Home to Honeymoon Harbor - JoAnn Ross (HQN - Apr 2018)

Series: Honeymoon Harbor (Book .5)

The rivalry between the Mannion and Harper families has divided them for over a century. Which is why, when John Mannion and Sarah Harper fall in love, they become the small seaport town’s very own Romeo and Juliet. But in Honeymoon Harbor, nothing—not even an infamous family feud—is a match for love.

Short and sweet introduction to the new series. John and Sarah were high school and college sweethearts - secretly. How they managed to keep their secret in such a small town was nothing less than a miracle. But as close as they were, and in spite of the plans they made, the proposal that Sarah anticipated didn't happen. Instead, John took off for two years in Nepal, leaving Sarah behind and brokenhearted. She continued on with her life, including a stint teaching English lit in Japan.

Then fate stepped in and had both of them arriving back in the US at the same time. To say that they were stunned to see each other would be putting it mildly. Sarah is still angry at John and makes no secret of it. John has accepted the mistakes he made and wants another chance.

Though the story takes place over just a couple days, there is a lot of emotion packed into it. I liked both John and Sarah. Each of them had undergone some significant changes while they were apart. Sarah is a woman who has spent her life putting others before herself. She loves her parents and tries to live up to their expectations. But she has also come to realize that something is missing in her life. Through most of the story we are teased by her ruminations on the dilemma she faces, but aren't let in on what that dilemma is until the very end. John is a good man at heart. He hadn't meant to hurt Sarah, but his insecurities got in the way. I loved his stories about his time in Nepal and the huge impact it had on his life.

I loved the rekindling of their relationship. John is determined to win Sarah back and pursues that goal with single-minded dedication. Sarah is wary, but can't deny that she still has feelings for him. I loved the way that they were mature enough to talk about what had happened in the past and actually listen to what the other had to say. It was sweet to hear John talk about reading Jane Austen because of what the books meant to Sarah, and I enjoyed his thoughtful commentary on them. I especially liked how he related them to Sarah and that it showed how well he knew her. I also enjoyed Sarah's realization that John was a lot more complex than she expected. I loved seeing them open up to each other about their doubts and fears from the past, and trust each other with their plans for the future. I enjoyed their realization that they are still meant to be together. The ending was sweet and romantic, and perfect for the two of them. I'm looking forward to seeing them again later in the series.