A Letter from Nana Rose

Dune Island #3

by Kristin Harper

“My darling girls. You were once so happy in this house. Now I’m gone, all I ask is that you spend one last summer here together on Dune Island. And please forgive me, your Nana, for the secret I’m about to tell you…”

Arriving at the honeysuckle-covered beach house inherited from her beloved grandmother, recently heartbroken Jill hopes to convince her two feuding sisters not to sell a place so full of happy childhood memories. But the envelope waiting on the driftwood table changes everything. In her elegant handwriting, Nana Rose promises a new letter will arrive each day of the summer revealing a family secret she took to her grave.

Shaken, Jill anxiously awaits each letter filled with Nana’s bittersweet memories of her own sister who she loved more than anyone—and lost far too young. But why did Nana never speak of this tragic loss to her grandchildren?

Watching the sunset each night and wondering how well they really knew Nana Rose, Jill feels her family is closer than they’ve been in years. And after a chance encounter with blue-eyed tree surgeon Alex, she wonders if Nana believed being back on Dune Island would help Jill find love, too?

But when Nana’s final letter arrives, the revelation about how her sister died is more shocking than Jill ever imagined. Suddenly, despite the chance of happiness with Alex, selling the house seems the only way forward. Will Jill find a way to forge new bonds of sisterhood and save their inheritance, or will Nana Rose’s secret tear them all apart?

Genres: Romance, Womens Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Family, Beach Reads

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2021

About the author

Website: kristinharperauthor.com

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Welcome back to Dune Island! I'm very glad you're here again, so please don't ruin my joy by crying because you've received a posthumous note from me. Especially you, Brooke.

I imagine you're wondering why I included a clause in my will requiring you girls to vacation on Sea Breeze Lane for two weeks while you decide what to do with the estate.

In part it's because it's been three years since you've reunited here and I was concerned you might postpone your trip this summer because you're grieving. (All the more reason to have some sister-time by the sea again!)

I also wanted you to be here while you consider what to do about the house because certain decisions shouldn't be made from afar. They shouldn't be rushed. And neither should certain stories including mine.

That's why I've arranged with my attorney to have a letter delivered almost every day while you're staying in Hope Haven; there will be ten more after this one. (Check the mailbox each morning, as that's where the courier will leave them.) These missives are for your eyes only. Whatever you choose to disclose after you've read them in their entirety is up to you, but please wait until then to divulge anything I've written. I think it's important for you three to absorb this story first.

I'm sure that your parents mentioned bits and pieces about my background, including my parents automobile accident and my sister's untimely death. But they undoubtedly also told you that my generation didn't usually talk as freely about our families' business as so many people do these days. Or maybe your parents warned you that my past was too painful for me to discuss, and they discouraged you from asking me about it, which I appreciated.

But now I need to tell you a story about my past. It's something I've never told anyone else before - a secret, in other words.

I would have taken it with me to the grave if your father hadn't died before I did. But now it seems as important to share it with you girls as it was to keep it from him. For better or for worse, the past is part of your family history and you deserve to know about it.

Or maybe that's just an excuse. As close as I am to death, I'm selfish enough to want to leave with a clean conscience, yet cowardly enough to wait until after I'm gone to reveal my secret.

I'll tell you more in my next letter. For now, please make yourselves at home and go enjoy the beach.

Your loving Nana.

ABOUT 'A LETTER FROM NANA ROSE': Arriving at the honeysuckle-covered beach house inherited from her beloved grandmother, recently heartbroken Jill hopes to convince her two feuding sisters not to sell a place so full of happy childhood memories. But the envelope waiting on the driftwood table changes everything. In her elegant handwriting, Nana Rose promises a new letter will arrive each day of the summer revealing a family secret she took to her grave.

Shaken, Jill anxiously awaits each letter filled with Nana’s bittersweet memories of her own sister who she loved more than anyone—and lost far too young. But why did Nana never speak of this tragic loss to her grandchildren?

Watching the sunset each night and wondering how well they really knew Nana Rose, Jill feels her family is closer than they’ve been in years. And after a chance encounter with blue-eyed tree surgeon Alex, she wonders if Nana believed being back on Dune Island would help Jill find love, too?

