Customer Reviews

Casting About

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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Terri DuLong has given a gift to readers everywhere with her new Cedar Key Series novel, CASTING ABOUT. I absolutely adored this book as it was the perfect read to curl up with on a fall day and get lost on the Island of Cedar Key with its down home charm and friendly inhabitants. In the first novel of the series, SPINNING FORWARD, readers were introduced to Monica who is the daughter of Sydney Webster. Sydney's story was mostly what the first book was about and in it (not to add a spoiler) we found that her yarn shop was taken over by Monica when Sydney left town.

Monica is in the "honeymoon stage" of her marriage of five months to the marvelous Adams Brooks, a strong male role model who is a school teacher and single dad of eight-year-old daughter Clarissa Jo. When Adam's ex-wife, Carrie Sue, a "real character", is declared unfit, Adam gains full custody of Clarissa Jo and couldn't be happier. Newly located and settled in Cedar Key, Monica fell in love with Adam, and they were only married those few months when she is suddenly thrust head-first into the sudden responsibility of motherhood. Clarissa arrives and the three begin the process of forming a suddenly ready-made family as Monica is required to make huge strides into becoming a mother very quickly. Unsure if she even wants to be a mother, Monica takes on the mission however, and through trial and error, many emotional ups and downs, slowly helps the three begin to bond as a family. After a few missteps, things are moving right along and Monica's doubts about her maternal instinct begin to diminish.

With the help of family and friends, Monica is able to run her business and actually make some great improvements to the shop as well as slowly become used to being married and being a suddenly new mother. Adam's mother, Opal, comes to stay on the island for a while and her stay stretches out as she bonds more with her granddaughter and her own insecurities begin to fade somewhat on this tiny strip of paradise. Delightful Dora is Monica's aunt and helps run the shop, although she does it out of love of the business and knitting, rather than for any money. Last in Monica's circle is Grace, who is her best friend, and runs a wonderful local coffee shop that is down the street from the shop. The two friends are great support for each other and with Grace, another plot line develops.

When Grace starts to see a new man in town, Monica worries as Grace seems to be getting in pretty deep, pretty fast. It turns out the local beehive of gossip has it that developers are trying to buy up property to turn the lovely island into a tourist mecca. The locals are against this and when Monica gets an idea that the man Grace is seeing is implicated, she gets involved in their business which starts some fireworks going.

The other sub-plot deals with a spirit of Sybile who was Monica's late grandmother. Faintly, and then more noticeably, she seems to make her presence known to Monica who at first chalks it up as coincidence. First things disappear and then show up again suddenly. Next Sybile seems to play an important part in helping Clarissa adjust to her new home. However, when sudden illness strikes the family, Sybile's presence is most assuredly felt and it plays an important part in the story.

With the twists and turns of each story line keeping the pages turning, all "knitting" together nicely at the conclusion; this is a novel I hated to see end. CASTING ABOUT reads just fine as a stand alone novel, but my guess is that you are going to want to start with SPINNING FORWARD so you can then have the follow-up of CASTING ABOUT ready to follow with. Thus, you leave less time to wait for the next installment, unlike myself who now has to hope that Terri DuLong is writing furiously about more of these memorable characters who you wish lived down the street from you!

I must be jaded; I am struggling to find books that really send me over the top. I will buy a book after reading the reviews and previewing the book myself, get home and get ready to dive in, only I find the shallow bottom. Clunk another disappointment.
The book started okay, but I quickly got bored and unfortunately did not develop any love for the characters. And I have to say the way the main character talked about treated motherhood, I was a bit offended and insulted. I kept yelling at the book for Monica to just talk to her step daughter....not keep quiet and ignore the huge elephant in the room.
There was very little and I do mean very little knitting in the book. And at 80 I hope I have a fourth of Aunt Dora's energy, I wish I had it now in my late forties.

Again here was a book that could have been deep, even a bit profound, and it could have been about knitting. A really good book about knitting and people is Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson.

I read this book and really like Terri Dulong's style. Just made me want to read the next book in the series. Terri Dulong, keep writing!

This is the kind of book that you would like to cuddle up with on a cold day, in other words, a "comfort read". I found out after I read it that there was an earlier book in the series. But that doesn't matter too much because this is a great standalone book. Now that I have read it, I would like to read the first book, Spinning Forward".

