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Dune Island #1
Summer at Hope Haven
Making her way up the cedar-lined driveway, tears fill her eyes at the sight of the cottage’s faded trim and peeling turquoise shutters. Taking a deep breath, she grasps the heart-shaped iron door handle and steps inside the once-happy childhood home she’s been avoiding. It is time to face up to the past…
When Emily’s fiancé walks out on her while she’s still grieving the loss of her family in a terrible accident, she escapes back to Hope Haven on the remote Dune Island, where her family vacationed every summer. Emily hopes that fixing up the house will also mend her broken heart, but the cottage holds more than just bittersweet childhood memories. Emptying her father’s antique writing desk, Emily finds a letter that reveals a devastating secret about her parents.
With a head full of questions that can never be answered, it seems like returning to the island was the worst decision Emily ever made… until she meets Lucas Socorro, saltwater dripping from his dark curls after a surf session. As they take long walks on the soft sand, and talk late into the firefly-lit night, Emily wonders if Dr Luke—as the kids in the hospital call him—could be the one to help her heal. With Luke holding her hand, delving into her family’s painful past is a little easier.
Painting the gloomy cottage walls the colour of seashells, and revamping her grandmother’s flea-market furniture, Emily starts to feel she might call Dune Island home for good—and that she could build that home right here with Luke. But when Emily’s family secret spreads through a network of local gossips, her fragile heart breaks all over again. Luke is the only one who could have started the rumours. Was she wrong to trust him so easily?
As the sun sets behind the dunes, Emily has a difficult decision to make. Does she pack her bags and leave the island for good? Or take a risk that Hope Haven has everything she’s been looking for?
A beautiful and emotional read that will make you long to feel the sand beneath your feet. Perfect for fans of Nancy Thayer, Tracy Brogan and Mary Alice Monroe.
When Emily’s fiancé walks out on her while she’s still grieving the loss of her family in a terrible accident, she escapes back to Hope Haven on the remote Dune Island, where her family vacationed every summer. Emily hopes that fixing up the house will also mend her broken heart, but the cottage holds more than just bittersweet childhood memories. Emptying her father’s antique writing desk, Emily finds a letter that reveals a devastating secret about her parents.
With a head full of questions that can never be answered, it seems like returning to the island was the worst decision Emily ever made… until she meets Lucas Socorro, saltwater dripping from his dark curls after a surf session. As they take long walks on the soft sand, and talk late into the firefly-lit night, Emily wonders if Dr Luke—as the kids in the hospital call him—could be the one to help her heal. With Luke holding her hand, delving into her family’s painful past is a little easier.
Painting the gloomy cottage walls the colour of seashells, and revamping her grandmother’s flea-market furniture, Emily starts to feel she might call Dune Island home for good—and that she could build that home right here with Luke. But when Emily’s family secret spreads through a network of local gossips, her fragile heart breaks all over again. Luke is the only one who could have started the rumours. Was she wrong to trust him so easily?
As the sun sets behind the dunes, Emily has a difficult decision to make. Does she pack her bags and leave the island for good? Or take a risk that Hope Haven has everything she’s been looking for?
A beautiful and emotional read that will make you long to feel the sand beneath your feet. Perfect for fans of Nancy Thayer, Tracy Brogan and Mary Alice Monroe.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
September 9, 2020
Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper is the first book in the new contemporary romance Dune Island series. With this series being romance I would expect that the second book will probably change main characters as do a lot of these series however I’m not positive on that just yet. This first book does however read well on it’s own bringing this couple together without any cliffhanger or seemingly need to continue their story further.
Emily is an artist that is struggling with grief after the loss of her entire family in an automobile accident. As Emily found herself drowning in grief she felt removed from not only her work but from her relationship and found it crumbled around her leaving her alone. In order to try to get past the loss of her parents and brother Emily decides to move to Hope Haven where her family had vacationed as she was growing up.
When Emily arrives on Dune Island in Hope Haven she finds the memories in the house she shared with her family surrounding her. With old friends nearby and an art project lined up Emily hopes that she will begin to heal over her summer and finds herself enjoying the time she spends with a man she has met on the island, Lucas Socorro. Before long though Emily finds out a shocking secret about her family’s past.
I have to say the majority of Summer at Hope Haven was actually quite enjoyable to read. Having Emily be a somewhat flawed character dealing with such a huge impact on her life made me warm up to her rather easily and feel the emotion that oozed from her. However, the one thing I would nitpick at with this one was the inevitable conflict comes and it seemed the characters took the longest time to learn their lesson repeating the same confict. Of course I’m one that would just prefer the HEA without the messy stuff so maybe I’m being picky there as the rest of the book was lovely.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Emily is an artist that is struggling with grief after the loss of her entire family in an automobile accident. As Emily found herself drowning in grief she felt removed from not only her work but from her relationship and found it crumbled around her leaving her alone. In order to try to get past the loss of her parents and brother Emily decides to move to Hope Haven where her family had vacationed as she was growing up.
