Saturday, December 18, 2010

A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

  GIVEAWAY ENDED
A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS
BY SHERRYL WOODS

ABOUT THE BOOK:
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
.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After graduating with a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and working in the newspaper business for many years, the first time Sherryl Woods sat down to write a novel, she struggled with the lack of quotes and pages of facts she was used to having. And then, thanks to a very perceptive friend, she realized she got to use her imagination to make it all up!

Since then, for more than 100 women's fiction, romance and mystery novels, Sherryl's been making up all sorts of things -- characters, storylines, entire communities. The best part, she says, is that her heroes do exactly what she tells them to do, unlike any of the men she's ever known.

But even though Sherryl's allowed her imagination free rein, she still likes to write novels that are grounded in reality. "I want my characters and situations to resonate with my readers. Nothing pleases me more than to hear from a reader that she'd been through exactly that situation, and it all rang true for her. Better yet, that she, like the heroine not only survived, but thrived!"

You can read more about Sherryl on her website at www.sherrylwoods.com or join in at her blog, www.justbetweenfriendsblog.com.

MY REVIEW/THOUGHTS:
Sherryl Woods presents readers with a  holiday treat as she tells a story of hope and second chances. In a story about Megan and Mick O’Brien, I think many will find part of themselves in this tale and if not, then part of other people who are part of their lives. I know I did. A divorce came about after trying to live together when they were two very different personalities: mild mannered Megan had to contend with Mick being somewhat of a control freak. This part of Mick essentially carried over from his job where it helped him to be successful and rich, while on the other hand, it did not make for a very good husband or for that matter, father. On the other hand, Megan, wasn’t very assertive and her patience wore out waiting for Mick to see that his family and wife were really more important than his work. She still loved him but finally had to leave for self-preservation as her self was being swallowed up in this marriage.

Megan left Mick and their children and went to live and work in New York. Hoping to establish herself and have the children come to join her, they never did as they chose to stay in the home they knew with their father. Their son Connor was totally shocked and disallusioned when his parents separated and has yet to really come to terms with it over so many years. Now, however, after twelve years and with the children grown, the love that Megan and Mick shared has never died, and they are willing to take a second chance at marriage because both have learned a lot over the years. They both have worked on their faults and now feel they can start anew. They want to get married again on New Year’s Eve with all the family present however, Connor, has never come to terms with their divorce and refuses to attend the wedding. Megan is determined to get him to see that she and Mick have changed and do love each other more and differently as well.

However, before Christmas comes, the family faces a situation that has all of them in shock. Megan feels that if she can help Connor with this problem, that he will look at her and Mick’s relationship in a whole new way. This was my first of the Chesapeake Shores books but I found it stood alone well so although I’d like to read more of the series now, I don’t think it is a requirement in order to enjoy this one. A CHESAPEAKE SHORES CHRISTMAS is filled with multi-layered, real characters who make it easy to enjoy the story as you can see how real people would behave and react in their position. The O’Brien family is like so many in our lives and so I found it easy to relate to and get lost in this wonderful holiday story.
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KIM AND MY GOOD PALS
AT NANCY BERLAND PR, I HAVE ONE 
COPY OF THIS TOUCHING HOLIDAY STORY
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
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GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 31!
GOOD LUCK!