Let freedom ring and feel the...Ocean Breeze: Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place that is celebrating the red, white, and blue today the best way I know how....bookishly.  ^_^

Here's hoping most of you are off enjoying the day with family and friends, perhaps having a barbecue and attending one of the many firework shows that will be popping to life as the sun goes down.  As for me, I have to work...le sigh, right?  Well, yeah of course but also no.  You see, my night crew and I are planning a little celebration of our own.  Yep.  Thanks to team spirit and dear old Mom, we're having our own barbeque affair (hot dogs, chips, the usual) and then when all the work is said and done, a few fireworks of our own.  It's gonna be good...and it's "invite only" so just those of us "stuck" at work will be partaking.  Hehe.  Sneaky but fun.  ^_^  Anywho...let's get back to the books!

Today's selection may seem like an unusual choice but it's appropriateness will become clearer as my review progresses.  I'm trying to adjust my style a smidge and cut back just a bit on the length of my posts not only as a time saver for me but in the hopes that it will allow you, my readers, a chance to stop by more frequently, snag a new read or two for your own lists and share your thoughts on the book at hand.  Sound good?  ^_^  Let's get to today's book of choice then this Fourth of July....

Ocean Breeze, Book 2:

Wind Chime Point

by

Sherryl Woods

Harlequin MIRA

ISBN: 9780778314424

About the book...

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she's worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother's home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.
Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It's not the only time he's found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn't looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion…and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

The tie in with today's holiday is all about FREEDOM.  Freedom to choose what we do with our lives no matter what circumstances we are presented with or how situations change.  Freedom to change our mind if the initial decision made no longer fits our needs.  Freedom to help others out of the kindness of our hearts in lieu of what it will net us in the end.  Freedom in its many forms, with all the colors that life can throw at it, creating a beautiful masterpiece because really, that's what this book is.

Book one found us falling in love with...no, not some hot guy, though Boone was definitely a sight for sore eyes, but with Sand Castle Bay and more distinctly, the Castle family.  We followed Emily and Boone on their journey from once-upon-a-time romance to something to see in the here and now with enough presence and life to fill a lifetime.  Good thing too considering their nuptials are coming soon....dum DUM dum dum.  ^_^  This time around, we get to know the middle sister, Gabriella aka Gabi.  Where Emily was the one to fly the coop and run far and wide with dreams of a grander life sparkling in her eyes, Gabi was content to follow in her Dad's footsteps (to some degree) though you'd have never known that he even noticed.  Let's just say he wasn't the doting father the girls needed, thank goodness their mother was in the picture (rest her soul) and they had the influence of one Cora Jane.  Grandmother extraordinaire doesn't even begin to describe her.  She's a force to be reckoned with in the best way possible and I've said it before but everyone needs someone like her in their lives.  Read the book, you'll see what I mean.  Moving on...

We open with Gabi's life being completely turned upside down...don't believe me? Try finding out your pregnant, your employer taking less than a shine to your condition and the father-to-be pulling the old "I'm-an-arse-that-can't-handle-this-situation".  Like I said, COMPLETELY upside down, especially for someone that loves life nice an orderly.  She's got a few lessons to learn, that's for sure and where better to learn them than among family and friends...and perhaps someone that may be something more.  No guys.  It's not that kind of book.  She doesn't jump ship from one place to land in the bed of someone else with bigger issues to deal with (on both sides of the fence...*ahem*).  This is another FANTASTIC story about life in all it's messiness, family that's there for you always, love that comes not always when anticipated or in the form expected, and things turning out alright on the other side.  A few of those lessons hit home for me as I'm sure they will for many of you as Ms. Woods' characters are so infused with life it's impossible not to feel as if you're a part of the family.

So make some time in your holiday schedule to head on down to Sand Castle Bay.  Whether you've read the first book and are anxious to read more or you're a newbie to the Ocean Breeze series entirely, this is one read once begun you won't want to put down and not for the reasons you might initially expect.  You'll feel for the characters as they make their way through situations both heart breaking and heart stopping.  You'll wonder at the endless possibilities of just where Gabi's journey will take her next. You'll gasp as some situations turn ugly and others turn into rainbows of beauty as if the sun itself were taking time out of its endless climb to shine a little light on two souls with so much potential.  It's a beauty in cover but a wonderful in content and I'd highly recommend it to teen readers and beyond.

