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Chesapeake Diaries #3
Almost Home
Returning home after the death of his friend and business partner, Wade McGregor discovers that he still has feelings for Steffie Wyler, the girl he left behind. (romance).
468 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2011
236 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Stewart
89 books1,529 followersMariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of forty-one novels and three novellas and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. She is a RITA finalist in romantic suspense and the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO Award for excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Magazine. A three-time winner of the Golden Leaf Award presented by the New Jersey Romance Writers, Stewart was recently awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award (which placed her in their Hall of Fame along with former recipients Nora Roberts and Mary Jo Putney — very excellent company, indeed!)
After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?
After having written seven contemporary romance novels, Stewart found true happiness writing murder and mayhem. She considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 23, 2012
The series about the lives and loves of the little town of St. Dennis continues where the previous novel left off, but this time with the siblings of the main characters of the previous novel. Stephanie is the younger sister of veterinarian Grant Wyler and, unlike her brother, she’s never left the urge to leave the town. Her dreams are informed by her childhood spent visiting a dear uncle who taught her to make ice cream, and her dreams of having a successful ice cream shop where she can sell her custom creations have been fulfilled. Despite her professional success, Steffie feels like an important piece of her life is missing, and this piece happens to roll into town in the form of Wade MacGregor.
Steffie has loved Wade for most of her life, but their timing always seems to be off: First she’s too young for the young mad four years her senior, and then he’s determined to start his microbrewery business in Texas, far from St. Dennis. Steffie laments his loss, but does her best to get on with her dreams…and then Wade shows up to the wedding of the town’s chief of police. Things get hot and heavy quickly but a phone call sends Wade fleeing and Steffie feeling confused and rejected.
Just when Steffie is getting on with her life, her peace is threatened by Wade’s return to town—this time with a toddler he says is his son. Now Steffie is left to wonder at the character of the man she loves: Why would he keep the baby’s mother a secret and lead her on during their previous encounter? Was he unfaithful to another woman with her? But in the small town on St. Dennis secrets are hard to keep, and the truth turns out to have as many challenges as the misunderstandings that came before.
The story is a little cheesy, but once I was hooked I wanted to find out what happened next and couldn't stop watching. The plot even moves with the slowness of a television serial: The reader gets to spend time with the inner thoughts of at least a half a dozen characters, and the shifting POV might have further detracted from the focus on what is supposed to be the primary couple except that the human interest of the story was handled so well. There are some big themes in this novel: Steffie’s commitment to her sister who died from cancer, and her attempts to honor this legacy; the connection of family with a small town, and how generations have an indelible impact on each other; what it means to be a parent, and the sacrifices this requires. I’ll even bashfully admit to having a good cry over a couple of scenes in the book, and I can cheerfully say that this is the best book so far in the series.
Stewart definitely seems to be improving her exploration of this community! Although some readers have complained that Steffie is rash, impulsive, and sometimes unlikeable, I find her to be more of a mouthy independent wench. I know women like this, who stand their ground with their hearts on their sleeves, and sometimes speak before they’ve thought things through. I really enjoyed Stewart’s exploration of how our teenage years stay with us—we don’t just ‘get over’ our youth, and it shapes us in permanent ways that are important. I also appreciated her measured introduction of characters: By the time another supporting character gets their book the reader has already had a chance to learn about them, and the novel can spend more time on plot development.
I will also add that I’m still not a fan of the diary aspect of the novel, as written by Grace Sinclair, an elderly character who has lived in St. Dennis all her life. The entries felt like a rehash of everything I had just read, and screamed "JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATENTION DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS!" But this time these diary entries are much more interesting, and Stewart returns to an element she introduced in the first novel in this series with sometimes comedic results. I’m finally beginning to become interested in septuagenarian Gracie’s backstory, and what she has to offer with regards to the town’s older residents and the impact of their choices on the following generations.
