Great book, first in a trilogy. It took me longer than necessary to finish it because I didn't have a lot of free time. Good setting, well developed characters, overall good novel. I would recommend for anyone that likes romantic tearjerker novels (but this isn't a steaming hot read if you know what I mean). ( )

Even bough I read the other two books in this series and knew the ending, it was enjoyable to see how the author wrote. I was glad to see that both sides gave a little to get what they both wanted. ( )

"He had the boarding-up routine down pat. But when it came right down to it, Mother Nature was always in control of the outcome."

Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

My review:

The fact that I liked this book so much, was as much of a surprise as it was to see many DIDN'T love it on GR.

The reason my liking it so much surprised me is because romance isn't a genre I read alot of. I did when I was younger although it never was my favorite. But this was such a pleasant surprise. I liked it-GREATLY.

And I guess I can understand why some did not. What I liked was not just the romance which was believeable but the family aspect of it. This is a book about family as much as romance and I really took to that.

I also LOVED the setting. I am addicted to the sea and books that take place there have an advantage for me. With Sand Castle Bay, the story takes place in a seaside coastal small town in North Carolina. Seriously, visiting North Carolina's outer banks has always been a dream of mine. Reading this made me YEARN to go there. And the book also made me feel like I was already there-not an easy thing to acomplish.

Now-I can understand the dislike for Emily that many have expressed. The truth? She wasn't my favorite person either. She is not someone I would choose for a friend. She is also someone I basically have nothing in common with so there is that. I could not relate to her choices at all. I am not a person to put my job above everything else, I am not a big city person, and there was a corporate crispness to Emily's demeanor that I didn't love.

But I did like Boone. And other members of Emily's family. And I did root for the romance. I got pulled in and that is something because this is not a genre I read much of anymore. Although maybe I will have st start.

The romance wasn't corny either.

To the contrary, the relationship portrayed here was very realistic. I did not know this was part of a trilogy when I first sat down to read this. (Three sisters and each book is about a different sister.). I have read one more from the trilogy but I prefer this one. I have not read the third.

It is perfect beach reading with an engrossing story set against the beauty of a small southern beach town. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended. ( )

Book on CD read by Shannon McManus
2.5**

From the book jacket: In a trade-off she’s lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved. For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

My reactions
I’ve never read anything by Sheryl Woods before, but this seemed to fit the bill for a “beach reads” challenge.

It’s a pretty formulaic plot: long-lost lovers reconnect, but there are complications keeping them apart, they jump to conclusions and have fights over their mutual misunderstandings. But hot kisses seem to solve everything and remind them how much they mean to one another. I really didn’t care about any of the drama because I didn’t really care about these characters. Emily seemed like a hot mess.

I thought it was overly complicated and there are several threads that are just left hanging. But I suppose Woods did this to ensure a repeat audience for books two and three in the trilogy. Apparently, each book focuses on a different one of the Castle sisters. If I had read the blurb I might have saved myself some time. Just typing it out, makes me realize just how melodramatic and “wrought” the plot sounds. Ah well, it was a fast read.

Shannon McManus did a fine job narrating. Too bad she didn’t have better material to perform. ( )

A nice feel good story with no real drama. Enjoyed the interaction between sisters with their concerns for each other. Emily leaves her boyfriend for a career and I do not think she really missed Boone all that much. It is more because she has no one that she listens to her Grandmother Cora Jane who has a fun, workaholic, but busybody personality. Boone is the one you feel for because he admits to loving Emily more than he truly did his deceased wife. Son BJ acted older than he should but was a nice added touch. Actually thought Emily was going to win over the distressed mother-in-law and make them more her family. Hope that the last book will have more about the in-law conflict when the wedding occurs and her sisters get their stories. ( )