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Hope Harbor #1
Hope Harbor
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.
Fan favorite Irene Hannon brings a whole new cast of characters to life in a charming Oregon seaside village. Emotional and heartwarming, this story invites readers to come home to Hope Harbor, where love and hope bloom--and hearts heal.
Fan favorite Irene Hannon brings a whole new cast of characters to life in a charming Oregon seaside village. Emotional and heartwarming, this story invites readers to come home to Hope Harbor, where love and hope bloom--and hearts heal.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
1634 people are currently reading
3752 people want to read
About the author
Irene Hannon
121 books3,009 followersIrene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.
Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews
May 27, 2025
So much more than a love story. In fact, I'd consider it the perfect example of the ultimate love story -- the one we each share with God. Honestly, I was moved to tears quite a few times during my reading experience. And even now, as I write this review I'm getting all teary eyed. How to convey why? Let me try to explain.
Told from multiple viewpoints, this is more than just Tracy and Michael's 'winds of change' story. Diverse characters, all harboring pain from regrets they can't seem to overcome, have important roles to play. Hannon does an incredible job of weaving their stories together, expertly building them into a crescendo of a climax that left me sobbing. The author's brilliance is evidenced by the way each character's story intersects. Story threads merge and blend and become something so much bigger than each individual triumph. I found it totally moving.
The inspirational thread is strong but not overbearing. It flows as a natural extension of characters who strive for relationship with their Heavenly Father. And there's this one character, Charley, who is pivotal to the whole plot though he really takes a backseat in the overall scheme of things. But I have my suspicions about Charley which has me grinning from ear to ear.
Hope Harbor dishes out hope and healing, not just to the characters within its pages, but to the readers on the outside looking in. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/05/27/h...
Told from multiple viewpoints, this is more than just Tracy and Michael's 'winds of change' story. Diverse characters, all harboring pain from regrets they can't seem to overcome, have important roles to play. Hannon does an incredible job of weaving their stories together, expertly building them into a crescendo of a climax that left me sobbing. The author's brilliance is evidenced by the way each character's story intersects. Story threads merge and blend and become something so much bigger than each individual triumph. I found it totally moving.
The inspirational thread is strong but not overbearing. It flows as a natural extension of characters who strive for relationship with their Heavenly Father. And there's this one character, Charley, who is pivotal to the whole plot though he really takes a backseat in the overall scheme of things. But I have my suspicions about Charley which has me grinning from ear to ear.
Hope Harbor dishes out hope and healing, not just to the characters within its pages, but to the readers on the outside looking in. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.
https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/05/27/h...
June 18, 2015
This was an ok book. It was pretty slow moving and I can't say much happened. Very much character driven. Honestly I skimmed towards the end! They contemplated everything. I mean EVERYTHING! At one point I wanted to scream JUST OPEN THE ***** ENVELOPE! (You'll see what I mean) Ready to dive back into suspense or funny books. Just something with action. Or just something happening lol
April 2, 2016
Loved this story!
October 21, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
If you like great chapter-ending hooks, this is the book for you. This was my first novel by Irene Hannon, and while I found it cute, it was also predictable. I figured out two major plot points less than twenty pages into the story (which made the lead female seem dense when she was completely shocked at one of them much deeper into the plot). However, the characters and setting were well established and felt realistic to me. The way the beach and Charley's and the cranberry farm all popped off the page made me want to travel to Oregon again. The sea really is beautiful there, and this book brought back lots of great memories from some family road trips I've taken. I really enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and second chances. These were carefully yet seamlessly woven throughout the pages of this story and left me feeling satisfied with those threads.
A few things bugged me as I was reading, mostly because they pulled my attention away from the core portions of the tale. There were two mentions of hearing mental gears churning. The first time didn't bother me, but that second one made it a little awkward because it seemed like a lot of focus was being put on the cogs in characters' brains. A similar awkwardness came from multiple mentions of left-brain function. Again, too much focus on the workings of characters' minds, which pulled me from the emotional aspects of the story.
Another thing that irritated me was the use of alcohol in desserts like brownies and fruit cake. Alcohol does not all burn off when cooked, so saturating dessert recipes with it, particularly when children could be taking part in eating the food, seemed inappropriate to me. It was no wonder the desserts were scarfed down, considering they were spiked.
It was too convenient that all three POV characters still wore wedding rings when it was obvious all of them were single for various reasons. There was no follow-through on removal of these rings that I noticed, so I was confused as to why there was so much focus on these rings in the first place.
Content:
* "mother nature" and "fate" mentioned as guiding forces in life
* "the big man," in reference to God (to me, this is blatant disrespect)
* out-of-wedlock pregnancy, including teenage pregnancy
* expletive
* suicide/depression
* libido/testosterone (awkward to read about for me)
I enjoyed this story enough to give the second in the series a try sometime, and I also want to try one of Ms. Hannon's suspense novels, as I've heard they're really good.
I did not receive compensation for my honest review.