Can I say how much I love food in romance novels? Steffie’s ice cream shop, “One Scoop, Two” has been important in the first two novels in this series, and the flavors she creates and how they reflect the people in the town has been an important part of the charm of this series; in this novel the ice cream shop is almost a character to itself as the place where Steffie wrestles with her questions and insecurities, and this helps give the novel a depth that I enjoyed, and reinforces my opinion that this is the strongest novel in the series. I like Mariah Stewart's writing style, and the characters she has created feel real; I am compelled to return to St. Dennis to find out how everybody else's story goes. It's a good story, set in an interesting community, and would be an entertaining read for a lazy weekend or beach read. I would recommend this series to those readers who like series romance with a strong sense of community.
Steffie has loved Wade for most of her life, but their timing always seems to be off: First she’s too young for the young mad four years her senior, and then he’s determined to start his microbrewery business in Texas, far from St. Dennis. Steffie laments his loss, but does her best to get on with her dreams…and then Wade shows up to the wedding of the town’s chief of police. Things get hot and heavy quickly but a phone call sends Wade fleeing and Steffie feeling confused and rejected.
Just when Steffie is getting on with her life, her peace is threatened by Wade’s return to town—this time with a toddler he says is his son. Now Steffie is left to wonder at the character of the man she loves: Why would he keep the baby’s mother a secret and lead her on during their previous encounter? Was he unfaithful to another woman with her? But in the small town on St. Dennis secrets are hard to keep, and the truth turns out to have as many challenges as the misunderstandings that came before.
The story is a little cheesy, but once I was hooked I wanted to find out what happened next and couldn't stop watching. The plot even moves with the slowness of a television serial: The reader gets to spend time with the inner thoughts of at least a half a dozen characters, and the shifting POV might have further detracted from the focus on what is supposed to be the primary couple except that the human interest of the story was handled so well. There are some big themes in this novel: Steffie’s commitment to her sister who died from cancer, and her attempts to honor this legacy; the connection of family with a small town, and how generations have an indelible impact on each other; what it means to be a parent, and the sacrifices this requires. I’ll even bashfully admit to having a good cry over a couple of scenes in the book, and I can cheerfully say that this is the best book so far in the series.
Stewart definitely seems to be improving her exploration of this community! Although some readers have complained that Steffie is rash, impulsive, and sometimes unlikeable, I find her to be more of a mouthy independent wench. I know women like this, who stand their ground with their hearts on their sleeves, and sometimes speak before they’ve thought things through. I really enjoyed Stewart’s exploration of how our teenage years stay with us—we don’t just ‘get over’ our youth, and it shapes us in permanent ways that are important. I also appreciated her measured introduction of characters: By the time another supporting character gets their book the reader has already had a chance to learn about them, and the novel can spend more time on plot development.
I will also add that I’m still not a fan of the diary aspect of the novel, as written by Grace Sinclair, an elderly character who has lived in St. Dennis all her life. The entries felt like a rehash of everything I had just read, and screamed "JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN'T PAYING ATENTION DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS!" But this time these diary entries are much more interesting, and Stewart returns to an element she introduced in the first novel in this series with sometimes comedic results. I’m finally beginning to become interested in septuagenarian Gracie’s backstory, and what she has to offer with regards to the town’s older residents and the impact of their choices on the following generations.
Can I say how much I love food in romance novels? Steffie’s ice cream shop, “One Scoop, Two” has been important in the first two novels in this series, and the flavors she creates and how they reflect the people in the town has been an important part of the charm of this series; in this novel the ice cream shop is almost a character to itself as the place where Steffie wrestles with her questions and insecurities, and this helps give the novel a depth that I enjoyed, and reinforces my opinion that this is the strongest novel in the series. I like Mariah Stewart's writing style, and the characters she has created feel real; I am compelled to return to St. Dennis to find out how everybody else's story goes. It's a good story, set in an interesting community, and would be an entertaining read for a lazy weekend or beach read. I would recommend this series to those readers who like series romance with a strong sense of community.
October 22, 2020
Love this series!
May 1, 2020
When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie's made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.
Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he's always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curve ball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died--but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade's determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend's legacy.
It is a cute little love story.
Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he's always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curve ball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died--but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade's determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend's legacy.
It is a cute little love story.