When Emily arrives on Dune Island in Hope Haven she finds the memories in the house she shared with her family surrounding her. With old friends nearby and an art project lined up Emily hopes that she will begin to heal over her summer and finds herself enjoying the time she spends with a man she has met on the island, Lucas Socorro. Before long though Emily finds out a shocking secret about her family’s past.
I have to say the majority of Summer at Hope Haven was actually quite enjoyable to read. Having Emily be a somewhat flawed character dealing with such a huge impact on her life made me warm up to her rather easily and feel the emotion that oozed from her. However, the one thing I would nitpick at with this one was the inevitable conflict comes and it seemed the characters took the longest time to learn their lesson repeating the same confict. Of course I’m one that would just prefer the HEA without the messy stuff so maybe I’m being picky there as the rest of the book was lovely.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 27, 2020
Beautiful story. Gorgeous setting. All the feels. Kristin Harper has vividly woven together a tale of grief, hope, and heart. Emily has lost her family to tragedy and her fiancé to another woman. Faced with a long summer away from her job in academia she decides to return to her family cottage on Dune Island. She begins to regret her choice when the cottage starts bringing up too many painful memories. BUT Emily decides it is time for her to face her past not to mention she has volunteered to paint a mural in the local hospital. When she meets the affable good looking doctor Luke there is a definite attraction, but Emily is not ready to open her heart to anyone.
This was a sweet emotional slow burn romance, but the setting stole the show. This gorgeous island was so vividly described I could... feel the sand between my toes... smell the allure of the sea... hear the crash of the waves... taste the salt in the air.... Emily was such a lovely character. My heart broke for her for what she had gone through and my heart sword for her as she fought to get her life back. Lucas was a great guy and I really was hoping Emily and he would find their way to one another. The side characters were great and there were a few secrets and twists that were unexpected. This book was an absolute treat packed with all the feels.
This book in emojis 🖌 🎣 🎨 🐠 🏊♀️ 🏄🏻♂️ 🤰🏻 ♟
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This was a sweet emotional slow burn romance, but the setting stole the show. This gorgeous island was so vividly described I could... feel the sand between my toes... smell the allure of the sea... hear the crash of the waves... taste the salt in the air.... Emily was such a lovely character. My heart broke for her for what she had gone through and my heart sword for her as she fought to get her life back. Lucas was a great guy and I really was hoping Emily and he would find their way to one another. The side characters were great and there were a few secrets and twists that were unexpected. This book was an absolute treat packed with all the feels.
This book in emojis 🖌 🎣 🎨 🐠 🏊♀️ 🏄🏻♂️ 🤰🏻 ♟
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
September 8, 2020
Emily Vandemark returns to her family cottage in Dune Island to reflect and try to move forward with her life after an emotionally devastating year in which she lost her entire family, consisting of her parents and elder brother, to a helicopter crash and her fiance ending their relationship.
She has accepted an invitation to volunteer for a mural art project for the new children's ward at the local hospital, hoping that this art project will not only keep her busy for the summer but will also be a healing process for her emotionally, mentally and physically. While at it, she also decides to give the dour looking cottage a bright and lively makeover. With the help of her art, the support of Wilson, her brother's best friend and his wife Collette and her newly formed friendship with the handsome Dr. Lucas Socorro, Emily gradually sheds her shell of grief and begins to hope, live, laugh and love again. Her summer at Hope Haven truly becomes a haven of hope for her.
This is a lovely, slow burn story about making peace with past secrets, healing and finding hope and love again. Dune Island, with its beaches, coves and inlets is beautifully described and the setting has a soothing and therapeutic feel to it. Even the thought process behind the murals and the invitation cards for Collette's baby shower that Emily paints show her moving towards hope and healing. The only thing that irked me about Emily was that she could at times become very impulsive and jump to conclusions about things which led to a few issues and misconceptions between her and Wilson as well as Lucas.
Overall, I liked it and look forward to reading more of the series. This is also the author's debut novel. My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Kristin Harper for the e-Arc of the book.
She has accepted an invitation to volunteer for a mural art project for the new children's ward at the local hospital, hoping that this art project will not only keep her busy for the summer but will also be a healing process for her emotionally, mentally and physically. While at it, she also decides to give the dour looking cottage a bright and lively makeover. With the help of her art, the support of Wilson, her brother's best friend and his wife Collette and her newly formed friendship with the handsome Dr. Lucas Socorro, Emily gradually sheds her shell of grief and begins to hope, live, laugh and love again. Her summer at Hope Haven truly becomes a haven of hope for her.
