G914 Book Review of The Chesapeake Bride by Mariah Stewart
Author: Mariah Stewart
ISBN: 978-1-5011-5435-5
Publisher: Pocket Books Romance
Part of a Series: Chesapeake Diaries
Type of book: Maryland, St Dennis residents, Cannonball island, charm, restoration of houses and the way of life, slow sweet romance, summertime, divorce, secrets, being burned, slow seduction, history, architecture, plans
Year it was published: 2017
Summary:
From New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart comes a new chapter in her celebrated Chesapeake Diaries series.
Architect Cassidy Logan has sworn off good-looking adventurers. Newly divorced, she’s focused on building ecologically friendly, historically accurate homes on the Chesapeake Bay for her father’s construction company. Traveling to Cannonball Island—where there has been no new construction in nearly one hundred years—Cass is sensitive to the heritage of the island, and has come up with plans so perfect she’s determined to buy a home for herself. Even the fact that Owen Parker—a local who she dismisses as a lightweight and a player—seems to be everywhere isn’t enough to deter her from building her dream house.
Owen Parker is and always has been sinfully handsome and wickedly clever, a magnet for mischief as well as girls. He’s a rolling stone, going and doing whatever appeals to him, from flying a mail plane in Alaska, to working on a cattle ranch in Australia, a shrimp boat in Louisiana, and surfing and diving in Costa Rica. When an old friend offers him a job salvaging a sunken ship on the Chesapeake Bay, Owen gladly accepts. Something’s been telling him it was time to head home to Cannonball Island, and a job is as good an excuse as any. And he’s totally smitten by the pretty architect on the scene, but it seems he’s finally met a woman who’s immune to his charms. Sooner or later, Owen will have to face the reason why he always runs, because this time, leaving just might be harder than staying.
Characters:
Main characters in the story are Cassie, Owen, Ruby and Owen's family. Cassie is a divorced and passionate young woman who wants to do right and breathe life into Cannonball Island by designing ways to sculpt out the beauty and culture out of the remains. Owen is best known as a rolling stone who is unable to settle into one place for a long time. In previous book I recall that Owen striked me as happy-go-lucky, or someone who didn't let his father get to him as much as Liz. In this book the scars from his past are revealed and with Cassie I feel that he can let himself heal. Ruby, the oldest woman and matriarch of the island also plays a pivotal role in the story in that she reveals fascinating tidbits about Cannonball Island and also helps out the couple. Owen's family, namely his sister Liz, is an artist from the previous book also plays a role in the story in encouraging Cassie and helping out with various details.
Theme:
Slowness has beauty
Plot:
The story is written in third person narrative from Cassie's and Owen's points of view and the author does find the good balance between character growth and slow seduction as well as revealing fascinating tidbits about the Cannonball Island and its way of life. The story itself is not an insta-love between the two, but instead its long, sweet and heartwarming. Characters from previous books do make cameo appearances although cameo appearances are not as much as in previous books, perhaps because its a new location and the author wanted to show more of Cannonball Island life.
Author Information:
(From the book)
Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times annd USA Today bestselling author of numerous novels as well as several novellas and short stories. A native of Hihstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life and tends her gardens while she works on her next novel. Visit her website at www.mariahstewart.com, like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart, and follow her on Instagram @Mariah_Stewart_Books.
Opinion:
How does the author do it? Eleven books in and the beauty and charm of St.Dennis aren't lost in the series. Just like in previous years with her other Chesapeake diary books, I loved reading and savoring every page of Chesapeake Bride and for those who are newcomers to the book, previous books aren't required but can be stand-alone on their own. I also am suspecting that Chesapeake diaries are slowly leaving St. Dennis and instead the focus will be on Cannonball Island where in 1812 the residents loyal to the king were driven to, and there will be a lot of focus on restoration which means more Chesapeake Diaries and more sweet romance tales from my favorite author. I loved the slowness of the romance between Cassie and Owen, loved the balance between getting to know the Chesapeake and seeing Owen slowly woo Cassie over. I also loved how the author peels away layers from Cannonball Island just enough but not too much to spoil the possible future books. I also will look forward to seeing Cannonball Island being rebuilt and discovering more about it. One minor complaint I will have is the waiting time until next year, and I do feel that an issue that's revealed towards the end of the book shouldn't have been wrapped up so quickly, but I would guess that the author didn't want to ruin the ambiance nor alienate her audience.
This was given to me by the publisher for an honest review
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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