Erika MarksBesprekingen
Auteur van The Guest House
Besprekingen
Forget Me Not (Loveless & Dunn #3)
The town romanticizes the story, focusing on the magic of mermaids being real. But it glosses over the sad part, that the men left their wives and families behind to reunite with the mermaids.
Tess is a local who chooses to see the romance behind the story. This is similar to how she viewed her mom, seeing her as a fun loving woman when really she was struggling mentally.
The stabilizer in Tess' life was always Buzz, her stepfather. But sometimes Tess saw him as unkind to her mom because he tried to reign her in.
Tom is a thirty something man who has been "raising" his brother since his parents died. But Tom's brother is also in his thirties. His guilt over his parents' death has lead them to become pretty codependent.
Tom and his brother inherit a house from a near stranger and move to town.
I like how the story switched narratives to tell the Lydia/Linus/mermaids story and also the Tess/Tom story.
I would have enjoyed hearing more about the festival itself. Considering time was told I'm the story by days left until the festival, I kind of wanted to know more about the festival.
Whit was always in the picture too. He came off as a bad boy at first, but as she got to know him she learned that he was very different than he seemed on the surface.
As a child, Liv's mother told her about a famous ship and a woman named Theodosia that disappeared after boarding.
Liv loses her mom very young and she feels a connect to Theodosia, they've had similar sadness in their lives. She longs to find out what happened to her.
Current day, Liv is married to Whit. A turn of events causes Sam to come back into their lives. Sam pursues Liv.
She is given another chance to see if she wound up with the right man, and the chance to pursue the mystery of Theodosia's disappearance again.
Well written. The pages flew by. Great characters. Fun storyline. I was worried it wouldn't wrap up everything by the end, but it certainly did.
This story is set in a beach town. There is a clear division between the year rounders and the "wash ashore" who are only there for the summer.
The Moss family is a wash ashore family.
They are a family with money and with expectations of their children, marrying right being a big expectation.
Two generations of Moss men fall for two women from the Worthington/Wright family. First Edie and Tuck. Then, decades later, Tuck's son Hudson and Edie's daughter Lexi.
Lots of hearts are broken.
11 years have passed since Lexi and Hudson broke up. Lexi is back in town, Hudson and his family haven't been back in years.
Then Lexi gets a call from Cooper, Hudson's brother.
She finds herself attracted to him and wonders if their relationship could even stand a chance after all their families have been through.
Then a family secret is uncovered and Lexi had to question her feelings towards the Moss family.
I thought this was really enjoyable. The twists in the storyline were good. And I'd absolutely read a sequel if the author wrote one.
Could we get a story where Lexi's brother Owen is the main character?
Story starts out with Jackson and he's just finishing up a gig where he's a temp Santa and he wants to just get away from everything, head to the mountain cabin and relax this Christmas holiday season.
Also follows Miranda who has a young boy Oliver and they tend to rescue horses. They keep the most hurtful ones at their house barn for constant care.
On the way to his cabin Jackson has a mishap and ends up in Miranda's barn, he's wearing his Santa outfit still. She tends to him as Oliver thinks he's the real deal.
The adults get to talk when alone at times during 5 days he's stranded there due to his injuries. With the snow storm they are safe at home and for the first time in years they walk to cut down a tree.
She is about to lose the shelter in town where the other horses go and Jackosn has to leave to record his latest album...
Like this book for many reasons: keeping faith and hope present in your life, the location and being home during the snowstorm-brings back good memories for me. Cutting the fresh tree down, ornaments, cookies and decorating the house from top to bottom.
Gifts they have given to one another over the days without even knowing they were gifts at all. So touching.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end along with an author bio.
Have read other works from this author and always appreciate her writings, treasured! So many are rescued in this story.
Received this review copy from Tule Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#RescuedByChristmas #NetGalley
❄Focus on a Winter Holiday
❄Friend/Family Reunion
❄Second Chances
❄Snowbound (Well, stranded on a deserted island)
(Provided by publisher)
This was a very sweet story with the suggestion of chemistry between Jackson & Miranda. Oliver’s never ending faith causes the reader to want to believe. Miranda is strong & independent, sometimes too independent. She doesn’t want to rely on anyone. They all need some Christmas love, faith & yes, even a miracle.
