Category Archives: Sherryl Woods

April 29, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods

Title: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods
Ocean Breeze Series Book Two
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When life gets complicated, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods proves family—and love—can make all the difference

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she’s worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother’s home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It’s not the only time he’s found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn’t looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion…and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

The Review:

Wind Chime Point, the second installment of Sherryl Woods’ Ocean Breeze series, is a journey of self discovery for Gabriella “Gabi” Castle. Unemployed and having ended her relationship with her long term boyfriend, Gabi retreats to her grandmother’s home to re-evaluate her priorities.

Usually career driven and goal oriented, Gabi is having trouble deciding what to do about her future. Plagued with uncertainty, Gabi turns to good friend Wade Johnson while she mulls over her options. Wade’s advice proves invaluable as she tries to figure out what to do next in both her personal and professional lives. Although romance is the last thing on her mind, Gabi soon realizes that her feelings for Wade extend beyond friendship, but is she ready for yet another complication in her life?

We really see a different side to Gabi in Wind Chime Point. She is rethinking her past choices and with Wade’s gentle encouragement, she takes a step back from her usual approach to setting goals and making decisions. Gabi becomes quite contemplative and eventually makes a rather unorthodox career choice that will change her future.

Wade is patient, loving and incredibly insightful. He has a great relationship with his sister and he is very involved with his nieces and nephews. Although Wade has overcome a past tragedy, his reluctance to discuss it eventually causes friction in his relationship with Gabi.

The romance portion of the storyline is understated and grows out of Gabi and Wade’s friendship. With so much turmoil in her life, Gabi is reluctant to begin a relationship. Wade’s feelings for Gabi were obvious right from the start, but he is careful to keep things light and casual between them until Gabi is ready for something more serious.

While most of Wind Chime Point focuses primarily on Gabi and Wade, past characters make guest appearances. Much to her granddaughters’ dismay, Grandmother Cora Jane is still working her matchmaking magic. Emily is the midst of planning her upcoming wedding and Samantha is encountering a few rough spots in her career. The sisters’ relationship with their dad, Sam, continues to improve and he is becoming more involved in their lives.

Wind Chime Point is a sweet and heartwarming romance that is quite captivating. The characters are multidimensional with realistic problems to overcome. Sherryl Woods has penned another beautiful novel about love, family and friendship that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

Read my review of Sand Castle Bay HERE.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Ocean Breeze Series, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sherryl Woods, Wind Chime Point

March 19, 2013 · 3:57 am

Review: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

Title: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods
Ocean Breeze Series Book One
Publisher: HarelquinMIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In a trade-off she’s lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.

For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

Will fate once again separate them—or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?

The Review:

Fans of second chance at love stories are going to love Sand Castle Bay, the first installment in Sherryl Woods Ocean Breeze series. Strong family ties and lovable characters add to this wonderful novel’s appeal.

Emily Castle and Boone Dorsett were high school sweethearts whose relationship ended when Emily left to pursue her career. Boone married soon after their break up and he is now a widower with an adorable young son. Emily has a thriving interior design business and she has successfully avoided seeing Boone in the ten years since their break up. That is until a hurricane brings Emily and her sisters, Gabi and Samantha, home to help their grandmother, Cora Jane, repair the damage to their family’s restaurant.

Emily and Boone are delightful characters and I really enjoyed watching them grow both as individuals and as a couple. I adored Boone right from the beginning. He is kind-hearted and loving and a terrific dad to his son B.J.. He might still be in love with Emily, but he is reluctant to risk getting his heart broken again.

I was initially unsure if I would like Emily. She was quick to jump to conclusions and reluctant to accept responsibility for her role in the break up between her and Boone. I gained a lot respect for Emily during the resolution of this part of the storyline. She is a strong and independent woman but her vulnerabilities make her sympathetic and extremely likable.

The relationship between Emily and Boone is slow growing and not without its share of missteps and mistakes. Boone is overly cautious about letting Emily in B.J.’s life so he tries to keep them from growing too close. Miscommunications and misunderstandings threaten to derail their burgeoning relationship. As Boone and Emily soon discover, compromise is a two way street. Adding to their complicated relationship is the sudden reappearance of B.J.’s grandparents and their threat of a custody battle.

