ARE YOU LISTENING? ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM by DEBBIE MACOMBER: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

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ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM

Read by Lorelei King

BY DEBBIE MACOMBER

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hailed as “the reigning queen of women’s fiction” (The Sacramento Bee), Debbie Macomber is renowned for her novels of love, friendship, and the promise of fresh starts. Now Macomber returns to the charming Rose Harbor Inn, where each guest finds a second chance and every room comes with an inspiring new view.

Since moving to Cedar Cove, Jo Marie Rose has truly started to feel at home, and her neighbors have become her closest friends. Now it’s springtime, and Jo Marie is eager to finish the most recent addition to her inn. In memory of her late husband, Paul, she has designed a beautiful rose garden for the property and enlisted handyman Mark Taylor to help realize it. She and Mark don’t always see eye-to-eye—and at times he seems far removed—yet deep down, Jo Marie finds great comfort in his company. And while she still seeks a sense of closure, she welcomes her latest guests, who are on their own healing journeys.

Annie Newton arrives in town to orchestrate her grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration. While Annie is excited for the festivities, she’s struggling to move on from her broken engagement, and her grandparents themselves seem to be having trouble getting along. Worse, Annie is forced to see Oliver Sutton, with whom she grew up and who has always mercilessly teased her. But the best parties end with a surprise, and Annie is in for the biggest one of all.

High-powered businesswoman Mary Smith, another Rose Harbor Inn guest, has achieved incredible success in her field, yet serious illness has led her to face her sole, lingering regret. Almost nineteen years ago, she ended her relationship with her true love, George Hudson, and now she’s returned to Cedar Cove to make amends.

Compassion and joy await Jo Marie, Annie, and Mary as they make peace with their pasts and look boldly toward their futures. Rose Harbor in Bloom is Debbie Macomber at her heartwarming best.

AN EXCERPT FROM ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM:
Rose Harbor was in bloom. Purple rhododendrons and red azaleas dotted the property. I stood on the porch, leaning against the thick white post, and looked over the property for my bed-and-breakfast. The Inn at Rose Harbor was beautifully scripted on the wooden sign and was prominently displayed in the front of the yard along with my name, Jo Marie Rose, as proprietor.

I never planned on owning or operating a bed-and-breakfast. But then I never expected to be a widow in my thirties, either. If I’d learned anything in this road called life it’s that it often takes unexpected turns, rerouting us from the very path that had once seemed so right. My friends advised me against purchasing the inn. They felt the move was too drastic: it meant more than just moving and leaving my job; it would mean an entire life change. Many thought I should wait at least a year after losing Paul. But my friends were wrong. I’d found peace at the inn, and somewhat to my surprise, a certain contentment.

Until I purchased the inn, I’d lived in a condo in the heart of downtown Seattle. Because of my job and other responsibilities, I hadn’t had pets, well, other than as a youngster. But shortly after I moved to Cedar Cove I got Rover. In only a few short months, I’d grown especially fond of him; he’d become my shadow, my constant companion. TO FINISH READING THIS EXCERPT, VISIT THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debbie Macomber, the author of Starry Night, Rose Harbor in Bloom, The Inn at Rose Harbor, Starting Now, Angels at the Table, A Turn in the Road, 1105 Yakima Street, Hannah’s List, and Twenty Wishes, is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Eight of her novels have hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, with three debuting at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly lists. In 2009 and 2010, Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle were Hallmark Channel’s top-watched movies for the year. In 2013, Hallmark Channel produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. She has more than 160 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY DEBBIE MACOMBER:

                  

                      

                      

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
In Debbie Macomber’s latest visit to Cedar Cove, she gives readers a glimpse into the lives of her well developed characters while transporting all to the sanctuary that is ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM. With inspiring new characters, as well as familiar ones from Cedar Cove that fans have come to love over the years, Macomber grabs your interest from the start. That said, ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM is still a fine stand alone novel and one that will surely inspire readers to check out the other books in this, and the Cedar Cove, series.

The setting of the peaceful town of Cedar Cove is as much a character as the people. Readers will easily create those important mental images in which to place the characters. Set on the coastline with the quaint inns and historic lighthouses, Rose Harbor easily is ready for the characters looking for love whether they know it or not. The rich character studies start with the main protagonist Jo Marie Rose. She is a young widow who has purchased the Inn with hopes of starting a new life after the loss of her husband, Paul. She has a hard time accepting his death especially in that his remains were never recovered while on duty in Afghanistan. She has made new friends in Cedar Cove and all her guests add to that list. Her handy man, Mark Taylor, is an enigma but one that Jo Marie is starting to enjoy, even though he can be ornery a lot of the time. Mark is very private and one can see how he will be part of the series for a long time (we hope) because by the end of the book, we still have many questions about him.

The Inn’s guests in ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM focus on two women. There is the poignant story of Mary Smith who hasn’t been in the area for over 20 years as she has been busy devoting herself 100% to her career. However, Mary still thinks back to when she fled leaving behind George, the man who loved her enough to propose all those years ago. Memories of this old love comes back in focus when she is diagnosed with cancer, leaving Mary Smith obviously facing many imperative decisions. She is hoping that she might find some closure at Rose Harbor as she faces her illness and these decisions.

Meanwhile Annie Newton arrives to prepare for the celebration of her grandparents’ 50th anniversary. Her grandparents seemed to have that ideal, loving marriage that always gave Annie hope and warm memories. Unfortunately, timing is off as Annie is trying to get over her own broken engagement. When her grandparents appear to be having some issues themselves, she is shocked. Add to that a young man who made fun of her as they were growing up, Oliver Sutton is the last person Annie wants to see with all she has to do and deal with.

How will these three women handle their problems? Will Jo Marie be witness to the outcomes for Mary and Annie but still be left adrift in her own situation? What about Mary’s health and the love from her past? Will either turn out better than we might feel they possibly can? And will Annie not only solve the mystery of her grandparents new attitudes but also find some peace, and maybe romance, for herself?   Macomber’s characters are layered but also well fleshed out, while the writing is effective thus allowing the story to develop naturally. ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM delivers an emotional yet compelling narrative that keeps readers turning pages, and leaves one eager for the next book in series.
 

 GIVEAWAY 

THANKS TO RICHARD AND THE GOOD PEOPLE
AT RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO BOOKS, I HAVE ONE
COPY OF DEBBIE MACOMBER'S AUDIO BOOK,
  ROSE HARBOR IN BLOOM, TO GIVE AWAY 
  TO ONE OF MY LUCKY FOLLOWERS 

  

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