Chesapeake Shores has always represented home and family for the O’Briens, but in Lilac Lane, the community extends its healing powers to a woman recovering from overwhelming griefSingle mom Kiera Malone struggled for years to raise her three children in a small town on the coast of Ireland. Just when she’s let down her guard and allowed herself to love again, her fiancé suffers a fatal heart … and allowed herself to love again, her fiancé suffers a fatal heart attack and leaves her alone yet again. Overwhelmed by her loss, she’s persuaded to visit her father, Dillon O’Malley, and her daughter, Moira O’Brien, in Chesapeake Shores. With the promise of family ties and a job at O’Brien’s, her son-in-law’s Irish pub, she takes what seems like the biggest risk of her life.
As it turns out, though, crossing the ocean is nothing compared to moving into a charming cottage on Lilac Lane, right next door to Bryan Laramie, the moody chef at O’Brien’s, who doesn’t do anything the way Kiera believes it should be done. Their kitchen wars quickly become the stuff of legends in Chesapeake Shores, and the town’s matchmakers conclude where there’s heat, there’s sure to be passion.
As these two deal with their wounded pasts and discover common interests, they might just find the perfect recipe for love.
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Moria wants her mom to come to Chesapeake Bay and hopes that the move will help her get past all the things that have happened in her life. She thinks a change of scenery will help her mom heal from the loss of a lover, a horrible marriage, and the never ending disappointment of her two sons. Kiera decides to take the journey from Ireland to Chesapeake Bay, she can’t wait to meet her first grandchild and see the Irish pub her son-in-law Luke has opened. When she is asked to help out at the pub and make sure things are as authentic as possible she is happy to help. The only problem she finds is Bryan, the pubs chef. They immediately butt heads and sparks fly. Kiera isn’t sure if she wants to move forward with the feelings that she has for Bryan. Bryan has issues all of his own, his wife left him years ago taking his daughter. Years of searching for them has turned up empty and he isn’t sure if he is still married and how he can fix that now that he has found someone. He likes Kiera but doesn’t want to mislead her. This was a lovely read that shows the healing value a family can give. I love the emotions a read like this evokes and I don’t mind saying I laughed, cried, and smiled all the way through.
Terrific book. It has been a long time since my last visit to Chesapeake Shores, but it was effortless to slide right back into it. This is the story of Keira, Moira’s mother (The Summer Garden) and Bryan, the chef at Luke O’Brien’s pub. Relations between Keira and Moira had been strained for a long time before they mended their relationship in the earlier book. Keira raised her three children on her own when her husband deserted her, leaving Keira somewhat bitter and wary of love. Just when she opened herself up again to the possibility, her fiancé died, leaving Keira grieving and lost. Worried about her mother, Moira stretches the truth with the help of her new O’Brien relatives and convinces Keira to come to Maryland, using baby Kate and the pub as the reasons for the visit. Moira really hopes to convince her mother to stay in Chesapeake Shores.
Bryan is the chef at the pub. He worked in both New York and Baltimore before coming to Chesapeake Shores. While not quite a loner, he mostly keeps to himself. He rules his kitchen, accepting interference only from his boss, Luke, and Nell O’Brien, the family matriarch who taught him the traditional Irish recipes served at the pub. The arrival of feisty and blunt Keira doesn’t sit well with him, but he doesn’t have much choice in the matter.
I liked both Keira and Bryan and the development of their relationship. In the beginning, it is very adversarial, as Keira takes her job of ensuring authenticity very seriously, but Bryan doesn’t take her suggestions well. Things begin to change a little bit when Keira moves into the cottage next door to Bryan’s house, and they discover that when they leave their work difference behind they get along very well. There were some terrific scenes of late-night chats over wine, and early mornings spent weeding Bryan’s garden. The sparks of antagonism that flew between them begin to change to a different kind of sparks. But both Keira and Bryan have baggage that makes them resistant to those sparks. Keira’s risked her heart twice and had it broken, though in different ways. Risking it again seems to be the height of folly, so she works hard to keep that little bit of distance between them. Bryan was married many years before but neglected his wife in his zeal to cement his career. His wife took their baby girl and left him without a word when she reached the end of her patience. Bryan has spent almost twenty years trying to find them. Having failed at marriage once, trying again is the last thing on his mind.
