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Cedar Key #1
Spinning Forward
In a debut novel brimming with warmth and wit, Terri DuLong spins a tale of new beginnings, old friends, and lives forever bound. . .
A New Englander born and bred, the last place Sydney Webster expects to find herself starting over is on an island off the coast of Florida. Yet here she is in Cedar Key, trying to pull herself together after her husband's untimely death--and the even more untimely revelation of his gambling addiction. Bereft of her comfortable suburban life, Syd takes shelter at a college pal's bed and breakfast, where amidst the bougainvillea blossoms and the island's gentle rhythms, a plan begins to form. . .
Syd never considered the possibility of turning her passion for spinning and knitting into something more than a hobby, but when the unique composition of her wool draws attention, a door is opened--the first among many. Yet even as she ventures out of her comfort zone, Syd finds herself stepping into the embrace of a community rich with love, laughter, friendship. . .and secrets. And as long-hidden truths are revealed, Syd faces a choice: spin a safety net--or spin decidedly forward and never look back. . .
A New Englander born and bred, the last place Sydney Webster expects to find herself starting over is on an island off the coast of Florida. Yet here she is in Cedar Key, trying to pull herself together after her husband's untimely death--and the even more untimely revelation of his gambling addiction. Bereft of her comfortable suburban life, Syd takes shelter at a college pal's bed and breakfast, where amidst the bougainvillea blossoms and the island's gentle rhythms, a plan begins to form. . .
Syd never considered the possibility of turning her passion for spinning and knitting into something more than a hobby, but when the unique composition of her wool draws attention, a door is opened--the first among many. Yet even as she ventures out of her comfort zone, Syd finds herself stepping into the embrace of a community rich with love, laughter, friendship. . .and secrets. And as long-hidden truths are revealed, Syd faces a choice: spin a safety net--or spin decidedly forward and never look back. . .
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
174 people are currently reading
1941 people want to read
About the author
Terri DuLong
29 books227 followersNY Times & USA Today bestselling author of the Cedar Key Series. Debut novel, Lost Souls of the Witches' Castle, was released by a small press in 2002. Based on the mental facility north of Boston where I did my Psychiatric RN training, it weaves the story of a love both past and present. Since the press closed, Lost Souls is no longer in print, but is now available in eBook on both Kindle and Nook.
Daughters of the Mill is a prequel to Lost Souls and focuses on the Mill girls in Lowell, Massachusetts and the lack of women's rights in that era. Also now available in Kindle and Nook.
On Feb. 26, 2008 I signed a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing in NYC. My first novel, SPINNING FORWARD, also women's fiction, was released October 27, 2009. CASTING ABOUT, book 2 in the Cedar Key Series was released Oct. 26, 2010, along with my Christmas novella, A CEDAR KEY CHRISTMAS, in the anthology, HOLIDAY MAGIC, with Fern Michaels headlining.
Book 3, SUNRISE ON CEDAR KEY hit bookshelves October 2011 and Book 4, POSTCARDS FROM CEDAR KEY, was released October 30, 2012. Book 5, SECRETS ON CEDAR KEY will be released Nov. 26, 2013 and book 6 in 2014.
I'm originally from the Boston area, but have resided in Florida for 26 years. Eight years ago we relocated to Cedar Key (the setting for my novels) off the west coast.
Daughters of the Mill is a prequel to Lost Souls and focuses on the Mill girls in Lowell, Massachusetts and the lack of women's rights in that era. Also now available in Kindle and Nook.
On Feb. 26, 2008 I signed a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing in NYC. My first novel, SPINNING FORWARD, also women's fiction, was released October 27, 2009. CASTING ABOUT, book 2 in the Cedar Key Series was released Oct. 26, 2010, along with my Christmas novella, A CEDAR KEY CHRISTMAS, in the anthology, HOLIDAY MAGIC, with Fern Michaels headlining.
Book 3, SUNRISE ON CEDAR KEY hit bookshelves October 2011 and Book 4, POSTCARDS FROM CEDAR KEY, was released October 30, 2012. Book 5, SECRETS ON CEDAR KEY will be released Nov. 26, 2013 and book 6 in 2014.
I'm originally from the Boston area, but have resided in Florida for 26 years. Eight years ago we relocated to Cedar Key (the setting for my novels) off the west coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
August 20, 2010
Yes, I read the whole book. I wish I had spent my time doing almost anything else.
Two things, among a multitude of bits that annoyed me, stood out in particular. One is the sentence "Thank God this was the shipment of my worsted yarn and not the alpacas and cashmere." Umm... worsted is a yarn weight and alpaca and cashmere are yarn fibers. Either can be worsted, and worsted can be made of just about any fiber.
The other, and much more annoying bit was a scene where the main character, an adoptee in search of her birth mother, mentions to a friend (the sister of whom they both suspect could be the birth mother)that she was blood type AB.
""And what blood type is Sybile?"
