Bold, brash, Irish--Brodie Monaghan's been breaking hearts ever since he arrived in Maine to rebuild the family business. Still, there's one woman he just can't wow. Grace Maddox claims she's now part owner of Monaghan Shipbuilders, and she has her own dreams for the weathered dockside buildings. Tiny Blueberry Cove has a way of welcoming strangers with wide open arms, but is the sleepy coastal village ready for the fireworks these two spark?
DIY is so much better with two. . .
Includes an easy do-it-yourself restoration project!
"Humor, heart, and characters you wish lived next door." –Mariah Stewart
USA Today bestseller and award winning author of the Cupcake Club series and the Blueberry Cove series, DONNA KAUFFMAN has been gratified to see her books get rave reviews in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, where she is happily working on the next book in her brand new Blue Hollow Falls series, set right in her mountain home area. When she's not writing, she can be found recapping the popular tv show NCIS for USA Today, or escaping into her garden to play in the dirt. Donna also works as a volunteer wildlife transporter for two local sanctuaries, giving orphaned and injured wildlife a second chance at survival. You can catch up on all of her adventures via her author page on Facebook, or on Twitter, or Instagram @writerchick. Donna loves to hear from readers!
Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.
This is how you write a romance. The setting, the setup, the banter, the falling and oh boy, the sex.
I loved all of it.
Brodie is just a dream come true and I love that his "more", Grace, was just perfect for him. No nonsense. No drama. Their give and take was so fun to watch and I loved that there was just no real drama between them.
There are a lot of words in these stories. A lot of words that are thoughts, but the thoughts are so well written and just develop the characters. I think we live in a world of shorter, quicker reads and I really can't complain about the more here. It made me relax and just go with it instead of chasing the end. I did chase the end though and stayed up way, way past my bedtime on a Sunday night.
I'm on a mission to mix up my reads but honestly, I think I might jump right to the next in this series and get back to the mixing in a bit. I'm really enjoying being in Blueberry Cove and the ages of the next couple really appeal to me so I think I'm going to jump in.
Terrific book about two people who come to Maine, making significant changes in their lives. I loved the small town, coastal Maine setting, and the colorful residents of Blueberry Cove.
Brodie left his home and large family in Ireland a year ago. He wasn't interested in following the family tradition of pub and inn owners. His heart was set on the older boat-building tradition and revitalizing the long-defunct shipyard in Maine. After securing possession of the docks and two boathouses, he splits his time between building and selling boats and restoring the boathouses. He needs the boat sales to earn money to pay the back taxes on the other boathouses. It's a slow process, and that slowness bites him in the butt when he loses one of the boathouses to another newcomer.
Grace was a successful estate attorney in DC when she realized she wasn't happy any longer. After years of witnessing the horrible ways families treated each other regarding wills and estates, she is determined to repair her relationship with her much older and estranged brother, Ford. She takes her sudden desire to build and run an inn to the tiny Maine town where Ford now lives. There she purchases a boathouse she intends to remodel into a high-end inn. She never dreamed that the real estate agent who sold it to her had an agenda of her own.
I loved the first meeting between Brodie and Grace. He's awakened by the sound of her cussing and her little dog (Whomper) barking. When he goes out to see what is going on, he's stunned to find out Grace claims to own one of his boathouses. Understandably angry and confused, he still can't help being a charming Irish gentleman and helping Grace with her current problem - a dead-fish-covered pup who shared the stench with her. Grace's reaction to all of that Irish charm is predictable, and the sparks between them are undeniable. I ached for Brodie as he realized that the sale of the boathouse was legal though extremely underhanded, thanks to a woman whose advances he'd rejected and who used his boathouse to get even.
I loved that Brodie and Grace quickly accepted that they couldn't change the circumstances, but they could control how they dealt with them. Though they started as adversaries, it didn't take long for them to become friends, visiting back and forth between their two properties. Brodie was smitten with Grace from the very beginning and wanted to do anything he could to help and protect her. Grace was a little warier but rapidly found herself leaning on Brodie and depending on his support when her belief in herself wavered. The attraction between them also continued to build until they could no longer resist it, bringing them even closer.
In addition to their developing relationship, Brodie and Grace also had to deal with small-town politics and personalities. The real estate agent who sold the boathouse to Grace, Cami Weathersby, is also married to a town council member and is the daughter of the richest man in town. So when she wanted to get even with Brodie for his rejection, she knew exactly how to do it. Cami and her privileged attitude were very easy to dislike, especially her refusal to give up her pursuit of Brodie. Complicating matters was her father's plan to have Brodie build a four-masted schooner that Mr. Winstock plans to use to bring tourists to town. He also wants to make Brodie's largest boathouse into a yacht club. The negotiations between Brodie and Winstock were very interesting, especially when it came to Cami (eww). It all came to a head when Cami made another play for Brodie in front of Grace. I laughed out loud at Brodie's deer-in-the-headlights look and cheered when Grace took action to rescue him. It also precipitated unplanned talk of feelings in a fun "after-action" conversation.
