Review: The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbic Macomber

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Ballantine Books

August 2012

Format: Hardcover, 330 pages

First line: Last night I dreamed of Paul.

From the inside cover: From #1 New York Times
bestselling author Debbie Macomber comes a heartwarming new series
based in the Pacific Northwest town of Cedar Cove, where a charming cast
of characters finds love, forgiveness, and renewal behind the doors of
the cozy Rose Harbor Inn.

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.  

Jo Marie’s 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. While
Abby reconnects with family and old friends, she realizes she can only
move on if she truly allows herself to let go.

A touching novel of life’s grand possibilities and the heart’s ability to heal, The Inn at Rose Harbor is a welcome introduction to an unforgettable set of friends.

My thoughts: This is the first in Debbie Macomber’s newest series, Rose Harbor Inn and I think it was a great beginning to what I am hoping will be another wonderful series. The series takes us back to our beloved Cedar Cove (for those of us who have read and loved her Cedar Cove series) where we meet a new cast of characters, but also get updates on some of those characters we came to love from the Cedar Cove series.

The Inn at Rose Harbor is a story about loss and grief and how to accept what’s happened and try to move forward. Jo Marie Rose is recently widowed and starting to live life again. She moves to Cedar Cove and purchases a bed &
breakfast. Her first two guests, Abby and Josh, are back in town after
leaving years ago. Both are there for different reasons and filled with
dread at having to be there. While these three don’t have much interaction, except at the inn, they each are finding their own paths to peace and healing.

The chapters alternate from one character’s point of view to the others and you quickly find yourself completely wrapped up each character’s story. I love Jo Marie and look forward to getting to know her better as the series continues. There’s also Mark, the handyman that Jo Marie is told to call if she needs help. He’s an interesting man and I have a feeling we will be seeing more of him as the series unfolds.

I think the Rose Harbor Inn series is going to become a favorite of mine and I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Have you tried this series out? 

(I borrowed this book from the library.)

Books in this series:

  0.5   When First They Met

       1.  Inn at Rose Harbor