Crystal Cove and the Friday Harbor Series

The Friday Harbor Series

Every so often a series comes along that captures your imagination and makes you feel like you're part of the family.  For me, this is one of those series.  Each book is unique and entertaining on its own, and together they form the landscape of Friday Harbor, a town kissed by magic.  The people who live there have stories that are funny, hopeful, sad, whimsical, mysterious, romantic and dangerous.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is the first book.  I only became aware of it this December when I watched the Hallmark movie Christmas with Holly.  It didn't take long to figure out the that story was based on characters from Friday Harbor.  It's a gentler version of the book with some significant made for TV changes, but that doesn't stop it from being a good addition to ever growing list of holiday movies. In Rainshadow Road Lucy has a deep connection with an antique stained glass window and the unusual power it posses. Her special talent shines in her work as a glass artist producing designs that are truly original.  In Dream Lake Zoe's cooking has the ability to do more than just comfort weary souls.  I found myself salivating for, "...flavors nudging each other forward in clever ways.  Souffles so light they seemed to have been inflated by a wish, and eggs Benedict blanketed with hollandaise the color of sunflowers."  Yum!

Ms. Kleypas has a way with words that stimulates your senses and brings the stories to life.  One of the reasons that I have enjoyed these books so much is that you never know what direction they will take.  The series is centered around 3 brothers and the woman in there lives.  There is a continuity in the people and places, but the stories are diverse with surprising subplots that keep you reading way past bed time!

My visit to Crystal Cove

Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas
February 5, 2013
St. Martin's Griffin; 336 Pages

Crystal Cove is Justine's story.  She is the owner of the B & B called Artist's Point where she works with her best friend and cousin Zoe.  In Dream Lake Justine made a reference to her relationship with magic when she offered to put a curse on Zoe's boyfriend.  It turns out that Justine, like her mother, is a hereditary or a natural born witch with magic in her DNA. 

Justine has built a good life for herself.  After a nomadic childhood, she has a stable home, a prosperous business and terrific friends.  Everything that she ever wished for, except true love.  No matter how hard she tries, she is incapable of falling in love and finding her soul mate.  All because of an enchantment (or is it a curse?) cast by her mother to protect her from the pain of a broken heart.

Jason Black is visiting Friday Harbor on business.  An uber rich computer wizard he is dark, demanding, mysterious and used to getting what he wants. He says that he is on the island to finalize a deal for the purchase/construction of a training and retreat facility for his corporation.  But he has another project in mind, and this one involves Justine.  When these two dynamic personalities get together sparks fly in more ways than one.

Ms. Kleypas has constructed a story that is full of "the good parts"!  Her skill as a wordsmith is outstanding and her descriptions have a poetic quality that I find wonderfully evocative.  When I read, "The afternoon was deep and full-slip ripe.  Dandelion light slanted through the scalded red branches of a single madrone, and gilded the brown tassels of alder catkins." I was transported.

Along with the ability to create breathtaking images she brings romance and passion to this story in a way that makes me feel like I'm reading a (racy) fairy tale for grown ups.  There is the right amount of the Prince Charming with a little bit of bad boy and a dash of loveable nerd mixed together together to create the perfect romantic fantasy.  The couple's interactions are deliciously spicy and incredibly sensitive.  Again her descriptions resonate with images that make me swoon.  Who can resist a line like, "I want to talk to you until we've used up all the oxygen in the room."?  I should mention that there is a whole lot more than talking going on, and there are several intimate encounters (which is a bit different than the other books).

There is so much more to the story than I can share with you here.  As much as I want to talk about it, I don't want to spoil it for you!  Crystal Cove is an entertaining read.  I really enjoyed the elements of magic and the paranormal that have been part of each book.  I think the way that the unexpected is blended together with the "conventional" makes it seem like anything is possible, and who doesn't want to believe in magic? I know I do!

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Enter to Win your own Advance Reader Copy of Crystal Cove!

Thanks to the generous folks at St.Martin's Press, I'm thrilled to be able to share the love!
Just in time for Valentine's Day,
I'm giving away an advance copy to one lucky winner.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment answering one of these questions:

• Do you believe in love at first sight?
  
• What's your most romantic Valentine's story?

• If you could have one magical power, what would it be?
  
  The winner will be randomly selected on Saturday, February 2, 2013.
  
  Good Luck!
  

Rules and Such

1. The contest is open to residents of the USA only (don't worry, there will be international contests soon!).
2. The winner will be selected at random from all of the eligible entries on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 10 AM EST.
3. You must answer a question in the comment section of the blog in order to be considered eligible.
4. You must provide a valid email address (you'll be prompted by the dialog box when leaving your comment).
5. The winner will be contacted by email on 2/2/13, and asked to supply a mailing address.  If I don't hear back from the winner by noon EST on Tuesday, 2/5/13 another winner will be chosen.
   

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me.
Nothing makes me happier than being able to talk about books, except maybe giving them away!  I sure hope you take a minute to enter the contest for a chance to win.


Wishing you all the happiness words can bring!
Robin B.

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