Meet Me at the Grand

Jonathon Island #1

by Lindsay Harrel

The Jonathon Island series is created by USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Susan May Warren.

She’s fighting to save her island’s legacy. He’s here to secure his family’s future. When their worlds collide, will they build something lasting—or tear each other apart?

Dani Sullivan is determined to revive Jonathon Island’s fading charm and reunite her fractured family. Her plan? Reopen the Grand Sullivan Hotel, a once-impressive landmark that’s been in disrepair for a decade. But without the funds to restore the hotel, Dani’s forced to accept help from Liam Stone—a big-city hotel developer whose sleek, modern vision is everything she’s trying to avoid.

Liam has never been one for small towns or rundown hotels, but this project isn’t just any job. His father’s health is declining, and if Liam can prove himself by turning the hotel around, he’ll finally earn the chance to take over the business so his dad can retire. But Jonathon Island is far from the high-end luxury projects he’s used to, and Dani’s fierce dedication to preserving its history clashes with everything Liam stands for.

As they battle over the future of the Grand, Liam starts to see Jonathon Island as more than just another project—it feels like the home he’s never had. But with his responsibilities pulling him back to Los Angeles, can he really stay? And can Dani trust him with her dream—and her heart?

A lot rides on the success of this project, but when emotions run high, will Dani and Liam find a way to work together—or will their differences tear them apart?

On Jonathon Island, love and loyalty are the ultimate balancing act.

Jonathon Island
Book 1: Meet Me at The Grand
Book 2: Meet Me on Lilac Lane
Book 3: Meet Me at the Fudge Shop
Book 4: Meet Me on Blueberry Hill
Book 5: Meet Me at Sunset Cove
Book 6: Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Clean Romance, Inspirational

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd with a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in English. She lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. Lindsay has held a variety of jobs, including curriculum editor for two universities, medical and business writer, and copywriter for a digital marketing agency. Now she juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with working freelance jobs, teaching college English courses online, and—of course—writing novels.

When she actually has time to do other things, she loves to sing, read, and sip passion iced teas from Starbucks. She loves to watch God work in ordinary lives to create something extraordinary, and she writes to bring hope to those who may have lost it along the way. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com and any other place she hangs out online, including Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The good thing about screwing up is it gives the rest of us the chance to practice forgiveness.”

This series opener offers empowering insights into embracing change with resilience and grace.

The protagonist, Dani Sullivan, is no stranger to good-byes. She’s moved on with her view of an ideal family, a secure relationship, and a half-burned-down legacy. What she has difficulty with this time, is letting go of her vision for the future. At the risk of a relationship, she holds a tight grip on the past until she is encouraged to step out of the present.

I identified with Dani because I could understand her desire to control what little she could in her life. I’ve been there and had a tight grip, too. Like Dani, I know what it is to let fear control. I loved how the author allowed Dani to see that people and circumstances can’t make her fully happy and equipped her with the tools to move forward.

“I am fully confident that God will give you exactly what you need to rise to the occasion if He’s calling you toward something new.”

I was hoping for a visual or description of the island and the author delivered. The helpful map of Jonathon Island and the vivid descriptions of this remote community had me yearning to visit. I was shown that Jonathon Island isn’t just a place to live, but a community, a family, where there’s a close-knit bond and people encourage and help others. With all that’s on the news these days, it was refreshing to visit somewhere for a few hours and see how kindness and love fostered the human capacity for change.

“To know the people of Jonathon Island is to know the island.”

I was gifted this copy by the publisher and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the series!

Dani Sullivan is clinging on to the hope of revitalizing her beloved Jonathon Island located in Michigan. Her parents are divorced with her dad encouraging her to move to Florida. All six siblings have left the island and there is very little industry left. Dani's belief is if she can bring the historic Grand hotel back to life, it will cure everything.

Big city architect Liam Stone simply wants to remake the Grand into a contemporary hotel that works in every big city in America. The town council rejects his idea, but is there something worth staying for?