This is a lovely, slow burn story about making peace with past secrets, healing and finding hope and love again. Dune Island, with its beaches, coves and inlets is beautifully described and the setting has a soothing and therapeutic feel to it. Even the thought process behind the murals and the invitation cards for Collette's baby shower that Emily paints show her moving towards hope and healing. The only thing that irked me about Emily was that she could at times become very impulsive and jump to conclusions about things which led to a few issues and misconceptions between her and Wilson as well as Lucas.
Overall, I liked it and look forward to reading more of the series. This is also the author's debut novel. My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Kristin Harper for the e-Arc of the book.
April 12, 2022
I was not able to warm up to the main character Emily throughout the book. Yes, she has suffered a lot and is grieving, but please have her get help! Instead, I had to read details about how little she eats, exactly how many bites she eats of her meals if she is not skipping them altogether, and how unhealthily skinny she looks. On top of it, she is immature and unable to cope with anything in an adult manner. Most people around her seemed similar.
July 15, 2020
Emily hopes this summer at Dune Island provides a safe haven. Losing her family in a tragic accident, she retreats to their ancestral beach house in need for a quiet spot to reflect. Emily volunteers to paint murals at the local hospital when school breaks for the summer. Mustering up the courage to move on, she hopes the island restores her creativity and passion for life.
Little did she know that Dr. Luke would enter her world to provide medical care and a chance for happiness. After her fiance's betrayal, a new relationship leaves her treading water. Will this #SummeratHopeHaven be the balm needed to move forward?
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed Harper's novel and sympathized with Emily's predicament. While struggling to overcoming obstacles, she persevered. I admired her strength and fortitude to embrace the future.
Little did she know that Dr. Luke would enter her world to provide medical care and a chance for happiness. After her fiance's betrayal, a new relationship leaves her treading water. Will this #SummeratHopeHaven be the balm needed to move forward?
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed Harper's novel and sympathized with Emily's predicament. While struggling to overcoming obstacles, she persevered. I admired her strength and fortitude to embrace the future.
August 26, 2020
This is a debut novel by Kristin Harper and the first in the Dune Island series. I really enjoyed this story and am already looking forward to what will come next. This is Emily's story. She is reeling from not only a broken engagement, but the death of both parents and her brother in a helicopter crash 9 months earlier. She escapes to Dune Island to the family's cottage to lick her wounds and use her art to help the hospital and hopefully, to help her heal. With her brother's best friend and his wife next door, she is welcomed back to the island with open arms. Enter a handsome Pediatrician, Dr. Luke, and you know there is going to be some romance involved.
This is a story of healing, grief, secrets, friendship and romance. I really liked Emily's character. She had been through so much, but was still strong and trying to heal. She was a great friend to Wilson and Collette and they were to her as well. I loved the setting of the story, the atmosphere, the storms as well as the sunny, hot days floating in the ocean. The addition of the art that showed the emotion and heart of the subject was a wonderful metaphor. The dialogue, apt sayings from Emily's parents and the banter all added much to the story. Throw in some angst, (what is a romance without some angst), a rather nasty, bitter woman, a party, and a baby and you have a delightful story that will have you smiling widely by the end. Thank-you Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
This is a story of healing, grief, secrets, friendship and romance. I really liked Emily's character. She had been through so much, but was still strong and trying to heal. She was a great friend to Wilson and Collette and they were to her as well. I loved the setting of the story, the atmosphere, the storms as well as the sunny, hot days floating in the ocean. The addition of the art that showed the emotion and heart of the subject was a wonderful metaphor. The dialogue, apt sayings from Emily's parents and the banter all added much to the story. Throw in some angst, (what is a romance without some angst), a rather nasty, bitter woman, a party, and a baby and you have a delightful story that will have you smiling widely by the end. Thank-you Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 11, 2020
It started out okay but frankly by the end the characters wer INSUFFERABLE. they act like five year olds not educated adults. the two 'lovers' have ZERO trust n each other, ZERO. What a basis for a relationship.
the family 'secret' is so painfully obvious from the first page that there was no shock or even interest in it
the family 'secret' is so painfully obvious from the first page that there was no shock or even interest in it
September 28, 2022
It was good to circle back and read book one in the Dune Island series! I’ve loved Kristin Harper’s writing in Aunt Ivy’s Cottage, A Letter From Nana Rose and Lily’s Secret Inheritance and was confident this one would be just as good ~ and it was!