But when Nana’s final letter arrives, the revelation about how her sister died is more shocking than Jill ever imagined. Suddenly, despite the chance of happiness with Alex, selling the house seems the only way forward. Will Jill find a way to forge new bonds of sisterhood and save their inheritance, or will Nana Rose’s secret tear them all apart?

MY THOUGHTS: You know those perfect lives that you think most other people live while you battle from day to day? - well, they don't exist. Everyone has trials and tribulations, ups and downs, as Jill is about to find out.

Jill doesn't much enjoy her job, the future of which is now uncertain anyway, and she is envious of her sisters happy marriages and children. She is thirty-nine, lonely and alone. And even though the reason for them getting together is a sad one, Jill is looking forward to them reuniting for some quality sister time. But things just aren't as she expected. Rachel, who runs a successful business with her husband, is penny pinching to the extreme; and Brooke seems more focused on the arrangements for her wedding vow renewal ceremony than on what is happening at Sea Breeze Lane. Jill is missing the customary closeness with her sisters and wonders if she is the only one who really cares . . .

I loved these sisters. I don't have a sister, just a whole mess of brothers, and I always wanted one. These women have reinforced that longing, even with all their bickering.

While I did enjoy A Letter from Nana Rose - I guess Eleven Letters From Nana Rose doesn't have quite the same ring - I would have liked the Nana Rose segments to be told in real time rather than just being related in letters. Her story was a magnificent one, a heartbreaking one, one that I never would have guessed from the outset, and I don't feel that it was fully explored or done justice.

Kristin Harper has created wonderful characters. The sisters felt very real to me, as did Alex the arborist who comes to rescue the women when they are trapped following a storm. He is a character from their pasts, but it takes the sisters some time to realise this.

I enjoyed A Letter from Nana Rose, but didn't love it. It didn't tug at my heartstrings or wreak havoc with my emotions, which is what I expected it to do.

⭐⭐⭐.6

#ALetterfromNanaRose #NetGalley

I: #kristinharperauthor @bookouture

T: @KHarperAuthor @Bookouture

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #womensfiction

THE AUTHOR: Kristin Harper is a full-time author of romance novels and women's fiction, including Summer at Hope Haven. She lives in Massachusetts and considers beach walking to be an essential part of her creative process.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Letter from Nana Rose by Kristin Harper for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Letter from Nana Rose by Kristin Harper is a contemporary women’s fiction title that does have a touch of romance blended into the story. This novel tells the story of three sisters that have lost their grandmother and now need to come together to decide what to do with their inheritance.

Jill, Rachel, and Brooke have found memories of their time growing up and that of what they spent with their Nana Rose. When Nana passed she asked that the girls return to Dune Island, Massachusetts to spend time together in her home that they have now inherited before they make the decision of what to do with the home.

As Jill, Rachel, and Brooke are settling in their grandmother’s secluded beach home in Dune Island they are unfortunately just in time for a storm. With a tree falling blocking them in the sisters settle in and begin reading the letters that Nana left for them, a new one arriving every day. With each sister struggling with their own lives they learn secrets of their Nana’s past they never knew existed.

A Letter from Nana Rose by Kristin Harper was a lovely story about family, forgiveness and the strength of all the women involved. I loved getting to know the characters and more about their lives as I waited along with them to hear more of the past that the letters uncovered. The setting was lovely too as I rooted for Jill to convince her sisters to keep the home they all had memories of as I came to adore their grandmother and her home too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inviting blend of sisterhood, nostalgic memories, and light, sweet romance in a gorgeous private beach setting. Sisters, Jill, Rachel, and Brooke spent their summers at Nana Rose’s house on Dune Island, Massachusetts. In this poignant story, set in present time with flashbacks to the past through Nana’s letters which she wrote to her granddaughters in her final days, the sisters learn secrets that leave them gasping and tearful as they struggle to accept what their grandmother has revealed.

Each sister is carrying their own present day burdens and the communication between them is sketchy as they don’t feel close enough to pry in to each other’s personal lives. The story is an emotional rollercoaster for Jill, Rachel, and Brooke when they return to the place that brought them so much happiness when they were young. Will they make the best decision to keep or to sell Nana’s treasured cottage?

