Book Review: Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington

Sandra Ardoin @sandraardoin

This is the third novel in author Annette Irby’s series Washington Island Romance. For me, this was the favorite. So, if you’ve enjoyed the other two, be sure you do not miss this one!

Liberty Winfield’s orphaned teen years and a past mistake color her perception of her present. They prevent her from feeling loved and accepted. As a result, she’s developed an independent streak and her life is unsettled.

Clay Garrison deals with his father’s disapproval and the interference of his well-meaning mother into his love life. An accident changed him from a self-centered teen into a believing man with plans for his future but lacking the courage to confront his father over the man’s disdain.

When Liberty returns to her hometown and the couple meet after years apart, their connection brings pain, mistrust, and hope.

‘Clay.’ The name barely emerged. Words had a way of coming out strangled when you couldn’t breathe. When you couldn’t decide between fleeing or freezing.

The crowd cleared the doorway. Clutching her purse in a tight fist, she bolted from the room.

‘Hey,’ Clay called from behind.

He’d better not follow her. If he did, he’d find she had one more option—fighting.

Self-centered Clay Garrison probably had no idea what he’d cost her. Had she been innocent in their relationship? No. But when she’d needed him the most, he’d let her down the hardest.

While I enjoyed the previous two books in this series, this one had an emotional pull that ran deeper than the others, a pull that started in the beginning and tugged all the way to the end. I admired Liberty for wanting to live up to a past agreement but felt for her in her struggle to put the happiness of others before her own. And the story of the special fairy houses…so sweet!

As with the other books, this one is peopled with humorous secondary characters you want to hug. I really liked Clay’s mom and her matchmaking ways. However, I kept hoping she would get involved in the strained relationship between Clay and his father. She seemed clueless. Gloria and Roy were just the loving people Liberty needed in her life to counterbalance her feelings of being unacceptable.

I’d recommend reading the whole series, but especially Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington. I’m giving it 4.7 stars.