Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Review - - Christmas in Harmony Harbor


Christmas in Harmony Harbor
by Debbie Mason
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
    


It's Evangeline Christmas's favorite time of the year, but instead of wrapping presents and decking the halls, she's worrying about saving her year-round holiday shop from powerful real estate developer Caine Elliot. Although the town has rallied around Evie, her attempts to stop Caine have been in vain. Now she's risking everything on an unusual proposition she hopes the wickedly handsome CEO can't refuse...
How hard can it be to fulfill three wishes from the Angel Tree in Evie's shop? Caine's certain he'll win and the property will be his by Christmas Eve. Yet bringing joy to others also brings back the biggest disappointments in Caine's own holidays past and challenges him to forgive and forget in order to enjoy the present festivities. But just as he dares to dream that Evie could be his Christmas future, a secret from Caine's childhood threatens their merrily-ever-after.




My thoughts:

The final book in a series is always a bit bittersweet, especially a series I've enjoyed as much as I have Debbie Mason's Harmony Harbor. I have taken these characters into my heart with laughter, tears, heartache, and love. Christmas in Harmony Harbor bids Harmony Harbor a fond farewell with a heart-tugging romance filled with humor, danger, a battle of wills, some ghostly interference, satisfying romance, answers we've all been waiting for, an unexpected surprise...or two, and a Grinch hero due a few lessons in the true meaning of Christmas. 

One of the facets of Debbie Mason's writing that I most enjoy is her world building. In this series, she's brought the town of Harmony Harbor and her citizens to life. Her characters are fully dimensional and complex, with realistic flaws and emotional depth. Her heroes and heroines are not always easy, and they're not always nice, but they're real and, in the end, they always succeed in winning my affection. Though, admittedly, some more than others. ;-)

Caine is one of those "difficult" characters and it took a good amount of time for him to win me over but win me he did. As with other characters in this series, Mason has given him a lot of emotional baggage to unravel which, for me, made his eventual redemption all the more satisfying. My heart really hurt for him - after I got over wanting to throw him off a cliff - and by the end I was cheering for his happily-ever-after. Evie, on the other hand, had me in her corner from the beginning. I was confident she was the perfect "Christmas Elf" to bring Caine out of the darkness and help him remember the good that Christmas and family are supposed to represent. 

Christmas in Harmony Harbor is an engaging, heartwarming holiday romance that can be read and enjoyed on its own but readers should be aware that, as the final story in a series with an overarching mystery, there are several plot threads that are wrapped up, questions answered, and characters present (the Gallagher and DiRossi families are big) that could be confusing if you have not read any of the earlier books. As a reader of the entire series, I turned the final page with a tear, a smile, a sigh for lives well lived and a love that endures into eternity, and eager anticipation for whatever Debbie Mason has in store for readers next. 


15 comments:

  1. Cannot wait to read it. Enjoyed the others in the series.
    Patoct

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  2. I love this series and I'm looking forward to reading this. Great review thank you
    Penney

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  3. great series and she has great covers

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  4. Thanks so much for your wonderful review of not only this book but of all the others, PJ. I'm so glad Caine managed to win you over and that you were happy with the series finale. I look forward to introducing you to Highland Falls next year:) xo

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    1. It's hard to say goodbye to Harmony Harbor but I'm excited to learn more about Highland Falls!

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  5. I have not read any in this series. You have made me see I have been missing something. Thanks for the review.

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    1. You know how much I enjoy being your book pusher, Annette. ;-)

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  6. I loved the whole series! The ending was just perfect.

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  7. I have been trying to find time to start reading this series as I've heard amazing things about it. Your review PJ, makes me want even more. Thanks!!

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  8. Thanks for the review. Cannot wait to read it.
    Karen T. (Nattys Mama)

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  9. I have read a few in this series, but really need to catch up on all of them. This one sounds like a wonderful Christmas read. Great review, PJ.

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