If you like great chapter-ending hooks, this is the book for you. This was my first novel by Irene Hannon, and while I found it cute, it was also predictable. I figured out two major plot points less than twenty pages into the story (which made the lead female seem dense when she was completely shocked at one of them much deeper into the plot). However, the characters and setting were well established and felt realistic to me. The way the beach and Charley's and the cranberry farm all popped off the page made me want to travel to Oregon again. The sea really is beautiful there, and this book brought back lots of great memories from some family road trips I've taken. I really enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and second chances. These were carefully yet seamlessly woven throughout the pages of this story and left me feeling satisfied with those threads.
A few things bugged me as I was reading, mostly because they pulled my attention away from the core portions of the tale. There were two mentions of hearing mental gears churning. The first time didn't bother me, but that second one made it a little awkward because it seemed like a lot of focus was being put on the cogs in characters' brains. A similar awkwardness came from multiple mentions of left-brain function. Again, too much focus on the workings of characters' minds, which pulled me from the emotional aspects of the story.
Another thing that irritated me was the use of alcohol in desserts like brownies and fruit cake. Alcohol does not all burn off when cooked, so saturating dessert recipes with it, particularly when children could be taking part in eating the food, seemed inappropriate to me. It was no wonder the desserts were scarfed down, considering they were spiked.
It was too convenient that all three POV characters still wore wedding rings when it was obvious all of them were single for various reasons. There was no follow-through on removal of these rings that I noticed, so I was confused as to why there was so much focus on these rings in the first place.
Content:
* "mother nature" and "fate" mentioned as guiding forces in life
* "the big man," in reference to God (to me, this is blatant disrespect)
* out-of-wedlock pregnancy, including teenage pregnancy
* expletive
* suicide/depression
* libido/testosterone (awkward to read about for me)
I enjoyed this story enough to give the second in the series a try sometime, and I also want to try one of Ms. Hannon's suspense novels, as I've heard they're really good.
I did not receive compensation for my honest review.
May 3, 2016
Hope Harbor certainly lived up to it's name. It has renewed my hope in the future God laid out for me. God certainly knew what he was doing when I was given a copy of this book. I look forward to more exciting, faith-filled works from this amazing author. Read my full review: http://faithlovebooks.blogspot.com/20...
March 29, 2016
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.wordpre...
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.wordpre...
September 28, 2024
Michael Hunter took a leave of absence from his job in Chicago, pushed back the dark despair that had been his steady companion for 18 months, and headed for Hope Harbor, putting 2000 miles between him and his memories.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t receive the warm welcome he’d imagined.
The hotel he’d booked and paid for is closed for repairs
He steps off the sidewalk and into a local on a bike, sending her and her groceries crashing on the road
“What else could go wrong today?”
As he sits on a bench to contemplate his next moves, an old lady brings him carry-out dinner compliments of a food truck chef. What he soon finds out is that there’s a slip of paper in the meal with a cryptic message - it changes the trajectory of his whole life.
I had been wanting to read something by this author all year and when I discovered that she wrote this book set in the state I am sailing past, I knew I had to read it.
Things I loved:
Small town and cranberry farm setting
Regrets, reconciliation and second chances
The idea that God puts us in places where we can best serve our fellow travelers along the journey
The reminder that what we want and what God sends are often two different things
An intergenerational story about helping others
I loved this story so much that I quickly downloaded book 2!
Cranberries are an important part of Canadian Thanksgiving (October 14, 2024). We grow them in fields surrounded by dikes and harvest them by flooding the fields. Are they included in your Thanksgiving dinner in your part of the world? Do you like them?
Unfortunately, he doesn’t receive the warm welcome he’d imagined.
The hotel he’d booked and paid for is closed for repairs
He steps off the sidewalk and into a local on a bike, sending her and her groceries crashing on the road
“What else could go wrong today?”
As he sits on a bench to contemplate his next moves, an old lady brings him carry-out dinner compliments of a food truck chef. What he soon finds out is that there’s a slip of paper in the meal with a cryptic message - it changes the trajectory of his whole life.
I had been wanting to read something by this author all year and when I discovered that she wrote this book set in the state I am sailing past, I knew I had to read it.
Things I loved:
Small town and cranberry farm setting
Regrets, reconciliation and second chances
The idea that God puts us in places where we can best serve our fellow travelers along the journey
The reminder that what we want and what God sends are often two different things
An intergenerational story about helping others
I loved this story so much that I quickly downloaded book 2!
Cranberries are an important part of Canadian Thanksgiving (October 14, 2024). We grow them in fields surrounded by dikes and harvest them by flooding the fields. Are they included in your Thanksgiving dinner in your part of the world? Do you like them?
August 11, 2015
Michael Hunter arrives in Hope Harbor hoping that the town will live up to its name. He is trying to come to grips with the way that his life has been changed over the last year or so. He's wanting a place where he can relax and not be bothered with the running of a charitable organization. Yet he doesn't count on the unexpected encounters he has in the town. Tracy Campbell grew up in Hope Harbor. She loves it there and never planned on leaving. But life and love changed her plans. Now she's back and is determined to do all that she can to save the family's cranberry farm. She recruits Michael to help out with a struggling charity and isn't prepared for the changes that come to town.
