A Vineyard Christmas

Vineyard #1

by Jean Stone

In the midst of a Christmas A baby on the doorstep.
 
It’s taken a long time and a little heartache, but Annie Sutton is finally following her dream of living on Martha’s Vineyard. She fell in love with the island’s singular beauty while using it as a setting for two of her novels. In her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, she’s settling in for her first Vineyard winter—complete with a fierce nor’easter on the way, forecast to bring high winds and deep snow. But the blizzard also brings something unexpected to Annie’s front a basket, encircled by a ribbon, containing a baby girl. The note “I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can’t.”
 
Adopted as a child, Annie is grateful for wonderful parents who raised her as their own. Yet she also hopes to spare little Bella the feelings of abandonment that still haunt her. And so, rather than take the baby to the police, Annie decides to keep her and try to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind.
 
But it’s not easy keeping a secret in a close-knit, island community, especially amid the bustle of Christmas. Before the holiday ends, there will be revelations, rekindled hope, and proof that families—the ones we are born into and the ones we claim for ourselves—are the gifts that truly matter . . .

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Romance, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

311 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2018

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new to me author, Jean Stone I am glad I decided to try her book. The cover really drew me to the book, very appealing. A nor'easter blows in on Martha's Vineyard but 51 year old Annie Sutton has her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick and is satisfied making natural soaps with herbs she grows and finishing her latest book. A newcomer to the area the locals warm up to her and most of the people are off the island for winter. Only the diehards or is it the foolish that stay behind for an island winter. Living alone can be charming but a bit daunting since the island is minimally lit at night. What's beyond your porch light area, well who really knows and it's gets dark so early in winter. Relaxing one evening while a nor'easter is hitting Annie hears a scuffling on her porch and a soft mewing sound. Thinking it's an animal she goes out to help it only to be greeted by a basket with a baby on her porch. This childless woman doesn't know what to do, the island is impassible with the snow,so she brings it in only to find a note saying the mother would be back in a few days. Very intriguing book that really kept my attention. I read an excerpt from the author's next book releasing in July 2019 and I can't wait to read it. I will now look to see what else this previously unknown to me author has written. Great book!
Pub Date 25 Sep 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through Netgalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story about hope and regret!

This was a lovely Christmas book that can be read anytime of the year... martha’s Vineyard, a snowstorm, and a baby....

Annie is an author who has hunkered in on Martha’s Vineyard for the winter... The island seems like the perfect place to escape and write her next novel, but it is also very isolated... A few nights before Christmas she hears something outside... when she goes out to investigate she discovers a baby in a basket with a note pinned to it.... Annie is 50 and childless, but something draws her to this baby, and she decides to take care of her until the mother returns.... when a young woman’s body is pulled from the freezing ocean, she wonders if there’s some kind of connection?

This really is a book about Annielooking back at her life and dealing with her regrets... Annie was a wonderful character and I really felt empathetic towards her... I could really understand where she was coming from and why she made the choices she did... she had a past full of issues and regrets, as most of us do! There were also some unexpected twists and turns in the story just making it that much more interesting...

A wonderful winter read full of heart and hope, recommend!

*** many thanks to Kensington for my copy of this book ***

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the midst of a New England snowstorm a miracle and a mystery are delivered at once, changing the lives of several people on Martha’s Vineyard. Days before Christmas, as a nor’easter is hitting the Island, baby Bella is delivered to newcomer and childless 50-year-old Annie Sutton’s doorstep. The baby is accompanied with a note stating the mother will be back in a few days. But Christmas comes and goes and no-one has come back to claim the child. In the meantime, a young lady is rescued from the frigid waters of the Atlantic after plunging off a ferry. Could the two strange incidences be related? The pacing of the book is slow in order to thoroughly explore Annie’s past with all of its regrets, mistakes and heartaches. Although the mystery isn’t a suspenseful one, it takes you on several twists and turns nonetheless.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Vineyard Christmas is a great Christmas novel that has twists and turns, readers expecting the unexpected and touches your heart.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whow! Non so perché all'inizio avevo scartato questo libro, ma quando l'ho visto in offerta ho deciso di provare a leggerlo e non me ne pento. Mi è piaciuto tantissimo. Il mistero riguarda una neonata abbandonata sulla porta di casa della protagonista, quindi non è proprio esatto definirlo un cozy mystery, anche perché la parte più bella del libro è quella in cui si svela lentamente il passato della protagonista. Sul finale c'è anche una bella spruzzata di romance, il che non guasta. In generale devo dire che il libro mi ha commosso, ma è senza dubbio una delle migliori letture fatte negli ultimi mesi, forse in tutto l'anno.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Sutton, an author, has recently moved to a cozy cottage on Chappaquiddick and is preparing for her first winter on the island. There is a fierce nor'easter on the way, forecasting high winds and deep snow. As the blizzard is starting, someone places a basket, encircled by a ribbon, containing a baby girl. The note reads: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't." Annie thinks she knows who brought her there, but can she find out for sure? Will the mother return for her?