Monica Brooks, the main character, narrates the story in first person, has only been married for six months. She was going to take over her mother's yarn shop. She has fallen in love with the island life of Cedar Key. It is no wonder since her best friend and many of her relatives live there and act as a great support network to her.

Her life was feeling very comfortable and she thought it was going in the right direction. But her husband, Adam received a surprise phone that his ex-wife, Carrie Sue was in the hospital. She and her friends had gone out drinking while her eight year old daughter remained alone in the apartment. So, now her and Adam's daughter, Claris was staying in a temporary foster home.

Monica immediately wonders whether or not she would be a good mother or not. She had been an only child and knew nothing about children. She is so full of doubts. How is she supposed to bond with a little girl that she didn't know? What if she makes terrible mistakes? What if she is not a good mother?

Her friend, Grace has a very successful coffee shop with a beautiful view of the water. She has had no longstanding relationships with men. Then, someone who "looks like George Clooney" But does he have an alternative motive for this romance?

Clarissa, the long ignored and neglected daughter of Carrie Sue, comes to live with Monica and Adam. She has gotten used to seeing her mother constantly drunk and never having the opportunity for friendship. She needs a real mother, and a family, and friends and plenty of hugs and caring.

That is how this book starts. It keeps you reading and interested and is a quick read. My only criticism is that it seemed a little too tidy with the ending but it was a very comfy read. The author does tackle an unspoken problem of new mothers, which I applaud her for.

I recommend this to all women who have doubts about surviving motherhood and those would heartwarming story about families.

Sunrise On Cedar Key does Not disappoint. Once again Terri has pulled you into the magic of the island. The story and the characters are real, sometimes funny, and always thought provoking. I could not put it down. I was actually sad when I finished reading it. Terri always leaves me wanting more. I can't wait for book 4 the series.

How wonderful to be able to continue connecting to your "new friends" on Cedar Key. Every bit as good as the first part of the series (Spinning Forward). Heartfelt and full of emotion. Watch for part three of the series due to come out in October 2011!

A very enjoyable story about Monica and Adam Brooks. Early into their marriage Adam's 9-year old daughter Clarissa comes to live with them. Carrie Sue due to her drinking and carousing actions loses custody of Clarissa to her father. Monica owns a yarn shop and has a great support system (Opal, Aunt Dora, Saren and Grace). The story involves a few paranormal moments which only add to the story.

Instead of re-capping, I'm just going to say this one is a winner! It is a book two, but would be worth the read on its own merit. Love the sense of community, dealing with issues in a loving, positive way. The author introduces what can and does happen to children caught up in a selfish parent's twisted world, and resolves it in a great way. I love the knitting aspect of it and how the author "weaves" it into the story. So, you have knitting, friendship, puppies, kids, and coffee --combined, it's a great combination!

Can't wait for the next one!!!!

It has been satisfying to return to the world of Cedar Key and so many of characters that I grew to love in Spinning Forward. Exploring the problems and emotions of being a step parent is such a timely subject and though I have not experienced this, all seemed very true and real to me. Immersing myself in the book is like sitting down with an old friend, I did not want the t experience to end. Terri DuLong has succeeded again with this eminently readable and enjoyable novel. I am looking forward to returning to Cedar Key in the coming year.

Terri DuLong did it again. I was captivated from chapter one to the end of the story. In Sunrise on Cedar Key, we revisit the small community of Cedar Key. The characters in the book have returned as my old friends and we are introduced to new ones. I can visualize them and have grown to care about them. It is effortless to relate to their daily lives, their ups and downs and the ties that bind a small community together. Being true to yourself comes through in this book. There is forgiveness and growth and many lessons learned in Book 3.

One key point in the book for me was that, knitting has a calming effect, yes that is true. That truth has helped me beyond what I could think was possible. Another point was, we are all a work in progress and should never feel we have to settle for anything less than what we know in our hearts is out there for us.

I had chills as I read some passages in Terri Dulong's book. So many points 'hit home' for me.

I feel there are signals that invite us to read a certain book at a certain time in our lives. This signal was given to me at the time I had the opportunity to read Sunrise on Cedar Key and I am grateful that I listened to this signal and read this special book. I received a uplifting lesson with an open mind.

Thank you Terri DuLong for touching my heart again. I look forward to book # 4