Sunday Salon - A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Sherryl Woods' latest novel may be called A Chesapeake Shores Christmas, but, since it starts just before Thanksgiving, it's the perfect book for this Sunday.  It's one of those holiday books filled with romance and holiday celebrations, but it also shows the turmoil that may come to the forefront in families this time of year.

After twenty years of marriage Megan O'Brien left her controlling husband, Mick, who couldn't seem to understand that she wanted him at home in Chesapeake Shores instead of working as an architect, flying all over the country.  She planned to take their five children with her, but none of them wanted to be uprooted from their home in the charming seaside community their father built.

Neither Megan nor Mick ever fell out of love. They just couldn't live together.  Now, they're planning to marry again, with the blessings of all of their children, except one, Connor.  Connor never forgave his mother, and even became a divorce attorney, where he fights for the rights of men.  But, the O'Brien men have always been stubborn, as evidenced by Mick's long-standing fights with his brothers.  Even so, the holidays have always been sacred, and Mick's brothers always came home.  So, it comes as a shock to everyone when Connor and his father fight over the upcoming marriage, and Connor refuses to come back for Thanksgiving. 

Megan had hoped to come home as an equal partner in this marriage.  Now, she's reconsidering.  Does Mick really understand what she wants?  He still seems just as demanding, and has even pushed Connor away during a family holiday.  Is she really ready for a New Year's wedding with an O'Brien?  There's no time to think that far ahead, though, when Thanksgiving suddenly throws everyone a curve that wasn't anticipated. 

It seems that holidays can't be planned in the O'Brien family.  Sherryl Woods does everyone a favor in this novel, reminding us that holidays aren't perfect, and the course of love isn't always as smooth as so many Christmas novels indicate.  If you want to read about a large, argumentative, loving family, try Sherryl Woods' A Chesapeake Shores Christmas.  And, if you enjoy this story of the O'Briens, you'll want to watch for their next story, Driftwood Cottage, in April 2011.

Sherryl Woods' website is http://www.sherrylwoods.com/

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods.   MIRA, ©2010. ISBN 9780778328520 (hardcover), 288p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publicist sent me a copy for possible review.