You pretty much already know how the book will end, but still can't help but to want to know the journey these characters take.
Love and jealousy are the main focuses in this story. What else would you have when two people drift apart due to life, then come back together over the holidays? Realization and sparks. That's what you get.
Have read many of the authors other works and have enjoyed them. This one starts out in the present day and she is finishing up her sculpture of the mermaid. It's a big commission. Tess is back with Peter and Buzz maintains the cottages.
Tom Grace shows up and is given the keys to the lighthouse keeper's cottage a gift from Frank. Only he, Buzz and Frank know of what's happened. Dean is now incapacitated and Tom tends to hes every need. He looks forward to the new adventure and maybe even a local job as he's a school teacher.
Then the book goes back to 1877 where we learn of the legends surrounding Cradle Harbor Maine and the mermaid festival, etc. Lydia and Linus are taking care of the lighthouse, she is relieved he will not be on the sea and her nightmare might go away...she's not able to have babies either...
Alternating sections from the present to the past make this book like actually having two books in one and you hope they will connect with one another, down the road.
Love learning about mermaid purses and hearing of the wind chimes and their connection to the mermaid song... Love hearing the legends and being so close to the water and what it all encompasses. Love the DASH!
Beautiful magical majestic stories. Q&A at the end along with discussion questions.
Won this is a contest.
Erika Marks returns following It Comes in Waves (2014) and The Guest House (2013) with THE LAST TREASURE, from the legends of shipwrecks of North Carolina, a novel of three lives entangled in the secrets of the sea and the enduring bonds of love.
The author writes of gems of the sea, from surfing, a lighthouse, and now in her latest, of lost treasures. From romance, mystery, history, and intrigue.
Based on the real-life story of the mysterious Patriot — a schooner that disappeared off the Carolina coast in 1813 with Aaron Burr’s daughter, Theodosia, aboard — The Last Treasure brings together three students with a passion for shipwrecks who embark on one last salvage mission.
Once a close-knit trio, Liv, Sam and Whit have drifted apart, especially since Liv left Sam for Whit nine years ago. Liv has given up her obsession with Theodosia Burr to focus on her career as a salvage diver and her fervent but troubled marriage to Whit.
But when a diary of Theodosia’s is discovered in the attic of a North Carolina beach house, Liv is pulled back into the world of the Patriot and the love triangle that will cause her to choose once and for all between two men with very different hearts.
Read more about the inspiration behind the fascinating story set in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
As a North Carolina native, I always enjoy stories set in the area and the familiar landmarks. From legends, treasures, shipwrecks, with tidbits of history, to the love of the sea, Marks’ characters come alive on the pages.
Well-researched and intriguing, sprinkled with modern romance- Marks' delivers a compelling story for history buffs, and those who adore mysteries of the sea.
For those of you who have not visited the Outer Banks (OBX) highly recommend the 130-mile stretch of barrier islands just off the coast of North Carolina. Made up of quaint towns and sleepy fishing villages, each wonderfully weather worn to a varying degree. Even spanning hundreds of years and despite millions of visitors, each town retains its own individual character.
JDCMustReadBooks
You pretty much already know how the book will end, but still can't help but to want to know the journey these characters take.
Love and jealousy are the main focuses in this story. What else would you have when two people drift apart due to life, then come back together over the holidays? Realization and sparks. That's what you get.
This was a great reunion story that really left me with a smile! The chemistry between Mallory and Josh is evident from the very beginning and how they handled the past hurts was heartwarming. I really enjoyed all the ribbing Josh took about Mallory's books. The way the town finally came around and accepted her and her work was great.
I definitely recommend this one!
