Review - - A Waterfront Wedding

A Waterfront Wedding

by Leigh Duncan

A Heart's Landing Novel - Book 3

Publisher: Hallmark Publishing

Release Date: April 20, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It’s the wedding of the year…

But who will get to host it?

In Heart’s Landing, Evelyn wants to prove she’s a good manager of the Captain’s Cottage by the bay—a favorite place for weddings. Meanwhile, Ryan has invested his life savings to remodel the town’s old boatworks into a brand-new wedding venue.

When a Marine and his bride win the Wedding in a Week contest, they have seven days to put together a romantic, all-expenses-paid event. It’ll be written up in Weddings Today magazine. But will they choose Evelyn’s cottage or Ryan’s boatworks?

The rival business owners cozy up to the bride and groom, helping them plan their military wedding. And even though Evelyn and Ryan both grew up in Heart’s Landing, they learn they never truly knew each other until now. But can they trust each other when only one of them can win?

PJ's Thoughts:

If you enjoy feel-good Hallmark movies, you are going to love this book. Leigh Duncan brings the town of Heart's Landing, in all its wedding-themed glory, to vibrant life. I don't need to be getting married; I just want to spend a week there soaking up the atmosphere. And by atmosphere, I mean dinners at the Italian restaurant on Bridal Carriage Way, tastings at I Do Cakes, horse-drawn carriage rides, and bicycling along the shore. Then there's the award-winning, premiere wedding venue at the Captain's Cottage. But, wait, there's a new kid in town and it looks like his waterfront wedding venue just might give the perennial favorite a run for its money.

This book was an absolute delight. I love a good friends to lovers romance and this one gave me that, plus more. We have childhood friends who are reunited when Ryan returns to town, but now they're business rivals who each are determined to be the venue selected by the special couple chosen to receive an all-expenses paid Heart's Landing wedding.  When Ryan and Evelyn are forced to work together to guide the couple through the week-long series of events, they begin to rediscover friendship as adults, a friendship that gradually starts to deepen into more. But always underlying those feelings is the knowledge that one of them is going to lose out when the couple makes their venue choice. And for Ryan, that could mean not only the end of a dream but the end of his business before it even has a chance to get off the ground. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is the community Duncan has created. I love how she weaves relationships together - family, romantic, and business - without ever being confusing or overwhelming. By the end of the book, I felt as though I knew these people and was part of their community. Ryan and Evelyn's romance is sweet but with a solid depth of emotion. I was cheering for them. And I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary romance between the couple who won the contest. It was fun to get to know them a bit, both individually and as a couple. 

I don't know if Duncan plans any more books in this series but I would happily return to Heart's Landing if she does. I wouldn't mind seeing these characters brought to life on the Hallmark Channel either! 

 

Review - - A Cottage Wedding

A Cottage Wedding
by Leigh Duncan
Heart's Landing - Book 2
Publisher: Hallmark
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
  

It’s more than a charming small town - - it’s a premier wedding destination.
But will one journalist ruin Heart’s Landing forever?

Tara Stewart’s boss at Weddings Today magazine sends her to Heart’s Landing to debunk its romantic legends. This could devastate the many local businesses who cater to weddings, from Forget Me Knot Florist to Dress for a Day.

The locals convince Jason Heart, the handsome descendant of the town’s founder, to show Tara around the town. But can he persuade her to believe in the romance?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love Hallmark movies. I love the sense of community, the realistic and likable main characters, the often quirky secondary characters, and, although there is typically some mild conflict, the guarantee of sweet romance with a happy ending. All of that is exactly what Leigh Duncan delivers in the charming second book of her Heart's Landing series, A Cottage Wedding. 

Duncan brings the small wedding-destination town of Heart's Landing to vivid life through her writing, in such detail that by the time I finished reading this book I could easily be convinced the town actually exists. I was charmed by the Captain's Cottage, the horse-drawn carriage, the town shops, and by the legend of a love for the ages that we all want for ourselves. Not to mention food. There is so much delicious food in this book. It should come with a drool warning. ;-)  Also, if you love cake (I love cake), you might want to keep a napkin handy while reading Chapter Six. Just saying. 😉

Jason is such a good guy. I loved his dedication to his family and to their history. I liked Tara too and understood her desperation to keep her job though it was hard to see her continue her deception after she and Jason got together, though, of course, I ultimately forgave her for her shortcomings. And Jason for his as well. They're good people, a great match, and I was cheering for them to find their way to one another. One of the things I appreciate about both books in this series is that Duncan gives her characters time to work through their relationship issues. It's a little more realistic than a meet, fall in love, and marry within two weeks kind of story.  

Reading A Cottage Wedding was like watching a movie in my mind, in a setting I'm eager to revisit. Duncan spins a charming, heartwarming tale that's as clearly portrayed on the pages of this book as it would be on screen. I don't know how many books she has planned for the series but I am more than ready for however many she has in the queue.

