I enjoyed book three in the Harmony Harbor series. I liked the main female character who is strong even though she doesn't feel that she is. She overcomes tragedy and opens herself up to new beginnings which is a difficult thing to do. The main male character like his other brothers in this series is also overcoming a tragedy that deeply affected the family and is struggling to let go of his security blanket of staying away from home to avoid dealing with the tragedy. Throw in a ghost and a crazy person and this book is entertaining and also has an element of suspense!

Reviewed by Robin

Review: Olivia has had a rather interesting life. Synopsis: Son died of cancer, headed for a divorce because of issues that most people face during this time, before divorce is final her husband dies in plane crash. As if that wasn’t enough, her lawyer brings her a girl named George, who happens to be her deceased husband’s daughter.

Ms. Mason gives us an emotionally charged story. One minute I couldn’t help but laugh the next I was grabbing my tissue. I enjoyed how she slowed down the romance between Olivia and the new town doctor Finn. Finn was suspicious of Olivia thinking that she may be abusing drugs. Finn slowly awoke, realized his mistakes with the accusations with Olivia and worked on giving her something to believe in again.

The way Ms. Mason added the heartache into Olivia life just ripped out my heart at times. It was a lot to take in and give one person to deal with. But she made Olivia and fierce so she was able to deal with all of the struggles thrown at her. The struggles with George are a lot like what a step parent has to go through… Very realistic. Life with George wasn’t easy but over time they bonded over family Olivia son that died of cancer. With family it takes common ground sometimes to get past things.

I envisioned that sadness that Olivia carried with her and I wanted to give her a hug and tell her it was going to be ok. A lot of her issues hit home which made her that much more endearing for me.

Ms. Mason showed that life can be and is usually full of mistakes but with the sunshine we find laughter and through those stormy days we cry but in the end we heal and become survivors. I liked the way Ms. Mason had a way of connecting me, the reader, pulling me into the story and making me feel. I felt sympathy, compassion and hope. It is hard sometimes to convey that to the reader. It was strong.

A story that will make you feel.

It's official. Debbie Mason has become my favorite "behind closed door" author. Yes, there are no explicit sex scenes in her romances. What you do get are lovable characters, witty dialog, and some of the funniest situations an author can put their characters in. I've had Primrose Lane loaded into my Kindle for over a month before I finally started reading it. There were many moments when I had to sit on my hands to stop myself from picking it up. Good things come to those who wait... When the time came for me to start the book, I devoured it over night. That was my scariest book zombie morning ever. Surprised I didn't either walk into a door or frighten small children. Yes, it was that bad. And no, I would not have done anything differently. I adored Primrose Lane. Olivia pulled at my heart-strings. The poor woman has been through so much. Yet she manages to pull through and is able to open her heart to a child who needed someone. Finn, on the other hand... It took me a little bit to warm up to his stubborn ass. He has decided that Olivia will only bring trouble to his family. When he finally sees Olivia's true nature, he warms up to her pretty quickly. It takes a bit for him to open his heart, but once he does, he is all in. By the end of the book, I was fully in his corner.

The budding romance between Olivia and Finn is a bit of a slow build in Primrose Lane. However, it was a lot of fun watching them grow as individuals and as a couple. There were times when they were in a pinch (heh!), but they stood tall with each other. Overall, Primrose Lane was amazing. I loved the world of Harmony Harbor and all of the characters that reside there. This book make me laugh, cry, and swoon... All at 3 o'clock in the morning... I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series. Until then, I still have some of Debbie's earlier books to read.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen

Olivia Davenport is running away from her painful past. She has lost her son and her husband and she has had enough heartache to last a lifetime. She settles at Greystone Manor, and under a new identity, she becomes an event planner for the estate. It is the anniversary of her son’s death, and to be able to cope better, she has been taking more of her prescription drugs than is wise.

Finn Gallagher is staying at his family estate, recuperating from an injury he received in Africa, working for Doctors Without Borders. He just wants to get better and go back to his job. He becomes concerned when he feels that Olivia is a drug addict and confronts her about it. He does not want his family affected by her behavior. The more time he spends with Olivia, he realizes that she is not who she says she is and he is determined to find out the truth about her. When he eventually finds out her true story, he is much more understanding and truly wants to help her.

To make matters worse for Olivia, her husband had kept a secret from her before he died. Although they were going to get divorced that never happened, because he died first. When Olivia finds out the secret that her husband kept from her, she is devastated. She does not know what to do, but she does know that her husband’s secret will change her life forever. Finn wants to help her and is willing to do pretty much anything to make her life better. But some things just cannot be made better.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. You cannot help but like Olivia, she has had so much heartache in her life but she is not bitter. She tries her best to maintain a positive attitude and is she tries to help and please everyone. She is sweet and caring and extremely sad. Finn is not so easy to like right away. He is suspicious and moody and conceited at times. He does not seem to care if he hurts his family, he wants to do what he feels is right, even if it means leaving his family. But as the book went on, he changed and became much more likable. I also enjoyed getting to spend time with the other members of Greystone Manor and watching them interact with each other. They were all people that I would like to spend time with. And there is a paranormal (ghostly) aspect in this book, and I loved it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted women’s contemporary. This book has everything I enjoy when reading a book: great characters, humor, suspense, heartwarming moments and a ghost. You could not ask for more than that.

There's just something so addicting about Debbie Mason's books, they are nearly impossible to put down and for some strange reason I always start reading right before bed and the I end up staying up until I finish them.

So we are back in Harmony Harbor and this time we get to know Dana or Olivia a lot better, from the moment we meet Olivia at the beginning of the series we know she is hiding something or hiding from someone and in Primrose Lane we finally find out what happened to her in the past and let me tell you she has had heartbreak after heartbreak and now that part is threatening her present so is no wonder she is stresses and maybe overmadicating a little bit and that's when Finn appears, he is a DWB doctor at home in Harmony recuperating after being hurt in the line of duty, he right away picks up something in Olivia that makes him take an interest in her.

The interactions between these two were both cute and infuriating at times, I mean I get Finn was trying to help Olivia but Oh Lordy he really messes up a few times and Olivia not opening up to the people that care for her was also infuriating, but throughout the book we see them connect on deeper levels, to recognize the other for what they are and what they mean to each other in the end, I liked that they helped each other a lot and that neither was blind to the others shortcomings instead they talked and supported one another.

The book is full of wonderful lovely moments but also the intrigue is strong, and more mysteries start to appear, Harmony Harbor is a place where it seem es everyone has a secret past and I can't wait to find out more.

4.5 Stars
Debbie Mason is one of those authors who I constantly question why I keep reading her books. I end up angry at her heroes for about 60% of each book. However, her writing pulls me in and I inevitably fall in love with the hero anyways. It's that response that keeps me coming back. Stories that invoke that type of angry passion are the best!!

My heart broke for Olivia and all that she had been through in her life and the way a lot of the people around her treated her, particularly the men. The hits don't stop coming even after she's tried to outrun her past. I seriously wanted to strangle, her ex-husband, his best friend and Finn for their judgmental ways and the pressure and expectations they put on her. I can't even start talking about it without getting upset.

Finn was NOT likeable for a great chunk of this book. His assumptions about Olivia and the way he was convinced her to take on certain responsibilities, only to turn around and determine that she wasn't fit for those responsibilities was infuriating. Somehow I still managed to end up liking him and seeing that he did have a sweeter, more empathetic side to him but his stubbornness and self-righteousness was off-putting for sure.

I love the family dynamic of this series and the supernatural aspect (don't worry, it's not over the top) adds an extra angle to the story. This time we got a good glimpse at Aiden and what we can probably expect for his story. I can already tell that I'm going to dislike him and love him, but what's new?

This would be the fourth read in the Harmony Harbor series. The third full-length read. With each new read you become more vested in Harmony Harbor and the people that call that place home. This time up we get a chance to see more into Olivia’s life. We find out things about her that have had us wondering for the past year. She has things in her past she wished would just stay there, but sometimes your past don’t want to stay buried.

Finn was a wild card for me. When first meeting him, his harness towards Olivia set me aback. To find that he was to be paired with her was also a small step back. I was hoping for one of the brothers to take an interest in her. Well, that is another story. He began to grow on me slowly as the read unfolded. He was not my favorite male of the series to this point but he turned out to be a nice guy. With time and understanding of Olivia the two of them become something more.

