Summer is a busy season at the inn, so proprietor Jo Marie Rose and handyman Mark Taylor have spent a lot of time together keeping the property running. Despite some folks’ good-natured claims to the contrary, Jo Marie insists that Mark is only a friend. However, she seems to be thinking about this particular friend a great deal lately. Jo Marie knows surprisingly little about Mark’s life, due in no small part to his refusal to discuss it. She’s determined to learn more about his past, but first she must face her own—and welcome three visitors who, like her, are setting out on new paths.
Twenty-three-year-old Ellie Reynolds is taking a leap of faith. She’s come to Cedar Cove to meet Tom, a man she’s been corresponding with for months, and with whom she might even be falling in love. Ellie’s overprotective mother disapproves of her trip, but Ellie is determined to spread her wings.
Maggie and Roy Porter are next to arrive at the inn. They are taking their first vacation alone since their children were born. In the wake of past mistakes, they hope to rekindle the spark in their marriage—and to win back each other’s trust. But Maggie must make one last confession that could forever tear them apart.
For each of these characters, it will ultimately be a moment when someone wore their heart on their sleeve—and took pen to paper—that makes all the difference. Debbie Macomber’s moving novel reveals the courage it takes to be vulnerable, accepting, and open to love.
Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Expected publication:
August 12th 2014
by Ballantine BooksGenre: Womens Fiction/Romance
Kristine's Thoughts:
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Love Letters is the third book in the Rose Harbor series. I did not read the two books before this one and was still able to easily follow along with the story. It centres around Jo Marie, the owner of the Inn, and the guests that stay there.
There are basically three stories that unfold within the pages of this book...
First there is Jo Marie who owns the Inn and is still coming to terms with the loss of her husband two years earlier. Along with taking care of her guests she has an overwhelming curiosity about Mark her neighbour, friend and handyman. She wants to know why he is so secretive and what he is hiding. Their friendship is somewhat strained and often difficult. Although she finds him quite infuriating at times she wants to know more about him and figure out why he is so mysterious.
The first guest to arrive at Rose Harbor is Ellie who is taking a chance on love with meeting the man that she has been communicating with on line and by phone but with whom she has never met. She is dealing with an overprotective mother who disapproves of the meeting and going against her wishes for the first time in her life. What starts out as an initial meeting of two people who are attracted to each other turns into so much more when things become complicated and she has to deal with lies and deceit while listening to her heart, head and her mother's voice.
The next couple to arrive are Maggie and Roy who are using the weekend getaway to try to rekindle their marriage after both of them made enormous mistakes. As they try to forgive the past and move on they discover something so big that it seems impossible for them ever to recover. I have to admit that this story was my least favourite of the three only because the issues were so big that I found it a little unrealistic that it could all be solved in one weekend.
The story weaves between these three stories as each character struggles with the cards that have been dealt to them. I found myself equally invested in all of the stories and hoping for a good outcome for them all. There is a tremendous amount of hurt, anger and sadness but at the centre of it all it was filled with love and hope.
This was a perfect summer read. I do have to warn you that one story is left unresolved and wide open for another addition to the series. When I finished the book I was wishing that I had the next instalment at hand so that I could know how it will play out. Although it left me extremely frustrated it also left me eagerly anticipating the next book. I am going to go back and read the first two books while I wait for the next one to come out. I really like the fact that the books are about the different guests that stay at the Inn. It keeps the stories fresh and unique and a pleasure to read.
About the Author
DEBBIE MACOMBER is a leading voice in women’s fiction, with more than
170 million books in print worldwide. Three of her novels have scored
the #1 slot on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.
Connect with Debbie
I tend to read about the ones i read first. i skiped over every chapter on maggie and finished the story. later i will go back and read about maggie.
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