This is the second Christmas story I have read recently where a baby is left on someone's doorstep. I know it is fiction and it is a plot to move a story along with Christmas magic, but it does give me an uncomfortable feeling at times. Annie was adopted and still has feelings of abandonment, so she does not want little Bella to feel that as well. She wants to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind. Annie attempts to pass Bella off as a relative's child, but with one person knowing the truth, will others find out. Celebrating Christmas with a local family is a happy event, but Annie is always on guard. When a young girl jumps off the ferry, Annie is sure it is Bella's mother. She investigates what she knows, uses her inquiring skills and research to eventually give her a few clues. This is a mystery, family drama and Christmas story all rolled into one. I enjoyed the characters, setting and writing in A Vineyard Christmas and will look for others in this series. Narrator Alyssa Bresnahan has a pleasant voice and I enjoyed listening to her performance.

[Janet C-B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel about Anne Sutton, a 51 year old writer, who has recently relocated to Martha's Vineyard, an island off Cape Cod. In the midst of a nor'easter blizzard, an infant is left at her doorstep. The story centers on Anne, a childless woman, caring for the infant & the mystery of who left the baby on her step. There are a handful of characters who are well developed, diverse, and add authenticity to the setting. While the storyline was very improbable and I did not agree with many of Anne's decisions, I still enjoyed the book. I was not able to solve the mystery. I also appreciated that this book was not a thriller. There was some romance involved, but it was not over-the-top.
At Christmas, I rate books strictly on my level of enjoyment. I rate the novel 4 stars.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful feel good story that will warm your heart as a Christmas miracle lands on the doorstep of a woman at a crossroads in life. When a baby is left on her doorstep during a blizzard, Annie takes her in and doesn't call the police hoping to give the mother a chance to come to her senses and come back. This decision not only changes Annie's life but many others in the small town. The writing of this story is excellent and the character will touch your heart. This is a great holiday read and a book I definitely recommend.

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from Jean and I really enjoyed this and cannot wait to read more from her in the future. This was a good romance with plenty of mystery to keep and hold my interest. I really liked the characters they were very real and believable. This was a good interesting read and I enjoyed it.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet and heartwarming Christmas story with a beautiful Martha's Vineyard setting, a blizzard, and a baby left on the doorstep of Annie Sutton, an author who is having trouble coming up with ideas for her next novel. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Hallmark movies, you will enjoy this book because it reads just like a Hallmark movie. After a brief introduction to the main characters, the plot slowed down and I kept waiting for something happen. I kept reading and it eventually got much better! I liked the ending very much.

[Sharon N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Iiked it so much because it took place on Martha’s Vineyard in the off season - which is the only time I’ve been. Otherwise it was a cute strory. There was a mystery, romance and facing change. The writing was 4.5 stars. I will read more of her books.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Summary/Review was copied from other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any Personal Notations are for my recollection only.
**
Annie Sutton, an author, has recently moved to a cozy cottage on Chappaquiddick and is preparing for her first winter on the island. There is a fierce nor'easter on the way, forecasting high winds and deep snow. As the blizzard is starting, someone places a basket, encircled by a ribbon, containing a baby girl. The note reads: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't." Annie thinks she knows who brought her there, but can she find out for sure? Will the mother return for her?

