Irene Hannon is a new author to me. This book won't be the last I read of hers, that is for sure. "Hope Harbor" is a contemporary romance, full of tension and excitement. I loved every single thing about it, especially the fact that it is a clean romance novel. (Thank you, Irene, for that!!)

I loved learning of Michael and Tracy's stories, and those of the other Hope Harbor residents. It is a love story, yes, but also holds stories of deep forgiveness. I am fairly sure this is going to be a series and I certainly hope so, because I am hooked and I want more!!!

My Take:

This is the first book of Irene Hannon's that I've read and I loved it, I can't wait to read more from this author!

Micheal and Tracy were both great characters in this book I liked how they were so willing to help people and it was really sweet to watch them overcome their pasts and find a second chance at love. I also really liked Anne's character and I loved how Michael helped her come out of her shell/isolation. And the setting was perfect. Oregon is beautiful! reading this book brought back memories of a vacation my family took there and even though the town of Hope Harbor is fictional it seems to fit perfectly. The part I loved most of all was the strong message of forgiveness and second chances throughout the book. All of the main characters had hurts and mistakes in their pasts and it was awesome to see how God worked through each of their lives to bring them to a place of healing and love. Everything about this book was wonderful! I can't wait to visit Hope Harbor again in book two!

*I received this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Hope Harbor is a beautifully written romance from the amazing Irene Hannon. With strong themes of hope, forgiveness, grace, and of course, love, Irene has penned a memorable tale about two people who are struggling to overcome tragic heartbreak, and end up finding hope in the Lord, and each other. They both have secrets and mountains of guilt, and feel unworthy to ever be loved again. Hope Harbor is a story that chronicles their journey of healing and redemption and reaffirms that even in the darkest hour, hope is never lost.

Simply, beautiful.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. This is my honest review.

I'm so glad I bought this book right before vacation. I had time to really enjoy reading this story and getting to know the characters.

Hope Harbor is very different from Irene's popular suspense novels, and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Although suspense isn't my favorite genre, Irene Hannon is one of the few suspense authors that I do enjoy - yet it's her contemporary romances that I enjoy most. Rather than being action packed, Hope Harbor is a heartwarming story, poignant, uplifting - and, as the title suggests, filled with hope. It is a character-driven story with sweet romance, charming setting, and characters so real that they could live around any of us.

The story is set in the fictional small town of Hope Harbor, Oregon - and I could so easily visualize an evening walk on the beach with the famous sea stack rock formations in the distance. The small-town, coastal setting and close-knit community brought Macomber's Cedar Cove to mind. Tracy's family cranberry farm also featured prominently and I enjoyed learning about the methods and hard work that go into the process.

Tracy and Michael's growing feelings for each other are first based on friendship, which is something I love to see in a romance novel, and the chemistry between them feels real. Michael's landlady, Anna, has a strong role, and all three of these characters are burdened with guilt and devastating regret over past actions. Who of us can't relate to that in some form or fashion, having discovered that guilt has only one cure? And then there's Charley, with his much sought-after fish tacos, who has an almost supernatural insight into people's deep, unspoken needs. I suspect there's some spiritual symbolism embodied in this beloved character.

As I reflect back on Hope Harbor, I'm impressed at the way Irene brings these characters into interaction, using both their natural talents and spiritual giftedness - all in a way that begs the question, coincidence, fate . . . or God? I loved Charley's pointed words to Anna that coincidence is "God's way of remaining anonymous."

The spiritual theme of forgiveness is unmistakably, but gently, woven throughout - forgiveness not just of others, but of self. This story made me step back and reflect on how I treat loved ones, impressing upon me how essential understanding and empathy are, and how crucial being willing to take that first step to initiate reconciliation can be. Above all, Hope Harbor is a story of hope.

I have become invested in this community and eagerly await the next Hope Harbor book, coming in summer 2016. Highly recommended to all readers.

Thank you to Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.