After what felt like hours, I heard her say, "She's also Type AB"" If it was a movie there would have been very dramatic music at that point.
Short (and simplified)bio lesson... you get one basic blood type gene from your mom and one from your dad. A daughter with blood type AB does NOT get both the A and the B from the mother... unless she's a clone.
Did anyone edit this thing?
Few of the characters were likable. Most were caricatures. None were memorable.
After finishing the book I encountered several pages of discussion questions. Delusions of literature?
Two things, among a multitude of bits that annoyed me, stood out in particular. One is the sentence "Thank God this was the shipment of my worsted yarn and not the alpacas and cashmere." Umm... worsted is a yarn weight and alpaca and cashmere are yarn fibers. Either can be worsted, and worsted can be made of just about any fiber.
The other, and much more annoying bit was a scene where the main character, an adoptee in search of her birth mother, mentions to a friend (the sister of whom they both suspect could be the birth mother)that she was blood type AB.
""And what blood type is Sybile?"
After what felt like hours, I heard her say, "She's also Type AB"" If it was a movie there would have been very dramatic music at that point.
Short (and simplified)bio lesson... you get one basic blood type gene from your mom and one from your dad. A daughter with blood type AB does NOT get both the A and the B from the mother... unless she's a clone.
Did anyone edit this thing?
Few of the characters were likable. Most were caricatures. None were memorable.
After finishing the book I encountered several pages of discussion questions. Delusions of literature?
August 11, 2010
I read this book over two days, and while it was a quick read and I found the premise of the story interesting, there were HUGE issues for me with the author's writing style and the way that she jumps around in time. There were massive inconsistencies in time in the story, and I found that careless lack of attention to detail to be distracting, and forced me out of the story.
In addition, the characters had no depth and often flip-flopped in characterization. It seemed like the author was unable to make up her mind how a character should feel about other people and as a result made them feel everything with a tad of ambivalence, rather than feeling one or two emotions with strength.
In addition, the characters had no depth and often flip-flopped in characterization. It seemed like the author was unable to make up her mind how a character should feel about other people and as a result made them feel everything with a tad of ambivalence, rather than feeling one or two emotions with strength.
February 7, 2017
4.05/5
Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
July 29, 2018
Gah. I was so excited to read a knitting mystery. And boy did this one disappoint. The plot was thin. The main character obviously had no idea about knitting.
It was like the author had researched just enough knitting terms to throw them around but really had no idea what she was saying. So, if you’re not a knitter maybe you wouldn’t have noticed this but it was very obvious to those of us who do knit. The only reason I gave the Book any stars at all was that some of the dialogue between the nonessential characters was witty and I enjoyed the banter. I found myself hoping for more of the nonessential scenes. Because the main character I was ready to throttle.
It was like the author had researched just enough knitting terms to throw them around but really had no idea what she was saying. So, if you’re not a knitter maybe you wouldn’t have noticed this but it was very obvious to those of us who do knit. The only reason I gave the Book any stars at all was that some of the dialogue between the nonessential characters was witty and I enjoyed the banter. I found myself hoping for more of the nonessential scenes. Because the main character I was ready to throttle.
March 13, 2017
Bizdeki edisyonun kapağı ile kitabın pek alakası olmasa da hikayeyi sevdim. Bu ada hikayelerini ne yapıp edip buluyorum. Ama karakter kapakta tahmin ettiğiniz gibi 30lu yaşlarda değil, 50li yaşlarda ve kızı da 26 yaşlarında. Yayınevi neden bu kapağı seçti çözemedim ama hikaye sevimli cidden.
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Turkish edition's cover was irrelevant to the story but I still liked it. It was a cute story and like my previous reads, the story is based on a little island again. I guess somehow I find them with my unconscious mind.
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Turkish edition's cover was irrelevant to the story but I still liked it. It was a cute story and like my previous reads, the story is based on a little island again. I guess somehow I find them with my unconscious mind.
December 3, 2017
boring and predictable. best thing about it was it was short.
April 6, 2018
The Cedar Key setting made this book enjoyable for me. Often the locale of a book is the appeal and the story secondary.
September 29, 2016
Formulaic, predictable, unlikeable characters. This book has it all!
DuLong seems to have taken every self-help book, every romance, and added a couple of mysteries to produce one heaping mass of dullness. The characters' voices all blend together, no distinct personalities shine through with the exception of the main character. Sydney is whiney, childish, and completely unsympathetic. Her best friend Ali seems to be around just to spout advice about finding her "feminine soul".
One of the things that really bothered me was when Sydney is questioning whether or not someone could be her birth mother, but declares that to be impossible because "I don't even like the woman." Um, that's not how biology works. She sees someone dying from lung cancer, but she keeps lighting up (when DuLong needs something for Sydney to do while she navel gazes). People introduced in the first few chapters disappear before the middle of the book (RIP, Officer Bob), and large chunks of time are skipped rather than show any emotional depth. For example, Sydney can't wait to meet her daughter's new boyfriend. Next scene, Sydney recalls the meeting and how she realized her daughter had found someone special.
