Three Promises. Lily Everett

Three Promises 
Lily Everett
Published: St Martin's Paperbacks
Date: 2nd February 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
                    

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles' wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he'll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

Three Promises by Lily Everett is part of her Sanctuary Island books, and is really three previously published novellas now gathered together in one book telling the story of the billionaire bachelors. Miles Harrington makes a bet with his three billionaire friends that by the time he is married their hearts will have become entangled for ever with someone. If anyone is able to hold out, they'll gain his private helicopter and all its privileges. He asks each of them to come to the Island at least four weeks before his wedding and gives each of them a task to accomplish for his wedding.

He asks Leo, a British lord, to find and present a secular reading at the wedding. Upon arriving at The Fireside Inn, Leo proceeds to the local library to ask the help of Serena - head librarian. She agrees with the proviso that he helps her to have access to the Harrington family, so she can canvas needed finance to keep the local library going. And so they get together, although the going is not easy and there are obstacles that almost send them apart as they touch into hurts from their pasts.

Bonfire Beach is the next story and is about Zane and Felicity. Felicity is the wedding planner and Zane has been set the task of helping her. Right from the start they clash in ideas. Felicity wants romantic, Zane wants anything but. As they begin however to be attracted to each other their pasts again intrude. They have a history of guilt and loss. As well Zane is unable to depth a relationship. In the end they retire to their own corners, and split the tasks.

The last story is Lantern Lake and is a second chance love story. Vivian Banks left Cooper on their wedding day back when they were in college. Now at Miles and Greta's wedding, Cooper takes the opportunity to spend some time with Vivian and punish her for what she did. There positions have now see-sawed, while he is no longer a hard-working poor student but a billionaire thanks to a smart app, she has lost all her wealth. Spending time together in an old fixer upper, it soon becomes clear there just might be a second chance for them.

I enjoyed all three stories, they were well written and fun. I loved the epilogue at the end that tied all the ends together, and proved that Miles knew his friends and Sanctuary Island very well.

Home For Christmas. Lily Everett

Home for Christmas (#4 Sanctuary Island)
Lily Everett
Published: St Martin's Press
Date: 6th October 2015
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley



Libby Leeds writes for a magazine, all about her wonderful life on Sanctuary Island where she is an exemplary cook, wife and possibly mother!  All is well with the world except... Libby doesn't actually live where she says she does and her editor has said she must provide a wonderful Christmas for a returned soldier/hero (Owen) and his daughter.  Libby has to agree, because she needs to pay for the care of her Uncle Ray who is ill.

Libby does have a grandfather and cousin on Sanctuary Island so she has that going for her, but will that be enough to get her through. As for Owen he wants to connect with the 9 year old daughter Caitlin. He has never met her before. It's somewhat unsettling for Caitlin because for the first time in forever she has found security with his sister  Andi and Sam her partner. (Heartbreak Cove #3). Now she is frightened that Owen will whisk her away or leave her and Sam and Andi won't want her.

As December begins they all find themselves settling in, taking risky steps towards and away from each other.  At times all seems lost and that past hurts and family dissonance from the past will win.

I really liked all the characters, I enjoyed seeing Libby finding her feet, finding her place once more and winning through. I liked the struggle that Owen goes through, overcoming injury and then ultimately making the choice that a soldier/hero must make.

Another character we get to see a little beneath the veneer is Dabney Leeds.  A somewhat grumpy old man, who has wrapped himself up in himself and harbored the hurts of the past. But... he has some surprises coming to him as well as a few of his own.

This story of forgiveness, second chances, love and family is a perfect Christmas story. While it is #4 in the Sanctuary Island series it could be read as a stand alone. If you don't like your stories heavily sexy then this will suit you. For me, it brought alive the perfections and imperfections of the magical season of Christmas.

Heartbreak Cove. Lily Everett.

