Carolina Man. Virginia Kantra

Carolina Man
Virginia Kantra
Publisher: Audible Inc
Date: 2014
Format: Audiobook
Length: 9hrs 9min
Narrator: Sophie Eastlake
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Own book

Marine Luke Fletcher is determined to do his duty—first to his country and now to his ten-year-old daughter, the unexpected legacy of a high school girlfriend. But his homecoming to Dare Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks challenges his plans for the future and forces him to face everything that's missing in his life. He wasn't prepared to lose his heart to this child he never knew. Or to fall hard for coolly reserved small town lawyer Kate Dolan.

Former military brat Kate knows Marines can make lousy fathers...and she's got the scars to prove it. Giving her heart to a man who's bent on leaving seems one sure way to have it broken.Now, no matter what it takes, Luke must prove to Kate and to his daughter that Semper Fi is more than a motto—and to himself that there’s more than one way to be a hero.

Carolina Man is #3 in the Dare Island series.  It is one I have been looking forward to as I wanted to see Luke return, meet his woman and become the Dad that his daughter Taylor needs.  I enjoyed  this audiobook - again Sophie Eastlake made it a very pleasant listen. 

Luke has returned from his latest tour of duty as a marine, and because the grandparents of Taylor on the other side of the family are seeking custody, it is important that he builds his relationship with her.  He meets with the lawyer Kate and very soon they are forming a good relationship.  Kate has never known a warm family such as the Fletcher family have.  Her background is of a alcoholic father and she bares the scars of that - both inner and an outer one.  Yet it is this background experience that enables her to open her heart to Taylor just when it is needed most.

Luke is an upright, caring kind of man and as he gets to know his daughter more, he grows into being the best kind of Dad.  Taylor's story which began in an earlier book now reaches its final conclusion in this book - sad yet heartwarming because of the way Luke, Josh and Kate respond to her. 

The other members of the family are not so much in this book, although I did enjoy Josh's interactions with both Luke and Taylor.  Perhaps one day there will be a book for Josh when he grows up a little.

Jack Rossi the local policeman is introduced in this book, it seems he may be the next one to have a book, I am not sure how I will like that as the whole Fletcher family aspect has made these books for me, without that I am not sure, but will be prepared to listen when Carolina Blues is available and then decide! 

Dare Island Series.

1. Carolina Home.                                       4. Carolina Blues (TBP)

2. Carolina Girl.

3. Carolina Man. 

Carolina Girl. Virginia Kantra

Carolina Girl
Virginia Kantra
Published: Audible Inc. 2013
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hours 31 minutes
Narrator:  Sophie Eastlake
Source: Own audiobook

Meg Fletcher spent her childhood dreaming of escaping Dare Island - her family's home for generations. So after she landed a high-powered job in New York City, she left and never looked back. But when she loses both her job and the support of her long-term, live-in boyfriend, she returns home to lick her wounds and reevaluate her life. Helping out her parents at the family inn, she can't avoid the reminders of the past she'd rather forget - especially charming and successful Sam Grady, her brother's best friend. Their one disastrous night of teenage passion should have forever killed their childhood attraction, but Sam seems determined to reignite those long-buried embers. As Meg discovers the man he's become, she's tempted to open her vulnerable heart to him. But she has no intention of staying on Dare Island - no matter how seductive Sam's embrace might be....

Carolina Girl is the second in the Dare Island series and tells the story of Meg, the daughter who does not want to end up like her mother, with a family and confined to Dare Island.  However in this book Meg has a few wake up moments - one losing her job, and two losing her scumbag live in boyfriend. They own an apartment together and work at the same place.  However he does the dirty on her, and she returns to Dare Island.

On Dare Island is the wonderful Sam - well I liked him, although Meg has a love/hate relationship going there with him for awhile.  He is the complete opposite to her boyfriend in New York, and far more successful in business too.

Meg finds that she begins to change her views, and rebuilds her lost relationship with Sam and her family.  She comes to champion her niece Tayla and fights with the family to keep the custody arrangement that they have.

Again the narrator does a very good piece of narration, and I enjoyed this easy, gentle family story. Nothing taxing for the brain, a perfect book to listen to when tired.  I will certainly buy the next audiobook in this series.

Dare Island Series.

1. Carolina Home.

2. Carolina Girl.

3. Carolina Man. TBP 2014

Review: Carolina Home. Virginia Kantra.

Carolina Home
Virginia Kantra
Published: Audible Inc.  2013
Format: Audio
Narrator: Sophie Eastlake
Length: 8 hrs 48 min
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Own audiobook.

Home to the Fletcher family for generations, Dare Island is a fishing village rocked by changing times - its traditions slipping away like sands of the North Carolina coast. Single dad and fishing boat captain Matt Fletcher deferred his own dreams to support his innkeeper parents and build a future for his sixteen-year-old son. Matt has learned to weather life's storms by steering a steady emotional course...and keeping a commitment-free approach to love.

Newcomer Allison Carter came to Dare Island to escape the emotional demands of her wealthy family. The young teacher aims to build a life here, to make a lasting place for herself. She doesn't want to be another Woman Who Once Dated Matt Fletcher. It's both tempting and dangerous to believe she can be something more.

Then Matt's brother Luke makes a sudden return home, with a child of his own - and a request that will change all their lives. With a child's welfare at stake, Matt must turn to Allison to teach him to let go of the past, open his eyes...and follow his heart.

My thoughts
I really enjoyed this audiobook.  I have long wanted to try another  Virginia Kantra novel, Carolina Home was a winner for me; I will definitely finish out this series and then read something else written by her.

This is set in a small town neighbourhood, it is family oriented and the characters are very loveable. Not just the two main characters, but the rest of Matt's family; his son Josh, his niece Tayla and his brother Luke and sister Meg.  His mom and dad are a great couple, and it is his dad's words that finally help Matt make peace with his past and reach out for what he really wants.

Allison is one of those sweet but amazing characters, she has endured parents who value wealth and 'who and how much you have' over real relationships.  She has struck out and gone after what she values and wants.  She cares about her pupils and Matt and his family.  It is not easy to chase her away, although it can be done!

Tayla ( not sure of the spelling as my version is the audiobook) was a character you can't but help your heart  going out to.  Matt definitely shows his mettle in his dealing with her.  There is a dog who plays a small but important role in this story, and again adds that touch of heart-warmth to the story.

Not every detail was wrapped up by the end of the book - certainly just enough to make me want to know what happens further on down the track.

The narrator did a very good job in my opinion - with voice variation and just that phrasing and intonation that lifted this book to a whole new level.  So much so, that even though I would like to dash off and read the kindle version of the next book, I am going to listen instead to the audio a little down the track.

Dare Island Series.

1. Carolina Home.

2. Carolina Girl.

3. Carolina Man.