I've always enjoyed Irene Hannon's books. While I personally prefer her romantic suspense novels as opposed to her romances, this book was good. It started off slow, but as the pieces connected, I started to really enjoy it.
I really liked one of the secondary characters, Annie. I thought that she was pretty neat. She's a quiet character, but she's got a lot of personality. I also really enjoyed how all of the pieces fit together. How all of the various story-lines converged into one.
I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, romance, contemporary romance.
Rating - 4 stars
I've always enjoyed Irene Hannon's books. While I personally prefer her romantic suspense novels as opposed to her romances, this book was good. It started off slow, but as the pieces connected, I started to really enjoy it.
I really liked one of the secondary characters, Annie. I thought that she was pretty neat. She's a quiet character, but she's got a lot of personality. I also really enjoyed how all of the pieces fit together. How all of the various story-lines converged into one.
I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, romance, contemporary romance.
Rating - 4 stars
August 8, 2015
Irene Hannon is well known for really great romantic suspense fiction. She is one of my favorites in that genre. But she also excels at contemporary romance, and her latest novel, Hope Harbor, is an excellent example! With well-drawn characters, a wonderful small-town setting, and a message of hope and reconciliation, this novel provides more than pure entertainment. Not your run-of-the-mill fluffy romance, Hope Harbor gives the reader a touching reading experience that will last well after the last page is turned. This one comes highly recommended.
Michael Hunter travels to Hope Harbor, Oregon to find himself again after the death of his wife eighteen months before. Regrets have him weighted down. But a collision with a bicyclist, an invitation from the town hermit and a prophetic message from the owner of the local fish taco stand puts him on a path that can only be described as God-led.
There are three main characters in Hope Harbor, all with past choices that have led to deep regret and guilt. All have in some way failed in crucial relationships. Michael, Tracy and Annie feel like real people — neighbors, friends or family. Their struggles with God and others ring true to life. Their development throughout the novel is measured and realistic — just the right pacing for the novel to be believable. The strength of this novel is the way in which the characters’ doubts, questions and wrestling with God are portrayed. The setting is perfect — a small Oregon coastal town with enough citizens to make it interesting and enough closeness to make the reader want to visit — again and again.
Hope Harbor is a winner! Not just a romance, it is an exploration of broken relationships and the God who can rebuild and restore.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Michael Hunter travels to Hope Harbor, Oregon to find himself again after the death of his wife eighteen months before. Regrets have him weighted down. But a collision with a bicyclist, an invitation from the town hermit and a prophetic message from the owner of the local fish taco stand puts him on a path that can only be described as God-led.
There are three main characters in Hope Harbor, all with past choices that have led to deep regret and guilt. All have in some way failed in crucial relationships. Michael, Tracy and Annie feel like real people — neighbors, friends or family. Their struggles with God and others ring true to life. Their development throughout the novel is measured and realistic — just the right pacing for the novel to be believable. The strength of this novel is the way in which the characters’ doubts, questions and wrestling with God are portrayed. The setting is perfect — a small Oregon coastal town with enough citizens to make it interesting and enough closeness to make the reader want to visit — again and again.
Hope Harbor is a winner! Not just a romance, it is an exploration of broken relationships and the God who can rebuild and restore.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
August 6, 2020
Een leuk vakantieboek dat makkelijk leest, grotendeels voorspelbaar maar dat stoorde me helemaal niet. Het christelijke aspect en de vele verwijzingen naar god mochten voor mij wel wat minder nadrukkelijk aanwezig zijn maar verder een ideaal boek om bij te ontspannen. Ik ga zeker de volgende delen lezen want dit is een 4 delige reeks.
June 24, 2017
I was given a copy by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
HOPE HARBOR is a story that involves forgiving one's self and moving on. It also involves putting pride and hurt aside and reaching out to reconnect to love ones.
Michael Hunter traveled from Chicago to Hope Harbor, Oregon to visit the vacation place that his deceased wife had loved growing up. Michael and Julie planned to go to Hope Harbor for a visit but they never made it before Julie passed away. Michael feels guilty that he always put his job before his wife. He hopes that he can sort out his life by staying in Hope Harbor for several weeks. But when he arrived he found out that the motel where he had reserved to stay was closed due to a fire. He has to decide if he wants to drive a distance to stay in a neighboring city as there are not many options in Hope Harbor. As he is touring the town the day of his arrival Michael literally runs into Tracy Campbell on her bike as he is crossing the street to reach a taco stand. Several grocery items fell out of her bicycle basket when she fell and hurt herself. Michael felt very bad and offered to help her and replace damaged items but Tracy left in a huff because she was aggravated. Michael diverts to a bench dejected instead of going to get food. Charley Lopez sells tacos out of his food truck and sees the accident happen. When Anna Williams purchased some tacos from Charley, he asked her to take a bag of tacos to Michael along with a note. Anna almost didn't go over to the bench to give the tacos to Michael when she got close enough to see that he bore a strong resemblance to her estranged son John. Michael invited Anna to join him and she agreed to. As they sat together and ate their tacos, Anna discovered that Michael planned to stay a few weeks but the motel was closed and he wasn't sure what to do. At a moment uncharacteristic of her, she invited Michael to stay in an annex to her house because he reminds her of her son John. He agrees to the arrangement.
