When single mother, Annie Malone, purchases a quirky Main Street cafe on Heron Island, she thinks she's finally turned her dream of opening her own restaurant into a reality. Hearing rumors that a developer is about to build a five-star resort on the sleepy Chesapeake Bay island, she plans to transform the cafe into a premier upscale bistro. But Navy SEAL, Will Dozier, has no intention of selling his grandparents' property to a developer. Back on Heron Island for the first time in ten years and secretly struggling with PTSD, Will decides that a fling with the new girl is the perfect way to help him "get his head straight." The last thing Will expects is to fall in love...with his hometown and with Annie. But Will's life and career are in San Diego with the SEALs. Can Annie's love and the healing magic of the island be enough to convince him to stay?
MY REVIEW: "Wind Chime Cafe"--what a lovely contemporary romance from author Sophie Moss. I was truly captivated by the setting of Heron Island in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. It's one of those places that you want to preserve and protect and then revel in all the charms it has to offer. I became quite involved with the lead characters, Annie, Will, and Annie's adorable daughter Taylor, and I enjoyed the "extra flavor" added to the story line from the entertaining secondary characters. While dealing with PTSD and other very sensitive and compelling issues, the author manages to balance the dramatic elements of the story line with romance and humor--and such delicious food! With beautifully descriptive writing, this well-paced story draws you in, and you will hear the gentle music of the wind chimes as they sway and sparkle in the breeze. Annie Malone makes a bold move toward a brighter future for herself and her young daughter, Taylor, when she purchases a little cafe in downtown Heron Island. While the cafe has a long way to go before it becomes the chic bistro Annie envisions, the promise of an upscale resort coming to the island brings hopes of booming business. The little building on Main Street will be both a home and a source of income. Will Dozier, a native of Heron Island, has managed to stay away from home for the last decade. His career as a Navy Seal has given him a home base in San Diego, California, and he likes it that way. Back on the island to settle his grandparents' estate and find a suitable new owner for the family home and property, he doesn't plan to stay long, but that's before he meets Annie and Taylor. Against his better judgment, he becomes involved with the beautiful single mother and her sweet little girl, and he soon discovers that he and the child share a tragic bond--they both suffer from PTSD. The more time Will spends in his old home place, the more determined he becomes to make sure the property will be sold to the right owner--one who will care for the home and the land as it has been cared for by five generations of Will's family. The trouble is, his place is the prime prize for the developers of the new resort. If Will doesn't sell, the development won't go through, and people like Annie who set their future hopes on the sale will be greatly disappointed. If he does sell, a way of life could be lost forever along with the natural beauty and ambiance of the island life. Will and Annie both have secrets and issues from their past which will come back to haunt them, and the newfound attraction and emotional attachment blooming between them will be put to the test. Is it just need and desire, or is it something much more? No matter what choice Will makes, what does the future hold for Will, Annie, and Taylor? Can Will and Taylor find healing, and can Annie overcome her greatest fear--confronting Taylor's father? Sophie Moss has written a wonderfully romantic tale, and I look forward to more visits to Heron Island. As a bonus, the author has included a recipe for "Della's Sweet Rolls", irresistible confectionary concoctions that tempt the reader throughout the book!
Review Copy Gratis Author
Wind Chime Wedding (A Wind Chime Novel)
Second grade teacher, Becca Haddaway, is weeks away from walking down the aisle with her high school sweetheart when she learns that the Heron Island Elementary School is about to be shut down. In the midst of a whirlwind of wedding planning, she launches into a last-ditch effort to save it. But the one man who can help her is determined to make her question every decision she has ever made—including the man she’s about to marry.
Former Navy SEAL and son of the current Maryland governor, Colin Foley, is finally starting to feel whole again after losing his leg on a career-ending deployment in Afghanistan. After struggling for months to figure out what to do with his post-military life, he’s found a new mission—opening a rehab center for wounded veterans on the peaceful Chesapeake Bay island. All he needs now is a woman to share his new life with…and he knows exactly who he wants. With a little help from the island’s magical wind chimes, can Colin convince Becca to change her mind before it’s too late?
ALSO BY SOPHIE MOSS: Seal Island Trilogy
In this modern-day fairy tale romance, American doctor Tara Moore's life is transformed when she travels to an enchanted Irish island and discovers she has the power to break a 200 year old curse. At first, Tara laughs off the villagers' speculation that she is descended from a selkie--a magical creature who is bewitching the island. But when a ghostly woman appears to her with a warning, Tara realizes it was more than chance that brought her to this island. Desperate to escape a dark and dangerous past, Tara struggles against a passionate attraction to handsome islander, Dominic O'Sullivan. But the enchantment of the island soon overpowers her and she falls helpless under its spell. Caught between magic and reality, Tara must find a way to wield both when a dangerous stranger from her past arrives, threatening to destroy the lives of everyone on the island.
I
In this modern-day fairy tale romance, Irish islander, Caitlin Conner, has been in love with professor of Irish folklore, Liam O'Sullivan, for as long as she can remember. But just when he's starting to look at her as more than a friend, a mysterious woman arrives on Seal Island and captures his heart. As Caitlin discovers the truth behind the woman's lies, she realizes Liam is trapped in a dangerous enchantment and the only way to break the spell is to uncover a secret Irish fairy tale that has remained hidden for hundreds of years. But when the petals of a white rose grown in winter start to fall, the legend is set in motion. And Caitlin must find a way to change the ending before the last petal falls.
In this modern-day fairy tale romance, Irish islander, Caitlin Conner, has been in love with professor of Irish folklore, Liam O'Sullivan, for as long as she can remember. But just when he's starting to look at her as more than a friend, a mysterious woman arrives on Seal Island and captures his heart. As Caitlin discovers the truth behind the woman's lies, she realizes Liam is trapped in a dangerous enchantment and the only way to break the spell is to uncover a secret Irish fairy tale that has remained hidden for hundreds of years. But when the petals of a white rose grown in winter start to fall, the legend is set in motion. And Caitlin must find a way to change the ending before the last petal falls.
American detective Sam Holt has
a knack for finding people who shouldn't be found. When his last case almost
killed an innocent woman, he swore off detective work forever. But when that
same woman asks him for one last investigation--to find her husband's long lost
mother--Sam cannot refuse. Clairvoyant Irish artist Glenna McClure will do
anything to stop Sam, even if it means teaming up with a powerful sorceress who
she knows she cannot trust. But when the petals of a mysterious night-blooming
rose begin to turn black, Glenna realizes that an even darker force is at work.
To protect the people she loves, Glenna will have to face a terrible curse that
has haunted her all her life before the final petal fades to
ash.
SOPHIE
MOSS
Sophie Moss is a USA Today bestselling author of four full-length romance novels. She is known for her captivating Irish fantasy romances and heartwarming contemporary romances with realistic characters and unique island settings. As a former journalist, Sophie has been writing professionally for over ten years. She currently lives in San Diego, California, where she's working on her next novel. When she's not writing, she's walking the beach, testing out a new dessert recipe, or fiddling in her garden. Sophie loves to hear from readers. Email her at sophiemosswrites@gmail.com or visit her website sophiemossauthor.com to sign up for her newsletter.
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