Special thanks to Amy at McAllister PR for introducing me to this author’s work as well as the ARC Wind Chime Point for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the projects on the horizon for this group, stop by their official
 site, or check out Amy’s Twitter feed and Facebook page!  To discover more about the Ocean Breeze series as well as uncover the complete works of the author, be sure to stop by her official site or like her on Facebook.  This title was released April 30th via Harlequin MIRA and book three, Sea Glass Inn is also in stores now.  Be on the look out for the ENTIRE trilogy on a bookstore shelf near you!


Until next time...HAPPY FOURTH...and happy reading!

Ocean Breeze: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be when you’re eager to start the week off on the right foot, or footnote; hey, let’s face it…books are the place to be.

I took a small hiatus this weekend as I was uber busy at job two, but that didn’t stop the reading.  No siree, I finished my Friday read with flying colors, finally tackled the ebook I was digesting ever so slowly (ebooks and me, not the best of friends) and even started another book on my list. Yep, a good time was had in bookville…and one of those reads is the star of today’s post!  Excited?  You should be…and shocked and surprised.  Why?  Well, you see, it happens to be from a genre I’ve only just recently become acquainted with, in fact this book included, makes book number two that I’ve read in that category.  Which one is that?  One word…ROMANCE.

I know, right?  We’ve discussed this in my prior review for this genre, but it deserves a mini-conversation once again.  You hear the word Romance (as a genre) and think…what?  Scantily clad gals and guys, heaving chests, ripped bodices and well, you know…*raises eyebrows*  Yep, it’s the common image that comes to mind, yet once again…my preconceived notions were blown away.  Ready to meet today’s genre blower?  Here we go!  Today’s book of choice is…

Sand Castle Bay

By

Sherryl Woods

About the book…

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?

The Castle family is definitely one I’d love to be counted as a member of.  The fun times they have, the way they pull together when a crisis strikes.  They are their for each other through thick and thin, the best and the worst, even when what you need to hear isn’t necessarily what you want to hear.  And, you want to know the best part of it all?  Your inclusion in their family is not determined by blood but by heart.  They have an amazing dynamic and that’s not to say that they don’t disagree, because they do, but they know how to come back together in the end.

The trio of sisters alone leave their marks in their own way.  There’s Samantha, the Hollywood star, Gabi the middle child and determined business woman, and Emily the wandering soul that discovered her talent at interior designing.  The latter is the star of this story for the most part and by book’s end you’ll come to have a clearer understanding of all that she’s done, will do and plans on doing despite the meddling of their grandmother Cora Jane (more on her in a moment).  She’s a sweet girl with a good head on her shoulders that knows what she wants out of life, or rather thought she did.  You see there’s this one loose end in love that she’s found herself tangled up in once again after ten years of freedom…but this is one knot that you won’t want to detangle, at least not completely. The knots name…Boone Dorsett.

Is he handsome?  No doubt.  Charming?  I rather think so.  Stubborn and over protective of his son while
jumping off handles now and again?  Umm, yeah…sorry Boone but that fits you like a glove description wise.  No worries.  You’ve captured the heart of young Emily once, it shouldn’t be hard to fall back into old habits again, right?  Right…but perhaps this time around, the ending could be different.  Well, it has the chance to be if both of them will swallow their pride and come to terms with the fact that what they have is real and worth the fight.  *le sigh*  Definitely a lesson in there for those facing similar issues in their own relationships, and a wonderful reminder of the important role family fills in our lives (his dedication to his son B.J. is admirable indeed!).  If we could all only have a grandma like Cora Jane to help us through.  Oh yes, I did promise to divulge more on the old girl now didn’t I…

Cora Jane, how to sum up this feisty lady of years that still believes in true love and yet can match wits and words with the best of them.  Oh wait, I just did.  ^_^  No, really…she is a memorable character indeed and that’s saying something when truly the whole cast left an impression on me.  She has the best interests of those she loves at heart, whether they are blood relations or not.  She takes the time to truly listen to those around her and while not always butting out when asked, she means well…and more often than not those the received the butting are glad she did.  I’d definitely want her in my corner is push came to shove…oh and if she’d be willing to make those Mickey shaped pancakes, I’d totally be bowled over!