Oh, and if I had to read how her new business was "finally picking up" for the tenth time, I was going to hurl my eReader across the room. You can't keep using that line once she's quit her job at the diner because "business picked up enough". And people talking in platitudes, but then having same explained. "You've come a long way, baby, as the Virginia Slim commercial used to say." I mean, who talks like that?
I haven't gotten this angry at a book ... well, actually it was about a month ago with Supervillains Anonymous. Someone needs to take a refresher course in editing, because this one still needs serious work.
DuLong seems to have taken every self-help book, every romance, and added a couple of mysteries to produce one heaping mass of dullness. The characters' voices all blend together, no distinct personalities shine through with the exception of the main character. Sydney is whiney, childish, and completely unsympathetic. Her best friend Ali seems to be around just to spout advice about finding her "feminine soul".
One of the things that really bothered me was when Sydney is questioning whether or not someone could be her birth mother, but declares that to be impossible because "I don't even like the woman." Um, that's not how biology works. She sees someone dying from lung cancer, but she keeps lighting up (when DuLong needs something for Sydney to do while she navel gazes). People introduced in the first few chapters disappear before the middle of the book (RIP, Officer Bob), and large chunks of time are skipped rather than show any emotional depth. For example, Sydney can't wait to meet her daughter's new boyfriend. Next scene, Sydney recalls the meeting and how she realized her daughter had found someone special.
Oh, and if I had to read how her new business was "finally picking up" for the tenth time, I was going to hurl my eReader across the room. You can't keep using that line once she's quit her job at the diner because "business picked up enough". And people talking in platitudes, but then having same explained. "You've come a long way, baby, as the Virginia Slim commercial used to say." I mean, who talks like that?
I haven't gotten this angry at a book ... well, actually it was about a month ago with Supervillains Anonymous. Someone needs to take a refresher course in editing, because this one still needs serious work.
October 27, 2009
I read this book during the read-a-thon and it was a true joy to read. I enjoyed the character of Sydney. She's a fifty-something that has just lost her husband and her house and has to start over completely. Who wouldn't be floundering after all of that? Add to it that she was just going through the motions of life and doesn't really know what to do and you have a great character who struggles to grow and change through the book.
I was captivated by the small town of Cedar Key. I live on the coast myself and even though my area is growing, it once had that small-town feel, so I felt right at home. I adored the supporting characters. Allison, her best friend. Dora who ends up being a big help and even the eccentric characters in the story really make it. Everyone plays a role in Sydney's new life and they are all interesting characters themselves, who I look forward to reading more about.
There are several things that contribute to the storyline and I don't want to give away anything about the plot. But suffice it to say it's very engaging and interesting the whole way through. I couldn't put it down and I enjoyed every minute I read. Sometimes you get bogged down when reading a book straight through during a read-a-thon, but that did not happen with Spinning Forward. When I finished I immediately wanted to go back and hear more about the characters which since this is book one in the Cedar Key series, I guess I will get to and I look forward to it.
I was captivated by the small town of Cedar Key. I live on the coast myself and even though my area is growing, it once had that small-town feel, so I felt right at home. I adored the supporting characters. Allison, her best friend. Dora who ends up being a big help and even the eccentric characters in the story really make it. Everyone plays a role in Sydney's new life and they are all interesting characters themselves, who I look forward to reading more about.
There are several things that contribute to the storyline and I don't want to give away anything about the plot. But suffice it to say it's very engaging and interesting the whole way through. I couldn't put it down and I enjoyed every minute I read. Sometimes you get bogged down when reading a book straight through during a read-a-thon, but that did not happen with Spinning Forward. When I finished I immediately wanted to go back and hear more about the characters which since this is book one in the Cedar Key series, I guess I will get to and I look forward to it.
November 3, 2009
It was like reading a fairy tale…too good to be true. It was a pleasant enough book. It’s problem was that it’s obvious. As soon as you are introduced to a character, you know exactly who the character is and what’s going to happen. (I’ll try not to be a spoiler here, but everything is so instantly knowable in the book I would hardly be giving away any secrets if I did tell.)
Sydney, a fifty-something doctor’s wife suddenly widowed, finds her husband was hiding gambling debts. Now without funds or home, she heads from the Boston area for tiny Cedar Key to live at her friend’s B&B until she can pull her life back together. Syd was adopted and now, with her life in shambles, it’s time to find her real self, in more ways than one.
So, now for the obvious. As soon as we are introduced to the feisty old woman in the café, it is clear who she will turn out to be. The old man Saren also is soon recognized for the part he will play. Syd vies with a tall, handsome man (who happens to be comfortably well-off) to rent a sunny storefront. What part will he play in Syd’s life? Will the fledgling yarn store she opens turn out to be a success? What will happen to the lighthouse? The reader could write the book herself after the first two chapters. (This is definitely chick-fic; men need not read.) While there are a few good scenes, Spinning Forward spins on coincidence and moves forward on trite formulas. No surprises here.