There are many Kleenex moments. There are moments I cheered. Moments my heart fell as the sisters argued and fought, and made decisions that hurt the others. At times, I felt like they would leave the island and never speak to each other again. In the end, love was the redeeming answer. A really wonderful touching novel.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Bookouture. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooke, Rachel, and Jill inherited the family beach house, but their grandmother said they had to spend two weeks together at the house and wait for letters she would send every day via courier to tell her life’s story and her secrets.

The girls arrived and so did the first letter. They cried when they read the first letter as well as each successive one.

The letters told in detail the story of her life and their father’s life. The girls were shocked and saddened at what they read.

They also were not in agreement about whether to sell the house or to keep it. Rachel and Brooke wanted to sell, but Jill didn’t want to give up the house and all its memories.

A LETTER FROM NANA ROSE is a sweet read. I loved the stories and the memories, but felt bad for Nana Rose and all she had to go through.

If you are in need of a book to keep you turning the pages because you want to find out the secrets of Nana Rose and the girls and feel the warmth of being in the cottage and in this family, be sure to add this book in your reading list.

Women’s fiction fans won’t want to miss A LETTER FROM NANA ROSE. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Happy Publication Day**

*************

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Heartwarming but could have been better.

Jill and her two sisters, Rachel and Brooke, are trying to overcome the grief of losing their beloved Nana Rose earlier that year. The old lady had asked them to spend two weeks at their cottage on Dune Island as the sisters didn’t every year. She has arranged to send them letters about her past; about things she never spoke to anyone.

The sisters bond as always. Yet, Jill can’t help but worry about the underlying strain between them. It’s the letters that give them hope to make decisions and live lives the way they wanted.

Being single at thirty-nine is not something Jill calls an achievement when her sisters have happy marriages. Still, she knows that she’d never settle for less. Her Nana Rose wouldn’t let her do that.

Meeting Alex, the handsome tree surgeon on Dune Island, sparks interest in Jill. But her priority is the letters and Nana’s past. What happened back then that the old lady could never share it until after her death? How does the past affect their future, and what does it mean to Jill?

The book is in the limited third person, with Jill’s POV being provided to the readers. The story starts with Jill and her sisters visiting the cottage for a two-week stay. However, things are strained between them. The elder sisters want to be practical about the cottage while Jill puts emotions first.

The past was revealed in the form of letters, and I must admit that I enjoyed the past more than the present. In fact, I wished the past was shown to the reader instead of being told in the form of a letter. The main reason for this was the lack of enough backstory to fully understand and appreciate the dynamics between the sisters.

With bits and pieces being shared, the rest is on the reader to assume and move along with the characters. The arc just wasn’t complete for any characters. They’ve been sketched and left to fend for themselves. It worked at times and didn’t at times.

The ending was realistic and still hopeful and happy. The book is small (250+ pages) and was fast-read. Though I love small books, this one probably needed a few more pages to delve deeper into the storyline and highlight each character.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a light read with a comforting storyline, A Letter from Nana Rose would be a good choice. Nana Rose is a great character and makes her presence/ absence felt in the book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

#ALetterfromNanaRose #NetGalley

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel, Brooke and Jill who are all sisters had come to Dune Island since they were kids. When their grandmother passed away, they inherit her wonderful old house. They receive a letter each day for several days that their grandmother had written to them before she died. Secrets, stories … everything they had always wanted to know about. And wow the secrets were BIG ONES! I loved this book and found myself glued to the pages. Loved each sister in their own way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her sisters want to sell. Jill wants to keep it. Their grandmother's house is now in their hands. Will the sisters honor their grandmother's wish and read a letter written for them every day over the course of a couple of weeks in order to make a unified decision?

From the outset, each of the sisters, Jill, Brooke and Rachel, have different lives and goals. Jill is the only one that is determined to keep the house. Beyond that major decision, Jill appears more nervous than Brooke and Rachel when the letters begin to reveal a secret that their grandmother held onto for decades. What was this secret and how will impact their lives?

Not only do the sisters have decisions to make while learning about their grandmother's secret, each of their lives is at a crossroads. Will the time they spend together pull them closer to each other or will their already strained relationships become even more fractured?

