A Seaside Christmas, by Sherryl Woods

Review:

Sherryl Woods makes a welcome return visit to Chesapeake Shores and the complex O'Brien family in this heartwarming second-chance romance.  Country star Caleb Green broke songwriter Jenny Collins' heart a year ago, when photos of him with another woman were splashed across the cover of every tabloid.  But their relationship had already been on the rocks, the tensions fueled by Caleb's drinking and long absences while on tour.  Now sober, Caleb knows how badly he messed up -- and he'll do almost anything to woo Jenny back.

Jenny has come home to Chesapeake Shores to write songs for a Christmas play written by her friend and aunt-by-marriage, Bree.  But her return isn't without its challenges; Jenny's relationship with her mother was strained by her mother's remarriage and the birth of her little brother four years earlier.  Despite her deep longing for family, Jenny has never accepted her stepfather or his large and boisterous extended family. The same can't be said of the O'Briens, who consider Jenny one of their own despite her long absence.

When Caleb shows up in town, Jenny wants nothing to do with him.  But it's not long before Caleb has won even the protective O'Brien men over to his side.  With Caleb and the whole family ranged against her, Jenny isn't sure she can continue to protect her heart -- or if she even wants to.

I loved Jenny and Caleb's romance.  Jenny's pain and Caleb's unequivocal acceptance of his mistakes ring very true, so it was easy to understand both Jenny's reluctance to trust and Caleb's perseverance.  The chemistry between them is strong, and it's clear they are meant to be together if Jenny can ever get past the history and forgive him.  Caleb is almost too perfect now; I heaved a sigh of relief when he finally lost his temper a bit, because it showed he was (still) human.  I also loved the musical thread that runs through the whole book.  Woods describes some of Jenny's songs so well that I wished I could actually hear them.

The strain between Jenny and her mother felt so real that I found it painful to read.  It was a relief to see them slowly, tentatively rebuilding their relationship. Given how much of Jenny's issues around family, trust, and abandonment have to do with her absent father, I was surprised that that he never showed up -- surprised, but pleased.  Too often, romance writers try to fix everything that's wrong in a main character's life.  It was refreshing (not to mention realistic) to see Jenny dealing with her issues without that resolution.

The O'Brien family is a delight, as usual, and we get at least a glimpse of almost everyone.  Briony, Jake, Jess, and Thomas show up most frequently, and of course Mick can't resist putting his oar in.  Matriarch Nell is her usual wise self, and her delightful Irish husband Dillon is still on hand. 

If you're new to Chesapeake Shores, A Seaside Christmas works just fine as a standalone romance, though there are more than the usual number of secondary characters to keep track of.  On the other hand, if you're a fan been longing to return to Chesapeake Shores, you're in luck.  Grab a copy, tuck an afghan around you, curl up with a cup of hot chocolate, and let Sherryl Woods enchant you all over again. 

*   *   *

Rating: 4 stars

About the author: Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia, graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in journalism, and spent more than 10 years in journalism, mostly as a film critic.  Dell Candlelight Ecstasy published her first book, Restoring Love, in 1982 under the pseudonym Suzanne Sherrill.  The same year, her second book, Sand Castles, written as Alexandra Kirk, was published by Bantam.  Silhouette began publishing her books in 1986, at which time Sherryl began writing full time.  She is now published by Harlequin MIRA, and her popular small-town romances routinely hit paperback bestseller lists. She has also written two mystery series.

Ms. Woods divides her time between Florida and Virginia.  When she's not writing, she enjoys gardening and watching baseball. 

Connect with Sherryl Woods: 

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Category: Contemporary romance; Christmas
Series: Chesapeake Shores #10
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Release date:  Sept. 24, 2013
Book source:  Publisher review galley through Netflix

Links:      Goodreads       Amazon       Barnes & Noble       Kobo

Titles in the Chesapeake Shores series:  The Inn at Eagle Point; Flowers on Main; Harbor Lights; A Chesapeake Shores Christmas; Driftwood Cottage; Moonlight Cove; Beach Lane; An O'Brien Family Christmas; The Summer Garden; A Seaside Christmas.   You can read my review of the whole series here.