Another sweet story from Mariah Stewart. I have really enjoyed getting to know the Cannonball Island residents in this series. I would love to buy one of Cassie’s designs and live out my days on such an island. Not only have I loved the couple who have come out of the place, I also love Ruby and the descriptions of the atmosphere.

Owen is like a teenager in the way he goes about wooing Cassidy. Not that he’s immature about it, but he plays a little game of acting like he’s not that into her. Don’t get me wrong. He’s not a jerk or anything. Just kind of cute and innocent with Cassidy.

I was already a fan of Cass after the last book when everything about the development of the island came to a head. She is so passionate about the things she loves. When her passion gets a bit over the top it can be taken the wrong way, and Owen does misinterpret her motives at one point. But it’s soon very apparent that Cass just goes all in when she has a job she loves and there isn’t a deceitful bone in her body.

There is a pretty big issue that has to do with Owen that most readers will figure out pretty quickly. As much as I enjoyed that monkey wrench I wasn’t crazy about the timing of the issue (I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop forever!) and that it all moved very quickly with not a lot of details. It’s kind of funny since a past complaint of mine with this series was the use of details that weren’t needed. In this portion of the story I felt there were some details that weren’t fleshed out as well as I would have liked.

Oddly enough, I thought book 9 in this series was going to be the last of the series. From the introduction of some new characters and situations in this story it seems there is still quite a bit of steam in this story. I only hope these stories deal with Cannonball Island a bit more.

3.5 stars

Having read and enjoyed many of the books in this series, it is easy to see how the series is still going strong with this book, number eleven! Once again Mariah Stewart has written a great small town contemporary romance with characters that you just can't help but liking. Even though she keeps introducing new characters which will undoubtedly become future books, she still manages to keep them all connected while incorporating former couples into the newest story line. But yet manages to do so in such a way that its ok if you haven't read all of the books. However, it does make me want to go back and read the few books that I have missed just because I like the characters and their stories. One of the best parts of this series is the diary entries from Grace that start and end each book. Grace is like the town matriarch/historian/reporter and since she has the gift of sight her entries always prove to be entertaining and slightly cryptic. I do enjoy how Grace hints at what is to come without making the story delve into paranormal romance territory. I look forward to many more entries into this series in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

THE CHESAPEAKE BRIDE – Mariah Stewart
The Chesapeake Diaries – Book 3
Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-1-5011-5435-5
SBN: 978-1-5011-5438-6 (ebook)

Cannonball Island, Chesapeake Bay – The Present

Owen Parker has returned home to Cannonball Island. He is staying with his Great-Grandma Ruby, the 100-year-old owner of the island’s General Store, while he waits for his boss to arrive. As a diver, Owen will help explore the possibility of a sunken ship on top of another sunken item at the mouth of the riverside of the island. The timing is good as his younger sister Lis is planning her wedding, and between her and helping Ruby, Owen keeps busy. He has been a rambling man not only in his running habit to keep fit, but also in his jobs in many locations around the world including Alaska, Australia, and Costa Rica. He meets the new architect on the island while running and feels an unaccountable attraction to the woman beyond her beauty.

Cassidy Logan’s father has bought up most of the vacant property on Cannonball Island, and Cassidy has to figure out how to renovate or build new homes for his housing project, including a dock for the new owners’ boats. Many of the residents have left the island for economic reasons. She recently divorced her husband in an amicable end. He wanted to stay in the military. Cassie had had other plans which including having her man home. She is in no hurry to get involved with another man who doesn’t want to stay in one place. A man like Owen.

Ruby Carter has second sight and knows Owen was brought back to the island for a reason and hope he acts on it. She is an interesting character with a strong sense of place and a unique voice. While Owen is interested in Cassidy, he also knows he needs to move carefully. He helps her with the problems inherent in her plans to renovate the island’s properties. Problems occur between them and other surprises brought to light do not increase their chances of a happy ever after. Great characters, beautiful setting, and an improbable relationship makes this a good read with descriptions that will literally transport the reader to Cannonball Island.

Robin Lee

I don't know how I've missed this series until now, when Netgalley granted me an ARC, since I'm from the area and read pretty much everything that features the Chesapeake. You can read this as a standalone (which I did) and have a good time. You know, don't you, that Cassidy and Owen are going to get together? Well, you'll have a good time watching them do the romance dance as they go about their business on Cannonball Island. They are both delightful characters who are more than they seem on the surface. I liked that Cassidy is an architect and that she is sensitive to building in a fragile ecosystem. Owen's background as a man of all sorts makes him fun too. This is light entertaining reading. I'm going to look for future books in this series (who will Stewart focus on next?).

I have been reading Mariah Stewart since she first started writing. I love all of her books. I would recommend the Chesapeake Diary series to any romance reader. The descriptions of the setting makes you want to visit there and the characters grab you by the heart strings. Lots of emotion in her writing

This series is definitely one of my favorites. It is good to visit with the people of St. Dennis again. Owen didn't have to work at any relationships, because women flocked to him. He is always moving from one place to the next. Always the rolling stone. But, his heart is always back on Cannonball Island. Cass has found her heart on Cannonball Island. She wants to build new homes, but still preserve the old. She also wants to build her own home there. When Owen meets Cass he knows she is the one for him, but can he stay in one spot long enough? When he is dealt a blow from his ex-wife, he has to figure out what he really wants. Will Cass wait for him to make up his mind?

