I love reading Irene Hannon books! I have found myself looking forward to each trip to Hope Harbor. It's amazing how we get pulled into these locations and compare them to either our hometowns, places that we have visited, or places that we hope to find ourselves someday! Katherine and Zack remind me a lot of a couple of Karen Kingsbury's characters. While I was reading, I kept thinking wow they need to get together and create a joint book with these characters. It seems they would get along well and could guide Kat and Zack in how to deal with the public and paparazzi. I highly recommend the Hope Harbor series and look forward to the next installment!

*Warnings*
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. #3—additional warning reserved only for this review—Here we go…again...I’m trying out yet another method. Let me know what you think: unconstrained stream-of-consciousness; numbered pros and cons; detailed review minus any fangirling whatsoever (I think I wrote, like, one of those before); or whatever this turns out to be. The feedback is appreciated.


Stars: 3 ½

Synopsis: Katherine Parker has abandoned her career to find solace in Hope Harbor after a tragic accident. Zach Garrett did the same several years ago, and now he’s at home in Hope Harbor as the owner of The Perfect Blend. Will the two neighbors be able to forge a friendship, or will Katherine’s secrets keep them apart?

Favorite Quote: “He didn’t pray for himself, Zach. He prayed for you.”


So, I think it’s become pretty obvious now that I have a love/hate relationship with contemporary fiction.

I avoid it, and yet, at the same time, I crave it. Make sense? Yeah, I don’t get it either. So, because of my strange relationship with contemporary fiction, I am always wary whenever I begin a modern-day story.

It wasn’t any different with Blackberry Beach.

Maybe I’m not the best advisor, since this particular style of contemporary isn’t necessarily my forte (I’m more of a Tammy L. Gray, Sarah Monzon, or Julie Lessman girl), but it’s always good to get a second opinion.

Blackberry Beach has great potential, but the escapist theme and slow progression kept it from making a lasting impression. The characters—Kat and Zach—had great character arcs and visible, although extremely slow, development. I liked seeing the definite change and their thought processes as they made huge decisions; however, I do think that took way too long (Kat, for instance, didn’t make her final decision until within the last five chapters), and I was lacking some of the emotional and spiritual struggle I was hoping to see.

Speaking of, though there was mention of prayer, church, God, and the two clergymen in Hope Harbor, I found the spiritual aspects lacking. For one, Kat has apparently been a Christian for some time, but she never made much mention of it or turned to God until it was nearly too late. In the meantime, Zach has given up on a relationship with God, and we barely see him mending fences with his Heavenly Father, which was upsetting. Blackberry Beach is definitely more of an “inspirational” read, but it’s not one to inspire readers to look to God in trials.

Blackberry Beach is the last book in the Hope Harbor series, and I’ve never read the previous books. I would wager that’s why I felt like there was something lacking the setting, as if Hope Harbor had been thoroughly developed and elaborated on in the earlier books and Hannon just skipped over that this time. Regardless, Blackberry Beach could definitely be read as a standalone. Nothing else seemed missing at all.

Unless we’re talking about the vibrancy of the period itself, which did seem lacking. When I read contemporary novel, I expect to read it just like I do a historical novel—I expect to see authenticity and to learn. So, yes, a few name brands thrown in, name drops, pop culture references—all of them make for a realistic and authentic experience that invests me into the story. It may not make the story timeless, but it helps me better envision the story. Blackberry Beach was lacking that vision.

And can I just say that Zach, although a well-developed character (by means which I will elaborate on in a moment), seemed very unguyish? (Which was not a word until now.) Maybe it’s because he’s an Atlantian-turned-Oreganian, but I did find both him and Frank very unrealistic in their voices (both in their monologue and dialogue).

I love it when an author has a strong voice and balanced writing—but at times the author’s voice overrides their characters’. Such happened in Blackberry Beach, where I wasn’t able to differentiate Zach from his aunt or Frank from Kat. I would’ve liked to have seen a more masculine presentation, I guess. One book that pulled that off was Becky Wade’s True to You. Y’all, John’s POV sounded convincingly male and fit his personality—something for which I commended Wade in my review.

