Lilac Lane is the first book in this series that I have read.  While I think it can ultimately be read as a stand alone, a new reader would benefit from reading at least Moira and Luke's story before this one.  It think it might give more context for Keira's situation. 

I was looking forward to a good romance, but in the end it was just OK for me.  The book kind of dragged and I just wasn't invested in Keira and Bryan's relationship.  For me, it just lacked heat.  What I did find enjoyable were the secondary characters that rounded out the story.  I enjoyed watching them help Keira find a place to belong in Chesapeake Shores.  I think fans of the series will enjoy this addition.

Moria wants her mom to come to Chesapeake Bay and hopes that the move will help her get past all the things that have happened in her life.  She thinks a change of scenery will help her mom heal from the loss of a lover, a horrible marriage, and the never ending disappointment of her two sons.  Kiera decides to take the journey from Ireland to Chesapeake Bay, she can't wait to meet her first grandchild and see the Irish pub her son-in-law Luke has opened.  When she is asked to help out at the pub and make sure things are as authentic as possible she is happy to help.  The only problem she finds is Bryan, the pubs chef.  They immediately butt heads and sparks fly.  Kiera isn't sure if she wants to move forward with the feelings that she has for Bryan.  Bryan has issues all of his own, his wife left him years ago taking his daughter.  Years of searching for them has turned up empty and he isn't sure if he is still married and how he can fix that now that he has found someone.  He likes Kiera but doesn't want to mislead her.  This was a lovely read that shows the healing value a family can give.  I love the emotions a read like this evokes and I don't mind saying I laughed, cried, and smiled all the way through.

Story setting is in Chesapeake Bay... a romantic place by the ocean. Great setting but author didn’t take enough advantage of it. Main characters, Keira and Bryan, seem to come together despite both of them being jaded and not at all friendly. Everyone in town interfered with their growing relationship that didn’t help either and could’ve done with less of that and instead focus on developing more the relationship between the two characters.

I love the quiet serenity of Woods' tale.  It was a fantastically captivating tale

A solidly engrossing and satisfying read! 
Woods has a gift for creating rich, 3-dimensional characters.

Readers who like hearty stories with complex, realistic characters, captivating family and relationship drama, and a heartwarming romance story should find this book much to their taste.

Kiera is convinced by her daughter Moira to leave Ireland and come to Chesapeake Shores to spend some time with her family along with her father Dillon.  Keira has plans for a short visit.  But Moira, along with the O'Briens, have other plans.

Keira works at her son-in-law Luke's pub alongside his chef Bryan.  This relationship starts out combustible.  Once the O'Briens along with Brian's long lost daughter see the sparks between them they do everything to keep the sparks going.

Featuring a heartwarming romance, close family ties and delightful friendships, Lilac Lane is an endearing addition to Sherryl Woods’ Chesapeake Shores series.

Following the sudden death of her mother Keira Malone’s fiancé, Moira O’Brien is worried about her mom so she comes up with a foolproof plan to lure her to the US from Ireland. She convinces her mom that her husband Luke could use her help in his pub and she could use a helping hand with their baby.  Keira readily agrees to visit temporarily and while waiting for her visa issues to be fully worked out, she is working at the pub as a consultant. Keira has not had an easy life and she is not one to mince words or hold back from voicing her opinions. Needless to say, she immediately gets on the pub’s chef Bryan Laramie’s nerves, who is not always amenable to her suggestions.

Bryan is haunted by the fact that he has not seen his daughter since his wife walked out on him years ago and he has never stopped looking for her. Although he is always pleasant, he is a bit of a loner who is devoted to his job. He wants to get along with Luke’s mother-in-law, but Keira always manages to irritate him with her unsolicited advice. However, when she moves in next door to him, the unlikely pair end up spending a lot of time in each other’s company.  After his daughter unexpectedly re-enters his life, Keira is instrumental in smoothing over the rough spots in their reunion.

The relationship between Bryan and Keira is originally a little antagonistic as they bicker back and forth at the pub. Their peaceful moments are often short-lived due to their respective baggage.  Their surprising friendship paves the way for their unlikely yet incredibly sweet romance but Keira’s fears come between them on more than one occasion.  She is quick to put obstacles in their path since she is afraid of risking her heart again. Until Bryan meets Keira, his unsettled past with his wife makes him hesitant to become seriously involved but his growing feelings for the feisty Irishwoman are the catalyst he needs to take steps to resolve these issues.

Lilac Lane is an engaging novel with a fantastic cast of characters and a slow moving but heartfelt romance.  Readers who enjoy close-knit families, small town settings and clean romances are sure to love this newest installment in Sherryl Woods’ homespun Chesapeake Shores series.

I felt so so with this book.  Part of it was due to the couple at the heart of the book, Keira and Bryan.  Up to now Keira had come off as a harpy and did so at times in this one.  Bryan was a bit up tight too with his reaction to Keira.  It didn't help that their romance was very PG, almost non-existent.  

I found myself more interested in seeing Keira soften, to see her see her life in a different life, to build stronger relationships with her father and daughter.  

Bryan's drama was crazy and I expected him to get a little mad, instead of just move forward.  I wanted him to rail at what he lost for so many years, but his way of dealing was probably better.