This is the second Christmas story I have read recently where a baby is left on someone's doorstep. I know it is fiction and it is a plot to move a story along with Christmas magic, but it does give me an uncomfortable feeling at times. Annie was adopted and still has feelings of abandonment, so she does not want little Bella to feel that as well. She wants to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind. Annie attempts to pass Bella off as a relative's child, but with one person knowing the truth, will others find out. Celebrating Christmas with a local family is a happy event, but Annie is always on guard. When a young girl jumps off the ferry, Annie is sure it is Bella's mother. She investigates what she knows, uses her inquiring skills and research to eventually give her a few clues. This is a mystery, family drama and Christmas story all rolled into one.
**
In the midst of a New England snowstorm a miracle and a mystery are delivered at once, changing the lives of several people on Martha’s Vineyard. Days before Christmas, as a nor’easter is hitting the Island, baby Bella is delivered to newcomer and childless 50-year-old Annie Sutton’s doorstep. The baby is accompanied with a note stating the mother will be back in a few days. But Christmas comes and goes and no-one has come back to claim the child. In the meantime, a young lady is rescued from the frigid waters of the Atlantic after plunging off a ferry. Could the two strange incidences be related? The pacing of the book is slow in order to thoroughly explore Annie’s past with all of its regrets, mistakes and heartaches. Although the mystery isn’t a suspenseful one, it takes you on several twists and turns nonetheless.
**
A nor'easter blows in on Martha's Vineyard but 51 year old Annie Sutton has her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick and is satisfied making natural soaps with herbs she grows and finishing her latest book. A newcomer to the area the locals warm up to her and most of the people are off the island for winter. Only the diehards or is it the foolish that stay behind for an island winter. Living alone can be charming but a bit daunting since the island is minimally lit at night. What's beyond your porch light area, well who really knows and it's gets dark so early in winter. Relaxing one evening while a nor'easter is hitting Annie hears a scuffling on her porch and a soft mewing sound. Thinking it's an animal she goes out to help it only to be greeted by a basket with a baby on her porch. This childless woman doesn't know what to do, the island is impassible with the snow,so she brings it in only to find a note saying the mother would be back in a few days. Very intriguing book that really kept my attention
**
Epilogue
The weekend after New Year’s, Annie got around to taking down her Christmas tree. It had been a busy time: she’d helped Earl and Claire get Francine and Bella settled into their new home; she’d helped John get ready for his girls, who’d finally arrived the day before. She’d answered some e-mails and sent a HAPPY NEW YEAR post to her fans. She’d even called her editor to tell her that she was progressing. Best of all, she’d gotten back to work. She named her main characters Emma and Maggie. They were transparent clones of Annie and Murphy, even more than they’d been when she’d started. She channeled Murphy’s wit and wisdom throughout the pages—it was her way of sharing her friend with her readers, who surely had best friends that they loved, too. Best of all, it helped Annie feel that Murphy was still with her after all. Amazingly, Saturday was sunny and warm, almost sixty degrees. It was a perfect day to transport what remained of the blue spruce that had been decked out for Christmas up island to the beach. Winnie had told her that several beaches, like Lucy Vincent, had suffered loss and erosion during the blizzard; the used trees would help capture blowing sand and create new dunes. Pleased to learn that the infernal winds were at least good for something, Annie decided to contribute to the effort. She’d dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt that she’d picked up at Trader Fred’s—FAMOUS NAME-BRAND CLOTHING AND EVERYTHING ELSE!