Audio Book Review: Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

This is a nice story with second chance romance and family redemption.
Hope Harbor
By Irene Hannon
Narrator: Therese Plummer

Duration: 9 h 45 min
Release date: 07-07-15
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Christian Romance, Contemporary
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's summary
Come home to Hope Harbor - where hearts heal...and love blooms. 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. Now she's home again - with a floundering farm to run...a tragic secret...and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives - including their own.
©2015 Irene Hannon (P)2015 Recorded Books

Review:
Tracy Campbell grew up in Hope Harbor and came back after being away at college. Although she is glad to be back with her Aunt and Uncle taking care of the cranberry farm, she has survived a tragic loss, and is struggling with the decline of the farm. She is focused on the farm and not ready to open herself to new hurt.

Michael Hunter has come to Hope Harbor due to a long desire of his deceased wife. His visit is intended to be short term while he tries to focus his life dealing with regrets after her death. He bumps into Tracy and soon finds himself helping her and making friends in the community. Michael is also drawing his new landlord out of her self-imposed seclusion of many years.

I liked how both Tracy and Michael slowly begin to recognize that their meeting is not mere coincidence, and perhaps God has a different plan for their future. The romance is sweet and the underlying faith messages of healing, hope, and forgiveness are encouraging. I recommend this story (and author) to fans of clean, Christian romance.

Audio Notes: Therese Plummer is a lovely narrator. She delivers clear voices and energy that fits the characters and plot. Her narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 2018 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 credit. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Location goals.

Audio Book Review: Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1) by Irene Hannon

This is good (not great) romantic suspense.
Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1)
Series Men of Valor Series
Author Irene Hannon
Narrator Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace

Runtime 10.5 Hrs. - Unabridged
Publisher Recorded Books
Downloads ZIP M4B MP3
Release Date April 7, 2015
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 Overall, Story, and Narration

After seven years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant has hit a wall. Ready for a kinder, gentler life, she takes a job as a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes the resources of her department. A call for assistance brings detective Mac McGregor, an ex-Navy SEAL, to her doorstep. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn't want this dead person telling any tales--and will stop at nothing to make certain a life-shattering secret stays buried.
Master storyteller Irene Hannon is back with an exciting new series featuring former special forces operatives now in the thick of the action in civilian life. Hannon is at the top of her game in this can't-put-it-down thriller that will have readers up until the wee hours devouring every page.

Review:
Lisa Grant left her tense job as a Chicago homicide detective to become a small-town police chief. When a construction crew uncovers a human skeleton, Lisa calls for help from the County enforcement. Detective Mac McGregor, a handsome ex-Navy Seal, steps on scene to help. He gets off on the wrong foot and has to scramble to recover his equilibrium with the striking police chief.

Lisa is at a point in life where she is open to making personal time to look towards a family on her own. Mac is at an age where he would like to settle down with a family like his own close-knit clan. The two professionals clearly have zinging chemistry, but they agree to hold off on any personal relationship until their current investigation is complete.

Lisa and Mac are intent on revealing the events almost twenty years ago that resulted in a death of a young girl. They have identified the victim and have pressed the three ‘friends’ who were last known to see the girl. However, without hard evidence they are preparing to shut the investigation as a cold case. Then new deaths begin to alarm Lisa and Mac.

A strong element of this story is the pull between the characters who have to defer even the first date. This is woven throughout the mystery and case interviews. I appreciated the presentation of the heat of the attraction without graphic, sexual details. The romance was sort of refreshing as the couple acknowledge their interest but put it on hold... except in their thought processes which was a bit repetitive. I also found the lack of provable evidence in the crimes to be interesting and well crafted. The Christian faith of the characters is apparent in their life choices but not preachy.

Mac’s brothers are other strong alpha men who make fun, flirtatious appearances and are presumably the “men of valor’ whose stories are shared in the series. I recommend this to readers who like Christian romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: Narrators Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace did a nice job sharing the characters and narrative. I’ve always enjoyed Therese Plummer and I liked the offset voice from Jennifer Grace. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Christian Audiobook Sale July 2017. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019 Audiobook and 2019Alphabet goals.

