The Chesapeake Bride is a sweet, mostly clean romance. Owen has come home, finally, to Cannonball Island, for his sister's wedding and to see his elderly grandmother, Ruby. Owen has traveled the world, never settling in one place for long, but it's time for him to settle down, at least, according to Ruby, it is. He meets Cassidy (Cass) when he comes home. She's on the island for her father's company, to build eco homes that fit within the historical feel of the area. Owen is used to women falling for his charm, but for some reason, Cass seems immune to him and his charm. That she isn't really immune is something he'll soon find, it's just that she's still sensitive from her recent divorce.

As they eventually drift into a relationship, it was sweet and cute, but quite frankly, I was kind of bored. The pace was REALLY slow at times, and there was way too much nattering on about all the history of the island. Yes, I appreciated some of the history that was given, but there was far too much of it and not enough of the developing relationship between Owen and Cass. I wanted more heat between Owen and Cass and more relationship development and far less historical talk.

I like the ending, though, and the fact that they dealt with Owen's out of the blue big thing in a realistic way. More heat and more relationship and less historical talk and I would have been able to give this 4 stars. As it stands, though, as cute and sweet as The Chesapeake Bride is, it's just not up to the standards of the romances I usually favor.

In the continuing series about the Chesapeake area, this book takes the reader to Cannonball Island, where architect Cassidy Logan is working with her father’s company on a housing development in the area where there has been no new construction in a long time. Cass is sensitive to the subtle nuances and history of the island, and wants to develop something so unique and so attuned to the island and its history that she is staying there to get a good feel for it while figuring things out. In addition, Cass thinks this is the place where she will build her own home. While on the island, she encounters Owen Parker, a restless world vagabond who is also a known player, who has recently returned to his great-grandmother’s home for a visit. Though fascinated by him, Owen is not enough to keep Cass from the job at hand. Owen knows he has never met a girl who is not taken in by his charms, though he has never settled down but has instead traveled the world seeking his own wonder lust. Right now, he has returned to Cannonball Island because a friend has offered him a job salvaging a sunken vessel just off the island shore. From almost the start, Owen is smitten by Cass, who is newly divorced and not really ready for another man in her life. Both Owen and Cass have problematic histories and issues to resolve as well as jobs they look forward to, but the pull of each for the other can easily get in the way--if they let it.

Like the rest of the series, this book provides a good glimpse of life in a small island town as well as of the daily life of the residents who live there and have long, interesting histories connected with the island. It was interesting to watch the relationship between Own and Cass develop, while in and among a cast of colorful but loving other characters, who have been a part of Cannonball Island for years. The book definitely provides a good picture of the culture and history of the region. However, this is not my favorite in the series. I enjoyed reading it, but felt it dragged a bit and did not hold my interest as much as the other books in the series did. Still, I love all the stories about this region as presented in this book and series. I think anyone who enjoys a good storyline, infused with a good bit of history and culture, will enjoy this book. In addition, anyone who has read and enjoyed any of the other books in the series will enjoy this one. Even if you have not read the other books in the series, this one can be read as a stand-alone and will open up the rest of the series to you once you read it. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

Please find my contributor Lee's review attached, I agree with her thoughts and found this a nice, easy book to jump into the series with.

I loved this romance. I love this town and all the characters in it. My favorites are Grace and Ruby. They keep this town together. Cassidy learns to love this town and Owen has grown up here. You can feel the love just oozing out through this book. There is actually a little mystery in this one and I love the ending solution. I received this book from Simon and Schuster as part of their blog tour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

When I saw this was book 11 in the series, I thought "oh, I've missed out on a lot!" It was easy to get into, though. It was the first I had read by Mariah Stewart. As I'm not from the US, I enjoy any book that is set there. I know nothing about the Chesapeake area of Maryland, so I was happy to explore. I love stories based on islands, and although it does not start on an island, the reader is swept up in the writing and the descriptions of the surroundings. Owen Parker is a professional diver (at least in his current job, and he has had many and has traveled to a lot of places.)

Cass ventures to the area as a newly divorced woman and she is an architect. She really wants to build eco-friendly homes which use local materials on nearby Cannon Island. She's really impressed by her visit there with Owen, and even more impressed by the stories his grandmother Ruby tells Cass and the guests at the island's inn about Owen and his extended family.

The book is full of old memories and the flow is great. There's romance too, and overall the setting as well as the fact that the island is steeped in history and tradition make for an excellent read.

There's happiness, sadness tension and longing all woven in with friendship, and, of course, a beautiful wedding!

