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Terri Osburn
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Meant to Be (An Anchor Island Novel) Kindle Edition

by Terri Osburn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 6,435 ratings

Sometimes the next best thing is what you’ve been looking for all along…

Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.

While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe. But could she ever leave her fiancé for his own brother…even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work…and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?

Filled with excitement and delight, Meant to Be is the story of a young woman torn between urban pressures and small-town pleasures.

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  1. Part of series
    Anchor Island
  2. Print length
    348 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Montlake Romance
  5. Publication date
    May 21, 2013
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Beth Chandler is deathly afraid of the water, so ferrying over to Anchor Island off the coast of North Carolina to meet her fiancé's family is a big deal until a huge dog and his very attractive owner distract her. When she realizes the guy is her fiancé's brother, Beth is too embarrassed to introduce herself. Of course, all is revealed when Joe Dempsey arrives at this parents' home to greet Lucas and Elizabeth. A difficult case drags Lucas back to Richmond, but he insists that Beth continue their "vacation," with Joe as her guide. Charter boat captain Joe isn't thrilled with the idea, but he doesn't want to "rock the boat." Beth discovers that she loves this wonderful enclave of small businesses and its quirky neighbors, so helping the residents fight overtures from a developer to sell gives her purpose. Meanwhile, Beth and Joe seem have found common ground.

Verdict An introspective man falls for a woman who has made a career out of fulfilling everyone's needs but her own. The combination of beautiful island locale and offbeat characters will have readers setting sail for love in debut author Osburn's series opener. —Bette-Lee Fox

Review

“[This] debut novel is as inviting as digging your bare toes into warm sand. Filled with endearing, authentic characters, heart-tugging emotion, and just enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep you smiling…A delightful story.” —Tracy Brogan, bestselling author of Crazy Little Thing

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AQ2A886
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Montlake Romance (May 21, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 21, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1612183085
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 6,435 ratings

About the author

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Terri Osburn

Terri Osburn

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Bestselling and award winning author Terri Osburn writes contemporary romance with heart, hope, and lots of humor. She's a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 bestselling author. She’s also hit the bestseller list in Germany, and won the 2016 Book Buyers Best award in the Contemporary Single Title category. Her books have been translated into five languages and sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. Terri is an avid Kpop fan, and loves to travel when not at home in Pittsburgh, PA with her menagerie of high-maintenance pets.

Learn more about this international bestselling author by visiting her website at www.terriosburn.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
6,435 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fantastic summer read with a well-written love story that keeps readers engaged. They appreciate the colorful cast of characters and the beautiful island setting, while enjoying the fast-paced narrative that draws them in from the start. Customers praise the entertainment value, with one noting how the writing made them feel every emotion, and they appreciate the family dynamics and developing friendships throughout the story.

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340 customers mention "Enjoyment"340 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and entertaining, describing it as a fantastic summer read.

"...is a really sweet and funny romance, very well written and completely worth your time, so highly recommend it." Read more

"...It was a fun and light reading, perfect for a busy summer when you want to unwind and live in a bit of a fantasy for a few hours...." Read more

"...A truly engaging story. I couldn't put it down. It was so good I want to live in Anchor Island...." Read more

"...I was looking for something relaxing, entertaining and decent. A new author??? maybe I'll give this a try I thought...." Read more

249 customers mention "Story quality"231 positive18 negative

Customers enjoy the love story in this book, finding it sweet and fun, with one customer noting its steady pace.

"...Anyway, Meant To Be is a really sweet and funny romance, very well written and completely worth your time, so highly recommend it." Read more

"This was definitely worth reading. I enjoyed the story...." Read more

"This story was really sweet. Beth is always pleasing people to make them happy and never asks for anything...." Read more

"...I have to say that the story idea was a good one, the setting interesting and somewhat entertaining in spots...." Read more

170 customers mention "Character development"164 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the colorful cast of characters in the book, with one mentioning how the story alternates between the main characters.

"...The feel of a small, isolated town was captured well and the cast of interesting characters added to the appeal...." Read more

"...There were many laugh out loud moments for me. The many colourful cast of characters made this story seem real. I want to live on this island!..." Read more

"...I love that there are no "too stupid to live" heroines or ridiculous plot manipulations. This is good storytelling about interesting people...." Read more

"...tale: an island setting with a quaint small town vibe, interesting supporting characters that add their own charm to the community, a loving blended..." Read more

144 customers mention "Readability"131 positive13 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well written, with one customer noting that the author's style makes them feel every emotion.

"...Anyway, Meant To Be is a really sweet and funny romance, very well written and completely worth your time, so highly recommend it." Read more

"...It was a fun and light reading, perfect for a busy summer when you want to unwind and live in a bit of a fantasy for a few hours...." Read more

"...Meant to Be was an OK read to me. 3 Stars. My review for book 2, Up to the Challenge; This is Sid and Lucas' story...." Read more

"...I was looking for something light and fun to read, so this book felt like it was right up my alley at the time, so I thought....why not?..." Read more

112 customers mention "Entertainment value"97 positive15 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, keeping them intrigued throughout and making them laugh, with one customer describing it as a relaxing holiday read.

