Peeking Between the Pages

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Guest Post with Sherryl Woods, author of Driftwood Cottage & Giveaway

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I’m pleased to have Sherryl Woods, author of Driftwood Cottage, here at Peeking Between the Pages today. I have to mention how much I love the cover on this book – it really makes me wish I wish sitting in that chair staring out at the water. Driftwood Cottage is part of the Chesapeake Shores series and this is one series I’d like to get into. My mom adores Sherryl Woods and has decided this is the next series of hers that she just has to try. I’ve always been a sucker for a series – to me they are homey and comforting – something to relax with a cup of coffee and a comfy chair. Let’s enjoy this guest post from Sherryl Woods on her inspiration for Driftwood Cottage…

When I created the Chesapeake Shores series several years ago, my goal was to write about a large, complex family — the O’Briens — comprised of several generations. At the core of the family was Mick O’Brien along with his five adult children. I wanted to write about the impact that Mick’s divorce and subsequent reconciliation with Megan would have on each of their sons and daughters.

I’ve heard it said that every child in every family has his or her own reality within that very same family. I wanted to explore those dynamics.

In Driftwood Cottage, the focus is on Connor, the younger of their two sons, who was deeply embittered by the divorce. Not only has it impacted his personal view of marriage, but it has driven his career choice. He’s become a powerful divorce attorney, generally on the side of husbands.

This jaded view of relationships has cost him the woman he loves, the mother of his son. Even after Heather has left his home, Connor is unwilling to make the commitment that will bring her back into his life, until a pivotal moment in the story shows him what his life would be if he lost her forever.

Readers often want to shake sense into some of my characters, never more so than with Connor. It seems to me, though, that in this day and age of quick divorces, too often people don’t think about the impact the breakup of a marriage will have on their children. Couples are often too lost in their own misery, anger or bitterness to see that kids absorb all these emotions and carry them into adulthood. Perhaps, in its way, Driftwood Cottage is a cautionary tale that will remind readers of that.

At its core, though, I hope Driftwood Cottage will remind readers that love can triumph over even the heaviest baggage from the past.

About Driftwood Cottage

New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods continues to bring her signature heartwarming style to the community of Chesapeake Shores. Driftwood Cottage is the story of single mom Heather Donovan, who is welcomed to the Chesapeake Shores by the boisterous, loving O’Brien clan. But Heather accepting their support seems to further alienate her son’s father, Connor O’Brien, whose career as a high-powered divorce attorney has left him jaded about marriage.

Heather’s just about given up on her old dreams of love and especially of Driftwood Cottage, the home she secretly wishes were hers. It’s going to take a lot of persuasion—and some help from the O’Brien family—to make Heather believe that some dreams are worth fighting for.

Buy Driftwood Cottage on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

About Sherryl Woods


With two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she’s lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.

“The friends are the only things I’ve brought with me through the years that really matter,” she says. “I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends.”

Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.

A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.

In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.

When she’s not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she’s not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she’s never set foot on a stage, and she’s way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who’s ever seen Kevin Costner in “Bull Durham” can understand why.

Sherryl’s website
Find Sherryl on Facebook

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Driftwood Cottage by Sherryl Woods to share with my readers. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address to contact you in the event that you should win.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and please let me know in your comment so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, August 13/11. Good luck everyone!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Comments

  1. Well, I have been meaning to read this author for a long time, but I do not want to read from the middle.. I have to start the series from the first 🙂

  2. This sounds good! I think we do all have our own reality – I know my sister and I have totally different memories of the same event.

  3. You are so right about that cover…it perfectly evokes summer at the shore…

    What the author says about the impact of divorce is unfortunately all too true…this sounds like an engrossing read, and a series I too might want to try. Thanks for highlighting it 🙂

  6. Serendipity, I started Driftwood Cottage about two in the morning. I'm hooked. Can't believe it's a trilogy. Yummm~ Perfect summer read.

  7. Now this is what I am talking about! This book just screams "SUMMER!"

    Sounds perfect for my deck…

  8. This sounds like a lovely book to take to the beach, and I am interested in the family dynamic that presents itself. I would love the chance to read this one, so please do enter me, Dar!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    I follow thorough google reader.

  9. I love Sherryl Woods, Yaaaaaaaaayyyy! And I do not have this one yet. I'm excited!
    Please enter me.

    forevereading at gmail dot com
    I am a follower
    I posted it on my sidebar.

  10. I love the cover! It makes me want to curl up in that chair with a good book.

    mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

  19. Love the cover – looking forward to reading all the books in this series.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

  21. I love Sherryl Woods! Please count me in!

    I follow on GFC under Bethie

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  30. I have never read any of her books before but have seen them around. The covers are always so pretty.

    monagargATyahooDOTcom

  33. This sounds like a really interesting book! I've never read anything by Sherryl Woods before and have been meaning to start her new series.

    junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

  36. I would love to read "Driftwood Cottage" and meet the people of Chesapeake. It seems like the kind of heartwarming read I would want to curl near a fire to read.

    GFC follower,
    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

  37. I love this idea and would love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway ^_^
    I am a GFC follower

    faefever25 at hotmail dot com

  50. I can see this book on my shelf. so please add me for the giveaway! I love a good series!
    pinchbuggies at hotmail.com

  55. Sounds like a nice light summer read! You've got some great gives going on Dar! Thanks for hosting. florida982002[at]yahoo.com

  63. Sounds really good. I'd love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!

    Anita Yancey
    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net