Linda reads : Wind Chime Point and Sea Glass Island by Sherryl Woods

Wind Chime Point is book two of the Ocean Breeze Trilogy.  It would be helpful to read the first book, Sand Castle Bay, although the author does a wonderful job of tying in book one’s story.

Hardworking, ambitious, and independent Gabriella Castle is facing personal and professional challenges that prove too daunting for her to handle alone.  She retreats to her grandmother’s home in Sand Castle Bay, NC. and the welcoming arms of her family.

Wade Johnson is a cabinet-maker and wood-carver with a tragic and secret past.  He’s been intrigued by Gabriella whenever she’s visited and is happy when she returns to town.  He’s also a friend of Emily’s finance, Boone.

Gabi is having a lot of trouble deciding what to do about her future.  For the first time in her life, she is plagued with doubts and uncertainty.  She finds a friend in Wade and his easy-going style and good listening skills are both helpful and comforting.  She didn’t expect or plan for her feelings for Wade to blossom into love.  Wade knew he had strong feelings for Gabi, but he is unsure if he’s ready to take the next step.

Although this book focuses mainly on Gabi and Wade, the secondary characters play an important part in the story.  Gabi’s sister Emily is busy planning her wedding and her other sister, Samantha is facing her own crisis about her           career.  Grandmother Cora Jane is still playing matchmaker and the sister’s  father, Sam, has an expanded role in this book.

Sea Glass Island is the third and final book of the trilogy.  Samantha has been living in New York City pursuing her dream of being an actress.  But lately, the parts she auditions for are all going to younger actresses.  She goes home to North Carolina for her sister’s wedding and to reflect on what to do with her life.

Ethan Cole is a doctor at the local clinic in town.  He lost a leg while serving in Afghanistan, and his fiance dumped him shortly thereafter.  He’s having a hard time overcoming the hurt caused by his finance.  He doesn’t know that Samantha has had a crush on him since high school, or that her family is relentless on their determination to get them together.

There are several interesting subplots in this book and plot lines from the previous two books are tied up quite nicely.

These are  captivating, realistic, heartwarming romances.   The setting is a place you want to visit and the characters are people you want to know.  This is a character-driven trilogy with witty dialogue, beautifully descriptive scenes, warm and loving family interactions, and sweet love stories.  This trilogy is Ms. Woods best work yet.

Linda reads: Barefoot In The Sun by Roxanne St Clair

This is book 3 of the Barefoot Bay series.  You do not have to read them in order, however if you would like to, the first book is Barefoot in the Sand, the second book is Barefoot in the Rain.

Zoe Tamarin has been on the run since she was a child when her neighbor, Pasha, rescued her from a nightmare foster home.  They’ve lived in the shadows, never staying in one place too long, not being able to live any sort of normal life.  Zoe did manage to fall in love along the way, however, with Dr. Oliver Bradbury and decides to confess that she’s really not who he thinks she is.  The confession and Oliver’s reaction go very badly and Zoe, once again, disappears.

Oliver marries another woman, has a child, divorces the woman, and moves to Florida with his son to start a new life in a new medical practice that helps cancer patients with new, experimental techniques.  It is a coincidence that both Zoe and Oliver end up in the same Florida town.

When Zoe discovers that Pasha has terminal cancer, she seeks out Oliver to see if he will help (albeit, under the radar as Pasha cannot reveal her true identity).  This proves to be a difficult task, as Pasha is too frightened her past will be discovered, and Oliver and Zoe do not trust each other.

The chemistry between Zoe and Oliver is explosive, but their resentment and outside influences interfere with their quest to reconcile.  Both have heart-wrenching secrets that each needs to help the other overcome.   Will Zoe run again or stay and fight for the life and love she yearns for?

This is a heartwarming, emotional story of love, loss and the quest for happily ever after.

Linda reads: Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves

After surviving a horrific childhood, Luke Dawson leaves Rainbow Valley, Texas determined to forget the past, including a childhood friend, Shannon North.  Luke becomes a bull rider and is destined for the world championship.  He decides to come back to town for the funeral of his father and maybe some closure on his past.

Shannon North left a high power, high paying job as a CPA to return to her roots in Rainbow Valley and take over the Rainbow Valley Animal Shelter.  She worked there during her teens and it holds a special place in her heart.  The shelter is now run down, overcrowded and dependent on donations.  Shannon is hoping her experience in the finance world will help pull her beloved shelter from ruin.  She and Luke have a past that ended badly, and she avoids his father’s funeral.

Luke’s plans are to leave town as soon as the funeral is over, but decides to take a look at the property and home his father left behind.  Maybe if he goes into the house, he can erase some of the demons plaguing him.  But as he tries to take that first step onto the worn porch, he crashes through and injures his knee.  Luckily, Shannon drives by and suddenly they are thrown together whether they like it or not.

