Review - - The Inn on Amelia Island

The Inn on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Seven Sisters - Book 7

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: July 12, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

After coming together following their father’s stroke, the Wingate women have found second-chance romance, faced trials and tribulations, and built wonderful lives on Amelia Island. Their father is fully recovered and healthy, their businesses are flourishing, and the whole family is bursting with love and laughter.

But as they fill Wingate House with wedding plans and celebrations, not everything is smooth sailing down the Amelia River. One final crisis threatens this unshakeable family, and it will test everyone and everything they hold dear.

Before the sun sets on their saga, the sisters must join forces and hearts one last time to earn a truly heartwarming happily ever after.

PJ's Thoughts:

Hope. Heart. Humor. Family. Faith. Love. 

Hope Holloway concludes her heart-tugging Seven Sisters series with another book that kept me reading long into the night. These characters have all found a place in my heart. I simply could not stop reading until I was certain each member of the Wingate family was happy, healthy, and safe. And, in The Inn on Amelia Island, those facts are not a certainty for most of the book. Holloway really had me on pins and needles with this one. 

I don't want to go into specifics because each reader who has become invested in this family should have the pleasure of watching events unfold as they read the book. So, I'll just say this. Unexpected people - and obstacles - find their way into the lives of several members of the Wingate family but as we've learned throughout the series, when someone in this family is threatened, everyone - and I do mean everyone - circles the wagons. I love seeing these characters, these couples, this family as a whole come together, strengthening their bonds, their love, their faith as they confront the many faces of adversity. I will not soon forget them.

If you enjoy family sagas that elicit laughter, tug at your heartstrings, and immerse you in the trials and celebrations of one very special family, I highly recommend Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters series. I also strongly suggest reading the books in this series in order (listed below). I'm already anticipating what Holloway will bring readers next while secure in the knowledge that I know I'll be seeing Amelia Island and the seven Wingate sisters again. These books are too good not to revisit when I need a little laughter and reading comfort. 

The Beach House on Amelia Island (book 1)
The Café on Amelia Island (book 2)
The Bookstore on Amelia Island (book 3)
The Florist on Amelia Island (book 4)
The Chocolate Shop on Amelia Island (book 5)
The Dressmaker on Amelia Island (book 6)
The Inn on Amelia Island (book 7)

Review & Giveaway - - The Dressmaker on Amelia Island

The Dressmaker on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: May 3, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

A sisterhood saga with threads of drama, dreams, and danger.

Life for the Wingate women of Amelia Island is never dull! While Raina balances the challenge of nurturing newborn twins and a budding romance, trouble arrives on her doorstep to threaten her sweet new life. And when Tori and Justin firmly disagree on an issue that affects the whole family, their love faces a test that could end their relationship forever.

But one person in the family is enmeshed in the adventure of a lifetime, and she’s keeping the secret from everyone but her former flame. Under the guise of creating a wedding dress for a mafia princess, Madeline steps into a thrilling but risky new role. Leaving the safety and security of her quiet life, this dressmaker must put everything on the line to protect the people she loves most.

As the winds of change blow over Wingate Way, the seven sisters continue to face every crisis with strength, grace, humor, and love.

PJ's Thoughts:

Each book in Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters series has been a pleasure to read but this one, The Dressmaker on Amelia Island, ticked all my happy reader buttons in a big way. Holloway is a master at creating a family of characters who leap from the pages of her books. I feel like I know each of them personally and am thoroughly invested in their lives, their hopes and dreams, their challenges, and, yes, their happiness. I enjoy how each book in the series focuses on the storylines of four primary characters while also threading other family members, friends, local citizens, and adversaries throughout. Just as in real life, no one character lives in a vacuum. I also appreciate the age span of the sisters which gives us relatable journeys at various points of life.