April 4, 2011
3/5 (C)
I actually thought Almost Home was a romantic suspense, given that's what the previous books I read by Ms Stewart were... but instead, it was more contemporary/small town romance, so it took me a little by surprise.
Almost Home was quite a quick read, mostly because not much is happening. Actually, a lot of little things are happening, but in the grand scheme, in the general sense of a storyline - yep, not much is happening. The book pretty much focuses on Steffie and Wade's romance and what made Wade closed down his business. I feel like there was a lot of superfluous aspects in this book such as the Ouija thing and the witch magic to fill up the pages ^_^; I think Almost Home would have been more interesting if the romance has been more intense. It just took a while for Steffie and Wade to decide what they wanted and to go after each other. I mean, in the beginning, Steffie was angry at Wade because he shows up with the baby and that means he might have been married or with someone else when he and her almost got together... and that's really understandable. Then, you had Wade that thought he should avoid having a relationship with Steffie, but just couldn't keep away from her. When she finally comes around, well it's his turn to brush her off, because her life belongs in St. Dennis and so it's best not to start anything... and yada, yada, yada. The worst is that in the end, everything - everything - was resolved so easily, even the "intrigue" aspect of the book... so it really felt like a lot of elements were just unnecessary, there just to make this book longer, sigh.
It's quite unfortunate, because Steffie and Wade were likable characters. They're nice, they're loyal, they're decent and every day persons who have to make a living. They have great families and friends surrounding them and healthy relationships with others. I also liked that Steffie and Wade valued each other, that Wade told Steffie the truth about his son. I liked when Steffie told Wade that she was big enough to decide on her own and it wasn't his choice to make. I think they were quite compatible and mature... However, their romance was missing some excitement, some flirting, some witty banter. It's the way they interact with each other, as if they didn't have chemistry :( Instead of focusing on the relationship and interactions between the H/H, it feels like Ms Stewart was trying too hard to infuse drama and conflicts and it just felt forced.
Almost Home was not a bad book, but it did miss the mark for me where the romance is concerned :( I did enjoy some aspect of it, but I doubt I'm going to re-read it and I don't think I'll be picking up the first two books ^_^;
I actually thought Almost Home was a romantic suspense, given that's what the previous books I read by Ms Stewart were... but instead, it was more contemporary/small town romance, so it took me a little by surprise.
Almost Home was quite a quick read, mostly because not much is happening. Actually, a lot of little things are happening, but in the grand scheme, in the general sense of a storyline - yep, not much is happening. The book pretty much focuses on Steffie and Wade's romance and what made Wade closed down his business. I feel like there was a lot of superfluous aspects in this book such as the Ouija thing and the witch magic to fill up the pages ^_^; I think Almost Home would have been more interesting if the romance has been more intense. It just took a while for Steffie and Wade to decide what they wanted and to go after each other. I mean, in the beginning, Steffie was angry at Wade because he shows up with the baby and that means he might have been married or with someone else when he and her almost got together... and that's really understandable. Then, you had Wade that thought he should avoid having a relationship with Steffie, but just couldn't keep away from her. When she finally comes around, well it's his turn to brush her off, because her life belongs in St. Dennis and so it's best not to start anything... and yada, yada, yada. The worst is that in the end, everything - everything - was resolved so easily, even the "intrigue" aspect of the book... so it really felt like a lot of elements were just unnecessary, there just to make this book longer, sigh.
It's quite unfortunate, because Steffie and Wade were likable characters. They're nice, they're loyal, they're decent and every day persons who have to make a living. They have great families and friends surrounding them and healthy relationships with others. I also liked that Steffie and Wade valued each other, that Wade told Steffie the truth about his son. I liked when Steffie told Wade that she was big enough to decide on her own and it wasn't his choice to make. I think they were quite compatible and mature... However, their romance was missing some excitement, some flirting, some witty banter. It's the way they interact with each other, as if they didn't have chemistry :( Instead of focusing on the relationship and interactions between the H/H, it feels like Ms Stewart was trying too hard to infuse drama and conflicts and it just felt forced.