Heartbreak Cove
Lily Everett
Published: St Martin's Press
Date: 3rd March 2015
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Sheriff Andie Shepard may be new to Sanctuary Island, but, like everyone else who comes here, she’s already fallen under its healing spell. Andie is determined to leave her mistakes behind her and make this scenic haven her home. But she just might have to change her plans—as well as open her heart—when an unexpected visitor shows up on her doorstep…

Caitlin is the ten-year-old niece Andie never knew she had. Silent, wary, and shy as can be, Caitlin only responds to the horses that run wild across the island. Andie has no idea how to deal with Caitlin—until Sam Brennan enters the picture. A tall, handsome loner who rehabilitates abused horses, Sam is able to help Caitlin break out of her shell. But that’s not all: He finds a way to touch something deep in Andie’s heart, opening her up to the healing power of love. Together, these three lost souls must face the darkness in their past to build a brighter future. Because here, on Sanctuary Island, anything is possible…

Heartbreak Cove is #3 in Lily Everett's Sanctuary Island series.  It is another small town, contemporary romance, with enough points of difference to help it stand out from the myriad of books that follow this format.  I quickly became engaged and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Andi Shepard is the local sheriff, once a city cop, but now doing her policing in a place she loves. Just when things are going along nicely for Andi some surprises come her way that turn her world upside down.  Caitlin arrives, insecure and untrusting of women especially.  Andi will have her work cut out to gain her trust.  Then Sam arrives back on the island and starts Andi off in a journey of self discovery and reformulating of what she believes.  As well as that the local rich man Dabney Leeds is about to shake up Andi's hold on the sheriff badge.  I really liked how Andi adapted to all these challenges and in spite of her family background comes through for herself, Caitlin and Sam.

Sam arrives on the island with a highly strung horse that needs to be rescued from its abusive owner. Queenie takes up residence at Jo's stables and Caitlin falls in love with her, even though the two are no way ready for each other.  Later added into this mix is another local horse that badly needs Sam's help and attention.  Sam too has a really sad, tough background and he doesn't want this to anyway harm Andi or Caitlin.  What he doesn't figure on is the love they have for him or the sense of pride and community on this island.  Here they value horses, there are a group of wild horses protected on this island, so Sam's work is rated.

Along with all this runs a smaller story of Taylor and Matt.  Previously these two were found illegally hanging out in Heartbreak Cove - part of the wild horse sanctuary.  They had been dealt with by Andi and Taylor especially has changed her wild teenage ways.  She has some skills on computer, and is best friends with Matt who has a girlfriend.  But Taylor wants more.

My prediction of what would happen to the horses turned out to be correct.  I found the ending satisfying, in a slightly Disney or Hallmark movie way.  I did have questions about the way one of the townspeople turned at the end.  Slightly all too cosy an ending. However I love a happy ending for everyone so I am not too upset by it.

I will most certainly be looking forward to Home For Christmas later in the year - which tells the story of Caitlin's Dad.  I am sure we'll see him before too much longer on Sanctuary Island.

Sanctuary Island

Publisher:  St Martin's Press
Date Published:  July 30th 2013
Format: ebook
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher via Netgalley.

Summary from Goodreads

When Ella's sister decides to reunite with their estranged mother, Ella goes along for the ride - its always been the two Preston girls against the world.  But Sanctuary Island , a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast, is more inviting than she ever imagined.  And it holds more than one last opportunity to heal their broken family - if Ella can open her carefully guarded heart, there is always the chance for new beginnings.

Grady Wilkes is a handyman who can fix anything... except the scars of his own past. When he accepts the task of showing Ella the simple beauties of the island that healed him, he discovers a deep sense of comfort that he thought he'd lost.  But now he must convince the woman who never intended to stay on Sanctuary Island anything is possible - forgiving past mistakes, rediscovering the simple joys of life, and maybe even falling in love.

My thoughts:
This is a story that is well written and enjoyable to read.  It centres on the visit of Ella and her sister Merry, to there mother Jo Ellen, after many years of being separated.  Ella is rather closed towards her mother, while Merry is more open and desiring of reconciling with her.  There father had taken the two girls away from their mother who had been an alcoholic, when they were younger. As a result Ella has had many years of therapy, yet still is unable to forgive and be open to a new future.

I have to say I did not warm that much to Ella, even by the end of the book.  I much preferred Jo Ellen, the mother and Merry her sister. I liked the way Merry stood up to Ella, at one point, it was needed!  They seemed more human, open, loving people.  Yes Ella had many issues resulting from being the child of an alcoholic and then taking on a 'parent' like responsibility for her sister Merry, yet with years of therapy she still has many 'sharp edges' to her personality.

With Grady, I felt she could easily have let him know of the actual plans she had for helping her mother out, but she withheld them, which of course led to misunderstandings and the climax in the book.

I look forward to Merry and Ben's story (the vet on the island) I took to this couple straight away.  I also hope that Jo Ellen and Harrison ( Jo's love interest) will develop to a satisfactory conclusion.

When reading a book have you ever not really liked the heroine in the book?