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kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 "healing" stars.
Hope Harbor is an absolutely outstanding Christian romance that touches on numerous relevant topics that will resonate readers. While this terrific novel has an all star cast of likable characters and an engaging storyline, it is how seamlessly and naturally Irene Hannon works lessons of faith into the plot that makes it a truly delightful and thought-provoking read.
Michael Hunter's heart is heavy with grief and regret when he begins his vacation in the picturesque town of Hope Harbor. Michael is still deeply mourning the loss of his late wife Julie when he decides to take a two month leave of absence from his job at a non-profit to visit the small seaside town. His trip is off to an inauspicious beginning when his hotel unexpectedly closes for repairs and in his distraction, he causes a bicycle accident. But his luck is about to change when Charley, a popular food truck owner, asks Anna Williams to deliver a bag of tacos to the downhearted visitor. Anna, a closed off recluse, reluctantly acquiesces and she is stunned by Michael's uncanny resemblance to her estranged son, John. As the two enjoy their impromptu picnic, Anna surprises Michael (and herself) by offering him a place to stay while he is in town. This unexpected act of kindness marks the beginning of a long overdue healing journey for both Michael and Anna.
Tracy Campbell, the woman from Michael's bicycle wreck, is also shouldering a heavy burden. She, too, is widowed and in addition to her grief over her husband's death, she carries a great deal of guilt. She is also trying to keep the family owned cranberry farm afloat. She and her uncle work many part time jobs to supplement the dwindling income and they do most of the farm work themselves. Although Tracy is already burning the candle at both ends, she is also a volunteer for her church's Helping Hands program.
Eager to make amends with Tracy, Michael begins going to church in hopes of finding the elusive cyclist. Despite her assertion that he is forgiven, Michael is eager to do something to make up for causing the accident. She suggests he volunteer his services for the Helping Hands program but once he discovers she could use extra help on the farm when her uncle falls ill, he fills in there as well. A reluctant friendship forms between them, but it soon becomes apparent they also share a mutual attraction.
The romance between Tracy and Michael is incredibly sweet and slow growing. Both are very leery of marrying again but surprisingly, Michael is open to exploring the possibilities of a relationship with her. Tracy takes some convincing, but she agrees to spend time getting to know one another. Michael moves through the healing process quicker than Tracy and once he renews his acquaintance with God, he regains his lost faith. Tracy has carried her burden of guilt and recrimination for so long that she finds it nearly impossible to confide in Michael. However once she works up the courage to tell him the circumstances of her husband's death, she feels hopeful about a possible future together.
Hope Harbor is a truly captivating novel of love, reconciliation and faith. The characters are quite charming and multi-faceted with realistic problems to resolve. The storyline is fast-paced and believable. The spiritual aspect is well-written and Irene Hannon incorporates lessons of faith into the plot in a thoughtful manner that is easy to relate to. I highly recommend this riveting character driven novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary inspirational fiction.
Hope Harbor is an absolutely outstanding Christian romance that touches on numerous relevant topics that will resonate readers. While this terrific novel has an all star cast of likable characters and an engaging storyline, it is how seamlessly and naturally Irene Hannon works lessons of faith into the plot that makes it a truly delightful and thought-provoking read.
Michael Hunter's heart is heavy with grief and regret when he begins his vacation in the picturesque town of Hope Harbor. Michael is still deeply mourning the loss of his late wife Julie when he decides to take a two month leave of absence from his job at a non-profit to visit the small seaside town. His trip is off to an inauspicious beginning when his hotel unexpectedly closes for repairs and in his distraction, he causes a bicycle accident. But his luck is about to change when Charley, a popular food truck owner, asks Anna Williams to deliver a bag of tacos to the downhearted visitor. Anna, a closed off recluse, reluctantly acquiesces and she is stunned by Michael's uncanny resemblance to her estranged son, John. As the two enjoy their impromptu picnic, Anna surprises Michael (and herself) by offering him a place to stay while he is in town. This unexpected act of kindness marks the beginning of a long overdue healing journey for both Michael and Anna.
Tracy Campbell, the woman from Michael's bicycle wreck, is also shouldering a heavy burden. She, too, is widowed and in addition to her grief over her husband's death, she carries a great deal of guilt. She is also trying to keep the family owned cranberry farm afloat. She and her uncle work many part time jobs to supplement the dwindling income and they do most of the farm work themselves. Although Tracy is already burning the candle at both ends, she is also a volunteer for her church's Helping Hands program.
Eager to make amends with Tracy, Michael begins going to church in hopes of finding the elusive cyclist. Despite her assertion that he is forgiven, Michael is eager to do something to make up for causing the accident. She suggests he volunteer his services for the Helping Hands program but once he discovers she could use extra help on the farm when her uncle falls ill, he fills in there as well. A reluctant friendship forms between them, but it soon becomes apparent they also share a mutual attraction.
The romance between Tracy and Michael is incredibly sweet and slow growing. Both are very leery of marrying again but surprisingly, Michael is open to exploring the possibilities of a relationship with her. Tracy takes some convincing, but she agrees to spend time getting to know one another. Michael moves through the healing process quicker than Tracy and once he renews his acquaintance with God, he regains his lost faith. Tracy has carried her burden of guilt and recrimination for so long that she finds it nearly impossible to confide in Michael. However once she works up the courage to tell him the circumstances of her husband's death, she feels hopeful about a possible future together.