It was interesting to see how the whole clan butted in on the romance, everyone wanted a part in getting Keira and Bryan together, something that happened despite all the meddling.

This was the first of the Chesapeake Shores books that I have read, though I have watched a couple of the episodes of the television series. The relationship between Kiera and Bryan went around and around so much that the story dragged in places, but overall it was a decent story.

Can't wait to get this for the library. Patrons will love this one just like the others in the series.

I received a copy of Sherryl Woods latest Chesapeake Shore novels from netgalley.com

This is the latest installment of the O'Brien clan and like the 13 before it this one it did not disappoint!  This story revolves around  Keira Malone who is Moira O'Brien's mother and Dylan's daughter.  This is a great story about opening up and trusting people.  Something Keira does not want to do until sparks start flying with Bryan Laramie.  This is a must read for a fan of this series.

Adding this to our library collection.. this is a delightful series. The relationships in the stories keep you wanting more.

If you want to fall in love with the characters and setting in a book and be treated to an escape without having to leave the comfort of your favourite chair, this is the book to do it.

I loved the characters right away and found myself engrossed in this story before I was even finished with the first chapter. Keira is the kind of character that will make you nod your head in agreement as you relate to what she's going through. I loved learning more about her and her family.

One of the things that impressed me about this book was how full of important characters it was. Everyone had a purpose and everyone was lovable in their own way. The story of Bryan captured my heart and kept me excited to see what was going to happen next. This novel is also filled with delicious sounding food--I dare you to read it and not walk away hungry for some Irish Stew and soda bread.

This book made me laugh and cry in all the right places. If you are looking for a romance with some substance and a lot of reasons to read it, may I recommend this one. Lilac Lane is a wonderfully rich, atmospheric novel you are sure to enjoy. I know I did.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is 14 in the Chesapeake shores series and Keira Malone gets her story.  We've met Keira in the past books and she's had a sad life.  When she leaves Ireland to come stay with her daughter brighter days are ahead as Chesapeake Shores works its magic.  Sherryl Woods knows how to write a romance and she does a great job with second chances for love with an older main character.  Yeah!

Keira Malone is a single Mother who has raised 3 children on her own. Just when she is willing to trust Peter McDonough and agrees to marry him he suffers a fatal heart attack. Keira agrees to move from Dublin back to Chesapeake Shores to be near her daughter Moira and Granddaughter.  She moves into a cottage and immediately has issues with her neighbor. 

This is a good addition to the Chesapeake Shores series. The story is about personal and family relations and finding love. The author makes you feel like you are part of Chesapeake Shores. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I love Sherryl Woods.  I love the Chesapeake Series.  I was thrilled to receive this ARC.

Travel to Chesapeake Bay - like a seaside village in Ireland.

I love the O'Brien Family's world.  I always feel a part of this family and was happy to catch up with my old friends and meet new ones.  I want to go to Chesapeake Shores and have some magic rub off on me.  

Two challenging or different viewpoints bend toward one another.  
A young woman is looking to heal her past as she is preparing for her future.  she wants to make up lost time.  

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to escape in a book and especially to readers of this series- this is a good one!!

How wonderful to visit with the O'Briens again and see how their family is growing.  Nell is still a treasure!  The addition of Kiera and Bryan and their complicated lives and Love is great.  I am already looking forward to the next book!

Once again the O'Brien family entertains us. Their feisty personalities always makes this series an enjoyable read. Loved the interaction between Kierra and her strong willed daughter Moira. I always enjoy the O'Brien family as they are not picture perfect and are not afraid to call each other out on their mistakes or poor decisions. My comment to Ms. Woods is keep the O'Brien family books coming, they are awesome!!!!

A few years ago, Sherryl Woods told her readers that she was done writing Chesapeake Shores books, as she felt the characters' stories had all been told. Thanks to reader feedback, she has continued and Lilac Lane is the latest installment in the series. Here we read the story of Keira, Moira's mother, and Bryan, the chef at O'Brien's pub. Cozy and comforting, we are brought back into the world of the O'Brien's, with all the love and meddling that entails. As we explore the lives of others in the community, I only wish we saw more of the core O'Brien family, the ones who drew us to Chesapeake Shores in the beginning. But even as we make new friends, we still get to experience the lovely little seaside town and all of the charms to be found there.

The fun thing about series books is keeping up with friends you made in the first book(s) as you read through the series.  The bad thing about them is some writers use series books as a way to be lazy about character and plot development.  I'm afraid that Sherryl Woods has reached that point with the Chesapeake Shores books.

Keira isn't exactly like any other character, but just like in the other books, the O'Brien family is omnipresent, meddling in other people's love lives and gathering for Sunday dinner at Nell's (everyone), at OBrien's Pub (mostly the men) or at the coffee shop (the women).  Of course there is a happily ever after and like Woods' other books it does not have vivid bedroom scenes.  

Given some things said in this book, I doubt this is Woods' last O'Brien book, but it is mine.  It isn't an awful book, and if you haven't read any (or many) of the others and you are looking for a mild diversion one afternoon, this may be right up your alley.  I, on the other  hand, am tired of the O'Briens.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-