Review of Hope Harbor

From the back cover:

Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

My thoughts:

Not every book written by every author is for every person. This wasn't my favorite book. I didn't realize that both Tracy and Michael had suddenly lost their respective spouses. That's not a favorite storyline for me - generally because it's too awful for me to even think about - so I generally avoid stories like this. Hope Harbor dealt a lot with grief, pain, regret, and trying to forgive themselves for the mistakes they had each made in their previous marriages.

However, just because this wasn't a story for me doesn't mean that it wasn't well-written, with a message that a lot of hurting people need to hear.

Or read in this case. ;)

The book was a little slow for me, and I was surprised that Tracy and Michael were not the only points of view in the story. Michael strolls into town with the mission to disappear during his two month leave, but God has other ideas. When his lodging plans go array, the town shut-in, Anna Williams, spontaneously offers him lodging because Michael has an uncanny resemblance to her estranged son, John. Anna becomes entwined in Tracy and Michael's lives, and is a key element in the plan God has for them.

When Michael sends Tracy crashing to the curb, he tries to make up for his part in her bicycle accident. This soon leads to a lot of extra volunteering on his part, mostly to be around Tracy.

I thought it was cute how the book was set on a cranberry farm, and I liked how the answer to saving the floundering cranberry farm was right under their noses. I found the ending to be pleasant, with a happy resolution for all the characters.

I received a copy of Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion.

See you guys on August 20th! God bless!

V. Joy Palmer