Debbie Mason gives me yet another sweet romance with some frustrating points for Olivia. Her life was a road that was well traveled and difficult to repair. Mason gave her writing skills a workout. The turbulence in Olivia’s life was written well and the impact on Olivia’s life was felt. Sweet and emotional. I wonder which of out small town citizens will be featured next.

How do I love thee...

That's an easy question to answer when you read a romance by Debbie Mason! She delivers another great entry to the Harmony Harbor series. In PRIMROSE LANE her talented hand paints a portrait of a couple who shouldn't work, but somehow do-Dr. Finn Gallagher and the mysterious event planner Dana.
Finn is in Harmony Bay to recuperate from injuries he received overseas with DOB. He resents being back and signs on to take patients in town. Dana has come through for his family many times and it turns out that she is really Olivia Davenport, a wealthy socialite.
In the beginning of the book, you wonder what bug was up Finn's butt with the way he first treated Olivia. He was so judgmental that you want to smack him upside the head. When he realizes that she is truly hurting he begins to discover what is underneath the surface from a woman who begins to invade his mind. Then he tries to rescue her, but manages to mess that up...a lot! But that gives you a glimpse of the real man and his good heart hiding behind his surly facade.
At times the story is like a good slap-stick comedy and had me laughing out loud. And other times it had me nearly in tears as Dana/Olivia's backstory comes to life. She has suffered so much loss, but she came to town to start a new life. She was so generous and efficient that nobody looked beneath the mask she had in place. How could you not feel her anguish when another gigantic challenge came to town in the form of a little girl named George?
As usual, you get to enjoy the things that make Harmony Harbor an enjoyable place to visit. Mason's town is a roller coaster of humor, suspense, family, and romance. PRIMROSE LANE is an emotional and thoughtful small-town romance written with a lot of heart. I love the feuding grandmothers, the wonderful cast of characters, and the ghostly thread woven through each story. It was a rocky road, but Finn and Olivia's romantic HEA was worth the bumps. No one writes heartfelt small town romance like Debbie Mason and I always count the days until the next book!

Debbie Mason has another winner here. I love visiting Harmony Harbor and all the folks at the Inn. The supernatural grandmother is back and still trying to right the wrongs of her earlier days. Finn is a real sweetheart and of course he and Olivia get their HEA. This book makes a great pool or beach read--light, predictable and heartwarming.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy and allowing me to participate in this blog tour. Grade: B.

What a lovely and delightful love story! I totally enjoyed getting to know the Gallagher clan and the townsfolk of Harmony Harbor!

Harmony Harbor seems like a wonderful place to live or visit. The B&B the Gallagher family owns would be a must for a holiday.

Wouldn't be great if places like were real? And well for a few hours they are. Debbie does a wonderful job of weaving a story/plot,the characters and locale into a place you want to spend your afternoon.

I thought this wasn't a typical contemporary romance. There was a little mystery involved and some villainy to make this romance a little more interesting and spellbinding.

The love story is sweet and just what a reader would want. This was a clean book. No bedroom scenes.

The characters were fun and goofy and love able. Finn and Olivia are delightful. They seem to get off on the wrong foot when Finn suspects Olivia is using drugs. Once Olivia 'opens' up and tells Finn was is really going on with her they can't help become friends and later fall in love.

The story revolves around Olivia's past with her husband and his mistakes just before his death. When Olivia receives word from his lawyer that he had a daughter and Olivia is named guardian.

Olivia's world is torn apart until Finn helps her accept the child that is dumped into her lap.

Georgina who goes by 'George' arrives as a bit of a 'terror' but it dosen't take long for every to fall in love with the sweet little girl. Even the grandparents who decide to fight Olivia for custody.

Primrose Lane is book 4 in the Harmony Harbor series featuring the Gallagher family. Because I read the book on my phone and I didn't really read the description before I read the book I didn't know it was book 4.

I was interested in the rest of the family and wondered if there were other installments. I don't think reader needs to read the books in order. But it would be fun!

I loved Primrose Lane and look forward to reading the remainder of the series.
I received a complimentary copy.

