Series: Friday Harbor, #2
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Released: February 28, 2012
Source: Borrowed from the library

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy’s bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life.

Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy’s parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to “romance” Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.

———

When Lucy Marinn was seven years old, three things happened: Her little sister Alice got sick, she was assigned her first science fair project, and she found out that magic existed.

Likes:

• Even though they made my blood boil at times, I liked reading about Lucy’s family, especially their history and why things are strained between them today. I love it when characters can get me riled up, and this bunch certainly did!
• The setting was amazing. San Juan Island was described beautifully, and I could easily picture myself walking along its beach. *sigh* I also appreciated the historical tidbits of the island and people.
• It was great to catch up with Mark, Maggie, Holly and Renfield from the first book in the series, CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR.

Dislikes:

• The main characters fell a bit flat, especially Sam. I love a tortured hero in need of the right woman to save him, but this one got on my last nerve. I understand his crippling fear of commitment stemmed from being the child of alcoholics, but come on! His steadfast refusal to grow and get close to anyone got old. Then, his abrupt change of heart felt forced.
• I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I could have done without the magical elements (though I usually love them!). I wish they would have been developed more or just left out. As it was, the characters’ magical powers did little to enhance the story.

Conclusion: I enjoyed the first book in the Friday Harbor series, so I was surprised when this one fell short of my expectations. Regardless, I will definitely give this series another try, especially since the next book has a ghostly presence. :-)

Rating: 3 Stars