Sunrise Reef

Irene Hannon has written a novel that departs a bit from the normal romance formula but in the sweetest way.  

Bren's house has had a fire in the walls because of a storm, so she has to move out of her house for a couple of months.  Fred has a guest cottage that he allows Bren to move into while her house is being repaired.  On her first night, she hears someone enter the house, so she douses him with pepper gel. Thus was her inauspicious meeting of Fred's son, Noah.  

Noah and Bren get off to a rocky start, but it evolves into a friendship and then to something more. 

On the side, Emma comes to town and her car breaks down.  She's trying to find a job so that she can gain custody of her brother from their step-father. Bren offers to let Emma stay with her until her car is fixed. Emma goes on an extensive job hunt and finally finds a temporary job that will pad her resume.  Noah has an initial objection to Emma because no one knows anything about her.  Once she passes the background check, he acquiesces to her living with Bren. 

Sunrise Reef is a novel more about how a town comes together to help one another out, than a true romance, although it does figure into the story--just not the main focus until much later in the book.  In fact, the Hope Harbor Novels are all written in much the same way.  It is a strong Four Star book that is so hard to put down.  

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.