7 Heart Review: Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods

Beach Lane (Chesapeake Shores #7)
Sherryl Woods

Page Count: 360
Release Date: 31 May 2011
Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin)
Source: Complimentary ARC provided by Romance Novel News in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Carolyn!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods returns to Chesapeake Shores with a heartfelt story about the healing power of love.

In the close-knit community of Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, Susie O'Brien and Mack Franklin's "not dating" claim befuddles everyone, especially since the two spend every spare minute together. Susie's thrilled when their friendship finally heats up. Then, just when happily-ever-after seems within reach, Mack loses the job he loves and Susie faces a devastating diagnosis.

But O'Briens always unite in a crisis. Even her cousin Jess, Susie's rival for most of their lives, becomes her staunchest supporter——especially when Mack's former lover comes to town. The stakes are higher than ever before, but Susie's definitely up to the challenge... …as long as Mack's right there by her side.

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Sony eStore | Kobo | Publisher

Review

Mack and Susie share a solid, ever-loyal love that everyone—except for Mack and Susie themselves—seems to recognize. The onset and eventual defeat of an illness tests this exquisite bond, which exposes its rawest of vulnerabilities, yet at the same time, illuminates upon its unshakable strength. The entire town of Chesapeake Shores will stand by both their sides during the difficult period; many will question—while others will emphasize—the importance of faith and God's will. But when it comes down to things, what matters is that Mack and Susie fit perfectly—always have, always will. And that alone, they know, will get them through it all.

Beach Lane is highly emotional rather than romantic. There's lots of future-planning and emphasis on family matters... reading this book was like watching a short Hallmark movie. It's a quick, enjoyable read with lots of depth within the characters and honest, well-portrayed emotions. Overall, it's chaste and sweet—hardly a romance, and more a family novel.

There's a cast of marvelous, strong secondary characters, which indicates they were or will be fantastic foundations for their own stories in past and upcoming books in the series. Although Beach Lane is the seventh Woods novel to take place in Chesapeake Shores, it serves fine as a standalone novel; I hadn't read any of the previous installments, and still had no problem keeping up. You can tell with how involved all the characters are with each other, that they each have their own backstories and own lives and loves, which is what makes the intricacy of such interpersonal relationships—and in just one small town, at that!—all the more magical.

This was really an undemanding read, perfect for a brief contemporary escape with an east coast beach setting (guaranteeing a gorgeous view and the lingering scent of salt in the air). The story moved me, but in the end, was pretty unmemorable. There's nothing I adored and nothing I hated; it was just an effortless story I breezed over. I did, however, find it it extremely weird how the entire extended O'Brien family meddles in Susie's dating life, as well as in the lives of others. I know this book is strong on family values, but how realistic is it that an entire town—no matter how small—would stick it nose into such personal matters? Sherryl Woods overdid that aspect a little.

Pros

Effortless style—such smooth storytelling! // Deep, grounded, and balanced main characters // Fabulous and likable secondary characters // Clean, chaste romance // One of those books that makes you feel warm and well-loved

Cons

Painfully predictable // No chemistry in the romance since the Susie and Mack have feelings for each other from the beginning // Super-intimate family dynamic that I found weird // A bit too corny for my liking

Love

It seemed [he] had the ability to rob her of common sense, reason, logic—all of those things on which she prided herself. And that made him not only the most inappropriate man she'd ever dated, but the most dangerous.

Verdict

While buoyant in tone, Beach Lane tackles a serious terminal illness that gives it a melancholy feel to it throughout; however, once Susie overcomes her fears and learns to just live her life, there is nothing but triumph. Full of hope and light, Sherryl Woods's seventh book in the Chesapeake Shores series is about believing in yourself and believing in love even in the hardest of times—perfect for all you happily-ever-after fans 

7 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable (x)

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr Giveaway!

Brought to you by the fabulous Little Bird Publicity...

The Newcomer (Thunder Point, book 2) by Robyn Carr

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr looks at letting go of the past-and knowing when you've found something worth building your future on.

Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost-and not missed-ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. They're wondering if their new feelings for each other can withstand the pressure... but they are not going down without a fight.