One of the things I love most about Harper’s writing is her ability to place me in the setting. It’s obvious that she writes about a place she’s been to many times. Spending her summers at Cape Cod, the author knows all about the quirks and perks of island living, the stunning sea views, unique architecture and the eccentric types of characters who live there. Although Dune Island is fictitious, it’s based on the author’s favourite spot in the world.
The protagonist, Emily Vandermark, heads to her childhood vacation spot to grieve the loss of her family and find a way to start living again. A struggling artist, she throws herself into an art project, knowing that finding her way back to happiness again must come through her love of artistic expression. When she finally allows herself to open up, she feels she’s been betrayed. One step forward and two steps backward. You’ll have to read to discover what secret Emily unearths that shatters her world and how she copes with this unforeseen roadblock in her path to healing..
Harper excels at highlighting the need for understanding, second chances and forgiveness in her heartfelt plot stuffed with secrets. She reminds us that the outcome is up to us; do we forgive and move on, or do we let hidden secrets ruin memories of the past and our progress in the future? Known for writing spectacular books about secrets in families, Harper is an auto-read author for me.
This binge-able fiction has such masterfully crafted characters, so realistic and loveable, making it an immersive read.
I was gifted this advance copy by Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
One of the things I love most about Harper’s writing is her ability to place me in the setting. It’s obvious that she writes about a place she’s been to many times. Spending her summers at Cape Cod, the author knows all about the quirks and perks of island living, the stunning sea views, unique architecture and the eccentric types of characters who live there. Although Dune Island is fictitious, it’s based on the author’s favourite spot in the world.
The protagonist, Emily Vandermark, heads to her childhood vacation spot to grieve the loss of her family and find a way to start living again. A struggling artist, she throws herself into an art project, knowing that finding her way back to happiness again must come through her love of artistic expression. When she finally allows herself to open up, she feels she’s been betrayed. One step forward and two steps backward. You’ll have to read to discover what secret Emily unearths that shatters her world and how she copes with this unforeseen roadblock in her path to healing..
Harper excels at highlighting the need for understanding, second chances and forgiveness in her heartfelt plot stuffed with secrets. She reminds us that the outcome is up to us; do we forgive and move on, or do we let hidden secrets ruin memories of the past and our progress in the future? Known for writing spectacular books about secrets in families, Harper is an auto-read author for me.
This binge-able fiction has such masterfully crafted characters, so realistic and loveable, making it an immersive read.
I was gifted this advance copy by Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 12, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emily has lost her entire family in a tragic accident and hopes this summer at their ancestral house on Dune Island will provide the comfort she needs to mourn them and reflect on her loss. She has also volunteered to paint murals at the local hospital while she is on break from teaching.
One day she meets Luke and she thinks he might be stealing her stuff so she lays into him...little did she know that Luke was also a Doctor at the very hospital she is volunteering for and that he would provide a new chance for happiness. Another reason she has decided to retreat to the island is that after she lost her family, she also lost her fiance...so Luke might be just what she needs to take her mind off of all of her heartbreak.
This was a light and easy read...yes, there is heartbreak but there is also a lot of happiness taking place on Dune Island. Happiness in the form of new babies, new loves, new family...Who doesn't love happiness?
Emily has lost her entire family in a tragic accident and hopes this summer at their ancestral house on Dune Island will provide the comfort she needs to mourn them and reflect on her loss. She has also volunteered to paint murals at the local hospital while she is on break from teaching.
One day she meets Luke and she thinks he might be stealing her stuff so she lays into him...little did she know that Luke was also a Doctor at the very hospital she is volunteering for and that he would provide a new chance for happiness. Another reason she has decided to retreat to the island is that after she lost her family, she also lost her fiance...so Luke might be just what she needs to take her mind off of all of her heartbreak.
This was a light and easy read...yes, there is heartbreak but there is also a lot of happiness taking place on Dune Island. Happiness in the form of new babies, new loves, new family...Who doesn't love happiness?
September 10, 2020
There are certain words that are grossly underutilized, and - at least here in the United States - milquetoast is one of them. If I had to use one word to describe the heroine of Summer at Hope Haven, milquetoast would be it.
Emily lost her father, mother, and brother in a tragic accident and is still struggling with crippling grief nine months later. When her brother’s best friend Wilson contacts her about a job painting murals on the walls of a new pediatric wing at a hospital where he works on the other side of the country, Emily decides to forego teaching art classes at the college where she’s an adjunct professor, sublet her Seattle apartment and escape to her family’s east coast island cottage where she vacationed growing up. But her one condition of spending the summer in Hope Haven is that Wilson and his wife not tell anyone about her family’s death.