Another storyline in the book is Grace's plan to reunite with her brother Ford. After her mother's death and Ford's joining the military, her life was not an easy one and made her leery of sharing her heart. I ached for both of them as they grew further apart until Ford stopped visiting altogether. Grace's feelings of abandonment lasted for a long time. I liked her story of how she decided to find Ford and reconnect with him. I understood why she kept putting off that meeting once she arrived, worried about his reaction and what she would do. I loved when she finally worked up the courage. That scene was emotional, nerve-wracking, and ultimately satisfying. It was a good start, and I was happy to see a little more progress by the end of the book.
I enjoyed seeing the various secondary characters. Fergus, the pub owner, was fun with his grumpy commentary during Brodie's visit. He's also one of two gossip-masters in town, the other being Delia, the diner owner. Delia has an interesting backstory with Ford. I liked how she connected with Grace and the rapid progression of their friendship. I especially enjoyed their conversation on Brodie's boat near the end of the book. The other fascinating character was Grace's friend Langston, the architect. He was a terrific friend to her while also being an over-the-top illustration of an eccentric artist. His conversations with Grace were always fun yet filled with wise advice. His flirtatious ways were a riot to watch, and I loved the scene at the end with Delia.
This is set in the town of Blueberry Cove in Maine. A wharf called Half Moon Harbor is the focus. I liked the well described setting.
A young woman new to town has waded right in and bought a historic boathouse although I could not see how she would do that without a man who lives on the wharf noticing. After all she'd need to visit it, get it surveyed and so on before investing her hard earned money. She's a lawyer. Anyway the man living in a boat house on the wharf thinks he owns all the wharf - the council put one building up for sale to pay back taxes. Again, a lawyer would want to get all this established before buying. She intends to open a historic inn. I am not sure if she'd applied for planning permission for a change of use, but the grumpy boat builder is none too happy.
This boat builder is called Brodie, a Scottish surname for his first name, but strangely he is Irish. I live in Ireland and I have yet to meet an Irishman named Brodie, though it's possible they exist. I also found the introductory scene too drawn out with too many forced excuses for the lady to look at a towel-clad man, get her clothes dirty, have to go upstairs and wash up, see a towel-clad man... yes.
The story is interesting with some good characters locally; however the author has chosen to write this consisting almost entirely of conversations and no action. Nobody sits down to enjoy a meal of famous Maine seafood - perhaps this is because the fishermen say they are all catching eels to sell to China.
So the book is a mixed bag for me with good and bad points.
I really had a hard time with this book. I really like Brodie and Grace and thought that they made a cute couple. I thought the book was a little wordy and I found myself skipping paragraphs and skimming over pages just to get to a part that would catch my interest. In all honesty, I really didn’t get captivated until about 60% into the book when everything between Brodie and Grace really started taking place.
Brodie: Irish, HOT and would definitely do anything to take care of Grace and protect her. His feelings for her show from the very beginning. I loved how he was so open and honest.
Grace: Ex-Estate lawyer, Inn Owner, and wanting to rekindle her relationship with her brother. She is starting over in every aspect of her life and is drawn to Brodie from their very first meeting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Blueberry Cove is a neat little town. Grace and Bodie's story caught me right away. I am looking forward to seeing how her brother, Ford's, story unfolds.
#2 of Bachelors of Blueberry Cove Series. Brodie Monaghan left all his family in County Donegal, Ireland and came to Blueberry Cove in Half Moon Harbor to revive the long abandoned shipyards buildings and docks his ancestors had built in the early 1700s. He was working hard to custom build a sloop, when the far end shipyard building is sold out from under him for back taxes. The purchaser is Grace Maddox, former, very successful estate lawyer in Washington, D.C. who plans to turn the old boathouse into an inn. She is drawn to this spot in Maine, because it is the last known residence of her much older, estranged brother, Ford, who had enlisted and left her to foster homes years before. Social prominent and married Real estate agent Cami Weathersby has engineered the sale without Brodie’s knowledge to get back at him for spurning her advances. A lot of politics, kindly village interactions and secrets, the prospect of building a four masted tall ship, and building relationships the include very hot physical and emotional attractions in two people not easily given to trust others. A good, satisfying beach read with appealing protagonists. Sequel to Pelican Point. Followed by Sandpiper Island and Under a Firefly Moon.
