A story of long ago secrets revealed and the strength of one woman’s journey to overcome the pain of her past.
Ellie hasn’t seen or spoken to her parents in twenty years—since she came to live on the island with her aunt and uncle. Ellie’s all grown up now and runs the popular family bakery, Sweet Treats.
An unforeseen plea for help forces Ellie to reveal a secret she’s kept hidden from even her closest friends. Her innate kindness and desire to help propel her on a turbulent journey. The pieces of her past she’s worked so hard to escape resurface and bring her face to face with heartache. In the midst of unearthing her long buried pain, she faces challenges that threaten her livelihood and those she holds most dear.
When newcomer Blake Griffin arrives, he frequents the bakery in the early morning hours and over fresh cinnamon rolls they develop a friendship. He renews a sense of hope and joy in Ellie, but she’s hesitant to trust him with her heart. Instead of letting her past define her future, Ellie must summon the courage to recognize an unexpected path may be a welcome gift.
Tammy L. Grace is a USA Today bestselling and award winning author who writes women's fiction, mysteries, and sweet Christmas stories. She also writes about the bond we have with dogs using her pen name, Casey Wilson. Tammy is known for creating perfect escapes, unforgettable characters, and binge-worthy series.
When Tammy isn't working on ideas for a novel, she's spending time with family and friends or supporting her addiction to books and chocolate. She and her husband have one grown son and a spoiled golden retriever.
Who wouldn’t want to run away to an island and escape things that hurt? The pain sometimes is just too much to handle. Ellie finds that holding secrets deep inside and hiding from the past keeps her from the journey that she needs to take in order to heal.
I found Ellie a person that was easy to relate to. She was full of warmth and compassion but needed to break free from the secrets that kept her from her journey. She ran to an island where her aunt and uncle live to find peace with her hurtful past. Having had some girls in class that have dealt with similar things makes me wish that everyone had a special place to go to in order to heal.
Ellie has a journey that is about to begin but she needs the strength and the ability to trust her new friend Blake in order to move past the pain and grow.
I found this to be a story of learning to trust that comes out of the secrets of the past. Trust is hard to relearn. As Blake and Ellie begin their journey together I enjoyed how their friendship grew slowly and Ms. Grace showed us that it is okay to start with baby steps. She showed us that all things have to start somewhere and trust is very crucial in relationships getting from point A to point B.
I really liked the storyline and the characters in this book. They were easy to relate to. As for the story I don’t want to spoil it for those that enjoy Ms. Grace’s other stories; just know that it is something that most of aware of that happens. As Ellie goes though the emotions that run just dealing with everyday stuff I felt those emotions having to grab a Kleenex or two along the way. This is a story that has good and bad moments. Moments that will you laugh and cry. Cheering them (Ellie and Blake) on their journey of healing.
A well written story that once you read you will think of that friend or neighbor that just might benefit from this so find a comfy spot with your Kleenex’s on hand and enjoy Ellie and Blake as they learn to trust.
I enjoyed the whole series of four books which kept you wondering what was going to happen next to our family of friends. The warmth, heartfelt love that the people showed each other was very good for anyone who maybe feeling lost or without a clear vision of who loves them. Hopefully we will be able to get another book about Friday Harbors community.
I loved this story! It was very emotional for me, brought back so many memories of my own life. It made me think about all the wonderful people who have made a difference in my life, helped me through the bad times and encouraged me along the way. Tammy knows how to delve into and really reveal what matters to all of us, people need to be loved, need to really matter, need to be able to love.
This is a tragic story of a strong woman faced life changing decisions and how she overcomes heartbreak that would shatter most. It is a tear jerker with a twist you don't anticipate. She has wonderful supportive friends that have her back. I want to know more about how Ellie's story will end and hope it unfolds in the next book in the series. I feel fortunate to have discovered this talented author.
I'm grateful for this series of books and have thoroughly enjoyed each one. The characters are real, the plot is suspenseful and the pace is good. Tammy doesn't shy away from addressing real life situations. I eagerly look forward to reading book 5 in the series.
Characters are all fully developed and interesting people you feel you know. Each book focuses on a different individual leaving you to look forward to the next one! Dogs play a big part in each couples home too. Looking forward to hearing about the next one!!
