Book Review: The Inn at Rose Harbor

After listening to the fourth installment of this series, I thought I should go back to the beginning and start again. Thankfully, it seems like each installment works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel, but I still prefer to go at things in order. I was not disappointed with this audio book.

Jo Marie Rose is opening The Rose Harbor Inn, a Cedar Cove bed-and-breakfast establishment, after the death of her military husband. She feels he has promised her that the venture will bring healing to herself and to all who come within the walls of the Rose Harbor Inn. As in the other installment, Jo Marie welcomes two guests for a stay at the inn. Josh Weaver is returning to Cedar Cove to place his bitter and recalcitrant step-father on hospice. Abby Kincaid is returning to attend her brother's wedding after many years of absence from the town.

Both Josh and Abby are in desperate need of forgiveness and reconciliation. Josh harbors deep resentment towards the step-father who threw him out, as a teenager, shortly after his mother's death. The old man seems none too happy to see Josh return and fights his intervention with all the strength he can muster. Meanwhile, Abby has lived in a world of pain and regret, ever since an auto accident took the life of her best friend, Angela, while she was at the wheel. Unable to forgive herself and sure that others still harbor resentment towards her, Abby is dreading the visit to Cedar Cove. The burden she carries is heavy and she is worried it will all be too overwhelming to return.

The novel is full of themes of forgiveness, healing, and redemption. The inn works its wonders and lives are changed. The characters are deeply wounded, yet refreshingly believable. The plot moves at a good pace and the resolution is satisfying. I will be searching out the rest of the series as it makes for such a good accompaniment to my morning walks.