Download Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books
Download Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books
Download As PDF : Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books
Sometimes love is the simplest choice of all.
Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future.
Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been on a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.
As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected . . .
Download Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books
"I am a die hard Rochelle Alers fan. This book lived up to her usual high standard of writing. I love the Lowcountry description in the book and the recipes on her personal web site. "Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer" was the first book she wrote that introduced me to the Lowcountry. Sanctuary Cove brought that image back and broadened it. I could taste the food, smell the ocean and the palmetto. Several of the reviewers I read said they could not reconcile the fast chemistry between Deborah and Asa and that Deborah did not give herself a chance to grieve. I don't think she just threw over her deceased husband, but the heart knows who it wants, even after a short timeframe. The reviewers missed the fact that it was almost 7 months before "Debs" and Asa tied the knot. At any rate Deborah and Asa have my vote as a loving couple, parents, and small business owners. Another job well done Rochelle."
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Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books Reviews :
Sanctuary Cove A Cavanaugh Island Novel Rochelle Alers Books Reviews
- Ms. Alers is a very good story teller and I found myself breezing through the book, quickly turning pages(well, not really, it was on ) even as I was grinding my teeth at the weaknesses of the story/writing. If characterization and stylistic issues don't bother you too much, you might like this. It has some nice ambiance and the h is a likeable character in most ways. Oh, and she has nearly perfect children.
The story is about a woman of Gullah heritage, that is, slaves in the Carolina Low Country. She has just lost her husband of 18 years to drowning and is now left to raise her two teens alone.
I had two major problems with the novel. The first is with characterization. This woman tells us what a wonderful man, husband and father her husband was. She talks about how great her love for him was. She is supposedly grieving for him--she cries at regular intervals. But then four weeks after his death she seems back to her normal self except for the crying spells. She is in a generally upbeat mood, visiting with friends, smiling, chatting, even laughing upon occasion, excited about her new store. But strangest of all to me about her behavior is that she is smiling at and flirting with another man who strongly attracts her. She feels a little guilty about it but most of the time when she is with him she is feeling like a teenager with a crush.
Her kids seem to be the same. The daughter gets upset at one point about something related to her dad, but otherwise the kids also seem upbeat--interested as much as usual in activities like cheer leading practice and the big dance, etc. Now, if this had been six months out from the husband's death, POSSIBLY even three, okay. But 4 weeks? At four weeks most people would still be in shock. So I had a very difficult time with suspension of disbelief. Another thing about characterization the relationship between the H and h seemed strange to me. They were often saying or doing things when relating to each other that had me thinking, "What???"
The other problem I had was related to the craft of writing. There was too much repetition. She tells us things then tells us the same thing again and again. Like information about the H's family. She also spends too much time telling us things that are not important to the story every single little move anyone makes while in the kitchen, conversations about boring, everyday stuff. One of the things that makes the story interesting is all of the detail she gives about the location and culture, but too often it sounds like a lecture to the reader rather than anything someone would actually say to another.
Okay. Those are the down sides. These aren't the kinds of things that deter all readers. Ms. Alers is good at composing sentences and at other basic writing skills. The story flows well, we like the h and H (except for some readers who think he is too macho--and he is rather but that may be because of cultural differences and so will not deter some readers either.) It is a rather sweet story set in an ideal world where everyone looks out for everyone else, children are perfect, money is not an issue and small town people can win out over the big developer types. I actually like my stories one degree closer to reality but, hey, that's me. I won't be reading any more of Ms. Alers stories because, for me, the negatives get in the way too much but I can well imagine that other readers may enjoy her novels. - Rating 4.5
Dr. Asa Monroe is a newcomer to the island, Asa is waiting for his assignment Doctors Without Border to be approved but in the mean time the island is a place for him to heal his heart. Asa lost his wife and son in a tragic accident.
Deborah Robinson is a widower who decided to move to the island after her husband death. Deborah and her kids (Whitney & Crystal) moves in her grandparent's home. Deborah comes home to heal after all of the investigation regarding her supposing improper behavior with a fellow student. Louis Robinson was a high school teacher.
This is a story of Charleston, South Carolina where the towns peoples know everybody and is there to lean there support. Deborah opens a book store and hires Asa to help. As time goes on Asa & Deborah realize that they have feeling for each other and slowly begin to fall in love. Although they wasn't looking for a relationship Asa still questioning why he no longer has his wife and son, and Deborah who is still grieving but in the midst of it all they become friends who would become lovers.
The story takes you through South Carolina the wonderful business the restaurant. I tell as I reading this I decided that I need to take a trip to South Carolina to experience some of this hospitality.
I am waiting for the next installment of Cavanaugh Island.
Smooches,
Louise - I am familiar with the moss covered trees and the charm of Charleston as well as the nearby island of Kiawah. The region is very scenic and romantic, so I had high hopes for a "romance" novel set in the area.
Sadly, I was somewhat disappointed...
There were two situations (leading to the inevitable "Man Beds Woman") in the book that were unsettling to me. First, if Louis Robinson had "Erectile dysfunction (ED)" and could not perform sexually, why did he not come forth and defend his honor and the honor of his family (let's not forget that his teenage children were impacted as well) against the allegations of impregnating one of his students? Although the author attempted to explain this "tidbit" I found this to be very unrealiatic of him to put the needs of his student ahead of his own family?
Next, what recently widowed women (Deborah Robinson), or better question...in this day and age, what physician (Dr. Asa Monroe) would have "unprotected sex?" Again, even in the heat of passion, at their educational levels, ages, and with teenage children looking to them to set examples...how realistic is that?
With those two situations out of the equation, Sanctuary Cove was entertaining and "cute." I could almost smell the ocean and feel the breeze as she described the island and its surroundings. The descriptions of the towns people were rich with characterization and charm. I could visulize everything from the town meeting in the book shop to the nosey neighbor "running" into Deborah and Asa as they took a stroll in the park.
With that said, I am new to Rochelle Alers' work and have pre-ordered and look forward to "Angels Landing" to be released in August! - I am a die hard Rochelle Alers fan. This book lived up to her usual high standard of writing. I love the Lowcountry description in the book and the recipes on her personal web site. "Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer" was the first book she wrote that introduced me to the Lowcountry. Sanctuary Cove brought that image back and broadened it. I could taste the food, smell the ocean and the palmetto. Several of the reviewers I read said they could not reconcile the fast chemistry between Deborah and Asa and that Deborah did not give herself a chance to grieve. I don't think she just threw over her deceased husband, but the heart knows who it wants, even after a short timeframe. The reviewers missed the fact that it was almost 7 months before "Debs" and Asa tied the knot. At any rate Deborah and Asa have my vote as a loving couple, parents, and small business owners. Another job well done Rochelle.
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