Review: The Inn at Rose Harbor

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber, AF, 2012, Playaway digital audio, 9.5hr, Rating=3
Source: library

Jo Marie Rose first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a sense of peace and a fresh start. Coping with the death of her husband, she purchases a local bed-and-breakfast—the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn—ready to begin her life anew. Yet the inn holds more surprises than Jo Marie can imagine.

Her first guest is Joshua Weaver, who has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, and Joshua has little hope that they can reconcile their differences. But a long-lost acquaintance from Joshua’s high school days proves to him that forgiveness is never out of reach and love can bloom even where it’s least expected.

The other guest is Abby Kincaid, who has returned to Cedar Cove to attend her brother’s wedding. Back for the first time in twenty years, she almost wishes she hadn’t come, the picturesque town harboring painful memories from her past. And while Abby reconnects with family and old friends, she realizes she can only move on if she truly allows herself to let go.

Yay, I caught a first book from one of Debbie Macomber's book series!  I've seen tons of her books and read a few but never in order, so this new series was a treat to stumble into.  I look forward to the continuing installments to come (next one in August).  Though, I feel kinda silly to be excited about this but I am.  I suppose it's the thought that I'd know the story from the very start and not come into it on the 10th book!

I'm already liking the set up, a bed and breakfast inn.  Just from that, I see many possible adventures that could come from the guests that will be coming in.  But before the guests, we are introduced to Jo Marie, a fairly new widowed woman who takes on a fresh adventure of taking over a B&B and ventures to make it her own, dubbing it The Rose Harbor Inn, after her husband (Rose is her surname).  So we meet a handyman and few other local townees willing to put in their two cents.  Moreover, Jo Marie still "talks" to her husband and convinced that he had sent her first two guests her way (and the dog) because as at it turns out, they had history of tragedy or wounded heart.  So first comes Joshua, who reluctantly came to town to see his ill stepfather and then Abby, a former Cedar Cove resident in town to attend her brother's wedding.  Both back to a town that held terrible memories for them.  Of course, this made for a conversational sit down with Jo Marie because she too had hurts that qualified her to empathize with her guests, right?  Possibly an awkward moment but she was figuring out her place as the inn taker.

Overall, a potentially entertaining series.  This book started a pace that hinted mystery, upcoming romance, and emotional heart tugging moments.

By the way, I understand that Ms Macomber will be toning down the number of characters in this series to avoid potential confusion.  That sounds like a good plan.  I think a small cast would mean a tighter relationship between characters and readers.