Friday, October 21, 2011

Review: Sunrise on Cedar Key by Terri DuLong



Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Kensington (first published October 25th 2011)
ISBN : 0758268653 (ISBN13: 9780758268655)
From the publisher:
Set on the enchanting island of Cedar Key, Terri DuLong's new novel weaves a warm, welcoming tale of second—and even third—chances, of long-held secrets, and newfound loves. . .
For the second time in ten years, Grace Stone is starting over on Cedar Key. Grace first moved to the serene island to escape a disastrous relationship. Now a visit with her Aunt Maude is interrupted by unwelcome news: Grace's apartment and coffee shop have been destroyed by fire.
Grace is devastated, yet ever-practical Maude has a plan. While she helps Grace resettle, Maude even has a business venture in mind—weekend knitting retreats where women can craft, chat, and support one another.
But other surprises await, including the return of Grace's estranged sister, and a tentative romance with the local bookstore owner. Knitting together her past and future will mean untangling the painful threads Grace left behind. But the result could be a vibrant new life—and the courage to live it fully. .


My thoughts:  Reading about the community in Cedar Key is like a visit with very good friends that always leaves me with feelings of warmth. In her stories, DuLong celebrates womanhood, family relationships, love and friendships. Not all is sweetness and light. Her characters are strong women who have hurdles to jump but are finally able to put the past to rest and to face the future with courage and hope. It's how her well developed characters handle their hurts and joys that appeals the most to me. Although sometimes there is sorrow and we may have to say goodbye to some while welcoming others;  it's just like in real life with a balance of pain and pleasure. A visit to Cedar Key is always a much anticipated joy!
 Sunrise in Cedar Key is # 3 in the Cedar Key series. Any one of these books can be read as a stand-alone, however I would recommend  starting with the first in the series. Each book features one of the residents of this wonderful community with the rest of the residents playing a very supportive part.  As Aunt Maude says, everyone has a story and I for one can't wait for the next adventure from Cedar Key!

You don't have to be a knitter to enjoy these heart-felt stories.  4****

Terri DuLong hails from my home state of MA and now lives in Cedar Key just about an hour north of Podunk. Be sure to follow the link to Cedar Key to see more about the characters and the locations in Terri's books.  Terri can be found on Facebook and at her website. Her previous novels include Casting About and Spinning Forward.
 
 
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Terri DuLong, in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you so much, Terri, for another wonderful visit in Cedar Key!

14 comments:

  1. This series has been on my radar for quite a while. I must start it before any more books are published! LOL

    Love the cover on this one. I am not a knitter, but I love knitting fiction. :-)

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  2. I need to put this series on my wish list. I love it when a series is set in a community like this. Every time you start to read a new book it feels like going home.

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  3. This sounds like one of those comfort reads. Lovely for winter. I must check out the Cedar Key Series.

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  4. I think this is a series worth investigating. I love it that the book seems to highlight such a great community of women, and would love to check these books out, even though I am not really a knitter (yet)!

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  5. I've enjoyed this series so I'm really glad to see you liked the latest. I can't wait to read it!

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  6. I have both of her first books to read yet. I keep meaning to read them but haven't gotten around to it yet.

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  7. This sounds wonderful, and I absolutely love the cover!

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  8. This sounds like a really sweet series! I adore that cover.

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  9. yes...love the cover too!
    and I love that it is set on Cedar Key. I read another book, not too long ago set there and for the life of me I have no idea what it was but it was not in this series.

    I don't want to live in Florida (even more flat than south Jersey) but I enjoy books set there.

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  10. I've never read any of these but I'm sold by the cover alone- love a picture of balls of yarn!

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  11. What is it with books with yarn on the covers, they always makes me want to read them :=)

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  12. I'm so going to read this series. I love to read about knitting even though I can't do it!! I like this type of book!!

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  13. I have the first one and still haven't read it. I'm so glad to hear the series is good. Now I have 3 books to read instead of just the 1!
    Beautiful cover, great review!!

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