This series was fantastic. Charming setting, amazing love story. It has the perfect ingredients for a cozy read.

The Chesapeake Bride is a good fit for readers who enjoy stories about determined women finding their place and building a future, while also navigating the complexities of romantic relationships and personal growth.

The Chesapeake Bride by Mariah Stewart

The Chesapeake Bride is my first dip into the Chesapeake Diaries series, so I was little worried Ii'd be missing way too much information to be able to enjoy the story and feel like I knew what was going on. Mariah Stewart did a great job of subtly cluing me in on what I needed to know in a way that felt natural and not like an info-dump. I love Cannonball Island, and I loved learning the bits of history of the area. The descriptions of the scenery and the architecture were lovely, and immersed me in this location. The location was honestly my favorite part of the story. I liked Cass, but found her to be a little overbearing at times. Owen balances her out well, though, and I did grow to appreciate Cass's passion as I got to know her better. The romance is a very slow burn, which I liked. The inevitable drama that arises in any romance novel was worked through nicely, yet I wanted more information surrounding one particular issue that arises regarding Owen. All in all, though, I loved the small town feelings in this book, the scenery, and the characters! I want to geo read all of their stories now!

I’ve been a fan of Mariah Stewart’s Chesapeake Diaries series since the first book released in 2010. I love small town series that revolves around the community as you get to know all the residents, and it’s like seeing old friends while you’re meeting new ones as you read each book. It’s been a couple of years since I read this series, but I easily fell into the story with some nostalgia.

Most of this series takes place in St. Dennis, Maryland. But while there are moments in St. Dennis, most of this book is set in Cannonball Island, a small community that has slowly been dying off. But Cass is in town to try to revitalize the island, and Owen has come home to do some salvage diving and help out his great-grandmother. This little island setting was perfect as I’m not sure much more could have been told in the community of St. Dennis, but this little off-shoot has been mostly untapped and ripe for exploring.

Cass and Owen have an attraction, but neither of them really wants to get into a relationship. Owen doesn’t want to be tied down, and Cass is freshly out of a marriage and not ready. These two build a friendship, which slowly blossoms into more. I appreciated how Ms. Stewart developed their relationship and romance. It wasn’t fast and hot and heavy, but rather simmered and was all the sweeter in the end. It wasn’t smooth sailing, and there were bumps in the road that weren’t exactly a surprise, but there was a happily ever after that I always crave.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the backstories thrown into this book, the history of Cannonball Island, and the families that used to live there. It gave more depth to the story. And of course, there were many familiar faces from previous books in the series, but I feel that this story does stand on its own.

With a series that’s been going on this long, I start to worry that there aren’t more stories to tell or that they’ll get repetitive. However, I felt that this story was a breath of new life into the series with the change in scenery. I thoroughly recommend this series and The Chesapeake Bride, particularly to fans of small-town contemporary romance.

Cute, light romance sure to please Stewart's fans. I haven't read any other books in this series, but this one stands alone easily so I could figure out what was going on. I liked the characters and enjoyed the story overall.

The Chesapeake Bride, #11 in the Chesapeake Diaries series, takes the reader back to the town of St. Dennis to catch up with the residents of Cannonbull Island. Ruby Carter, the matriarch of the island, has welcomed back home her grandson, Owen Parker, a man who is a drifter and an adventurist at heart - never seeming to stay in one place for very long. Owen is back on the island for his sister's wedding and a diving job off the coast, looking into a sunken ship recently found after ages underwater. Cass Logan is the newcomer to the island, a successful young architect who is developing all the old properties on the island. As their paths continue to cross, Cass and Owen try to avoid their growing attraction to each other. How could it work - he's a dreamer and she's committed to making St. Dennis her new, permanent home.

This is such a great series and I look forward to reading each new installment. I love that the author always make sure to revisit past characters in each new book. It's like catching up with old friends. I've enjoyed getting to know the residents of Cannonbull Island, especially Ruby. This was a fun, short read. I was a little frustrated with Cass's insecurities in their relationship at the end - especially because there was another fiancé in the mix. It seemed like a little bit of a stretch for the sake of the story and the arc. But I would definitely recommend this, especially to those who love the resident of St. Dennis. I'm looking forward to the next installment!

What a sweet, fantastic addition to a series that is near & dear to my heart. I absolutely adore Mariah Stewart, I have been holding onto her last couple books to binge.

And so I devoured this, trying to make it last. Owen & Cass where such a special story. And I have to say I knew the twist was coming, so I wasn’t surprised. But that I knew didn’t take away from the gasp moments.