Almost Home was not a bad book, but it did miss the mark for me where the romance is concerned :( I did enjoy some aspect of it, but I doubt I'm going to re-read it and I don't think I'll be picking up the first two books ^_^;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2012
I ask myself over and over and over why I read this series. It's not that great, the characters aren't built up properly and the main character seems to be the town and not the mains. The sex scenes are flash forwarded and washed over (and sometimes a bit boring) and there is always some cockamamie mystery that gets solved in about five seconds.
But damnit there is something about the relationships and the inter-personal connections these folks have that keep sucking me in. These are perfect beach reads or perfect Autumn reads when you don't want to think too much and you just want a HEA without question.
Like I said in my first review, don't expect too much and you're golden.
But damnit there is something about the relationships and the inter-personal connections these folks have that keep sucking me in. These are perfect beach reads or perfect Autumn reads when you don't want to think too much and you just want a HEA without question.
Like I said in my first review, don't expect too much and you're golden.
March 29, 2011
Although I love Stewart's writing, there was one thing that bothered me about this book. I kept wishing that Steffie would just tell Wade to shove off. But she didn't, and Stewart handled the why very well. And Wade was a sympathetic character.
This new series has made me go back and reread some of her older books, some I loved so much, like Devlin's Light. A softer, gentler Stewart, but equally as riveting as the intense books she wrote that I <3 so very much.
This new series has made me go back and reread some of her older books, some I loved so much, like Devlin's Light. A softer, gentler Stewart, but equally as riveting as the intense books she wrote that I <3 so very much.
February 16, 2017
A fun story especially if you like ice cream and there was lots of chick-lit but the romance situation was frustrating and just got worse instead of better. I also had trouble with the trust issue in how the heroine handled his secret. After liquidating his beer company and heading to a new job, Wade stops in his hometown and is again attracted to Steffie the local ice cream shop owner.
October 1, 2025
I reread this in audio and liked it, with the narration being outstanding.
You can find my original review here:
My review of the third in the Chesapeake Bay series at AAR: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
I'm reminded this time of just how interconnected this entire series (at least in the early going) is. I can't imagine attempting to reading this one as a standalone, as a lot of the book centers on the birthday party of the heroine from the second book, the engagement proposal made by the hero of the second book, as well as the heroine of this third book spending a lot of time with her BFF the heroine of the first book.
You can find my original review here:
My review of the third in the Chesapeake Bay series at AAR: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
I'm reminded this time of just how interconnected this entire series (at least in the early going) is. I can't imagine attempting to reading this one as a standalone, as a lot of the book centers on the birthday party of the heroine from the second book, the engagement proposal made by the hero of the second book, as well as the heroine of this third book spending a lot of time with her BFF the heroine of the first book.
August 13, 2017
Author: Mariah Stewart
First published: 2011
Length: 5257 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. St Dennis, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.
Sex: Explicit. Infrequent.
Hero: Beer maker.
Heroine: Ice cream maker.
Includes: Excerpts from Coming Home and Home Again
There is little to complain about in this series. Straight forward romances with a light suspense and sufficient angst that leads us to a welcome HEA.
This time around we have Steffie, hometown girl who has loved Wade since she was a child, getting her second chance. Our Hero has been elsewhere, making a life for himself, but has finally found his way back home.
Wade is portrayed as a very lovely, hands-on single Dad. Steffie is a strong young woman. We re-meet past characters and see some ongoing storylines unfold.
It’s nice. It works.
Chesapeake Diaries:
Book 1 Coming Home - Grady Shields and Vanessa Keaton
Book 2 Home Again - Dallas MacGregor and Grant Wyler
Book 3 Almost Home - Steffie Wyler and Wade MacGregor
Book 4 Hometown Girl - Brooke Madison Bowers and Jesse Enright
Book 5 Home for the Summer - Lucy Sinclair and Clay Madison
Book 6 The Long Way Home - Ellie Chapman and Cameron O'Connor
Book 7 At the River’s Edge - Sophie Enright and Jason Bowers
Book 8 On Sunset Beach - Carly Summit and Ford Sinclair
Book 9 That Chesapeake Summer - Jamie Valentine and Daniel Sinclair
Book 10 Driftwood Point - Lisbeth Parker and Alec Jansen
Book 11 The Chesapeake Bride - Cassidy Logan and Owen Parker
References:
Author's website: http://www.mariahstewart.com/books.html
(ISBN 9781405516280)
-CR-
First published: 2011
Length: 5257 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. St Dennis, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.