As Michael is facing a time of sorting out his life, Tracy is dealing with the feelings of guilt involving her husband's death. Anna has been estranged from her son for twenty years. Michael tries to make up for the accident he caused Tracy by helping out on the struggling cranberry farm that she and her uncle own. As each person develops a relationship with the others, they are all faced with dealing with their pasts in order to face the future. Faith plays a big part of dealing with their issues and moving forward. All of the other books that I have read by Ms. Hannon are suspenseful and I have enjoyed thoroughly. HOPE HARBOR is more about relationships and facing issues from the past. I did find it a good read and inspiring.
HOPE HARBOR is a story that involves forgiving one's self and moving on. It also involves putting pride and hurt aside and reaching out to reconnect to love ones.
Michael Hunter traveled from Chicago to Hope Harbor, Oregon to visit the vacation place that his deceased wife had loved growing up. Michael and Julie planned to go to Hope Harbor for a visit but they never made it before Julie passed away. Michael feels guilty that he always put his job before his wife. He hopes that he can sort out his life by staying in Hope Harbor for several weeks. But when he arrived he found out that the motel where he had reserved to stay was closed due to a fire. He has to decide if he wants to drive a distance to stay in a neighboring city as there are not many options in Hope Harbor. As he is touring the town the day of his arrival Michael literally runs into Tracy Campbell on her bike as he is crossing the street to reach a taco stand. Several grocery items fell out of her bicycle basket when she fell and hurt herself. Michael felt very bad and offered to help her and replace damaged items but Tracy left in a huff because she was aggravated. Michael diverts to a bench dejected instead of going to get food. Charley Lopez sells tacos out of his food truck and sees the accident happen. When Anna Williams purchased some tacos from Charley, he asked her to take a bag of tacos to Michael along with a note. Anna almost didn't go over to the bench to give the tacos to Michael when she got close enough to see that he bore a strong resemblance to her estranged son John. Michael invited Anna to join him and she agreed to. As they sat together and ate their tacos, Anna discovered that Michael planned to stay a few weeks but the motel was closed and he wasn't sure what to do. At a moment uncharacteristic of her, she invited Michael to stay in an annex to her house because he reminds her of her son John. He agrees to the arrangement.
As Michael is facing a time of sorting out his life, Tracy is dealing with the feelings of guilt involving her husband's death. Anna has been estranged from her son for twenty years. Michael tries to make up for the accident he caused Tracy by helping out on the struggling cranberry farm that she and her uncle own. As each person develops a relationship with the others, they are all faced with dealing with their pasts in order to face the future. Faith plays a big part of dealing with their issues and moving forward. All of the other books that I have read by Ms. Hannon are suspenseful and I have enjoyed thoroughly. HOPE HARBOR is more about relationships and facing issues from the past. I did find it a good read and inspiring.
July 18, 2015
Hope Harbor
Providence seems to be the key word in this story from Irene Hannon. I have been a huge fan of her romantic suspense books and her family drama books are just as captivating. In Hope Harbor we meet Michael, who has taken a leave of absence to escape his past and try to find answers.
Michael meets several residences of Hope Harbor that make an impact on his life. Annie who is the town recluse becomes his landlord much to the surprise of her, Michael and the town. Annie's story is secondary but just as moving.
Tracy meets Michael by ‘accident’. She loves Hope Harbor and working on their third generation cranberry farm. I found this very interesting because I used to visit a cranberry farm in the northeast when I would visit my cousin. I could visualize the cranberry bogs. I learned several new interesting facts about cranberry farming.
Tracy convinces Michael to help with the churches struggling charitable organization which opens up opportunities for them to spend time together. The more time they are together the more they realize they may have feelings for each other and neither one of them plan for that. As a result of each of their pasts, they are hesitant to delve into another relationship. I liked how they did not keep their past a secret from each other. They both shared their stories.
Michael realizes his trip is turning out nothing like he planned. Instead of finding answers he has more questions.
I think you will enjoy the story and be moved by how the characters
Charlie is a secondary character that we've throughout the whole story and could get his own book..
You will feel like you've met the whole town. It's very easy to separate the characters and their stories.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
Providence seems to be the key word in this story from Irene Hannon. I have been a huge fan of her romantic suspense books and her family drama books are just as captivating. In Hope Harbor we meet Michael, who has taken a leave of absence to escape his past and try to find answers.
Michael meets several residences of Hope Harbor that make an impact on his life. Annie who is the town recluse becomes his landlord much to the surprise of her, Michael and the town. Annie's story is secondary but just as moving.
Tracy meets Michael by ‘accident’. She loves Hope Harbor and working on their third generation cranberry farm. I found this very interesting because I used to visit a cranberry farm in the northeast when I would visit my cousin. I could visualize the cranberry bogs. I learned several new interesting facts about cranberry farming.
Tracy convinces Michael to help with the churches struggling charitable organization which opens up opportunities for them to spend time together. The more time they are together the more they realize they may have feelings for each other and neither one of them plan for that. As a result of each of their pasts, they are hesitant to delve into another relationship. I liked how they did not keep their past a secret from each other. They both shared their stories.