As she spends her time fixing up the family cottage and painting at the hospital, she catches the eye of pediatric doctor Lucas, becomes close friends with Wilson’s wife, does her best to keep anyone and everyone from learning about her family’s death, frequently freaks out about lightning, and discovers an actual huge family secret.
There’s a lot that goes into making a story enjoyable: Writing. Characters. Plot.
The writing was okay, but there was an abundance of stilted and clunky dialogue that had me thinking “no one talks like that.”
The main characters had very little going in their favor. The heroine treated everything about her life and her family like it needed to be a big secret, and was in desperate need of a therapist. As for the hero, I finished this book last night and I’m at a complete and utter loss at how to describe him, so I think that speaks for itself. Their relationship was wrought with miscommunications and misunderstandings galore and it all seemed so immature for people who were supposed to be in their 30s.
But my biggest issue, however, is the plot. The death of Emily’s family is treated like a big scandalous secret, as if her parents and brother died while involved in drug cartel activities or human trafficking. FYI...they were not. No, she just didn’t want “everyone to pity her” and acted all “mysterious” and elusive towards everyone. The big family secret she does discover - which was an actual scandal - was a really good storyline. But if a major plot point (her family’s death needing to be a secret) doesn’t make sense, it’s hard to gain any traction for the rest of the story.
I really wanted to like this debut author’s first book - one of the best things about getting books from NetGalley is discovering brand new authors! But this time...there wasn’t anything about the story that worked for me. Sometimes you gamble and win. This time was a loss.
* thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Emily lost her father, mother, and brother in a tragic accident and is still struggling with crippling grief nine months later. When her brother’s best friend Wilson contacts her about a job painting murals on the walls of a new pediatric wing at a hospital where he works on the other side of the country, Emily decides to forego teaching art classes at the college where she’s an adjunct professor, sublet her Seattle apartment and escape to her family’s east coast island cottage where she vacationed growing up. But her one condition of spending the summer in Hope Haven is that Wilson and his wife not tell anyone about her family’s death.
As she spends her time fixing up the family cottage and painting at the hospital, she catches the eye of pediatric doctor Lucas, becomes close friends with Wilson’s wife, does her best to keep anyone and everyone from learning about her family’s death, frequently freaks out about lightning, and discovers an actual huge family secret.
There’s a lot that goes into making a story enjoyable: Writing. Characters. Plot.
The writing was okay, but there was an abundance of stilted and clunky dialogue that had me thinking “no one talks like that.”
The main characters had very little going in their favor. The heroine treated everything about her life and her family like it needed to be a big secret, and was in desperate need of a therapist. As for the hero, I finished this book last night and I’m at a complete and utter loss at how to describe him, so I think that speaks for itself. Their relationship was wrought with miscommunications and misunderstandings galore and it all seemed so immature for people who were supposed to be in their 30s.
But my biggest issue, however, is the plot. The death of Emily’s family is treated like a big scandalous secret, as if her parents and brother died while involved in drug cartel activities or human trafficking. FYI...they were not. No, she just didn’t want “everyone to pity her” and acted all “mysterious” and elusive towards everyone. The big family secret she does discover - which was an actual scandal - was a really good storyline. But if a major plot point (her family’s death needing to be a secret) doesn’t make sense, it’s hard to gain any traction for the rest of the story.
I really wanted to like this debut author’s first book - one of the best things about getting books from NetGalley is discovering brand new authors! But this time...there wasn’t anything about the story that worked for me. Sometimes you gamble and win. This time was a loss.
* thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
August 27, 2020
An inspiring story about moving on despite trauma and unbearable grief
Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper is an emotional story about moving on even after losing everything you hold dear.
Emily Vandermark was an artist that lost her parents and brother in a helicopter accident a year before.
Drowned in grief, she had a hard time resuming her life, and, to make matters worse, she was abandoned by her fiancé.
Trying to survive her unbearable grief, she decided to spend summer at the family cottage in Hope Haven Island, where she was welcomed by her childhood friend Wilson and his wife, Collette.
Summer at Hope Haven is a story of extreme grief, and the challenge of keep living after everyone you love is gone.
The side characters were interesting, and there was a great sense of friendship and community.
Emily was very fragile inside and out, and it was painful to see how she had to cope with her loss and resume her life. It was so hard for her to let people in and open herself to love again.
Lucas was a wonderful hero. He had an innate capacity to understand Emily's pain and respect her boundaries.
The setting is lovely, and the characters do a lot of fishing, picnicking, and walking by the sea.
Summer at Hope Haven is an emotional and inspiring contemporary romance.
Warning: Bereavement and depression.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper is an emotional story about moving on even after losing everything you hold dear.
