Dawn in Eclipse Bay

The second book in the Eclipse Bay trilogy stars Rafe Madison and Lilian Harte. Rafe has made himself into the successful CEO of a venture capitalist firm. Lilian runs a successful computer matchmaking business.

After meeting again at their siblings' wedding, Rafe comes to Lilian to try to find a wife who meets his criteria just as Lilian is preparing to close her business and give being a full-time artist a try. Since Rafe has lied on most of the questionnaire Lilian had him complete, Lilian is not successful in finding him a match before her business closes.

He follows her to Eclipse Bay ostensibly to have Lilian find him his sixth contracted match. But sparks are flying between them and a romance grows. Lilian also seems to have show more attracted a stalker.

Romance flourishes despite interfering grandfathers, old girlfriends, and political intrigue in this engaging romance. show less

Dawn in Eclipse Bay
Book #2 in Eclipse Bay
3 Stars

Synopsis
Gabe Madison is "in want of a wife" and signs up to Lillian Harte's matchmaking service. Unfortunately, all his dates are a bust and Lillian has given up on him but he insists on getting his money's worth and follows her to Eclipse Bay. Once there, Lillian and Gabe realize that everything they want and need has been right in front of them the entire time.

Review
A disappointing follow up to the first book.

Gabe and Lillian are an engaging couple and their banter is entertaining right off the bat. However, there is no real development in their relationship and it remains unclear as to why and how they even fall in love.

Once again, the Harte/Madison feud fails to resonate and even show more comes across as ridiculous and futile (on the other hand, aren't most family feuds like this). There are also too many Harte/Madison generalizations, i.e., "nothing comes between a Madison and his passion" is completely overdone - we got it the first time.

The suspense story is mediocre and lacks the build up and intrigue of the one in Eclipse Bay. The identity of the culprit is glaringly obvious and the motive outlandish.

While this book was only so-so, I will finish the trilogy as Nick and Octavia are an interesting couple and I want to find out about Octavia's agenda in Eclipse Bay. show less

I loved it when both grandfathers got into the story line. I could feel the "bitch" in Gabe' ex. and understood when I found out her husband was a cross dresser. Claire surprised me by destroying the art room in order to get the computer info on Lillian Harte's clients. I liked the images I had with the art descriptions.

Dawn in Eclipse Bay
Book #2 in Eclipse Bay
3 Stars

Synopsis
Gabe Madison is "in want of a wife" and signs up to Lillian Harte's matchmaking service. Unfortunately, all his dates are a bust and Lillian has given up on him but he insists on getting his money's worth and follows her to Eclipse Bay. Once there, Lillian and Gabe realize that everything they want and need has been right in front of them the entire time.

Review
A disappointing follow up to the first book.

Gabe and Lillian are an engaging couple and their banter is entertaining right off the bat. However, there is no real development in their relationship and it remains unclear as to why and how they even fall in love.

Once again, the Harte/Madison feud fails to resonate and even show more comes across as ridiculous and futile (on the other hand, aren't most family feuds like this). There are also too many Harte/Madison generalizations, i.e., "nothing comes between a Madison and his passion" is completely overdone - we got it the first time.

The suspense story is mediocre and lacks the build up and intrigue of the one in Eclipse Bay. The identity of the culprit is glaringly obvious and the motive outlandish.

While this book was only so-so, I will finish the trilogy as Nick and Octavia are an interesting couple and I want to find out about Octavia's agenda in Eclipse Bay. show less

Better than book 1. Lillian was much less annoying than Hannah, so this story was much less annoying than the first story. However the big "mystery" or suspense part of the story was kind of lame and it's big climax was a disappointment. The relationship between Lillian and Gabe was sweet, but a bit lackluster. I never saw much feeling of passion between them. I didn't get the sense that Lillian was Gabe's passion. I felt he loved his business more than her. But I appreciate the fact that they got their happily ever after and the lead in to book 3 with Nick and Octavia was interesting. I don't remember much about book 3, but I'm curious to rediscover it.

The family feud hit a rock and started taking on water when her sister married his brother, but Lillian Harte is pretty sure she made a mistake when she agreed to take Gabe Madison on as a client. After five failed dates, she's ready to throw in the towel and declare him unmatchable. Gabe has other ideas - like making sure his sixth date is with Lillian.

Set against a background of further mysterious goings on in the tiny coastal town of Eclipse Bay, the second installment in the Harte and Madison saga is as fun as the first.

Good book, just not as good as the first one. I kind of knew going in that Gabe and Lillian would wind up together. I was curious how it would come about and what sort of conflict they would find themselves in.
I definitely loved these two characters though. Gabe is cocky and sure of himself, while Lillian is the same way, just more reserved showing it. They both have their little eccentricities which made them getting to know each other a little bit funny. It's plain to see that this town is messed up and not where I'd want to live! There was major conflict in the first book starring several members of the small town of Eclipse Bay, and also in this one.
Overall, I can't say that I'm totally committed to finishing this series. This is show more pretty unusual for me, but I don't know if I care what couple hooks up next. At the end of this one, it's hinted that Nick Harte will be the next one to hook up and the juicy part is that the woman might be hooked to this family from a very distant past. It sounds a touch too far fetched! show less