Summer Garden Book Review

I was sort of sad because I finished the last book too quickly and started on The Summer Garden (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods.  It was a wonderful book and I had trouble putting it down but that meant that I finished it way too quickly.  The even more sad news is that when I was done, the other books still hadn't come off reserve.  Luckily, I went to the library to return a few books and had to pick through the carts that weren't even shelved yet and I was able to find the next three books to continue my reading binge.

Falling for "Maddening Moira" O'Malley was the unexpected highlight of Luke O'Brien's Dublin holiday. So when she pays a surprise visit to Chesapeake Shores, Luke is thrilled…at first. A fling with this wild Irish rose is one thing, but forever? Maybe someday, but not when he's totally focused on establishing a business that will prove his mettle to his overachieving family.  Given Luke's reaction, Moira has some soul-searching of her own to do. Scarred by her father's abandonment, she wonders if Luke, with his playboy past, is truly the family man she longs for. Adding to her dilemma, she's offered an amazing chance at a dream career of her own.  Deep down, though, Moira knows home is the real prize, and that love can be every bit as enchanted as a summer garden.

It was an amazing book that had me reading so quickly and not putting it down that I know that I finished this book in less than 12 hours.  There is not a lot else getting done when I spend that much time with my nose in the book but it was great to loose myself in such a good book.  This was a great extension of the family trip to Ireland to have the family friends come back and get to tour Chesapeake Shores.  It is great to get to know Luke, the youngest of the O'Brien children, and learn a little more about him while he is working to open a traditional Irish pub in Chesapeake Shores.  Ups and Downs cause a lot of happiness and sadness in this book which did lead to a few tears.  I related to the characters and couldn't wait to see what happened next.  I enjoyed it and I hope that you do to.  Pick this up at your local library or bookstore soon for a great summer read!!

An O'Brien Family Christmas Book Review

I made a special trip to the library because I was out of books!  What!?!?!  I read all the books in my pile and I had to get more.  I was lost without the great O'Brien family and I had to find out what was going to happen next.  The great news is that the library I stopped at had the next two in the series and just to be on the safe side, I put the other two on hold.  Sadly, when I finish those four, I will be done with the series.  I am hopeful that more will be added because I don't know what I will do without my new family!!  The next one in the pile to read is An O'Brien Family Christmas (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods.  I love a good Christmas book was I was excited to start!

Dating Matthew O'Brien, a playboy and a younger man, cost Laila Riley her career and her parents' respect. A high price, even for love and when Laila decides it was just a fling, she breaks it off, despite Matthew's objections.  But the O'Brien family has other ideas, and they conspire to get Laila to join them on a Dublin holiday. It's a great time to get away from it all, but Laila has reservations about the trip. Matthew's bound to be there, and she's far from immune. What if she can't resist temptation?  Meanwhile, the O'Briens are in an uproar over matriarch Nell's unexpected romance with an old flame. Will she follow her heart, despite the risks? And will Laila discover that some risks are actually once-in-a-lifetime opportunities?

I loved this book!  It was the first one that was out of the little town of Chesapeake Shores and set in Ireland.  It was great to see this big extended family enjoy each other without work and other distractions.  There was still a lot going on with all of the family members working to bring Laila and Matthew back together.  I thought that it might have been the best book yet with ups and downs for all of the characters, I was riveted.  I hope that you check it out and see for yourself all of the wonders that Ireland and the O'Brien family have to offer.  Check it out at your local library or bookstore.

Menu Plan Monday 6/15

I should probably change the name of this post since things at our house are kind of a mess but the good news is that my husband has connected the microwave and double oven at the new house.  I think that the stove is coming soon but I can't be sure.  Hopefully the dishwasher won't be long after it!!  We have been hard at work and I moved almost all of the kitchen stuff over to the new house and unpacked it in the cabinets.  I can only do about 3-5 boxes before I get overwhelmed with the process so I start unpacking things and putting them on the counter.  The great news is that this helps me think about how to rearrange everything again to try to fit them in the remaining spaces.  I am making great progress but I am almost positive that there are still some missing boxes somewhere in the house.

Sadly my son is sick and we are now in a holding pattern until he gets a little better.  I was supposed to get to the store and get a few more things done but instead we are staying home from school which is double sad because it is his last week of school.  I have moved most of the food to the new house so we are going to have an interesting time making due if we don't get over there soon but here is our plan for the week. I might have to move around the days based on my sick little man but we will be close to this.

Monday- Nachos or Enchiladas with saffron rice

Tuesday- Spaghetti with garlic bread

Wednesday- French Dip Sloppy Joes with chicken rice

Thursday- Chicken Nugget Wraps with homemade fries 

Friday- Leftovers or Take out after pool

Saturday- Salsa Sloppy Joes with mac and cheese

Sunday- Leftovers

Beach Lane Book Review

The last book that I had from the library so I should have savored it but I used it as my break from packing and unpacking boxes. Beach Lane (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods was the next book in the Chesapeake Shores series for me to read and the book that I had was a nice new paperback from the library so it was like I got it brand new from the bookstore.  I love being one of the first to read the book!

