Half Moon Harbor. Donna Kauffman

Half Moon Harbor
Donna Kauffman
Publisher: Kensington Books
Date: April 29th 2014
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Bold, brash, Irish--Brodie Monaghan's been breaking hearts ever since he arrived in Maine to rebuild the family business. Still, there's one woman he just can't wow. Grace Maddox claims she's now part owner of Monaghan Shipbuilders, and she has her own dreams for the weathered dockside buildings. Tiny Blueberry Cove has a way of welcoming strangers with wide open arms, but is the sleepy coastal village ready for the fireworks these two spark?

DIY is so much better with two. . .

I was drawn by the cover of this book and then wanted to read the book.  I hadn't read anything by Donna Kauffman before and wasn't sure as I began.  However it wasn't long before I was drawn in by this warm, sexy, small town story.

Brodie has returned to Half Moon Harbor to recreate the shipping business once begun by his ancestors.  Unfortunately it has lay wasting for many years and now he owes back taxes to the local council.  Right from under his nose the revengeful real estate agent sells a piece of the shipping yard to Grace.  The revenging agent - Cami, doesn't mention to either Grace or Brodie what she is doing, and so both of them are a surprise to each other.  Not the best way to start of a relationship of any kind.

Brodie is warm, charming and full of the Irish.  He is talented and is obviously going to eventually be successful in his ship building venture in the cove.  He is very likeable, direct, honest and shows a lot of integrity.  It is not long before he recognises the true value of Grace. Just as he had recognised the lack of integrity in Cami, had rejected her and which is why now Cami has her guns pointed at him.

Grace has quite a background, both parents died early in her life and apart from one older brother - Ford, has no family.  She has come to the harbor in Maine to reconnect with her brother.  He is much older and has completed quite a few tours as a serviceman.  These have changed him, and while Grace is anxious about reconnecting, her need for family and love is greater.  One of my favorite scenes is when Grace goes to the island where Ford is living  for that first reconnection - very moving.

The other favorite scene is when Cami breaks in on Grace and Brodie and meets her just dues.  Very satisfying.  Other things I loved about this book were: Whomper the pet dog that Grace has, the scenery details and the formation of various relationships.  

This book is the second one in the Bachelors of Blueberry Cove, I am already looking forward to the third one out later this year,  the story of Delia - Grace has formed a great relationship with her in Half Moon Harbor - and hopefully Ford, Grace's brother.