A Charmed Place

I found this book to be very slow reading. Not that the story wasn't interesting, or that it dragged along, just that it was one of those books that needed to be read in small segments over the course of several days. I really like the concept that although Maddie and Dan hadn't seen each other in over 20 years, they were still as much in love as they were in their college days, if not moreso. When they finally found each other again, they were determined not to let anything, not even past misunderstandings and family issues, separate them again. This notion of soul-mates who are destined to be together is very romantic and one I subscribe to. The descriptions of coastal Cape Cod, and the seaside setting, restoring the lighthouse, were wonderfully vivid and made the story come alive. The conflict between Maddie and her tempermental rebellious teenaged daughter was very realistic (especially to a reader in a similar situation). The subplot of solving the murder of Maddie's father, and the mystery of what paranormal weirdness Maddie's ex-husband Michael was involved in, gave the story even further substance. The secondary characters were colorful and delightful!

A Charmed Place was a wonderful love story, the characters were so real to me. I had not read any of Antoinette's books before and I do not know how I missed her because I am an avid reader. Anyway Dan and Mattie hooked me on their story and hooked me onto a wonderful author. I have since read all of her books and loved them. I also like the stories of people who are not in their twenties and of course I always like a happy ending for people who go through some very difficult times in their lives. I could relate to Maggie because I also went through some very difficult times with a teen age daughter and also a marriage that ended. It was so neat for Dan to have loved her for all of these years and to try and renew and once again refall in love and of course we all like the happy ever after endings. It may not be like that in real life but to me these characters become so real and Antoinette has a way of doing that. I just finished Beyond Midnight and it was so good I could not lay it down. Way to go Antoinette and of course Dan and Mattie will be with us forever.

For a modern romance, it was pretty good. Being in my forties also, I like the idea of a middle life romance instead of the main female character being in early twenties. It has a mature theme and identifies with today's society ( I'm not saying today's society is living right), but the book does reflect issues of today. It is the first Stockenberg novel I've read and I look forward to reading more. I have "Dream a Little Dream" and have heard good things about it. Hopefully, it will further intice me to read more of her novels.

I didn't think I could like Antoinette's newest novel, "A Charmed Place" more than I loved "Dream A Little Dream" but I was happily wrong. Antoinette just keeps getting better and better.In "A Charmed Place," Maddie Regan is still struggling to come to terms with the inexplicable and unsolved murder of her beloved father, when Daniel Hawke, her first and only true love, returns to Sandy Point with an agenda of his own. Family members who are bitter against Daniel, a jealous and volatile ex-husband, and a rebellious fourteen year old daughter stand firmly in the way of reunited love. Toss in a sinking lighthouse, a hurricane, and a goosebumpy touch of Antoinette's trademark mysticalness, and there you have it - a "curl up in your favorite chair and defy anyone to bother you," cover to cover delight. Antoinette Stockenberg consistently delivers multi-faceted, three dimensional characters with honest, often heartbreaking problems, emotions and reactions. She also delivers a picture of New England that will make you want to pack your bags and hit the road for a visit. You will smell the salt air and honeysuckle, you will envision the lighthouse and Maddie's garden, you will feel as though you would recognize Maddie and Daniel if you passed them on the street. Great characters, snappy dialogue, gifted description, and a clever, satisfying plot all add up to a big A+ for Antoinette Stockenberg and "A Charmed Place."