Unfortunately, Hannon doesn’t have that talent, so while the characters all looked good on paper, they didn’t sound good on paper—make sense? Their development and character from others’ POVs was strong and for the most part convincing, but once we entered their minds, I lost all sense of stability and realism.

That made it very difficult to connect with the characters. I had a hard time investing emotion into the story—and maybe that’s the point. Maybe this story was intended to whisk me away from life and empty my head and heart of all trouble. For some people, that may be why they read. But I read not only to escape but also to feel. To create lifelong friends, fangirl and ship my favorite characters, cry for the protagonist, ache for the villain, and even yell “Idiot!” at my Kindle a couple times. That’s how books like A Voice in the Wind, A Passion Redeemed, and Unblemished burrowed their way into my heart.

However, there is yet good to this book.

Despite how uninterested I was in the characters or story, I still kept coming back! Perhaps it was for the hope that it would get better, the desire to know what decision Kat came to (and, earlier on, what her past was), or simply because Irene Hannon does have well-balanced, maybe even captivating, prose.

She did a very good job of capturing the inner thoughts of the characters within the narrative, which left little need for italicized internal monologue. I appreciate that, even if she didn’t capture the male characters very well. The balance between thoughts, description, and action was very well done—however, I would’ve liked a little more emotion and less dialogue.

All that being said, I think Hannon probably makes a better suspense writer than romance. I can definitely see her writing style, developmental skills, and languid pacing giving a suspense novel more depth—but I’ll have to read one to find out!

I felt a thirst to finish the story, and I truly am glad I did. Now I know that this isn’t my preferred genre or contemporary style. I think this book would cater to a lot of readers—particularly the ones who like slow plots, clean reads, and not a lot of emotional investment! I’m just not one of them.


Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hope Harbor is a delightful small town on the coast of Oregon where you might say people go for second chances or just to getaway...some even wind up staying. Zach left the corporate world and Chicago behind a few years ago to pursue a different life as a coffee shop owner. One of his baristas, Frank is a retired postal worker who lost his wife a few years ago. Katherine Parker (in disguise as Kat Morgan) is on a visit from her career as an actress to recuperate from a scandal and figure out what she wants. Zach's Aunt Stephanie has just retired from a career as a high level corporate world traveler. Her home is in New York City. Zach is drawn to Kat and wants to find out her story when she visits his shop but she is pretty shy. Frank and Stephanie are also drawn to each other but their lives are on opposite coasts, not to mention other obstacles. Will they decide to go back to their lives or try something new? It is a fun places to watch people and recurring residents, especially Charley with his taco food truck, along with his many animals friends like Gladys and Floyd, sea gulls, and others. The two local men of the cloth are a hoot and the community always comes together to take care of each other. This is another pleasant read by Irene Hannon.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

I always look forward to her new releases and I was not disappointed in Blackberry Beach. I don’t know how she does it, but Hannon just keeps getting better. Be sure to have plenty of time to flip the pages in this one because you won’t want to put it down. I devoured it! Thank you, for more hours of pure entertainment. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

I had not read the book summary so even finding out that Kat was an actess was a surprise for me. I enjoyed the story between Katherine and Zach. However I also enjoyed the story of Zach’s aunt just as much. And since I have read all the books in the series it is always a pleasure to see other characters and of course Charley and his taco stand.

This is a great book to escape into.
Sexual content – kissing (1)
Violence - none
Drug/alcohol use -none
Profanity - none

BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO THE SERIES!

Multi Award Winning Author Irene Hannon is back with BLACKBERRY BEACH, Book #7 and the final book in her wonderful Hope Harbor Series. Once again, she is in Top Form and proves why she still is at the top of her game as an author in the genre of Contemporary Christian Romance. The entire series has been excellent and Hannon ends on a winning note with BLACKBERRY BEACH.