Michael realizes his trip is turning out nothing like he planned. Instead of finding answers he has more questions.
I think you will enjoy the story and be moved by how the characters
Charlie is a secondary character that we've throughout the whole story and could get his own book..
You will feel like you've met the whole town. It's very easy to separate the characters and their stories.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
April 4, 2024
Tracy Campbell, cranberry farmer/CPA/volunteer extraordinaire is still living her life under a shroud of guilt, working herself beyond exhaustion and donating hours of her time to "Helping Hands" a grass roots volunteer organization in the beautiful coastal town of Hope Harbor, Oregon.. She is certainly not giving her love life, or lack thereof, a single thought until a chance collision with a handsome tourist changes everything.
Michael Hunter, a Chicago non-profit executive, has traveled across the country to visit the town where his now deceased wife wanted to vacation. Seeking solace, solitude and certainly not romance, he happens to meet an artist turned fish vendor and a widow turned landlord, all within minutes of nearly mowing down a lovely bike rider. After settling in to his spacious rental, he determines to meet and apologize to the injured biker. A friendly introduction quickly morphs into something entirely unexpected and Michael realizes that he has been led to Hope Harbor for many other reasons than to merely heal a broken heart.
"Hope Harbor" was intriguing; a much deeper and impactful novel than one would think, proving once again that it is never a good idea to judge a book solely by its cover. This melodic romance lives and breathes "true grit"; its host of characters discovering for themselves the blessing of being covered with the soothing, healing balm of providence.
Michael Hunter, a Chicago non-profit executive, has traveled across the country to visit the town where his now deceased wife wanted to vacation. Seeking solace, solitude and certainly not romance, he happens to meet an artist turned fish vendor and a widow turned landlord, all within minutes of nearly mowing down a lovely bike rider. After settling in to his spacious rental, he determines to meet and apologize to the injured biker. A friendly introduction quickly morphs into something entirely unexpected and Michael realizes that he has been led to Hope Harbor for many other reasons than to merely heal a broken heart.
"Hope Harbor" was intriguing; a much deeper and impactful novel than one would think, proving once again that it is never a good idea to judge a book solely by its cover. This melodic romance lives and breathes "true grit"; its host of characters discovering for themselves the blessing of being covered with the soothing, healing balm of providence.
August 10, 2015
Hope Harbor was such a beautiful story, full of characters with complicated pasts, and unsure futures. I really enjoyed this story and they way the author allowed the reader to slowly unfold the layers of secrets, regrets, and guilt that various people in the story carried around.
Another thing that made this book such a joy to read was the way the author intertwined the characters and their journeys. Tracy and Michael are the two main characters. They are a widow and a widower who both feel that there is no hope for them to ever move past the tragedies of their spouses’ deaths. What a journey they take in this story!
Another beautiful story line is Anna’s growth from recluse with a hardened heart, to a woman with hope for the future and the rebuilding of her life. She also has some reconnecting to do with God.
There are other interesting characters that provide great depth to the story. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
Another thing that made this book such a joy to read was the way the author intertwined the characters and their journeys. Tracy and Michael are the two main characters. They are a widow and a widower who both feel that there is no hope for them to ever move past the tragedies of their spouses’ deaths. What a journey they take in this story!
Another beautiful story line is Anna’s growth from recluse with a hardened heart, to a woman with hope for the future and the rebuilding of her life. She also has some reconnecting to do with God.
There are other interesting characters that provide great depth to the story. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
October 13, 2017
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.
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.
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.
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.
March 6, 2021
“Come to Hope Harbor-where hearts heal and love blooms.”
Hope Harbor is full of hurting people. Can they connect to be able to hope again?
Tracy Campbell and Michael Hunter are both mourning their spouses. Tracy is trying to lose herself in keeping her family business afloat. Could the new stranger in town be the answer to her prayers?
“What we want and what God sends our way are often two different things-but He always has our best interest at heart.”
When Michael comes to town, he impacts lives and finds purpose again.
Delightful story of hope and healing. A picturesque setting in Oregon with characters that you want to get to know.
“I have a feeling that in Hope Harbor, anything is possible.”
A visit to Hope Harbor is special and I will be returning.
* I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.*
Hope Harbor is full of hurting people. Can they connect to be able to hope again?
Tracy Campbell and Michael Hunter are both mourning their spouses. Tracy is trying to lose herself in keeping her family business afloat. Could the new stranger in town be the answer to her prayers?
“What we want and what God sends our way are often two different things-but He always has our best interest at heart.”
When Michael comes to town, he impacts lives and finds purpose again.
Delightful story of hope and healing. A picturesque setting in Oregon with characters that you want to get to know.
“I have a feeling that in Hope Harbor, anything is possible.”
A visit to Hope Harbor is special and I will be returning.
* I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.*
July 6, 2015
This is my eighth Irene Hannon novel and I love her work.
