Ready for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #3)

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Ready for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #3)

by Marie Force (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 2,255 ratings · 107 reviews

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 3

For four of the best summers of his young life, Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan, a wealthy seasonal visitor to Gansett Island. Then Sydney went off to college and never came back. She married another man and had two children while Luke remained on the island, working at McCarthy's Gansett Marina and wondering what had gone...more

Kindle Edition, 267 pages

Published June 28th 2011

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Jul 21, 2011 Lady Valee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cont-romance

Loved this one. My favorite on the series so far. What I liked the most was that we got a great deal of information about every other couple we have already read about and some new ones that started on this installment. The only bad thing I seriously can mention about this book is that it just left me DYING for more.

Marie, please, please tell me we are getting more books in this series. I definitely wanna read about Grant, Evan and Adam! I just need it. There are still so many amazing characters...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romantic-drama

4.5 Stars. Love Marie Force - Have I said that a time or two or ten? She writes the best guys whether its contemporary romance or romantic suspense. Again have I said that more than several times? I want all of them. This is a sweet, very sexy, lovable series. Her characters are charming and their stories page turning waitng to get to their eventual HEA. I want to live on Gansett Island and I'm pretty sure that I even have a huge crush on Big Mac. Although I also want Mac..or Joe...or Luke. I'm...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Joyfully Reviewed rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: joyfully-reviewed-miranda

Sydney Donovan spent the best summers of her life on Gansett Island. That is why she chooses to revisit the island to help her move on. Fifteen months ago Sydney lost her husband and her children in a terrible accident. Since then she has been running in place. It’s time for her to let them go and start living again. Gansett Island is the perfect place to start—and if she happens to run into the man she once loved nothing would be wrong with that either.

Luke Harris loved Sydney Donovan fiercely....more

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Nov 11, 2012 Kami (WickedKarma) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan. They shared 4 passionate summers together. Then Sydney went off to college & did not return. No word to Luke or their future together. Sydney married another man & had two children. Luke remained on the island. Luke was offered a scholarship but passed it up to take care of his mother who became very ill. Luke still is working at the marina & to this day is still trying to figure out what had gone wrong between him & Sydney (the love o...more Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan. They shared 4 passionate summers together. Then Sydney went off to college & did not return. No word to Luke or their future together. Sydney married another man & had two children. Luke remained on the island. Luke was offered a scholarship but passed it up to take care of his mother who became very ill. Luke still is working at the marina & to this day is still trying to figure out what had gone wrong between him & Sydney (the love of his life). A year & a half passes after Sydney suffers the tragic loss of her husband & children, she's returned to Gansett Island with the only family member left, a Golden Retriever named Buddy, to figure out what's next in her life. She was a school teacher on the mainland but his having trouble teaching the children that remind her everyday of the children she misses so much.

Luke is still very in love with Sydney & even though he got hurt by her he cannot deny that he still wants her with a passion. Sydney is unsure if she is ready for a love affair with the one man from her past she’s never forgotten. But is slowing realizing she has never stopped loving him.

This 3rd book in the series touches on some very depressing circumstances. You can feel Sydney's pain & guilt through the words of this very talented writer. You feel the sadness & agony of Sydney realizing she has always loved Luke & the guilt that brings her over the loss of her husband.

Sydney's parents were always against her & Luke together because Luke's family was of the "working class" but Luke is the best thing for Sydney & her parents start to come around realizing that she is happy for the 1st time since her loss. There is a scene where Luke is driving Sydney to dinner & a car almost drives them off the road & causes them to crash. Very intense writing after that scene where you see Luke taking care of Sydney after that event brings the memories of the car accident in which she lost her family. You see her shut down & curl into herself. A lot of emotion in that scene.

Another great book. Onto Book #4.(less)

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Dec 29, 2012 Mlleelizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lendable

Grab a box of tissues...

Ready for Love is a bit of a tear-jerker but it is also a lovely and sincere second chance romance. The book begins by addressing both the reason Luke and Sydney went separate ways as teenagers and the tragedy in Sydney's life that has brought her back to Gansett Island to heal. Both of the lead characters are very likeable. In fact, the one problem I had with this book is that they are both too good to be true. Luke has stayed single and now that he's back with Sydney vo...more Grab a box of tissues...

