Review – Love is for the Birds by Diane Owens Prettyman
Synopsis
For fans of Mary Alice Monroe’s The Beach House comes a heartwarming story from women’s fiction author Diane Owens Prettyman about second chances as two people find a pathway out of their grief—directly in the aftermath of a hurricane.
The Texas Gulf: beautiful yet unpredictable.
A beach town destroyed. Her mother’s candy store swept away. This is what Teddy Wainsworth faces when she returns to Bird Isle. Meanwhile, Jack Shaughness, owner of a popular barbecue restaurant chain and widower still grieving the death of his wife, receives permission to cross over to the island with a smoker full of brisket to feed hurricane survivors. Soon after arriving, he meets Teddy and immediately finds himself drawn to her—which makes him feel he is betraying his wife. When the two find a lost dog, Jack convinces Teddy to take it home while they attempt to find the owner, creating a bond that brings them closer.
In the wake of the hurricane, Bird Isle residents fear the Aransas Wildlife Refuge will not be ready for the whooping cranes’ annual migration south. Seeing that Jack has important connections and a love for the island, they enlist him to help restore the habitat of the endangered cranes before they fly to Padre Island for the winter. With their rescued dog always nearby, Teddy and Jack work side by side to rebuild Bird Isle for the return of the whooping cranes. But Jack is harboring a secret that may ruin everything he and Teddy are creating—and he won’t be able to keep that secret forever.
Amazon * B&N * Bookshop * Kobo
Review
This book is about love, tragedy, and hope for the future.
Bird Isle was hit hard by a hurricane. But the residents of this town don’t let it get them down. They band together to put things right, including preserving the refuge for the cranes and other birds that migrate this way. Along the way, many find love, but not without some tension!
The main characters are Teddy and Jack. Teddy is dealing with guilt over the death of her mother and blames herself. Jack is moving past the death of his wife five years previously. However, when these two meet, there are sparks. But don’t think that their road to happiness is easy. Teddy seems to think that Jack is still hung up on his wife. While it isn’t as if Jack has forgotten about her, it is Teddy’s insecurities that hold her back. She can be very annoying throughout this book. I thought it was unreasonable for Teddy to think Jack should rename his successful barbeque restaurants just because they bear his wife’s name. I don’t know where Teddy got some of these notions in her head, holding her back from happiness. Luckily, she finally comes to her senses by the end of the book. That isn’t a spoiler since we know there is a HEA!
Jack isn’t perfect, and he is hiding a secret or two. But I can appreciate his realization that he needs to move forward with his life, and that is with Teddy.
There are a few other minor plots, such as Dot, her daughter Brooke, and the mysterious father. I say mysterious because Brooke doesn’t know who her father is, and Dot never told either of them. There is also a storyline that involves Pickles, the dog. I loved the name, and it seemed appropriate, all things considered.
Outside of the personal storylines, the book is also educational and shares some details about Whooping Cranes and other birds that migrate to the Gulf each year.
This is an enjoyable story, and we give it 4 paws up!
About the Author
Diane Owens Prettyman is the author of the romantic adventure story “Thin Places” and the twentieth-century historical novel “Redesigning Emma”. She is also a frequent contributor to the Austin American-Statesman. Her third book “Love is for the Birds” will be released in October of 2024. This novel combines contemporary romance with eco-fiction for an entertaining beach read set on the Texas Gulf.
Diane stays true to her belief that every story has a happy ending, though perhaps sometimes, maybe even often, one has to wait for the perfect finale. Diane lives just a few hours’ drive from the Texas Gulf. She is an avid boogie boarder and spends her summers in the water. Her husband and two black standard poodles provide her room and board in Austin, Texas.
