Hannon (Sea Glass Cottage) returns to Oregon in this upbeat installment to the Hope Harbor series involving a haunted house and a redemptive romance. Reeling from a recent breakup and the loss of her job as an events planner, Ashley Scott needs a new project, so she takes a cross-country trip from Tennessee to scout out a 1910 Queen Anne Victorian whose eccentric owner, Rose Fitzgerald Warner, has decided to use it as an event space to earn extra money. Despite rumors of ghost sightings, Ashley joins forces with Rose to become the house's co-owner, and the two move forward with a renovation plan. Ashley also meets Jon Gray, a local landscaper and wounded veteran. Jon's lonely, fears women can't get past his severely scarred appearance, and has lost faith in God. Ashley hires him to work on the property's grounds, and as they restore the property, an attraction builds. Meanwhile, Jon struggles to regain his faith, and the two get closer to uncovering the house's secrets. Hannon's nuanced character development and snappy pacing make this tale of second chances a pure delight. Readers will eagerly turn pages until the satisfying close. (Apr.)

Determined to prove herself after a bad relationship and the loss of her dream job, Ashley Scott buys a mysterious mansion that is the subject of much gossip in her new Oregon hometown. The previous owner welcomes her wedding-venue renovations but is still hiding big secrets about the past and present. Meanwhile, groundskeeper and military veteran Jonathan Gray prefers to keep his hood up and wear a mask and gloves at all times, but the changes at Edgecliff start to break past his defenses. Favorite characters make cameo appearances, but the story of being brave enough to enjoy a second chance stands alone as well. Hannon's ninth book set in Hope Harbor (following Sea Glass Cottage) tugs at the heartstrings just as much as the first--a rare feat in an extended series. Her novels create the perfect fictional world to escape into, while also leaving readers changed in the process. VERDICT Hannon, who has long been viewed as a successful writer of Christian thrillers, proves she can excel in the contemporary-romance genre as well.

Ashley moves across the country to start an events business and finds love and community in Hannon's latest charming Hope Harbor story, following Sea Glass Cottage (2022). She almost listens to her mother, who is adamant in her belief that Ashley is making a mistake. But after she meets Rose, the owner, the plan to turn the estate into a setting for weddings seems meant to be. Ashley meets with Jon, the landscaping business owner, and sees the good man beneath the scars left from his tour of duty. Jon has not dated since his fiancé left when the damage done by an IED that left his body and face badly damaged. He likes Ashley instantly, and they grow close despite both being wary due to their past experiences. They are both helped by Rose and taco chef and artist Charlie, who humorously advises on what is best for the town residents. Ashley and Jon shed their fears and take a risk on forever in another warm, satisfying Hope Harbor novel.