This was a wonderful and quick read, filled with emotion. In this engaging story from Kristin Harper the setting was warm and it was easy to see how Jill, Rachel and Brooke loved visiting their grandmother while they were younger. This brought me back to mind when we would spend time at my great-grandmother's home in Readville, Massachusetts. Those memories I had gave this story extra meaning for me. I loved the sisters and their drama because it gave the story a strong sense of realness, especially as they were able to allow the power of love to be the final factor.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill, Brooke and Rachel are sisters who spend summers every year at Nana Rose's summer home until three years ago when she became ill. They needed to rent the house on Dune Island to pay for the nursing home she was living in. She has died and the sisters have inherited the house. Nana Rose's final request was that they spend two weeks together on the island before they decide what to do with her estate. She has also written them a series of letters that get delivered daily, sharing secrets that she had never even shared with their father. The sisters have secrets of their own. Will they decide to keep or sell the summer house? Will they share their troubles with each other and support whatever decisions need to be made?

Jill is the youngest of the sisters and looks up to them with their great jobs and wonderful families. She is not jealous, but wishes she had more in her life. Brooke and Rachel are both married with children, but living further away, don't want to spend summers at Dune Island anymore and vote to sell Nana Rose's summer house. I loved the way the sisters loved each other and want to support one another, but when you are not honest, how can you do that. Outward appearances are not always honest. Rachel runs a successful business with her husband but she is penny pinching to the extreme and is pretty adamant to sell while Brooke seems more focused on the arrangements for her wedding vow renewal ceremony and second honeymoon than on what is happening at Sea Breeze Lane. That is, until the letters share some secrets and get the women talking. Kristin Harper has created wonderful characters. The sisters were realistic, and having three of my own, I could feel that love of family and a shared past. I really liked Alex, the arborist who comes to rescue the women when they are trapped following a storm. He became someone that Jill could develop a relationship with. I enjoyed hearing Nana Rose's story and the sisters discussions, feelings and anger at times while reading the letters. More than anything, this book was about family, bonds, secrets, love and what you will do to protect those you love. There was even a light romance, but that was a very small part of the story. Although A Letter From Nana Rose was not as emotional as I thought it would be, I enjoyed the journey the sisters went on during their time at Dune Island and with Nana Rose's story. If you enjoy stories about families and their secrets, as well as love and familial bonds, then I recommend you pick this one up. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Marci Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful story about family, loss, love and reconnecting. I loved this amazing book!!!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill and her sisters, Rachel and Brooke, always spent two weeks at their grandmother's house near the ocean. It has been three years and Nana Rose has passed away and left the cottage to them. She wants then to spend one more summer and she has a letter delivered to them each day telling them her story. Then they had to decide unanimously if they are going to keep it or sell.

The setting sounded gorgeous. I can imagine the beautiful sunsets, the dunes and the ocean. The town was a quaint little touristy spot. I liked Jill. She had a real sense of family and their traditions. I didn't care much for Rachel and Brooke. They seemed a little self centered and more interested in the money they would get if they sold.

It was an easy read and I enjoyed the story. I felt the writing lacked something, maybe a bit more depth but I did enjoy it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with this copy of the story.

[Theresa Beauregard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. A little departure from the usual beach stories. The fact that it took place in Massachusetts made it more interesting to me.

[Suzanne Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the story - but the reason I can't give it a higher star rating is that every half page, someone was crying, sobbing, had lashes beaded with tears, or reaching for tissues. I wanted to shout at them all to pull themselves together and get on with the story. Far from adding to the emotion of the moment it was hugely irritating. A shame, because it's a good yarn!
I do feel this is down to bad editing - surely it must have annoyed other Beta readers and editors as much as it did me, so why didn't someone pick up on it?

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mystery, and I enjoyed the beach setting. I admit I kept reading because of the secret, otherwise it wasn’t the best-the three sisters conversations felt a bit forced and it seemed as if one too many stories were being told.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and enjoyable book this ended up being! A feel good book and a great palate cleanser.

As is popular these days, there are 2 stories with 2 different timelines. The first is about 3 sisters getting together at their deceased grandmother's beach house, their mission is to come to a unanimous decision about the fate of this beach house. And the second consists of a series of daily letters from their grandmother (delivered posthumously) revealing her deep secrets from the past.

