The series is set on Martha’s Vineyard and centers on the Sheridan family. Patriarch, Wes Sheridan, has been diagnosed with early stage dementia and his sister, Carrie Montgomery, has asked the girls to come home. Three sisters, Susan, Christine and Lola all left the Vineyard when they became adults. Their mother died in a tragic accident 20 years earlier and their father threw himself into his work at the Sunrise Cove Inn, the family’s business. This series is the story of the Sheridans and Montgomerys, as they deal with all that life throws at them.

I read the first four books in this series back in 2020 and enjoyed them, but for some reason the next ones got buried on my kindle. When I was perusing the Audible Plus catalogue, I was happy to see the first 9 books were on there. The problem, they were only available until May 3rd. I quickly added the 5 that I hadn’t read and had a binge listen.

These books are novellas (under 200 pages, around 5 hours listening at regular speed, but less than 3.5 hours at my normal 1.5 speed) and are easy, escapist stories. There are now 18 novellas in this series and I recommend you read them in order. All of the books were narrated by Erin Bennett. She has a pleasant voice that is easy to listen to.

A Vineyard White Christmas (A Vineyard Sunset #5) by Katie Winters, Erin Bennet (Narrator)

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Andrew Montgomery is the youngest by several years in his family. He was the black sheep of the family and didn’t get along with his father. When he graduates high school, he leaves Martha’s Vineyard with his best friend, Kurt. They join the armed forces with the thought of getting an education when they finish their tour of duty, but Kurt is killed and Andrew blames himself. He becomes a career army man, until he is injured and returns to the US. He lives like a recluse, until he gets a call that his father was in a serious accident and may not live. He heads to the Vineyard with trepidation, having turned his back on his family so many years before. The Montgomery and Sheridan clans know how to love and forgive, so Andrew/Andy is welcomed back with open arms, but is he ready for that?

I enjoyed getting back into this series. At first, I wasn’t sure how this book fit into the series until I realized that Andy was a cousin to the Sheridan sisters. As Andy became immersed in life on the island, he realized how much he missed his family, as well as how much they missed him. There were things that he felt guilty about, such as the verbal and emotional abuse his sister Kelli was dealing with, that he knew about before he left. He missed seeing his nieces and nephews grow up, and he missed his mother terribly. Themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, spousal abuse, workaholics, grief, love and second chances are well incorporated in the story. If you enjoy clean, family drama with lots of themes built in, then I recommend this series.

A Vineyard Vow (A Vineyard Sunset #6) by Katie Winters, Erin Bennett (Narrator)

3.5 Stars:

Susan Sheridan is recovering from her treatments for breast cancer and is in remission. She now turns her attention to helping her daughter Amanda, plan her wedding. Amanda has just finished her first semester of law school while spending the last year going back and forth to Martha’s Vineyard to support her mother. She is excited to finalize her wedding plans for her Martha’s Vineyard wedding. There’s a lot happening in the family as her Aunt Christine and Zach finalize their lives together, and get ready to help her cousin Audrey raise her child so she can return to school, her Aunt Lola and her beau Tommy getting to know each other and her grandfather’s dementia is getting worse. With all this going on, she doesn’t seem to be able to give Chris the attention that he needs or realize what is going on with him.

Of course, best laid plans don’t always turn out the way you wanted them to. This story was a bit formulaic, but I did enjoy seeing how the Sheridans and Montgomerys support one another and help each other deal with whatever life throws their way. As Amanda’s life seems to change right before our eyes, I enjoyed seeing how this mature young woman deals with all that life throws at her. A story of family, love, loss and new beginnings that I recommend. This is the 6th book in the Vineyard Sunset series, and I do recommend you read them in order.