I do love an older heroine and never-married Madeline, at almost fifty is a gem. It's such fun to watch her not only rediscover love but rediscover joy and adventure at the same time. Raina is my favorite of the sisters. She has a fair number of obstacles thrown her way in this book with some surprises along the way. She also has a new man in her life who makes me want to shout, "If you don't take him I will!" Her storyline never fails to make me smile, shed a few tears, and want to stand and cheer. Then there's Tori, a character to whom anyone who has ever had teens will be able to relate. I love the possibilities in her future and especially the tear-inducing grand gesture awaiting her. Finally, there's a new - unexpected - character in this book, one who brings disruption and chaos to one of the sisters. I was surprised by the direction this new character's storyline took. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say I love the way Holloway weaves grace, accountability, and forgiveness into the journeys of (some of) her characters. Alas, there will always be villains who stay villains. 

If you enjoy family sagas with endearing (closed door) romance, sisterly bonds that may stretch but never break, heart-tugging emotion, humor, and (in this book) a bit of danger and suspense, Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters is a series that will have you reading late into the night, closing each book with a deep satisfied sigh, then wanting nothing more than to go back to the beginning and read them all over again. 

This is a series where the stories and relationships in each book build upon the previous book(s). I strongly recommend beginning with book one and reading the entire series in order. The final book, The Inn on Amelia Island, is scheduled to be released on July 12, 2024. 

The Beach House on Amelia Island (book 1)
The Café on Amelia Island (book 2)
The Bookstore on Amelia Island (book 3)
The Florist on Amelia Island (book 4)
The Chocolate Shop on Amelia Island (book 5)
The Dressmaker on Amelia Island (book 6)
The Inn on Amelia Island (book 7)

Have you read any Hope Holloway books yet?

Do you enjoy family sagas? Have you read any that you would recommend?

In this book, Raina is embracing the joys - and challenges - of life with infant twins. Are any of you twins? Do you have twins in your family? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 6 will receive a print copy of book five, The Chocolate Shop on Amelia Island. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Chocolate Shop on Amelia Island

The Chocolate Shop on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Seven Sisters - Book 5

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

The saga continues with secrets, surprises, and sweet temptations…

Sadie Wingate has been keeping secrets...from her family and from her brand new husband. But once the truth is revealed, her whole world melts like a truffle in the sunshine. Can Sadie finally settle for a sweet life on Amelia Island…or will stability send her searching for the next adventure?

Raina nears her delivery date and signs the papers ending her marriage, but there’s one thing missing in her life. Despite being the fixer in her family, the only solution to heart’s dilemma seems all wrong for this newly-divorced mother of infant twins. But how can she say no?

Madeline's one and only love reappears, and this enigmatic man turns her well-ordered life upside down, while Susannah orchestrates major changes on Wingate Way.

When the winds of change blow over the candy store on Amelia Island, the Wingate women learn over and over again that the bond between the seven sisters is as strong as steel, as soothing as a seaside breeze, and as lasting as their family legacy.

PJ's Thoughts:

This is my favorite book of the series so far. I know. I know. I say that with each new Seven Sisters book that's published. Is it my fault that the author keeps one upping herself? 

As with the first four books, the primary focus of this one is on three of the sisters though all of them, and the rest of the family, are present with storyline threads that weave in and out as the book progresses. It's enjoyable to see the characters - and their relationships, both familiar and romantic - continue to evolve even in the books where their role is a secondary one. Truthfully, with this family, there's no such thing as secondary. There may only be three in the primary focus but all of them have important roles to fulfill, as is true in many real life families. 

Holloway brings the emotion once again in this book along with a few surprises. After meeting Sadie in book four and the twist at the end of that book, I felt sure I knew how her story would continue. Wow, was I wrong! I really like the direction she seems to be heading and applaud the author for taking an endearing, unexpected route. 

I'm also enjoying the fleshing out of Madeline's character. I love a second-chance romance, especially between more seasoned characters (late 40's/early 50's). I'm eager to discover what happens with this pair in book six. 

Raina's journey also continues with the legal dissolution of her marriage, birth of her twins, and the possibility of a new relationship on the horizon. I don't think she's reached smooth sailing yet but I like the direction she's heading.

