I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Crystal Cove
by
Lisa Kleypas
paranormal romance in a paperback edition that was published by St. Martin's Griffin on February 5, 2013 and has 316 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Somewhere I'll Find You, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, Rainshadow Road, Dream Lake
Fourth in the Friday Harbor paranormal romance series. The couple focus is on Justine Hoffman and Jason Black.
My Take
Another lovely, homey story with a touch of magic. I really didn’t see how Kleypas would be able to pull this off, but she did it beautifully. Sure, it was an easy escape, but she did it well. She certainly had my heart in my mouth for parts of this story — yes, I cried. And not just for the worry. That mother of Justine’s—! I can barely wait for Lightning Bay to find out how the coven deals with her!
I am amazed how easily Justine forgives the coven AND Jason. I’d be angry a lot longer with the coven. Jason, well, he is pretty amazing in bed…
I have enjoyed this series very much with its loving friends and the very comfy feel of the settings. I keep wanting to move to Washington!
The Story
It’s a lucky combination for Jason Black: the land where he wants to build his retreat to give back to the world and the access it affords him to Justine Hoffman.
Between his lack, the witch’s bane, and unpracticed witches…everything goes wrong.
The Characters
Justine Hoffman started the art-themed bed-and-breakfast, Artist’s Point. She’s also a hereditary witch who refuses to accept her Family Tradition heritage, and appears doomed to never find love. Marigold is her extremely selfish, self-absorbed witch of a mother who has started an Internet store. Liam Hoffman was her father, an orchardist.
Zoë Hoffman, a talented chef, is now partners with her cousin Justine in the B&B. She’s with Alex Nolan (see Dream Lake, 3) whose land on San Juan Island is wanted by Jason for his learning institute. Annette and Nita help with the housekeeping.
Jason Black is the head of an in-house development team, Inari Gaming Enterprises. He’s eschewed the typical career path — partly due to his life-shortening condition, partly due to his mother’s death. Ray Black, his father, is a plumber, and a man Jason is likely to kill.
Priscilla Fiveash is Jason’s executive assistant, tasked with ensuring that everything is perfect for the extremely fussy Black; she’s also from a witch family, and she’s offered to help Jason. Gil Summers is a college friend of Jason’s who now runs the company’s development shop; Mike Tierney is an accounting and acquisitions manager; Todd Winslow is the architect for the San Francisco Inari building; and, Lars Arendt is his lawyer.
Rosemary and Sage live in the lighthouse on Cauldron Island and are members of the coven. They’re more family to Justine than Marigold. Violet and Ebony are fellow coveners.
Granny Fiveash and Great-Aunt Bean are Priscilla’s witchy relatives in Toad Suck, Arkansas, who will help cast the spell.
Duane is Justine’s now-ex biker boyfriend.
The Cover and Title
The cover is shades of lavender: a seascape with a lighthouse on its island, a rising quarter moon, and Justine lost in thought where she leans up against a vine-laden cliff wall.
The title refers to both the name of the coven which Justine refuses to join, the Circle of Crystal Cove as well as a geographic location on Cauldron Island.