My gratitude to publisher Sunrise Publishing for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was such a great read! It starts a bit slowly as the author lays the groundwork...introducing the history, residents, and struggles of Jonathan Island, but it’s worth it. We get early glimpses into Liam and Dani’s personal challenges, so when they finally meet, you KNOW it’s going to be a clash of wills.

They each have fears to face and big dreams to chase, and while they seem so different, they learn to lean on each other as they work to renovate The Grand. Dani hopes it’ll bring her family back to the island, while Liam wants to return home and step into leading his family's company. But as their bond deepens, they begin to wonder if their plans are truly God’s, or if He has something even better in store, if they’re willing to step out in faith.

The chemistry between Liam and Dani is so sweet, and I appreciated how the story didn’t just center on romance but also touched on the areas where their faith had been shaken, and how they found healing and strength along the way. I can already sense the setup for the next story, and I’m excited to return to Jonathan Island!

I'd give this a 4.5 star rating - rounded to a 5!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful story! Dani had lived through a lot of emotional trauma from a broken home and a fire that resulted in the shutting down of her family’s hotel. As Dani’s siblings and parents each left the island, Dani absorbed the loss yet desperately wanted to make things right and reunite her family.

Liam had also suffered a tragic loss as a child when his mother died. Since then, he had tried to do everything he could in order to be successful and be there in any way he could be for his father. But he lived his life with no real home and no one to share his life with.

I loved that these two were not looking for each other, yet they grew to care for each other anyway. Their budding romance was so sweet, but seemed doomed to fail since they lived in two very different worlds.

I really enjoyed this island setting with its small town charm and appreciated the faith message that was woven throughout the story in a very natural way.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Abigail G. Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25, What a cute read!! I will definitely be devouring book two.

[Deena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in love with Jonathan Island! The people, the place, the views, and the cozy feel radiate on the pages in this, the first book in a brand new series.

Lindsay Harrel has created one of the most delightful stories and has lured me into the small town ambiance that my heart craves.

Dani and Liam clash from the outset on the biggest project of the revitalization plan. JI is slowly going the way of most small towns, but Dani is determined to turn things around.

Liam wants to bring the area into the future while Dani is longing for the past. Can these two learn to work together and overcome their own broken pasts?

You’ll just have to read to find out and, believe me, you really want to find out!

I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited. Highly recommended!

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome contemporary romance story Meet Me at The Grand was. It involves Dani and Liam, who have different opinions, having to work together and find a compromise to bring Dani's proposal of rebuilding The Grand Sullivan Hotel after it had been burnt halfway to the ground to fruition.
This story has family drama, characters who felt realistic with their struggles and fears, and faith elements, including forgiveness. This story also grabbed my attention from the start.
I received a compliment copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alicia (aliciasbooksanctuary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5

Small town ISLAND setting – yes please! Unlike most small town reads where the town is quaint, but full of life, Jonathon Island is struggling. What was once a popular tour destination is hardly able to stay afloat since a terrible fire a decade prior took out the island’s famed Grand Sullivan Hotel. Then Covid hit and that was kind of a nail in the coffin for Jonathon Island.

For Dani Sullivan, this island is “home”, and she is willing to do anything she can to help re-build and bring the town back to life. Her family has all since moved away and she’s desperate to have them return. She’s lonely and sad about what’s become of this place that means so very much to her.

Dani decides to hire big city architect, Liam Stone to redesign and rebuild. I absolutely adored their chemistry and subtle banter. Total opposites attract, but their personalities felt incredibly compatible. While Dani is filled with small town dreams of rebuilding the past, Liam is more focused on a hotel that is modern and will move them into the future. You could sense that Liam truly appreciated and loved the island though. Their journey working together on this project was a bit rocky, but a perfect example of teamwork and what kind of magic can come out of opening your heart and truly listening to someone. We all must be a bit willing to adapt and change as time goes on. There’s a perfect balance somewhere in not only rebuilding hotels but rebuilding our actual lives – you just need to be willing to pray and listen to God’s guidance.