I received this from NetGalley to read and provide and honest review. I can honestly say that this was one of the best books I have read in a long time. The book is just a novella, but the story is so good that I was mesmerized by it from the very first page. Mallory and Josh had once been sweethearts, in a romance everyone thought would end in marriage. Then, Mallory got an offer to go to the city, to write—and offer she could not refuse. Josh, on the other hand, wanted to stay in Magnolia Bay and open a sporting goods/adventure training and trekking store. Five years later, Mallory returns to Magnolia Bay, hanging her head because her pseudo nom has been compromised, and now everyone knows she writes the latest erotic bestseller. Everywhere she goes, people make comments about the book series to Mallory, though she only wishes everyone would forget she had written the series. Thus, Mallory returned to Magnolia Bay, her head spinning from all the hubbub, ready to crawl into the nearest corner to avoid the gossip, the stares, and the endless questions about how the town’s “good girl” could write such stuff. Josh also felt the repercussions of the revelation. Everyone and anyone he met thought he was the erotic, sensualist male character in Mallory’s books and kept bringing this up to him. When these two meet in Magnolia Bay, it is as if nothing in their romance history had changed in the five years they had been apart. Sparks still fly. The chemistry between them is still as good as ever. However, they have both matured and changed, not a lot, but nevertheless changed. Read along as they try to re-capture the love they once had, to rekindle their romance, with everyone in this small town watching and waiting.
The author has definitely produced a fantastic story that, though short and simple, will nevertheless take your breath away and keep your interest. I enjoyed reading about Mallory and Josh and their actions, both past and present. Their characters were well-developed, as were all the other minor, supporting characters, in particular, Mallory’s aunt and Josh’s brother. Finally, the setting in this small town was perfect for the story. I have not read any other books in the series or by the author, but I will definitely be looking for them. As I read a lot, I always enjoy finding a new author, whose works I have not read. Erika Marks will now go on my authors-to-read list. I think anyone who enjoys a good romance and is looking for something short and sweet (think beach read, vacation/travel read) will love this book. I highly recommend it.
I received this from NetGalley to read and provide and honest review. I can honestly say that this was one of the best books I have read in a long time. The book is just a novella, but the story is so good that I was mesmerized by it from the very first page. Mallory and Josh had once been sweethearts, in a romance everyone thought would end in marriage. Then, Mallory got an offer to go to the city, to write—and offer she could not refuse. Josh, on the other hand, wanted to stay in Magnolia Bay and open a sporting goods/adventure training and trekking store. Five years later, Mallory returns to Magnolia Bay, hanging her head because her pseudo nom has been compromised, and now everyone knows she writes the latest erotic bestseller. Everywhere she goes, people make comments about the book series to Mallory, though she only wishes everyone would forget she had written the series. Thus, Mallory returned to Magnolia Bay, her head spinning from all the hubbub, ready to crawl into the nearest corner to avoid the gossip, the stares, and the endless questions about how the town’s “good girl” could write such stuff. Josh also felt the repercussions of the revelation. Everyone and anyone he met thought he was the erotic, sensualist male character in Mallory’s books and kept bringing this up to him. When these two meet in Magnolia Bay, it is as if nothing in their romance history had changed in the five years they had been apart. Sparks still fly. The chemistry between them is still as good as ever. However, they have both matured and changed, not a lot, but nevertheless changed. Read along as they try to re-capture the love they once had, to rekindle their romance, with everyone in this small town watching and waiting.
The author has definitely produced a fantastic story that, though short and simple, will nevertheless take your breath away and keep your interest. I enjoyed reading about Mallory and Josh and their actions, both past and present. Their characters were well-developed, as were all the other minor, supporting characters, in particular, Mallory’s aunt and Josh’s brother. Finally, the setting in this small town was perfect for the story. I have not read any other books in the series or by the author, but I will definitely be looking for them. As I read a lot, I always enjoy finding a new author, whose works I have not read. Erika Marks will now go on my authors-to-read list. I think anyone who enjoys a good romance and is looking for something short and sweet (think beach read, vacation/travel read) will love this book. I highly recommend it.
Onze site gebruikt cookies om diensten te leveren, prestaties te verbeteren, voor analyse en (indien je niet ingelogd bent) voor advertenties. Door LibraryThing te gebruiken erken je dat je onze Servicevoorwaarden en Privacybeleid gelezen en begrepen hebt. Je gebruik van de site en diensten is onderhevig aan dit beleid en deze voorwaarden.