Fool for Love

Joe Cantrell, owner of the Gansett Island Ferry Company, has been in love with Janey McCarthy for as long as he can remember. At the same time, Janey has been dating or engaged to doctor-in-training David Lawrence.

When things go horribly wrong between David and Janey, she calls her “fifth brother” Joe, one of the few people in her close circle who lives on the mainland. Janey decides a few days with Joe is just what she needs before she goes home to the island to face her parents and family with the news of her broken engagement.

It was bad enough for Joe loving Janey from afar, but having her in his house is pure torture. Will he take advantage of this opportunity to show her what they could have together? And what will Joe’s best friend and Janey’s protective older brother Mac have to say about it?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Marie Force continues The McCarthys of Gansett Island series with Fool for Love. Hinted at in the first book, Maid for Love, Janey and Joe take the spotlight in this second installment. 

Joe is a very easy character to fall in love with. From character and reader point of view. He's an all around good guy who is always there for his friends. No matter what. Readers will adore him because of his obvious one woman intentions. It's easy to make a connection with a character that has so many redeeming qualities. Especially when they punch the villain in the face... 

Janey, on the other hand, is not the easiest character to connect with as the story continues. Readers will form a bond with her right off the bat because of her fiance's infidelity. Though when she jumps into bed with Joe the very same night, readers have to wonder what drove her to do that. Loneliness? Revenge? And though her motives are explained and understandable, how she treats Joe was a bit of a problem for me. Especially since he is up front and honest about his feelings for her: he's been in love with her for as long as he can remember. 

Though writing Janey this way, Force evokes the exact feelings she wants from her readers. She wants the readers to fear the hurt that Joe could end up with, and the uncertainty that Janey has throughout the story. Goal accomplished. 

The plot line was wonderful. I love how Force revolves this story around the happily ever after of Mac and Maddie's story, as Joe and Janey are dancing around Mac and Maddie's wedding. It was great to have them in the novel, playing such large supporting character roles. 

No disappointments in this sequel, looking forward to Luke and Sydney's story, which was hinted at as being the next one. If you haven't read this series yet, pick it up! Seriously. 

rating: 4/5 cups

Fool for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 2)

Maid for Love

Maddie Chester is determined to leave her hometown of Gansett Island, a place that has brought her only bad memories and ugly rumors. Then she’s knocked off her bike on the way to her housekeeping job at McCarthy’s Resort Hotel by Gansett’s “favorite son,” Mac McCarthy. He’s back in town to help his father with preparations to sell the family resort and has no intention of staying long.

When Mac accidentally sends Maddie flying over the handlebars, badly injuring her, he moves in to nurse her back to health and help care for her young son. He soon realizes his plans for a hit-and-run visit to the island are in serious jeopardy, and he just may be “maid” for love. - Goodreads Blurb

*May Contain Spoilers*

Marie Force creates a modern fairy tale in her novel, Maid for Love. It's the first book in the McCarthys of Gansett Island series and if the others are as wonderful as this one, I'll no doubt be reading them. 

The main character in this novel is Maddie, whose reputation is scratched and scarred from the rumor mill of Gansett Island, which never seems to slow down. She's a true to life single mother who worries constantly about her son and their financial situation. Readers will be able to connect with her through her wrecked reputation and her desire to either rise above it or escape from it. 

Though never treated the way she deserved, Maddie is still able to walk with her head up. Force wrote her as such a strong character, connecting with her is almost instantaneous. Readers will join Maddie's side, cheering her on as she attempts to let herself feel love. Something she never had a lot of. 

The love interest of the story, Mac, is an unimaginable hero. Readers will witness how finding true love changes him completely. At times, it did seem a little far fetched, with Mac stopping at nothing to bring happiness to a woman he only knew for a day before falling head over heels. But I'm sticking to the "modern day fairy tale" label and loving it. 

Force does a wonderful job with the plot, creating and adverting disasters up to the last page. Readers will questions which disaster will threaten Maddie and Mac the most while watching their relationship strengthen with each obstacle. 

Maid for Love is an endearing love story full of passion and strength. A quick, great read when you're in the mood for a romantic comedy. Highly recommended. 

Maid for Love

on Amazon

rating: 4/5 cups

Teaser Tuesday (19)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Maid for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island) p.33
     - Marie Force


"Ya know, sometimes life puts things in yer path to show ya where ya belong." Ned fixed his eyes on the marina. "Don't miss what's right in front of ya."


Mac had a sudden vision of the lovely but bitter woman who'd crossed his path earlier in the day and was filled with a profound sense that something huge was about to change.

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