Sex: Explicit. Infrequent.
Hero: Beer maker.
Heroine: Ice cream maker.
Includes: Excerpts from Coming Home and Home Again
There is little to complain about in this series. Straight forward romances with a light suspense and sufficient angst that leads us to a welcome HEA.
This time around we have Steffie, hometown girl who has loved Wade since she was a child, getting her second chance. Our Hero has been elsewhere, making a life for himself, but has finally found his way back home.
Wade is portrayed as a very lovely, hands-on single Dad. Steffie is a strong young woman. We re-meet past characters and see some ongoing storylines unfold.
It’s nice. It works.
Chesapeake Diaries:
Book 1 Coming Home - Grady Shields and Vanessa Keaton
Book 2 Home Again - Dallas MacGregor and Grant Wyler
Book 3 Almost Home - Steffie Wyler and Wade MacGregor
Book 4 Hometown Girl - Brooke Madison Bowers and Jesse Enright
Book 5 Home for the Summer - Lucy Sinclair and Clay Madison
Book 6 The Long Way Home - Ellie Chapman and Cameron O'Connor
Book 7 At the River’s Edge - Sophie Enright and Jason Bowers
Book 8 On Sunset Beach - Carly Summit and Ford Sinclair
Book 9 That Chesapeake Summer - Jamie Valentine and Daniel Sinclair
Book 10 Driftwood Point - Lisbeth Parker and Alec Jansen
Book 11 The Chesapeake Bride - Cassidy Logan and Owen Parker
References:
Author's website: http://www.mariahstewart.com/books.html
(ISBN 9781405516280)
-CR-
August 11, 2020
I’m loving this series by Mariah Stewart...light, wholesome with a little bit of smut...how great is that?? Xx
May 18, 2011
3.5 stars.
I loved the first book in this series. Liked the second one a lot. This one was a solid "like".
Certainly, I enjoyed returning to St. Dennis and all the characters from the previous books. I liked Steffie in her previous appearances, and had been looking forward to getting to know her better.
Part of the problem was that I didn't feel like I had a deeper understanding of her character by the end of the book. Sure, she was fun to hang out with, and I really enjoyed the look into the working of her ice cream creation process, but I never felt I knew her as more than a good buddy.
Part of the problem is all mine. The base story was a very standard romance plot-- girl falls in love with boy, boy moves away. Boy turns into man, girl turns into woman, but somehow something is missing in both of their lives until they meet each other again as adults.
For someone that likes romance novels, I have very little patience with the ideas of love at first sight and that there are matches that are fated to be. On the other hand, these are such staples of the genre that it makes no sense to fault a book for containing them.
Wade (the love interest)did have a creative story, one that I haven't seen before. It had moments of both predictability and of being over the top in what it asked me to believe, but mostly it was the blend of fun and touching that I would hope for.
As with the other books in the series, the strength is in the characters and their relationships. I particularly like the links between friends that cross generations, and I think the way the books actually let some of the folks older even than me be real people is a very refreshing change of pace.
If you've been following the series, go ahead and pick this one up. If you haven't, I'd suggest starting at the beginning.
I loved the first book in this series. Liked the second one a lot. This one was a solid "like".
Certainly, I enjoyed returning to St. Dennis and all the characters from the previous books. I liked Steffie in her previous appearances, and had been looking forward to getting to know her better.
Part of the problem was that I didn't feel like I had a deeper understanding of her character by the end of the book. Sure, she was fun to hang out with, and I really enjoyed the look into the working of her ice cream creation process, but I never felt I knew her as more than a good buddy.
Part of the problem is all mine. The base story was a very standard romance plot-- girl falls in love with boy, boy moves away. Boy turns into man, girl turns into woman, but somehow something is missing in both of their lives until they meet each other again as adults.
For someone that likes romance novels, I have very little patience with the ideas of love at first sight and that there are matches that are fated to be. On the other hand, these are such staples of the genre that it makes no sense to fault a book for containing them.
