Hope Harbor

3.5 stars

This one has been on my shelf to read for a long time. I really enjoyed this tale of small-town life, farming, and healing. My favorite character was Anna...such an interesting side story, to see her decide how to live life again. It doesn't specify why her son felt justified in staying so long away and making no effort in reconciliation, and it did seem to me that she had to take a bit too much of the burden of their argument, while he went off and lived freely and happily. I didn't like that bit, but Anna was the character we had, not John, so obviously we only got a glimpse or two at him.

Tracy and Michael, the MCs, are the typical wounded MCs who have to find a place of healing. Tracy is a step ahead, as she has learned to take her burdens to God, but Michael has to learn that lesson. Charley and his tacos are helpful in more than one situation.

The thing I didn't like was some references to “fate” and “luck” and such, and some curses in tense situations that, though they weren't written out, weren't treated as something wrong for the character to say.

Overall, I'll be happy to return to Hope Harbor for another story.

A nice, sweet, sometimes-full-of-guilty, but hopeful story.

This is the kind of romance that I like: Slowly developed with a great dosis of reality. I always heard of Irene Hannon' books but now that I've read this book, I have to say: I'm amused. Her writing is gorgeous and her stories are full of drama, so I totally recommend this one.