Sydney, a fifty-something doctor’s wife suddenly widowed, finds her husband was hiding gambling debts. Now without funds or home, she heads from the Boston area for tiny Cedar Key to live at her friend’s B&B until she can pull her life back together. Syd was adopted and now, with her life in shambles, it’s time to find her real self, in more ways than one.
So, now for the obvious. As soon as we are introduced to the feisty old woman in the café, it is clear who she will turn out to be. The old man Saren also is soon recognized for the part he will play. Syd vies with a tall, handsome man (who happens to be comfortably well-off) to rent a sunny storefront. What part will he play in Syd’s life? Will the fledgling yarn store she opens turn out to be a success? What will happen to the lighthouse? The reader could write the book herself after the first two chapters. (This is definitely chick-fic; men need not read.) While there are a few good scenes, Spinning Forward spins on coincidence and moves forward on trite formulas. No surprises here.
November 2, 2009
Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong
Contemporary Romance- October 27th, 2009
4 ½ stars
Spinning Forward is about new beginnings. Syd Webster moves to a small island after her husband dies. Things work out just when you don't expect them to sometimes. And this is the case with Syd. Somehow finds herself: opening a yarn shop, getting to know her biological mother with the little times she has left, and meeting a wonderful man. These were all things that Syd never expected, especially since she has a 26-year old daughter and had initially planned to just take life one day at a time. However, Syd is learning to meet with both triumph and disaster and all that comes with leading a very busy life in a small town.
This was a magical and intensely gripping novel. I especially liked reading about Syd’s relationship with her mother even though the story becomes so emotional. Get those tissues ready! I found Spinning Forward to be more of a life story, with bits of romance sprinkled into the rich story telling. Terri Dulong’s writing style reminded me of works by Debbie Macomber and Catherine Coulter and is sure to please fans of contemporary romance who love a lot of heart in their stories.
Reviewed by Sophia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Contemporary Romance- October 27th, 2009
4 ½ stars
Spinning Forward is about new beginnings. Syd Webster moves to a small island after her husband dies. Things work out just when you don't expect them to sometimes. And this is the case with Syd. Somehow finds herself: opening a yarn shop, getting to know her biological mother with the little times she has left, and meeting a wonderful man. These were all things that Syd never expected, especially since she has a 26-year old daughter and had initially planned to just take life one day at a time. However, Syd is learning to meet with both triumph and disaster and all that comes with leading a very busy life in a small town.
This was a magical and intensely gripping novel. I especially liked reading about Syd’s relationship with her mother even though the story becomes so emotional. Get those tissues ready! I found Spinning Forward to be more of a life story, with bits of romance sprinkled into the rich story telling. Terri Dulong’s writing style reminded me of works by Debbie Macomber and Catherine Coulter and is sure to please fans of contemporary romance who love a lot of heart in their stories.
Reviewed by Sophia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
December 13, 2012
This is a great first book by the author. I'm glad she has continued with the series. I agree with some of the other reviews that parts of the storyline were obvious. That's ok with me. If I wanted a suspense or mystery, I'd read a different author.
I read this series out of order so I knew a little bit about some of the characters from the other book, but it didn't take away from the story. Even though I could figure out how the story was going to end, I was still compelled to read it to find out the process and paths the characters would take. I definitely have an opinion about each character - love them or hate them. That's why I think it was a successful story.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I read this series out of order so I knew a little bit about some of the characters from the other book, but it didn't take away from the story. Even though I could figure out how the story was going to end, I was still compelled to read it to find out the process and paths the characters would take. I definitely have an opinion about each character - love them or hate them. That's why I think it was a successful story.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 10, 2009
I thought this book was terribly predictable. The main character is adopted and it didn't take much guessing to realize that her finding her biological parents was going to play a big role -- and I knew within the first couple of chapters who they were. It was an OK chick lit book, but I like more intricate plot lines.
February 9, 2017
3,5/5 puanım...
Kitabı okumak keyifliydi, insanın her yaşta istediği her şeyi yapabileceğinin, başarabileceğinin bir göstergesi gibiydi ve ben Sydney'in her şeye rağmen güçlü duruşunu sevdim.
Yaşadığı kötü olaydan sonra geldiği Cedar Key adasındaki insanları da sevdim. Yazarın adadaki insanlar arasındaki o sıcaklığı, dostluğu okura iyi yansıttığını düşünüyorum ki aralarındaki bağ güzeldi. Yani karakterleri çok tatlı buldum diyebilirim.