Sand Castle Bay is a charming novel with engaging characters and a realistic storyline. Sherryl Woods beautifully sets the stage for the future installments of the Ocean Breeze series and I am eagerly anticipating Gabi’s story, Wind Chime Point.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Ocean Breeze Series, Rated B+, Romance, Sand Castle Bay, Sherryl Woods

August 27, 2012 · 3:58 am

Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods

Title: Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods
The Sweet Magnolias Book Ten
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Single mom Lynn Morrow is determined to put food on the table for her son and daughter. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband has failed to meet his obligations time and again—but it turns out that Ed is struggling with his own demons.

Enter contractor Mitch Franklin, an unlikely knight in shining armor. A widower with two grieving sons, Mitch once admired Lynn from afar. Now he sees in her not only the sweet girl who got away, but a woman desperately in need of support. While rushing to the rescue of Lynn and her children comes naturally to Mitch, he’s also wise enough to encourage Lynn to find her own way…hopefully straight into his arms.

The Review:

Part of The Sweet Magnolias series, and the final installment of this summer’s trilogy, Sherryl Woods’ Where Azaleas Bloom is a heartfelt and tender romance. My personal favorite of the three novels, it is a wonderful story of friendship, love and new beginnings as Lynn Morrow and Mitch Franklin slowly fall in love in the midst of Lynn’s impending divorce.

Lynn Morrow is not only reeling from the unexpected divorce from her husband Ed, she is struggling financially when her soon to be ex falls behind on his financial obligations. With few job opportunities, she is working several part time jobs to make ends meet and achieve financial independence. Although she is angry with Ed and deeply hurt by his actions, she puts aside her feelings and encourages her children to maintain their relationship with their father. Lynn shows admirable strength as she regains her independence, but she also lets her pride sometimes get the better of her. She also has some baggage from her past that interferes with her burgeoning relationship with Mitch.

Mitch Franklin is a fabulous character. Still grieving the death of his wife, he is a kind, considerate, loyal and infinitely patient man. He has a wonderful relationship with his college aged sons, although they are not quite prepared for their father to begin dating again. Mitch is understanding of Lynn’s need to take a slow approach to their relationship. While he is willing to let Lynn set the pace for the most part, he is no pushover. He is persistent when he needs to be, but he also knows when to back off.

Although not part of the Sweet Magnolias circle of friends, Lynn is quickly and warmly welcomed into their group. They offer her unconditional support and friendship just when she needs it most. One of the best aspects of The Sweet Magnolias series is how open and caring the characters are and how they are always willing to welcome newcomers into their fold.

Some of the subplots from the other books in the trilogy are resolved in Where Azaleas Bloom. Frances’ health continues to deteriorate, much to Liz and Flo’s dismay and decisions must be made regarding Frances’ living arrangements. A romantic entanglement featuring one of the older women is a wonderful reminder that love is not just for the young.

The resolution of Lynn and Ed’s divorce is very well done and carries a powerful message of forgiveness. I figured out pretty early on how that part of the storyline would play out, but I liked how Lynn and Ed worked things out between them.

Sherryl Woods is a long time favorite author of mine, and Where Azaleas Bloom is the perfect example of why. She brings her readers novels with realistic storylines about timely issues and true to life characters with believable flaws and imperfections. Ms. Woods always takes the time for her characters to get to know not only one another, but themselves as well. I always savor the slow buildup of emotions and I rejoice in the love that they find.

If you enjoy novels with close friendships, a tight-knit community and a sweet romance, you will love Where Azaleas Bloom. It can be read as a standalone novel, but with an author this talented, you will find yourself buying all the other books in The Sweet Magnolias series.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

4 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Rated A, Romance, Sherryl Woods, The Sweet Magnolias, Where Azaleas Bloom

July 17, 2012 · 3:57 am

Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods

Title: Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods
The Sweet Magnolias Book 9
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HarlequinMIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Sherryl Woods captures a community’s heartfelt fight to preserve the innocence of childhood.

