Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

By: Unknown on Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Title:  Sand Castle Bay

Series:  Ocean Breeze #1

Author:  Sherryl Woods

Published:  March 26/13 by Harlequin MIRA

Length:  384pgs

Format:  paperback

Genre:  contemporary romance

Shelf:  giveaway

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a trade-off she's lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.

For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

Will fate once again separate them or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

This is an intensely emotional novel, while still being a sweet and romantic story. I love how Woods combines real life events and issues with a fairy-tale HEA to create a cohesive and entertaining whole. Woods also uses these real life events to captivate her audience. The story itself may be mellow and low key, but it is definitely unforgettable. As a reader you find yourself wrapped up in the lives of the characters. You can also visualise the coastal area that they find themselves in. Woods’ descriptions paint this world for you.

The characters in this novel were definitely very lifelike. I fully enjoyed the time I spent with them. They had full, productive lives and a history that made them oh-so-real. I loved how Woods developed her characters. She made them very easy to relate to, even if their life circumstances don’t necessarily match up with yours. I found myself thinking ‘I get it but really???’ or ‘I get it but I still hate you’ many times while reading. The family dynamic in this novel is natural, like a real family. At the same time it’s comical and entertaining. Their interactions definitely made me laugh more than once.

As a whole, this was a brilliantly crafted and absolutely intriguing novel. It may have been low key at times but it was always completely heartfelt. My only suggestion would be, if you’re looking for lots of action and adventure, this novel may not be for you. If, however, you’re looking for a love story to fall into, this novel is definitely for you. My final thoughts? This may have been my first foray into Woods’ creative world but it definitely will not be my last.

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