 Author: Irene Hannon Genre: Contemporary Romance Series: Hope Harbor #11 Pages: 352 Release Date: April 1, 2025 Publisher: Revell Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface to find the treasure within After years of searching, Bren Ryan has found her place in Hope Harbor. Working as a barista suits her to a T, as does the laid-back vibe of her adopted town. Nothing is lacking in her life--except romance. But that's okay. Men are a complication she doesn't need. Buttoned-up CPA Noah Ward isn't looking for love, either, when he arrives in town on a mission to convince his father to move closer to him. And he certainly doesn't intend to fall for the quirky, free-spirited woman who's taken up residence in his father's guest cottage. But when Noah finds himself sucked into Bren's quest to help a struggling teen, might the two of them discover there's more to each other than meets the eye? Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.
 Reviewer: Elisah Varela I loved the vibe and aesthetic of this book. It was very warm and cozy with the small underlining of reality. It was the perfect read to start off spring. I like how Noah and Bren met. It was not the classic meet-cute. This one is better, lol! Though I have to admit, Noah was very hard to like at the beginning, but as the story progressed, I began changing my view of him. This is a slow burn, which I tend to favor more because the end product is always so good. Irene Hannon did not disappoint. I have really been a fan of Irene Hannon’s mystery books, but this one was different from what I am used to from her. However, it is different in a good way. I recommend this book if you are a fan of her books. However, do note that this is the 11th book in the Hope Harbor series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise It is always a joy to return to Hope Harbor and another romantic encounter in the place I want to be real so I could visit. Ms. Hannon has created a setting so welcoming and characters who show how a community can show kindness, caring and Christian love. This time we meet workaholic CPA Noah, who is visiting his dad Fred, with the idea of convincing him to move back to St. Louis. And then there is Bren, a barista at The Perfect Blend, who we met in a previous book. In this case, opposites attract. And boy, does this meeting stand out! As always, there are characters who are old favorites, like Father Murphy and Reverend Baker, who rib each other good-naturedly and Charley and his taco stand where he serves up godly wisdom for free. This time, his advice is to look beyond the surface to the heart inside. Yay! There will be a book 12! And hopefully more as well. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone. Reviewer: Tammy Lunsdord Hope Harbor is truly a place of refuge, healing and restoration. It is a place where being neighborly is more than word service. These community members really care about one another and take care of each other when a need arises. There is a lot of worldly wisdom packed on this small patch of land on the shoreline. Bren Ryan has found a place where she truly belongs. She marches to the beat of her own drum, and has never forgotten where she came from and how she got where she is today. She is warm, tender and empathetic. She believes in giving back to others. She is definitely not looking for love. CPA Noah Ward is a serious, number crunching, cynical man who believes he knows what is best for his father, Fred. He is visiting him for the sole purpose of trying to talk his dad into moving back to St. Louis with him. He is definitely not looking for love. His world outlook is jaded. Never were there two more opposites than Bren and Noah. Yet somehow there is chemistry. Noah has a lot to learn about trust and giving back without receiving anything. I fell in love with this story. When I learned Bren’s back story, I teared up a little. So many times we take for granted how blessed we are, but Bren has been where no young woman should have to be. However, instead of being jaded and cynical, she has learned to pay her blessings forward. I admired her tenacity to survive and her love for others. I always enjoy battling men of the cloth. When I say battling, I mean good natured ribbing from a pastor and a Father who love to compete on the golf course, and pick on one another. Hope Harbor seems like such a wonderful place with beautiful people. It makes me want to dive into the book and live there just so I can be blessed. There are many lessons to be learned from this story, but the biggest one was to be careful about judging a book by its cover, especially when you do not know what is underneath. The ending was pure perfection. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I am leaving this review voluntarily.  