Take a photo of a barcode or cover
cj_mo_2222 's review for:
Rose Harbor in Bloom
by Debbie Macomber
Jo Marie Rose is a young widow who is trying to accept the death of her husband Paul who was serving in the military in Afghanistan. Jo Marie left her job, moved to Cedar Cove, Washington and is now running a Bed and Breakfast. She is making improvements to the inn every day, with the help of a moody but efficient handyman named Mark Taylor. Jo Marie wants her establishment to be a place of healing, but she also needs to allow herself to heal from her grief.
“Rose Harbor in Bloom” is the second in this new series set in Cedar Cove. Jo Marie Rose is the main character and as the owner of the Rose Harbor Inn, she provides a nice room, breakfast, and a willing ear for guests to tell their troubles. In this book, one guest is fighting cancer, but seems to have another agenda for coming to Cedar Cove. The other guests are in town for a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary. Jo Marie nicely balances being a friend to her guests and giving them space when they want privacy. She’s kind, but capable and determined. She isn’t perfect, but isn’t afraid to admit when she has made a mistake. She stays in touch with Abby and Josh, her first two guests from the first book, “The Inn at Rose Harbor”, so readers are able to catch up on their favorite characters from the prior book. However, new readers to the series would be able to dive right into this book and not feel lost if they haven’t read the first book in the series.
Although this book takes place in Cedar Cove, it is not part of Macomber’s original Cedar Cove series. You do not need to have read any of the books in that series to read the Rose Harbor Inn books. If you were a fan of that series, some of the original characters, such as Peggy Beldon and Corrie McAfee, make brief appearances. Grace Harding is seen a couple of times in the book and plays an important role in Jo Marie’s anguish over Paul.
I enjoyed the story line with Kent and Julie Shivers, the couple celebrating their milestone anniversary. I liked the story with their granddaughter Annie and family friend Oliver, but Annie seems a bit immature in holding a childhood grudge against Oliver. I like seeing Jo Marie and Mark’s unusual friendship grow, and look forward to reading more about them in future installments.
I loved the original Cedar Cove series which had a touch of mystery in each book along with everyday dramas and romance. While this is a well-written series, I don’t enjoy it quite as much as the original. However, I do think it is even better than Macomber’s Blossom Street series, with more realistic and likeable characters. Jo Marie’s vulnerability and compassion for others makes her a pleasant main character and as long as the stories surrounding the new guests coming through the inn remain compelling, I will continue reading this series. Macomber fans, as well as readers who enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s “One Week in Winter”, will enjoy reading “Rose Harbor in Bloom”.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.
“Rose Harbor in Bloom” is the second in this new series set in Cedar Cove. Jo Marie Rose is the main character and as the owner of the Rose Harbor Inn, she provides a nice room, breakfast, and a willing ear for guests to tell their troubles. In this book, one guest is fighting cancer, but seems to have another agenda for coming to Cedar Cove. The other guests are in town for a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary. Jo Marie nicely balances being a friend to her guests and giving them space when they want privacy. She’s kind, but capable and determined. She isn’t perfect, but isn’t afraid to admit when she has made a mistake. She stays in touch with Abby and Josh, her first two guests from the first book, “The Inn at Rose Harbor”, so readers are able to catch up on their favorite characters from the prior book. However, new readers to the series would be able to dive right into this book and not feel lost if they haven’t read the first book in the series.
Although this book takes place in Cedar Cove, it is not part of Macomber’s original Cedar Cove series. You do not need to have read any of the books in that series to read the Rose Harbor Inn books. If you were a fan of that series, some of the original characters, such as Peggy Beldon and Corrie McAfee, make brief appearances. Grace Harding is seen a couple of times in the book and plays an important role in Jo Marie’s anguish over Paul.
I enjoyed the story line with Kent and Julie Shivers, the couple celebrating their milestone anniversary. I liked the story with their granddaughter Annie and family friend Oliver, but Annie seems a bit immature in holding a childhood grudge against Oliver. I like seeing Jo Marie and Mark’s unusual friendship grow, and look forward to reading more about them in future installments.
I loved the original Cedar Cove series which had a touch of mystery in each book along with everyday dramas and romance. While this is a well-written series, I don’t enjoy it quite as much as the original. However, I do think it is even better than Macomber’s Blossom Street series, with more realistic and likeable characters. Jo Marie’s vulnerability and compassion for others makes her a pleasant main character and as long as the stories surrounding the new guests coming through the inn remain compelling, I will continue reading this series. Macomber fans, as well as readers who enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s “One Week in Winter”, will enjoy reading “Rose Harbor in Bloom”.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.