The book is pure escapism. I enjoyed seeing Cass's and Owen's friendship develop, despite their differences on some subjects. The book is made fun too by the sense of mystery and secrecy surrounding the old boat. It is a story of small-town goings on, of giving back and of helping others.


Thanks to Mariah Stewart and Simon and Schuster for my ARC. I hope to read more in the series. The diary entry at the beginning was a good, original alternative to a prologue and the characters all bring something different to the story.


Whether you love romance, island tales or just a sweet small town tale or are looking for a beach read. this is worth a read!

I do not like starting a series either in the middle or at the end of a series. I always feel like I am missing something. 9 out of 10 times, the book always references back to the earlier books in a series. I know people are asking “Why review then“. Simple. I love to read and sometimes, not always, there is a book that you can read alone from the series. The Chesapeake Bride is such a book. While it is the 11th, yes 11th!!, book in The Chesapeake Diaries series, this can be read almost as a standalone book. I say almost because there are scenes where I wished I had read the other 10 books.

The plot of The Chesapeake Bride is a pretty straightforward one. Cass is an architect who is in the process of evaluating houses on Cannonball Island. She is seeing if they could be rebuilt as they were 100 years ago. Owen is a Cannonball Island local and a bit of a free spirit. He is a ladies man who charms every woman that he meets, except Cass. The two of them connect on Cannonball Island. That is where Cass sees Owen as a player who refuses to settle down and Owen sees Cass an anomaly. Someone who is immune to his charm. The book takes off from there. There is a subplot of a sunken Revolutionary era ship in the bay which was very interesting. The other major subplot was the mystery of what Cyndy, Owen’s ex-wife, wants to talk to him about. I called that one as soon as it came up.

The Chesapeake Bride is one of those romances that you sigh over every page. Owen and Cass’s story was a true opposite attract romance. Sometimes, they are the best kind romances to read!! I love a well-written romance and Mariah Stewart has not failed me yet in any of the books that I have read and reviewed.

I loved Cass’s character. She was funny and successful. Being on Cannonball Island was helping her heal from her divorce. Then she met Owen and sparks happened. But once she got into a relationship with him, I felt that she lost some of her oomph. I felt that she overreacted to certain events that happened that involved Owen. I mean, you don’t run away from a man you love and want to be with. Luckily, her mother was able to talk some sense into her. It rubbed me the wrong way that she did what she did.

Owen was a riot. He loved the ladies and the ladies loved him. He was happy wandering the earth, doing whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted. So when he met Cass and got the cold shoulder, instead of being put off, he was attracted to her. It made him want her more. He did everything and anything to get her to like him. So when they did hook up, it was great. Then his ex-wife dropped a huge bombshell on him. She didn’t even have to cojones to tell him to his face. He had to find out this bombshell by running into her at a coffee shop with Cass. I would have reacted to same way he did. I also think I would have done the same things he did too.

When Owen and Cass finally had sex, it was pretty hot. What I liked is that it wasn’t that descriptive. Enough wordage was used so you knew what was happening but nothing too graphic. Like I have said in other reviews, I like graphic sex scenes. But I also like nongraphic sex scenes too.

The end of the book was very interesting. I did think that the Owen/Cyndy storyline was going to go in a different direction than it did. All the other storylines were wrapped up and ended in a satisfactory way. I loved the epilogue and the peek it gave into Owen and Cass’s life!!

4 stars

My Summary of The Chesapeake Bride:

The Chesapeake Bride is a cute, fast paced romance with a few curveballs thrown into it. With truly imaginable characters and a great storyline, you will get sucked into the book. Definitely a book that I will recommend to people!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Language and sex (not graphic)

I would like to thank Mariah Stewart, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, Pocket Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Chesapeake Bride

All opinions stated in this review of The Chesapeake Bride are mine and I received no financial compensation for this review.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

In the past I've had a bit of a complicated relationship with Mariah Stewart. Some of her books were fantastic but some were meh. However, I think it's time to be done with that as the last few books - including this one- have been firmly in the fantastic realm.

The romance was good though there are some strong "thou dost protest too much" elements. Owen is definitely going to leave as soon as he finishes the job he's on. Just ask him, he'll tell you. Cass is quite convinced Owen is a player and anyway she has no interest in being in a relationship. Just ask her, she'll tell you. This can easily be overdone and fall into the irritating category but that wasn't the case here. It just explained why they were a little reluctant to jump into a relationship. I really liked both characters. Cass is intelligent and committed to doing the best job she can rebuilding and selling some of the houses on Cannonball Island. I liked that her motivations were really to do a good job and honor the history of the island and not just get ahead. Owen is a nice guy who is committed to his family - especially his great-grandmother which was lovely to see. He's self aware to realize that there may not be that much time left with her and is trying to figure out what to do about it. As well, he's able to really apologize when he needs too which is also a big plus in my book.

