🏖️🐚🏡 “Sea Glass Cottage” (Hope Harbor Series #8) (2022) 🏡🐚🏖️ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Revell (April 5, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800736168
ISBN-13: 978-0800736163
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“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.”
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 over with them. [Ies, I know that Sea Glass Cottage is in the wrong place here 🤣].
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.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous books in the series:
Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?”
Series: Hope Harbor (Book #6)
Series: Hope Harbor (Book #7)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (April 6, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 080073615X
ISBN-13: 978-0800736156
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“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?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
You can find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050942934639
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenehannonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IreneHannon
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