Hannon has created a wonderful cast of characters for BLACKBERRY BEACH. Katherine Parker is right on the edge of obtaining everything she has ever wanted and worked so hard to obtain - fame, money, and acclaim. But now she is not sure that is really the desire of her heart. Katherine has traveled incognito to Hope Harbor for some much needed R&R. She is hoping her time in her secluded rental home with its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean will help calm her and reset the course of her life.

However, Katherine did not count on Coffee Shop owner Zach Garrett being so kind to her. Or so patient, non-threatening and truly friendly. And it did not hurt he was very good looking, too! Everything was fine until she discovered he was her next door neighbor! How would she ever be able to keep her identity a secret now?

Hannon masterfully weaves this story together and throws in a big measure of suspense to see if there is any way possible for these two to forge a unique relationship and make it work. Also, love may be in the air for another unlikely Hope Harbor couple. Hannon’s use of one beloved character, Charley Lopez, the local fish taco making artist, helps give readers a feeling of continuity throughout the Series. Charley serves as a sort of spiritual guide but with a big brother feel. He’s the kind of friend everyone wishes they had in their life. He is an important asset to the Hope Harbor community. Hannon will delight her readers with this story!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Now available. I was gifted an Arc of Blackberry Beach (Hope Harbor #7) from Netgalley & Irene Hannon, for an honest review. This was the sweetest story I have read in some time. Katherine finds herself on the wrong side of Hollywood fame. A rumor has her running from the Hollywood hills and taking a breather in Hope Harbor. Zach Garrett is also in Hope Harbor for certain reasons. He has been here for a few years and has opened up a coffee shop and has made many friends in town. As beautiful as the town is, you can’t hide forever and both have to deal with their problems. The two start to have feelings for each other and before they can start a relationship, they have to conquer their fears and move their lives forward. If they can do it, they both could have it all. It is a tall task and I happened to be cheering both of them on. This is the 7th book in the series and The author did a terrific job of having it read like a stand alone. This is a good old fashioned love Tagore and I always feel we can all use more of these types a story. Overall this was a four star read for me and I would love to read other stories by Hannon. I have shared this book on my Instagram page and have reviewed it in multiple sites. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Author Irene Hannon is a master of setting and conveying emotional tone, and in Blackberry Beach, the seventh book of the A Hope Harbor Novel series, the tone is like smooth water and soft sunlight.  Ms. Hannon explores the theme of thresholds in life and how we humans face and deal with them, and this  novel brings us two sweet and heartwarming love stories, an exploration of the dilemmas life puts before us, and one taco-selling, town sage whose advice sparks mental clarity when it’s needed most. Reading the previous books in the series is unnecessary; this installment stands nicely alone.

In Hope Harbor, Oregon, Zachary Garrett owns The Perfect Blend which serves coffees worthy of repeat business. Recently Zach has noticed a ‘mystery’ woman in the shop who is skittish of people, wears oversized sunglasses, avoids giving her name, and always orders a vanilla latte. Orders, grabs, and goes. She’s lovely, he’s intrigued, and the next time she comes in, he maneuvers things so he can wait on her. He puts on his best smile and approaches.

Six years earlier, Hollywood starlet Katherine Parker spent several weeks working in Hope Harbor, and her fond memories guide her back to the small coastal town when scandal and chaos erupt in her life. Staying in a beachfront cottage away from people who might recognize her, Katherine hopes to wait out the media storm and decide if a celebrity career is really what she wants long term. She loves to bake and make chocolate candy, and with blackberry season in full swing, Katherine has plenty of ingredients for her hobby. She takes a chance stepping into the downtown coffee shop and wavers between fear and attraction as the shop’s owner draws her out of her isolation with his non-threatening friendliness. The tension ratchets up on her life-changing decision when she is offered a part in a major motion picture working with an A-list actor, an opportunity sure to bring her the stardom of her dreams. She has one month to make a decision.

Zach’s aunt Stephanie arrives in Hope Harbor after a long career, starting her retirement off by visiting Zach for a time as she decides how her next phase of life will play out. She is hoping to bridge the estrangement between Zach and his father created when Zach left the corporate world to open his coffee shop. Stephanie’s first interaction at The Perfect Blend is with Frank Simmons, a barista of the elder set, and the energy crackling between them is hard to ignore.

The four main characters often interact through a project called Helping Hands where they renovate a house to become a place where sibling groups can stay together while a permanent home is found. Volunteering is just one facet of the novel’s world in which God and faith are very much alive, and the author quietly shows us the importance of spiritual guidance in each character’s life, even when the Almighty seems distant. The inclusion of Charley, the town sage, brings the voice of the Divine directly into human life, reminding the reader that people in our lives can sometimes act as a source of God’s guidance.

The story’s pace draws the reader along like the current of a slow-moving river. Each decision point or obstacle to romance or to moving forward maintains a shimmering tension that keeps the reader guessing about the outcome for all involved. As they face life’s turning points, the characters wrestle with issues and the questions with which many people struggle, and the author suggests various solutions and perspectives through the characters and the story. This is not an action-filled book, but a book for reflection wrapped within a well-written narrative and providing an ending that satisfies completely.

With its two charming romances, a lovely small-town setting near the ocean, gentle inspirational messages, and well-drawn characters, Blackberry Beach offers a quiet interlude to counter the fast pace and uncertainty of life. It’s a wonderful gem, and a book I can recommend without reservation.

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Blackberry Beach is the seventh book in Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor (Oregon) series. This book brings together again some of the quirky and endearing supporting characters from the first two books and introduces some lovely new ones. Zach Garrett left a high power, high pressure career in Chicago to settle in Hope Harbor seeking to fulfill a dream and gain balance in his life.

Zach’s dream project is his coffee shop, The Perfect Blend. It has become a profitable business with two part time employees and workdays completed before 2:00 pm. Now that his business has taken off, Zach feels there is a void in his life. With both his mother and younger brother gone and his relationship with his father tenuous at best, Zach is delighted when his Aunt Stephanie, his father’s sister, contacts him out of the blue telling him she has taken early retirement from her high pressured position and wants to visit him to get reacquainted. Zach and her brother, Richard, are all the family Stephanie has left.

About the same time as his aunt arrives, a lovely stranger catches his eye. Although of few words and definitely trying to stay under the radar, Kat Morgan has definitely gotten his heart pounding. When Zach and Kat meet by chance walking on the small beach both Zach’s home and the home Kat is renting overlook, there is no doubt there is electricity between them. With these two women now in Zach’s life, even if only passing through, there is room for hope for a future more full than what his life had become.

In her unmistakable style, Ms. Hannon has woven together the stories of three people seeking a better, more fulfilling life whose paths simultaneously cross in Hope Harbor, where hope is found. Each has their own path to figure out, however, the interaction of their paths just may be how they each find their next steps. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

One of my favorite authors is Irene Hannon. I think I have read all of her books and they range from mystery to suspense to romance. Blackberry Beach will cover mystery and romance. Although this book is the latest in the Hope Harbor series it is a stand-alone book. But you will enjoy running across the characters from the previous books. And it especially makes you want to go to the Oregon coast for one of Charley’s fish tacos.

The book starts off with a mystery woman going in the coffee shop and immediately she has attention of the the owner, Zach. After several attempts for conversation, Zach realizes she was exiting quickly to get away from his friendly questions. He later told Charley “The lady didn’t exude much warmth.

The mystery woman, Katherine had picked Blackberry Beach because she needed a place to get away and be alone to rethink plans for her future. She was not pleased when she realized the curious coffee shop owner was her neighbor.

As the story develops Zach slowly makes friends with Katherine and learns of her secrets and trust her enough to share of his own. Zach’s aunt Stephanie adds a good side story while staying with Zach. She is shutting the door on her career life and looking at options for the next phase of life. She helps bridge the gap between Zach and Katherine by befriending her.

This book was a great escape book to read about walks on sandy beaches, making friends and learning to trust others. I would recommend it. I was given a copy of Blackberry Beach by the publisher, Revell but the opinions are my own.

The story is beautifully weaved together. A story of finding faith, love, and healing. A story that makes you dare to dream that things you least expected are possible and to take risks. It kept my attention the whole way through.

Thank you NetGalley, Irene Hannon and Revell for the ARC of Blackberry Beach.

This was my introduction to Hope Harbor and worked well as a stand alone story. Enjoyed the immersion into the quaint small town and likeable characters. An inspirational and feel good romance.

Amazing Author. Difficult to put this book down. This is the first novel I have read from Irene H and and I will definitely be picking up more. A true romance author and a spell binding ending!!

When a mysterious woman walks into Zach Garret’s coffee shop in Hope Harbor, he feels an instant connection. When he tries to engage her in conversation, she throws up an instant wall. Then he discovers her on Blackberry Beach, the small, private beach below his home. She seems in need of a friend, even though she resists his overtures of friendship.

Katherine Parker retreats to Hope Harbor after experiencing a horrible scandal in her professional life. She needs solitude, time to reflect, and direction. Katherine’s not looking for relationships of any kind. But between the mysterious Charley who runs a taco cart in the harbor and her inquisitive next-door neighbor, she finds it increasingly difficult to keep herself isolated.

Each encounter between Zach and Katherine leads them closer to friendship and they discover they have much more in common than they first imagined. Can Zach help Katherine with her difficult decision? And what should they do about their growing attraction to each other? Zach gave up the high-powered life for his dream in Hope Harbor. Would Katherine give up her dreams to make their relationship work?

Hope Harbor provides a haven for lost people seeking answers to life’s biggest questions. Will the tiny Oregon town work its magic on Katherine?

What I Loved About This Book

I had forgotten Irene Hannon wrote more than suspense thrillers. If you’re acquainted with her suspense titles, have no fear—she excels in the clean, inspirational romance category, too! Hannon has peopled Hope Harbor, a fictional town along the Oregon coast, with broken people in search of peace and belonging. The seven books in the series can be read as standalones, or you can read them in order.

Once you read one Hope Harbor book, you’ll keep coming back for more.

Blackberry Beach is every bit as tasty a read as the title suggests. The seventh offering in dreamy Hope Harbor makes me want to pack up and head for the dramatic Oregon coast.

This story centers around popular coffee shop owner Zach and aunt Stephanie. Zach is happily running the business he started after stepping out of an unfulfilling corporate life. Then his attention gets grabbed by a mysterious woman who stops by to order a latte.

Meanwhile his aunt, freshly retired from a high-flying executive career comes to visit to slow the pace of life. Widow Frank is living his life working part time and helping with several community causes. He knows he’ll never find love again after enjoying a wonderful marriage.

And then there’s Kat, a Hollywood actress one role away from global fame and suddenly not sure she wants all the trappings of success. Would she prefer to trader the red carpet for a chocolate shop instead?

When Kat decides to get away and clear her head, how could she predict her visit to Hope Harbor would change her life forever? But fame and an estranged father cause problems for the budding couple. What unfolds is a touching story of trusting in your identity, or the one the Lord has given you.

Meanwhile, Frank is forced to reassess where he finds his worth having decided Stephanie is too good for him, despite all her efforts to show him otherwise. Only when the two let go of expectations can their relationship grow into something that gives them both a second life.

Another winner from Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor, and yes, the seagulls are back.

Kat is living temporarily in a rented house on Blackberry Beach. She finds the beach walks that she takes soothing, and she maintains her disguise at all times. So why on earth is the pesky Zach also walking on "her" beach? Yes, he seems like a nice guy, but he really shouldn't get too close, both literally and figuratively. She has many secrets.

Zach owns a coffee shop in a sleepy Oregon town. He hasn't always dreamt of coffee beans and cakes but he finds it necessary to follow this particular path at this point in his life. He wonders about the mysterious woman who comes in for a coffee. A woman who seems immune to his charms. Should he bother trying to get to know her? Or is it a good idea for him to even bother?

I have not read the other books in this series and I can honestly say that this book can easily be read as a standalone (although now I want to read the rest of the books in the series too!). Hope Harbor sounds like one of those towns that I would dearly like to be a part of, it has to be said. Townspeople with their hopes and dreams, problems and joys. A community though, in every sense of the word.

I love how this book's main characters are decent but flawed people with their own baggage. I also enjoyed the secondary characters who had a few surprises of their own!

All in all, this was a gentle, feel-good story which didn't gloss over contemporary issues that people face in the world, but did it all without resorting to bad language and vulgarity. Which I appreciate :)

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell.

Blackberry Beach is a sweet romance novel set in Hope Harbor. It is the seventh book in the series and many characters from past books make appearances. But don't worry, it can be read as a stand alone. It won't take long to be drawn into the charming seaside town and all that comes with it. The setting alone will keep you reading! The characters are not rushed, but carefully developed. Not just the primary characters, but the secondary characters are equally important. The relationship that develops between two "mature" characters was a highlight in my opinion. Authors tend to write storylines around younger romances, so this caught my attention! Irene Hannon has a way of writing that pulls you in and you become a part of the story.  If you are looking to get lost in a book, Blackberry Beach will be just the right fit!

It took a very long time to get into the book, though I wasn't able to really loose myself in the story. The pacing was too slow for my liking. The second half of the book was better. It was a sweet story.

Susan F's Reviews > Blackberry Beach


This is a sweet story with a good reminder that having the big successful career just may not be everything one dreams of. Nothing is perfect. Having an island retreat is a great place to think things over. I think several characters in the story have found Hope Harbor to be the place of rescue when contemplating life changes. In particular Kat, Zach and even his Aunt Stephanie are in the midst of new change.
Blackberry Beach has a nice summer feel to it for an easy read. There is romance, an emphasis on friendship and conversation along with advice for Kat who is struggling with a major set of decisions. A slight bit of tension adds to the storyline. The characters are likeable with humor, caring natures and real life problems to deal with. They have faith and integrity in the clean read atmosphere of the book.
I received a copy of this book for my opinion of it. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley. It is an interesting story for a relaxing read at the beach or anywhere the reader chooses to unwind.

Blackberry Beach is Irene Hannon's seventh book of the Hope Harbor series. I have not read the other books but this can be easily read as a stand alone novel. Hope Harbor is a fictional town on the Oregon coast. Katherine Parker is an actress going there to get away from it all and hoping no one recognizes her. Zach Garrett runs a coffee shop and his house actually shares a beach with the rental house Katherine is staying at. This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed the characters - the relationship of Katherine and Zach and all the marvelous secondary characters! Now I definitely have to go back and read all the other books in this series!

Blackberry Beach is the 7th book in Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series. Those of us who have already fallen in love with Hope Harbor are going to love heading back for another visit and seeing some familiar characters. Still, those new to the series will certainly be able to read this on it's own... though I suspect you may want to go back and find out more about this fantastic town!

Be it a sweet romance or a heart racing suspense, I always know that when I pick up an Irene Hannon book that I am in for a treat. Blackberry Beach did not let me down! Irene does a great job of creating this world that as a reader I want to come back to time and time again. Hope Harbor is an easy town to fall in love with--- a safe haven where many go to find peace...and love! This romance between coffee shop owner Zach Garrett and actress Katherine Parker was a great story of second chances that I truly enjoyed... but it wasn't the only romance within the story. It was perhaps the side romance between a few supporting characters that I enjoyed even more--- a reminder that love can happen at any time and that God's timing is always perfect! Some appearances by previously introduced characters like Charley and his seagull friends make this story all the more delightful. I would say that the pace did perhaps seem a little slower than others I've read by the author, but honestly that could have just been timing (or lack of time to sit and truly get into the story) on my part. Either way, it was an enjoyable read and a fantastic addition to this series.

Whether you're returning to Hope Harbor or visiting for the first time, this is a great read that fans of Christian romance are sure to enjoy! I know I certainly did!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are my own.