The setting is described beautifully, a place I would like. An unpretentious cottage set behind dunes on the ocean. The imagery borders on corny (constant rain while the sisters are reading the sad and revealing letters) and the sisters are at odds with each other throughout, but it all comes together in the end.

Often, when a book is told in dual timelines, I enjoy the past more than the present. In this case, I think the past could have been a story on its own, with more detail added in. It was a fascinating story.

This was a fast and entertaining read.

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional read. I loved this book right from the start. What a secret nana rose as keeping. I loved how she told her story right from the beginning and didn’t just jump to the big news and then back track. I loved finding out the next part of the story along with Jill, Rachel and Brooke. I loved the comparisons with the sisters in both timelines, how even after death nana rose was still spreading her pure love to the ones she loved and helping the sisters through a difficult time, allowing them to see the difficulties in their own lives and how secrets fester. There is no stronger bond than love. The delivery of the last letter along with the photos really got me, it was as if she was right there with them smiling at them.

A beautiful, feel good lovely read.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely warm-hearted read full of love, family and a little romance. I loved the family dynamics between the three sisters- each very different but such a strong force together. Reading the letters from their Nana was extremely emotional and brought alive the house and the beach surroundings with beautiful memories.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart melting story about the closeness of sisters and letters from Nana which had her own story weaved in. This story captivated me in the way the author strung her words which made me feels warm.
Overall, a fun read.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley

Member Review
Cover Image: A Letter from Nana Rose
A Letter from Nana Rose
by Kristin Harper
Pub Date: 25 Oct 2021
Review by

jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 6 Sep 2021
My Recommendation
With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Oh my giddy aunt what a fabulous tale, totally intriguing and beautifully exacuted.
Brooke Jill and Rachel inherite there grandmother's coastal home,Sea Breeze Lane on Dune Island but there are quite a few stipulations that go with it can the sisters come to the same conclusion that would make Nana Rose happy read on to find it outstandingly fabulous book can highly recommend this fantastic author, and her books.
Don't forget! Come back to your Review on the pub date, 25 Oct 2021, to post to these retailers.

[Chelsea Hazendonk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this book was written, intertwining the modern time with letters from the past to create a beautiful story line. I didn’t guess the big secret however it was a good one!

[Jen Juenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Double up that WOW! This book was AMAZING! I don't know why this is being published in October. This is a perfect beach read. I read it in ONE SITTING! It was so good.

It has the beach, family, mystery, heartbreak, and new love. All you can ask for in a beach read.
I fell in love with the main character Jill and all that she was going through. I could identify trying to compete with elder siblings.
There was so much story to unpack here. Each character had their own back story and woven into the story, lets not forget Nana Rose.
And Robert.....whoa....a perfect villain. I just wanted to punch him in the face.

Run, don't walk to pick up this book at the store/or where you buy ebooks. This is an unforgettable story that I hope the author turns into a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for his honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite from her Dune Island series!

[Karen Tebbutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by Kristin Harper which I totally loved. Although an emotional read in places it had me gripped from the beginning and I found it incredibly difficult to put down.

Kristin definitely captivated me, and I was there with the sisters, Rachel, Brooke and Jill eagerly awaiting the next letter from their Nana Rose.

A book that kept me reading into the early hours and then I was disappointed when I had finished it.

I would definitely recommend this, and it is a very worth five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy and my review is totally voluntarily.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, easy "beach read" with a bit of suspense. I had figured out what nana's secret was early on but was reading to see how it played out. I was also curious to what Brook and Rachel's secrets were, although they were fixed pretty quickly after finding out. I wish there had been a bit more to Alex and Jill's story. A bit more romance would've been a nice addition.

[Alaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warming but predictable

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Sarah Morgan and Debbie Macomber will be completely charmed by Kristin Harper’s warm-hearted, witty and emotional new novel, A Letter from Nana Rose.

When Jill’s beloved Nana Rose dies, her grand-daughter was absolutely heartbroken. Having been left the honeysuckled beach house alongside her two feuding sisters, Jill is determined to do whatever it takes to convince her siblings not to sell. The beach house is full of wonderful memories of happier days and cherished childhood summers and Jill is not about to let her sisters sell the home that means so much to her so easily. However, Jill is stunned by what is discovered at the beach house: the promise of a daily letter from dear Nana Rose revealing the shocking family secrets she took to her grave.

