into her heart. I loved watching the changes in Gabe as his determination to be the type of man Jane needed fueled his resolve. I ached for him as he told her his feelings and her fears made her pull back. There was an emotional scene as he dealt with his hurt, and Jane tried to make him understand her concerns. When Jane's past makes an appearance, it creates complications but also helps her see past her fears. There was an unexpected twist that could have gone badly for Gabe. I loved how everything worked out in the end. I loved the epilogue and seeing how things have changed for both of them. I'd love to see more books in this series and catching up with all of the people of Dare Island.

  

Stealing Taffy - Susan Donovan (St. Martin's - Aug 2012)

Series: Bigler (Book 3)

Ten weeks in a swanky Arizona rehab center and Tanyalee Newberry, aka Taffy, is ready to give up everything that isn’t good for her―her forgery habit, taking (i.e., stealing) things that don’t belong to her, and, of course, men. But when her flight home gets rerouted, she finds herself in a hotel room with her smoking-hot travel companion. One night together is all it should have been. But passion is oh-so sweet…

Special Agent Dante Cabrera has been duped at his own love-’em-and-leave-’em game by this so-called Taffy. To forget she ever existed, Dante buries himself in his work…until a case leads him to North Carolina and, impossibly, right back to her. He has no business messing around with this felonious femme fatale, especially one who could be in more danger than she thinks. But Dante also knows there’s more to her than great looks and hot nights―a soul-searching woman who wants to amend her past sins. Is he ready to take their desire to the next level…and steal Taffy’s heart?

Fun conclusion to the Bigler series. Taffy made her first appearance in the opening book of the series, Cheri on Top. She was Cheri's bitchy, manipulative, and criminal sister, who was notorious for her sheer selfishness. At the beginning of this book, she has just finished ten weeks of court-ordered rehab, where she made an impressive voyage of self-discovery. Taffy was determined to turn over a new leaf, make amends for her past mistakes, and avoid temptation. Those intentions were waylaid; however, when a rerouted flight threw her together with an impossible-to-resist and scorching man. Taffy gave herself the gift of a last hurrah with this man, never expecting to see him again.

Dante is a special agent with the DEA. His previous undercover assignment went so well that it has been extended, much to his dismay. Dante is a city boy from New York, and the South is not his cup of tea. His encounter with Taffy was the distraction that he needed but left him with a far more memorable experience than he expected. Desperate to forget about her, he threw himself into his work.

I really liked both Taffy and Dante. Taffy had quite the challenge ahead of her. She has to find a job and perform her community service hours to satisfy the conditions of her probation. She also had to make amends to the people she'd wronged, a list that grew longer rather than shorter, as she took those steps. I loved her dedication to that mission, and her determination to carry it out, no matter how painful it was to her. I ached for her and the pain and frustration she felt as she tried to find both a job and a place to volunteer. Her encounter with Candy (I Want Candy) provided both, in a heartwarming scene of forgiveness. Throughout the book, Taffy's struggles were realistic and believable. I loved seeing her overcome them and become someone she could be proud of.

Dante has some challenges of his own. Events from his past put him in a downward spiral that took a great deal of effort to break out of and required a fair amount of diligence to maintain. His memories of the night with Taffy were a distraction that he didn't need. His current assignment was an offshoot of the previous one and had the entire taskforce stumped trying to find the local connection. His interactions with his coworkers were fun, especially when it came to his relationship with Taffy.

Fate wasn't done with Taffy and Dante.  Dante was stunned to find Taffy right under his nose, and not sure if he was happy about it or not. Taffy was equally unhappy to discover her lapse in judgment was not relegated to her past. But neither could deny the sparks that flew between them. They couldn't stay away from each other and quickly discovered they had a deeper connection than just the physical one. I loved the time they spent together and how each was able to share their pasts. The similarities they shared made it much easier for them to understand each other, and that understanding quickly deepened their feelings for each other. Dante's care, understanding, and patience were sweet, as he provided the support she needed, but also space when she wanted it. His growing feelings for her also created a bigger problem, because someone in his position was forbidden to keep company with someone with her record. I loved seeing Taffy grow more confident in her new life, thanks to Dante's support. I loved how her feelings for him grew as she learned more about the man he was. The protectiveness they felt for each other was sweet, as they tried to do what was best for the other. I ached for the tough spot they were in, faced with the prospect of having to give each other up. The ending was perhaps a little to neatly wrapped up, but I loved it anyway. The epilogue was fantastic. Dante's big moment was sweet and romantic and perfect.

Fern was my favorite secondary character. I ached for her and everything she had been through, making her wary and cynical. I loved how she and Taffy were matched up, with Taffy's sweet but determined nature running up against Fern's defensive snark. It was great to see Taffy break through Fern's walls with her southern steel and gentle understanding. The two of them have some laugh-out-loud moments as well as some heartbreakingly emotional ones. The scene at the hairdresser really got to me. Their growing trust became very important when they had to work together to escape life-threatening danger at the end.