This isn't strictly a romance. We see a lot of the community of Cannonball Island especially which I really loved. I loved seeing the history of the place and enjoyed the discussions on how to realistically preserve it so that the past residents won't be forgotten. Stewart has created a world that I really enjoyed visiting and am already longing to revisit. While some of the earlier books didn't wow me the last few have been wonderful and this is a series I'm really looking forward to continuing with!

Read all my reviews at: https://brainfartsandbooks.wordpress.com

Predictable? Yes. Still a fabulous read? YES! This is the second Mariah Stewart book I’ve read. Both books were so good even though this is not usually a genre I read a lot of. What I really enjoyed about this book is that it wasn’t all about the romance. It was about the history of the town the main characters were living in, Chesapeake Bay, and the everyday lives of the people who lived there. Cass Logan works for her father’s development company and upon arrival, is able to resist the handsome Owen Parker, a native of the land who has just come back from being away on different jobs that have brought him around the world. The two are brought together and develop a deep friendship. Owen, who is characterized by Cass as a “player”, is smitten with Cass but finds himself not only caring about her looks, but also caring about the things she is interested in including the history of the island and his family. I absolutely loved all the characters in this book and the way Mariah Stewart developed the deep relationships between Owen and his great-grandmother and sister, Lis. This book was beautifully written.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mariah Stewart, and Pocket Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Chesapeake Bride may have been my first of Mariah Stewart's, but it certainly won't be my last! This book had everything I love in a great book: a touch of romance, adventure, islands, unexpected surprises, a satisfying ending, and empowered women.

Chesapeake Bride

By Mariah Stewart

Cute, romance, very light story. Another check mark in the Cannonball island, Chesapeake Diaries series. Ms. Stewart again does not disappoint. Regardless, of rather you have read others in the series or not you will still love this addition. Cass and Owen, a true contemporary love story. Enjoy⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dawnwellsreview.wordpress.com

Cassidy was such an interesting character - smart, great ideas, ecologically and historically minded, all in all my kinda heroine. Her pairing with Owen was interesting - he was quite the guy. Their relationship seemed very natural and I love Ms. Stewart's writing style.

Mariah Stewart is an excellent author - her words bring vivid imagery in your head and the characters and places are easily relatable. The Chesapeake Bride is the 11th book in her Chesapeake Diaries series and while there are characters from previous stories interwoven into this one, it is not necessary to have read the other books.
What I enjoyed about The Chesapeake Bride is the interaction between the main characters. Even the supporting characters have their own incredible sub-stories and personalities that meshes well nicely into one very satisfying and complete story.
As usual, Ms. Stewart's words take you into the characters' worlds, and you feel as if you're right there with them. You feel their triumphs and heartaches. You walk through the various locations, And you close the book feeling as if you helped her characters reach their personal goals.
I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a clean, fun, and easy read.

Mariah Stewart takes readers back to the shore in the 11th book of The Chesapeake Diaries – The Chesapeake Bride. We have Cass, a talented architect who is developing homes on Cannonball Island which is where she meets the handsome and adventurous local son, Owen. She immediately recognizes him as a player and not worth her time or heart but her judgement may prove to be hasty and wrong. I liked that these two had substance and experience that motivated their decisions. It also helped when life throws them a curve ball. Yes, things got a little shaky but Mariah Stewart left me happy at the end and looking forward to what happens next in this enjoyable series. Although I’ve only read three of the books in this series I didn’t feel lost picking #11 up. It can easily stand alone.

I will admit that I am a huge fan of Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries Series. That said, while Owen and Cass's story was ultimately a good one, it was difficult to get into the story at first. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with their HEA. Stick with the series.

Oh this was so much fun. What a great addition. I couldn't put it down. The two main characters(really three if you consider Ruby) fit so well together and the extras kept the story going. You can't go wrong with a book by Stewart.

My Review: I must confess that I adore this series. Each book in the series focuses on a different person who lives in the town of St. Dennis. The threads that pull the stories all together are the fact that they are set in the same place and that they all are about the starting and building of new relationships and new love.

