Sea Glass Cottage

I feel like writing a series of any length can be challenging. Longer ones ... past a trilogy ... can be even harder to keep enjoyable, maintaining readers' vested interest and curiosity. So needless to say, it's darn impressive that Hope Harbor has 8 books and counting--and they're all fantastic. :)

(Not that I'm remotely partial to the Oregon-coast location, either, being a favorite vacation spot. Ahem.) :)

This was one read I actually enjoyed both parallel plots about the same. I usually prefer one or the other, but this one? Both held my attention equally. And of course, I loved the repeat characters from previous books! Whether they've gotten their own stories (Jeannette, Marci, etc.) or not yet (Charley)--or are, frankly, animals show more (the seagulls!)--I got so darn excited every time they appeared! Like Captain America, "I understood that reference."

While one does not _necessarily_ need to read the Hope Harbor books in order, I do feel the reader benefits accordingly (see above, haha). It certainly adds depth to the experience!

And, as ever, Hannon addresses tough topics with both grace and gentle bluntness. I so enjoyed the story arcs each character went through to get to the ending they did. Very well done; 4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. show less

This was a lovely book, 8th in Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series set in coastal Oregon. This series is quieter and more heartwarming than her romantic suspense novels, in the best "feel good" tradition. This book focuses on two couples who are estranged. The primary couple, Jack and Christie, had a youthful summer romance that went bad years ago due to Christie's immaturity and self-centeredness. Life has taught her difficult lessons and she has changed radically. We watch Jack struggle to believe that people can change and to find forgiveness. We also have Beth and Steve, and married couple who separated after the death of their teenage son. Beth blames her husband for trying to force their son into an athletic mold against his show more inclinations, especially since he died of an undiagnosed heart defect while on a strenuous camping trip with his dad. She too struggles with anger and forgiveness. Nothing is resolved with a dramatic bolt of lightning, just a gradual healing process. It's very well done. And we get to meet some our Hope Harbor favorites, of course, Charley of the taco stand, Floyd and Gladys the seagulls, and many other. Recommended for those in the mood for a small-town story with a warm heart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less

Back in Hope Harbor! Yes, when I saw another installment in this series, I had to read it!

Irene Hannon writes like she is giving tight warm hugs, and I couldn't wait to page turn this one.

We all have regrets! Yes, things we would love for do overs! This read is about second chances, will they succeed? We get to be there, and hope that things turn out right!

Come and say hello to old friends, and new, and especially Charlie, still want the taco, and Floyd and Gladys and Harpo!

Make sure you read the epilogue!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy through Library Thing. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

While this is the eighth (8th) HOPE HARBOR SERIES book, it is the fourth I’ve read.

Two years ago, I read Starfish Pier (#6). Last year I read Hope Harbor (#1) as it was the Revell Reads book of the month in anticipation of the release of Blackberry Beach (#7), which I also read. I purchased books 1-6 prior to the release of book #7, and still need to read books #2-5.

I’ve also read the first two books of the TRIPLE THREAT series as well. Hannon expertly balances her writing of the two genres and definitely doesn’t cross show more over with them.

Even though this is part of a series, it could be read on its own. Though, it might be a good idea to read the others prior to this one to get a feel for the setting of the town as well as the role certain characters play in the series.

Each cover is beautiful and truly sets the stage for the little town of Hope Harbor. I love that this ARC came with a sweet little map to get the picture of the town. A character guide would also be a sweet bonus as well.

There are some characters from the previous seven (7) books that make a return or are mentioned (referred to) in this story:

🏡 Eric Nash (Sea Rose Lane)
🏡 Sheriff Lexie-Graham Stone & Adam Stone (Sandpiper Cove)
🏡 Ben Garrison & Marci Weber-Garrison (Pelican Point)
🏡 Jeanette Mason & Logan West (Driftwood Bay)
🏡 Steven Roark (Starfish Pier)
🏡 Katherine Parker & Zach Garrett (Blackberry Beach)
🖌️🌮 Charley – Hope Harbor’s artist, and taco-peddling sage

The only major characters missing are Tracy Campbell and Michael Hunter from Hope Harbor, along with BJ Stevens from Sea Rose Lane. Some of the characters are more prominently featured than others. Minor characters from previous books seem to be missing as well.

New characters:

🏡 Christi Reece (former socialite, now in Hope Harbor)
🚓 Jack Colby (police officer, Christi’s ex-boyfriend)
🎀 Hannah (Jack’s daughter from a one-night stand)
🚓 Steve Adams (Sergeant with Oregon State Police)
🖌️ Beth Adams (Steve’s estranged wife)
🖌️ Noah Walsh (kid in foster care; no father, mother deceased)

Hannon doesn’t give the authors ONE story arc with Christi and Jack’s story – she works in multiple ones:

📖 Jack and his daughter Hannah
📖 Beth and Steve working on mending their marriage after a tragedy
📖 Steve mentoring Noah, a budding artist
📖 Marci’s issue with the wildfires cutting down tourism for Hope Harbor

The story is told from Christi, Jack, Steve, and Beth’s POV.