This is one of those pull at your heartstrings stories that feels like a warm hug. You’ll easily fall in love with the town and all the characters. A fantastic start to the new multi-author Jonathon Island series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed being back on Jonathon Island! The Grand reminds me so much of the place from Dirty Dancing :)

I continue to love the family feel to the island and can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Dani, Uncle Seb and Liam were my favorite characters in the story. Dani and Liam sometimes got stuck in their past, which at times got frustrating but when they were working together, they were at their best!

Thanks to Sunrise Publishing for the arc. the opinions are my own.

[Ann's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

This book was amazing. It sucked me in and I had a really hard time putting it down. I ended up finishing it in one day. The dynamics of complicated family relationships was the main theme and was very well done maintaining reality with sensitivity and hope. It has more of a summer/beach vibe esp in the way of being overall on the more light hearted side. Lindsay you did a fantastic job!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time to read Harrel, and I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Harrel captured the easy feel of a small community where friendship and loyalty were in large quantities. I liked the hero and the heroine. Dani Sullivan had spunk and a great love for the island where she’d experienced the best times of her life and the worst. I wanted her to be successful. Liam Stone had an outstanding personality and a fierce love for family. They worked together as a couple. It wasn’t insta-love, but the romance did progress quickly. Harrel took time to develop the characters in the first two chapters, which I liked. Dani and Liam didn’t meet until chapter three. Just hang on and enjoy the setup because once they meet, it’s so much fun. If you like small town stories, this novel will satisfy you. There is a strong faith element, but it’s never preachy. The novel is clean, refreshing, and an entertaining read.

[MJSH · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If we don’t have loyalty, we’ve got nothing in this life.”

I enjoyed being on Jonathon Island with its lush beauty and quirky locals. Dani was a bit headstrong at the beginning but she learned to compromise for the greater good of getting the Grand Sullivan Hotel renovated. Her heartache over her broken family was palpable and her desperation to get them back together was real. Liam was lovable from the beginning - charming, smart, confidant, loyal. He also learned how to compromise for the greater good and swallow his pride and fear. Small town girl meets big city boy was a cute trope and their romance was sweet even through its ups and downs and uncertainties. I especially liked Liam’s dad and his loving protectiveness.

If you enjoy small town romance, you will enjoy this book. Jonathon Island promises an entire series of fun books. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Sunrise Publishing via JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

“God’s love for us is the anchor in the storm. And He will never abandon us.”

This was a great start to a series which promises to bring readers a small cozy location where everyone knows everyone, where people can come to for second chances and new beginnings.

Both Liam and Dani experienced loss and breakage of their family when they were young and are still dealing with long-lasting effects on their lives.

In their quest to bring the Grand Hotel back to life, they discovered a connection deeper than friendship, a path to allowing and trusting God for their healing and future and how meeting each other halfway could bring more joy and a promising future.

I enjoyed the spiritual messages throughout the story as well.


“God has never walked away from you. People are sinners, and God lets them walk their path. But He does promise to stay with us, even when we feel alone. The Bible says God is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He’s been waiting for you all this time, Dani, aching to heal you. You’ve just been turning to other places for that healing instead.”

“The good thing about screwing up is it gives the rest of us the chance to practice forgiveness.”

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Camille Mosemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet book and I absolutely ate up every second of it! Dani and Liam were so adorable and I really enjoyed how they had to figure out how to work together when they were so different. Their romance was so sweet and while I wanted to shake them both a couple of times, I’m so glad they had people in their life to point them in the right direction!

I thought the faith content was super strong in this book, which always makes me so happy and ten times more excited to read the rest of the series! The setting of Jonathon Island was so quaint and I felt like I was right there beside the characters! Definitely recommend for fans of Christian romance!!

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay! What a great start to this series! It has my attention. I LOVED this. Such a smooth reading experience. Something about the tone of the writing style really worked for me. I felt like it was super down-to-earth. I could picture everything well. I was very impressed by how well everything was fleshed out. I mean the author really acquaints you to Jonathon Island and it sounds wonderful. I want to visit! The atmosphere was fantastic. The plot was paced well.

