Having read the Sweet Magnolias series by this author I was interested to see how the new Chesapeake Shores novel would compare. Jenny Collins has been in Nashville, writing songs, but she's dropping back to see the family for Christmas. Her mother's remarriage freaked her out and she stayed away for ages, and she is happier to see her friend Bree, now a mother, than any of her relatives. Maybe A SEASIDE CHRISTMAS could mend some fences.

Unknown to Jenny, Caleb, a part of her musical and romantic past, is also interested in mending fences. She hasn't dealt with him since tabloid photos revealed his other love interest, and now Caleb is out of rehab and only wants the rights to a song she's written. But times change and people change, and he never lost his interest in Jenny. If he can just get her to talk to him, perhaps something more might come of it.

The first part of the book contains a lot of talking, recollecting and rehashing. Caleb is wise enough to speak with Bree at her florist's shop and tell her that he is serious about courting Jenny. He's not exactly welcomed, even if he does offer to hang Christmas decorations, but we have to admire his determination. He holds back on mentioning song rights....

The town of Chesapeake Bay was built around trees rather than bulldozing them, and a foundation acts to protect the environment, so all feels very natural and mature even though many houses were built in recent times. I felt that the story was much more of a straightforward romance than Sherryl Woods' previous Chasing Fireflies which dealt with the serious theme of school bullying on the internet as well as with adult relationships. A character points out that the fact that someone is flawed, just makes him human. At least this time around Jenny's eyes are open and we have to wait right to the end to see what choice she will make.

A SEASIDE CHRISTMAS will be enjoyed by followers of this series and is a pleasant light read which explores some serious issues such as trust.