(BACHELORS OF BLUEBERRY COVE #1)
ARC Review
Published: October 29, 2013, Kensington Books
My rating: 4 of 5 ⭐️
Broken down on the side of the road, Alex McFarland feels like she has finally hit rock bottom. After a devastating loss, the lighthouse renovation specialist is on her way to Blueberry Cove, Maine, to attempt to hang on to the dregs of a business that is all she has left. No ties left to anyone or anywhere, She is desperate to reconnect with her roots, transient as they might have been, but solidly founded in the history and architecture of lighthouses all over the world, and restoring them to their former glory.
Born and raised in small-town Maine, Chief of Police, Logan MCrae has never felt the urge to leave Blueberry Cove or his beloved Pelican Point. He has always been content to take care of his town, his people and his property, the best he knows how. Though friendly with most of the population, Logan never was one for socializing, even though his uncle Fergus couldn't help but push him on the subject. In fact, that same uncle Fergus had him seething right now, having hired a contractor to work on HIS lighthouse behind his back. He almost missed the truck and trailer on the side of the road.
Not one of Alex' finer moments, that's for sure, being carried off half-starved and in the midst of what can only be called a mental breakdown by a man with the voice of a sex-God.......who turned out to be the Chief of Police! Not to mention finding out that same 'sex-God' was the owner of the lighthouse she was supposedly there to work on for the foreseeable future, except he didn't want her there. And Alex sure won't stay where she isn't wanted, although for right now she doesn't have much of a choice, And did I mention he has the voice of a sex-God?
Logan has no idea what possessed him to take the frail and obviously damaged woman into his home, but since it is obvious his uncle Fergus is the reason for her being here, he feels somewhat responsible for her. Yes, that must be it. Except, why is it that she stirred things in him without even saying much. Things that haven't been 'stirred' in a good long time. But he won't allow himself to go there, he belongs here on Pelican Point, and she.........she will eventually leave.
With the help of his uncle, Alex manages to convince Logan to at least let her have a look at the property, and while he allows her some time to give him an idea of the work that might be involved, he is clear the lighthouse cannot be his priority at this time. But a finger is all Alex needs, somehow she finds a way to settle into the community, or rather, the community settles in around her. And before she knows it, she has found a place, friends and a man to love.......if he'll have her.
*****
A lovely, warm small-town story, full of promise and hope. Written with a generous helping of wry humour and a touch of mystique to make for a seamless and flowing good read.
At first I was afraid the book would be too descriptive for my tastes, especially the first chapter was a bit daunting. But as I pushed forward, it started paying off in buckets! I personally don't feel the need for a 'setting of the scene' so to speak, but I understand that others seem to enjoy some help with their initial visualization, hence that first chapter, which is often used to set a tone, an atmosphere or a scene. I could have done without.
However, the dialogues that followed, the quirky village characters, the easy banter and ad lib remarks between Alex and Logan and the delicious chemistry (now there is one place I don't mind that descriptive tendency) more than make up for it.
Alex is obviously at a low in her life and lost at sea without anchor. Her life had always been centred around her family and now that it is gone, there is nothing for her to grab a hold of and she keeps grabbing back, trying to find a remnant of something. While instead she should be reaching forward, opening up to possibilities and options. But they come with risk and fear of the unkown and sometimes it takes a little shove to get your feet moving.
Logan has had hardship in his life when he was younger, but he had an anchor, some solid deep roots. Unfortunately those deep roots kept him in place, immobile in fact. So much so that he was able to focus everywhere but on himself, which is why he never gave himself that final closure, even though his grief no longer was active. His self seclusion was his safety, until Alex came along, he had no desire to reach out.
Each was a catalyst for the other. Logan helped Alex find her roots and set anchor, while Alex helped Logan loosen the hold of his.
✨A witty, moving, and sweetly seductive story of home.✨
**ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Kensington Books in return for an honest review.**
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