Ready for Love is a bit of a tear-jerker but it is also a lovely and sincere second chance romance. The book begins by addressing both the reason Luke and Sydney went separate ways as teenagers and the tragedy in Sydney's life that has brought her back to Gansett Island to heal. Both of the lead characters are very likeable. In fact, the one problem I had with this book is that they are both too good to be true. Luke has stayed single and now that he's back with Sydney vows to wait forever for her to commit. I have to hope his emotions have got the better of him and he's not really willing to devote his life to pining for her. Sydney, on the other hand, spends a little too much time and energy apologizing for the (admittedly awful) manner and reason she dumped Luke 17 years ago. There is also a golden retriever who will completely steal your heart. But he actually gets away with being almost perfect.

Fortunately this is a well-written romance and those two issues don't completely dominate the story. There are other conflicts and both Luke and Sydney have to finally outgrow the class and money issues that are the real problem between them. They also both have to deal with Sydney's very real and understandable grief. There is a deceased spouse in this story (and children as well -- my tissue warning should not be taken lightly!). However, Sydney is already partly through the grieving process and, as the title indicates, almost ready to open her heart to another love. There's nothing instant here. Sydney goes back and forth, has good days and bad. I felt this was a realistic depiction considering the events in Sydney's life and the book's timeliness. On the other hand, she does not dwell relentlessly on the past and her loss.

The book covers the month or so prior to the wedding of the hero and heroine of the second book in this series. The full cast of characters from the first two books returns for this book and a few other family members and friends trickle in and are introduced for future books but this works well with the story and is never overly obvious.

The second-chance theme is emphasized by the addition of two additional storylines. Cab-driver Ned has a potential second-chance romance with a mystery woman he's loved for years and McCarthy sibling Grant returns both for his sister's wedding and to try to win back his former lover, Abby, who left him a year ago and is now engaged to Gansett Island's new doctor. Even with all these second-chance storylines, the plot stays firmly in the here and now and moves forward rather than getting mired in the past.

The plot also stays centered on Luke and Sydney. The other storylines enhance theirs rather than detracting from it. There is plenty of emotion and chemistry between them and their love scenes are both hot and heartwarming.

I feel this series is improving as it grows. Even the secondary characters seem to have moe depth and nuanced in this third installment. I do wish the lead characters had been just a bit less good, but that's a minor complaint. Overall I enjoyed Ready for Love enough to jump right into the next book in the series and I rarely do that.(less)

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Jul 05, 2012 Melissa Maxwell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The series is getting better with previous character's being centered along with the love story. Luke and Sydney were high school loves even though they only saw each other in the summer. For four years they were hot and heavy but then one summer she does not show up and he is devastated to find out she has moved on. Sixteen years pass and she comes to the island a few month after losing her husband and kids in a drunk driving accident and Luke goes to just check on her. A year passes (both in t...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Valerie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, adult, cont-romance, e-books, series, with-review

I hate to rate the third book in the McCarthys' series lower than the other two because I loved seeing how Mac, Maddie, Joe, Janey, Big Mac, Ned, Linda and the rest of the characters were doing―especially Mac & Maddie―and I really liked getting to know more of Luke; I felt for Sydney's tragedy too, but I couldn't love their love story. I liked it but didn't love it.

I thought I hadn't connected with Joe & Janey in the second book but after reading 'Ready for Love' I realized I connected...more

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May 13, 2013 Loralee rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, chicklit, contemporary-romance

I was so disappointed with this novel which is such a shame because I really liked Luke in the first two books and was excited he was going to get his happily ever after.

I think my issue with this is there wasn't any conflict between Luke and Sydney. I mean, the woman lost her entire family in a tragic car accident...where, narratively, do you go from there? I think Force recognized that too, and as a result the spark wasn't there between them. at least not enough to be a novel. Instead of make...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Marieanne Fabiano added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenge

In book 3 of the McCarthy series, Marie Force tells the story of Luke and Sydney, who were teenage sweethearts for four summers. But, after the fouth summer, convinced that Sydney could do better than Luke (by her parents), Sydeny left for college without a word to Luke. Sydney moved on with her life. She was married and had two children. Tragically, Seth (her husband) and two kids, were killed in a car accident that left Syndey also badly injured. Sydeny goes back to the island to heal both men...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING & DREAMING

Ready for Love was another good addition to The McCarthy’s of Gansett Island series by Marie Force. I really like the McCarthy family and the small town island life, but I must admit that I am starting to feel a little worn out by this series. I feel like the novels are getting more repetitive and more predictable. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Ready for Love, and I am still looking forward to reading Falling for Love. I am just ke...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Shauna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Ready for love”, I didn’t enjoyed this book the way I
enjoyed Mac and Maddie’s book. But the plot line was
okay and the book was well put together. Marie Force is
an amazing writer.

