CAROLINA HOME by Virginia Kantra

"Touching Introduction to the Dare Island Series"

Carolina Home

Posted: June 23, 2012

A very long time ago I discovered Virginia Kantra, and fell in love with her writing As she changed the focus of her writing to a genre that I'm not a huge fan of I allowed her to fall off my buy list. Then I discovered that she was writing a new contemporary series, and that had me firmly in the grips of anticipation until I could get my hands on CAROLINA HOME.

When Matt Fletcher meets Allison Carter he knows that to allow himself to feel anything of the romantic kind can only lead to trouble for both of them. He has steeled himself from dating Dare Island residents since his ex-wife broke his heart, and left him a single father struggling to make a living and provide a stable home life for his teen aged son. Being a native to the island he knows how the rumor mill works, and thinks that he only has Allison's best interests at heart as she attempts to find her way as a teacher, and member of Island society.

Allison has had a wandering bug, and when she arrives on Dare Island she wonders if she has finally found the place she wants to call home. She loves her job teaching, and as she and Matt get to know each other, and the sparks start to fly finds out what it means to live in a town where everyone knows everything. Will the "friendliness" of the town have her turning tail and running? The only way to find out is to read CAROLINA HOME.

What I will tell you is that CAROLINA HOME is the introductory book in the Dare Island Series, and that while Matt and Allison are the stars Virginia Kantra did a wonderful job of introducing a group of residents and Fletcher family members who I can't wait to read more about. With the publication of CAROLINA HOME Virginia Kantra has once again cemented herself a spot on my buy list.

Book Summary

Home to the Fletcher family for generations, Dare Island is a fishing village rocked by changing times--its traditions slipping away like sands of the North Carolina coast. Single dad and fishing boat captain Matt Fletcher deferred his own dreams to support his innkeeper parents and build a future for his sixteen-year-old son. Matt has learned to weather life's storms by steering a steady emotional course...and keeping a commitment-free approach to love.

Newcomer Allison Carter came to Dare Island to escape the emotional demands of her wealthy family. The young teacher aims to build a life here, to make a lasting place for herself. She doesn't want to be another Woman Who Once Dated Matt Fletcher. It's both tempting and dangerous to believe she can be something more.

Then Matt's brother Luke makes a sudden return home, with a child of his own--and a request that will change all their lives. With a child's welfare at stake, Matt must turn to Allison to teach him to let go of the past, open his eyes...and follow his heart.