Kitabın akıcı olması ve anlatımı güzeldi. Sadece başından neler olacağını tahmin etmiş olmam merak duygusunu azalttı, ben en azından biraz merak etmek neler olacağını tahmin etmemek isterdim ama böyle de kendini okutturan bir kitap. Sürprizsiz ve sakin-duru bir anlatım vardı bu huzur da verdi bir yerde.
Kitabın eksi bir yönü daha var bana göre ki bu da yaş konusu bence. Karakter yaşlarının fazla büyük olduğunu düşünüyorum, bence sınırı biraz daha aşağı çekmeliydi yazar yani biraz daha genç olabilirdi karakterler çünkü 50'li yaşlar fazla geldi bana kitabın bütününe baktığımda. Diyalogların, karakterlerin sergilediği davranışların, konunun karakterlerin üstüne daha iyi oturması için en azından 30-40'lar olabilirdi.
Yani yaş ve merak unsurları dışında keyifli bir kitap, zorluklarla gayet iyi başa çıkabilen, güçlü bir karakter okumak güzeldi.
ozgurkitaplar
ozgurkitaplar.blogspot.com
Kitabı okumak keyifliydi, insanın her yaşta istediği her şeyi yapabileceğinin, başarabileceğinin bir göstergesi gibiydi ve ben Sydney'in her şeye rağmen güçlü duruşunu sevdim.
Yaşadığı kötü olaydan sonra geldiği Cedar Key adasındaki insanları da sevdim. Yazarın adadaki insanlar arasındaki o sıcaklığı, dostluğu okura iyi yansıttığını düşünüyorum ki aralarındaki bağ güzeldi. Yani karakterleri çok tatlı buldum diyebilirim.
Kitabın akıcı olması ve anlatımı güzeldi. Sadece başından neler olacağını tahmin etmiş olmam merak duygusunu azalttı, ben en azından biraz merak etmek neler olacağını tahmin etmemek isterdim ama böyle de kendini okutturan bir kitap. Sürprizsiz ve sakin-duru bir anlatım vardı bu huzur da verdi bir yerde.
Kitabın eksi bir yönü daha var bana göre ki bu da yaş konusu bence. Karakter yaşlarının fazla büyük olduğunu düşünüyorum, bence sınırı biraz daha aşağı çekmeliydi yazar yani biraz daha genç olabilirdi karakterler çünkü 50'li yaşlar fazla geldi bana kitabın bütününe baktığımda. Diyalogların, karakterlerin sergilediği davranışların, konunun karakterlerin üstüne daha iyi oturması için en azından 30-40'lar olabilirdi.
Yani yaş ve merak unsurları dışında keyifli bir kitap, zorluklarla gayet iyi başa çıkabilen, güçlü bir karakter okumak güzeldi.
ozgurkitaplar
ozgurkitaplar.blogspot.com
November 6, 2012
The style of the relationship between Sydney and whatshisname reads like a typical Mills & Boon, at least the ones I used to read in my teens. It's formulaic: there's a silly woman who generally behaves as if she is still in her teens (in all areas of life, not just romance which is sort-of explained by her rather sheltered life because of marrying the first man who came along) and a handsome, more knowledgeable wordly-wise man who patiently waits for the woman-child to come round to his way of thinking, and his bedroom.
Animosity
Truce
Friendship
Sex
Problem -with the woman who reverts to woman-child again
Tiny admittance of a negative-which-is-really-a-positive from the man (who can be smothering because he's so caring and loveable towards the silly woman-child.)
Friendship resumes
Full-on sexual bliss
Relationship (at least she can live in her light-house on her own until she's ready to succumb to his amazing rock that boat(!) love-making skills full-time.)
!
The author has made a valiant attempt to explore her protaginist's situation and independance in moving forward, but in the end she's only partly successful and believable.(Please leave me a light-house someone!)
This is always listed in the knitting fiction genre but actually this is merely a small part of the backdrop for the story, and little about spinning, knitting and how the finished shop looks, the knitting class, the yarn or items being created feature. I can live with that, but have mentioned this just so you know. Oh and can you imagine wearing a jumper made out of your pet's fur? The very thought made me reach for my asthma inhaler.
Is the author really familar with wine, or did she stand in a wine-shop and write down the names of popular wines, to insert into every paragraph where the characters enjoy a glass? It's all a bit self-conscious.
It's interesting that other authors (Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks...) are name-checked in this novel, is this done with the hope of ensuring a positive comparision when it comes to reviews? It might have worked because sure enough on the cover this is likened to being like a Debbie Macomber novel set in the south!
In the end despite my many irritations I would say I liked the book well enough to read more in the series. I know another will probably provoke more strong reactions but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Books which make you engage with them, in positive or negative ways, ensure reading has not been a passive experience.
PS: I see that the author has commented on others' reviews here, so I expect her to come on offering to prove her authority on wine!
Here's one of her sarky gems she wrote to someone here on GR: "I'm very sorry you didn't enjoy my story and felt it should have been written differently. Thankfully, my editor and Kensington loved it enough to give me a nice two-book contract."