When bullying threatens to destroy a teen’s life, painful memories resurface for dedicated high school teacher Laura Reed and pediatrician J. C. Fullerton. With the support of the Sweet Magnolias, they bring the town together to ensure that a promising student’s future isn’t ruined. And to establish once and for all that bullying has no place in Serenity, South Carolina.

Both J.C.’s and Laura’s passion for the cause is deeply personal, and their growing feelings for each other are just as strong. But with so many secret hurts to overcome, can these two vulnerable lovers find the strength to believe in happily ever after?

The Review:

In Catching Fireflies Sherryl Woods exposes the devastating effects of bullying. Once thought to be a harmless rite of passage, most schools now have a zero tolerance policy for bullying. But what happens when the victims are too afraid to speak up? That is exactly what happens in Catching Fireflies. If not for one observant teacher and a caring pediatrician, Misty Dawson might never have revealed the horrible and vicious attacks perpetrated by her fellow classmates. Through their own personal experiences, Laura Reed and J.C. Fullerton are aware of the long term consequences of bullying and they are determined to put a stop to the cruel behavior before it destroys Misty’s future.

Catching Fireflies is a hard-hitting and powerful lesson that addresses bullying from many different perspectives. Through Misty Dawson, we see how shame and fear cause her to keep silent about the horrible rumors that her fellow classmates are spreading about her. With her parents immersed in their own personal drama, we learn how easy it is for children to hide what is going on their lives.

Why would someone deliberately destroy another person’s reputation? In Catching Fireflies, the reason is multi-faceted. Jealousy is the primary motivation. Lack of parental discipline and guidance play a role. Support from friends gives the illusion that the behavior is acceptable and in fact, they join their friend in her personal vendetta.

We learn how social networking facilitates the bullying and escalates the attacks. Today’s technology makes it easy to retain anonymity and allows bullies to reach a wider audience. The ability to manipulate images through photo editing software makes it easy to humiliate Misty even further.

Secondary to the bullying storyline is the developing romance between Laura Reed and J.C. Fullerton. They are united in their mission to help Misty and their friendship slowly gives way to a sweet romance. Both have painful pasts but with patience and understanding, they are able to heal the hurts of previous relationships.

Fans of The Sweet Magnolias get the opportunity to catch up with characters from the previous books in this delightful series. The second generation of the Sweet Magnolias is just as endearing as their mothers are and they are quick to bring Laura into their fold.

Catching Fireflies provides valuable information and insight into a serious issue plaguing youth today. The novel is realistic and well written and Sherryl Woods does a wonderful job balancing this serious topic with lighter moments and a beautiful romance. Serenity is always a fabulous place to visit and I am looking forward to my next stop in this close-kint and loving community.

1 Comment

Filed under Catching Fireflies, Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Rated B+, Romance, Sherryl Woods, The Sweet Magnolias

June 26, 2012 · 3:57 am

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods

Title: Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods
The Sweet Magnolias Book 8
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HarlequinMIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When Elliott Cruz first courted struggling single mom Karen Ames, it it was a romance worthy of any Sweet Magnolia fantasy. The sexy personal trainer made it his mission to restore Karen’s strength—physical and emotional—and to charm her children.

Now, a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear them them apart. Elliott’s desire to finance the business opportunity of a lifetime with their hard-earned “baby money” stirs Karen’s deep-rooted financial insecurities. It’s the discovery that their brother-in-law is cheating on Elliott’s sister—and thinks it’s justified—that puts their irreconcilable differences into perspective. Will their own loving fidelity be a bond so strong they can triumph against all odds?

The Review:

In Midnight Promises, Sherryl Woods’ presents her readers with an in-depth and realistic look at what happens after the wedding vows are exchanged. Elliot Cruz and Karen Ames discover saying “I Do” is easy, but making a marriage work in the midst of everyday life? Well, let’s just say our couple has a lot to learn about themselves and each other.

Elliot Cruz and Karen Ames have what is probably a fairly typical marriage. Busy careers, long hours and working opposite shifts leave this couple little time together. Two kids, financial stress and extended family involvement provide additional strain on their fragile relationship. Lack of communication, secrets, trust issues and their respective emotional baggage threaten to destroy their marriage.