Hope Harbor, however, wasn't as well done as her prior novels. I found Michael to be difficult to visualize. Some descriptors had me thinking he was a white collar guy with no handyman experience and then he would be helping repair fences. The other concern I had was with the sheer number of widows and widowers in Hope Harbor. Even the seagull, Floyd, was a widower.
Overall, Hope Harbor fell a bit flat for me. Despite that, I eagerly await the next Irene Hannon novel, Thin Ice which comes out in 2016.
I recommend Irene's suspense novels and other contemporary novels, That Certain Summer and One Perfect Spring.
Hope Harbor, however, wasn't as well done as her prior novels. I found Michael to be difficult to visualize. Some descriptors had me thinking he was a white collar guy with no handyman experience and then he would be helping repair fences. The other concern I had was with the sheer number of widows and widowers in Hope Harbor. Even the seagull, Floyd, was a widower.
Overall, Hope Harbor fell a bit flat for me. Despite that, I eagerly await the next Irene Hannon novel, Thin Ice which comes out in 2016.
I recommend Irene's suspense novels and other contemporary novels, That Certain Summer and One Perfect Spring.
did-not-finish
February 9, 2023dnf on a second reread. I enjoyed this series the first time around, but my tastes have changed and I much prefer her suspense novels to purely romance (again, my tastes have changed and I don't enjoy strictly romance novels as much anymore). It would make a nice beach read for those interested in second chances at love, small town settings, and a Hallmark type of storyline.
Read
May 15, 2018I just finished reading Pelican Point, Book 4 in this series, for a review and liked it so much that I wanted to read the prior books in this series. Book 1 definitely did not disappoint. I liked it even more than Book 4.
Hope Harbor is rich, warm, inviting and made me just want to curl up and live there. It's colorful small town feel and its warm, wonderful townspeople just drew me in to the story. Hannon's writing is superb and makes for a beautifully written love story.
Tracy Campbell, a widow, along with her wise Uncle Bud and cook extraordinaire Aunt Nancy, are farming the cranberry bogs that have been in the family for 3 generations. But time are tough and the large industrialized cranberry farms are creating financially hard times. Michael Hunter, a widower, has come to Hope Harbor to reevaluate his life and busy corporate job. He just wants peace and quiet, but that isn't what he gets as he is drawn into town life and Tracy's life in particular. The secondary characters are just as richly drawn as Michael and Tracy. I especially love Charley who plays the role of a wise and all-knowing (perhaps town guardian angel) taco stand owner. He reminded me a lot of Roma Downey and Della Reese in Touched by An Angel. Michael's interactions with the townspeople brought about so many wonderful changes in their lives as well as his own.
Hannon includes wonderful spiritual content which makes this book even richer. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend it and have already requested book 2 from the library.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Worry is tough to shake, no matter how strong a person's faith is. Smart, capable, competent people like us want to take charge and get answers now. Trouble is, our timeline isn't always God's."
"Mistakes can be forgiven. Estrangements can be mended. Our heavenly Father is waiting to welcome us home if we but ask."
Hope Harbor is rich, warm, inviting and made me just want to curl up and live there. It's colorful small town feel and its warm, wonderful townspeople just drew me in to the story. Hannon's writing is superb and makes for a beautifully written love story.
Tracy Campbell, a widow, along with her wise Uncle Bud and cook extraordinaire Aunt Nancy, are farming the cranberry bogs that have been in the family for 3 generations. But time are tough and the large industrialized cranberry farms are creating financially hard times. Michael Hunter, a widower, has come to Hope Harbor to reevaluate his life and busy corporate job. He just wants peace and quiet, but that isn't what he gets as he is drawn into town life and Tracy's life in particular. The secondary characters are just as richly drawn as Michael and Tracy. I especially love Charley who plays the role of a wise and all-knowing (perhaps town guardian angel) taco stand owner. He reminded me a lot of Roma Downey and Della Reese in Touched by An Angel. Michael's interactions with the townspeople brought about so many wonderful changes in their lives as well as his own.
Hannon includes wonderful spiritual content which makes this book even richer. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend it and have already requested book 2 from the library.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Worry is tough to shake, no matter how strong a person's faith is. Smart, capable, competent people like us want to take charge and get answers now. Trouble is, our timeline isn't always God's."
"Mistakes can be forgiven. Estrangements can be mended. Our heavenly Father is waiting to welcome us home if we but ask."
August 5, 2015
Oh my, I don't even know where to begin with this review.
Let me start by saying I absolutely loved this contemporary romance.
The beautiful cover only gives you a glimpse at the wonderful story enclosed.
We are introduced to the small town of Hope Harbor and the vivid descriptions will literally transport the reader there, or at least it did me. We are introduced to two characters that are dealing with a lot of emotional baggage.
Tracey Campbell grew up in Hope Harbor on a cranberry farm at the edge of town. The farm has been in her family for generations and she made the decision after college to return home to help with running it. She has a strong work ethic, devotion to her family and community, but hides her heartbreak and guilt from the world outside.
Michael Hunter was overwhelmed with grief over the loss of his wife, but I think that was compounded by guilt. Michael works for a charitable organization and always put his work a head of his personal life. He has taken a leave of absence from work to hopefully work through his grief and heads to Hope Harbor, the one place his wife wanted to go visit over the years.