Jill can barely wait to receive her grandmother’s letters. Nana Rose’s missives are full of revelations about her own dear sister whom she loved dearly and lost far too early. The more Jill and her siblings discover about their grandmother, the more they wonder why Nana Rose’s earlier life is shrouded in mystery. Why did her grandmother never speak to them about her past? And why did she never mention her sister to them?

At Dune Island, Jill and her sisters are forced to spend time together and as old ghosts are laid to rest and deeper bonds formed, they all realise that they haven’t been this close in years. Things are definitely looking up for Jill as she has even found herself drawn to handsome tree surgeon Alex. Being at Dune Island seems to have been the answer to all of Jill’s prayers – until her grandmother’s last letter arrives and the final family secret is revealed which could end up jeopardizing her entire future – and her relationship with Alex.

Just when happiness was within her reach, fate is threatening to take everything away from her. Can Jill find a way forward with her family and the man she has grown to care for? Or will Nana’s secret end up ruining all of their lives?

Kristin Harper’s A Letter from Nana Rose is an intensely emotional tale about healing from the past, life’s unexpected blessings and forging forward that tugs at the heartstrings and will delight readers with a wonderful blend of humour, poignancy, wit and charm.

Kristin Harper’s A Letter from Nana Rose is an absorbing, uplifting and enchanting tale perfect for snuggling up with on a rainy autumn afternoon.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll grant you, A Letter from Nana Rose is not normally the type of book I’d gravitate toward. I prefer mysteries, usually of the cozy variety, or a good fantasy, or maybe a gripping thriller. But sister fiction? Romance? Meh. The hint of a long-kept secret to be revealed after Nana Rose’s death, though, was enough of a hook that I thought I’d take a chance on it.

I am so glad I did!

Nana Rose has been a fixture in the lives of Jill and her sisters, Rachel and Brooke, throughout their childhood. Now, though, Nana Rose has passed away, and the sisters are spending one more vacation at Dune Island at her request. She’s left a letter telling them that they’ll receive a letter from her each day of their stay, and she’s indicated that they’ll be learning things about their family that have never before been revealed.

Jill is hoping desperately to convince her sisters to keep Nana Rose’s house. Rachel and Brooke, though, have what they feel are strong cases for selling the property. As the letters come in day by day, and Nana’s story is told in flashbacks, the sisters learn that Nana Rose wasn’t the only one keeping secrets. Nana’s past is revealed, and the sisters learn things about each other, too.

This story, y’all. There were ups and downs as we learned what each sister was trying to keep from the others and how that might impact their decision regarding Nana’s house. There were moments of frustration when the sisters were apparently at an impasse, and it felt like they were each seeing only their own point of view. And when everything comes out into the open, when all the secrets are revealed, then we see the true power of love and family to unite and heal.

This is the first of Harper’s books that I’ve read. I don’t know if she’ll revisit these characters in another book, if we’ll see what happens with Jill and hunky tree surgeon Alex, if the sisters’ children will bring their kids to the house on Dune Island. I liked this story enough that I wouldn’t mind seeing the characters again in a future book.

If you’re a fan of books that are clean and sweet and give you the warm fuzzies, pick up A Letter from Nana Rose.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and Bookouture. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t wait for this armchair travel back to Hope Haven on Dune Island, Massachusetts! As I flipped over the last page, I felt as though I’d been sitting on the Adirondack chairs on the deck with Jill, Brooke and Rachel sipping an iced tea and catching up on their lives. Kristin Harper writes a deeply evocative and emotional read, making me appreciate my time with her authentic characters.

After Nana Rose dies, her three granddaughters meet at her cottage on Sea Breeze Lane to spend two weeks together while they decide whether to sell the cottage or not. While they are there, their nana has, through her attorney, arranged for 11 posthumous notes to be delivered almost every day of their two weeks. Despite each arriving with more baggage than a suitcase, they put it aside to focus on the task at hand - a unanimous decision about the future of the family cottage.