Emily Vandermark was an artist that lost her parents and brother in a helicopter accident a year before.
Drowned in grief, she had a hard time resuming her life, and, to make matters worse, she was abandoned by her fiancé.
Trying to survive her unbearable grief, she decided to spend summer at the family cottage in Hope Haven Island, where she was welcomed by her childhood friend Wilson and his wife, Collette.
Summer at Hope Haven is a story of extreme grief, and the challenge of keep living after everyone you love is gone.
The side characters were interesting, and there was a great sense of friendship and community.
Emily was very fragile inside and out, and it was painful to see how she had to cope with her loss and resume her life. It was so hard for her to let people in and open herself to love again.
Lucas was a wonderful hero. He had an innate capacity to understand Emily's pain and respect her boundaries.
The setting is lovely, and the characters do a lot of fishing, picnicking, and walking by the sea.
Summer at Hope Haven is an emotional and inspiring contemporary romance.
Warning: Bereavement and depression.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2021
I read book 2 of the series a while ago and liked it a lot. As both books contain stand-alone stories, there was no problem with reading them in this order. I liked book one a little more than the second one because it presented a more realistic storyline. There was some (in my opinion) unnecessary drama in the last two chapters - why do people never talk to each other in the first place? - but otherwise, I had a great time.
If you are looking for a cozy family-mystery set in a small island community, I can recommend this book.
Does anyone know if the series is finished, or are there plans to continue it?
If you are looking for a cozy family-mystery set in a small island community, I can recommend this book.
Does anyone know if the series is finished, or are there plans to continue it?
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August 25, 2020This was a book of healing. Author Kristin Harper wrote a book that touched my heart and which was so apt for me today as I felt exactly the same as the main character, Emily. She lost her loved ones, and I lost some of mine, though not all to death. I read the book with tears welling up as I could feel everything she felt.
Emily had lost her parents and brother. She returned to her family home at Hope Haven. Best friends Collette and Wilson were her big support. And Dr. Lucas made a fine love interest. But first, Emily had to heal.
This book hit me close to home including a broken relationship. The writing was so crystal pure that it felt it sang my song. There were times I drifted in and out of Emily’s character. At times, I was Emily.
The story was slightly slow paced than my thrillers or maybe I was crying too much in between. But it was so beautiful. I understood every single emotion the author weaved in her words.
Secrets too popped up which shook the foundations of her beliefs. Luckily, a vein of hope and another of happiness slowly made their way to her life. I was happy when she found her peace. She deserved it.
A beautiful heart-warming read.
Emily had lost her parents and brother. She returned to her family home at Hope Haven. Best friends Collette and Wilson were her big support. And Dr. Lucas made a fine love interest. But first, Emily had to heal.
This book hit me close to home including a broken relationship. The writing was so crystal pure that it felt it sang my song. There were times I drifted in and out of Emily’s character. At times, I was Emily.
The story was slightly slow paced than my thrillers or maybe I was crying too much in between. But it was so beautiful. I understood every single emotion the author weaved in her words.
Secrets too popped up which shook the foundations of her beliefs. Luckily, a vein of hope and another of happiness slowly made their way to her life. I was happy when she found her peace. She deserved it.
A beautiful heart-warming read.
October 26, 2022
Emily is devastated when her fiance leaves her, especially since she just lost her family in a horrible accident. She decides to flee to Hope Haven, a place filled with wonderful memories from all the summers her family vacationed there. While there she decides to fix up their cottage and hopes her heartbreak will fade away. Things don't go as planned though, she finds a letter that turns her world upside down. She can't ask her parents to answer all the questions she has leaving her more bereft than when.she arrived. When she meets Lucas and spend time with him she begins to believe she might just heal after all. Then when rumors about her family make it all.over the island she wonders if trusting Lucas was indeed a good idea. Emily isn't sure which way to turn. Follow along and see what path Emily takes and if her heartbreak will mend when all is said and done.
August 1, 2024
Pretty predictable, but a quick summer read.
August 19, 2020
When I read the description of this book I thought it would be an easy 5 stars from me. Unfortunately, I ended up walking away from the book a little over halfway in.
The first half of the book was a slow burn for me. It felt a little bogged down. It was the main character Emily, that really turned me off though. I felt for her, losing her family and dealing with a broken engagement, but throughout the book she has this penchant for storming off, over analyzing the situation, and then feeling bad for it. It happens several times and you would think she’d stop doing it, but she doesn’t. It became annoying and childish.
Maybe it’s just me. I just couldn’t connect with the main character and that ultimately led to my decision to stop reading.