What follows is a painful, inspiring, hopeful journey where both Luke and Shannon have to overcome obstacles from their past and try to build on the feelings they reluctantly still feel for one another.   Luke grows from an obstinate, juvenile delinquent to a charismatic, caring adult.  He’s determined to show everyone in town that he is not his father’s son.  Shannon struggles with her perception of him (helped along by an overbearing mother) and some of her own issues from her past.  You can really feel this couple’s pain and will find yourself holding your breath for a happy outcome.

This story also includes some wonderful secondary characters in the towns’ people, an interesting legend, and the animals that are housed at the animal shelter bring an added extra dimension to the story.

This book fits in perfectly with the popularity of small town romances.  It is heartwarming, inspiring and very entertaining.

There’s Just Something About A Cowboy!

Contemporary Western Romances  have become very popular reads.  That cowboy drawl, the tight jeans, the muscular body, the slightly long and unruly hair, chaps,  the “yes ma’m, thank you ma’m”, the tough exterior with the soft and gentle heart – it stirs a woman’s heart!  The Cheshire Library has many titles to choose from that will get your heart afluttering.  Listed below are some of our most popular.

Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves.  This is the first in her new series Rainbow Valley, Texas.   She also has several other titles on our Romance paperback shelves, including the very popular series Plano, Texas featuring Hot Wheels and High Heels, Tall Tales and Wedding Veils, Black Ties and Lullabies, Heartstrings and Diamond Rings.

Katie Lane has a popular series, Deep in the Heart of Texas.  Titles in this series include: Trouble In Texas, Catch Me A Cowboy, Going Cowboy Crazy, Make Mine A Bad Boy.

Carolyn Brown’s final book in her Spikes and Spurs series, Cowboy Seeks Bride, will be out in August (we’ll be ordering it when the new fiscal year starts).  The other books in the series are: Love Drunk Cowboy, Red’s Hot Cowboy, Darn Good Cowboy Christmas, One Hot Cowboy Wedding, Mistletoe Cowboy and Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

C H Admirand has a hot cowboy series – The Secret Life of Cowboys.  Titles are:  Tyler, Dylan and Jesse.

Emma Cane has a cute series – Valentine Valley.  True Love at Silver Creek Ranch is the latest.  A Town Called Valentineis the first.

Cardwell Ranch Trespasser is book number 3 in B. J. Daniels series Cardwell Ranch.  Book one is Unforgiven.  Book two is Redemption.

Joanne Kennedy’s newest cowboy book is Cowboy Tough.  She also has several other titles on our shelves.

Laura Moore has a new series, Silver Creek.  Book one is Once Tempted.  Her Rosewood Trilogy was very popular.  Book one is Remember Me.  Book two is Believe in Me.  Book three is Trouble Me.                                                                            cowboy sunset

Other popular authors that write Contemporary Western Romances are:  Janet Dailey, Joan Johnson, Jodi Thomas, Debbi Macomber, Kat Martin, Linda Lael Miller, Diana Palmer and Jodi Thomas.  Come  in and check out our extensive collection in the Romance Paperback section of the library.

Linda reads : All He Ever Dreamed by Shannon Stacey

The Kowalski family has owned and operated the Northern Star Lodge in Whitford, Maine for four generations.  The current generation includes five siblings.  Josh is the youngest and only one left living at the Lodge.  All his siblings have found other interests and occupations that do not include the running, upkeep, maintenance and all the work that it takes to run the Lodge.  Josh feels he is being forced to give up his own dreams of exploring a life outside of Maine and the Lodge.  When the family discovers just how upset he is with being stuck at the Lodge, they try to find a way that Josh will be able to leave and fulfill his dreams – even if it means selling the Lodge.

Katie Davis is the daughter of the Lodge’s live-in housekeeper, Rose.  Katie grew up with the family and feels like she’s another sibling to them.  She owns a barber shop in town.  Secretly, she has always been in love with Josh, but he thinks of her as a sister – until late one night when she walks into the kitchen in her pajamas.  Suddenly, Josh is not seeing a “sister”.

Everyone in the family and in town can see that Josh and Katie are meant to be together, but Josh can’t see what’s right in front of him.  It was fun to watch Josh stumble along when he realizes he’s in love with his “best friend”.  Suddenly Josh’s vision of leaving Maine becomes clouded by his feelings for Katie.  She is committed to staying in Whitford and has no desire to leave.  Josh feels guilty about leaving her and the Lodge and you can really feel his dilemma.  The author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing what’s going to happen.

There’s a sweet side story between the housekeeper, Rose and her late husband’s best friend Andy.  The other Kowalski siblings’ stories are also entertaining and the various townspeople of Whitford, Maine add another layer of interest.

Shannon Stacey has the winning formula for contemporary romances.  Her stories are witty, charming, filled with emotion and fun to read!

This is book 6 of The Kowalski Family series.  The books do not have to be read in order. Learn about the rest of the Kowalski clan in the previous 5 books:

1.  Exclusively Yours

2.  Undeniably Yours

3.  Yours to Keep

4.  All He Ever Needed

5.  All He Ever Desired