Both Dani and Liam were well defined main characters and their individual stories share page-time equally with their romance. The romance...was effortless. I mean so realistic in an utterly endearing way. It was adorable and I ate it up. I was highlighting several paragraphs at a time on my kindle. Despite them being opposites the author absolutely painted them as perfect for one another.

I loved how complete this book felt by the end and knowing this couple will appear in the next books is such a treat to look forward to. I was very happy with the ending and the epilogue.

I was gifted an eARC to read and review but my thoughts are my own. About 40% in I realized I was loving this and ordered my paperback copy.

In this book: big city boy x small town girl, opposites attract, fish out of water, small town in spring, reluctant allies

Content Guide: clean for romance, language, and violence; medium faith thread

CW: does tackle some hard topics very delicately

[Brandi Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet small-town romance that immediately drew me in with its strong sense of place. Jonathan Island is the kind of setting that makes you want to step right into the story and linger there.

The premise hooked me right away: Dani Sullivan, newly appointed tourism director, is determined to restore the historic Grand Hotel. She’s passionate about preserving the island’s roots, but when she’s paired with Liam Stone—a LA developer with big modern dreams—the two clash over what the future of the Grand should look like. Their tension is fueled by forced proximity, shared responsibility, and undeniable chemistry, and it kept me listening to see how (and if) they’d find common ground.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was how vividly the setting was described. It wasn’t hard to imagine Jonathan Island’s beauty—the historic charm, the coastal atmosphere, and the heartbeat of a community tied to one another. I also loved the way faith was seamlessly woven into the story. It never felt forced; instead, it added depth and meaning in a very natural way.

This is a story for folks who enjoy small-town romances layered with family brokenness, themes of redemption and forgiveness, and the kind of push-pull dynamic that happens when two people with very different visions are thrown together. If you like stories with falling-fast romance, forced proximity, and a place that feels like a character itself, this one belongs on your TBR.

Thanks to Sunrise Publishing for providing me with the audiobook to listen to and review.

[Lou Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story Enjoyment Rating: 7/10 Christian Faith Rating: 1.5/3
This is a contemporary romance novel that reads mostly like clean fiction, though it includes some Christian content that becomes more prominent toward the end. It’s the first in a series published by Sunrise Publishing and is set on Jonathan Island (I’m not sure if that’s a real place or fictional).
The island is portrayed as a town that’s losing its popularity, with many vacant houses and businesses. The characters’ goal is to attract more tourists and residents back to the island. The story follows Dani, the tourism director. Her family used to live on the island, and she really wants them all to be together again. Her plan to revive tourism involves renovating a hotel that has a historical connection to her family.
To help with the renovation, an architect named Liam is brought in from the city. He’s not used to small-town or island life. Liam’s primary goal is to return to the city to take over from his father, who he hopes will retire soon. Dani and Liam have very different goals, but they’re forced to work together. They also have contrasting design preferences: Dani prefers traditional styles and wants to preserve the place’s nostalgic charm, while Liam favors modern design and wants to update it for the future. This sets up a clear clash between their perspectives.
Honestly, for about the first half of the book, I wasn’t particularly drawn in or invested in the characters or the situation. I even considered not finishing it. However, I found myself becoming more engaged as I got closer to the end. If I had one criticism, it would be the lack of a strong “curiosity element” (not necessarily a mystery with a dead body!)—just that hook that makes you eager to pick the book back up after putting it down.
Despite these points, it was a sweet romance. As mentioned, there are some Christian faith elements toward the end, but overall, it reads like a clean romance.

[Jeanne Alfveby Crea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I am going to love this series! I loved Meet Me On Jonathon Island, the free prequel novella by Susan May Warren, and I loved Book 1 Meet Me at The Grand by Lindsay Harrel. It's fun having the characters, the townspeople, and setting carry over into each new captivating story. I'm hooked!

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of Meet Me at The Grand! A wonderful contemporary romance with Dani Sullivan, new tourism director, who has a strong desire to recreate the past when her family was whole by restoring the family hotel that was devastated by fire, and the big city hotel developer she's tasked with working with. Liam Stone has a modern vision that for the hotel that is at odds with her view of recreating the past. One has a fractured family and the other lost his mom at a young age and feels responsible for his dad, even if it means sacrificing his own plans and desires.