"...It was a fun and light reading, perfect for a busy summer when you want to unwind and live in a bit of a fantasy for a few hours...." Read more

"...I was looking for something relaxing, entertaining and decent. A new author??? maybe I'll give this a try I thought...." Read more

"...I really grew to love Beth (heroine) and her people pleasing, sweet and quirky personality. Crusty Joe (hero) really grew on me...." Read more

"...and bad boy (only in books, of course) but it is great to have a break from all that grit and dive into something more tender and realistic...." Read more

47 customers mention "Family bond"37 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the family dynamics in the book, appreciating the developing friendships and great insight into the characters.

"...characters that add their own charm to the community, a loving blended family with 2 handsome sons that are complete opposites of each other, and an..." Read more

"...I like the flawed personalities and the family love and respect...." Read more

"...characters were drawn out rather nicely, I found myself enjoying the dynamics of the family and most especially the lead characters...." Read more

"Loved this little gem. Yes, it's predictable, hopelessly romantic, but as with films - the characters playing the roles make it worth it...." Read more

38 customers mention "Beauty"38 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the beautiful island setting of the book, describing it as sexy and lovely.

"...Anyway, Meant To Be is a really sweet and funny romance, very well written and completely worth your time, so highly recommend it." Read more

"...she's going through a panic attack she gets distracted by this gorgeous stranger who helps her along...." Read more

"...I really grew to love Beth (heroine) and her people pleasing, sweet and quirky personality. Crusty Joe (hero) really grew on me...." Read more

"...Lovely. After this book ends, and book 2 begins, one key likable character has had a heart attack...." Read more

35 customers mention "Pacing"30 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, noting that it draws them in right away and moves quickly, with one customer mentioning it maintains momentum without getting bogged down in excessive detail.

"...Once I did, the story went quickly, and I enjoyed watching the story unfold into a happy ending...." Read more

"...Island and even though she's terrified of the water, she endures the trip on a ferry...." Read more

"...The opening drew me in right away, and with each page I turned I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Sid was a real firecracker...." Read more

"...The book moved along without stalling out on too much detail. I like the flawed personalities and the family love and respect...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Fernanda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent romance!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I'm so happy I found this book. Terri Osburn has been officialy included in my 'most favorite authors' list.

    Let me start by saying I don't usually like love triangles. But really, in this story, it didn't bother me at all. I was actually rooting for Beth to leave Lucas and get together with Joe and feeling like it was the best thing for everyone. There wasn't a broken-hearted victim left (not that Lucas wasn't affected, but he was no victim in the story) or that third part that's always messing with the main characters' romance.

    Joe is a rough-around-the-edges-but-sweet-as-pie-in-the-inside guy. He's had one bad experience with romance that left him with a bruised ego and a lot of crankiness towards everyone around him. But he really is a sweet guy. Dozer is yet another score for him in my book, since I love dogs and I adore guys that have this kind of relationship with their dogs.

    Beth is a victim of life who has only ever wanted to please everyone else and has never looked for the things that make her happy. Raised by her grandparents, she's followed the path they traced for her and only starts to come in contact with her real self when Joe starts pushing her buttons.

    Lucas is a great guy, but his obsession with his work leaves no space for anything else in his life, including Beth, who's always left in second place. But even if he didn't treat her like she deserved, I was really glad she didn't cheat on him. Technically.

    And I even fell a little in love with Lucas too, the 'I wanna fix him' kind of love, I mean. I can't wait for his story in the next book and I was boomed when I found out I'll have to wait until next January.

    Anyway, Meant To Be is a really sweet and funny romance, very well written and completely worth your time, so highly recommend it.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • TorchLit
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cute story
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This was definitely worth reading. I enjoyed the story. I really appreciated reading about an island in the Outer Banks, a place that I am fairly familiar with and have family connections. The feel of a small, isolated town was captured well and the cast of interesting characters added to the appeal.

    That said, I found the main characters less believable. There were times I wanted to yell at Beth, the protagonist, for being so blind and so conventional. She comes around, so that made me glad I read the whole book, but it dragged into frustration for a while. Her finace needed a stern talking to as well, and I find his character's transformation to be less than believable. The fact that this compelling story was led by these two characters meant that it took me a little longer to get into it and to start rooting for them. Once I did, the story went quickly, and I enjoyed watching the story unfold into a happy ending.

