Review: Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods

Title: Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods
Chesapeake Shores Series Book Thirteen
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length:384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods sweeps readers away with the story of a beloved member of the O’Brien family as she claims the life she’s always dreamed of

Spirited, spontaneous Carrie Winters has grown up under the watchful eyes of not only her grandfather Mick O’Brien, but the entire town of Chesapeake Shores.

Now that she’s home from Europe, a glamorous fashion career behind her and her heart broken, there seem to be far too many people watching to see if she’ll live up to the expectations her family has for her.

As if that weren’t enough pressure, Carrie finds herself drawn to sexy, grief-stricken Sam Winslow, who is yearning for someone to help him raise the nephew who’s unexpectedly come into his life after a tragedy.

With her own life in turmoil, is Carrie really ready to take on a new career and a new man? Or is Sam exactly what she needs to create the strong, loving family she’s always wanted?

Review:

Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods is a wonderful addition to the heartwarming Chesapeake Shores series. In this latest offering featuring the meddlesome but loving O’Brien family, Carrie Winters discovers her niche in life after her returning to her beloved hometown. She also unexpectedly finds love despite her first tempestuous encounters with newcomer Sam Winslow.

Carrie is feeling the pressure from her well-intentioned but interfering grandpa Mick to figure out what she is going to do now she decided to move back home. Her messy break-up with her ex not only ended her relationship but also her career and over the past several months, she has been filling in as a babysitter for her various family members while she tries to decide what she wants to do next. A surprising suggestion by one of her cousins helps steer her in an unanticipated but exciting new direction but her family’s lack of confidence in her new endeavor is disheartening. Adding to her distress is a family member’s unexpected jealousy and hurtful comments over Carrie’s involvement with Sam and his nephew Bobby.  As if Carrie is not contending with enough drama, the future of her budding romance with Sam remains uncertain in the face of their individual insecurities.

Although Carrie loved traveling and seeing new places, she is ready to put down roots in Chesapeake Shore. She has purchased a home and she is enjoying reconnecting with her family even though she is a little frustrated by their insistence at poking around in her business. Despite their assertions she is acting without thinking things through, after careful research, Carrie is certain she has made the right decision, but she is still afraid of disappointing her family.

Sam is still reeling from the death of his sister but he puts his grief aside while he creates a new home for Bobby. He is clearly out of his depth as he attempts to adapt to instant “fatherhood” and his honesty about his fears is quite refreshing. He also must come to terms with the fact that his footloose, fancy free days are behind him now that he is responsible for Bobby. While he is certainly confused about why his sister named him as Bobby’s guardian, Sam never once considers taking care of him as an unwelcome burden. He makes a few missteps and mistakes but Sam’s commitment to his nephew never wavers as he tries to help Bobby settle into their new life together.

The relationship between Sam and Carrie is slow growing and simmers on the backburner while they deal with the individual changes in their lives. Both are very concerned about Bobby’s well-being and after their initial somewhat hostile encounters, Sam often turns to Carrie for advice. Sam and Carrie attempt to ignore the spark between them as they help Bobby adjust to his new life but their attraction is just too powerful to resist. Sam and Carrie tentatively begin dating, but with so much uncertainty in their lives, is their budding romance strong enough to withstand the unresolved issues from their respective pasts?

Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods is another enchanting installment in the Chesapeake Shores series. Carrie and Sam are three-dimensional, vibrant characters that are quite appealing. Their relationship is very sweet and grows naturally over the course of the story. As always, the O’Brien family plays a huge role in the unfolding storyline, and it is quite enjoyable catching up with characters from previous novels. All in all, it is another heartfelt and engaging visit in Chesapeake Shores that is sure to delight old and new fans of this charming series.