I'm now waiting for her to tell me about her certificate in wine! If I wrote a book I'd NEVER go on GR as you have to accept that your work will be greeted with either love, hate or indifference by various readers. If I did I'd end up doing the same, but how embarassing to read.
Animosity
Truce
Friendship
Sex
Problem -with the woman who reverts to woman-child again
Tiny admittance of a negative-which-is-really-a-positive from the man (who can be smothering because he's so caring and loveable towards the silly woman-child.)
Friendship resumes
Full-on sexual bliss
Relationship (at least she can live in her light-house on her own until she's ready to succumb to his amazing rock that boat(!) love-making skills full-time.)
!
The author has made a valiant attempt to explore her protaginist's situation and independance in moving forward, but in the end she's only partly successful and believable.(Please leave me a light-house someone!)
This is always listed in the knitting fiction genre but actually this is merely a small part of the backdrop for the story, and little about spinning, knitting and how the finished shop looks, the knitting class, the yarn or items being created feature. I can live with that, but have mentioned this just so you know. Oh and can you imagine wearing a jumper made out of your pet's fur? The very thought made me reach for my asthma inhaler.
Is the author really familar with wine, or did she stand in a wine-shop and write down the names of popular wines, to insert into every paragraph where the characters enjoy a glass? It's all a bit self-conscious.
It's interesting that other authors (Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks...) are name-checked in this novel, is this done with the hope of ensuring a positive comparision when it comes to reviews? It might have worked because sure enough on the cover this is likened to being like a Debbie Macomber novel set in the south!
In the end despite my many irritations I would say I liked the book well enough to read more in the series. I know another will probably provoke more strong reactions but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Books which make you engage with them, in positive or negative ways, ensure reading has not been a passive experience.
PS: I see that the author has commented on others' reviews here, so I expect her to come on offering to prove her authority on wine!
Here's one of her sarky gems she wrote to someone here on GR: "I'm very sorry you didn't enjoy my story and felt it should have been written differently. Thankfully, my editor and Kensington loved it enough to give me a nice two-book contract."
I'm now waiting for her to tell me about her certificate in wine! If I wrote a book I'd NEVER go on GR as you have to accept that your work will be greeted with either love, hate or indifference by various readers. If I did I'd end up doing the same, but how embarassing to read.
October 31, 2012
Spinning Forward Cedar Keys Series by Terri dulong
Syndey Webster has just buried her physician husband and finds a sheriff at her house with an eviction notice to take effect in 5 weeks time.
Her husband had gambled the house away without her knowing it. She had relocated to a B&B in Cedar Cover, Florida along with her dog Lilly.
She had met Allison in college and she advised her to move into the B&B where she was the cook.
To relax she took out her spinning wheel and other locals saw her and they were going to pay her to wind it into yarn so they could make a sweater from the fur of their favorite dog.
During the Thanksgiving Day Alison's friends come to eat and they all make Syndey feel at home. Her daughter, back up in the northeast still can't believe what's happened and that she allowed her dad to do that to her mother. She rather blames her mother for not keeping track of things.
She gets a new hairdo and a job locally and talks to the woman at the bank about a business for her potential yarn shop.
Characters are introduced and then you find out other details about them and it's easy to keep them straight.
Others tell her to go find her bio mother and there are mysteries about this during the book.
With her daughter's injury she will be moving into the tree house apartment with Syndey til she gets on her feet. Syndey's friends have set her up with dinner dates. There are quite a few men that she shows an interest in, for one reason or another and one, Noah Hale that just rubs her the wrong way in every regard.
There are a lot of goings on during the book that are small but combined together make the story a good one.
Syndey Webster has just buried her physician husband and finds a sheriff at her house with an eviction notice to take effect in 5 weeks time.
Her husband had gambled the house away without her knowing it. She had relocated to a B&B in Cedar Cover, Florida along with her dog Lilly.
She had met Allison in college and she advised her to move into the B&B where she was the cook.
To relax she took out her spinning wheel and other locals saw her and they were going to pay her to wind it into yarn so they could make a sweater from the fur of their favorite dog.
During the Thanksgiving Day Alison's friends come to eat and they all make Syndey feel at home. Her daughter, back up in the northeast still can't believe what's happened and that she allowed her dad to do that to her mother. She rather blames her mother for not keeping track of things.
She gets a new hairdo and a job locally and talks to the woman at the bank about a business for her potential yarn shop.
Characters are introduced and then you find out other details about them and it's easy to keep them straight.
Others tell her to go find her bio mother and there are mysteries about this during the book.
With her daughter's injury she will be moving into the tree house apartment with Syndey til she gets on her feet. Syndey's friends have set her up with dinner dates. There are quite a few men that she shows an interest in, for one reason or another and one, Noah Hale that just rubs her the wrong way in every regard.
There are a lot of goings on during the book that are small but combined together make the story a good one.