    The writing may have been a bit awkward here and there, but overall, particularly for a first novel, I found it clear and easy to read. It was a fun and light reading, perfect for a busy summer when you want to unwind and live in a bit of a fantasy for a few hours. I will be waiting for the next story impatiently.
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  • Patricia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Meant To Be
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This story was really sweet. Beth is always pleasing people to make them happy and never asks for anything. She thinks she's found love with Lucas so when he proposes she says yes. Now she has to meet his family who live in Anchor Island and even though she's terrified of the water, she endures the trip on a ferry. When she's going through a panic attack she gets distracted by this gorgeous stranger who helps her along.

    Joe loves his simple life, his island, and his dog Dozer. He thinks he has everything he needs until he meets Beth and not knowing she's engaged to his brother likes her since meeting her at the ferry. Neither one of them expects to fall in love with the other. While Lucas is working too many hours trying to make partner at his law firm he leaves Beth in the island with his family on what was supposed to be their two week vacation. Beth is rapidly falling in love with The Dempseys, with Anchor Island and its friendly inhabitants, and with her brother-in-law to be, Joe.

    She's never asked for anything before, she was taught to always please everyone else. How can she follow her heart and her true love if that means hurting everyone she's come to love? She must leave it all behind and live with the consequences of her decisions. But will Joe let her go? Will Lucas?

    A truly engaging story. I couldn't put it down. It was so good I want to live in Anchor Island. I can't wait for the next book in the series "Up To The Challenge" where Lucas will realize that his one true love, Sid has loved him since a very young age and has never forgot him.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Connie
    3.0 out of 5 stars My personal opinion on Meant To Be
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this book because it seemed, from a couple other reviews it might be a good story. I was looking for something relaxing, entertaining and decent. A new author??? maybe I'll give this a try I thought. I have to say that the story idea was a good one, the setting interesting and somewhat entertaining in spots. But the OVER-use of 4 letter words and slang sexual language was -- as I said OVER DONE. Especially all the droppings of the F-bomb, where it did not even make sense to use it (as though it ever does). Don't know much about this author but she is either an adolescent kid trying to show how much she knows about sex, love etc. or she is an old girl trying to live our her own fantasy. By the end of the book it seemed to me that the entire book was not so much a story about how two people were able to work out a love triangle dilemma but the whole gist seemed to be what happened when two people were attracted to each other, lusted after the other and how they finally made it to bed together!! So much more could have been done to make this ending a true LOVE story instead of making it look like the ONLY thing that matters in a relationship is how good the sex is. It could have left the reader happy to have read it rather than the tasteless explanation of every moan and groan in the bedroom scene. I only paid $1.99 for this book, but I honestly would like to have my money back!! I guess you get what you pay for.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Bettina
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tolle Serie!
    Reviewed in Germany on August 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ich habe das Buch und dann die folgenden Bücher in der Serie von Anfang an geliebt und somit auch verschlungen. Jede freie Minute wurde genutzt, um das Buch zu lesen.
    Eine tolle Liebesgeschichte über zwei Seelenverwandte, die sich aus Rücksicht auf andere nicht überwinden können zusammen zu sein.
    Doch es gibt ein Happy End!
    Sehr rührende, spannende, schöne und sexy Erzählung. :)
    Report
  • Amolibri
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Italy on September 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Great book and I cannot wait to read the sequel. A good love story with a twist and highly recommended.
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  • Bridget pas Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nouvel auteur à suivre
    Reviewed in France on May 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Meant to Be raconte une histoire d'amour sur une île, dans une petite communauté agréable, avec des dialogues drôles, des situations parfois loufoques et un chien adorable. Ce sont des thèmes assez populaires dans les romances contemporains actuels, et cependant en le lisant, on a un sentiment d'une grande fraîcheur, aussi bien dans l'écriture fluide et agréable que dans les personnages attachants, naturels et spontanés.

    Beth fait une pause sur Anchor Island et trouve un endroit reposant et accueillant où elle peut être elle-même, et le lecteur passera aussi un petit moment agréable qui lui changera les idées.

    J'ai vraiment aimé cette première visite à Anchor Island et j'ai hâte d'y retourner bientôt!
    Report
  • CristinaC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cute summer read
    Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. I really enjoyed the authors style and humor, by the end of the book the characters had come alive and I was hooked. Looking forward to the second book (wish I would have noticed that it wasn't out yet before I read this one though, so the wait wouldn't be as long!)
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  • Quantum Phase
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Entertaining Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent début novel from Terri Osburn. The book is well written with a spicy sense of humour that reminded me of Jennifer Crusie. I will long remember the opening chapter when the heroine realises that the sexy man she meets on the ferry, who has been soothing her panic attacks and exciting her romantic instincts, is none other than the brother of her fiancée. As they part he does not realise that he will be seeing her again at the family gathering very soon!

    I felt that the book had some defects in that the HEA was a little too predictable and in places the angst may have been a little overcooked for my taste. But there has to be room for improvement in a first novel so I round up my 4.7 score to a 5-star.

    Overall a very entertaining read.
    Report

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