Step into the world of Thunder Point, a little town on the Oregon coast where newcomers are welcomed, hearts are broken and mended, and the dramas of everyday life keep the locals laughing, crying and falling in love.

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Kobo | Publisher

Giveaway!

We've a terrific giveaway for you readers! Thanks to the publicist, there's one print copy of The Newcomer up for grabs—I know y'all are just dying to try this series! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

For extra entries, leave me a comment about the book, the Thunder Point series, small-town romances, or your favorite authority-figure romance hero—sheriff, policeman, secret agent? Tell me!

I'm a sucker for firefighters... *swoon*

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL—comments only consisting of "I like that small towns, great interview" or "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry!!!! I really want to hear you guys' preferences! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules and Disclosure:

Giveaway ends 15 July 2013 at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US readers only. Sorry, international! Check my sidebar for international giveaways.

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their prizes will be forfeited.
Although I do select winners via Rafflecopter (Random.org), I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤ Plus you get extra entries ;)

Good luck!

A Romance Author's Real-Life Romance Story by Sheila Roberts and Giveaway!

Brought to you by Goddess Fish Promotions...

What She Wants by Sheila Roberts

Hot off the presses from Harlequin MIRA...

What do women want?

Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can't figure it out. Take Jonathan, for instance. He's been in love with Lissa Castle since they were kids but, geek that he is, she's never seen him as her Mr. Perfect. He has one last shot—their high school reunion. Kyle Long is equally discouraged. The pretty receptionist at his office keeps passing him over for other guys who may be taller but are definitely not superior. And Adam Edwards might be the most successful of Jonathan's friends, but he isn't having any success on the home front. His wife's kicked him out.

When Jonathan stumbles on a romance novel at the Icicle Falls library sale, he knows he's found the love expert he's been seeking—Vanessa Valentine, top-selling romance author. At first his buddies laugh at him for reading romance novels, but soon they, too, realize that these stories are the world's best textbooks on love. Poker night becomes book club night... and when all is read and done, they're going to be the kind of men women want!

♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

The Hypnotist (The Reincarnationist #3)
M.J. Rose

Release Date: April 19th, 2011

Publisher: Mira (Harlequin)

Page Count: 412

Source: Complimentary copy provided by Pump Up Your Book Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!), as part of The Hypnotist's blog tour

Haunted by his inability to stop the murder of a beautiful young painter twenty years ago, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Investigating a crazed collector who's begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation—dedicated to the science of past-life study. There, to maintain his cover, he submits to the treatment of a hypnotist.
 
Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to nineteenth-century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of the world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity, and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history: a fifteen-hundred-year-old sculpture the nation of Iran will do anything to recover. 

What Stephanie Thought: Art trade and theft is one of those subjects that don't come up that often; at first glance, you wouldn't at all suspect how corrupt and controversial of a market they are in the modern world. In The Hypnotist, it is revealed that art deals are actually one of the most illicit in the black market, third to the drug and arms trade.

The book begins with the murder of a beautiful girl. She never did any wrong; she just happened to be standing in the way. This demonstrates how hungry, and how desperate some art dealers are. They would even kill to get their hands on the right artwork. In this case, it's the ancient Persian statue of Hypnos, or the god of dreams, that has no official ownership due to its complicated political history. That is, until hundreds of years later, when Iran claims that it's been theirs all along, and threatens to destroy the originals of a few well-known legendary masterpieces, if they don't get it back.

To maintain his high-profile identity, agent Lucian Glass goes undercover as a troubled artist and sees a psychotherapeutic hypnotist. The process of hypnosis reveals a startling and vicious past, and eventually tells the whole story of how Hypos's statue's fervor began, and why it's so desperately desired in the present.

M.J. Rose writes with complexity and poise; I am really impressed by her authoritative tone and thought process. However, there was a little too much for me in this book. Too much information, too much detail, and as a mystery novel, rather than keeping me at edge with every page, I soon became weary of its wordiness and seemingly endless plot.

As a critic, I am intrigued and enchanted by The Hypnotist's intricate detail, but as a reader, there isn't too much praise I can give to the overall story.

Stephanie Loves: "Objectivity is overrated. Passion is much more productive."

Radical Rating: 6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back. ♥♥♥♥♥♥