But Keira and Bryan aren’t given the chance to fight their feelings for long. The O’Brien family is well-known for their tendency to interfere in the lives of those they care for. Everyone from Nell to Mick, right on down the line can see what is happening, and they all have ideas on how to bring the reluctant duo together. Nell comes up with the bright idea of a cooking competition, with the title of best Irish stew between Keira and Bryan up for grabs. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes machinations of various O’Briens as they fan the flames of competition. Keira recognizes her growing feelings for Bryan, but her fears hold her back from saying anything. I loved the scene where Bryan finds out the truth and the twist that Keira throws into his declaration. I loved how the competition played out and their big moment at the end was fantastic.
In the midst of all this drama, Bryan receives the shock of his life. His long-lost daughter appears in Chesapeake Shores looking for answers. I loved seeing this side of Bryan as he and Deanna got to know each other. The scene where Deanna finally gets up the courage to face her father had me in tears. I also loved that Keira was there to support him. There are some sweet scenes as Keira helps smooth over the rough spots of their reunion.
As always, I love the secondary appearances of other characters. The bits with Moira and her attempts to balance family and career were realistic and moving. I loved the get-togethers at Sally’s as the O’Brien women share their days, and how they embraced Keira as one of their own. I laughed out loud at Mick’s antics during the buildup to the competition. Nell was a riot as she involved herself and others in her matchmaking. As Bryan and Keira’s boss, Luke had quite the challenge in keeping the peace at the pub. And in the end, the entire town had a part in the romance between Bryan and Keira. It will be interesting to see if there will be further Chesapeake Shores books and who will star in them. I’m leaning toward Deanna, plus the frequent mentions of Keira’s estranged sons leaves the door open for them also.
Great Series
The ever talented Sherryl Woods brings you another installment in her Chesapeake Shores series with Lilac Lane. The series has grown over Ms. Wood’s time as a established author as now this addition making it the 14th book in the series. Her work is so endorsed that a TV series is out regarding these wonderful novels.
A story of the hardships of love and life, the loss of love and the redemption that a new love can bring.
Single mother, Keira Malone tried her absolute best to be best mother she could to her children. Coming from an abusive relationship, as her ex-husband left her when the children were younger, she worked hard to provide. However, working hard caused a rift with her children due to the lack of understanding on their end to acknowledge on the way of living.
As the years go by, the present becomes bleak with what little light shines. After years of being closed off, Keira allows herself to fall in love. However, her fiancé dies of a heart attack and she feels anger, depressed for being alone again. Still stuck in the mundane life, she holds true by working as the manager at her ex-fiancé’s bar until her feet become steady again.
The future holds promise.
Just when she thinks life can’t get any better, Keira is invited to come to stay with her daughter on a worker’s visa. She becomes a consultant for her son-in-law’s Irish pub and there she meets Bryan, the pub’s chef. They fireworks fly with their combativeness and banter, but as they get to know each other better, things between them take off, giving Keira hope for love again.
Matchmaking skills at it’s finest has returned in Chesapeake Shores and this 4 STAR addition should be read by all! I really liked Keira and Bryan’s story. They both had situations in their pasts that caused them to close off to the idea of moving forward and being happy and in love with someone. But as they got to know one another, they allowed themselves to open up to the possibility of more. Light shined upon happiness and love and I love when stories have HEA!
Sherryl Woods is defiantly an author that no one should miss out on! She is superb, outstanding and simply put… a fantastic well-written author!
Typical Sheryl Wiods. Enjoyed as always.
Awfully confusing with all the characters. Might as well watch Chesapeake Shores on Hallmark and you get the same characters and plots. Very disappointing.
Love anything in this series- fun characters
I liked this book about older adults finding love a second time. It was about finding friends and people in their busy lives to care about.