The bit of suspense from the case that Dante worked was good without overshadowing the relationship. I liked Dante's confidence in his belief of a local connection in spite of the others' skepticism. I liked the connection between Dante and Fern, and the background of their relationship. He was certain that she knew something that would help, but he was also protective enough not to push. The tension ramped up when the bad guy spooked, and Taffy and Fern were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was impressed with Fern's presence of mind and loved how she and Taffy saved themselves in an exciting and funny confrontation.

 

The Military Wife - Laura Trentham (St. Martin's - Feb 2019)

Series: Heart of a Hero (Book 1)

Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox's death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.

Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children under foot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit's end.

In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.

In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah's best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?

This was a fantastic story of love, loss, and friendship. I was surprised to discover that the author is not a military spouse herself because the depth of her understanding is spot-on. The format of the book is also unusual, alternating chapters between the present and the past. The present chapters are linear, but the past chapters bounce around, dependent on whatever event in the present brought that memory to mind. I very much enjoyed those flashbacks as they fleshed out the characters' stories and showed what made them the people they are today.

Five years after her husband's death, Harper was still haunted by questions about what really happened. She has mostly moved on, raising her son Ben and working for several local businesses. She also felt a growing restlessness and dissatisfaction with her life.  Encouraged by her mother to look for her "passion" Harper found inspiration while helping an old friend.

Allison was at the end of her rope. Her husband returned from his last mission a changed man, fighting PTSD but refusing to ask for help. Trying to keep the family on an even keel while presenting the image of the perfect family, Allison also needed help that she was reluctant to ask for.

I loved the friendship between Harper and Allison. It is indicative of the bonds that form among military wives who understand the stresses and unique challenges of being married to a military man. When Harper realized that Allison needed her, there was no question about dropping everything to be with her friend. I liked how Harper drew on her own experiences to help Allison. The scene at the wives' meeting was deeply emotional as Allison opened up about her problems and the other wives told their own stories and offered their support. It was during this meeting that another challenge of military wifehood was brought up. The lack of career opportunities for military wives is a real problem, as employers are reluctant to hire someone who will probably leave within a few years. With a brainstorming session among the wives, Home Front Coffee was born, and Harper found her passion.

In the planning process for the coffee house, Harper discovered that not everything about Noah's death was as straightforward as she thought. Looking for answers, Harper confronted Bennett Cardwell, Noah's best friend, and fellow SEAL. Unknown to Harper, Bennett had made a promise to look after Harper if anything happened to Noah. His method of doing so blew up in his face when Harper showed up to confront him about it.

I loved the development of the relationship between Harper and Bennett. Bennett thought he knew Harper pretty well, though he'd never met her, thanks to the letters and emails that Noah had shared with him during their deployments. He didn't expect the reality of the feisty, stubborn, and sexy woman who confronted him. Harper was taken aback by the attraction she felt for Bennett, a feeling she hadn't experienced since Noah's death. Though he refused to enlighten her about Noah's death, Bennett did offer his help in setting up the coffee business. As they spent time together setting up the business, they began to fall for each other. Though Harper knew that Noah wouldn't want her to be alone for the rest of her life, there was a part of her that felt guilty about her growing feelings for Bennett. Meanwhile, the emotions that Bennett first noticed, and squashed, years ago, grew stronger the more time he spent with Harper. Haunted by Noah's death, Bennett was sure that Harper would want nothing to do with him if she knew the truth. With emotions stirred up by a crisis with their friends, both Harper and Bennett were finally able to get past the final barriers that kept them apart. I ached for Bennett as he prepared himself for the worst, and cried tears of happiness for him when those fears proved unfounded.

The secondary story of Allison and Darren was heartbreaking. You could see that Darren knew he was struggling, but could not bring himself to ask for help. Allison loved her husband but had no idea how to help him. I loved the support that Allison received when Harper encouraged her to share her troubles. I liked how Harper brought Bennett into the equation. There was some regret there as Bennett realized that he had put distance between himself and his old teammates, but his determination to help was immediate. There was a very emotional scene at the end that showed how deep the struggle was.

I loved the chapters that dealt with the pasts of Harper and Bennett and their relationships with Noah. Harper's love for her husband was unquestionable, but there was also the reality of the ups and downs of their married life. Resentments were realistically portrayed, as were the happier times. It was fascinating to see how the friendship between Bennett and Noah was formed and grew. I especially liked how the irrepressible and optimistic Noah got past Bennett's barriers. The scenes from their SEAL training were especially enlightening. The final chapter from the past was the most intensely emotional and left me aching for Bennett.