Hannon, like always, gently wades into some serious issues, but doesn’t preach at the reader. Some topics that are mentioned or referred to are: near DUI (person had been drinking alcohol before accident, but NOT legal DUI); drug overdose; potential child abuse; malnourished child; and the issue of foster children. Readers sensitive to those topics will need to exercise caution.

As with most books, it is the first line that grabs the readers attention:

“Asking for help from a man who hated you was hard.”

Yeah, that wouldn’t give me confidence at all. I’m not even sure I’d even ask for help.

Christi needs a loan from Jack, who recently had a best-seller. And, Hannon instantly puts the author’s “big money” into perspective a bit, though never in detail.

Of course, Jack can’t say no directly – but he’s going to. After all, she was a rich socialite who broke his heart. But, she isn’t the same person some 10 years later (are any of us?). In fact, she’s driving an older car and came from Dallas where she had moved to. [That part definitely stuck with me – when I was four; my mother, grandmother, and I moved from Dallas to California.]

Still, Jack can’t trust her. Though, why she needs the loan is an interesting story in itself and I LOVED the fact it wasn’t criminal or medical related.

And, like always – Charley is there with the first free order of tacos and sage wisdom for the new arrival.

Christi’s luck goes a bit south due to the fog and she finds a sweet cottage – Sea Glass Cottage – to stay in. Jack comes by to trespass her, which leads to not one, but two opportunities for her.

Christi is cleared to leave because of the trespass charge, but contemplates staying as she likes Hope Harbor – who doesn’t? I mean, isn’t that how the series goes? She is then offered a job, and ends up also getting a free place to stay.

A personal issue comes up on Jack’s end – a reminder of the incident with Christi, or the night she broke his heart. Jack needs to take custody of a daughter whose mother died recently.

Beth and her ex-husband, Steve, have their own issues then to work through after a family tragedy. As a result, Steve begins mentoring a young orphan – Noah.

The longer Jack is around Christi, he begins to see that the girl he knew no longer exists. He finds the new Christi appealing and intriguing, but he isn’t there yet in wanting a second chance.

Christi’s timeline for the loan is ticking down. But, she does find opportunities in helping Marci with attracting tourism to the town.

Jack deals with his own issues when it comes to instant fatherhood – and, as the blurb goes … now, he needs Christi. But, even after he relents to their mutual agreement of helping each other, he barely cracks when it comes to her.

Hannon weaves a poignant, often difficult story about love and loss; along with different kinds of loss – a parent, innocence, marriage. She also has a sweet reminder of the loss – a sweater of Hannah’s mom’s that gets damaged to show how raw and fragile grief is. Hannon also adds in themes of second chances and making amends.

Definitely an inspiring read.

I honestly couldn’t put this down. Reading with breaks here or there, I finished it within a 24-hour period. Hannon’s use of short chapters, engaging dialogue, and descriptive writing kept the story moving.

Anyone who’s been reading this series will see that like always, Charley’s advice is always on point. He doesn’t preach to the person, but more or less offers an unbiased view of the situation. I truly enjoy his appearances in the book. And, I hope that the author gives him his own story in a future book even if it is on the side.

This was a dramatic, inspiring, heart-breaking, and emotional “most-read”. Tissues might be needed.

Overall, while I truly loved the book, and cried a few times, I honestly disliked Jack quite a bit. While I get no one wants to get burned a second time by a flame, poor Christi was almost desperate to show she’d changed and Jack was tromping over her efforts. I felt like telling Jack that if you don’t give someone a chance after they’ve changed, there really is NO incentive in attempting to change – people won’t accept it.

I would’ve liked more about Noah’s current foster parents as well as his own background to get to know who he was and how he got where he was. It seems like there was more to it, but never fully addressed.

I am hoping to get to the other books before the author’s next book in this series releases next year. According to the notes, there are at least three more planned, bringing the series total to 11.

Those who’ve read the previous books won’t want to miss this. Fans of the author are sure to enjoy this latest release as well. This reminds me quite a bit of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove and Blossom Street series, so I am fairly certain those readers will enjoy this series as well too.

