Cocktails and Books

When Mac Culhane is left by his wife following an injury in Afghanistan he moves with his young daughter back to his hometown of Shelter Bay, Oregon. His plan is to provide stability for his child as well as assist his father in caring for his ailing grandfather while working as the local late night radio DJ. Annie Sheperd moved to Shelter Bay following a divorce and runs a successful scrapbooking store while also volunteering her time at the home where Mac’s grandfather lives. While the attraction is there from the moment the two run into each other they both have to decide whether they are willing to risk their hearts again.

I really liked both characters, who showed a vulnerability about them that made them hesitant to put their heart on the line. Annie’s upbringing was one that would cause a lesser person to become bitter, but she maintained a sunny disposition and turned a childhood dream into an adult reality. Mac showed that family meant the world to him, displaying vulnerability when it came to his male role models as well as his daughter. He made no apologizes for the way he lived his life but always strived to improve things for both himself and his daughter. Their road is a rocky one, but it is made all the more interesting by the various people that are rooting for a romantic ending. Set in small town Shelter Bay, everyone is interconnected in some way, and it was interesting to see the array of secondary characters that enhanced the storyline. This small town romance sizzled between the radio king and his scrapbooking queen, and left people wanting more.

Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books