Book Review and Giveaway: One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

My Ladies Book Club enjoyed this sweet story full of forgiveness, growth and faith.
One Perfect Spring
by Irene Hannon

Amazon Link
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell (May 6, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0800722678
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

Review:
Claire is a single mother raising her 11-year-old daughter, Haley. Claire is busy as a teacher and working, one project at a time, on her fixer-upper home. Claire has been burned by the men in her past and doesn’t have time for romance. Claire takes time to help her mature neighbor, Dr. Maureen Chandler, who has had a recent bout with cancer surgery. Haley overhears a confidential conversation between Claire and Maureen. Unknown to anyone else, Haley writes a letter to a private foundation asking them to help Maureen find her long lost son.

Keith Watson is a workaholic serving as the executive assistant to a former workaholic, David. The business includes a philanthropic division which answers written requests submitted by strangers. David is struggling to rebuild a relationship with his estranged daughter. He recognizes the importance of balancing career and family. Keith plans to pass on Haley’s letter but David assigns it to Keith hoping it will get him out of the office. David doesn’t have any idea how the assignment may impact Keith who has his own childhood trauma baggage.

The simple, kind hearted act of a young person sets off a chain of events that blossoms into love for two couples. The romantic chemistry is portrayed without the need for sexual scenes. There are lessons of forgiveness and second chances. Some of the characters have a closer walk of faith but others realize they need to renew their faith. Ms. Hannon develops all of the characters and the story allows them to grow beautifully.

The writing moves smoothly with a story that has a lot of natural life scenes and some twists that keep it interesting. I read and enjoyed Ms. Hannon’s romantic suspense (Fatal Judgment) and have been planning to read more. I was curious when I saw the author also writes contemporary romance and I am glad I shared this with my ladies’ book club. The story is uplifting, and the ladies enjoyed the richness. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, small town romance with quiet faith elements.

Source: Discount Purchase through Christianbook.com for Ladies Book Club. It is a 2018 title for my 2018 Alphabet Challenge.

GIVEAWAY:

ONE WINNER!

Paperback Book (US and Canada Only)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review

(b) visit the author's Website and tell me something you like there.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only for the paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) September 1, 2018.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Book Review: Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel by Irene Hannon

I really liked this great suspense and romance.

Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel

by Irene Hannon

• File Size: 1443 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800734564
• Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2011)
• ASIN: B004DNWG2U

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

Full of suspense and romance, Fatal Judgment launches a thrilling series featuring three siblings bound by blood and a passion for justice.

Review:
U.S. Marshall Jake Taylor has spent many years in law enforcement and is used to facing enemies to protect those he is assigned to. He is returning from assignment hoping to get some rest when he is called in to protect a federal judge. Not just any judge, but Liz Michaels, the widow of his best friend. Jake has some misconceptions that create an initial antagonism toward his charge. The longer he is around her the more he sees her actions seem to indicate that his views are wrong.

Liz lost her husband five years ago. Now her sister has been shot in the Judge’s home after seeking refuge from her sometimes violent husband. The spouse is always the first suspect but the investigation looks at others too. The authorities need Liz to back track through her files to locate someone who might be seeking revenge. When the killer slips through the protective detail to get to Liz, Jake realizes he has more to lose than just a charge.

This story has good romantic tension and suspense. I really liked Jake and Liz as the primary characters and Jake’s brother and sister add to the characters. The action is steady and I appreciated the faith based discussion between the characters. The romance develops with good chemical and emotional attraction that is fine without sexual scenes.

I have been eyeing this author and am glad I finally read one of her books. I will be glad to pick up more of her romantic suspense titles when given the opportunity. I recommend this book and author to those who enjoy strong characters and clean romance.

This is from my TBR shelf - 2012. It is the next to the last title for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.