Book Review - Sandcastle Inn

Irene Hannon brings us back to Hope Harbor in Sandcastle Inn, the tenth book in her series. This installment brings us into the lives of veterinarian Matt Quinn and Vienna Price, a career driven go getter in limbo. In the wake of personal tragedy, Matt finds himself on a working vacation, unprepared for the amount of work it will take to help his sister Kay with her coastal B&B in need of renovation. He desperately needs a contractor and an advisor who is skilled in revamping boutique properties with an image problem. As usual, Hope Harbor delivers in spades, bringing Vienna into his orbit in a way that catches them both off balance.

Sandcastle Inn is a love letter from Hannon to anyone struggling with grief, shame, and family strife. She does not dance around the issues, and though it reads as fiction, she packs a great deal of truth and hope in the storyline. There is no doubt the longtime residents of Hope Harbor we have grown to know and love are patiently guiding forces along the way: Bev, Charley, Father Murphy and Reverend Baker, Floyd and Gladys. Their roles in this book feel like they were written just for this specific storyline, but anyone who has read any of the nine books before will feel the same way about each one. Hannon writes with such familiarity that this is not the first time I have caught myself longing for a vacation to this fictional seaside town, dreaming of a cookie from the jar on the counter at Bev’s Book Nook or tacos and a word of wisdom from Charley. If you are looking for the perfect beach read, your search is over!

Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon, the tenth in her Hope Harbor series, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Walmart

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Sea Glass Cottage

“As my abuela used to say when I was a boy in Mexico, coincidence is nothing more than a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.”

Charley, his tacos, and his timely wisdom are back in Irene Hannon’s eighth Hope Harbor novel, Sea Glass Cottage. It is no coincidence when Christi Reese arrives in Hope Harbor to find Jack Colby and ask him for a loan. The glitch? Jack hates Christi and she deserves it. She broke his heart and threw him under the bus long ago; never mind the heartbreak and shame that have shaped her into an altogether different person. All Jack knows is that Christi has invaded the sanctuary of his new life. Then again, the invasion of the girl who hurt him terribly so long ago pales in comparison to learning that one error in judgement ten years ago has come back to him in the form of a daughter who now desperately needs her father.

Charley’s insights are not reserved for Jack and Christi as they learn to heal beyond the hurt. He is full of sage advice and some overt nudges as Beth Adams begins to gingerly try on the idea of shedding her anger with her husband, Steve. Still reeling from their teen son’s sudden death, anger with Steve for failing to embrace their boy’s passion and for pushing him to be someone different has been the armor that kept Beth upright through her grief. Coincidence is the small miracle that brings a very special little boy into Steve’s life and opens the door to reconciliation with Beth. And frankly, if Noah doesn’t make you want to go hug every special kid in your life, you need to check your pulse.

Bringing back characters we’ve grown to know and love, as well as introducing us to some new ones, Irene Hannon brings home another great Hope Harbor novel. Check out Sea Glass Cottage to see how coincidences work to nudge our characters toward the miracles God has in store for them.

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House            Christian Book            Barnes & Noble                Amazon

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Blackberry Beach

Irene Hannon says Hope Harbor is where hearts heal... and love blooms. Blackberry Beach, the seventh Hope Harbor novel, stays true to that motto as Katherine Parker and Zach Garrett tend to the wounds of their hearts, while love blooms in spite of the challenges ahead of them. Katherine, weary of what Hollywood takes as the price of fame, slips into Hope Harbor under the radar to try to find some peace and direction for her future. Zach is happy and settled into his new life in Hope Harbor, but the two most important relationships in his life are missing. Hannon gives us a delightfully beachy romance built around these issues and a handful of other delightful characters, including the surprisingly insightful Charley and a seagull couple who teach the local residents about the joy of partnership.

When reviewing series books, I like to read the entire series. Somehow, I managed to miss this tidbit before beginning this seventh-in-the-series book. It reads well as a stand-alone, but I look forward to reading the first six. Hope Harbor is a lovely town with lovable characters and is sure to have many more enjoyable stories to share.

Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Christian Book        Barnes & Noble        Amazon

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions stated here are my own and are completely genuine.