The Inn at Rose Harbor

The Inn at Rose Harbor is the newest release from Debbie Macomber. From the back 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.  

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.

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.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of The Inn at Rose Harbor thanks to NetGalley. I’ve been a fan of Debbie Macomber for years and was excited to read her newest book early. The official release date is set for August 14, 2012.

I really enjoyed The Inn at Rose Harbor. Jo Marie Rose bought the bed-and-breakfast following the death of her husband to move on with her life. I’m not sure Jo Marie was prepared for how her life would change thanks in part to being with her guest. Both Joshua Weaver and Abby Kincaid would rather be anywhere but in Cedar Cove when they arrive for their stays at Rose Harbor Inn. I loved watching the changes that came over both as each of their stories progressed.  Joshua’s changes come thanks to an old high school friend Michelle, and finding forgiveness for his ailing stepfather. Abby’s changes again start because of old high school friends, but she had a few more ghosts to deal with to come full circle. I also really loved the handyman Mark who comes to Jo Marie’s aid on more than one occasion. I see a budding romance between the two that I think will grow over many books in this new series.

While you don’t have to read the Cedar Cove series before reading The Inn at Rose Harbor, I really think the series gives you a great background to the town and so many of the characters that appear in The Inn at Rose Harbor. Macomber gives her readers another strong story from Cedar Cove and I can’t wait for my next visit to Rose Harbor Inn.