Michael and Tracey's first encounter sent sparks flying, but not the romantic kind.
This a wonderfully written love story, but it's also about putting the past behind you and moving on. Grief is the one emotion that doesn't have a time limit.
This story also deals with a crisis in faith and that is the part of the story that pulled me in the most. The imagery is astounding and the characters very lovable. There's humor and there's also heartbreak.
I would recommend this story to anyone who loves romance.
I received this book from the publisher for a honest review without outside influence or bias and I thank them for this opportunity.
Let me start by saying I absolutely loved this contemporary romance.
The beautiful cover only gives you a glimpse at the wonderful story enclosed.
We are introduced to the small town of Hope Harbor and the vivid descriptions will literally transport the reader there, or at least it did me. We are introduced to two characters that are dealing with a lot of emotional baggage.
Tracey Campbell grew up in Hope Harbor on a cranberry farm at the edge of town. The farm has been in her family for generations and she made the decision after college to return home to help with running it. She has a strong work ethic, devotion to her family and community, but hides her heartbreak and guilt from the world outside.
Michael Hunter was overwhelmed with grief over the loss of his wife, but I think that was compounded by guilt. Michael works for a charitable organization and always put his work a head of his personal life. He has taken a leave of absence from work to hopefully work through his grief and heads to Hope Harbor, the one place his wife wanted to go visit over the years.
Michael and Tracey's first encounter sent sparks flying, but not the romantic kind.
This a wonderfully written love story, but it's also about putting the past behind you and moving on. Grief is the one emotion that doesn't have a time limit.
This story also deals with a crisis in faith and that is the part of the story that pulled me in the most. The imagery is astounding and the characters very lovable. There's humor and there's also heartbreak.
I would recommend this story to anyone who loves romance.
I received this book from the publisher for a honest review without outside influence or bias and I thank them for this opportunity.
November 21, 2019
4.5 Stars!!
This book was fabulous!
Ms. Hannon did a spectacular job creating a story that captivated and challenged me as a reader and a Christian.
Main characters Tracy and Michael are both trapped in the guilt of their pasts--blinded by remorse and struggling to move on in the wake of tragic circumstances. But when their paths intersect in the incredible seaside town of Hope Harbor, their stories aren't the only ones impacted...and forever changed.
The imagery was very well done, and Ms. Hannon beautifully captured the essence of a small town--and the secrets buried within. The characters were well-written and developed, and I adored getting to know each one (Charley especially stole a major piece of my heart)!
One of the things I liked BEST about Hope Harbor was the vibrant and powerful themes of Hope and Forgiveness and Redemption...and learning to trust and have faith again, even in the wake of sorrow and overwhelming shame.
Although modern contemporary fiction isn't usually my favorite genre of CF, and this wonderful story was a "Blind Date" for me--the very first book I've ever read from Irene Hannon, I'm so glad JustReadTours chose it for me as it was truly a marvelous story that I thoroughly enjoyed--and I see there are several more books in the series (which is SO exciting!).
Note: I received a copy of this book for FREE, and a positive review was NOT required.
This book was fabulous!
Ms. Hannon did a spectacular job creating a story that captivated and challenged me as a reader and a Christian.
Main characters Tracy and Michael are both trapped in the guilt of their pasts--blinded by remorse and struggling to move on in the wake of tragic circumstances. But when their paths intersect in the incredible seaside town of Hope Harbor, their stories aren't the only ones impacted...and forever changed.
The imagery was very well done, and Ms. Hannon beautifully captured the essence of a small town--and the secrets buried within. The characters were well-written and developed, and I adored getting to know each one (Charley especially stole a major piece of my heart)!
One of the things I liked BEST about Hope Harbor was the vibrant and powerful themes of Hope and Forgiveness and Redemption...and learning to trust and have faith again, even in the wake of sorrow and overwhelming shame.
Although modern contemporary fiction isn't usually my favorite genre of CF, and this wonderful story was a "Blind Date" for me--the very first book I've ever read from Irene Hannon, I'm so glad JustReadTours chose it for me as it was truly a marvelous story that I thoroughly enjoyed--and I see there are several more books in the series (which is SO exciting!).
Note: I received a copy of this book for FREE, and a positive review was NOT required.
March 6, 2021
An adorable book. The story takes place in Hope Harbor, Oregon, a small town with warm and friendly people. Tracy Campbell has lived in this town for years, as she takes care of a blueberry farm which has been in her family for several generations. However, life has altered her plans, causing her to move away from her home. Time goes by, and after she returns, Tracy possesses a tragic secret, so she now wants to focus on the task of farming. But one day, Michael Hunter comes to town. Michael intends to start from scratch. The day Michael and Tracy meet, everything changes, their friendship becomes very important. I loved this book because Tracy helps Michael do things that he has never done. Like joining a philanthropic project that has been very successful. I believe that helping other people gives incredible satisfaction. Well, by helping others, you help yourself. I have wanted to read this book for a long time, and I finally did. I loved it and want to keep reading more Irene Hannon books.