I also loved getting a peek at all the other characters I have previously fell in love with. I loved how Cass fit in so effortlessly. Oh and Miss Grace as usual...awesome. As well as Miss Ruby and her timeless wisdom. Weddings, joy and happiness...just what I needed! Some day I wish I could eat Stefs ice cream. 💙

Wonderful story about a small island town and the deep history and friendships made. Cass is a newcomer and wants to rebuild the old abandon houses and keep them with the history of the island. Owen is the great-grandson of Ruby who owns a general store. Cass doesn’t want to fall in love with Owen who is a wanderer but life has other ideas. A wedding, a secret and wonderful descriptions of the island and its life kept me reading far into the night.

Book Feature to appear on my review blog in time for summer reads recommendations in June.

https://sonyaheaneyblog.com/

Architect Cass is worried that Owen is a player but as she works on houses at Cannonball Island she feels drawn to him ,ore and more. ARC from NetGalley.

Another solid addition to one of my favorite series, full of romance and family drama. Mariah Stewart never lets her readers down. I read this over the weekend of my mother-in-law's funeral and it was nice to have a comfortable world to escape into. A must-read for fans of the Chesapeake series.

Mariah Steward is always a 5 star reading experience. Her 11th in series here is utterly charming, sweet and sweeps the reader away to the beautiful coastal town. I love her characters and how she builds relationships in this series. Many surprises here for her longtime fans.

A nice beach read... lighthearted, emotional, sweet. The small town feel and the beautiful scenery along with a swoony romance make this an entertaining read.

It's always great to return to St. Dennis! But here we are moving into Cannonball Island, who has a history all its own! I'm glad! I wasn't ready to leave the Chesapeake Diaries stories!

This was such a feel good, cute read!! I enjoyed it!

After reading "The Chesapeake Bride" I have added 10 more books to my TBR list. This is book eleven in the "Chesapeake Diaries" series, and even though it can be read as a standalone, after meeting the characters in this story, I want to read their stories. There was enough of the history of the characters in the story that you were able to get the idea of what this little island and its history means to the characters in the story.

I have never been to this area, but I definitely want to go now. Mariah Stewart does an amazing job weaving the descriptions of the area, the architecture and the history of Cannonball Island into the story with the quirky and interesting characters that live there and on St. Dennis. I absolutely loved the character of Ruby, the irascible 100 year old matriarch of the Parker family. She has "the sight" but does not interfere and share her knowledge. When the romance of Cass (Cassidy Logan) and Owen begins to grow, you can feel the emotions, and their wonder. I wanted to be there and watch it unfold. As they move through all the other stuff that gets in the way and pops up unexpectedly, you cheer them on, you want them to get together. With plenty of unique and fun characters to get to know, the exploration of the town, and the upcoming nuptials of Owen's sister Lis, this story is a sweet romance, community drama and family story that will leave you wanting more. There is definitely another visit to Chesapeake in my future reading.

I felt the sand between my toes and the smell of the bay in this delightful and charming story. Although this is my first book of the series, it certainly could be a stand-alone. However, I’m thrilled to have discovered Mariah Stewart’s world, brought to life by her skill as a writer and her imagination, and my desire to spend the summer near the water! This story takes place in a small town setting of St. Dennis on Cannonball Island. Not only Stewart’s setting captured me, but the people of the island, from young to old — each with an undeniable stamp of importance to the plot, did, too.

One of my favorite characters is a very old and wise woman, Ruby Carter.  She has a gift of feeling what is going to happen, lending a bit of mystery to what is going on. She’s also sharp as a tack and talks of the history of the island, giving the reader further history into what the island has meant to others.  Stewart does such a great job with making me feel right at home, with the small cottages, the island, its people and the bay.

Ruby’s pleased as punch to have her great-grandson, Owen Parker, back for the summer.  He’s been one whose travelled and enjoyed living and working around the world, but has always had a soft spot in his heart for this little island, where he spent many summers in his youth. He also has a soft spot for Ruby, whom he calls Gigi. How much longer would she be part of his life? He’s back for the summer, having found work with his old friend, Jared Chandler.  Jared’s been granted a contract to excavate a possible ship wrecked in the bay. Diving happens to be one of Owen’s passions. But that ship wreck could mean a setback to Cass’s dream project.

An outsider, Cass Logan comes to the town as the project architect for Brian Deiter’s building company. She is his daughter. Cass is a beautiful woman both inside and out and you’ll grow to love her quickly.  She, as every woman with a career and past marriage has her issues. Her idea of a perfect life does not include a man.
And talking of relationships, Owen has tried that before, thinking after being with a woman for so long, it stood to reason he should marry her.  It didn’t work at all.  So he’s been foot-loose and fancy-free for some time, and not on the marriage market.