The first half of the book was a slow burn for me. It felt a little bogged down. It was the main character Emily, that really turned me off though. I felt for her, losing her family and dealing with a broken engagement, but throughout the book she has this penchant for storming off, over analyzing the situation, and then feeling bad for it. It happens several times and you would think she’d stop doing it, but she doesn’t. It became annoying and childish.
Maybe it’s just me. I just couldn’t connect with the main character and that ultimately led to my decision to stop reading.
July 24, 2023
Predictable and a little flat
August 31, 2020
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I wanted to end my summer with a fun beach type family drama so I chose Summer At Hope Haven. I must say I am surprised that this is a debut novel. I thought the writing was really good. It reminded me of some of my other favorite authors like Elin Hilderbrand, Susan Mallery and Nancy Thayer. The story itself was very enjoyable. I thought the author did a great job with the characters. Usually there is atleast one character that drives me crazy when I read a family drama but that was not the case with this book. The story takes place on Dune Island where Emily is reconnected with Wilson, who was like a brother to her growing up. She immediately becomes close with his wife, Collette. Some of my favorite parts of this book were the conversations between Emily and Collette. Then Lucas comes into the picture and he is a very likeable character....no flaws with Dr. Luke...his patients love him, the kids love him, the other doctors love him and the ladies definitely love him.
The story deals with a tragedy in Emily’s life that is hard for her to deal with even almost a year after it happened. She learns to lean on the people who have become so important to her over the summer. Overall this was a great book to choose for an end of summer read. The only reason it wasn’t the full 5 stars was because although I really liked Emily’s character, I was a little annoyed at the back and forth distrust in Lucas. But I was very happy with how it ended. I highly recommend this one and look forward to a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story deals with a tragedy in Emily’s life that is hard for her to deal with even almost a year after it happened. She learns to lean on the people who have become so important to her over the summer. Overall this was a great book to choose for an end of summer read. The only reason it wasn’t the full 5 stars was because although I really liked Emily’s character, I was a little annoyed at the back and forth distrust in Lucas. But I was very happy with how it ended. I highly recommend this one and look forward to a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the setting. The characters were good and the storyline was believable.... But ~~ I had a problem with Emily crying all the time and not letting people know exactly what happened to her family... Why the secrets that they had been killed in an accident?? Emily had the idea that if people knew what happened, they would pity her. Not everyone is like that. Plus, when she thought that Lucas had done something (which he hadn't done), why on earth didn't she talk to him rather than send him away?? The only way a person is going to find out the truth is to talk to them... It's never a good idea to assume that you know what happened.
Now, before anyone criticizes me for not being compassionate about Emily's crying and having a meltdown 96% of the time in this book, let me tell you. I know exactly what it's like to lose a loved one. I've lost parents, a husband, and only 2 years ago, my oldest son passed away at age 47 from diabetic complications. My heart was ripped out, never to heal again. I still cry and hurt, but I know that life must go on and having others care about me really helps. Emily's crying about made me stop reading this book. But, I wanted to find out what Wilson's secret was. I really believe that a lot of the crying and meltdowns could've been erased from the story. Just my honest opinion.
Now, before anyone criticizes me for not being compassionate about Emily's crying and having a meltdown 96% of the time in this book, let me tell you. I know exactly what it's like to lose a loved one. I've lost parents, a husband, and only 2 years ago, my oldest son passed away at age 47 from diabetic complications. My heart was ripped out, never to heal again. I still cry and hurt, but I know that life must go on and having others care about me really helps. Emily's crying about made me stop reading this book. But, I wanted to find out what Wilson's secret was. I really believe that a lot of the crying and meltdowns could've been erased from the story. Just my honest opinion.
August 26, 2020
Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper is the first book in the Dune Island romance series, and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book, and visualized myself swimming with the ladies. This book was easy to read and perfect for an escape from hot weather or the pandemic. I will be reading more books by this author, looking forward to book two in the series. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy sweet romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 23, 2020
A lovely read for fans of Susan Mallery and Kristan Higgins this book is full of emotion and heart. I loved the setting and the romance of it all, along with the relationships that were built. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion. I look forward to more by this author!
January 2, 2023
Good story-line but the main character, Emily, was overly emotional about every situation she enountered.
July 7, 2025
Enjoyed this audiobook. Part of a series. Clean read
July 19, 2025
It was a easy read. I wasn’t as fond of the main characters though.
March 8, 2024
A wonderful story of hope and friendship
October 20, 2022
Emily returns to Hope Haven on the remote Dune Island after her family perishes in a terrible accident and her fiancé leaves her. Emily hopes that renovating the house will help her broken heart but, the cottage holds a lot of bittersweet childhood memories. While moving furniture around, Emily comes across a note in an antique writing desk. She discovers a devastating secret about her parents that turns her entire world upside down.