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 live and work in 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.

This book had a lot of crying for me but it was an amazing book.  I have been reading the whole series with Mack and Susie "not dating" for at least three years and it was great to see them finally come together.  The emotions that they both go through are very raw and anyone that has had family go through a medical battle will appreciate this book because it really hits home.  There are rays of hope that shine through even with the tough subject so make sure you pick it up and see how much you enjoy the happy times.  I hope that you check this out at your local library or bookstore.  It was amazing and a great book to read even by itself but especially with the rest of the series.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have.

Moonlight Cove Book Review

I was excited to try to take this book slowly so I didn't start it immediately after finishing the other book... okay the next morning. Moonlight Cove (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods.  I was glad that I took way too many out of the library at the same time so that I had this one when it came time to read it.

Jess O'Brien has overcome a lot—the challenges of attention deficit disorder, the near bankruptcy of her beloved Inn at Eagle Point and her self-perception as a screwup in a family of overachievers. Now she's ready to share the future with a man. Her friends persuade her to join a dating service—but she gets no takers! Which is fine with her childhood friend, psychologist Will Lincoln, who's already chosen the perfect man for Jess: himself.  Will has loved Jess practically forever. He knows her faults and her strengths. But for all Will's sincerity and charm, Jess fears he views her as some psychological case study. With her family and the town of Chesapeake Shores behind him, Will finally makes his case. But is it enough to convince Jess to take the risk of a lifetime?

Loved it!  I can't say enough about how great this book was because the characters main problem was her own self doubt about how others saw her.  I think that we can all relate that we are our toughest critics.  I know that I am!!  Anyway, the insight into Jess and Will is amazing and watching their lifetime friendship blossom into something more is wonderful.  I hope that you pick up this book and see for yourself.  Check it out at your local library or bookstore soon.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have!

Driftwood Cottage Book Review

I was excited to have the next one in the series when I finished the last book because there was so much left hanging and I wanted to find out what happened next. Driftwood Cottage (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods was finished in less than 24 hours!! So I should say that I was also happy to have the next book in the series to read as soon as I had a chance.

Single mom Heather Donovan's dreams of home and family are tantalizingly within reach when she settles in Chesapeake Shores. The welcoming arms of the boisterous, loving O'Brien clan embrace her and her son. But accepting their support seems to further alienate her son's father, Connor O'Brien. His parents' divorce and his career as a high-powered divorce attorney have left him jaded about marriage.  Then everything changes. Will the possibility of a future without Heather make Connor look at love and his career differently? Heather's just about given up on her old dreams—of love, of family and especially of Driftwood Cottage, the home she secretly wishes were hers. It's going to take a lot of persuasion—and some help from the O'Brien family—to make Heather believe that some dreams are worth fighting for.

This book was great because it involved getting over the past to move on to the future.  The town and the people are so great that you can't help but love to meet more of them.  In this book, Heather moves to Chesapeake Shores to start a new life with her son because she has left her boyfriend and son's father in Baltimore.  Making it more complicated, she moved to the town where he is from and all his family live.  It is a great story about how she makes her own life and all of the friends that she makes along the way.  There was a lot of emotion in this book for me and a little bit of crying so be prepared.  I hope that you check this out at your local library or bookstore soon.  It is a great summer read and should go straight on your reading list now!!  Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas Book Review

I went to the library to kill some time while there was someone looking at the house which is never a good thing.  It is like other people going to the mall because I always come out with more books.  I was supposed to be finishing up the book that I was reading and not looking for more but I couldn't help myself.  I came home with four new books!! The first in the series was A Chesapeake Shores Christmas (A Chesapeake Shores Novel) by Sherryl Woods so I started reading that immediately!

 

After years apart, Mick and Megan O'Brien are finally ready to make it official…again. Most of their grown children couldn't be happier about their rekindled love and impending marriage this holiday season. Only Connor is a holdout. Driven to become a divorce attorney after what he views as his mother's abandonment of their family, Connor's not about to give his blessing to this reunion romance.  The last thing Megan wants to do is hurt her family again. After all, is she really sure she and Mick can make it this time around? And when an unexpected delivery causes chaos, it seems only a miracle can reunite this family.  Of course, it is Christmas—the season of miracles.

The only thing difficult about this book was it was in the fiction section and not in the romance section.  It was hard to find!  I loved the book and the wonderful holiday setting.  It was great to read more about the couple who started this great family and see them try to work out their differences.  I enjoyed seeing them talk about problems from years and years ago and change to build a better relationship in the future.  I am happy that I got a chance to read this heartwarming holiday novel.  I hope that you take the opportunity to read this and other books in the Chesapeake Shores series.  I enjoy this one as much as the first with the great writing and great characters!  I hope that you enjoy this family and town as much as I did when I read it.