This story is about building a new life in a little town, developing friendships for life and finding the perfect fit for two very sweet people. I am delighted with the read.  It reads very much like a summer on vacation, slow-building with richly interesting people.

The following is an excerpt from the diary of one of the island residences.  Grace is the owner of the only inn on the island.  An older woman, as many of the residents are, she brings the reader a birds-eye view of what she sees happening on the island and what to expect. She and Ruby Carter see beyond what one sees.  Is that wisdom?

Diary~
I love the changing of the seasons—and I think summer into fall might be a favorite, being as how I relate to the whole “autumn of my years” thing. That’s how I see myself, anyway. If sixty is the new forty, I believe seventy must be the new fifty, eighty the new sixty, and so on. Therefore, I fall into that third quadrant. Don’t try to change my mind or confuse me with facts.

One of the reasons I love this time of the year: the steady influx of tourists into St. Dennis begins to wane. Not that I don’t love our visitors. Why, without them, St. Dennis would have continued to languish and would never have become the Eastern Shore mecca it now is. But there’s something sweet about having your hometown belong to you and yours again, even if it’s just for a while. I know soon enough the holidays will be upon us and many will flock to town for all the beautiful festivities—the Christmas House Tour, the weekend of caroling, the tree lighting at the square on Old St. Mary’s Church Road, Christmas at the Inn (a favorite of mine), and, oh, yes, the shopping! But this little respite between the beginning of September, when the families leave to return their offspring to school, and the holiday madness belongs to us, we old St. Dennis folk who like a little downtime.

Not to say there’s nothing going on here! There are new babies to celebrate and a special wedding on the horizon, one that makes me especially weepy. My dear nephew, Alec, will be marrying his lovely Lisbeth in an event that will be the talk of both St. Dennis and Cannonball Island for a long time to come. I’m not privy to all the details, mind you, but since my daughter, Lucy, is planning the wedding, I’ve heard bits and squeaks of what she has in mind, and it will, no doubt, be perfectly wonderful.

When we were children, Mama told us that when good folks passed, they earned a star in the heavens where they could sit and shine down on all the goings-on here on earth. Our brothers scoffed, but we girls believed her, and so it is that I know my beloved sister, Carole, will be watching happily from her star as her son marries his bride out on the point in just a few more weeks.

Thinking about the point makes me think of all the changes that are coming to Cannonball Island soon. So much, it could make your head spin! For the first time in roughly two hundred years, new dwellings will be going up on what had once been barren land. I heard from one in the know that some of the older homesteads—mostly those that have fallen into ruin or have been abandoned—will be replaced with new versions more suitable to modern living. Some are up in arms about this, but frankly, it’s about time. Those dilapidated old shells offer no shelter and, if anything, detract from the beauty of the island. My good friend Ruby Carter—the island’s matriarch—has given her blessing, and that’s good enough for me. Besides, Alec will be serving as the environmental consultant, so I feel confident that all will be well. The new homes are being designed with the island’s history in mind, so the legacy of those early settlers will be well protected. The architect is a lovely young woman who is serious about this project, so I know, eventually, all will be well.
Of course I do.

I know, too, that a certain islander with a “rolling stone” reputation will be finding his rolling days coming to a halt before too long. It will be amusing, to say the least, to see him meet his match. Will he be bested?
The smart money’s on the new girl. That’s all I have to say about that.

And so much excitement over all the goings-on at the mouth of the river on the other side of Cannonball Island! Who knew such mysteries lay beneath the water, waiting to be discovered—and now that they have been, well, the flurry of activity these days has my poor old head spinning like an old-fashioned top. I cannot wait to see what they find, and I’m more than happy that one of the principal players is staying at the inn. Not that I’d pry, but if one overhears a snippet of conversation now and then . . . well, let’s just say it’s good to keep informed. Now, how all this is going to affect the construction that was slated to begin in November, well, I suppose everyone will have to wait and see. Could be there will be delays, which will keep the new girl around for a while longer and will keep the rolling stone on his toes.

My, what fun this will be~
Grace ~

Mariah Stewart is so utterly reliable. You can count on her to write a book that will both keep you turning pages and make your heart ache for the storyline. I've never read this series (it's book 11 in the Chesapeake Diaries series) but that didn't make a bit of difference (and it added 10 books to my TBR pile.)