Hope Harbor is a truly captivating novel of love, reconciliation and faith. The characters are quite charming and multi-faceted with realistic problems to resolve. The storyline is fast-paced and believable. The spiritual aspect is well-written and Irene Hannon incorporates lessons of faith into the plot in a thoughtful manner that is easy to relate to. I highly recommend this riveting character driven novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary inspirational fiction.
ianmcnamara's review against another edition
5.0
Have read a few books by this author in the past and have enjoyed everything i have read so far. This was no exception and is a great start to another christian fiction series. I am looking forward to each couples story and also seeing the other characters continuing to develop. I loved the story of michael and Tracy and that the development was not rushed with the romance side. The side story of Anna was also a fantastic addition to the book. Looking forward to getting to know more of the town and characters as things progress in the series.
machine946's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nkat92's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
michellef's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Hope Harbor is a contemporary Christian romance by author Irene Hannon. It is installment #1 of the A Hope Harbor series.
Michael Hunter made the long thirty-six hour, cross-country drive only to learn that the Gulf Motel was closed for 3 weeks. Now what would he do? The shutdown had been unexpected and someone had tried to contact him. He had come to Hope Harbor to get his life back in order.
Michael Hunter had literally run into Tracy Campbell while she was riding her bike, causing her to fall and get banged up. She also ruined some of the groceries she was carrying. Later, he offered her a cinnamon pastry as a peace offering.
Tracy and Michael both seemed to carry some regrets from the past. Would they be able to get over their past? Eleanor was a matchmaker but neither Tracy nor Michael were seeking.
I appreciated the way the author wrote about sensitive topics, knowing that love can survive setbacks.
I give Hope Harbor 5*/5*.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, the Libby app, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
meezcarrie's review against another edition
5.0
First, let me talk about Michael and Tracy. Their chemistry right from the beginning was tangible. You could almost hear the air crackle with it whenever they shared the same page, but as you might expect they both dragged along quite a bit of baggage. Too much to insure smooth sailing in the romance department. Both widowed tragically, both dealing with a boatload of angst and grief that's still very much alive and well... both adamant that romance is completely off the table forever. You can read the book for yourself to see how well that works for them. But to quote Tracy herself...
Oh.
My.
Word.
THE CHEMISTRY!!! Something you can always count on in Irene Hannon's stories - be they romantic suspense or contemporary romance - is the electricity between her characters. Lots of dreamy sighing on my part as I read this one!
But before we get too caught up in the sparks and the heat, there is so much more to this delightful and heartwarming book. The plot of healing and forgiveness (both of yourself and others) and selflessness - all of those themes just add layer upon layer to the romance until you're left with a book that redefines "love story" as something deeper and more Divine than you expected.
And the characters! Oh goodness, I fell in love with ALL of the secondary characters in this book! I want a whole series with them - to settle in and take up residence in their lives. I want to spend some time on the cranberry farm with Uncle Bud and Nancy. I want to sit on Anna's back patio with her and sample some of those delicious cookies she bakes. I want to giggle at Father Kevin and Reverend Baker as I listen to their friendly sparring, and I want to watch Floyd and his new gal Gladys stroll along the beach (as long as they don't get too close to me....but that's a story for another day). But most of all? I want to hang out with Charley... that philanthropic taco maker I mentioned earlier. I think Charley is more than he seems, even more than Irene Hannon let on, and I would so love to follow him around for a day or so and see if I'm right.
Alas. The characters of Hope Harbor aren't real. Neither is Hope Harbor for that matter. The message of Hope Harbor? That's more real than any of us can imagine.
Bottom Line: Read this book. A romance that is so much more than a romance, Hope Harbor will wind its way into your heart and settle there along with the reminder that sometimes healing can start with a fish taco :)
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/review-hope-harbor-irene-hannon/
Oh.
My.
Word.
THE CHEMISTRY!!! Something you can always count on in Irene Hannon's stories - be they romantic suspense or contemporary romance - is the electricity between her characters. Lots of dreamy sighing on my part as I read this one!
But before we get too caught up in the sparks and the heat, there is so much more to this delightful and heartwarming book. The plot of healing and forgiveness (both of yourself and others) and selflessness - all of those themes just add layer upon layer to the romance until you're left with a book that redefines "love story" as something deeper and more Divine than you expected.
And the characters! Oh goodness, I fell in love with ALL of the secondary characters in this book! I want a whole series with them - to settle in and take up residence in their lives. I want to spend some time on the cranberry farm with Uncle Bud and Nancy. I want to sit on Anna's back patio with her and sample some of those delicious cookies she bakes. I want to giggle at Father Kevin and Reverend Baker as I listen to their friendly sparring, and I want to watch Floyd and his new gal Gladys stroll along the beach (as long as they don't get too close to me....but that's a story for another day). But most of all? I want to hang out with Charley... that philanthropic taco maker I mentioned earlier. I think Charley is more than he seems, even more than Irene Hannon let on, and I would so love to follow him around for a day or so and see if I'm right.
Alas. The characters of Hope Harbor aren't real. Neither is Hope Harbor for that matter. The message of Hope Harbor? That's more real than any of us can imagine.
Bottom Line: Read this book. A romance that is so much more than a romance, Hope Harbor will wind its way into your heart and settle there along with the reminder that sometimes healing can start with a fish taco :)
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/review-hope-harbor-irene-hannon/
toadandtoadette's review against another edition
4.0
Oregon drivers don’t pump their own gas
A small beef I have about location specific books are the details that are missed in this book. While a great story with a few twists that took me by surprise, drivers in Oregon don’t pump their own gas (it doesn’t say specifically that she pumped her own gas but there was no interaction with the attendant and the way it was written sounds like she had gotten out of the car).
A small beef I have about location specific books are the details that are missed in this book. While a great story with a few twists that took me by surprise, drivers in Oregon don’t pump their own gas (it doesn’t say specifically that she pumped her own gas but there was no interaction with the attendant and the way it was written sounds like she had gotten out of the car).
melindagallagher's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet, clean, romance set in rural Oregon. The ocean view and the cranberry farm made me want to visit Hope Harber!
lydialately's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide