I picked this book to review mostly because Half Moon Bay is one of my most favorite places on this earth. I haven't read this author before so I really didn't know what to expect. I'm happy to say that this book was fabulous! I may have to read it again.

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is the story of two sisters at a crossroads in their lives. Adele has spent the last eight years in the Half Moon Bay home where she grew up taking care of her two parents in the last years of their lives. She's basically put her life on hold to take care of them. When both pass on, she's left wondering what she will do with her life. Her sister Justine, twenty years older and an accomplished corporate lawyer has taken care of her financial needs for the last eight years, and the college degree she once started is still unfinished. She has a lot to think about, but Adele is a bit averse to decision making and is so fearful of making a mistake, she's almost paralyzed until she gets herself together and slowly starts to build her life.

Justine thought her marriage was solid and that she was going to grow old with her college sweetheart and husband. But when that doesn't quite work out as planned, she too has a life to rebuild.

I loved how this story is told in dual point of view between the two sisters. The pace of this book was amazing. I was pulled in immediately to the story and then kept on the edge of my seat wondering how these two sisters were going to navigate the challenges in front of them. But most of all, there were some fascinating themes to this book -- sisterhood, friendship, finding yourself, finding love and the one that really had be glued to the pages -- love in a long time marriage and how that changes over the course of a thirty years.

I really loved this story. I need to read more from this author as I really liked the writing in this book. Overall, I recommend this standalone if you like a book that has something to say about life and love through the eyes of two sisters who find their friendship in the process.

An ARC was provided for review.

BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL.

This book hugged me deep into its depths with its loving hand, holding me close to it as I read/listened to it with my heart gradually filling with warmth for the characters. Author Robyn Carr’s writing was what I needed when my mind was so depressed. The story enlivened me and gave me hope and courage in these times of strife. The book was my comfort blanky. I held on to my kindle long after the story was done hoping to bask in its love for a few minutes more.

Two sisters separated by 2 decades in age and still more in their bond, suddenly found themselves at the crossroads with some devastating news. This story was all about discovering themselves and the love and connection between each other.

The book was simply unputdownable, as each word had a wealth of emotion hidden in it. I kept craving this book in between my chores as I wanted to know how both of them would manage. Each had to make a new start and that took courage. I got to see each phase of their development and it gladdened my heart.

Every character added a layer to the story, a gem they were to take me into their world. I adored the sisters. Their pain and happiness became mine down the pages. I couldn’t stay far from them until I got to the last line.

The book is a must-read.

What did I just read? what an AMAZING book! I haven't enjoyed a book this much for such a long time since the first words of the first pages I was completely hooked, the characters the story everything was just so fabulous. it made me smile, laugh, cry and hope it is a book that will leave you with so much and will keep you happy.

Sunrise on half moon bay also has so many beautiful scenarios from around California my favorite place in the whole world .. Home!! so what could I asked more.

The story of Adele and Justine two sisters trying to find a steady life after so much heartache and past experiences that were not so kind.

Sunrise on half moon bay, it's a story that talks about betrayal, about trusting and also about fear, the fear that stops us from moving forward, fear of the unknown of not knowing what life will bring you next, about surprises that were not so kind but also some of them were very pleasant. about having a hard time of change and not knowing how to get accustomed to these new scenarios that were not even planned.

Adele is a beautiful woman who's life was turned apart by someone who really made her feel insecure, not loved like she didn't matter at all. she is trying to build a new life, with more hope and faith, light and joy, life is starting to give so much more than that to her a family, the love and support she always needed and wanted before. now Adele is ready to move on and embrace what life is giving her.

Justine is strong, bold and with a lot of determination, she had it all the family, the husband, the work and the house but life always takes different turns and she wasn't expecting to lose everything the way it happened. heartbroken and lost she starts all over but this time with more support than ever.

Sunrise on half moon bay really brought so many things, the connection and the love of a family, this is the most wonderful thing of the book, how all the women in this book survive and fought so hard to have what the needed and especially that they were strong and were victorious after so many heartaches. I love the feeling of unity, the bond between Justine, Adele, Libby, and Amber is was fabulous and so heart-melting.

The secondary characters were also amazing they gave so much depth to the main characters Scott, Jake, Ross, Logan, and Cat all of them, wonderful characters as well.

I really recommend this book so much!! like, go pre-order all the versions now.

Now I don't know what I'm going to read next after this magnificent story.

Even though they are sisters, Adele and Justine are twenty-years apart, and haven’t really been close, but they’re both at a crossroads in their life. Adele, the younger of the two had put her life on hold to care for her ailing parents, but now that they’re both gone, she’s not sure what to do next. Add to that is her feelings for her best friend Jake: friend or more? Justine’s marriage of twenty-eight years is over after her husband is caught cheating. Even though they hadn’t been close, their situations make it so they have to be, but this proves to be a blessing as they draw close, and support each other through the tough times.

I love Robyn Carr’s heartfelt, and emotional stories with characters you can relate to, flaws and all. The Virgin River series is one of my favorites, but her women’s fiction reminds me a bit of Kristan Higgins’, so I think fans of KH would enjoy Sunrise on Half Moon Bay. Even though I think this would be considered more women’s fiction than romance, there was a bit of that in there, too.

Adele (Addie) Descaros is 32-years old and spent the last eight years caring for her ailing parents. She was selfless in her commitment, even though it came at a time when she was at her own life crossroad. Now that they’re both gone, it’s “now what?” Her sister, Justine, is twenty years older, married with two teenage daughters and is the breadwinner in her household, managing a successful career as a high-powered attorney for a tech company. Justine is now in crisis as her company is facing a merger that will significantly impact her job and her marriage is suddenly crumbling. She and Addie love one another but have never been close. And, she’s provided the financial support for Addie since she became their parents’ caregiver.

These type of issues in the hands of another, less skilled writer would be fodder for a lot of sensational drama. But Carr applies her typical deft touch and takes this story in less predictable directions. Her honest portrayal of Justine’s reactions to her husband’s betrayal is extraordinary as she’s not always behaving well even though she has good intentions. It was hard, and I mean really hard to deal with some of the things thrown at her and I always felt she was presented authentically. Addie’s struggle to find footing and direction was complicated by her memories of her past personal failures and her inability to make decisions when it involves her own life. Both of these women touched me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, quickly establishing an emotional connection that never broke.

I loved this story and finished it in one day. Thérèse Plummer was outstanding in her narration, elevating these characters off the pages into real life people. I knew these women and their insecurities, missteps and resilience. While there are some romantic elements (thank goodness), this reads more like excellent contemporary fiction so know that going into it and set your expectations accordingly. I didn’t always like the choices made by Addie and Justine and there were times I was actually shaking my head fiercely trying to redirect their paths. But these women always found their footing, especially with each other, despite it being a circuitous route sometimes. It’s a story everyone should read because it could easily be your life. It far surpassed my high expectations, despite it being written by one of my most favorite and trusted authors.

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay
by Robyn Carr
HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada)
MIRA
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 14 Apr 2020 | Archive Date 14 May 2020

Loved getting lost in this book. It's the story of two sisters, twenty years apart, and how they strive to reconnect.
Great book to read when you are home and don't want to listen to the news. Will recommend highly to our readers when we open the library again.

I’ve been dreaming of living in a small beach town, being able to walk or bike to local places and just having that slower pace feel. This beautiful gem gave me that feeling, and really made me want that even more!!

The story, the characters, the high and low points, I enjoyed them all, I loved the way the story flowed and how the characters flourished after enduring major life upheavals.

A really great read, one that could be read in a sitting for sure! Special thanks to the author, NetGalley and Mira/Harlequin Publishing for the advanced readers copy! Pick it up and enjoy this read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this. It's about 2 sisters, who are 20 yeas apart in age, having to reconnect and get their lives together after some major changes. It hit upon some very interesting topics, one of which you don't usually hear about I've missed a couple of Ms. Carr's past books and will try to get one of them through my library's Overdrive. Lots of thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Robyn Carr for providing me a copy of an e-ARC

When you want to tune out the news and get lost in a good book, Robyn Carr's latest, Sunrise on Half Moon Bay, is a great place to turn.



Addie is 32 years old, and has spent the last eight years of her life caring first for her father, and then her mother, who lived four years after suffering from a stroke. Now that both of her parents have passed, Addie has to decide what to do with her own life.



Her sister Justine is twenty years older, and was out of the house before Addie was even born. Justine is a successful corporate laywer, working long hours to support her stay-at-home husband Scott and their teenage daughters Olivia and Amber.



Justine and Addie had an agreement that Justine would pay Addie to stay home and take care of their parents, and Justine would pay all of their expenses, including a small stipend for Addie.



Justine has always been a take-charge, decisive person, Addie has been more deliberate. Caring for their ailing parents and an event from Addie's college days has made her reluctant to move forward with her life. She feels stuck, but doesn't know how to move forward.



Her lifelong best friend Jake has been a shoulder to lean on, but now even he has been urging Addie to do something- go back to school, maybe even start dating. And he wouldn't mind if he was the guy she would want to date.



When Justine's husband decides that he wants out of the marriage, she is blindsided. She always thought they were happy. Scott wants half of their marital assets and spousal support, which means that Justine's financial support of Addie is in jeopardy.



Addie and Justine's lives have been turned upside down, and now they have to take a hard look at what they really want out of life and how to get there. They haven't been close as sisters, but now they must figure out a way to pull together and build a new relationship with each other.



The sister relationship is the strongest element of Sunrise on Half Moon Bay. I loved watching Addie and Justine work their way back to each other, depending on each other to get through a new phase of their lives. Justine reevaluates her career situation and has to deal with a big change in her midlife, while Addie is starting a little later than most people at finding a meaningful job.



There is so much that people can relate to here- Addie sacrificing to care for her parents, Justine working long hours at a tough job to provide financially for her family, while still coming home to make dinner, do laundry and help with her daughters' homework. Even Olivia and Amber, having their lives turned upside down by their parents' divorce, are in a situation where many people have been.



I hope that we get to revisit Addie and Justine in a future Half Moon Bay book, I feel like they have become my friends.

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is the latest contemporary romance from well known author Robyn Carr. This latest book focuses mainly on the lives of two sisters changing the point of view between them but also has a couple of instances it switches to other secondary characters for a deeper prospective of their involvement.

Adele and Justine were never very close as sisters since there is twenty years between their ages but they have always kept in touch despite the difference. Justine who is the older of the two became a high powered lawyer whose husband became a stay at home dad to their two girls. Meanwhile Adele had dropped out of college when an affair had gone wrong and while she processed the breakup she needed to begin to care for their aging parents.

Now after eight years of being a caretaker with her parents gone Adele is lost as what to do with her life and when Justine approaches about selling their family home she knows she needs to figure out her life. Just as Adele begins to take a look at her own life though she sees Justine’s husband with another woman and Justine ends up taking a step back to evaluate her own life and marriage.

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay was a wonderful read that focused on the overall lives of the two main characters with all their ups and downs along the way. It was nice to have both grow so much during the book to become two strong willed women that dealt with all that life through at them and eventually find their way to happiness. I’m sure this will be a winner with Robyn Carr fans and new readers alike.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Adele and Justine are siblings who have mever been close. After their parents die and Adele is longer caretaker things change. Adele has to rebuild her life and Justine realizes her husband of many years has been cheating. Watching these women rebuild their lives was beautiful. I personally found Justine's journey to be the more interesting. Adele had a side plot with a past love that I found frustrating. But Justine had to rethink her entire life while taking care of her children.
The relationships in this book felt really real which was wonderful as this book really lived and died in the relationships.

3.5 stars

If you’re looking for a book about women finding themselves after being lost to either work or family obligations or both, here ya go. Many people, especially women, can go years and years thinking they have a great life and that they’re happy, until something “other” happens and knocks them out of those beliefs. Sometimes that’s a wonderful thing, and something it’s very overwhelming and takes a lot of time to dig out of those old thoughts and feelings. These sisters, Addie and Justine, both get their worlds turned upside down in different ways. And they deal with these issues in different ways. Luckily, they also find a connection as sisters they never had before since they are 20 years apart. They finally start feeling like true sisters.

Addie has spent almost a decade being a caregiver to her parents. She barely left the house other than to run errands, and she didn’t mind. She loved her parents very much and was happy to help. But when first her father, then years later her mother, pass away she realizes she’s stuck in a rut. All the dreams she had for herself for when she was free to do her own thing seem like pipe dreams. Her best friend and sister are both concerned and encourage her to do something…anything.

Justine has been married for almost 30 years. Two teenage girls and a stay-at-home dad. She has a high pressure, high paying career that helps keep her husband in toys (golf clubs, ATVs, etc.) and has enabled them to help Addie stay on has their parent’s caregiver all these years. Justine loves her daughters and her husband and thinks all is well…until it isn’t.