December 4, 2014
After having read the fifth book in this series and really enjoying it, I decided to return to the series beginning. I also enjoyed this book, but DuLong has grown much more interesting by the last book. I always like to see where everything began and am glad to have gone there in this book, and will probably continue with the series.
This is basically a woman's friendship and communications book, with a touch of romance. Sydney Webster has been thrown for a loop. Her husband just died, forcing Sydney from her rich New England life and beautiful home because of enormous gambling debts that she knew nothing about. Thankfully, her best friend took her into her B&B in Cedar Key, Florida, and helps her begin to get her life together. Here she continues to seek information on her birth mother, she meets a handsome artist, and she tries to establish a retail store around knitting and weaving that becomes the basis for future books in this series.
There is a large emphasis on the female spirit that was a bit over done for me. And unfortunately, things fell a little too easily in place, as I would have liked perhaps a bit less story line and a lot more tension in the solutions. There are a number of serious issues talked about in this book but they sometimes seemed to be glossed over too easily. I do think there is a future in this series, especially since I found FAREWELL TO CEDAR KEY to be very good, and most of my concerns seemed to be handled differently by this fifth book that I read first. I listened to this on Audible and enjoyed the narration very much.
This is basically a woman's friendship and communications book, with a touch of romance. Sydney Webster has been thrown for a loop. Her husband just died, forcing Sydney from her rich New England life and beautiful home because of enormous gambling debts that she knew nothing about. Thankfully, her best friend took her into her B&B in Cedar Key, Florida, and helps her begin to get her life together. Here she continues to seek information on her birth mother, she meets a handsome artist, and she tries to establish a retail store around knitting and weaving that becomes the basis for future books in this series.
There is a large emphasis on the female spirit that was a bit over done for me. And unfortunately, things fell a little too easily in place, as I would have liked perhaps a bit less story line and a lot more tension in the solutions. There are a number of serious issues talked about in this book but they sometimes seemed to be glossed over too easily. I do think there is a future in this series, especially since I found FAREWELL TO CEDAR KEY to be very good, and most of my concerns seemed to be handled differently by this fifth book that I read first. I listened to this on Audible and enjoyed the narration very much.
February 25, 2011
Yet another book where the heroine is a b*tch. Okay, that's a little harsh, but here we have Sydney, a 52 year old adoptee and recent widow who has lost her house due to her husband's gambling addiction. Sounds like true melodrama, right? Shouldn't you feel sorry for poor Sydney? Yes, but she comes across as caustic and rude, and quite frankly, I just did not like her. Even after much self-pity and introspection on the Florida island to which she escapes she still is a bit harsh. Fortunately for Sydney, with the help of her best friend who owns a B&B, and who provides a place for her to stay - rent free - while Sydney finds her way, the future is paved with an attractive man, a newly discovered family, and a successful career. Now I will say that just as many English major dreams of obtaining a PhD, so do knitters dream of owning their own shop. The reality is quite different than the dream, but not for our girl Syd! I don't think that is what bothered me most about this book, but it surely contributed to it. Maybe there's something to Sydney that the reader can't see; perhaps she's not really bad, she's just written that way. Even though I may have gotten a little teary eyed at the end of the book, blisters, hangnails, and splinters make me cry too. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either, so I'll read the second book in the series, but mostly out of pure curiosity with the hope that maybe good sex with her beau, Noah, might help to mellow Sydney a bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2011
The plot to this novel was both highly predictable and far-fetched at the same time. The whole birth mother plot line was extremely far-fetched, and hello, why didn't anyone want to get a DNA test just to really be sure? I found the main character, Sydney, to be more annoying than likable, and her love interest, Noah, was just as bad. They weren't the kind of couple that you could really root for to make it in the end when they both just acted so obnoxious.
Even though the character development wasn't the greatest and the plot line was a bit wacky, it was a quick and easy read and I didn't mind seeing it through to the end. I'd say it was definitely a beach blanket read. Also, this isn't really a complaint, but I did expect that the story would revolve more around knitting based on the cover and title, but it was really more in the background, which I was OK with, but don't expect this story to be about a bunch of women in a knitting group. I do plan on reading the sequel, but I'm not in a rush to get to it.
Even though the character development wasn't the greatest and the plot line was a bit wacky, it was a quick and easy read and I didn't mind seeing it through to the end. I'd say it was definitely a beach blanket read. Also, this isn't really a complaint, but I did expect that the story would revolve more around knitting based on the cover and title, but it was really more in the background, which I was OK with, but don't expect this story to be about a bunch of women in a knitting group. I do plan on reading the sequel, but I'm not in a rush to get to it.
December 31, 2013
Fifty-something widow is evicted from her upscale home after she learns that her dead physician husband has gambled everything away. At the invitation of her bestest college pal, she moves to Florida, starts a business spinning dog fur into yarn, meets a "gorgeous" 60-something guy, AND just happens to find her birth mother in the same town. (And not because she was even looking; everyone kept telling her she looked familiar!)