—in Edgartown last fall. She was wedging the tree into the trunk of the Lexus when the sound of tires on clamshells diverted her attention. She doubted it was Earl, because he rarely stopped by for coffee and cinnamon rolls on Saturdays now: his weekends were busy with Francine and Bella. Besides, the crunch-crunch sounded too light for a truck. With the last branch jammed into the car, Annie closed the lid—and saw that another Lexus had parked behind hers. That one, however, was a sports model. The sun flashed off the windshield so she wasn’t able to see who was behind the wheel. The license plate was from Massachusetts, but was without a special designation like the MARTHA’S VINEYARD ones that so many people, even Annie, had now. She started to walk toward the car when the driver’s door opened and a silver-haired woman got out. She was tall and slender, dressed in jeans, a cropped wool jacket, and boots. She slid her sunglasses up onto her head. And Annie knew right away who it was. “Donna?” she whispered. “Annie?” A long time ago, Annie had read that it was rare for individuals to truly see themselves in another person. The article had noted that a person hardly ever looked into a mirror and said, “Wow, I look just like Aunt Shirley,” or “Man, I look like Cousin Cindy.” But Annie didn’t need a mirror to know that, despite the hair color, she was the image of her birth mother. “God,” Donna said, “it’s really you.” “I look like you,” Annie said. Donna bit her lower lip. “Very much.” Annie laughed. “You drive a Lexus.” Donna laughed. “So do you.” Then they looked into each other’s eyes, the same hazel—not blue—eyes. One of them reached out first to hug the other: later they would not remember which one it had been. It didn’t matter. Mother and daughter were reunited—another circle connected, like the willow hoop of a Wampanoag dream catcher.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was a first time read for me and I was pleasantly surprised with the story. There were some groans at the decisions of the main character, Annie Sutton, but she justifies her decisions and you move ahead with her through the story, knowing this will come back to bite her at some point. If she were a real person, a friend, you would have sat her down and had a good talk with her. But that would have made a less interesting story. :)
Annie's life has had some hard hits and she's finally decided to move to the place she loves and writes about in her novels, Martha"s Vineyard. Its just before Christmas and there's a blizzard coming as well as an unexpected "gift" of a new born baby. All of Annie's actions from that moment forward are for the good of baby Bella. Having been adopted by a wonderful family herself, Annie wants to make the right choices for the baby. All of her actions are guided by her own life history and her desire to do the right things to protect Bella and her mother.
There are lots of surprising twists in this story about friendship, trust, love, and hope. A very enjoyable read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Annie Sutton, bestselling mystery writer, retreats to Martha’s Vineyard to try and get her writing mojo back, she quickly discovers that being a year round Vineyarder isn’t quite the same as being a summer visitor. Annie, who has come to the Vineyard with more emotional baggage than suitcases, finds herself suddenly weighted down with an infant literally left on her doorstep—in a blizzard. In the hands of a less talented writer, this scenario could have become trite and way too sappy. In Stone’s more than capable hands, the plot instead blossoms into a story that is part mystery—who left the baby and why on Annie’s particular doorstep?—and part a journey of self-discovery for Annie Sutton. Along the way Stone introduces us to characters that are deeply compelling, albeit quirky. There are far too many opportunistic writers using the Vineyard as a setting without having the least sense of place, but Jean Stone isn’t one of them and her story reflects that authenticity.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Sutton, a successful author, has come to Martha's Vineyard to regroup after the death of a dear friend. As she settles in for her first winter o the island, Annie takes up soap making and begins to make friends. Expecting a simple winter focusing on the beauty of the island, Annie finds everything changes when she finds an infant in a basket on her steps. Knowing she should inform the police, Annie (herself an adoptee) makes the decision to pass the baby Bella off as a niece's. Meanwhile she searches for the mother, hoping to give mother and child a second chance. This novel offers a plot with twists, colorful characters, and plenty of island charm. This book was chosen for the online Farmgirl Bookclub.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie, a writer, moves to the Vineyard after her second husband disappears leaving her with a ton of debt. She's looking to start over making a new life for herself. Shortly before Christmas, a blizzard hits the island. And an abandoned baby appears on Annie's doorstep. How far would you go to protect an innocent child and discover what you've been hiding from for so long? A wonderful, heartfelt story of second chances, friendships and moving on.