I enjoyed the vibes of Mackinac Island, the journey towards compromise, and the journey of faith that takes Dani and Liam through some difficult lessons. I highly recommend Meet Me at The Grand!

Thank you to Sunrise Publishing for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet Christian contemporary romance. Set on an island where motorized vehicles aren’t allowed, this small town has plenty of characters. As this is the first novel in this series, there was quite a bit of time devoted to explaining all of the different characters and businesses in the areas and their histories. This slowed the book down a little for me. Our MCs though had a great time. When our city boy hotel developer comes to our small town and Dani, the director of tourism who has lived here all her life, meets him.. sparks begin to fly. Now, the hotel partially burned down a decade ago and Dani wants to preserve all of her memories and use a restored hotel to bring her family home. Liam wants to go fully modern so that it’ll bring in a lot of high society tourists and make the whole plan for the island work. These “rivals” have a spark at first sight for each other that grows over the days they spend together. This was a sweet read with family, faith, and more. This was a just kisses romance.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Tina Lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Lindsay Harrel definitely pulled on the heart strings as she wrote Meet Me at the Grand!! Throughout the book, it's evident that Dani Sullivan has spent the majority of her life feeling a desperate despair because her family has broken apart. In fact, because it's buried deeply within her heart, she believes the blame of her family's brokenness is because of her. Dani seeks a way to rebuild her lost family ties, so her Uncle Seb finds a company who will do the hard work in recreating the community's Grand Hotel. The company contact is Liam, who also knew this community as a youngster. As Dani opens up to the loss of time, memories, resolutions, and then the opportunity to recreate a thriving place to live -- the more things fall into her lap. It's time to create a lasting legacy for Jonathan Island's residents, a time to reclaim the land where they live and love. With the truth setting them free, Liam and Dani realize they must face all of their fears, doubts, truth -- together. Only God's truth will set them free of their past hurts, current fears, future hopes and dreams. Will their love prove strong enough to bring them together for a lifetime? This author has woven a tale of long-term love, memories, hope -- and faith. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and enjoyed this trip to Jonathan Island!! I hope that you will enjoy it too!!

[Jesus Beach Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dani Sullivan wants to see her small island town boom again but she’s not sure Liam and his people have the right idea for Jonathan Island. Another great story. Town revitalization and sweet love make this a story you won’t want to miss.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Sunrise Publishing. Opinions are my own.

[Carolyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grand has everything readers ask for in contemporary fiction: tension, sweet sparks, some conflict and a happily ever, yet realistic future. Bonus points here for strong life messages. Here's to high anticipation for more in the series. The sneak peek of book two did not disappoint.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book without obligation for a positive review. This review is my opinion.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads)]

come to michigan and revitalize the quaint and charming jonathon island, starting with the grand sullivan hotel!

dani sullivan determines if she can restore jonathon island's economy, she can also restore her family—and all that restoration must start with rebuilding the grand sullivan hotel. it's not small task, but hotel developer liam stone just might be up to it. of course, he and dani have very different ideas of what the hotel should be... as they sort through their differences, they both end up wrestling with the past—and realizing what that means for the future.

meet me at the grand is a sweet start to the jonathon island series (though there's technically a novella i still need to read). i love the mackinac island vibes of the town, and getting to spend time with these characters in that setting is such a pleasure. dani has some serious if-you-build-it-he-will-come-field-of-dreams energy for revitalizing the island in the beginning; her growth is so encouraging as she learns to compromise with liam and that maybe, change isn't always a bad thing. liam, too, has a specific idea for his future and how to achieve his plans, but it's no surprise that this midwestern small-town experience opens him up to new possibilities. (amidst it all, of course, a sweet and swoony romance brews between dani and liam, and it's just so fun.)

if you love contemporary small-town romance, definitely check out meet me at the grand.

