Author: Sarah Morgan
Series: Puffin Island
Publication: HQN Books (February 24, 2015)
Description: Windswept, isolated and ruggedly beautiful, Puffin Island is a haven for day-trippers and daydreamers alike. But this charming community has a way of bringing people together in the most unexpected ways…
It's been a summer of firsts for Emily Donovan. From becoming a stand-in mom to her niece, Lizzy, to arriving on Puffin Island, her life has become virtually unrecognizable. Between desperately safeguarding Lizzy and her overwhelming fear of the ocean—which surrounds her everywhere she goes!—Emily has lost count of the number of "just breathe" pep talks she's given herself. And that's before charismatic local yacht club owner Ryan Cooper kisses her…
Ryan knows all about secrets. And it's clear that newcomer Emily—with her haunted eyes and the little girl she won't let out of her sight—is hiding from something besides the crazy chemistry between them. So Ryan decides he's going to make it his personal mission to help her unwind and enjoy the sparks! But can Puffin Island work its magic on Emily and get her to take the biggest leap of trust of all—putting her heart in someone else's hands?
My Thoughts: This was a great romance with wonderful characters in a wonderful setting. Emily Donovan comes to Puffin Island, off the coast of Maine, when she suddenly becomes responsible for the six-year-old daughter of her half-sister. Her sister was an actress who died in a plane crash. Emily hadn't seen her since she graduated from high school. Saying her family was dysfunctional is quite an understatement. Emily had determined to live her life without love or other emotional commitments. But, with the paparazzi after young Juliet (called Lizzie to disguise her), Emily needs a safe place to take her.
Puffin Island was her retreat when she was in college. One of her best friends' grandmother lived there. Despite Emily's terror of the sea because of a childhood incident, Puffin Island has always been her safe place. When she arrives this time, she meets Ryan Cooper who is also back on Puffin Island and who has secrets of his own. Both are using childhood traumas as a reason to stay out of relationships. But their hearts and one needy little girl are making them change their minds.
I loved both Ryan and Emily and little Lizzie was such a wonderful character. I liked the way they slowly built their relationships and the way they both overcame their fears. I liked the close community on Puffin Island and look forward to more stories set there.
Favorite Quote:
"Wait a minute—" He caught her round the waist and pulled her back to him. "Did you say 'nice'? You think sex is 'nice'?"I got this review copy for a blog tour. You can buy your copy here.
Her face was on fire. "Yes. What's wrong with that?"
He drew in a deep breath. "Honey, 'nice' sex is for people in retirement homes with dodgy hips and a heart condition. At your age you should be having clothes-ripping, mind-blowing, animal sex that leaves you unable to walk or think."
That quote is good!
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