The Chesapeake Bride focuses on Owen, a man who could never seem to settle down, and Cassidy, an architect whose determined to do right with the development of a sparsely populated island just off of St. Dennis. The story follows them as they try to deny their feelings and come together despite the circumstances.

One of the details I love about this series is that the characters from past books always make appearances and the details of where they are now and what they are doing pop up, like an old friend letting you know they are doing well. It’s nice not to have to completely say goodbye to a character when I finish one book and move on to the next.

MY REVIEW OF “THE CHESAPEAKE BRIDE’ A Novel by MARIAH STEWART

I enjoyed the charming and delightful novel, “The Chesapeake Bride” by Mariah Stewart. The genres for this novel are Romance and Women’s Fiction.

I love the way Mariah Stewart describes the charming setting and town on the Chesapeake Bay, in the Cannonball Island. The artistic feel of the houses, the restaurants, the hotel, and the stores are so appealing. Whether you are clamming, or sailing on a ship, or just relaxing and having tea with home baked delicacies, there is a homey and comforting feel. The old homes are part of this Island, and have tremendous history.

The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some of the older seasoned characters have memories of the townsfolk that goes back many years. Cassidy Logan is an architect that is working for her father’s big company, and has plans to rebuild the falling down homes and use as much as she can of the materials in her new homes in this historic area. Cassidy wants to preserve the historic feel and preserve the previous family history. Owen Parker, considered an adventurer and “player” is back at home by the Chesapeake Bay to work and help his 100 year old grandmother, who runs the country store. Owen is also looking at the Chesapeake Bay for sunken ships found at the bottom, to determine the historical finds, and dive to retrieve many things.

Owen’s and the other divers have found enough to put a stop to Cassidy’s work temporarily. Cassidy has to find other alternatives to make this work.
There are a cast of colorful and quirky characters. Cassidy and Owen work closely professionally and sparks seem to fly. On this small island, people are very hospitable.

I appreciate the way the author writes about the importance of family, friendships, loyalty, love and hope. There are some twists and turns and secrets in this novel. This novel is part of a series, but can stand alone. I was captivated by the charm and story by the author and would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy Romance and Fiction. I received a copy of this book for my honest review. This novel is part of a blog tour for Mariah Stewart.

Kindle Copy for Review

Mariah Stewart brings us a love story with the Chesapeake rich history in the backdrop.

Owen Parker recently returned to his home after years of being an adventurer. His sister is about to get married and he is living with his 100 year old great grandmother. But he has a habit of running and not staying too long in one place. He will have to face his demons soon enough when he meet the new architect.

Architect Cassidy Logan works for her father’s construction company and is into preserving history. She is recently divorced and is sworn off attractive men who are adventurers like her ex.t the more time they spend together they cannot resist each other.

A sweeping tale with history that brings the past to life.

I was a bit intimidated when I picked up this book and saw it was book 11 in a series. I thought I was going to be in trouble as far as keeping up with all of the characters. However, that could not be further from the truth. The author did a fabulous job blending in the storylines from other books seamlessly so I never felt lost or wondered what I was reading.

This book is a waking talking history book of the infamous Chesapeake area of the eastern seaboard. With wonderful detail and highly descriptive portions of the area and local architecture, you are sucked into Cannonball Island and all of the interesting characters that live there.

Blended into the history of the area is a budding romance. Smitten from first glance, Owen and Cass are finding comfort in the town and each other with a few ups and downs and fearful steps along the way. Written with a slow build of romance, you become comfortable with them, just like they were an old friend. Finally cheering them on as they find their way through the inevitable stuff that pops into life.

With plenty of unique and fun characters to get to know, the activity of the wedding, and lots of exploration of the town, The Chesapeake Bride is an engaging and sweet, cozy romance that leaves you with a happy feeling and the anticipation of more to come in this series.

The Chesapeake Bride is liking taking a trip to the Chesapeake Bay complete with the feeling of experiences the historical flavor of the area. Mariah Stewart has given the reader the true feel for this area of the US through the eyes of a new comer along with one returning. Architectural heritage and sunken ships add to the story interests.

But at the heart of this story is a case of opposites attracted to each other. Cassidy and Owen ha have issues to overcome in their relationship journey. She is settle and solid but wary after a failed relationship. Owen is an adult nomad, always on the move for the next adventure. Ms. Stewart has given us complete opposites who shouldn’t have a hope of making it together. Then she throws them together into a perfect blend. The romance is amazing if bumpy.

Wonderful story of two characters finding their own place in the world as well as each other. This author always delivers.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.