Holloway keeps me entertained with these stories and more in this fifth book. There's possible ghosts, an engagement, a contest, a new project for the sisters' mom and good health news for their dad. There's humor, poignant moments, betrayals, new beginnings, and the strength, love, and unflagging spirit that bonds this special family together. There are only two more books in the series and I am nowhere ready to say goodbye. 

This is a series that I strongly encourage readers to read in order. 

Have you read Hope Holloway yet?

Do you enjoy closed-door books that are limited to kissing but rich in emotion?

There's some drool-worthy chocolates and cookies in this book. What's your go-to decadent treat?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 3 will receive a print copy of The Bookstore on Amelia Island (book 3).

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Florist on Amelia Island

The Florist on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Seven Sisters - Book 4

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: October 6, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

A feel-good family drama full of twists, turns, and true love.

The scent of flowers and change is in the air for the Wingate sisters. With her husband gone for weeks at a stretch, Rose’s unwavering enthusiasm is tested, forcing her to remove her famous rose-colored glasses and face a family crisis. While Susannah plans an anniversary surprise for Rex, Chloe finds the courage to try one more career path, with help coming from the one constant in her life, her precious furbaby, Lady Bug.

Raina's life is in a state of constant change, too, as she cruises into her third trimester. She finds closure and comfort in her new beachfront home, but there’s one big complication…a roommate who isn’t at all the man she thought he was.

When the clouds roll over Amelia Island, the Wingate women learn over and over again that the bond between seven sisters is as strong as steel, as gentle as an ocean breeze, and as lasting as their family legacy.

PJ's Thoughts:

Reading a new book in Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters series is like settling in for a three-hour conference call with a group of your best friends or, better yet, a weekend getaway. There's a sense of comfort, acceptance, and love among these women who are there for one another through life's peaks and, most importantly, the valleys. And, for this reader, there's a warm welcoming into the world of the Wingate family that immerses me into their lives as if I was right there with them every step of their journey.

There's a lot happening in this fourth book of the series with life-altering events in the offing for several of the sisters. Raina's pregnancy continues to flourish as she settles into her new normal but there's a new man causing flutters in the region of her heart, a totally unexpected occurrence. He makes my heart flutter too. Youngest sister, Chloe is taking tentative steps into a new relationship while searching for the right career path. She's figured out where she doesn't belong but will she be able to open her eyes to the calling that's been right in front of her all along? Raina's twin, Rose, continues to struggle with her husband's absence while trying to balance obligations to both her business (the Florist Shop) and her children. Sadie finally returns from Europe, but doesn't want anyone to know. What's up with that? And we finally get a peek into oldest sister, Madeline's life. Could there be a mysterious man in her past...or present?

Holloway handles all of these characters - and their stories - with ease. Transitions from one character's point of view to another (in alternating chapters) flow smoothly, never feeling abrupt or confusing. There's a clear sense of who each character is and how they fit into the tapestry of the Wingate family, how each sister's story interweaves with the other's. For me, the reader, it allows me to get to know these characters as if they were real people. I'm invested in them, genuinely care for them, and eagerly look forward to spending time with them when each new book releases. 

If you haven't yet discovered Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters series, I enthusiastically recommend picking up a copy of book one, The Beach House on Amelia Island and jumping in. This family will give you all the hope, humor, sibling dynamics, life-altering chaos, and enduring love you've been looking for. 

Have you read Hope Holloway yet?

Do you enjoy a family-centric series? Is there one you've read that you would recommend?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, October 9 will receive a print copy of book one in the series, The Beach House on Amelia Island.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Cafe on Amelia Island

The Cafe on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Seven Sisters - Book 2

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: June 2, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

A hearwarming sisters saga full of hope, humor, and heart...

Tori Wingate knows that spending the entire summer on Amelia Island running the family-owned Riverfront Café means she’s falling right into the arms of a new man for a brief romance. But the more she realizes that all she wants to do is sail into the sunset with the handsome doctor…the more life proves it has other plans.