A light, appealing romance. Cass Logan has come to the small Chesapeake town of St. Denis to build homes on Cannonball Island. Owen Parker, rolling stone grandson of the oldest inhabitant, is back to dive a wreck found offshore. They immediately find each other appealing, but Cass is not interested in becoming involved in someone who won't stick around. They spend a lot of time together anyway, as Owen shows her the real Cannonball, and things slowly develop from there.

What a charming and clever tale! I've not had the opportunity to read the earlier novels in this series but will now. Owen and Cass have fairly recent divorces in their pasts and aren't feeling ready for a relationship. However, Owens great grandmother "sees" a future for them, and they begin to feel it too!

I can't believe we are already up to eleven books in the Chesapeake Diaries series. I've really fallen in love with this town and the people who live there.

Since book one what really made this series was Grace. I love the diary prologues that happen at the beginning of each book by Grace. I might be wrong but I think in the earlier books she wrote more then one entry. From them you are reminded about what happened in a prior book and what's coming in the one you are reading.

A very smart tool when you only get one book a year in this series.

For those of us reading this series we know that we've now moved over to Cannonball Island and Ruby. Oh boy do we love Ruby. Is there anybody from the island she doesn't know or knew in some cases? I will admit that she is 100 so I worry about her being around anymore. But maybe this will be the last book in the series and it won't matter? To be honest I don't know if there will be anymore.

Ruby's great-grandson Owen is staying with her while he tries to figure out what he wants to do next. He's the type of guy who doesn't let moss grow underneath his feet. Not great romance material, or is he just waiting to that one person that helps him find home?

Cass might only be there to build homes on Cannonball Island but she seems to also be falling in love with both St. Dennis and Cannonball Island and maybe a Owen a little bit too!

I really love these two together. Both Cassidy and Owen match. They might not know it at first but soon learn. Cass finds the ability to love and trust again in Owen and he finds home with her.

You will really enjoy the romantic dance these two go through. You will also love learning all the history surrounding Cannonball Island. It's a very rich history. If this is the last one in the series then I think it ended well, if not I will be sure to read what's next.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was nice to get back to a familiar place with familiar characters. A great story line. I was hooked from the first page.

Mariah Stewart is a master at storytelling. You feel as if you've stepped into the book and you're apart of it. Fantastic read!

I was thrilled to get an ARC of Mariah Stewart’s newest book. <u> The Chesapeake Bride</u> is the first book in Ms. Stewart’s newest series <i> The Chesapeake Diaries</i>. As you can tell from the title, this book takes place on the Chesapeake Bay in the small town of St. Dennis and on Cannonball Island. Ms. Stewart not only captures the essence of the Chesapeake Bay, but also the history of the area.
Cassidy Logan is an architect. She may work for her father’s firm, but her designs and success are all her own. Her latest project is to rebuild the structures on Cannonball Island as new vacation homes. Cassidy plans to use as much of the area’s history as possible and to preserve everything she can. As she spends more time on the island, she comes to understand what makes is particularly unique. Of course, having a handsome native to the island to give her information and help her out doesn’t hurt.
Owen Parker was born and raised on Cannonball Island, but has spent most of his adult years wandering. Now he feels the need to return home. His great grandmother is one hundred years old and is starting to slow down some. Hearing about the development on the island and being offered a job to dive in the river and bay surrounding it make coming home easier. When Owen meets Cassidy, sparks fly—at least for him. She seems to want nothing to do with him and his charming ways.
Cassidy and Owen both love Cannonball Island and that shows through the rich descriptions and the history that Ms. Stewart shares in this book. As they work together to bring the island back together, they also find more and more to like about each other. Cassidy knows that Owen is a playboy so she has to decide how much of their attraction is real and how long it can last. For a successful woman, Cassidy has her own baggage with relationships and we see that when things get rocky for the couple.
I liked almost everything about this book. There is a subplot which I won’t spoil by giving it away that seems to unnecessarily complicate things for everyone. Not only is the subplot predicable which eliminates some of the surprise that I think Ms. Stewart was trying to introduce, but it adds drama that isn’t needed. If this small part was removed, the story would have flowed more smoothly. Cassidy and Owen have enough things to work out without this complication.

Cassidy Logan is an architect who has come to Cannonball Island to build small getaway homes. She wants to honor the history of the homes and be eco friendly by using as much of the materials from the old homes on the sites as she can. Owen Parker has returned to the Island after traveling all over the world following his dreams. Owen will be working on a salvage job on the island. Cassidy has met Logan and knows his reputation. She considers him a Player and knows he never stays in one place long.

This is part of the Chesapeake Bride series, but I feel it could be read as a stand alone. The author does a good job of filling in history of the characters from previous books. This is a good romance read, I loved the story line. The author makes you feel like you are a part of Cannonball Island. There are some very likable characters in this book, especially Ruby. Loved her. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy of this book.