Half Moon Harbor follows the adorable, laugh-out-loud romance between Brodie Monaghan, resident flirt and ship builder, and Grace Maddox, ex-lawyer who just moved to Maine to run a boathouse inn and rekindle her relationship with her brother, Ford.
I was surprised by how tough it was for me to get into this book. As a loyal fan to the series, I think the first few chapters would have been better with the charming townsfolk incorporated, or at least a change of scenery, rather than having it all take place on the docks and Brodie’s boathouse. I was getting claustrophobic after a while!
Grace’s personality was easy to love, especially after a certain scene with Cami. Brodie is not only charming, but kind and understanding. My true favorite character is Delia, who stole my heart in the previous book, and I wish she’d been incorporated into Grace and Brodie’s love story earlier. I am eager to learn more about her and the mysterious Ford in the next book.
If you're familiar with Donna Kaufman stories, well, this is another one. An enjoyable read with nothing to make it stick in your mind afterward, the story is a personal-growth-brings-happy-ending type. And while I liked the story, the narration (Audible Books) by Lauren Fortang bothered me. Male main character Brodie is Irish, but the rendition of his accent is haphazard, at times giving a hint of American South. Other males' voices have traits typically heard when rendered by a woman: gravelly, almost whispery, none of them convey the power and confidence that these men possess. Main character Grace's friend Delia always sounds like she's speaking seductively to a man she's in bed with, even when it's a heart-wrenching conversation with Grace about sorrowful secrets. Kudos to Ms. Fortang, though, for making the villainess so hatable by her voice alone. I hadn't listened to her speaking for more than a couple of sentences before I was ready to wring her neck and push her off a dock.
This is Grace Maddox and Brodie Monaghan's story. Brodie is still brooding over the girl who got away, when Grace enters his life, having bought up one of the boathouses he wants. She's planning on turning it into an inn. Brodie is dealing with that, plus his attraction to Grace, as well as fighting off the realtor who sold Grace the boathouse. Small town gossip and politics come into play, as well as why Grace really came to Blueberry Cove.
I love Kauffman's books, but one thing drove me nuts - Brodie's Irish brogue. It came off as so put on and fake, as if he was doing it to impress everyone with how Irish he was, or what he thought they wanted to hear, rather than natural, and it read more as a Scottish brogue.
Nice story. Heroine buys property in a tax sale the hero thought of as his, to redo into an inn on the other end of the docks from his shipbuilding business. She's trying to rebuild her life after deciding she doesn't want to be a lawyer anymore and wants to reconnect with the brother she lost track of years ago. He lives in the small town and runs a bird research project in summer. There's a wicked femme fatale who's mad at the hero for turning her down and maneuvered the boathouse sale without the hero knowing. And there's a lot of self-doubt on the heroine's part about taking the love plunge. I enjoyed it.
Great addition to the series. Grace is on a mission that has her relocating to the cove and starting a new career. What she doesn't know is that her being able to buy the decrepit boathouse put her in an awkward situation.
Brody moved to the cove last year with one goal-bring back the family name and boat building to Blueberry Cove. He is a talented boat builder but he can't build them fast enough to save some of his family's land. Even worse he didn't know it happened until Grace showed up.
Drama is increasing in Blueberry Cove and Grace and Brody are stuck right in the middle of it. Together they will survive. Falling in love will make it even better.
I love how this story ended. It tackles not just about love for your significant other but also your love for your family and I love how things ended up between Grace and Ford's relationship. Ford might not show it, but Grace know he loved her so much even if they've grown apart from each other. I mean he keeps track of all of her achievements, that a big step for him, showing that he still have that love for her.
Brodie and Grace has that wonderful chemistry too. Being with her through those steps not pushing and pressuring her to open up about her family issue but still being there when she needed a shoulder to cry on. His just that ideal boyfriend that you wish we all have .. 🤧🤧
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Bachelors of Blueberry Cove #3 I read the spinoff series – Brides of Blueberry Cove – before discovering this series, which is actually its predecessor. Had I known I would've read them in the correct order. These are fun and enjoyable reads. Nothing too heavy, and eventually they all get their happily ever after… Though it may not be the one they initially thought they'd get.
I'd also like to say that even though these books will not go on my reread shelf, they were still worth the read. Enjoy!
This book was a brilliant fantastic fabulous book to read I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading books and loves reading a book you can’t put down.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading books with brilliant fantastic fabulous story and loves reading a fabulous fantastic book. And when you are reading the book it makes be in the book while you reading the book. And to escape some were while you reading the book.