The catalyst for both sisters to change their lives is the same, but for different reasons. Justine husband is cheating on her. Let me tell you, I truly hate that man. I don’t believe there is any point in this story where I feel sorry for him or understand what made Justine think he’s been a great father or husband. He’s not a bad father, at least not at first. But he does the minimum of what needs doing. Yet he has Justine believing they are “living the life” and will have many more happy years together. I’ll warn you, if you’ve ever been cheated on there may be parts of this story that are difficult to get through. This man is a real piece of work. He’s selfish and petty and vindictive.

As for Addie, she learns that even though she’s been a caregiver she kind of doesn’t know how to take care of herself. But she changes that and starts to find things she loves to do. Addie gains confidence and expands her friend base. In the beginning of this story there are some things that Justine says to Addie that make me think I may not like Justine, but she comes around. Addie has worked hard for those she loves and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. But that has left her open to people taking advantage, even when they don’t mean to.

Both sisters have their own little romances going on, but I don’t classify this one as a romance. That is so peripheral to what the true story is with these women. And, quite frankly, I didn’t feel the romantic connection with Addie and her beau. I did with Justine and her guy, but it was more like a low simmer. In some ways, especially with Addie, I think the author did that on purpose. Yet it keeps me from looking at this story as a true romance.

Robyn Carr is great at writing real women with real problems, yet make their stories enjoyable. I absolutely adore the way Justine’s girls handle the issues their parents have. I love the coworkers Addie befriends. All of the women in this story are amazing. This is a solid read.

As always, the characters – whether you like them or not – are real. Real issues, real drama, real feelings. I didn’t love either of the lead characters when I started, but I was interested in their stories, and by the final chapter, they felt like friends (valued despite their flaws!) The voice of this novel, the descriptions, the dialogue, the characters, the setting – speak to the strength within us and the bonds of family. It spoke to triumph in change (or despite change), personal growth and maturity, the treasures of friendships. It didn’t however, truly speak to me.

It was easy to read and typically quick-moving (but not fast-paced, but not mind-boggling) – you don’t have to invest a lot of deep thought or heavy reading sessions to “get it”. It is, at face value, a feel-good, cuddle on the couch, piece of women’s fiction – a great way to pass an evening or two – while offering simple reminders about the value of finding your way and standing up for yourself. There were a few twists, but I wish it had a bit more scenery and perhaps a few more dynamic interactions. It’s not a world-changing piece of literature, but it worked for a Friday night read – a good title to toss in your bag for poolside lounging, sitting in airports, or tucked away on your back deck to escape the kids.

My thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Sunrise at Half Moon Bay is Robyn Carr's latest book and gives us the story of two sisters - born twenty years apart. Adele and Justine.  Adele has cared for first her father and then her mother, living in the family home with them. Now both of them are gone and she at thirty two must take up her life and live it. Up until now her high flying lawyer sister has supported her, but now things are different.

Justine has hit some snags herself. Her marriage is now in difficulties and husband Scott is at the centre of that! Her two daughters are who she needs to put first and she does.

Both sisters have to make decisions and plot new paths in their lives. That's what kept me reading - what was going to happen next. The characters seemed a little up and down, but on the whole I warmed to them.

This book did feel instructive and the intention seemed to be to educate. How to negotiate a divorce, friendship with sisters, how to deal with people who take advantage of you, lie to you, abuse you. And how to come out the other side.

There was a lot of prose and telling, more that I like! There was as well dialogue moving the plot forward which placated this reader to some extent. Somehow it didn't feel to me like it was Robyn Carr's usual author voice.

That said, I still got immersed and enjoyed the read.

Life is too short to read books that don't really go anywhere - I gave this one a fair chance until 50% of the way through but it just had no backbone. There was no underlying attachment, the characters felt empty and spineless and it just wasn't what it lived up to be. I expected beautiful settings, the odd sunrise?! The sort of things the title of this book (and the cover) lent itself to as well as an underlying storyline. Sadly it didn't supply any of this.

I always look forward to Robyn Carr's new releases, and "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" did not disappoint.

This story focuses on sisters Justine and Adele, who must attempt to rebuild their lives and navigate changing relationships in the wake of their mother's death. Born twenty years apart, the sisters have never been close, but as they help each other cope with the realities of their changed circumstances, they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they ever thought possible.