Primrose Lane was a fantastic book. Watching Fin and Olivia romance develop over the course of this book was just fantastic, I love how Debbie Mason always combines sweet romances with serious topics, the way she maintains a balance between them in the story is just fantastic and in my opinion helped me relate and become invested in the character even more. I just loved the town that this book is set into, if you have ever met me in real life, you would know that I am a huge fan of small town romance, so you can imagine that books like Primrose Lane make me so happy . This book was fantastic and I cannot wait to go on my next visit to Harmony Harbor. If you want sweet , heartwarming contemporary romance to read then you should definitely pick up Primrose Lane as soon as you can.

The ultimate betrayal. Trying to put myself into Olivia’s shoes was inconceivable. Just the mere thought of some of what she’d gone through was heartbreaking but, to have gone through all of that in such a short amount of time was miraculous.

Watching Olivia defy the odds, overcome her past, and be what her new daughter needs just made my heart burst with love. It was hard to remember this was fiction. I just wanted to go help.

I loved Primrose Lane and found myself purposefully reading more slowly and putting it down to prolong the time I got to spend with this wonderful family!

The entire time I was reading this I felt a strange sense of deja vu, like I have read a book with this exact plot before. Nevertheless, I have been enjoying the crazy residents of Harmony Harbor, and could really empathize with Olivia's hardships and struggles, even loving another person's child and all that entailed in this novel. The matchmakers were at it again, and no one is safe! Great, fun read.

Primrose Lane is the third in the Harmony Harbor series. This is Olivia and Finn's story. For the most part, I enjoyed this installment. The first in the series iss till my fvorite so far. The thing that I love most about this series is the relationship of the brothers, wives and family members. They are all great characters. I love their banter and and antics. It makes for some very amusing reading. I loved the shark scene.

As far as the romance between Finn and Olivia, I wasn't too into it at first, but they grew on me as the book progressed. What I loved more about the story was the relationship between Olivia and George. I just loved watching that relationship blossom and grow. It was gut wrenching at times and completely sweet at others. Their HEA was the one I was most looking forward to toward the end of the book. I'll leave it to you to discover who George is and how important this character ends up being to Olivia.

Of course, we are also treated to ghost Colleen again throughout the book. Her antics to try to meddle in with her family are always amusing. I am looking forward to the next book. I hope it's Aiden's story! -Kari

The third book in the Harmony Harbor series or as I would like to call it Colleen Gallagher's Book of Secrets gives us the back story to one of the always in the background character, Dana Templeton aka Olivia Davenport. We finally get her story and this time she finds her match in Finn Gallagher, the wounded doctor who was rendering aid in Africa working for Doctors Without Borders. Like previous books, this one could be read as a standalone but since Olivia has been a noted presence in the previous books for me it's best to read at least one of them prior to Primrose Lane because her character's depiction is quite different from what we see here. Her backstory is really sad and what happens next makes me so mad on her behalf and makes Finn really insensitive during certain moments. But never fear! This book still has ghosts, Simon the Cat, Jasper the interfering butler and the rest of the characters that make up the beloved Gallagher family and the residents of Harmony Harbor. Olivia and Finn will make you cry, laugh and swoon like all good romances do.

This was another great book in the Harmony Harbor series. Again, we get to follow some of our favorites from the previous books, as well as get to know some new characters better. Olivia and Finn have a story that tugs at your heart, yet there is plenty of humor throughout. It reflects that balance between friendship and family, between duty and joy, all interwoven with love.

Primrose Lane is a fresh and heartfelt story of new beginnings, set in a picturesque domain owned for generations by the Gallagher family. Finn Gallagher has served with Doctors Without Borders in Congo, but has been forced to return home with a bad leg injury. Although he is happy to be back home, he is distressed by his physical limitations. His family is supportive, but they all have a hidden agenda. They are determined to find him a wife to keep him from returning to Congo. Despite his best efforts, he can’t escape his family meddling and attempts at matchmaking. They are trying to set him up with Olivia Davenport, the new event planner for Greystone Manor.

Their relationship starts on rocky grounds. False perceptions give rise to misunderstandings between them. Finn sees Olivia as a spoiled princess and drama queen, Oliva resents Finn’s judgmental attitude and his critical comments.