As this is distributed by Revell, a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher, there will be strong references to faith and Christian beliefs. Some of those are integral to the characters but not the story. It is a clean read with no overly intimate scenes or bad language. show less

I was so excited to see another Hope Harbor novel in the recent batch of early reviewers books, and even more delighted when I got the notice that I had won this book! Last year, I won Blackberry Beach, book 7, and read it without having read any of the other books in the series. I loved that book so much, I read the other 6 books one after the other til I'd read them all! Now I can't wait for book 9!!
The charming little community of Hope Harbor, on the Oregon coast is part of the draw.... it sounds absolutely beautiful, but the people are what make the community so special. There is such caring, and community spirit there. That is so inviting! The banter of the priest and the paster always make me smile, but it is Charley who is my show more favorite. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to offer encouragement and share his sage wisdom...gently . He portrays Christianity in the way it should be lived, and in this book he even gives an explanation .... he was taught to 'live' his religion, not just talk about it or quote scriptures, or 'be religious'. He truly loves people, and always seems to have insight into what is troubling them, and always has the most thought provoking things to say in such a kind way, that rather than people getting irritated or walking away, they listen, and mull over his comments. He's such a gentle spirit, you can't help but wish you had a Charley in your life. His comments cause people to look at themselves and the situation they are in, in a new light and with growing understanding. Charley definitely has a profound effect on people for their good!
Each of these Hope Harbor books centers around a couple of people who are facing change, are discouraged, wounded, or at some big turning point in their life. They end up in Hope Harbor for one reason or another, and find encouragement and a place to call home....and sort out their life. And of course, there is often some romance!
In Sea Glass cottage, it is the story of Christi and Jack, who had a romance when they were young, but that had an abrupt unpleasant end; now they meet again, but will they ever trust each other again? It's also the story of a resident couple, Steve and Beth, who have suffered a painful loss, and it has torn their marriage apart. You will hope for them to get back together, too, but healing after loss is a slow process. Also, in each book, you will meet some delightful resident seagulls named Floyd and Gladys, and a pelican named Harpo. They have their parts to play, too!
These are such positive uplifting stories, and I don't doubt that many readers also learn from Charley's advice/wisdom, as they will see their own struggles in some of the characters. I've gained insight myself!
One thing I love about these books, is that the people who were the main topic in each story often have a part to play in the following stories set in Hope Harbor, so you can catch up on what's going on their lives, again.. But my memory isn't as good as it used to be, and it often takes me awhile to remember who is who, especially when there are months between books, and I've read more books in between. The only request I would put out there to the author is to put a 'list of'who's who' and a bit of their back-story in the front of every book.. the main characters in the current book but also main characters in preceding books, since they often show up in later books, too.
I am happy to have been given an early reviewers copy of this book to read, and to review. This was a heartwarming story that kept my interest so much that I started it one evening and finished it the next! My only regret is that I now have to wait for the next book! show less

Hope Harbor is just what the name suggests: a place to find hope and perhaps healing and peace. Christi hopes to secure a loan from an old acquaintance, someone whom she hasn’t seen in a decade, when they parted not on the best of terms. It’s a long shot, but it’s her only chance for the money she desperately needs. Jack is now a policeman and a writer whose debut novel hit the bestseller list. The last person he expected, or wanted, to see in Hope Harbor was the girl who broke his heart. But there she was, illegally taking refuge in an unoccupied house. Their story is a sad one, but the aftermath is even sadder. Beth and Steve also have a shared tragedy that drove the happily married couple apart. Whether the love they once had show more can survive the loss they share is the question they cannot face. These lives of these two couples will gradually intertwine, as they attempt to make right the wrongs of the past. The characters are well developed, and the storylines are masterfully interwoven into a cohesive and engrossing tale. One character who makes short but vital appearances is Charley, artist and fish taco guy, who is beloved by all and who has the uncanny and miraculous ability to know what people need to give them hope. And this he does, along with a fish taco. This is a lovely and gentle novel, just like the rest of the series, well written and entertaining. Bad things may happen, but if they do, it is better to find refuge in Hope Harbor than anywhere else. show less

I am still working on reading all the Hope Harbor book series! With each one I find myself back at the little seaside town. It gives me a warm cozy feeling with that little town atmosphere where residents are close and caring. I wish it really existed, but since it doesn’t I am content to escape into the pages and visit. The author’s beautiful descriptions of the streets, businesses, and sea side make me feel as if I am really there. *sigh*
Christi Reece was once a wealthy, spoiled socialite with the world at her feet. Through many hardships and losses, she is a poor, hardworking young woman that finds herself in a difficult situation and in need of money. Her last resort is to humble herself and go to her ex-boyfriend Jack Colby to show more ask for a loan. This takes a great deal of courage as she very deeply hurt him and they have not seen each other in 11 years!
Jack remembers the old Christi and does not realize she has become a Christian and is totally opposite of the girl he once loved. He just wants her to leave! I love how Christi’s new life in Christ shines through with her patient, gentle, sweet spirit. I found it exciting to see how the Lord continues to guide and provide for her as she trusts Him with impossible situations. It was beautiful to see Jack’s bitter unforgiving attitude be changed by her testimony.
Of course one of my favorite characters, Charley the artist and fish taco truck owner is still there. I always enjoy how he does the Lord’s work with wisdom and clever insight. Christi and Jack aren’t the only residents of Hope Harbor that God is working to restore their romance and relationship. I also enjoyed the surprises along the way. I am looking forward to the next book and my next visit!
I received this book from Revell Publishers through www.Librarything.com early reader program. The opinions stated are my own. show less