Customer Reviews

Harbor Lights (Chesapeake Shores)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have read Sherryl Woods for many years and enjoyed her well-woven tales of family, friends, and life along the eastern seaboard. Harbor Lights was a letdown. I found myself not caring about Mick and Megan anymore, because, after all, they are adults and should have behaved better in the first place so I didn't want to agonize over their stupid resistance anymore. This is the third book in the series, and Mick and Megan should have resolved this somewhere in the middle of the second. As for the main characters, Kevin and Shanna, I thought they were going along just fine. Things were progressing well and the relationship was truly developing. Then the book ended. Suddenly, everything resolves and the world is inexplicably in HEA mode. Why the rush? Maybe deadline loomed, or perhaps she just got tired of writing this story line. I felt actually pushed to accept the resolution of this romance; shoved like a good little romance reader into a corner and bullied into accepting that it could happen this way. Well, Ms Woods, romance readers are a little more savvy than that, thank you. I have no intention of reading this book again.

The INN was great, Flowers on Main - great, Harbor Lights - slow, reptetive. I will complete the book as it must 'get better' as I have confidence in Ms. Woods writing.

Kevin O'Brien has returned to the beloved O'Brien clan with his son Davy, devastated from his wife's death while serving in the Army in Iraq. He just wants to be left alone to freely and fully grieve. His family honors his needs for a while, but then they realize he has a son who needs him. In other words, he needs to slowly join the living in spite of and through his grief. A large, daunting task to be sure! But the O'Brien clan is up to the task as well.

At the same time young Shanna Carlyle has arrived in Chesapeake Bay and is about to open her dream store, a place where the locals and tourists can buy books, games, small toys and puzzles, as well as have a place to have a cup of coffee while they relax and browse through the merchandise. She's got an accounting background to put to good use here but she's also hoping to escape a searingly painful past that she views as damaged.

The day comes when Kevin is finally talked into visiting his sister who owns the store next to Shanna. Finding her shop closed, he stops by and thus begins one of the most cautious, intriguing and endearing romances a reader could imagine. Both are initially ultra-gun shy about calling their relationship anything more than a casual friendship, but to other eyes the sparks are flying whenever they are together.

You'll meet some other fascinating characters, all of whom are desperately trying to matchmake this burgeoning relationship but who have issues of their own that frequently cause conflict between Kevin and Shanna. Is there hope for the couple? What is it that each character needs to face and admit before they can even dream of more than the frightened and grief-filled moments they suffer? Be warned; this sounds complex and heavy but it's definitely not so. Sherryl Woods has a knack of putting just enough tension into a story and then relieving it graciously and beautifully with a scene where the bonds between all of these characters begins to heal and strengthens.

The fictional tale also turns to a realistic, very important environmental issue as well, done lightly but with significant focus!

Harbor Lights is a glorious, enchanting, light-hearted, intriguing and precious story written by an author who just keeps improving with time! Wonderful story to be cherished by readers in any time of the year!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on July 14, 2009

This book set in a Chesapeake Bay Maryland town is about a widowed father, Kevin and a "newcomer" to town. Both have baggage...they don't want to fall in love and be hurt again.

I have never read anything by this author, but since I live near the Chesapeake Bay, I thought I'd enjoy it (think of Nora Roberts Chesapeake series).

Well, this is just not my cup of tea. Too sweet. Everything just works out and the whole town is just full of folks who get along. There is even a passage about two neighboring resturants not serving the same dishes so they wouldn't compete....uh, hard to believe in today's economy.

But this book is more about how the main character, Kevin's, family is intrested in matchmaking, than anything. There was no romance or hint of sexual tension written at all. It just did not hold my interest and I skimmed through the back half, and finally just gave up.

I don't want to down this author, as maybe there is an audience for this type of story, but it's not me.

Harbor Lights is Book three in the Chesapeake Shores series and is the story of newly single father Kevin O'Brien and bookshop owner Shanna Carlyle.

Former army medic Kevin moves home to Chesapeake Shores with his two-year-old son Davy following his wife's death in Iraq. Devastated and guilt-ridden, Kevin wants a safe haven for himself and his son, and no place is better than home with his large Irish-American family. He knows he can count on them for support, and the seaside community offers a future very different from his past. He doesn't count on finding bookseller Shanna Carlyle.

Shanna has left an alcoholic husband and a stepson she adores, and she's gun shy about becoming involved with anyone else, especially someone with capital B baggage. However, what begins as a wary friendship, gets a huge boost from the meddling O'Brien clan who want happiness for their brother and son. And Shanna finds little Davy and his wounded father hard to resist. But just when they are becoming comfortable with their new-found relationship, trouble from Shanna's past threatens to destroy what they've built.

Ms. Woods does it again with this tale of the irrepressible O'Brien clan. Each new story brings another O'Brien into focus while continuing the stories of the rest of the family. At times the meddling is over the top, but that's the way of the O'Briens, and Ms. Woods creates charming, three-dimensional characters.

I enjoyed Shanna's character and her journey to love, and while I felt Kevin's change of heart seemed rushed, the ending was immensely satisfying.

I DISAGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAID THIS WAS A DISAPPOINTING BOOK! THE FURTHER I GET INTO THE SERIES THE "MORE" I LOVE THE O'BRIEN FAMILY....AND CHESAPEAKE SHORES..I FOUND IT TO BE A "GREAT READ" I WOULD GIVE IT MORE THAN 5 STARS IF I COULD!! TO EACH THEIR OWN I GUESS...!

Sherryl Woods is a wonderful story teller. I love her series about families and this one, Chesapeake Shores Trilogy, is no disappointment. She can make her characters come alive. Once I found Sherryl Woods I have read all she has wrote and just waiting for the next one. Just down home real life storys.

"Harbor Lights" has proved to be slow-moving at times but gut wrenching at others. This book probably took me the longest of all the books to complete, but it still kept me anticipating the next story!

Right now I'm living to read about the O'Brien family!

Woods portrays a sleepy little beach town where everyone helps everyone and privacy is at a minimum. Her two main characters are victims who bring their past relationships into the present.
There are not many surprises or for that matter intrigue to this romantic story, but the plot flowed. Her obsession with victim hood was shallow and became a bit tiring at times. This was your typical boy gets girl romance. The story line was just a bit fluffy for my taste.

Magic indeed!!! Another hit by Ms. Woods. How can you help but love this series and this family from Chesapeake Shores? The O'Briens are a meddling bunch, they meddle every time they get a chance, but they all just care about each other.

I see fences being mended, new loves blooming and the latest one is Kevin and the newest lady, Shanna. Shanna opens a bookstore/game store in town and Kevin comes upon her shop, only to find more than a book or game! Maybe the love of his life, if he will give himself a chance for happiness since his wife was killed in Iraq.

I feel like I am going home to my family when reading these books, and I hope you feel the same. Can't wait for the next part!!!