Story wise, I have to say it…I was thoroughly impressed.  Not an author I would have picked up on my own (thanks Amy!) simply because of the genre (I know, I know…bad reader) and yet a tale I enjoyed immensely.  You care for the characters.  You can feel the breeze off the water as you sit on the newly reopened deck of Castle’s by the Sea and enjoy a cool glass of your favorite beverage in the afternoon sunlight.  You can hear the joyous sounds of laughter and love in the air as friends and family gather round.  If this book is any indication of the author’s work up until now, my wish list is going to seriously have some new additions.

In conclusion, another surprising read for me from the land of Romance.  You get all the love you can handle from this group but it’s displayed to appeal to a broader audience.  In two words….me likee.  ^_^  I love the way that you get the full heart of the story where it’s not simply about the one couple-possibly-to-be (see how I avoided a spoiler there?  ^_^) but about the WHOLE picture….the family, B.J., friends, relatives, business relations and in short, life.  I can’t say there was anything about the book that I truly didn’t like and I mostly can confirm that book 2 in this new series (Ocean Breeze) is definitely on my wish list.  Hopefully we get to find out what’s going on with Gabi or Samantha…and then maybe in the final book we see how everyone’s lives have progressed on the whole…or maybe…well, we’ll just have to wait and see, but it is the GOOD kind of wait.

Special thanks to Amy at McAllister PR for introducing me to this author’s work as well as the ARC for Wind Chime Point, is scheduled for release April 30th and book three, Sea Glass Inn is scheduled for May 28th, so mark your calendars…for more reasons than one.  For those of you that have stayed with me thus far, you are in for a treat.  (Yay YOU!) review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the projects on the horizon for this group, stop by their official site, or check out Amy’s Twitter feed and Facebook page!  To discover more about the Ocean Breeze series as well as uncover the complete works of the author, be sure to stop by her official site or like her on Facebook.  This title was released March 25th, 2013 via Harlequin Mira so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  Don’t forget book two,

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Thanks to Amy and the great folks at Harlequin, I have the chance to bring you yet another chance to win!  Remember the last contest for a copy of this very title?  Well, they are doing it all again and giving you a chance to win the forth coming second book in the series, Wind Chime Point!  Here’s more on this exciting installment…

Ocean Breeze Novel, Book 2:

Wind Chime Point

By

Sherryl Woods

About the book…

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she’s worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother’s home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It’s not the only time he’s found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn’t looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion...and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sound delightful?

I sure thought so and if I might say, though reading them is order is fun, it sounds as if you might be able to read them as stand alone titles too so don’t let the fact that book one still might be a stranger to you put you off entering to win this installment!

To enter…

…just fill out THIS FORM and you are in it to win it!

(Of course…comments are ALWAYS appreciated…^_^)

The rules…

Open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.

Entries will be accepted today through April 30th, 2013 at midnight CST.  The winner will be drawn and contacted within 48 hours and have 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address for prize send out.  If no response is received in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.

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Until next time…GOOD LUCK….and happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods - Spotlight + Giveaway!

Hi there!

Welcome back to the place that aims to please the reader in you every day of the week...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Yesterday, we read outside the box...well, my box at least...and got wrapped up in a Contemporary Romance that definitely left me pleased.  Today, we're shining the spotlight on another well known author in the Romance arena who is on the verge of celebrating another book birthday later this month.  The exciting part?  It's the first book in a planned trilogy that will be released in April and June respectively...yep, no waiting...which should please many an impatient reader.  (Not that ANY of you have ever uttered the words "oh my gosh why can't they write FASTER"...*ahem*)  The EXTRA exciting part...today's spotlight is the first but not the last that you will hear about this trilogy on my site.  The EXTRA EXTRA exciting part...if you stick with me on this, you'll get a chance to win here, there, and well not everywhere, but PRETTY darn close.  Sound good?  GREAT!  *digs in*