Wade (the love interest)did have a creative story, one that I haven't seen before. It had moments of both predictability and of being over the top in what it asked me to believe, but mostly it was the blend of fun and touching that I would hope for.
As with the other books in the series, the strength is in the characters and their relationships. I particularly like the links between friends that cross generations, and I think the way the books actually let some of the folks older even than me be real people is a very refreshing change of pace.
If you've been following the series, go ahead and pick this one up. If you haven't, I'd suggest starting at the beginning.
January 3, 2015
I liked this book better than the second installment, but not as much as the first. Let's say it's really at 3.5 stars.
From book one in this series, I've loved the character of Steffie. I was looking forward to this book and certain aspects did not disappoint. I fell in love with Wade and Austin. I was super glad Mariah Stewart didn't drag out the whole mystery behind Austin's parentage. And mostly, since we've been getting enigmatic glimpses since book one, I really liked that this book delved deeper into the past of the town and possible magic.
What I missed was the warm-fuzzies. Yes, I said I loved the characters. I even think they belong together. But there was never any butterflies in the stomach for me. Somehow, the chemistry is missing from the writing.
I still enjoyed seeing the other residents of the town out and about. I'm glad there is a possible story ahead for Brooke and maybe her brother, too. Plus, Lucy's name has been being dropped a lot and I wonder if she avoids the town due to a broker heart herself. So I'm sure she'll come to town and we'll get her story soon.
Although this isn't my favorite series out there, it still gives me joy to read so I will continue on. I'm a bit invested in the people of St. Dennis at this point.
From book one in this series, I've loved the character of Steffie. I was looking forward to this book and certain aspects did not disappoint. I fell in love with Wade and Austin. I was super glad Mariah Stewart didn't drag out the whole mystery behind Austin's parentage. And mostly, since we've been getting enigmatic glimpses since book one, I really liked that this book delved deeper into the past of the town and possible magic.
What I missed was the warm-fuzzies. Yes, I said I loved the characters. I even think they belong together. But there was never any butterflies in the stomach for me. Somehow, the chemistry is missing from the writing.
I still enjoyed seeing the other residents of the town out and about. I'm glad there is a possible story ahead for Brooke and maybe her brother, too. Plus, Lucy's name has been being dropped a lot and I wonder if she avoids the town due to a broker heart herself. So I'm sure she'll come to town and we'll get her story soon.
Although this isn't my favorite series out there, it still gives me joy to read so I will continue on. I'm a bit invested in the people of St. Dennis at this point.
February 24, 2025
This is my FAVORITE of the book series !! I love steffie and her little ice cream shop. How FUN would it be to own your own. Make your own blends! So fun!
Steffie had her life planned out. Make Ice cream. Marry wade. Have a beautiful family! But life doesn’t work out the way we want when we are young, or does it!
Ugh the push and pull between steffie and wade was just 👌will forever recommend this series to everyone !!
Steffie had her life planned out. Make Ice cream. Marry wade. Have a beautiful family! But life doesn’t work out the way we want when we are young, or does it!
Ugh the push and pull between steffie and wade was just 👌will forever recommend this series to everyone !!
May 30, 2017
This book felt forced with little of the charm and easiness of the first two.
June 22, 2025
Great escape! Enjoyable characters.
January 26, 2021
Disclaimer - In the interest of fairness I want to make it clear I haven't read any of the other books in this series. So maybe book one and two provide the background that was lacking to make the story interesting to me. In my experience romance series are usually written that each book can be a stand alone, with just little bonus references to others in the series. Maybe that was an unfair assumption. So, if you've read 1&2 this might not be the most helpful review. If you're looking to read this as a stand alone or a starting point read on.
Review - I'd actually give it 1.5 stars, but I bumped down rather then up because I thought the romance between the two main characters was basically nonexistent. I felt like there was no reason given to put them together. We just got they're ment to be together then they got together and it felt flat.
They barely interacted for most of the book. There was a bit of well, she's always liked him, but even that was more portrayed as she just had a crush on her older brother's cute friend. The running line is she wanted to marry the "coolest guy". Nothing is given about why she thinks that's him.