Olivia has suffered a lot, she has lost her young son to leukemia and her husband in a plane crash. This character is utterly vulnerable and is running from her memories. She never intended to stay in Harmony Harbor, but the family Gallagher made her feel part of their close-knit group. And yet she buries her grief by turning to prescription drugs and alcohol.

Olivia’s distress brings out Finn’s protective streak. He is worried about her and his concern is genuine. As they spend more and more time together, under the approving gaze of the whole family, including the matchmaking “spirit” of the manor, they start developing feelings for one another that go beyond friendship. They soon find themselves flirting with one another. These two endearing characters definitely deserved a new start.

Primrose Lane hit all my marks for a great read. It was so easy to get lost in Olivia and Finn’s story. It was sweet, uplifting and beautiful, with an irresistible whimsical touch. This story will make you laugh and has just the right amount of angst and drama. I loved every second of this gem of a story! It is obvious that Debbie Mason writes from the heart, her writing is touching and emotion-inducing, her storytelling is creative and inspired. I seriously can’t wait to see what she has in store for her readers.

Favorite Quotes:

Well, she was here, just not here, here. She’d been dead— or undead as the case may be— going on seven months now. Perhaps “passing” would be a more accurate term because she seemed to be betwixt and between. She’d seen the light all right, only she’d been lollygagging, worrying about the ones she was leaving behind, and therefore missed the magic carpet ride to heaven.

Chard-a nay-nay.

How had she not noticed that the smiles and laughter that she’d faked for so long, that she’d felt only on the surface, had become real and bone deep? She’d never expected to be truly happy again. To have those moments of pure joy that set your heart and mind on fire.


My Review:

More secrets were exposed, a slow burn romance developed, and the ghostly hauntings continue in the latest installment of this cute series. Family dramas take center stage with a unique plot twist among the large cast of characters. I enjoy the humor and creative storyline and look forward to the widows and family meddling with the remaining two brothers.

Oh boy, I really struggled with this one. Not in a bad way, okay, sometimes in a bad way. But if you follow me you know I like that about the books I read. Life isn't all sunny days. We make mistakes, sometimes over and over again.

Which for me was the case with Finn Gallagher. Yes, at times he really only had Olivia's best interests at heart. But more often then not I found him to be a little high and mighty with a bash of, I can fix your life better then you can complex.

Now this didn't mean I didn't like him, because often in the book I did. But I will say he's my least favorite hero. At times...I felt no warmth from him. Shocking I know, I'm usually always for the hero and against the heroine.

Nope, not this time.

Of course the same things I didn't like about him are also the things that made this a very interesting story. You couldn't help wanting to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed Olivia. She was just so...sad! You couldn't help feeling sorry for her and want to comfort her. At times I wondered how those around her didn't notice she was falling apart. I wanted to yell at them to LOOK AT HER!

Again, all of it made for a good book.

Not only do you learn about about Finn and Olivia, you get to solve a little more about what's going in the manor. Tons of humorous parts with the brothers and the little girls. You won't be able to read it with a straight face. And lots of grandma issues too. All I've mentioned makes for a great,heartwarming story that will have you crying one minute, and spiting out your drink with laughter then next.

Olivia (or Dana as we first knew her) is hiding in plain sight. She’s also dealing with some extremely heartbreaking issues as we will learn as the story continues. She is barely functioning, but manages to hide that relatively well for the most part. Except from a doctor, one who is back in Harmony Harbor recuperating and just a bit bitter about how long it’s taking before he can leave once again. Finn is suspicious, doesn’t fall for Olivia’s act and eventually calls her out on what she’s doing to herself. While normally Finn doesn’t suffer fools easily, there’s something about Olivia that pulls at him. They may fight like cats and dogs in a thunder storm most of the time, but there is a spark of something underneath the words.

Primrose Lane is a story that will touch your emotions, several types of emotions, and leave you with a satisfying sense of two people working through hell to find each other. We find the matchmaking, the mysteries and the unique characters of Harmony Harbor at work once again. As well as another part of the puzzle that makes up this small town. Although you “could” read this one out of order, I’d strongly suggest that you start from the beginning. There are people, events and time lines that flow through this series. It makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience if you know what happened before this story… in my opinion.

I would not hesitate to recommend this story and this series to any Romance reader. You’ll find realistic situations, a bit of the mystical as well, and some very strong people who live in this small town.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*