I first discovered Mariah Stewart’s books in the late nineties. I was captivated by the combination of mystery and romance, but when she started writing books featuring serial killers I reluctantly said goodbye. Recently she has gone back to the kinder, gentler stories that initially won me over. Almost Home is the third book in the Chesapeake Diaries series. While I have read all three, this book can stand alone although characters from the previous books do play a significant part in the story.

Since high school, Steffie Wyler has had a thing for Wade MacGregor, a friend of her brother and a summer visitor to St. Dennis. She manipulated him into taking her to her high school prom and made her move, but he wasn’t interested. Years later they meet up again at a friend’s wedding, and Steffie is ready to make a play for him again when he abruptly leaves. Wade considered Steffie at age seventeen jail bait so when she first indicated her desire for him he was not interested, plus he was moving out of state. Now the four year age difference doesn’t matter and he is willing to explore the chemistry between them. Any chance to do this is cut short, though, when his best friend in Texas calls desperately needing him.

Six months later Wade is back in St Dennis, with the equipment from his closed business and his new son, Austin. Steffie owns a very profitable specialty ice cream shop. To say that she is shocked when a young toddler calls Wade “Daddy” is an understatement. No more mooning over the wrong guy, she going to open herself up to new opportunities. Remodeling her new house is just the distraction she needs. Wade stops by with the excuse of wanting to help her with the house, but the real reason is to explain about his son and his actions the night he blew her off. Although Wade and Steffie work through their misunderstandings, it is difficult for them to visualize any type of future together since Steffie loves her business and the town, and Wade will be moving on to Connecticut.

Ms. Stewart has painstakingly created a splendid small Americana-style town. Although I was able to go with the flow about its perfection, I do have to admit that I wished for something to dispel “small town as panacea” myth. That being said, I loved the ice cream shop and the concept of developing new flavors. There is something about the ability to concoct or cook or bake that delights me every time.

I enjoyed Steffie and Wade’s romance. The conflict keeping them apart is realistic since no one wants to fall in love and then conduct a long distance love affair. I do have to say that I found the resolution a little far-fetched, but then again, Steffie and Wade live in the perfect town. There is a mystery and while it wasn’t a surprise due to the author’s foreshadowing, I enjoyed the way it was handled. Nothing is more enjoyable then characters utilizing common sense.

Ms. Stewart creates very warm, engaging characters. There hasn’t been one that I have entirely disliked, even the antagonists. She creates heroines and heroes with a consummate balance of insecurities, human foibles, and admirable qualities. Normally I like returning characters, but at times during this book, I found myself spending a lot of time trying to remember who was who and the history of their romance. Sometimes with series books I feel like I need a cheatsheet. Still, that won’t keep me from reading the next book since I am already vested in the heroine and her happy ever after.

The romance between the couple, the realistic conflict, the mystery and of course the ice cream shop and making ice cream are all definite positives for me. The perfect town and a story filled with too many characters from previous book turned out to be negatives. Fans of Ms. Stewart will enjoy re-visiting St. Dennis, and her recurring characters. If you enjoy small town romances, then there is plenty to like here, too.