This book is about Luke Harris and Sydney Donovan, they
were teenager sweethearts. Luke was in love with Sydney,
a wealthy seasonal visitor to Gansett Island. Then Sydney
went off to college and she married another man and had
two children while Luke remained on the island, working
at McCarthy's Gansett Marina and wo...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.25 out of 5. A rich and emotional love story about a love that is lost when parents intervene, when a young woman listens to their social and economic concerns, when class and position become barriers. Now great grief and loss have overwhelmed Sydney and she has returned to the place where she discovered the beauty of love, really not knowing if Luke loved her still. Their tentative movements toward each other, her struggles to put the past behind her and move forward, her changing relationshi...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Julie Prestsater rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The McCarthy's of Gansett Island series continues with Luke and Sydney. I didn't know it was possible to love the series even more than I already did. Sydney has been through so much and Luke is very gentle with her. I find it very inspiring that she allowed herself to heal and love again. With so many years apart, I love the chemistry between the two and it's so believable. The characters and relationships are so geniune that you'd think you could just travel to the east coast and run into thes...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, nook, 2012-books

READY FOR LOVE was another great addition to the McCarthy family. Although Luke isn’t a true McCarthy, in the past year especially, he might as well be.

Luke Harris has never gotten over Sydney Donovan sudden disappearance when she doesn’t return to the island for the summer. For the past 18 years no woman has matched to what they had when she would come during the summers.

When he learns of the accident that claimed the life of her husband, Seth and two kids Max and Malena, he can’t help but se...more READY FOR LOVE was another great addition to the McCarthy family. Although Luke isn’t a true McCarthy, in the past year especially, he might as well be.

Luke Harris has never gotten over Sydney Donovan sudden disappearance when she doesn’t return to the island for the summer. For the past 18 years no woman has matched to what they had when she would come during the summers.

When he learns of the accident that claimed the life of her husband, Seth and two kids Max and Malena, he can’t help but secretly visit and watch her sit on her porch once she returns to the island to heal.

A year and a half later, she finally calls out to him one night when he is watching. The spark is instant when he climbs the steps and it’s all he can do to keep from embracing her. They talk about the way she left without a word and he gives her his forgiveness, but tells her he wants more than to just become friends again.

Sydney reconnects with a pregnant Maddie. They instantly pick up where they last stopped and Maddie helps her through her mixed feelings with Luke.

After a few days to think about it in his absent, Syd does agree to see where a relationship can go between them. Of course they have a few rough patches, but Luke is beyond patient and encourages her to talk about her family to him. I loved how the entire book wasn’t about Sydney grieving and feeling guilty for her feelings toward Luke. Of course she does face the challenge of moving on, but she knows she needs to move on and should move on.

Together they face her parents who have never been supported of their summer ‘relationship’. They never believed Luke was good enough for Sydney and had a hand in convincing her to move on from him. Now when it comes out that Luke owns shares of the marina, her parents instantly perk up and Syd finally realizes why Luke feels what he does about money.

An accident at the marina leaves Big Mac with multiple injuries, Mac with hypothermia and Luke with a horrible sprained ankle. The stress puts Maddie into preterm labor and gets Mac on her case with worry.

Finally Syd comes to realizes her love for Luke and she plans to give island life a try after taking care of some business at home.

Luckily, Janey and Joe’s wedding does go on as planned, with big Mac walking his only daughter down the aisle.

It was so lovely to read about our past two book characters and their families. Everyone is evolving so much and really adds to the story. Can’t wait for number 4.
(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 NayNay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

READY FOR LOVE is the third book in the McCarthy's of Gansett Island. This book is Luke and Sydney's story and it is just has entertaining as her previous 2 books in this series. I loved Luke he is so sweet, and Sydney (with the help of Luke) is strong and overcomes a terrible tragedy.
Gansett Island and its cast of characters make you want to go there and get to know them all. Marie Force is a wonderful author, her stories are real, her character's come to life, and her writing style flows with...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-rom, ebook, read-2011

This was my least favorite of the McCarthys of Gansett Island series. Luke was just okay for me he lacked that something special that a hero has. I also found the situation in which the heroine is coming out of to be to depressing.

I did enjoy that we got to see many of the couples from the past two books and also many other island favorites. The problem with bringing in the rest of the cast was that the main h/h got little time. That may also be a reason this wasn't up with the other two books....more

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Jun 05, 2012 Kame rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Marie Force - The McCarthy's is always a great read!

Luke and Sydney spent their summers together when they were young. Then Sydney fell for someone else - someone who her parents would approve.

15 years later Sydney comes back to the island to recuperate from injuries from a car accident that killed her husband and two children. Luke rows his boat across the pond just to be near her and check on her nightly - one night Sydney calls out to him. Slowly they try to discover if their love can be reki...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved Maid for Love and Fool for Love, and I definitely enjoyed Ready for Love, but the first two were stronger. Luke is amazing (Force's H's are real heroes and it is impossible to not fall in love with them) but Sydney had a lot of faults and her life was up in the air and there was never a real understanding of how she was going to work it out or which side of the line she was going to jump... which is completely understandable, since she lost her family in a terrible accident a 18 months a...more

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Jul 24, 2012 AJ8 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am REALLY liking this series. I didn't plan on reading them but got the first one free and now I am hooked on the series with the McCarthy boys and girl. This book was not about the one of the boys in the McCarthy family but about a partner in the Marina family business (Luke) whose childhood sweetheart lost her husband and 2 children to a car wreck and she is learning to cope by staying with her parents. Luke has always been in love with Sydney and they begin a new and find out they were both...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: part-of-a-series, paperback-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 17, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Marie Force is quickly becoming a force (haha) to be reckoned with in the world of indie self publishing. If you follow her Facebook and Twitter accounts not only will you find one incredibly hard-working individual, but one earning awards left and right for her many works. I count myself among the lucky to have found her works when doing my weekly scavenge for nook books. I came across the first book in this series, Maid For Love, and upon finishing it found myself quickly reading all five that...more Marie Force is quickly becoming a force (haha) to be reckoned with in the world of indie self publishing. If you follow her Facebook and Twitter accounts not only will you find one incredibly hard-working individual, but one earning awards left and right for her many works. I count myself among the lucky to have found her works when doing my weekly scavenge for nook books. I came across the first book in this series, Maid For Love, and upon finishing it found myself quickly reading all five that are currently published. I felt like I was reading as fast as this man speaks.

Now that our heads are spinning…

In her third installment of the McCarthy’s of Gansett Island series, Ready for Love, Marie Force tells the story of Luke Harris. Born and raised on the island, Luke had a summer romance with Sydney Donovan, whose wealthy parents had a summer home on the island. When the summer ended and Sydney was destined for college, the romance ended, as is most often the case. Fast forward many years later: Luke still lives and works on the island, and Sydney is happily married to another man with two beautiful children. However, all of this changes when a terrible accident claims the life of Sydney’s husband and children. Seeking an escape from this terrible loss, Sydney comes back to Gansett Island 15 months later, only to find that Luke is still there and his love for her is as strong as the day they parted so many years ago. Will they rekindle their love or will Sydney’s pain be so great that she cannot love anyone any more?

I’m writing this review having finished the first five books of the series. Having read them all I can honestly say that Ready for Love is my second favorite. (Book one, Maid For Love, is the only one beating it!) Force has an extraordinary ability to create characters that are relatable, charismatic, and have great personalities, which in turn makes readers WANT to care about them. Her books are filled with a collection of characters that become like a second family the further you get in the series. For any author to achieve this is a great feat in and of itself, but Force continually does it book after book. It’s one of the main reasons I keep reading all the books in this series. I want to meet more of the Gansett Island folks! Knowing that there are several more books expected for this series makes me SQUEE with joy.

Additionally, another great thing about Force’s writing is that her plots aren’t unrealistic. In my opinion, Ready For Love’s main theme is that true love waits. Luke has truly been in love with Sydney since they were teenagers. They definitely weren’t ready for “the rest of our lives” when they were 17, but the trials that life has put them through in the years since their last meeting have turned them into the people they are today, the people they need to be for their love to last. Sydney’s plight, albeit a sad one in that she lost her husband and children, teaches her that her life can be redeemed from the depression she’s been beholden to with Luke’s effervescent personality, charm, and sheer confidence in the strength of their love. It was a touching story from start to finish. If this is the first review you’re reading for the Gansett Island series, then click back for my reviews of book one and two and give this series a try.

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-11X (less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guiltypleasures-piper

Piper's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4.5 Stars

Who does not remember and think back to their first summer love. I know I do. His name was Victor and I met him when I was visiting my grandmother. We saw each other for several summers and back in the golden ages when you wrote acutal letters, we wrote letters. Reading Luke and Sydney's brought wonder summer memories for me. Sitting on the dock fishing with my first love who I just knew I would grow up and marry.