January 25, 2020
I was hooked on this plot from the very beginning. A very compelling read! Each character was interesting to see grow throughout the book, and Irene Hannon's ability to keep you in suspense was very well done. It's been a while since I've read her work, but now I will be sure to read the rest of this series really soon!
In Hope Harbor, it starts out with Michael Hunter who comes to the area for what was supposed to be a vacation, but from the onset, it was a life-changing experience. Not only because of his misadventures in running into Tracy Campbell, but also the cast of other townsfolk whose many ways are just what he needed for any given moment. It makes you think about God's role in lives of each person you meet in real life, and that no matter how unusual or hopeless circumstances may look at first glance, you can't ever discount what God may do! Well worth the read and I highly recommend it!!
In Hope Harbor, it starts out with Michael Hunter who comes to the area for what was supposed to be a vacation, but from the onset, it was a life-changing experience. Not only because of his misadventures in running into Tracy Campbell, but also the cast of other townsfolk whose many ways are just what he needed for any given moment. It makes you think about God's role in lives of each person you meet in real life, and that no matter how unusual or hopeless circumstances may look at first glance, you can't ever discount what God may do! Well worth the read and I highly recommend it!!
July 25, 2021
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.
August 6, 2015
Real Rating: 3.5 stars.
I think I may have had too many high hopes for this book. I ended up being a smidge disappointed in this one.
I think I may have had too many high hopes for this book. I ended up being a smidge disappointed in this one.
October 1, 2020
Light, heart felt summer read.
December 8, 2019
Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon captured my heart and imagination from the very beginning! Her short, but beautiful description of the little town of Hope Harbor on the first page instantly transported me there and kept me there throughout the book. As the characters were introduced through the unfolding story, I found myself rooting for them to find the peace and hope this town promised.
“If this trip didn’t help him sort out his life, he was out of options.”
Hannon’s sensitive and honest portrayal of the emerging cast of characters lets one gain glimpses into the private pain they each hold close. As the story continues to develop, she uncovers for us more of the characters’ pasts and allows us to see the depth of their emotional wounds. Through her seamless interweaving of the lives of these hurting people who I was rooting for, she demonstrated beautifully how privately held pain can lose some of its sting when shared. And how, even though the characters felt themselves broken and unrepairable, God saw their wounded hearts as valuable and redeemable.
Through her compelling descriptions of the characters’ internal battles, the author causes us to feel their pain. However, without it seeming out of place at all she also lets us enjoy doses of humor, a beautiful love story, and feisty characters whose edges soften as they become friends with each other. And then there is the wonderful, intriguing Charley who owns a fish taco truck in town, is open only when he wants to be, and can hand out advice in the most winsome ways. Everybody should have a Charley in their lives!!
Hope Harbor was a great read--sweet, heartwarming, and well written. A story of hope for all of us, with enough mystery left in the stories of my new friends to make me want to grab the next book in the series to see how God continues to bring healing to them….and to find out more about the mysterious Charley!!
“If this trip didn’t help him sort out his life, he was out of options.”
Hannon’s sensitive and honest portrayal of the emerging cast of characters lets one gain glimpses into the private pain they each hold close. As the story continues to develop, she uncovers for us more of the characters’ pasts and allows us to see the depth of their emotional wounds. Through her seamless interweaving of the lives of these hurting people who I was rooting for, she demonstrated beautifully how privately held pain can lose some of its sting when shared. And how, even though the characters felt themselves broken and unrepairable, God saw their wounded hearts as valuable and redeemable.
Through her compelling descriptions of the characters’ internal battles, the author causes us to feel their pain. However, without it seeming out of place at all she also lets us enjoy doses of humor, a beautiful love story, and feisty characters whose edges soften as they become friends with each other. And then there is the wonderful, intriguing Charley who owns a fish taco truck in town, is open only when he wants to be, and can hand out advice in the most winsome ways. Everybody should have a Charley in their lives!!
Hope Harbor was a great read--sweet, heartwarming, and well written. A story of hope for all of us, with enough mystery left in the stories of my new friends to make me want to grab the next book in the series to see how God continues to bring healing to them….and to find out more about the mysterious Charley!!
February 6, 2025
I loved this gentle yet poignant romance set in Hope Harbour. Michael and Tracy were wonderful characters and I loved how they helped each other work through their issues.
This is more than just a romance though, with great side characters which have their own story to tell.
It is a bit slow moving but that was fine for me as I like character driven books.
Great introduction to the series and look forward to checking out more titles. 😊
Recommended if you like character driven sweet, clean romances.
This is more than just a romance though, with great side characters which have their own story to tell.
It is a bit slow moving but that was fine for me as I like character driven books.
Great introduction to the series and look forward to checking out more titles. 😊
Recommended if you like character driven sweet, clean romances.
July 13, 2020
Prachtig boek. Heb er erg van genoten !!!
March 25, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this romance by Irene Hannon. I loved how the author weaved a believable progression in the hero and heroine’s relationship as they worked together on the heroine’s cranberry farm. And the subplot with the elderly widow estranged from her son was the perfect complement and added great depth to the story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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