Can anyone say FAR FETCHED?
Two annoying things about this book:
1. Every character was likeable except for Sydney, the main character.
2. This is the first book I've ever read where the romantic interest was a whiny/bossy jerk. I did not like this guy at all!
As a 50-something female in the process of changing her life, all I can say is that I really wanted to like this book....
Can anyone say FAR FETCHED?
Two annoying things about this book:
1. Every character was likeable except for Sydney, the main character.
2. This is the first book I've ever read where the romantic interest was a whiny/bossy jerk. I did not like this guy at all!
As a 50-something female in the process of changing her life, all I can say is that I really wanted to like this book....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2009
This book has an interesting premise. Sydney has been drifting along in her marriage- happy that her husband provides well for her and does not demand a lot of attention. When he suddenly dies, Sydney must face some hard truths, her husband is not the upstanding doctor that she thought she knew, he had in fact gambled away everything that he had access to and died of the stress knowing everything was coming due. Now homeless and poor, Sydney is staying with a generous and energetic friend who loves her enough to nudge Sydney to develop a new and creative life. It's a romance with quirky surprises and presents some situations to think about. I found myself wondering about the edges of the characters not revealed and their motivations to befriend Sydney who can at times be a testy lady.
August 14, 2010
I usually reserve one-star ratings for books I don't finish. In this case, I only finished it because I had nothing else available at the time. The writing is poor at best (I seriously am confused how a publishing house editor let this through), and the characters alternate between bland and store-bought cliche. There was nothing unexpected in the plot except how the author managed to push it forward without any obvious motivation within the characters. I feel horribly mean as I write this, but . . . honestly, I think I'd have made a better decision had I chosen to stare at the wall rather than read the one book I had.
March 24, 2010
This is a really good book. It is story about a woman who finally has to come to terms with who she is and what she really wants out of life.
She looses everything she is comfortable with at the beginning of the book and with the help of her friend finds what is truly important.
She also finds real love at the age of 53. I enjoyed that the main character wasn't a 20 something barbie shaped person but someone who has been thru life, had a child, had disapoointments and had to do alot of innner searching.
She looses everything she is comfortable with at the beginning of the book and with the help of her friend finds what is truly important.
She also finds real love at the age of 53. I enjoyed that the main character wasn't a 20 something barbie shaped person but someone who has been thru life, had a child, had disapoointments and had to do alot of innner searching.
November 27, 2011
Terri Dulong isn't called the Debbie Macomber of the south for nothing. Oh, to be a woman who bounces back after the death of her husband and loss of her house as quickly as Sydney does. And, of course, she has a beautiful place to live, free of charge, and starts a business that can support her after only a year. So why do I like these books? Because I like the people in them, and would like to think that in some ways we are all as kind, brave, generous and physically attractive as they all seem.
June 3, 2017
I like a nice "yarn" but this book just irritated me. The protagonist was annoying, self centered and whiny. She complained about how terrible her daughter was but she was the one slamming the phone down in her ear and basically acting like a spoiled child. She was a jerk to people she supposedly cared about and I don't even know why I finished this book. I guess I feel an obligation to finish books once I begin them. But if this is an example of the authors style, I won't be reading any of her other books. Even the romance was annoying.
November 10, 2017
another quick and easy read. characters could have been developed much more. there are several problems with the story, Sydney has no money, has to rely on her friend for housing, but can just write a cheque to open a knitting store. Its an ok book, but there are much better ones out there.
also if you are looking for something knitting focused this is not for you. this book mostly focuses on the relationships of women, which when done well is an excellent topic, but in this case is not executed very well.
also if you are looking for something knitting focused this is not for you. this book mostly focuses on the relationships of women, which when done well is an excellent topic, but in this case is not executed very well.
September 27, 2021
I did not care for this book much, it had good parts but I struggled to finish the book. Unfortunately I read the last book first and really enjoyed it so I went to the first book. Which s
Felt a lot like the first, middle age woman and good looking, nice middle age man fall in love. A lot of wine and coffee drinking in this book which distracted me from the story. I may skip the next two books and try the fourth book.......but not for awhile.
Felt a lot like the first, middle age woman and good looking, nice middle age man fall in love. A lot of wine and coffee drinking in this book which distracted me from the story. I may skip the next two books and try the fourth book.......but not for awhile.
April 2, 2012
It was cute, and heart warming, but a little bit too contrived. And if you're going to have yarn and needles on the cover there should be more knitting. Mmm-kay? I'm pretty sure it was a Kindle freebie so that's good. I guess I didn't hate it, and it was heartwarming, just didn't leave me wanting more.
January 21, 2013
Enjoyed completely. Really liked that the main character, Sydney, was over fifty and still living life to the fullest or at least trying to.
August 5, 2016
formulaic - blah
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