A Vineyard Lullaby (A Vineyard Sunset #7) by Katie Winters, Erin Bennett (Narrator)

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this 7th Vineyard Sunset story, Audrey gives birth to a little boy. In a previous book, we learn about Audrey’s pregnancy and her struggle of how she will be able to continue school. Her Aunt Christine, who has been unable to have children, offers to help her raise her baby so that she can go back to journalism school. Christine and Zach are happily preparing for the new baby to be part of their lives. When Audrey goes into premature labor, everyone rushes to the hospital. Audrey is in danger, hemorrhaging, and the baby’s not breathing and gets whisked off to the NICU. This causes Zach to spiral and remember the death of his first child with his ex-wife. He disappears and leaves Christine, stunned. The baby boy survives, and now the family must figure out what to do next.

Christine and Zach run the restaurant at the family inn. He is the chef, she the pastry chef. With no chef, the restaurant closes temporarily. Christine is hurt and reeling, with the family also dealing with an ill baby and Audrey not knowing what is coming up for her future. Although everyone is in love with baby Max, they need to deal with all the fallout. In this story, we see some of Zach’s past, which we didn’t really know about. We also see another side of Christine, the hurt woman, but also her stubbornness and how she shuts out people trying to help her. Themes of family, PTSD, grief, love, infant illness, counseling for mental health and forgiveness all play a part in this story. If you enjoy family drama, then this series is for you.

A Vineyard Wedding (A Vineyard Sunset #8) by Katie Winters, Erin Bennett (Narrator)

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s summer on Martha’s Vineyard, and the Sheridan and Montgomery families are preparing for the wedding of Susan Sheridan to her childhood sweetheart, Scott. The family with all the nieces and nephews are there to help plan and participate in the wedding. Susan has opened her own law office on the island with her daughter Amanda acting as her paralegal while finishing law school. They are approached by a man whose daughter is on trial for murdering her boyfriend in Boston. Susan accepts the case and much to everyone else’s chagrin, throws herself into the case to the detriment of wedding planning and spending time with Scott. Scott is also busy with his son Kellen, who has moved to the island after having issues at his mother’s and at school. It is taking some time for him to settle in, but it is grandpa Wes, that seems to get through to him.

I enjoyed this story highlighting Susan. She is a smart lady, and we finally get to see her in her role as a defense attorney. This is a high profile case and she is sure that her client is innocent. She does her own investigating, learning things that the police should have found if they hadn’t decided they knew who was guilty. With lots of family around to support Susan and Scott, as well as welcome Kellen and help him adjust, things eventually fall into place. Another enjoyable story of family, love, support, and acceptance that is all wrapped up in a bit of a legal suspense story.

A Vineyard Rebirth (A Vineyard Sunset #9) by Katie Winters, Erin Bennett (Narrator)

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Vineyard Rebirth begins set in 1943, on Martha’s Vineyard at the Cliffside Hotel. It is owned by Robert Sheridan, and there is a wannabe property developer staying there with his young wife. He treats her terribly and she turns to Robert, quickly falling in love with him. Robert sells the hotel to her husband hoping that they will stay on the island and he will still see his love. The same day they sign the papers, a destructive hurricane hits and destroys the hotel. Jump ahead to the present, and Kelli Montgomery, is now running the family real estate company after her ex-husband Mike has left the island. A seasoned developer, Mark Van Tress, and his son have arrived on the island and have their eye on the Historic Cliffside Hotel, with dreams to build it back up into a prosperous and beautiful resort. Just as Kelli is ready to make the deal she gets a call from a lawyer representing the family who apparently owns the property that her family thought belonged to them, so the deal is put on hold. As they investigate, the rest of the story comes out, and along the way, Kelli finds that she is attracted to the son of the buyer and wants the opportunity to get to know him.

In previous books we learn about he verbal and emotionally abuse that Kelli suffers at the hands of her husband Mike. She finally leaves him after her brother returns to the island and she is not struggling. Not only is she running the family business, but she has her own boutique that her daughter is managing. In this book, she is healing and is surprised to find herself attracted to a man. I enjoyed how the family investigated the mystery, reading journals and diaries that were written back in 1943. This book showed how strong the Sheridan women are, both in the past and present. With the family rallying around, not only do they learn more about their ancestors, but they help Kelli deal with all the changes in her life and find her happily ever after. Another enjoyable story in the Vineyard Sunset series.