Ready for Love is book three in T...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Diana~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, author-marie-force, amazon-kindle, 2011-reads

It's sad how the further I get into this series, the more irritating the characters become to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked this latest installment of the McCarthys of Gansett Island series... but Luke and Sydney just lacked the special spark to me. Sure, they had plenty of scenes together and if you add in their past relationship that they had, it would seem like a good romance right? Well, I think my problem with Sydney was because of the fact that she left Luke heartbroken all those years a...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, kindle-ebook

When I read what happened to Sydney Donovan's family at the end of Fool for Love, I could imagine how we were going to get a story out of something so tragic. Well, we got one and it was good!

A little more than a year ago, Sydney Donovan's life was turned upside down when a drunk driver hit her car killing her 2 kids and her husband. She was not only physically broken, but psychologically as well.

Little did Sydney know that Luke Harris, her old high school summer sweetheart, watched her as she...more When I read what happened to Sydney Donovan's family at the end of Fool for Love, I could imagine how we were going to get a story out of something so tragic. Well, we got one and it was good!

A little more than a year ago, Sydney Donovan's life was turned upside down when a drunk driver hit her car killing her 2 kids and her husband. She was not only physically broken, but psychologically as well.

Little did Sydney know that Luke Harris, her old high school summer sweetheart, watched her as she dealt with her tragedy. So he's shocked when he's immediately found out the following summer when Sydney comes back to Gansett Island. Luke has never stopped loving Sydney. She may have broken his heart when she never came back to the island, but he never found anyone bump Sydney from that place in his heart.

Finding her a little more like her old self (one who apologized for how she treated him at nineteen), they strike a deal on a friendship. However, that deal only lasts so long when the spark they had when they were teenagers rears it's head to show that it's alive and wanting to explore what might have been. However, they have a few snags they need to deal with while trying to figure out just what they have.

Her parents are still very prejudice against Luke, thinking he is somehow beneath Sydney. Luke, still a little gun shy and wondering if Sydney's going to bolt at the first opportunity, isn't all that forthcoming with what his life is like in Gansett Island (i.e., part owner in the marina and a boat restorer). And then we have Sydney, who is waiting for the other shoe to drop, convinced she has bad karma and that is why her family had been taken away.

Mixed in with all that, we get to meet up again with Joe & Janey, who are weeks away from their wedding, and Mac & Maddie, who are 2 months away from the birth of their child. It was great to see where they are in relation to how we last saw them.

Another great addition to the series. I'm happy that Marie Force will be continuing on the trials and tribulations of the residents of Gansett Island. Next up with be Grant McCarthy's story. I'm wondering though...is his match Abbey or maybe a certain bartender. I'll guess we'll have to wait and see.

4 Cocktails(less)

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Jul 01, 2011 Steffi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Eagerly anticipated: Luke and Syndney's story.

From Fool for Love we already know that Syd and Luke have quite a past. Luke was left heart-broken when Sydney never returned to the island and finally married someone else. After a terrible accident that took her husband and both her kids, Sydney has come back to Gansett to recuperate. After one year they grow closer again and it turns out that neither of them could forget the other. But the road to recovery is hard and old hurts, while in the past,...more Eagerly anticipated: Luke and Syndney's story.

From Fool for Love we already know that Syd and Luke have quite a past. Luke was left heart-broken when Sydney never returned to the island and finally married someone else. After a terrible accident that took her husband and both her kids, Sydney has come back to Gansett to recuperate. After one year they grow closer again and it turns out that neither of them could forget the other. But the road to recovery is hard and old hurts, while in the past, still have the power to threaten their future.

Gansett Island really has a place in my heart. I love this series and with Ready for Love we get to know the community and the town much better. Not only do Grant, Adam and Evan come home but there are also many other characters that are sure to be interesting. What about Abby, Grant's ex-girlfriend? Or Stephanie - the shy and wary but funky woman running the marina restaurant? And Tiffany, Maddie's sister?? So many questions, so many stories that I all want to hear...or read, rather!

I especially liked that Maddie and Mac, Joe and Janey and Ned are not forgotten but we get to follow them and see how they tackle new surprises and situations. Sydney and Luke are a great couple. They deserve the happiest ending after all they had to endure. I always appreciate when the hero is sure and clear about his feelings from the beginning and doesn't try to manipulate or push the heroine. We had that with Mac and Joe and Luke is very vocal and sure about his emotions as well. All three couples, while facing difficulties or having insecurities, are all down-to-earth, realistic and honest with each other.