Her sister Raina is not only looking at the end of a marriage and the start of a life she never imagined, she’s charged with recouping money that has disappeared from the Wingate Properties accounts. And while widowed Grace struggles with the challenge of being a single parent to a unique child, patriarch Rex Wingate faces his own trials on the road to recovery.

When the clouds roll over the café on Amelia Island, the Wingate women learn over and over again that the bond between seven sisters is as strong as steel, as gentle as an ocean breeze, and as lasting as their family legacy.

PJ's Thoughts:

Hope Holloway continues to pique my curiosity and touch my heart with this second book in her new Seven Sisters series. I enjoy that in each book we learn more about the Wingate family while delving a bit more deeply into the lives of a few of the main characters. With so many family members, keeping the primary focus on a few each book eliminates what could be mass-character confusion while also giving readers the opportunity to begin the introduction process with the remaining sisters. Kind of a main attraction/coming attraction combo. 

I enjoy how Holloway seamlessly weaves together the many threads of the series, infusing the storylines with emotional depth, realistic challenges, surprise twists (I did not see it coming!), humor, and the steadfast support of family. Her characters are so well developed and relatable that I feel as if I know them all. I'm invested in their happiness and I can't wait to discover where their journeys will take them. 

As with Holloway's prior series, the books in Seven Sisters build upon one another. I strongly encourage reading them in order. 

Review - - The Beach House on Amelia Island

The Beach House on Amelia Island

by Hope Holloway

Seven Sisters - Book 1

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: March 31, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

The start of a heartwarming saga of sisterhood, secrets, and second chances...

The very moment that Raina Wingate learns her husband of sixteen years wants to separate, she gets a call that her father has suffered a stroke. Racing to her family’s home on Amelia Island, Florida, Raina hopes the time apart will heal her cracked marriage and that she can step into her father’s real estate business and keep it running.

Her sister, Tori, a divorcee who owns a catering business in Boston, also flies in to join the others at the hospital. But an unexpected run-in with their father’s rather attractive neurologist adds a new dimension to the days and weeks ahead.

They gather around their father, but it doesn’t take long to see that it is Susannah, mother to three and stepmother to four of the sisters, who needs them the most. A woman who maintains appearances at all times, sixty-one year old Susannah nearly breaks at the possibility of losing her husband. She has never needed her daughters more.

When the clouds roll over the beach house on Amelia Island, the Wingate women learn over and over again that the bond between the seven sisters is as strong as steel, as gentle as an ocean breeze, and as lasting as their family legacy.

PJ's Thoughts:

One book into this seven-book series and I am already fully and wholeheartedly invested in these complex characters and their complicated lives. That's the magic of Hope Holloway and her ability to create intriguing people (because that's how I think of them, as people, not characters on a page) with whom I want to be friends. People I care about. People I cheer for, cry with, and laugh with. 

While the primary focus of this first book is on Susannah, Raina, and Tori, all of the sisters are introduced and each will get their turn in the spotlight in future books. I enjoy how Holloway spotlights two or three different characters in each book while also weaving the others' storylines into those stories too. The sisters' father is also an integral part of this first book, both with his stroke bringing everyone home but also because of a mystery tied to him. I'm guessing that mystery will unfold throughout the series but I'm already searching for clues because, dang, this author knows exactly how to pique my curiosity. 

As she has done with her previous series set in the Florida Keys and on Sanibel Island, this setting of Amelia Island is so vibrantly - and accurately - depicted it is almost a character in itself rather than just a backdrop for the characters' journeys. She's brought the beaches, quirky shops, rich culture, and history of the island to life. It made me want to hop in my car and take a trip up the road for an overdue visit. 

If you enjoy immersive, heart-tugging family sagas with humor, relatable challenges, character growth, romance, and mystery, check out the first book in Hope Holloway's Seven Sisters series: The Beach House on Amelia Island.  And if you're eager (like me) to know what happens next, you only have to wait until June for book two, The Cafe on Amelia Island and August for book three, The Bookstore on Amelia Island.