Almost Home by Mariah Stewart

Last year, I had the chance to participate in the TLC Tour for Mariah Stewart's second book in The Chesapeake Diaries series, Home Again. In it, Hollywood star Dallas MacGregor returned home to St. Dennis on the Chesapeake Bay, bringing her son. Dallas found a new home, and a new love there. Now, it's time for her brother to come back in the third book. Once again, I'm participating in the TLC Tour, this time for Almost Home.

Steffie Wyler had a crush on Wade MacGregor from the time she was young. She even conned him into taking her to her senior prom when he was home from college in Texas. But, Wade went back to Texas, and, except for occasional visits to his Great-Aunt Berry, he was seldom seen in St. Dennis. And, he only broke her heart again when he came for a wedding, but fled back to Texas following an emergency phone call.

As a lifelong resident, and owner of Scoop, the local ice cream store, Steffie knew everyone in town. And, she met regularly with her best friend, Vanessa, owner of a local boutique, and other store owners, so she was up on the current gossip. So, it came as quite a shock when Dallas and her son walked into Scoop, followed by Wade and a toddler who called him Daddy. What kind of secrets did Wade have? And, why did he show up in St. Dennis, pulling a trailer behind his car?

I hadn't read the first book in the series when I read Home Again last year. You don't need to have read any of the previous ones to pick up Almost Home. But, it certainly would make the stories more fun to start at the beginning. You'll get to meet Grace Sinclair, owner of the local newspaper, and the writer of the Chesapeake diaries, short accounts of the lives of the local residents, accounts that appear in each book. As romances develop, and troubles are overcome, life unfolds in the small town of St. Dennis. Romances, humor, in this book, a Ouija board and the possibility of love. Mariah Stewart always introduces terrific characters in these enjoyable pageturners. I read Almost Home in one sitting. Stewart welcomes readers to St. Dennis, making them feel at home with her characters and her community, and it's hard to let them go for another year.

Mariah Stewart's website is www.mariahstewart.com

Almost Home by Mariah Stewart. Ballantine Books. ©2011. ISBN 9780345520371 (paperback), 391p.


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FTC Full Disclosure - The publicist sent a copy of the book to use for the TLC Tour

Because I'll be leaving for NYC on Wednesday, I'm not participating in the giveaway for this book. But, here are the other participants in the tour if you are interested in checking for a book giveaway.

Tuesday, May 17th:  Pudgy Penguin Perusals

Wednesday, May 18th:  Luxury Reading – guest post

Thursday, May 19th:  I’m Booking It

Monday, May 23rd:  Joyfully Retired

Wednesday, May 25th:  Simply Stacie

Wednesday, May 25th:  She is Too Fond of Books – guest post

Thursday, May 26th:  My Two Blessings

Tuesday, May 31st:  Book Reviews by Molly

Wednesday, June 1st:  One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books

Thursday, June 2nd:  A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Monday, June 6th:  Colloquium

Wednesday, June 8th:  A Chick Who Reads

Home Again by Mariah Stewart

The first book in Mariah Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries series was released in March, Coming Home.  I haven't read that one yet, and you don't need to have read it to enjoy Home Again.  But, let me just tell you, that according to Stewart's website, in the first week it was out, Coming Home was "The #1 bestselling romance in Borders (#3 bestselling mass market overall);

#11 bestselling mass market at Barnes & Noble;

#11 on Publisher’s Weekly bestselling mass market list;

#12 On the New York Times bestselling mass market list ~

AND spent 5 weeks on USAToday and 9 weeks on Bookscan's Romance list!"  And, if Home Again is any example, deservedly so.  I don't read a large number of romances during the year, but this one was wonderful.  If you're willing to try romances, I hope you try Home Again.

 

Dallas MacGregor was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.  But, she considered herself a mother first and an actress second.  When her six-year-old son, Cody, came home from camp  in tears because the other kids knew his sleazy father was on sex tapes with two women, Dallas, who had already filed for divorce, knew it was time to find a refuge.  And, what better place than St. Dennis, a small town on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland?  The town had been Dallas' own refuge when her father died suddenly when she was eleven.  And, her great aunt, Beryl (Berry) Eberle, retired as an actress herself, took Dallas in then, and is willing to welcome Dallas and her son home now.

 

Now, back in her summer home, can Dallas rebuild a secure life for her son?  And, what about Grant Wyler, her summer love from the time she was eleven?  The boy that she left when she went for her dream as an actress, is back in St. Dennis with a practice as a veterinarian.  And, Berry is quite skillful at finding a way to bring together a boy and a dog, and a woman with her ex-boyfriend.

 

This is a romance with strong, interesting characters, and left over stories that will make you eager to read the next book in the series.  The minor characters have their own backstories to be told.  Beryl's story is revealed in this one, but there are other interesting characters, beginning with Grant's sister, Steffie, who runs the local ice cream store.  And, what's the secret behind Dallas' brother?  There are more stories to be told. 

 

In the meantime, Mariah Stewart's Home Again offers warmth, romance, dogs, and a beautiful setting.  Is there anything else you expect from a romantic novel?

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The publisher is offering a copy of Home Again to one winner from each blog on Mariah Stewart's blog tour.  If you'd like to enter to win, just comment below, and include your email address.  Thursday night, after 6 p.m., I'll contact the winner to get the address where you want the book sent.  If you win, you could also give the address of a friend, if you'd like to surprise them with the book.  Good luck!  You have just two days to enter.

 

Mariah Stewart's website is http://www.mariahstewart.com/,  and she can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mariah-Stewart/106000742764985?v=desc

 

Home Again by Mariah Stewart.  Ballantine Books, ©2010. ISBN 9780345520357 (paperback), 464p.

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FTC Full Disclosure - As part of the TLC Tour, the publicist sent me a copy of Home Again, so I could read and review it.