Chesapeake Shores Coming to Hallmark Channel

JESSE METCALFE, MEGHAN ORY, GOLDEN GLOBE^®  NOMINEE TREAT WILLIAMS AND ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE^® DIANE LADD TO STAR IN HALLMARK CHANNEL’S FIRST INSTALLMENT OF ‘CHESAPEAKE SHORES’

Featuring ‘Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove’ Star Barbara Niven

Based on the Novels by New York Times Bestselling Author Sherryl Woods

“Chesapeake Shores” To Become A Series of Movies

for Hallmark Channel Debuting in 2016

STUDIO CITY, CA -- September 24, 2015 -- Hallmark Channel announces the start of production on “Chesapeake Shores,” a series of Hallmark Channel original movies debuting on the network in 2016.  The film, which begins shooting this week in Vancouver, is based on the novels of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods. Jesse Metcalfe (“Dallas,” “Desperate Housewives”) stars alongside Meghan Ory (“Once Upon A Time”), Golden Globe^® nominated actor Treat Williams (“Everwood,” “Hair”), Academy Award^® nominee Diane Ladd (“Wild At Heart”) and Barbara Niven (“Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove”) in this epic, multi-generational family drama.

“It is a true honor to bring to life Sherryl Woods’ captivating novel of family and forgiveness,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks.  “This amazing, all-star cast will expertly portray Woods’ emotional, poignant and romantically woven story. We know our audience will be as taken and swept away by ‘Chesapeake Shores’ as we are.”

Ory portrays Abby O’Brien – a high-powered career woman, divorcee and mother to two young daughters. After years away from her family, she takes a trip from New York City to her hometown of Chesapeake Shores.  The visit brings her face to face with her past, including her high school sweetheart Trace (Metcalfe), her undemonstrative father Mick (Williams), her daring sister Jess, and her beloved grandmother Nell.  This trip also makes Abby notice the toll her career has taken on her ability to be a hands-on mother to her daughters.  As she spends more time in her charming hometown, Abby begins to consider a permanent move to the town she once called home -- Chesapeake Shores.

Metcalfe portrays Trace Riley, a handsome musician who was Abby’s first love. After high school, Abby abruptly left Trace and Chesapeake Shores without warning, an action he has never forgiven her for. Trace eventually follows his dreams to become a musician, only to return to Chesapeake Shores years later and find that Abby, too, is back in their hometown. The two remember what they once had, sparking deep and unresolved emotions.

Williams portrays Mick O’Brien, the commanding patriarch of the O’Brien clan. Mick’s wife walked out on him years ago, leaving him a single father working hard to provide for his family. Unfortunately his work took precedent, which made him emotionally unavailable to his children. When his daughter Abby returns home, it marks a new beginning for Mick and Abby as they work to reconnect and repair their strained relationship.

Ladd portrays Nell O’Brien, the beloved matriarch of the O’Brien clan and Mick’s mother. She is a warm, maternal and wise woman -- with a lovely Irish lilt – who took over rearing of the O’Brien brood when her son’s wife, Megan, abandons the family. Through the decades, she is the glue that keeps the fractious, fractured family together.

Niven portrays Megan, Mick O’Brien’s estranged wife.

Dan Paulson is the executive producer.  Martin Wood is the director and executive producer.  Vicki Sotheran and Greg Malcolm are the producers.  Nancey Silvers is the writer and executive producer, based on the books by Sherryl Woods, who also serves as an executive producer.

Hallmark Channel on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram

TWITTER: @HallmarkChannel, @jessemetcalfe, @Rtreatwilliams #ChesapeakeShores

CONTACTS:

Brenda Lowry, 818-755-2587 BrendaLowry@crownmedia.com

Stephanie Sherman, 818-775-2414 StephanieSherman@crownmedia.com

 

—HALLMARK CHANNEL—


Are you a fan of Woods' Chesapeake Shores series?

Will you be watching the Hallmark movies next year?

Are you happy with the actors that have been cast? Are they as you visualized the characters?

I'm delighted to see Hallmark bringing romance novels into our homes through their television movies. I'm of a fan of the Cedar Cove series (based on Debbie Macomber's books) and the Christmas movie, The Nine Lives of Christmas, based on the Sheila Roberts book of the same title.

What book or book series would you like to see on the Hallmark Channel?

Christmas with Holly

I love Christmas movies and what better than a movie based on a novel by one of my favorite romance writers!  Christmas with Holly, a Hallmark Hall of Fame original movie will be televised on ABC tonight at 9pm ET/8pm Central.  (Check your local listings for time and channel)  Based on the 2010 Lisa Kleypas novel, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, the book tells the story of a man (Mark) struggling to raise his orphaned niece, a woman (Maggie) recovering from the loss of her husband and Holly, a little girl whose world has been torn apart by the death of her mother. These three are all due a little magic in their lives.   Who better than Lisa Kleypas and Hallmark to bring them that magic in what promises to be a charming, feel-good holiday movie.  


Find out more about Christmas with Holly here and more about the book on which it's based here.  And, if you like the movie, check out the next two books (Mark's brothers' stories) in Lisa Kleypas's Friday Harbor series:  Rainshadow Road and Dream Lake.  Read PJ's review of Rainshadow Road here.  


I know where I'll be tonight.  Will you be watching?  Are you, like me, hoping for Hallmark movies of the next two books in the Friday Harbor series?  Any thoughts on who you would cast in the roles?

What other romance novels would you like to see made into television movies?  

Because it's the season and I love giving away gifts, I have two copies of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and one copy of Rainshadow Road to give away today.  I'll randomly choose three winners from people leaving comments on today's blog!  

Disclaimer:  I am one of "Lisa's Divas" - a group of select fans who share info and content related to Lisa's novels and get sneak peeks and swag.  However, every review that I write, whether I purchase the book or receive an advance copy from the author or publisher, reflects my unbiased opinion.

~PJ