Romance

A good beach or summer read with strong family ties and people examining their real desires for career and family. ( )

I've read Sherryl Woods before but not this series (Chesapeake Shores). I didn't realize this was the 13th book in the series (though I did suspect it was not the first) until I came to review it. So it can be read as a stand-alone, though the cast of characters is quite large and may make more sense to you if you've read the series in order.

A friend (MH) sent me two books from this series in a box of books. I suspect the other book from the series comes before this one but didn't realize that until I'd already read part of this one.

The book started slowly (for my taste). It did get better.

Carrie is trying to decide what her calling in life is after quitting her job in the fashion industry and returning to her family's home town.

Sam has become a single parent overnight after his sister and brother-in-law die and leave Sam custody of their son. So much for the travel adventures he dreamed about.

Susie and Mack struggle with wanting a family and having the adoption they'd planned on fall through--especially since Susie's large family seems to bring forth babies at the drop of a hat.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION:

*****

I was a little surprised at Julie's and Lucy's decision--not the decision to move to Chesapeake Shores, but to slowly close the daycare they'd been running. When we're introduced to them, Lucy (and later Julie) make it sound like Lucy will be taking over from her mother when the time comes.

So, despite Carrie's assurances that her daycare would not be competition for Julie's, did it turn out to be the case that it was? Did enough families switch to Carrie's daycare that Julie's business went downhill? Or did Lucy decide she didn't want ownership in a business that was her mom's dream--and might not be hers? We saw early on that Julie said Lucy didn't always have the discipline skills Julie felt she needed to run the daycare.

I guess I just don't buy Lucy's explanation to Carrie about why Lucy wants to work for Carrie rather than her mom or taking over her mom's business. It just seemed like too convenient a way to solve Carrie's dilemma of needing an assistant manager.

I also guessed the adoption twist. ( )

Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods is a wonderful addition to the heartwarming Chesapeake Shores series. In this latest offering featuring the meddlesome but loving O'Brien family, Carrie Winters discovers her niche in life after her returning to her beloved hometown. She also unexpectedly finds love despite her first tempestuous encounters with newcomer Sam Winslow.

Carrie is feeling the pressure from her well-intentioned but interfering grandpa Mick to figure out what she is going to do now she decided to move back home. Her messy break-up with her ex not only ended her relationship but also her career and over the past several months, she has been filling in as a babysitter for her various family members while she tries to decide what she wants to do next. A surprising suggestion by one of her cousins helps steer her in an unanticipated but exciting new direction but her family's lack of confidence in her new endeavor is disheartening. Adding to her distress is a family member's unexpected jealousy and hurtful comments over Carrie's involvement with Sam and his nephew Bobby. As if Carrie is not contending with enough drama, the future of her budding romance with Sam remains uncertain in the face of their individual insecurities.

Although Carrie loved traveling and seeing new places, she is ready to put down roots in Chesapeake Shore. She has purchased a home and she is enjoying reconnecting with her family even though she is a little frustrated by their insistence at poking around in her business. Despite their assertions she is acting without thinking things through, after careful research, Carrie is certain she has made the right decision, but she is still afraid of disappointing her family.

Sam is still reeling from the death of his sister but he puts his grief aside while he creates a new home for Bobby. He is clearly out of his depth as he attempts to adapt to instant "fatherhood" and his honesty about his fears is quite refreshing. He also must come to terms with the fact that his footloose, fancy free days are behind him now that he is responsible for Bobby. While he is certainly confused about why his sister named him as Bobby's guardian, Sam never once considers taking care of him as an unwelcome burden. He makes a few missteps and mistakes but Sam's commitment to his nephew never wavers as he tries to help Bobby settle into their new life together.

The relationship between Sam and Carrie is slow growing and simmers on the backburner while they deal with the individual changes in their lives. Both are very concerned about Bobby's well-being and after their initial somewhat hostile encounters, Sam often turns to Carrie for advice. Sam and Carrie attempt to ignore the spark between them as they help Bobby adjust to his new life but their attraction is just too powerful to resist. Sam and Carrie tentatively begin dating, but with so much uncertainty in their lives, is their budding romance strong enough to withstand the unresolved issues from their respective pasts?

Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods is another enchanting installment in the Chesapeake Shores series. Carrie and Sam are three-dimensional, vibrant characters that are quite appealing. Their relationship is very sweet and grows naturally over the course of the story. As always, the O'Brien family plays a huge role in the unfolding storyline, and it is quite enjoyable catching up with characters from previous novels. All in all, it is another heartfelt and engaging visit in Chesapeake Shores that is sure to delight old and new fans of this charming series. ( )

Sherryl Woods is good at writing stories that are thought provoking. She brings so much emotion to her novels that whether you are 20- 100 years old her stories draw you in. Her writing is so realistic it feels like you can step into any page and live the life of her characters. Whether written yesterday or twenty years ago Ms. Wood still writes beautiful relevant stories that combine everyday life with romance, grief, redemption and lessons that still apply in these changing times. Willow Brook Road is a look at life through the eyes of a woman seeking to stand on her own and a man trying to work through the heartbreak of loss and responsibility. I have loved Sheryl Woods stories for many years and continue to do so. ( )