[Cnelsonquilt · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started with what appeared to be a strong female character and went down hill from there. There was a lot of repetition about the fact she had been adopted and what felt like self-pity even though she repeatedly said she had wonderful parents. She also spent a lot of time chasing fantasy leads that she conjured up without any basis except her own conjectures. There were much more practical and direct methods. Very wishy washy

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Can't wait for the next installment. One of the best I read all year. Didn't move too slowly. Moved at the pace it needed to in order to tell the story. Loved the setting and the characters. See lots of possibilities here with many happy stories to come. Hope Jean Stone keeps up the fantastic work.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Vineyard Christmas," by Jean Stone, is a beautifully written novel set in Martha's Vineyard in the lead up to, and days following Christmas. The holiday is not a focus of the novel, but using that a time frame allowed the author to write about a nor'easter that closed things down on the Vineyard for those who were brave enough to be there during a storm. Only locals seem to be there that time of year, and many homes are locked up til spring or summer. Annie Sutton, who was widowed when barely more than a newlywed, decades earlier, and then divorced from a controlling and lousy man who was controlling and deceitful, moved to the area not so long ago, and is renting a cottage, where she makes soap and writes novels. As the storm approaches, Annie hears small cries from her porch, and thinking it is an injured animal, she opens her door only to find a basket, adorned with a red bow, and inhabited by an infant. There is a note on the basket, telling her that the baby's name is Bella, and asking her to take care of the child for a few days until the mother can return. She cannot leave this young baby out in a storm, so she brings her inside, grateful that some supplies were left for her as well- some formula and enough diapers for two days.
Annie had longed to be a mother. She and her first husband hoped to start a family someday, but their marriage was brand new when he was killed in an accident. Her second husband continually told her the time was not right, but she was not getting any younger, and so longed to have a child. Now she is childless at 50, and little Bella has filled a void. I was so touched by the little stuffed lamb Annie made for Bella, from flannel she found in her rental cottage, and fleece from an old jacket.
With daylight and the cessation of the storm, Annie knows she should call the police, and try to find the mother of the baby. A young woman seems to be watching the cottage, and when Annie leaves with the baby to speak to someone she trusted about what to do, the young woman enters the cottage, steals food, and does not hide that she was there. She had left a note telling Annie that the baby's name is Bella, named for the mother's grandmother. How many women named Bella were there on the Vineyard? Trying to find the mother that way seemed nearly impossible.
A few of the locals take Annie under their wing, and they try to unravel the mystery of this baby in a basket. Some are not as kind to Annie, do not trust her, and seem want to undermine her. A vast majority of the novel is spent trying to figure out the identity of Bella's mother, and then the birthfather as well. There was a real twist in the last quarter of the book, though I did figure that out (the father's identity) before it was spelled out for us.
Along the way, a police sergeant becomes involved as well, and he and Annie clearly have a spark, but she is not honest with him, fearing he will take the baby and enter her into the foster care system. Since Annie was abandoned as a baby, and did not find out the identity of her birthmother until decades later, she does not want Bella to know anything but love. Annie did have wonderful parents, and wishes she could be a wonderful parent to Bella, as well, but the legalities of that, and knowing the mother had to be nearby, seemed to make this dream impossible.
I listened to the audiobook, and it definitely held my attention. Jean Stone writes beautifully. The book is definitely not light fluff, and it was light on romance, but the characters are well developed, and the mystery is slowly, and cleverly laid out. "A Vineyard Christmas "s the first in a series by Stone, and I will definitely be reading the other books. This one can absolutely stand alone.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

A Vineyard Christmas is one of those stories that will have you blanketed in feelings… on more than one level. It’s full of Christmas-y good feels as well as a surprising discovery, a bit of a mystery, a look back at the past and a glimpse of what the future may hold. I enjoyed myself very much, and I believe you would as well.

Successful author, Annie Sutton, has managed to fulfill a closely held dream of living on Martha’s Vineyard. And while the road to her cozy rented cottage might have taken a while, and not a few tears along the way to make her dream a reality, now she can sit back enjoy the Christmas season and get ready for her first official blizzard on the island. The last thing Annie would have ever expected was to discover a baby in a basket on her porch as the nor’easter bore down on them.

I was easily drawn into A Vineyard Christmas. Yes, in reality Annie should have contacted the police, yet I understood why, with her history, she decided not to. I never got the impression that was an easy decision, but one that felt right in the circumstances. With memories swirling, life long regrets at the forefront of her mind and determination, Annie set out to do the best for Bella even if it was far from logical. The result is a charming, heartwarming novel that will produce a few tears, a few chuckles, an adorable baby and a community that cares… because it’s impossible to keep a baby a secret for long. Add a touch of mystery into the mix and you have a story to fall into in front of a warm fireplace that will completely entertain you… and maybe have you wondering what you would have done differently.

A Vineyard Christmas is a well written, smooth novel with characters that come alive on the page. You’ll be emotionally involved, and that is definitely a good thing. I enjoyed myself in this world and would recommend this one to just about any reader who can see that love is always the most important gift of all.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Nelia Madeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

You get so much from this book, Christmas magic, a baby's love, a mystery, an island community, love and did I say magic? It's all wrapped in this little Christmas book.

Once I read that this book was taking place in Martha's Vineyard, I was sold and then it was taking place during Christmas and I mean, come on, what else could I ask for more. I live in MA, so the Vineyard is magic already during the summer so to read something about it during Christmas, give it to me.

So, Annie Sutton is a writer (bonus points lol) and has always dreamed of living on Martha's Vineyard. So when she has basically lost everyone and everything in her life she finally makes the final leap and moves to the island. She has always loved the beauty of the island and now she is ready to spend her first winter there on her cozy rented cottage. Of course, there is a nor'easter on the way, forecasting high winds and deep snow. But Annie is prepared for the blizzard, she goes into town to get ready even buying a Christmas tree. But, with the blizzard she gets the biggest surprise of all, someone drops a basket, encircled by a ribbon and a baby girl inside it. With a note attached: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't."

Because Annie was adopted as a child, she starts to get attached to Bella in a new level of connection. She decides to keep the baby and find out who left her at her door step instead of handing her over to the police.

Because of this decision we get to see how a island community gets involved and how this mystery can lead to a lot more than Annie was hoping for. It's a Christmas that she will never forget.