I absolutely love Harper’s Dune Island books and her characteristic ocean setting! I think this one is the best yet. Harper explores the importance of family and the need to let the tragedies in life make one better, not bitter. Nana drops a bombshell in these letters that the girls didn’t see coming. Fortunately, it has the desired effect - it brings them closer together and helps them with the important task at hand.

Long buried family secrets, heartfelt sibling moments, all sprinkled with just the right amount of romance, this is a sweet read that you’ll want to enjoy this Fall when dipping your feet in the sand and hearing the waves crash isn’t an option.

Publishes October 25, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Kristin Harper, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grieving the loss of their beloved Nana Rose, Rachel, Brooke and Jill meet once again at Nana Rose's house on Dune Island, Massachusetts. Filled with happy memories of holidays, and family gatherings, the sisters have to make the momentous decision to either keep, or sell, the estate. It soon becomes obvious that each of the women have different viewpoints and during the ten days they spend at the cottage, Brooke, Rachel and Jill have some big decisions to make which is influenced by the arrival of a series of letters from Nana Rose.

The author takes us right into the heart and soul of the novel and with clever flashbacks we move forwards and backwards through time learning about the sisters, and Nana Rose, in the process. The sisters are a good mix of personalities, sometimes they're frosty towards each other and I smiled at the petty bickering which is so reminiscent of sibling rivalry. The touristy life on Dune Island is brought to life and I enjoyed how the author took us around the place, sampling food from The Clam Shack and delicious sounding almond croissants from the bakery. There's a warm hearted intimacy to the story which makes you feel close to the characters just as if you are settling in, with them, to watch the beauty of the bay and see sunset over Dune Island.

Finding the secrets of the past is the only way to go forwards and in this lovely story, we learn so much more about the sisters as they try to set aside their differences in order to come up with a decision which works for all of them, just as Nana Rose wanted them to do.

Beautifully written with a charming observational style, A Letter from Nana Rose is such a pleasure to read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sisters, two decisions and a summer to decide their family’s fate. Upon Nana Rose’s death, her will brought her granddaughters together to honor the past and build a brighter future.

It was an annual tradition for the girls to gather at Rose’s house to celebrate sisterhood and the summer. Now that Rose is gone, tough decisions have to be made. Will they be able to save their family’s cottage or will their past be swept away?

Losing their parents at a young age, Nana Rose provided stability for the girls. Those blissful summer days created memories and cemented their friendship.

Unknowingly, they are all facing challenges that they are keeping from each other. As Nana’s letters arrive revealing her secret, they are weathering their own storms. Upon reading the last letter, they have a tough decision to make. Selling the cottage would provide security but at the risk of tearing them apart.

Kristin Harper pens compelling protagonists. As readers delve into their stories, more layers are revealed. Without giving anything away, there was a sister I rooted for but all had just reasons for their feelings.

Thank you to Bookouture for including me in Harper’s blog tour. I read the story while traveling with my mom and their relationship is reminiscence of ours. Although we fight, at the end of the day, our bond is stronger than any strife. First time readers as well as Harper fans, settle in for a story that will reexamine the past while reminding us of what’s important in life.

[Poonguzhali A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Letter From Nana Rose by Kristin Harper is a heart-warming story about three sisters who are at various junctures in their personal and professional lives. The sisters had lost their Nana recently and have been stipulated to live in their Nana's house for one summer before they decide what to do with her house. One of the sisters Jill, who neither has a family nor a stable, good-income job (which she is afraid she will lose before the summer is over), doesn't want to sell the house which they all have very happy memories associated with.

Through their stay, they also get letters from their Nana, which she had arranged for them to get, when they stay there. Nana Rose decides to share with them certain facts about her past and a big secret she hasn't told anyone till her death. As the women get those letters daily, they come to terms with themselves, their lives and how the actuality of their sibling's lives is different from what they had imagined it to be.

Kristin Harper has beautifully brought out the dynamics between the sisters; their love for each other and also the irritations and grudges only siblings can hold for each other. It was a warm book to read and one which will make you feel fuzzy inside. The secret which Nana has to say is not very hard to guess once you are half-way through the book. Nevertheless the author has managed to give clear insight into the minds and motivations of the three women. This book is for you if you are looking for a light, warm, fuzzy holiday story about family and its dynamics.