Monday, November 21, 2022

Review - - Sanibel Moonlight

Sanibel Moonlight
by Hope Holloway
Shellseeker Beach - - Book 7
Publisher: Hope Holloway
Release Date: November 18, 2022
Reviewed by PJ


Nearly a year has passed since Eliza arrived for a “few days” on Shellseeker Beach. She has overcome grief, forged lifelong relationships, and found a place where her heart can sing. All around her, there is peace and harmony and love for the found family who has conquered every challenge thrown at them.


But when a person from the past arrives with an offer that might be too good to be true, one of the newest and most tender relationships might be set up for failure. And Eliza’s sister has to finally come to terms about her life on Sanibel…and that may mean reconsidering everything she thought mattered to her.

Through it all, Eliza seeks clarity with her second chance at romance…but she must face one last and unexpected challenge or this new love will slip through her fingers like moonlight on the water.

PJ's Thoughts:

Holloway concludes her Shellseeker Beach series with another complex, emotional, feel-good story for these unforgettable characters. Typically, I jump right into her books as soon as they've downloaded to my Kindle. This time, I let it simmer for a few days. I wasn't ready to say good-bye and, based on past experience, I was certain this farewell would be a heart-tugging experience. I also knew that once I began reading this book I wouldn't be able to put it down. I was right on both counts.

One of the many things I've enjoyed about this series is how real and relatable Holloway's characters are. These characters form a mixture of backgrounds, generations, and life experience, all expertly woven together into a tapestry of more than friendship. Over the course of seven books, they have formed romantic relationships, discovered unknown siblings, opened their hearts to new experiences, suffered disappointments and betrayals, and become chosen family. They are flawed, like us all, which makes them so much more interesting. They have depth, as do their journeys. But they also have fun, this small group who have joined together at Shellseeker Beach. They make me want to join them. They make me want to know them.  

In this final book of the series, Holloway ties up all of the loose ends that have fluttered throughout the series. There are hard won happily ever afters, and although some of them may not look exactly like series readers expected, this reader was very happy with the way things turned out. To readers who have not yet discovered the Shellseeker Beach series, I strongly recommend reading these seven books in order. 

True to form, the epilogue made me laugh, smile, and shed more than a few tears along with a fond farewell. The fact that the series setting - Sanibel Island - was significantly damaged by Hurricane Ian made that final chapter all the more poignant. I've included below a message from Hope Holloway (taken from her website) that addresses the hurricane devastation and how readers can help. 

~~~~~~~~~~

A Special Note about Sanibel Island

from Hope Holloway

My heart has been ripped out by the catastrophic storm destruction on Sanibel Island, and the whole southwest coast of my home state of Florida. It is painful to see the images of this once glorious slice of paradise. Sanibel has been my “fictional home” for a year as I write the Shellseeker Beach books, all set there. When I think of the residents, locals, librarians, booksellers, and shop owners who've helped me craft this series, I almost can't bear their pain.

I am pledging to donate a portion of every book sold in the Shellseeker Beach series for the remainder of the calendar year directly to the residents, businesses, and the refuge on Sanibel Island. My goal is to raise at least $10,000 through the sales of this series, so I hope you'll tell your friends, sisters, mothers, and besties to grab a book in paper or digital, or download on Kindle Unlimited.

Please help me help Sanibel Island in this small way. If you have the books already, I hope you will consider a donation to the Red Cross or www.FloridaDisasterFund.com.



2 comments:

  1. The damage to such a lovely place and the disruption of so many lives there is heartbreaking. I hope many take advantage of your offer to donate from the sales of your books. I appreciate you encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross. As a Red Cross disaster volunteer I know first hand what they do. Their services are meant to give people a safe place to stay, a buffer, to give them the time to regroup and decide where they go and do next. Because of the extent of the damage, RC will be there for a while offering followup and help. With all the floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc the past few years, donations are dearly needed. Red Cross not only deals with national disasters, but with those on the local level. We are responding and giving aid to home fires, etc. every day. At any level, it is devastating for those who suffer the loss.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds wonderful... I'm going to need tissi, I can tell...thank you!

    ReplyDelete