The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts was a delightful read filled with humor, witty banter, relatable characters and lots of entertaining moments within the community of Moonlight Harbor . I enjoyed the chemistry between Celeste and Henry. Their banter was fun and engaging. I also liked the close relationship Celeste has with her sister Jenna.
I give this story 4 stars.

This was a very good read about relationships between sisters and mothers and daughters. I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. Even though I hadn't read the previous books in this series, this was okay to read stand alone. The author did a very good job catching the reader up on what they'd missed in previous books.

If you enjoy small towns, family sagas and sweet beach reads, this is definitely the book for you. Check it out!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in the review are my own.

Whats the best thing for a broken heart? A change of scenery. Celeste is a school teacher. Hoping her cop boyfriend Emerson will soon propose. When she finds out he is cheating, Celeste runs off to see her sister in Moonlight Harbor. Her sister Jenna soon puts her to work at the Driftwood inn she runs .Jenna is determined to set Celeste up and starts to introduce her to eligible men. This is the perfect read for the summer. Sheila Roberts does a wonderful job setting the scene. My only complaint was with Jenna and her matchmaking. She was very intent on who she wanted her sister to end up with. Having said that, it was a wonderful read. The Summer Retreat is part of a series. Best read in order. Can't wait to read more from this author and series.

This is the first book I have read by author Sheila Roberts. When I picked up this book, I thought it would make for the perfect beach read. It is a clean contemporary romance bordering more towards the women's fiction genre. However, sadly I had a tough time liking the main character, Celeste. Without liking the main character, it's difficult to enjoy the story regardless of the plot line. So while I wanted to like this book, it just wasn't for me.

Celeste thought she found true love until she gets dumped for another woman her “almost” fiancé has had on the side . She packs her bags and heads home to be with her sister Jenna in Moonlight Harbor. Surely things will be easier at home with family. But will it? Celeste soon finds a safe choice for true love, a pastor has to be safe right? But is he the right choice? Is Celeste choosing the right man this time? Can Jenna help? And who is Henry ? And why every time she is near him, her heart flutters? He can’t be the one for Celeste can he? So many questions yet you have to read the book to see how it all plays out.
These two sisters come together to face love, loss and heartbreak but still have hopes of finding their one true love. This is a beautiful story of family, friendship and love. A perfect summer read! I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I am definitely going to buy them and catch up on the other characters in the story. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to review.

This is a great beach read! Celeste escapes to her sister’s Driftwood Inn to get over her boyfriend’s betrayal. Her sister is more than eager to help Celeste find her true love. The twists and turns in this book keeps you laughing and Sheila’s writing is always entertaining. This story is one you will not want to put down.

Sheila Roberts has written a delightful story. The Summer Retreat will likely be a popular choice for summer reading. This is the perfect type of escape story for the beach. Basically, Celeste is escaping her cheating ex by going to visit her sister at Moonlight Harbor. Celeste will help her sister run The Driftwood Inn for the summer. The town has a benevolent atmospheric presence that will be familiar to anyone who has lived in a small town. The characters of the town, etc. are kindly, gracious, and well meaning, although perhaps intrusive and gossipy at times. Celeste is sympathetic because she's at sixes and sevens about love and life. She's of an age to settle and start a family, and this is a vexing situation for her. Celeste is also resilient, capable and relatable to women who understand that your heart and your head will sometimes disagree. She has a wonderful bond with her sister which is heartening in the overall picture. This may be the most momentous summer of her life! The journey Celeste makes is transformative and progressive. When summer ends, will Celeste be strengthened and encouraged by her choices? Summer Retreat is a light read that's wholly enjoyable, charming and enticing. You can't beat it for a day relaxing poolside. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked this book. It is part of a series but is easily read as a standalone. With plenty of small town charm, sweetness and emotions powering this well written story, you will find yourself deeply involved in Celeste search for love and that elusive HEA.

DNF at 28%.

After her serious boyfriend dumps her for the woman he's been having an affair with for the last several months Celeste Jones decides to lick her wounds in Moonlight Harbor at her sister Jenna's B&B, the Driftwood Inn. As she earns her way as a maid Celeste is sucked into the small town activities like line dancing, parades and Sunday church. Her sister is determined to set her up with a nice guy, but Jenna has her own romantic entanglements.

I had three issues with this novel. First, it is all telling no showing. Second, this is the third book in a series and the author peppers the narrative with so many references to events in previous books that I feel the entire book is a recap on what happened before. Third, the characters are such caricatures that I struggled to find any glimmer of empathy for any of them.

I forced myself to read past the 25% mark to see whether the writing settled down or the plot started to unfold but at 28% I decided enough was enough. Definitely not for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Summer Retreat has been a bit of a struggle. Celeste comes to live with her sister in Moonlight Harbor for the summer to nurse a broken heart. Apparently, Moonlight Harbor offers a smorgasbord of eligible men and even with all the men to choose from Celeste quickly reels in the one that is totally inappropriate for her. I really had trouble liking Celeste or sympathizing with her. She seems shallow and flitty and not the kind of person I would ever call a friend. I wanted to like Jenna, the big sister, but I found her very judgmental. The writer Henry seemed to be the only relatable character and you wonder why he is interested in Celeste at all. Celeste spends way too much time feeling like she's not good enough to be with the pastor and yet still trying to force a happily ever after with the man. It takes a catty church lady to save the day. The book's ending is totally predictable and just okay. Though not my preferred read, I am sure some people will enjoy this but its not for me. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Perfect summer read perfect beach read.A wonderful story full of romance well written characters sat down to read a few pages and found myself reading for hours.An author I will be following highly recommend.#netgalley # Mirabooks.

Celeste hasn't had the best of luck picking husband material in the past. Following a recent break-up with her boyfriend, who she thought was "the one," she moves back to Moonlight Harbor to work for her sister at her hotel. There she meets the local pastor who she feels could be her soul mate. He's kind, thoughtful, caring... and wouldn't cheat on her, because, he's a pastor! All is well until she cleans the room of a budding author and the heat ignites. Which does she go for?

Personally, I like a beach ride that doesn't have a lot of plot. I just read along until the story is over. I like good character development in a beach read. The Summer Retreat has good character development, but for me, the one who is ok with weak plots, this one was pretty weak. It seemed that the story about Celeste making up her mind what she wants in a future husband takes a really long time. That and nosy girlfriends make up most of the plot. However, I love the little town of Moonlight Harbor, and grandma with her cookies. Consider this book if you like beach reads the way I do!

Are you looking for a fantastic romance novel to take to the beach this Summer? Well, look no further because this is it! What a lovely and exciting book this was and a perfect and refreshing change from my usual, favourite genre.

“The Summer Retreat” is the third book in the ‘Moonlight Harbor’ series by best-seller author Sheila Roberts, the first book being ‘Welcome to Moonlight Harbor’, followed by ’Winter at the Beach’.

Although I’ve seen many of the author’s books around in my local library, the supermarket, and in bookshops, this is the first one I’ve read (I think) and I was not disappointed.

Celeste Jones is a primary school teacher and as the summer term has just come to an end, so has her relationship with her cheating boyfriend, Emerson. To drown her sorrows and re-evaluate her life, Celeste decides to visit her sister, Jenna who lives in a quaint town on the Washington coast where she runs the ‘Driftwood Inn’.

This was a well paced and very touching romance that had me hooked, even before I had swiped my e-reader to take me to the second page.

Sheila Roberts has drawn a pleasant, easy-going and genial character in Celeste. However, at thirty-six and a half, she thinks it’s about time she finds herself a husband who will not cheat on her and she has plans to settle down, have a family and live happily ever after.

“The Summer Retreat” was such a delightful, though predictable, tale and once I had started reading, I found I was totally invested in the story. It held my interest right until the fulfilling conclusion.

I will be reading the first two books in the series and I eagerly wait to see what Sheila Roberts is going to be releasing next. This is a must-read for anyone who loves women’s fiction or romance novels, so you need to order your copy!

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin - MIRA and the author, Sheila Roberts for the free advanced copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.

This is the first book by Sheila Roberts that I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last. Ms. Roberts has written a clean second chance romance. It was refreshing to read a romance book that had great characters and a romantic story line that wasn’t riddled with steamy sex scenes...proving that a good writer doesn’t have to rely on sex scenes to write a wonderful book.

I enjoyed reading about Celeste, who moved to the small town of Moonlight Harbor to help her sister, Jenna, run the Driftwood Inn after a bad break up with her two-timing boyfriend. She can hear her biological clock ticking and fears she will never have a husband and children. The story follows her as she tries to find ‘Mr. Right’.

The Summer Retreat is the third book in the Moonlight Harbor series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I will definitely go back and start reading at the beginning of the series. I recommend The Summer Retreat to readers who like a good clean romance. You won’t be disappointed.

I received at ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts, book three in A Moonlight Harbor series, is Celeste Jones’, story. Celeste’s summer plans were destroyed when she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her. Instead she heads to the Moonlight Harbor, and the beach, to help her sister, Jenna, with the Driftwood Inn. Almost from day one, Jenna is pushing Celeste to start dating again. First up is Pastor Paul who falls head over heels for Celeste. It’s possible that he is just too perfect. So what if there is no chemistry, he still checks all the boxes and loves her. Then there is the mystery guest in one of the cottages. Celeste stumbles upon him as she attempts to clean his room. Peeking at his laptop she finds he’s a serial killer!! Oh wait, that’s not right, he’s writing a book, killing off his ex-girlfriend who had no faith in him. As Celeste discovers, despite making herself a fool at the beach with Harry, they are attracted to each other. Plus there is definitely chemistry between them and he is definitely not Mr. Right. Or is he? Jenna has her own problems in sorting her own love life; loving two completely opposite men. If only both sisters would listen to their hearts, not logic, they just might discover that life, and true love, can be found at the beach.