When Emily meets Dr. Lucas Socorro, she feels that he can help her heal and handle her trauma. She feels with Luke by her side, she can overcome her grief. Emily feels she can finally call Dune Island home until, her secret is exposed to the locals. Emily is heartbroken because the only person who knows is Luke and she is worried that she trusted him too soon.
I didn't really care for the book. I found the secret and the plot to be too predictable and boring. Nothing really exciting happens that keeps readers attached to the book. I can't say that I cared for Emily, she was so whiny and quick to dismiss others and feel that she was always being wronged by others. At times, I found Emily and Wilson to be annoying and two peas in a pod. The two characters are both stubborn and have a way of talking to people in a rude manner while they work through their problems and expect people to forgive their behavior. Emily is very quick to make snap judgments and then feels slighted during every interaction even when the miscommunication was her fault. I also don't understand how Emily can be such a gutter-brain when she is a college professor. She heard partial of a call and instead of telling the person she didn't hear them, she continued talking to them like she heard them. Then she doesn't check her emails and forgets to sign a contract. I found this entire novel to be a nonsensical and filled with poor writing and character development.
When Emily meets Dr. Lucas Socorro, she feels that he can help her heal and handle her trauma. She feels with Luke by her side, she can overcome her grief. Emily feels she can finally call Dune Island home until, her secret is exposed to the locals. Emily is heartbroken because the only person who knows is Luke and she is worried that she trusted him too soon.
I didn't really care for the book. I found the secret and the plot to be too predictable and boring. Nothing really exciting happens that keeps readers attached to the book. I can't say that I cared for Emily, she was so whiny and quick to dismiss others and feel that she was always being wronged by others. At times, I found Emily and Wilson to be annoying and two peas in a pod. The two characters are both stubborn and have a way of talking to people in a rude manner while they work through their problems and expect people to forgive their behavior. Emily is very quick to make snap judgments and then feels slighted during every interaction even when the miscommunication was her fault. I also don't understand how Emily can be such a gutter-brain when she is a college professor. She heard partial of a call and instead of telling the person she didn't hear them, she continued talking to them like she heard them. Then she doesn't check her emails and forgets to sign a contract. I found this entire novel to be a nonsensical and filled with poor writing and character development.
July 9, 2024
Easy, quick read. Good story despite being predicable.
August 23, 2020
The book introduces us to Emily, the main protagonist dealing with the loss of her family in a terrible accident and a broken engagement. To get away, Emily comes down to Hope Haven, to stay at the house her family vacationed at every summer. Surrounded by many memories and in the midst of discovering new secrets about her parents, Emily is once again shattered as she struggles to reconcile the knowledge she has of her parents and the new information she finds. In the midst of all this, she leans on her bonds with her childhood friend and his wife while trying to forge new with Lucas Socorro, a doctor at the hospital and the people at Dune Island.
As the story progresses, the reader is thrown into the midst of Emily's emotional turmoil as she struggles to cope. The story is well-written and is filled with some very well crafted characters. They are endearing and relatable and fun to read about. The setting is beautiful and while our characters take long strolls along the beach, it is easy for the reader to imagine themselves doing the same thing.
The story is quite enjoyable and as Emily becomes stronger and accepts her life, the secrets, the people at Dune Island, she also starts to consider opening herself up to love. This is a great read for all the romance fans out there!
As the story progresses, the reader is thrown into the midst of Emily's emotional turmoil as she struggles to cope. The story is well-written and is filled with some very well crafted characters. They are endearing and relatable and fun to read about. The setting is beautiful and while our characters take long strolls along the beach, it is easy for the reader to imagine themselves doing the same thing.
The story is quite enjoyable and as Emily becomes stronger and accepts her life, the secrets, the people at Dune Island, she also starts to consider opening herself up to love. This is a great read for all the romance fans out there!
March 21, 2023
Summer at Hope Haven by Kristin Harper is the first book in the Dune Island series, and I'd love to read more. The story of Emily Vandemark returning to the family summer cottage after their deaths was a lovely story of grief, growth and love. The surprise she found, while surprising, didn't feel like it overwhelmed the book. Emily's story of healing and love shown through and reminded me of the different paths a life can take.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
August 25, 2020
Emily is recovering from the heart breaking loss of loosing her entire family. She heads to Dune Island for the summer.
I really enjoyed this story, the characters and the sweet romance. It was the perfect book to read after the most recent one I just finished.Definitely recommend ❤️
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
I really enjoyed this story, the characters and the sweet romance. It was the perfect book to read after the most recent one I just finished.Definitely recommend ❤️
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
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