I always love a novel of women running a
small business. Delaney Huger of Virginia is living her
dream job in marketing for a good-sized winery. Life brings
her back to visit Gull Island for a family wedding. Here she
finds SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA, which, at first, is not what
she wants. Her younger sister is struggling with the family
wine shop, and trade is dropping. Delaney can help, but only
by taking time out from her day job.
 
Also attending the
wedding is charter boat captain Luke Sullivan. He’s a
newcomer, hoping to put down roots with his young daughter,
Larkin. These Lowcountry romances by Jennifer Vido make the
best use of the landscape and coastal amenities. Luke and
Larkin sailing a Carolina skiff adds another dimension to
the tale.
 
There
were so many uses of the word winery that it was easy to be
confused. Delaney works for a large winery, but the wine
merchant on the island is also called a winery. Another
overused word is charcuterie. Basically, Delaney gives her
sister Haven advice on social media posts and decides to
start selling charcuterie boards to go with wine. Now, this
only works because it’s a novel and many steps are
omitted. There is no survey of customers to see if it would
sell before sinking money into the plan. No costing and
planning price points. There’s not one mention of nut
allergies – a staple of murder mysteries nowadays
– and a man suggests a name, Meat and Greet, and the
ladies accept it, never thinking that some customers are
vegetarian and might want a cheese board. Food vendors are
usually required to have permits and qualifications, so
nobody gets poisoned by meat gone off in the heat. As I say,
it’s a novel. If you plan to copy the idea,
don’t skip those steps.  
 
The real story is, of
course, what will happen in Delaney’s love life. She
has a sometimes gentleman-friend, Nate, who is a courtroom
lawyer. She has a well-paid position, and colleagues she
micro- manages, even over the phone while attending a
wedding. As soon as she meets Luke Sullivan, she feels a
spark of interest in this friendly, capable man. But
she’s leaving, and there are other single ladies on
Gull Island. If she returns next year, he likely won’t
be free.
 
This
third story in the Gull
Island series combines small town friendships with
enterprise and zest for living. Romance is arms-length in
the busy, long summer days, when firms have to earn the
year’s income. Jennifer Vido has maintained her
consistent theme of island living with the enjoyable
SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA.