Reviewing: Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

...from the publisher...

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl's life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she's certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He's built a new life on the Oregon coast--and there's no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls make peace with their past and open their hearts to a new beginning?

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon delivers another heartwarming and romantic story set in the enchanting seaside community of Hope Harbor that is loved by readers the world over. Once you visit, you'll never want to leave.

...my thoughts... 

Hope Harbor is one of those places you want to visit over and over again.   You can feel the sand in your toes and feel the breeze from the moment you arrive.  Once again, Irene Hannon has captured the heart of the healing power of being on the Oregon Coast. 

 Christi is a compelling character who, when she arrives, arouses a few suspicions for her motives.  You are kept guessing for a while and soon, you have become her champion.  Life has its twists and turns and what you do to recapture your life depends on the choices you make.  This is a story of forgiveness and second chances for Christi.  

I couldn't help but feel for Jack. He was a man who overcame poverty and loss only to have his heart ache for long ago hurts he thought he put aside.  His life is overturned and it is Christi who comes to his aid. He risked a lot to allow her to help him.  In the end, it all works out and once life in Hope Harbor settles in for the calm after personal storms.  I recommend this for all who long to be at the ocean and love to read about endearing characters.

Blackberry Beach Another Wonderful Visit to Hope Harbor

 

...from the publisher...

Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He's had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you to come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

...my thoughts... 

I have long been a fan of Irene Hannon's books, whether it be her suspense novels or a trip to Hope Harbor.  Needles to say, I enjoyed reading Blackberry Beach.  I can almost hear the Gladys and Floyd, the resident seagull couple and feel the sand in my toes as I walk the beach. Blackberry Beach is a novel about second chances and taking life at a slower, but meaningful pace.

 For Katherine the life she was leading was nearly out of control and she wanted to simply enjoy her time alone, escaping notice from any other being. She was beginning to think her incognito stay in a luxurious beach house was a success when she met Zach and his aunt Stephanie.  Not used to people she could trust, it was a blessing to find that things in Hope Harbor were truly different. 

 Zach's new life as a successful coffee shop owner is what he hoped it would be.  If only his father would see things his way and  understand that even though he left a big salary behind, he had everything he needed. Everything, that is except someone to share that happiness with him in peaceful Hope Harbor. 

Charley, the resident sage, fish taco chef and successful painter turns up at the most interesting times, sharing uncanny wisdom that is so in sync with others concerns to make them wonder just a little, how one man can possibly know....yet he does.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys good clean stories of the heart.  I received this book from the publisher, Revell and netalley. My opinions are my own.  

Starfish Pier

...from the publisher...
A year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope Harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good--but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.
First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence--until she's recruited to advocate for a cause that's dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven's assistance, sparks fly--especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection--and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

...my thoughts...
I have been enjoying the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon since reading Hope Harbor, book one in the series. I have been watching for Starfish Pier to become available since I finished reading the previous book, Driftwood Bay.  Irene Hannon is a wonderful author, whether she is writing a series such as Hope Harbor or suspense filled novels with high intrigue.  I have become a steady fan over many years.

Hope Harbor is just the place you want to come to for relaxation, a view of the ocean and small town camaraderie at Charley's Fish Taco truck.  It is not the place you come to if you want to be removed from all human contact.  Holly Miller encounters just such a man when her new neighbor Pete moves next door. Meeting him soon after encountering an abrupt Steven Roark surprised her when everyone else in her new town were so friendly. At times I wondered how this would all tie together, but that is part of what makes Hannon's books so good to read. There seemed to be so many roadblocks for Holly and Steven, yet I couldn't help but wonder "why not?" Each had reasons they couldn't let go of that would hinder a loving relationship. 

Letting go of the past can be difficult in order to live in the present.  Sometimes that very idea of community can be stifling when we encounter the same people wherever we go.  But sometimes that is the very thing that can heal the heart.  This book touches on some of the issues many face in our society today.  They are not sugar coated but bring a message of hope where these wonderful characters are facing a challenge.  They are all fictional, of course, but each serves a purpose to bring the story together in the end.  Characters and locations from the previous stories are woven into the story and mesh with this new set of characters.

I appreciate receiving an advance copy of the book for review from NetGalley.   The opinions expressed are my own, but I do recommend this book with 5 stars.  It is like visiting one of your favorite locations and visiting with good friends. 

Find Yourself Between the Pages of Sandpiper Cove!

Sandpiper Cove is a niche tucked away at Hope Harbor, a magical place that is home for some of the nicest people you could hope to meet.  It's a place for second chances and surprising encounters. It would seem an idyllic little spot except for a string of unprovoked vandalism in their midst. It is also the place where two of the most unlikely people meet and unite efforts to put an end to the crimes.

For ex-con Adam Stone, Hope Harbor is a realm so far removed from  his painful youth.  Moved by Reverend Baker's prison ministry, Stone was encouraged to settle there after he served his time.  He was welcomed to his new church community and was blessed with the uncanny trust of his new boss B.J. Stevens as a member of her construction crew.  His life was so much better until his place was vandalized not once but twice and his dog, Clyde was left for dead.

Widowed Police Chief Lexie Graham, a single mother, moved back to Hope Harbor soon after the death of her husband.  She is dedicated to her family and her job.  Determined to keep her town safe she enlists Stone's help to find the vandals.  What Lexie discovers about Stone is from that age old adage about not judging a book by its cover.  He is rough around the edges but there is definitely more to him than meets the eye.  As the story unfolded I was reminded of how little things we do touch others in a big way.  It is so easy to be put off by appearances or base our thoughts on what others may say.  Nothing about Stone is what Lexie believed at first.  Aren't first impressions always right?

Bestselling author Irene Hannon has a gift for developing characters in well designed plots.  Whether she is writing about romance or a suspenseful novel like Buried Secrets you will find complex characters that will keep you guessing the outcome until the story culminates at the end. It is no small wonder that she continues to delight her readers.  Sandpiper Cove is no exception.  I enjoyed this entertaining book and the study in human nature.

For my part, I was easily hooked from the beginning of this book and was sad to see it end.  It is a compelling story with a community that beckons.  I love the Oregon Coast and visiting coastal towns that are a lot like Hope Harbor.  It is easy to recommend this latest installment of the Hope Harbor series, it is just that good.

Sea Rose Lane Where Life Begins Again!

What do an out of work Corporate Attorney and a beautiful Architect/Contractor have in common?  Not much but for the merest chance meeting on Highway 101. He takes his eye off the road for just a moment on a sleepy coastal road in Oregon and meets the back end of a pickup truck.  This was not exactly the way Eric Nash meant to arrive back home in Hope Harbor after being downsized by his prestigious Portland law firm.  Stepping out of his BMW and coming face to face with BJ Stevens only topped the bad way his day was turning out.  She knew he had been texting while driving and it infuriated her. She had no time for the good looking, BMW driving corporate type who had stepped out to meet her. After assessing no real damage was done to her car she was on her way, happy to see the last of the likes of him.

Eric went on his way too but his day of surprises was far from over. Seeking the comforts of his boyhood home, he found instead a construction site!  His father was transforming the home into a Bed & Breakfast Inn and right in the midst of the job site was BJ Stevens and her crew.

Sea Rose Lane, by Irene Hannon is a story full of hope and new beginnings. For Eric, he must re-launch his partner track law career. For John Nash, the Inn will bring laughter and new memories back to his big empty home. BJ is on her way to recreating her career as a hands on architect with a love of building to keep things interesting. For her crew member Luis, his new life in America is about starting over. For Eleanor Cooper, it is filling lonely days confined to her home and using a walker.  All of these people have separate lives yet they are linked to create a wonderfully well written story.

Last summer I enjoyed reading Hope Harbor and the story of Tracy and Michael, who are back again along with the wise Taco Truck owner Charley. Once again Charley (who keeps irregular hours) is open at just the right time and dispensing just enough wisdom to get everyone's attention. How he seems to be in the know about everyone's story and what they need to hear to keep going is short or amazing.  Hope Harbor is a magical place and Sea Rose Lane is one of those books where you can feel the spray from the ocean and smell the succulent food from Charley's truck. I recommend this book as well as another look at Hope Harbor.

Sea Rose Lane is Irene Hannon's fiftieth published novel!  She in an award winning author with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America among many other awards. Along with the Hope Harbor novels, she has kept me on the edge of my seat with her Men of Valor series, Private Justice series, Guardians of Justice series and more.  She is a master at character development and her research is impeccable!  Need I say more? Grab your copy today!

Fiction Friday: Hope Harbor

It is no secret, I love the Oregon Coast. One look at this inviting cover and I knew a treat was waiting when I started turning pages. Irene Hannon is such a versatile writer that I am always intrigued when I see another book offered. All these things considered, I knew I had some good reading waiting when I hit the beach on vacation last week.

The story unfolds when widower Michael Hunter arrives in Hope Harbor only to find the one and only motel in town closed until further notice. A chance encounter with a food truck owner and a bitter old woman start a chain of events that keep Michael from driving to another coastal town for his sabbatical.

Tracy Campbell comes from a long line of cranberry growers who along with her uncle struggle to keep their legacy alive while other growers were selling out to big money growers.  She juggles her work on the farm and works late into the night with her CPA business.

Michael and Tracy met his first day in town. They got off on the wrong side of the curb so to speak when he walked into the street causing her to wreck her bike. Groceries ruined, and sporting a few bruises Tracy knew this menace too Hope Harbor was to be avoided at all costs.

The story has a way of weaving together many people who normally would not seek each other out.  The same people, once caught by these chance encounters find themselves breaking out on the edge of their comfort zones. God has a way of doing that to us when we need it most and the results are surprising.

Irene Hannon is a talented author who can make you fall in love with romance or sit on the edge of your seat with suspense filled drama. The surprises in the end are not in happy ever afters or who loves whom but how do all of these people connect and why does it matter?  Pick up a copy of Hope Harbor and find out!   You can purchase it any of your favorite online booksellers or try your local bookstore. This is one book that is a keeper because it has love, forgiveness and a whole lot of possibilities inside.