So, why all the excitement especially when I haven't read this author's work before?  I'll tell you why...because it sounds GOOD.  If you read my review yesterday, or have seen my posts for Women's Fiction or Chick-Lit before, you know I'm a fan of a good story, a dash of humor, a lot of heart and a smidge of romance...just not the ALL OUT type be associate with this particular genre.  Well, I was proven wrong with the last one and from the sound of it, I believe I might be again....which I am perfectly okay with!  As with everything in life, it's about the journey and part of that journey is learning new things along the way.  If an added life lesson in reading for myself is that not all books in a particular genre fall victim to the overall label associated with it...yay me!  It just allows me to let my reading fever try something new even if it seems in the "forbidden zone"...oh woe is me, more options to read, review, share...*sigh*  (Just kidding!  Woo-hoo!)  Now, let us reign in the exuberance for just a minute or rather refocus it on this post...

Today's featured title came to my attention via Amy affiliated with McAllister PR (Hi, Amy!) as she was working with Harlequin on a promotion of the new series.  Lucky me!  I read up on it.  I hmmnd and hawwed and thought...why not!  Sounded good to me so why not bring it to you, my readers for a chance to shine? Ready the ginormous lights, it's time to meet today's featured title in the BOOK SPOTLIGHT!

Ocean Breeze, Book 1:

Sand Castle Bay

by

Sherryl Woods

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?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See?

So much more here than JUST a romance.

Me likee...or at least the sound of it.

What's that?

No, I haven't read it yet...but there's a reason for that, several in fact.

First, I wanted to introduce both YOU and I to the series...

...thereby giving us a chance to get acquainted with the characters, setting, writing style, etc.  Then I thought, self, wouldn't it be a FANTASTIC way to celebrate book two's release with a review of book one (and maybe something more!)?  You know what my self said?

Yup...so be on the look out for the review coming next month.

^_^

So, back to what we're doing here today guys.

Celebrating the forthcoming release of this new title, perhaps adding to your to-read list as we speak...oh, and giving YOU a CHANCE TO WIN a copy to call your own!

See?  I told you we could get acquainted with this author together.

Thanks to Amy with McAllister PR and the folks at Harlequin, I have the opportunity to give you a chance to win a copy of today's SPOTLIGHT title...and it being a trilogy and all, there might be more surprises of the bookish-giveaway-ing type later this year.  Just sayin'.  Anywho, CHANCE TO WIN, woo-hoo!  Are you excited?  You should be....especially since means of entry is pretty easy peasey.  

We're talking Rafflecopter form here peoples and spreading the word...of course, sharing your thoughts in the comments about the title/series, the author's previous works, the genre, etc are all TOTALLY appreciated (and loved!) but be sure to fill out the form, otherwise it won't count as an entry!  The contest celebration continues straight through to the big BOOK BIRTHDAY (aka Publication Day!) on March 26th, 2013 giving you and yours plenty of time to get your entries in...but not THAT much so you know, procrastination be darned - do it man (or woman)!  ^_^

The prize...

(1) copy of  Ocean Breeze, Book 1:  Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

How to enter...

...fill out the Rafflecopter form below and BAM, you're in!

(Of course, comments are LOVELY little creatures too, don't cha know.  ^_^)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The rules...

...open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.

Entries will be accepted TODAY through March 26th, 2013 at midnight CST.  The winner will be drawn and contacted no later than March 27th, 2013 and have 48 hours to respond with their FULL NAME and MAILING ADDRESS for prize send out.  If said information is not received in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.

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Special thanks to Amy with McAllister PR for the chance to participate in the promotion!  (THANKS!)  For more information on their work or her bookish exploits, click the links embedded here.  This title is set to release March 26th, 2013 via Harlequin so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you...or you can always pre-order your copy; here's a few sites to get you started on that path...Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million.  To discover more of the works penned by author Sherryl Woods to date, be sure to stop by her site or like her on Facebook.

Until next time...GOOD LUCK...and happy reading!