This was the hardest of the series for me to read. Ellie deals with trying to help her daughter, Dani, and along the way reaches out to her estranged sister. Ellie learns to deal with loss, but finds something very important along the way: love of friends, family, and her other half. A tearjerker in the end, but also happy tears.
I have read air four books oks in this series and loved every one of them:! I am hoping this isn’t the end . I would love to learn more about the lives of all the wonderful people on the island. I hope you will consider continuing this sweet and heartwarming tail of what friendship is about
The 4th book in this lovely series about women who reach middle age, have had either tradegy, relationship break up or some other reason to have had to make a new start. This series is about their new start and how they go forwards. Set on the San Juan Islands off the coast of Seattle in Friday Harbor, a close knit community who help each other, where old friends band together and welcome newcomers into their midst. A bit too good to be true in some cases but these are stories, and good ones at that.
This book centers on Ellie who came to the Island at 16 to live with her Aunt and Uncle, few people knew the reason for her move. She runs Sweet Treats, the famous bakery renowned for it's very yummy food including breads, cupcakes and chocolate mousse cake! Now middle aged she is faced with a cry for help and discovers a health issue of her own in the process. Her friends, who we've come to love in past books - Linda and Max;, Sam and Jeff; Regi and Nate,; Jen and Sean; and Kate and Spence are all there to help her, as that's what friends do.
There's tradegy in this book, as well as a new start, new friends to be made in the shape of Blake whose family business have bought the vineyard in Friday Harbor, and he's running it, romance and of course dogs, who feature in each of these delightful books. Oreo is Ellie's best friend and is there for her with doggie kisses!
I love these books, completely engrossing and so hard to put down. The books are definitely best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.
After surviving a horrific childhood Ellie was sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Friday Harbor where they own the town bakery. They taught her everything they knew about the baking business and when they retire they leave the bakery in her capable hands.
Ellie has had a good life since getting away from her mother, but she still lives a small life until she becomes friends with the Friday Harbor group, Bake moves to town to open a winery, she finds out she is diabetic, and a young girl shows up at the bakery. With all that change, Ellie's life really begins.
This book in the series is so far the most emotional for me. Ellie is a very closed off person and she expects the worst. I like all the characters and when they are introduced two at a time it makes it easier to keep the names straight.
The only thing I don't like in this book is that it feels very unfinished. I hope that in the next two books I will learn more about is Ellie birth family and that there can be more reconciliation.
We learned of the baby she has given up at 16 knowing it would be the best she could do. Dani, her daughter looked for her for the possibility of a tissue donor. Ellie was tested and found she was not a good match as she finds out she is diabetic which disqualifies her. She ends up letting her bakery go. Blake ends up giving her a new job which is events manager at his winery. Her whole way of life is changing and she finds love in Blake. This book was very much worth the reading. A wonderful story. The friends in this group are all great to become acquainted with. Friday Harbor is super to read about. Tammy Grace is a great author, brings the characters to life. Thanks for sharing.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it felt like a standalone book because the author filled in backgrounds for what had had been going on with the main character. Ellie is holding secrets from the past when suddenly she is confronted with the daughter she gave away at 16. She had been living on an island where her aunt and uncle lived building a new life since her mother had thrown her out of the house when she became pregnant. The story is built around Ellie trying to help her daughter who needs a kidney and working on a new job , new relationship and trying to build a new relationship with her sister. I highly recommend this book and hope to read the others in the series.
I love this series by Tammy L. Grace. This is Book 4 in the series, which centers on Ellie’s story and her sweet dog, Oreo. She runs the Sweet Treats Bakery in Friday Harbor, which originally was owned by her aunt and uncle. Ellie has hidden secrets which she has kept from her friends, but the day arrives when she realizes she will have to open up and share her secrets. She meets a newcomer to the island, Blake Griffin, who has bought the local winery. Will she open up and let Blake into her life, and not be afraid to trust anyone? Or has the damage her parents caused during her childhood hang over her adult life forever? Such a page turner with happy moments and some very tearful ones as well. I hope you will enjoy spending time in Friday Harbor as much as I do!