In the Author's note of Ready for Love, Marie Force mentions that Grant's book will be next and Tiffany is to get her own story, too. I can't wait for those and I am going to be waiting most eagerly. Another great addition to the McCarthy's of Gansett Island series. Very recommended read!!

Original review at www.bookworldtravels.blogspot.com (less)

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Jul 07, 2012 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another cute love story. This installment wasnt as "light" of a read as books 1&2. As a mom I found it very sad/depressing.

I love how the author includes updates on the characters from previous books (Mac & maddie And joe & janey).
However in this book she brought in even more characters - grant & Abby, which book 4 is about. And also francine (maddies mom) and Ned, wasn't all that interested in their story. so around the 50% mark I started forgetting who I was reading about.

Ex...more

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May 16, 2013 Tiny Mendoza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story was great, all the other mini stories were great (Ned and Francine, a preview of Grant and Stephanie's story, continuation of Maddie and Mac's & Janey and Joe's stories), I loved the main protagonists - Sydney and Luke, especially Luke... but I think the book's not adequate to have a perfect rating of 5.
Still, it was a great contemp & adult read. I'm not giving up hope yet! Hopefully, the next book will leave me breathless and speechless in the end.

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May 30, 2012 Maureen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This installment wasn't as good at the two previous ones.
Even though, what the author wrote can be related to easily by the reader.
The story was just a little depressing. I glad Sydney was able to confront
and deal with her issues, but it seemed Luke just wanted to compromised at all times.
After reading so far, three installments of the Gansett Island series; it just seemed like the men are always the ones changing their living situation for their women. Hopefully, the fourth installment will be...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, e-books-downloaded

Sydney who just lived through the tragedy of losing her family 14 months ago comes home to the island, to her high school sweet heart, Luke. This was a bit of a tear jerker for me as we learned of her tragedy and she worked through her greif and guilt. It was a quick read and nice romance. You get Jane and Joe's wedding and Maddie is pregnant with Mac's child amd the MacCarthy 'boys' are all over this book too.

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Jan 16, 2013 Dori rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I enjoyed the first two. For me, it was just a tad too sappy in a few places and there was no mystery in it. You knew from the very beginning that Luke and Sydney would end up happy together and I think knowing that took some of the interest out if it.
It was still good though and I will continue to read the books in the series.

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About Marie Force

Marie Force is the author of the bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE, READY FOR LOVE, FALLING FOR LOVE, HOPING FOR LOVE, SEASON FOR LOVE and LONGING FOR LOVE, with more books coming soon in the series. She is the author of the Treading Water Series that consists of TREADING WATER, MARKING TIME and STARTING OVER, with book four, COMING HOME, out Christmas 20...more Marie Force is the author of the bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE, READY FOR LOVE, FALLING FOR LOVE, HOPING FOR LOVE, SEASON FOR LOVE and LONGING FOR LOVE, with more books coming soon in the series. She is the author of the Treading Water Series that consists of TREADING WATER, MARKING TIME and STARTING OVER, with book four, COMING HOME, out Christmas 2012. Marie also wrote the following contemporary romances: GEORGIA ON MY MIND, EVERYONE LOVES A HERO, LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT, TRUE NORTH, THE FALL and THE WRECK. She recently signed with Berkley for a new contemporary series, The Green Mountain Country Store, beginning in late 2013.
Marie is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press. So far, the series includes FATAL AFFAIR, FATAL JUSTICE, FATAL CONSEQUENCES, FATAL DESTINY, FATAL FLAW and FATAL DECEPTION, with more books coming. “This novel is ‘The O.C. does D.C.,’ and you just can’t get enough.” (RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars for FATAL AFFAIR). In its July 2010 issue, RT Book Reviews named Marie a “Future Star of Romantic Suspense.”
She is a member of RWA’s New England and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. She is the recipient of the Holt Medallion from the Virginia Romance Writers and a Bean Pot from RWA’s New England Chapter.
While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. Married for twenty years, she is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie.
Find her at marieforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor, and on Twitter @marieforce. Join the fun at the Marie Force Readers Group at www.facebook.com/groups/MarieForceBoo... and the McCarthys of Gansett Island Group at www.facebook.com/groups/McCarthySeries. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.
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Books by Marie Force

Maid for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #1)

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

Falling for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #4)

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Quotes from Ready for Love

“A child is your heart walking around outside your body” — 2 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: Ready for Love Goodreads rating: 4.25 (2255 ratings)
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Ready for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #3)

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