Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon - REVIEWED

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hope Harbor Revell (July 7, 2015) by Irene Hannon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than 45 romantic suspense and contemporary romance/women’s fiction novels. She is a seven-time finalist and three-time winner of the RITA award—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and a member of Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, three HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice award, a Retailers Choice award, two Booksellers’ Best awards and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a two-time Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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.

Fan favorite Irene Hannon brings a whole new cast of characters to life in a charming Oregon seaside village. Emotional and heartwarming, this story invites readers to come home to Hope Harbor, where love and hope bloom--and hearts heal.





My Thoughts:

“Life wasn’t the only thing full of surprises.  Hope Harbor was overflowing with them.”  (p. 252)

Michael’s thought were brimming with a myriad of thoughts at this point in Irene Hannon’s latest novel, Hope Harbor.  Between Charlie’s fish tacos and the Campbell family cranberry bread recipe, I don’t think I’ve read a more perfectly balanced modern-day, everyday reality, romance combination quite like this one!  Tracy and Michael are both reeling from serious loss, Anna has basically rolled over on twenty years of her life, and the pastors overseeing the Helping Hands ministry are overwhelmed.  Add in a few crisis’ along the way, and Hope Harbor is brimming with miraculous opportunities!

I’ve always thought if we would just stop and listen to God’s nudges in life, we would all discover some miraculous possibilities of our own!  I love how Irene Hannon taps into this daily aspect of our faith walk and literally brings miracles to life through every day interaction between broken, hurting hearts and overwhelmed lives.  Hannon is listening to God’s voice in her own writing career to be able to craft a story that brings such realistic hope to believers through the lives of her characters!

I tend to always equate Irene Hannon with suspense and mystery, but Hope Harbor is a brilliant reminder that this very talented author is quite flexible in many areas of fiction!  If you want to read a novel that will infuse hope into your heart, look no further than Hope Harbor!  This is a novel I am happy to recommend!!!

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hope Harbor, go HERE.