Ms. Woods beautifully illustrates that successful marriages take hard work. While it may not be romantic, dates sometimes have to be scheduled so couples can reconnect. Families are often a blessing and a curse. Each partner brings their own vulnerabilities and fears to the marriage and it is up to both people to work at understanding where the other person is coming from. Neither partner is perfect and mistakes are inevitable. Learning from those mistakes and self-reflection play a crucial role in resolving the issues facing Elliot and Karen.

The secondary plotlines are well-written and the conflicts provide added depth and substance to the main plot. Elliot’s sister Adelia is going through a marital crisis that forces her to reassess her values and her traditional Hispanic upbringing. Surrogate mother/grandmother Frances is frightened by the implications of an unexpected health problem.

Midnight Promises is a delightful addition to the Sweet Magnolias series. Fans of the series will enjoy reconnecting with characters from previous books in the series. Newcomers to the series will enjoy the camaraderie shared by this close knit group of friends and family.

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods is a fast-paced and captivating read that fans of contemporary romances are sure to love. I am very much looking forward to Catching Fireflies, the next installment in this charming series.

8 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HarlequinMira, Midnight Promises, Rated B, Romance, Sherryl Woods, The Sweet Magnolias

January 25, 2012 · 3:57 am

The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods

Title: The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods
Chesapeake Shores
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: MiraBooks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 Pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Falling for “Maddening Moira” O’Malley was the unexpected highlight of Luke O’Brien’s Dublin holiday. So when she pays a surprise visit to Chesapeake Shores, Luke is thrilled…at first. A fling with this wild Irish rose is one thing, but forever? Maybe someday, but not when he’s totally focused on establishing a business that will prove his mettle to his overachieving family.

Given Luke’s reaction, Moira has some soul-searching of her own to do. Scarred by her father’s abandonment, she wonders if Luke, with his playboy past, is truly the family man she longs for. Adding to her dilemma, she’s offered an amazing chance at a dream career of her own.

Deep down, though, Moira knows home is the real prize, and that love can be every bit as enchanted as a summer garden.

The Review:

The Summer Garden is the charming conclusion to Sherryl Woods’ Chesapeake Shores series starring the captivating O’Brien family. While on their Christmas vacation to Ireland, Grandma Nell rekindled her romance with old flame Dillon O’Malley and Luke O’Brien and Dillon’s granddaughter Moira fell for one another. A few months later and back in Chesapeake Shores, Luke is on the verge of opening an Irish Pub and Nell is eagerly awaiting Dillon O’Malley’s visit. Much to Luke’s surprise and delight, Moira joins Dillon on his trip. Will these two couples finally find their way to happily ever after?

Both Moira O’Malley and Luke O’Brien are struggling to balance their personal wants and desires with their families’ expectations of them. Moira’s photography hobby is on the verge of becoming a viable career, but she is unsure if a career is what she is looking for. Surrounded by his thriving family Luke feels pressured to make his newfound venture a success.

Moira’s self-doubts and insecurities are exacerbated by Luke’s single minded goal of establishing his pub. She is impatient with the slow progression of their relationship and Luke’s inability to commit long term. Normally straight forward and forthright, Moira has a difficult time communicating her expectations to Luke. With a little advice from their grandparents, Luke and Moira learn the key to a successful relationship is balance and compromise.

Nell and Dillon’s romance is a sweet counterpart to Luke and Moira’s rather tumultuous relationship. Despite their happy marriages to other people and a sixty year separation, Dillon and Nell are still deeply in love with one another. They are an adorable couple who quietly resolve the issues facing them and enjoy their newfound relationship.

The Summer Garden is a well-written and beautifully executed story. Fans of the series will fall in love with this heartfelt romance and enjoy the glimpses of characters from past novels. A wonderful epilogue ties up all of the loose ends, and with the oldest and youngest of the O’Brien family finding love, Sherryl Woods wraps up her much loved and endearing Chesapeake Shores series.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, Mira, Rated B+, Romance, Sherryl Woods, The Summer Garden