Both Justine and Adele were well-developed and likeable characters, and it was easy for me to empathize with each of their experiences over the course of the story. Neither of them was perfect, but their flaws just made them seem more realistic and relatable. I also appreciated that this story was not predictable, and several things did not turn out exactly the way I expected. That was particularly true of the arc involving Justine's husband, Scott, which took a turn that I never would have anticipated.

Overall, "Sunrise on Half Moon Bay" is an excellent addition to Ms. Carr's body of work, and I recommend it for all fans of contemporary women's fiction. I look forward to Ms. Carr's next novel!

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This ended up being a great read but it took me a little while to get into it. At the start I didn't like either of the main characters. Addie seemed a bit pathetic and unwilling to take responsibility for her own life while her sister came off as really unfeeling and cold. Luckily though there is a lot of development for both characters and I enjoyed the latter parts of the book much more. The book flows really nicely and is a pretty quick read. I also loved the setting of Half Moon Bay and found myself wishing I could visit! I think most people, especially fans of Robyn's other stories, will really enjoy this novel!

This was a great story about two sisters who were born twenty years apart and while they are in different phases of life they are both going through huge changes. I really loved seeing both Addie and Justine’s character arcs over the course of the story and how much stronger the both of them became. I also appreciated how Carr chose to make Addie so much younger than her sister because it was a great way to see life from two completely different perspectives.

I think that everyone can relate to at least one thing that either sister is going through which makes both the characters and situations easy to connect to. There is a lot packed into this book including domestic abuse, divorce, cheating and grief among other things. The main theme of this book, though, is rebuilding. Addie and Justine are both tasked with rebuilding not only their lives but themselves and what they want for their future. I was disappointed that this book did a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. There were times that the book did a mixture of both for the same events and that repetitiveness slowed the pacing down a lot.

Another one of my favorite things about this book was the setting. I was born and raised in the Bay Area and I will forever want to read books set in and around my hometown. Carr did a great job of making Half Moon Bay come to life and I think this book makes it easy to fall in love with this coastal town. I do have to say though, that this book does make some mistakes concerning the Bay Area but it obviously doesn’t affect anything story wise. I also loved that San Jose was included in the story since that was where I lived for about 5 years before we moved out of the area.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I always enjoy picking up a Robyn Carr novel...she has such a way of writing books about strong female relationships and this one was no exception. Needing a change of pace from all the thrillers I have been reading, this was the perfect palate cleanser.

I love that right away, I always feel right at home with the characters that Robyn Carr creates. They are always real and relatable with real life issues, ones that at some level you can always see yourself in. There is always a strong emotional element to her writing and I loved that this one focused not only one these sisters trying to find themselves, but also having to repair their relationship with each other. Having sisters myself, I am always drawn to stories that focus on sister relationships and I feel that Robyn Carr does this dynamic really well.

I loved that this book gives you all the feels. There is romance here for both sisters, but that is not the focus of this book. It's more about change and finding out that it's never too late to change something in your life and go after what it is you want, whatever the impetus for that change.

This is a quick, enjoyable read, perfect for escaping all that is going on in the world right now. I've always found that with Robyn Carr's books but never more so than right now. I loved her Virgin River series as well as her other series, and her stand-alones like this one as just as good. If you enjoy a story that leave you feeling hopeful, pick this one up!

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is an amazing and emotional story that is pure Robyn Carr as you can hear her voice through the words. This story examines the joys of sisterhood as well as the importance of embracing change. Reading this amazing story had me laughing, crying, and empathetic for these two sisters as their lives are suddenly changing. Sisters Adele and Justine were never close as they were born twenty years apart. This age difference made it difficult for these two to truly know each other. Addie dropped out of college and became the caretaker for her ailing parents while successful lawyer Justine covered the expenses. Now that their parents are gone, each woman is facing a life crisis. Adele doesn’t know what to do with her life or how to live for herself while Justine’s marriage is falling apart. The sisters realize that by supporting each other they will get through these life challenges. Together they will find the strength to survive their failures, work through their challenges and discover what they want from life. Both Adele and Justine can be happy and enjoy their lives, but first they must find the courage to fight for what they want in life.

Ms. Carr wrote a story that reflects family dynamics and personal trauma that many readers will be able relate to. This is an amazing and emotional story that is not to be missed. This rich tale is filled with visual descriptions, family and personal challenges, in addition to endearing characters. I highly recommend Sunrise on Half Moon Bay to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.