This book is such a quick and fast paced read, one that you cannot put it down because you want to find out who little Bella's mother is. And you will try to connect the pieces together, that is until things will take a turn that you never saw it coming. Ah it was a lovely read, one that I still think about it today. And I'm so happy that there is more to Annie's story than this. I'm sure to continue with it.

5 out of 5 stars for sure.

[Deanna Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me

This book has some good reviews but it wasn’t for me. I decided to get it and read because I was part way through book 2 and decided to read book 1 first. Wish I hadn’t bothered.skipped a lot long drawn out pages. The mystery wasn’t bad but went on forever, did not see the ending though I have to admit. Annie sure gets a lot of bangs that wake her in the night (plus already had some in book 2). Here’s what I didn’t like.
Editing error, I think she was writing so fast at times she forgot who was in the room etc. or who knew what. It was messy with the 2 generations of Isabella.
I’m not a fan of swearing and definitely not of blasphemy.
Did not like the character of Annie in this book. She was stubborn, wildly imaginative and emotional, and could not stop meddling in the case and not telling the police. I’m already liking the 2nd book better so far but we’ll see how it goes.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to me author and a new series set on Martha's Vineyard.

Annie Sutton, in her early 50's, has moved to the island after her husband went missing, leaving her owing a lot of money. She started writing books, which fortunately helped her clear her debt. She decided to do what her best friend, Murphy, had been wanting her to do before she passed away, and move to the island and start a new life. She's now making soaps and writing when she can!

She receives a late night visitor nearing Christmas, who left her a basket with a note inside the basket was baby Bella. Annie, having been adopted herself, wanted to give the baby a chance, so she sets about trying to find her mother, with surprising results!

I really enjoyed this book, and I can tell it's going to be a series I will like more and more. Ideal for fans of Debbie Macomber,xs work.

[Kav · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5ish

This one is kind of hard for me to rate. Loved the setting and 'baby left at the doorstep' is always an interesting angle to centre a story around. And this one was done well, with some interesting and unexpected twists along the way. I guess I just had some issues with some of the decisions Annie made. I feel like a mature woman (she's fifty) would have had more sense of responsibility. I get that her backstory definitely coloured her point of view, and that worked for me in the beginning, but as things got more complicated...well, I just wanted to purse whomp some sense into her. :-) There's also a bit of coarse language throughout. Overall, it's a heartwarming story though, with some great secondary characters -- even a light romance (kinda came on super fast at the very end.)

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Jean Stone. I love the setting of Martha's Vineyard and the main character Annie Sutton. Her backstory was intriguing and made the story more interesting to me. I liked the secondary characters as well and liked learning about them. Annie, a novelist, is working on her latest book and has recently moved to Martha's Vineyard from Boston. Annie finds a package on her door step in the middle of a blizzard and doesn't know what to do. It seems like something that she would write about, but it's easier writing about it than living it. This story was filled with twists and turns and had an interesting ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars
I started reading this but set it aside because it felt fairly predictable. When I returned, I was more invested in the characters but could still tell what was going to happen before it did. I would like less of this predictabilility and for the progression to feel a bit more organic if that makes sense. You knew they would get together but the quickness to have sex doesn't leave me feeling like this relationship will last. there wasn't enough attraction or tension in the writing so I thought "Oh! They are shedding clothes now." The focus seems to be on helping Francine and Bella which I really like but the budding relationship (?) between Alice and John kept butting in. I can't tell which means more to Alice and this confuses and bothers me.

[Holly Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story

This book was a good read with a very unpredictable ending. I only gave it 3 stars because it frustrated me that the other characters constantly was angry with the main character for not turning the doorstep baby into the police. Unnecessary considering note was left leaving baby too her. Other characters were very rude/mean to her for no reason. In my opinion these parts should not have been in this book. I think after they "finally" decided to be nice to her, I would have smiled and left Martha's Vineyard , liking it there or not. She did the right thing all along and can find nicer people on another island .

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Jean Stone does it again writing about the Vineyard and this time the setting is my beloved Chappy. Best part - it's going to be a 3 book series according to when I saw her in October doing a reading at B&N. Next one, A Vineyard Summer with same main character, Annie Sutton, comes out in July of 2019. Can't wait! Jean now writes with authenticity as she is a full time Vineyard resident. Names of streets, locations and destinations on the Vineyard all accurate. I could relate to this one like no other of hers set on MV. Great Christmas read "in the books" for 2018!