The only flash back scene was the opening with them at a school dance together. She's 17 and he's 21. She came up with a scheme to trick him into taking her in an effort to seduce/romance him. Which is more creepy then romantic to me. It felt like their romance was just there to provide framework for a bunch of other storylines which also weren't strong enough to stand on their own.
However, I did enjoy the writing style in general. It was an easy light read. A bit cheesy and dramatic but the kind you'd look for in a romance. I might give Stewart another try. This book just wasn't flushed out enough to stand on its own.
Review - I'd actually give it 1.5 stars, but I bumped down rather then up because I thought the romance between the two main characters was basically nonexistent. I felt like there was no reason given to put them together. We just got they're ment to be together then they got together and it felt flat.
They barely interacted for most of the book. There was a bit of well, she's always liked him, but even that was more portrayed as she just had a crush on her older brother's cute friend. The running line is she wanted to marry the "coolest guy". Nothing is given about why she thinks that's him.
The only flash back scene was the opening with them at a school dance together. She's 17 and he's 21. She came up with a scheme to trick him into taking her in an effort to seduce/romance him. Which is more creepy then romantic to me. It felt like their romance was just there to provide framework for a bunch of other storylines which also weren't strong enough to stand on their own.
However, I did enjoy the writing style in general. It was an easy light read. A bit cheesy and dramatic but the kind you'd look for in a romance. I might give Stewart another try. This book just wasn't flushed out enough to stand on its own.
September 4, 2017
As the third in the Chesapeake Diary series, I have to say with some chagrin that I'm quite disappointed in this one. Sure, sure it follows the formula of the other two, but I honestly wanted to love the character of Steffie - she's young, bright, driven, an ambitious small-business owner bringing her passion to life - but I don't feel like she's written that way convincingly enough.
I've had this gripe with the other books as well, but in this one it was impossible to ignore. Mariah Stewart cannot write the voice of young women. All the dialogue sounds really out-dated and forced. The way Steffie and Vanessa hang out and coo over champagne and boys is unrealistic and couldn't pass the Bechdel test in its wildest dreams. Not to mention how, for a supposedly modern young woman, so many of her views are very old-fashioned and "traditional".
Wade seems kind of unrealistic in some ways too, but I do love the refreshing way she's written him as a man who cares deeply about the boy he's taken on as his son. You don't see many depictions anywhere in the media or fiction of men as nurturing and taking on the caretaker role, so I commend her for that.
To be truly honest, what really keeps stringing me along in this series are the little drops of magic, witchcraft, and spirit communication that weave these tales together. I love to see that spells, magic, and Ouija boards are being presented in a non-scary fashion and with incredible accuracy - so over dramatic visuals or sound effects. Just witchcraft and magic is it is still practiced by people of all background still today. <3
I've had this gripe with the other books as well, but in this one it was impossible to ignore. Mariah Stewart cannot write the voice of young women. All the dialogue sounds really out-dated and forced. The way Steffie and Vanessa hang out and coo over champagne and boys is unrealistic and couldn't pass the Bechdel test in its wildest dreams. Not to mention how, for a supposedly modern young woman, so many of her views are very old-fashioned and "traditional".
Wade seems kind of unrealistic in some ways too, but I do love the refreshing way she's written him as a man who cares deeply about the boy he's taken on as his son. You don't see many depictions anywhere in the media or fiction of men as nurturing and taking on the caretaker role, so I commend her for that.
To be truly honest, what really keeps stringing me along in this series are the little drops of magic, witchcraft, and spirit communication that weave these tales together. I love to see that spells, magic, and Ouija boards are being presented in a non-scary fashion and with incredible accuracy - so over dramatic visuals or sound effects. Just witchcraft and magic is it is still practiced by people of all background still today. <3
October 21, 2017
When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie's made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.
Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he's always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died--but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade's determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend's legacy--and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he's with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home
Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he's always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died--but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade's determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend's legacy--and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he's with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home
April 28, 2018
I love how characters from previous books have more than just cameo appearances in this series. There's also lots of foreshadowing of characters who you know are going to have their romantic story in a future book in the series. Since this is an older series, I like that I can just go from one book to the next without having to wait for the next book of the series to be published. There's lots of character development which is another reason I like this series. I find myself invested in the characters and am left with questions to still be answered at the end of each book. I'm motivated to keep reading.
May 10, 2023
Good read but the FMC, Stef, and her best friend Vanessa, acted quite childish at times. The first book in this series was better and Vanessa came off as a more pulled together grown-up. In this book she seemed like she was desperately trying to have the childhood she missed out on. Which was fine to a point then it just rang untrue and annoying. At times, FMC, forgot she was no longer the 17-year-old girl who had a crush on Wade and had grown-up and shouldn't be upset that he continued his life without her.
Other than that, the story was interesting and gave a great lead-in for the next installment.
Other than that, the story was interesting and gave a great lead-in for the next installment.
August 16, 2020
Unfortunately, I didn't love this book. I found it to be pretty dry and boring. It seemed like the little mystery aspect was thrown in there to add some intrigue to an otherwise completely plain read, but there was really nothing mysterious about it.
In my opinion, the one saving grace was the characters; not their personalities per se but the way they interacted with one another. I thought it was really well done, and I appreciated seeing how all the members of this little community were interconnected.
In my opinion, the one saving grace was the characters; not their personalities per se but the way they interacted with one another. I thought it was really well done, and I appreciated seeing how all the members of this little community were interconnected.
January 21, 2019
I love this series
The story finds us two New characters to fall in love with as well as finding out about the other characters that have been written about already. It feels so much like a family that you would want to live there. The characters have depth to them they're written beautifully and I love coming back to St Dennis. I'm on my third time reading this series and I love reading them all over again it's like coming home.
The story finds us two New characters to fall in love with as well as finding out about the other characters that have been written about already. It feels so much like a family that you would want to live there. The characters have depth to them they're written beautifully and I love coming back to St Dennis. I'm on my third time reading this series and I love reading them all over again it's like coming home.
January 21, 2021
I read this series, in order, over the past month or so, through the lonely holidays in 'Covid 19 world'. It is a wonderful series-- 12 books each with a lovely romance, some mystery and magic. The characters are great and each story has its own theme, if you will, which made them so interesting as new friends were introduced to others in their small town on the beautiful Chesapeake.
June 20, 2021
This is the 4th book I've read by Mariah Stewart in this series and #3 in the series. I really enjoy her writing, the characters, and the small town of St. Dennis. Every time after listening to it on audio, I say I am going to read the next one on my Kindle, maybe one of these days I will remember to.
September 5, 2017
Almost Home is another great read! Mariah Stewart is one of my favorite authors! I can't ever but her books down! Her books are an easy read and full of mystery and love! The characters in her books feel like they become my family and I live the story with them!
January 25, 2018
3.75-4 stars
Yet another great addition to this much loved (by me) series. It was a tad too long for its own good, and at times I wanted to knock some sense into Wade for missing some pretty obviously good choices, but still was a great story.
Yet another great addition to this much loved (by me) series. It was a tad too long for its own good, and at times I wanted to knock some sense into Wade for missing some pretty obviously good choices, but still was a great story.
January 21, 2020
Super cute love story! Had been awhile since I’d read the other books in this series and I just loved how immediately back at home I felt in St Dennis! So happy for Wade and Steffie. Can’t wait for my next trip back to the Bay.
January 6, 2026
The web of the small Chesapeake town gets more messy in this third book in the series. Watching Hollywood movie stars settle in and find their places outside of the spotlight is fun. New characters introduced have me wanting to read on.
February 9, 2026
This is a lovely romance story mainly about Steffie Wyler and Wade MacGregor. She has a three-step plan, now, if it will only come true. I love how Ms Stewart has all these wonderful couples interwoven into the story. A great read.
May 24, 2017
Another sweet story fro this series.
It follows more characters that connect with all the others to a nice reunion and more coming to terms with things and more falling in love.
It follows more characters that connect with all the others to a nice reunion and more coming to terms with things and more falling in love.
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