Harbor Lights (Chesapeake Shores #3)

In this third book of the series, I start to notice small things that didn’t bother me until now. The books follow the same pattern, and there’s nothing wrong with that in general. But while the main characters’ story is chugging along (a little slow at times and repetitive), and Mick and Megan’s story is a nice side story, the other characters (siblings and friends alike) seem to be at a standstill, almost frozen in time and place. Yes, we are two years after book 2, but especially Abby should have moved on by now. Overall, it is an enjoyable book, and I will read a few more books in the series, although I already decided that I’ll stop when the O’Brien siblings, Mack and Will are all married off. I don’t need to read all 14 or 15 books, I think the novelty has worn off by book 7 or 8.

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.

This is the third in the Chesapeake Shores series. If you’re watching the TV series, the characters are the same but some plot changes happened when converting to a screenplay. I have only watched the first season, and am looking forward to the second season, but wanted to read the books first. This story of two people with a lot of past personal baggage was very interesting and I had trouble putting the book down.

This has got to be one of the most poorly written books I have ever read. Wording and dialogue is so repetitive that it becomes predictable what will happen next. There is absolutely no surprises or suspence that will keep the reader grabbing for the book everytime they get a chance. It is rushed as if the author can’t wait to finish the book already. I don’t understand how something as poorly written as this can get published. It is such a let down from Sherryl Woods. My expectations were very high as I have first read this author through her Charleston Trilogy and I found those books wonderful so I decided I would read all her books. I would still give her other books a chance, though I am no longer sure she will make the list of my favorite authors. The ones who had made me buy every single one of their books and make me anticipate the debut of the next ones. I hope it gets better. The Inn and Flowers on Main were also just average for my liking. I am no longer excited or even sure if I would read the rest of this series.

This was a better story line that the first 2 in this series. The complication of the step son was more interesting. The snarkiness of the family was sharper and funnier. Not quite as much repetition in the back story so that was good.

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