Brodie Monaghan is rebuilding his family's shipbuilding business in Blueberry Cove and is gradually reclaiming the boathouses that have to be redeemed from back taxes. He is shocked when he finds out that Grace Maddox has bought one and intends to turn it into an inn. However, Brodie finds himself attracted to the lovely hardworking woman and she comes to know him as more than the local heartbreaker he is rumored to be.
Once again so much more could have actually happened. Everything is described and discussed in far greater detail than needs. Was tempted to skip through some parts. However the setting and ongoing storyline has me hooked as on to the next one.
I love this series. This was a great book about Brodie who is a ship builder meeting Grace when she bought some of his family property when he couldn't pay the taxes.
This is the second in the Bachelors of Blueberry Cove and like the Brides and other Bachelors books I quite enjoyed it and all of the different characters. I did read the series is the wrong order as the Bachelors series comes first.
I really enjoyed this book. Brodie and Grace made the perfect couple. I will read more of Donna's books. They were interesting and plot driven. I'm glad everything worked out in the end. I hope Cami gets what's coming to her. She's a snake.
Enjoyable. A bit convoluted with town politics. I had read a later book In the series, so I was somewhat familiar with the political aspects, but still a bit over-detailed and dramatic.
I just couldn’t with this. Maybe I read/listened to too many Donna Kauffman novels in a row? Maybe I’ll get back to it someday. Maybe the next time I’m in the mood for a small town romance. Maybe.
Grace is an Estate lawyer who quit her job and bought an old boathouse which she plans to turn into an inn. She bought the property in a small town near where her estranged brother lives, hoping they can re-connect. The boathouse belonged to Brodie but he didn't know it was being sold by the town for back taxes until he meets Grace at the boathouse. Not a good start to their relationship but they are attracted to each other right away. Brodie is an Irish hunk who is very kind and would do anything for anybody, even Grace.
Brodie is a great guy and I really like how honest and open he is. His relaxed manner of accepting everything that happens without worrying about it is refreshing. On the other hand, Grace is too obsessed with Brodie's looks and wanting sex with him in the first half of the book. It makes her look none too smart. Also, I don't like Grace because of the way she handles her life. Who would buy an old boathouse in a small town to turn it into an inn? Just because her estranged brother lives in the town - somewhere, especially when she doesn't even know if he will see her. Cami is a great addition to the cast. She is so mean, and wants revenge on Brodie, that you just have to hate her.
I thought a lot of the descriptions went on much longer than necessary for the story. The ending didn't wrap everything up as clearly as I would have liked so I still had questions at the end. I am glad to see that many others enjoyed this book and this author but wonder what I missed since I didn't love this book.
Please note, I won Half Moon Harbor in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.
There is so much about this book to like...small, coastal town in Maine, a historic ship building history and a woman who has up and turned her life upside down to move to this small town to build and run an Inn while trying to reconnect with her brother. Even better, the gorgeous man next door with the Irish accent. The book started out strong for me...there was humor, romantic tension and a wacky dog. Unfortunately, as the book kept going, I started to get a little bored. The story was well-written and the romance was top-notch, but I found that our characters had it just a little to easy. Brodie is pretty much perfect and Grace is also, pretty much perfect, aside from some trust issues...which didn't really cause any real drama. I like to see my characters with a few more flaws and quirks to overcome...this book was just sweet start to finish. Which is not bad, it just didn't drive to me fly through the book as I normally would. I did enjoy the side story with Grace and her brother, Ford, and what really piqued my interest, specifically, was the relationship between Delia and Ford. Now there is a story I want to read...and lucky for us, the next book in this story is going to give us their story. I, for one, can't wait. This book was a nice introduction to the town for me, but Ford and Delia are the people who are making me excited to return to Blueberry Cove.
I received an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This is not the kind of book I usually read, but I am game to give it a try. I read a lot of romances as a teenager and young woman, but as I grew older I veered into horror, mystery, scifi. But as a huge once-fan of Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt, I am hoping to find some of what made them so great in the romances being written today.
Time will tell. I am starting Book #1 first.
Oh my goodness, I am a few chapters into this book. The characters are well-written; there is a story developing, but there is so much description and repetition of the same facts, over and over. And the story seems quite wholesome until suddenly a female character meets a man who - well I guess he sort of lights her fire. So you go from hey, nice story, even pacing and then lengthy descriptions of his body?
I grant, I haven't read a romance in many years, but I'm game.
Added today, May 7: Well, I tried both Books 1 and 2 in this series. I read at diff. times of day, in diff. locations but I just could not get into either story. A good writer and I know many enjoy her books. Just not me. And I really, really tried!
I received a copy of this book through the goodreads giveaway program.