Reviewer: Conny Withay “Was he saying a romance between an Oxford-shirt-wearing CPA and a barista with purple-hued hair wasn’t as far-fetched as it sounded?” Brea ponders in Irene Hannon’s novel, Sunrise Reef. The eleventh in the Hope Harbor series, this three-hundred-fifty-two-page paperback targets those interested in a romance about how being apart can decide the future when living in a small town. Using slang words such as heck, darn, dang, and crud, there is no profanity or overtly sexual scenes; the topics of mental abuse and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending includes an excerpt from another book series, acknowledgments, the author’s biography, and advertisements. In this current-day story based in a fictional coastal town in Oregon, Bren is a carefree barista trying to reinvent herself now that she is thirty-years old. After a fire damages her apartment and she moves into an elder man’s cottage, it is his high-strung CPA son, Noah, who starts to get under her skin. As the two keep running into each other, they must deal with their growing attraction toward each other to find out if romance is in their future. This is an enjoyable story of adapting to different situations that God arranges between two people who think they have little in common. I appreciate how Bren reached out to Emma, a young girl who had a similar background. If you have read others in the series, you will remember some of the cherished characters such as Charlie, the clerics, and two seagulls. I live in Oregon, and I like how the book’s scenery is well-depicted and the town is realistic. It can be read as a stand-alone book. Those who do not like continuing stories of small town living and everyone knowing each other’s business may not care for this clean Christian romance. Those who do not believe in God may pass it up, although it is not mentioned much in the book. The romance is cookie-cutter predictable. I like the maps of the town were included, but a list of characters would be helpful. Since it is a Christian read, it would be thoughtful if plan of salvation were given. If you like a romance that focuses on finding love based on opposite attractions, this story would be a casual beach read where the waves of love lap upon its pages. Thanks to Revell and Interviews & Reviews for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review. Reviewer: Monica Huyser Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon is the latest release in the Hope Harbor series. This is a big series of eleven heartwarming books, so far, but they all can be read as a stand-alone. Bren Ryan works part time as a barista at a local Hope Harbor coffee shop. As the book begins, she is celebrating a milestone birthday. Her birthday doesn’t go as planned to begin with when there is an electrical fire at her rental house. She soon finds herself staying at Fred Ward’s guest cottage as he overhears her plight at the coffee shop. That same day, Fred’s son, Noah, makes a surprise visit to see his father. He often stays at the guest cottage, so he lets himself in since it is late at night—much to Bren’s surprise—and she pepper sprays him, thinking he is an unwanted intruder. As a result, Bren and Noah don’t get off on the best foot. After her own struggles in life, Bren appreciates the town of Hope Harbor and how kind folks are as they help each other out. When a young woman is stranded with car trouble, Bren decides to pay-it-forward and to help Emma out of a tight spot. I look forward to the Hope Harbor books when they are released. These books are wholesome and the romance is sweet in each one. I also enjoy the regular appearance of Charlie, the taco stand host and local artist, who has just the right words for those he comes in contact with. While you can read each book as a stand-alone, if you have read the previous books, it is always nice to see characters from previous books as background characters too. I also think the author encourages me to be a kind, helpful neighbor as I see kindnesses passed around Hope Harbor. I think she shares Christ in these books by showing how the characters serve each other, as well as through the pastor and the priest that are part of the town too. I like the author’s writing style as the stories are well-woven together and she brings her characters alive. I definitely recommend Sunrise Reef and the other books in the Hope Harbor series. I received a copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Rebecca Maney “Had he walked in on paying guests who’d assumed he was an intruder?” Neither Bren Ryan nor Noah Ward had expected to meet each other in the middle of the night during a rather epic, and quite unfortunate misunderstanding (which would make a great story someday), but after lengthy apologies and a detour of plans, the two eventually had the chance to exchange formal introductions during the light of day. Buttoned-up always-by-the-book Noah Ward lent credence to the stereotypical image of a certified public accountant, while Bren looked every bit the free-spirited barista, sporting purple hair and brightly colored clothing. A match made in heaven? Doubtful, but possible. After all, this was Hope Harbor and “coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.” Another absolutely heart-warming story that solidifies the Hope Harbor reputation of being a place “where hearts heal and love blooms.” I received a copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. Reviewer: Lori Parrish
Gosh! It was such a treat to be back in Hope Harbor again! Such a beautiful place. I was happy to see Charley was still there too. He’s still my favorite character. Wise and steady, but most of all, he’s everyone’s friend. And mine too. There are many things about a place like Hope Harbor. The name alone should tell all about what’s inside. It’s also a place of healing and second chances. I really couldn’t put this wonderful book down! It was very good. Bren and Noah wouldn’t let me put it down until they said so. I was sad when I had to leave Hope Harbor again. I feel like it’s my home away from home. Five stars for some excellent writing and making the characters delightful and realistic. I loved in getting to know them. I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. Leave a Reply. |
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