Ms. Roberts wrote a wonderful, funny, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters giving Celeste a chance at finding true happiness and love and a future with the right one. I highly recommend The Summer Retreat to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This is a nice light summer beach read. You have the woman who choosing all the wrong men and tries to do the right thing the next time around. She chooses the "safe" bet rather than the infuriating man that pushes all her buttons. Of course he is all wrong!

A lot of drama with the members of the town weighing in on her choices, even her sister pushing her to the safe choice. In the end she has to go with her heart.

Excited to read book 3 in Moonlight Harbor series (I am still looking for book 2)
I loved book 2 very much

Look for the rainbow in the storm
If not, go to the beach - Life is always good at the beach.

Jenna's sister comes to help and recover. Sisters helping each other.
Finding a good man - more likely have better luck finding
a unicorn eating a four-leaf clover.

Drink some wine
Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine

Catch up with old friends, meet some new ones
I want to hang around Moonlight Harbor
Read this and you will too

I am waiting for more books in this series

As a younger reader, I had a really hard time with women’s fiction. I felt too young to relate to any of the characters and like I could never fully understand or realize their struggles. But I also felt like I was too old for the YA genre—at least at that time.

Now that I am almost forty, I feel like I can finally appreciate women’s fiction in its entirety so lately I’ve been really open to this genre and enjoying it so much!

Sheila Roberts is a fairly well known author to me. I haven’t read any of her books, but I have seen them quite a bit in bookstores as well as grocery store end caps. Not to mention a few of her books have been turned into Hallmark Channel and Lifetime movies.

This is an author who clearly has a large fan base, so when this book came up for review, I was eager to see what all the fuss was about!

This book basically ended up being exactly what I was expecting it to be—-a quick, easy beach read with a HEA romance and I am 100% ok with that. I like to balance my reading so that I don’t get burned out on any one particular genre and this book was just what I needed to break up some of my heavier reading.

I can see why Roberts has such a large devotion of fans. She writes believable characters with realistic features, stories, and lives and the romances are believable with a little sizzle and sweetness resulting in a HEA. While this book isn’t going to change the world, it does offer a fabulous escape from reality and an enjoyable story.

While at times this book was really predicable, I didn’t mind all that much. I took my pleasure from reading about the lovely little Driftwood Inn at Moonlight Harbor, the fun characters and Celeste’s romance. While there were some obstacles between Celeste and her HEA, I thought it was appropriate and fitting for her character in the end.

This was a nice beach read—something you throw in your bag and read in one sitting while soaking up the sun—or maybe you read in one sitting while it’s raining outside while you dream of sunnier days (my situation). All in all, it was a lovely read and even though it wasn’t earth shattering in content, it was a nice escape and one that I read in only a couple of sittings as it read very quickly!

I did enjoy this book but found it a bit dull in places and not enough happened for my liking.

A good story though saying that, Celeste comes to help her sister Jenna at the Inn, she meets two different men and has to decide what one to choose.

Will she pick the right one for her?

Review to follow.
I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Mira in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is the third book in a series. I read the first two before reading this book to put it in context although they could easily stand alone. The books are light beach reads which unfortunately felt weighed down by too many characters.

The Summer Retreat(Moonlight Harbor #3) by Shield Roberts

April 23, 2019
Mira Publishing
Fiction, beach read
Rating: 3/5


I received a digital ARC copy of this book from Mira and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third book in a series. I read the first two before reading this book to put it in context although they could easily stand alone. The books are light beach reads which unfortunately felt weighed down by too many characters.

I enjoyed the first book but the following books seemed to be weighed down with many characters. The description and history of the characters were informative but not entirely necessary to plot and resolution. Maybe this was intentional to set the pace for upcoming books in the series.

Overall, a delightful, easy read with a lot of Christian undertones and nods to other women’s literature authors. This book centers mostly on Celeste Jones, who decides to move to Moonlight Harbor Inn for respite. Jenna Jones, her sister, had worked hard renovating the Driftwood Inn, which has been in the family for years.

I had read the first two books so I was prepared when this book started with a focus on Celeste. It didn’t feel organic in flow from the ending of the previous book. I was anticipating each novel to build off the other which they did but also provide insight into next book.

Of course, it is difficult for me to provide a review of this book as a stand alone since I’ve read the other books. The storyline is clever and the romantic subplots humorous. I felt it lacked a strong framework moving forward to support the additions to the series.