Veena’s review of At the River’s Edge (Chesapeake Diaries, Book 7) by Mariah Stewart
Contemporary Romance published by Ballantine Books 28 Jan 14
This series has been a hit or miss for me in that I’ve read some and missed others. The series is set in a seaside town in the Chesapeake where various residents find their true love and settle happily to foster the next generation. This story is about two people who come here to create a future for themselves. Interestingly, they both build their future around a piece of land – or should I say the same piece of land – unbeknownst to each other. Clearly conflict and fireworks will happen when the truth comes out, especially since only one of them can win the land.
Sophie Enright finds out the hard way that her fiancé is cheating on her. She discovers him making out in the back of his car in the company parking lot, with the office skank no less. It’s a pretty fortunate bout of car trouble that reveals the truth, hurtful as it is. The episode opens her eyes and makes her think about what it is she truly wants in life, and off she goes to St Denis, a little seaside town on the Chesapeake, where her brother needs help with running the family law practice. Sophie, however, wants to run a restaurant, so she decides to open one on a piece of land abutting the bay and working for her brother at the same time. Talk about hardworking and enterprising.
While in St Denis Sophie runs into Jason Bowers, who’s newly settled in town and is a landscaper. He seems to quickly make inroads into her heart and is helping her quite nicely forget her cheating ex. They are working on projects together until he discovers the piece of land that he’s been coveting is where Sophie’s opening her new restaurant. Talk about two petulant adults who never grew up. I wonder if the author modeled them after any real-life people she knows?
All the authors who write stories about small towns definitely write in a strong tie between the women in the town. They build a strong network and help each other out, especially when one of their own is beset with man trouble. It makes me want to move to one and enjoy that sense of camaraderie. I do also enjoy the times with Sophie’s grandfather and his conversations with her grandmother’s ghost and the scent of roses and how she’s sure her grandfather is somehow managing the scent using artificial means.
There are very enjoyable cameos, but, all in all, a very unremarkable story.
Grade: C
Summary:
After taking stock of her life, Sophie Enright has decided it’s time for a break. Between a law career that’s become criminally dull and a two-timing boyfriend she’s done with once and for all, Sophie desperately needs some time to think and some space to breathe. The perfect place to do both is easygoing St. Dennis, Maryland, where Sophie can visit with her brother while she figures out her options. Once in St. Dennis, she discovers a shuttered restaurant and makes a bold move that is also a leap of faith. Sophie buys the fixer-upper in order to finally pursue her dream career.
But Sophie’s labor of love becomes a bone of contention for her new neighbor Jason Bowers. The local landscaper has big plans for growing his business—until Sophie scoops up the property he’s got his eye on. And no amount of buyout offers or badgering from him will get her to budge. It’s hardly the start of a beautiful friendship. But when they’re paired up to work on a community project, they agree to put their differences aside, and sparks begin to fly. Then Sophie’s cheating ex suddenly shows up, looking for a second chance—and threatening to make Jason a third wheel just when his hotheaded feelings about Sophie were turning decidedly warmhearted. All Sophie wants is a new life and a true love. But what are the odds of having both?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