(i received a complimentary copy from the author. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.)
 

considerations: 
—language: none
—spice: kisses only
—faith: mentions of God, church, and bible verses
—content: broken family relationships, mentions of adultery, drinking, divorce, and fire

[Manda| Little Bitty Delights · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Me at the Grand by Lindsay Harrel is the kind of story that feels just like a Hallmark movie! Dani Sullivan is determined to save her beloved island, and her big plan involves renovating the Grand Sullivan Hotel, a cherished family legacy that she believes will attract tourists and help bring her family back home.

Liam is a guy who's always on the go, constantly traveling for his father's company to renovate luxury hotels. He’s got a lot on his mind, including his aging father and a new project waiting for him in LA. He only intends to stick around Jonathan Island for a short while, just enough to secure the renovations and his future. But what he didn’t expect was the instant spark between him and Dani, the island's tourism director.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for more in the Jonathan Island series! Dani’s passion for revitalizing her island is inspiring, and the story is packed with warmth, heart, and charming small-town vibes. The chemistry between Dani and Liam is undeniable, and I found their dedication to their dreams so heartwarming. It’s a delightful read about finding home and love!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindsay Harrell writes the sweetest romances and Meet Me at the Grand is no exception, filled with lovable characters and lots of heart!

I enjoyed this delightful, small-town story with its northern Michigan island charm, deep threads of family, faith, and forgiveness, and the meaning of home. A light read with moments that had me sighing and swooning, this clean, closed-door romance had the appeal of a beloved Hallmark movie, complete with characters whom I adored, a heartwarming story and a happily-ever-after.

Beginning with tension between Jonathan Island Director of Tourism, Dani Sullivan, and L.A. developer, Liam Stone, over the reconstruction of a historic, beloved town icon, the story twists and weaves into a blossoming romance and a beautiful compromise that doesn't feel cliche or overdone. If you're looking for a light, weekend read, Meet Me at the Grand won't disappoint.

A definite recommendation from me and a series I'll be returning to as soon as Book 2 is available!

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own. I was not required to post a positive review.

[Lindsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into it. I REALLY enjoy Lindsay Harrel as an author, so likely my dislike of this book was the narrator in the audio version. Her voice is easy to listen to, but she sounds like she's 15. It was extremely difficult to believe she was a strong, independent woman running a business & falling for a man when she sounds like a teenager.

[Leah Koskinen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was picturing The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island the whole time I was reading this book! Being that I’m from Michigan, this felt very cozy and nostalgic for me. I did really enjoy how the relationship unfolded between Dani and Liam. Other relationships I connected with was between Liam and his Dad. Then at the end, the dad and Marianne! That was a nice addition. The relationship between Dani and her uncle seemed like a special one, but we never really got to deep into that, might have been interesting to hear more from his point of view since he obviously had a close relationship with Dani.

The plot line was too predictable IMO. It’s a romance, so I always want a happy ending but avoiding sharing any spoilers, I called how it was going to play out early on. I think bringing in more drama with Dani’s siblings and/or having their love story unfold differently would have kept my attention more the second half.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

[Joni Truex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance and family relationships combine in this sweet story. The beautiful setting, an island between two of the great lakes, adds to this story, especially for those of us that have visited (or wish to know more) about this area. The likable characters and their vulnerabilities add depth to the book. Readers looking for a very detailed, sweet, inspirational book with depth will enjoy this one.  do is add the following proviso to your reviews: I received a complimentary copy from Sunrise Publishing. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t know if things will work out with Liam, but I do know this. God is the fixer of broken things.”

There are a great many things to like about this story. First, what a cool setting! Also,  I loved the faith elements especially the talk between Dani and her aunt later in the story. The backstories of Liam and Dani brought a great layer to the plot and I was all kinds of interested to see how they’d be able to overcome their vast differences and work together. I really empathized with Dani and her goals for Jonathon Island, the Grand Hotel and her desire to repair the frayed cords of her family. This is going to be a fun series and I can’t wait to see what happens next! 

I was provided an ebook copy through JustRead Tours. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my honest opinion.