Loved reading Ellie’s story in Friday Harbor. Could somewhat relate when considering the family matters and relationships. Two quotes from the book I can agree with “It’s your form of self-protection. Don’t get attached and then you can’t get hurt.” and another is “Courage is not avoiding things that are hard and scary, it’s moving forward in the face of fear.” Ellie had so much courage and also had the support of friends when feeling deserted by her family. Having this community of friends in the beauty of the San Juan Islands is awesome and to me a fairy tale. This book was an escape for me. Loved it.
Ellie bought the bakery business from the aunt and uncle who took her in when her mother kicked her out. She has made a solid base of family and friends on the island where they live, a tight knit community.
Two events happen that change the course of her journey. In an effort to confront one challenge, she undergoes some lab work that reveals she is a diabetic in urgent need of a lifestyle change.
Ellie experienced a horrific childhood and now has to face a secret.
Lots of characters, some of whom are hard to keep straight, not so well developed in Book 4. With all her experience in a bakery, the narrative is full of cupcakes, tons of sweets and food—lots of food.
A good portion of the book is more tell than show, then converts to a lot of dialogue. Seems there is an extra effort put into wringing emotional scenes, but really, neither of the tragedies were unexpected. There are dogs throughout the novel, but at one point felt a dog who’d waited all day for his person to come home shouldn’t have had to wait another hour to go out while Ellie researched on her computer. The romance sounded very 50ish/early 60ish and finally surfaced late into the book. Thinking this is not a book or series for me, though I can see many people loved it. 3 1/2 stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and these are my unbiased opinions.
Ellie has her dog and her bakery but has been alone for a long time otherwise. Then Blake comes to town to open a winery. He fits in well with all her friends. When difficult times come to Ellie, he steps up to help in any way he can. But can he get her to trust him? Read this to find out! But read the books in order, starting with the prequel Hometown Harbor: the Beginning and then the books in order.
The pace is engrossing and the tone is uncertain with a character centered storyline that has some kisses only. The characters are vivid and endearing. This is an emotionally packed story.
Wow, just wow. This had so much potential but it reminded me of reading when I was a kid See Jane Run. A myriad of characters are introduced right off. None of whom I could keep straight. The characters have interesting back stories that are not reflected in who they are. Everyone seems like the same person. I waited the whole book for a confrontation with the mom that never happened. This is the first time I have ever given a two-star rating but this book lulled me to sleep every time.
This would have gotten a better rating if the ending wasn't so god awful and unfulfilling.
While this was completely emotional for me, I wanted to see a significantly better ending for Ellie (and with Blake). This was the least romantic book of the series and the ending is missing so many pieces. At 75% in, I expected much more -- why even introduce Blake if nothing's going to happen?
So disappointing. At least there were next to no mentions of garlic bread this time.
It's so hard to believe there are mothers out there who treat their children with hate even though in reality there are many more than we can contemplate. Ellie was a lucky one to find d love and friendships. There are underlying messages of friendship and acceptance along with wonderful characters I'm sure we'd all like to know. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Hometown Harbor series. I feel like I am living with the characters. Each of the books in the series draws you closer to the island regret is that this is the last in the series. More, please
I plan to follow Tammy took her website. One of the reasons I don't write more reviews is the amount of words needed is way too many. I would write more reviews of the requirement was fewer words.
A very enjoyable read. The characters were all realistic and relatable; the locale made me want to move there yesterday; and the storyline was engaging. I kind of expected this book to be Hallmark fluff (which I love, too, btw), but it had a healthy dose of life lessons and angst. I didn't want to put it down.
This was Book 4 of a series. I had not read any of the prior books, but now want to backtrack and read them all.
This is a great story. I found myself teary eyed a few times while reading this story. To think a person could be heartless enough to not care for a person's life is appalling. To want financial gain from a person's illness is sickening! Even though this is fiction, I have seen this type of heartless behavior in real life! This storyline was very realistic to me. Tammy L. Grace, you rock! 😊
In book 4 Grave gives us a story filled the life of Ellie, the baker always on hand to bake for special occasions. The reader wonders what she does besides run the bakery and bring treats to her friends. I guess when the alarm goes off at 3AM its difficult to have a social life. In Pieces of Home We are given a look at her old anew life. Rather sad but interesting to know.