Cass is an architect who is planning a new community in an area on the Chesapeake. She comes across Owen, playboy extraordinaire, who's good looking as all get out, but was never one to settle down. Add a dash of the past catching up to you and a healthy sprinkle of a 100 year old great grandmother, gifted with the "sight," and you have a perfectly wonderful little story that you'll want to read in one sitting.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2152231116

The Chesapeake Bride picks up right where Driftwood Point left readers dying for more. Alec and Lisbeth are getting married and Owen has finally come home. Only time will tell if he's ready to settle down or if he's still itching to go off on another adventure.

The Chesapeake Bride is full of the same charm and history readers have come to expect of Mariah Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries series. This particular entry comes with a passionate summer romance between Owen Parker and Cass Logan, and an unexpected turn in Owen's future. Cass Logan came to the island to design homes for the properties that her father bought on the island. While digging deep into the history of the island's residents, she gets a better sense of life on the island and what it'll take to entice people to buy the new homes. Her own desire to make a home for herself on the island grows just as much as she's determined to avoid falling for the charming Owen. Alas, their romance is inevitable. But will secrets from Owen's past and Cass' history of falling for the wrong guy keep them apart? You can't miss out on the drama that unfolds in this tale! I'm inclined to say that I liked this read a bit more than the previous Driftwood Point. It moves along at a quicker pace and introduces an intriguing side to some of the characters.

Full of the rich history of Cannonball Island residents, past and present, this is the perfect story to sink into while enjoying the last days of summer!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

The Chesapeake Bride is a sweet, mostly clean romance. Owen has come home, finally, to Cannonball Island, for his sister's wedding and to see his elderly grandmother, Ruby. Owen has traveled the world, never settling in one place for long, but it's time for him to settle down, at least, according to Ruby, it is. He meets Cassidy (Cass) when he comes home. She's on the island for her father's company, to build eco homes that fit within the historical feel of the area. Owen is used to women falling for his charm, but for some reason, Cass seems immune to him and his charm. That she isn't really immune is something he'll soon find, it's just that she's still sensitive from her recent divorce.

As they eventually drift into a relationship, it was sweet and cute, but quite frankly, I was kind of bored. The pace was REALLY slow at times, and there was way too much nattering on about all the history of the island. Yes, I appreciated some of the history that was given, but there was far too much of it and not enough of the developing relationship between Owen and Cass. I wanted more heat between Owen and Cass and more relationship development and far less historical talk.

I like the ending, though, and the fact that they dealt with Owen's out of the blue big thing in a realistic way. More heat and more relationship and less historical talk and I would have been able to give this 4 stars. As it stands, though, as cute and sweet as The Chesapeake Bride is, it's just not up to the standards of the romances I usually favor.

In the continuing series about the Chesapeake area, this book takes the reader to Cannonball Island, where architect Cassidy Logan is working with her father’s company on a housing development in the area where there has been no new construction in a long time. Cass is sensitive to the subtle nuances and history of the island, and wants to develop something so unique and so attuned to the island and its history that she is staying there to get a good feel for it while figuring things out. In addition, Cass thinks this is the place where she will build her own home. While on the island, she encounters Owen Parker, a restless world vagabond who is also a known player, who has recently returned to his great-grandmother’s home for a visit. Though fascinated by him, Owen is not enough to keep Cass from the job at hand. Owen knows he has never met a girl who is not taken in by his charms, though he has never settled down but has instead traveled the world seeking his own wonder lust. Right now, he has returned to Cannonball Island because a friend has offered him a job salvaging a sunken vessel just off the island shore. From almost the start, Owen is smitten by Cass, who is newly divorced and not really ready for another man in her life. Both Owen and Cass have problematic histories and issues to resolve as well as jobs they look forward to, but the pull of each for the other can easily get in the way--if they let it.

Like the rest of the series, this book provides a good glimpse of life in a small island town as well as of the daily life of the residents who live there and have long, interesting histories connected with the island. It was interesting to watch the relationship between Own and Cass develop, while in and among a cast of colorful but loving other characters, who have been a part of Cannonball Island for years. The book definitely provides a good picture of the culture and history of the region. However, this is not my favorite in the series. I enjoyed reading it, but felt it dragged a bit and did not hold my interest as much as the other books in the series did. Still, I love all the stories about this region as presented in this book and series. I think anyone who enjoys a good storyline, infused with a good bit of history and culture, will enjoy this book. In addition, anyone who has read and enjoyed any of the other books in the series will enjoy this one. Even if you have not read the other books in the series, this one can be read as a stand-alone and will open up the rest of the series to you once you read it. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.