I just knew the moment I picked up Starlight Bridge by Debbie Mason that this was going to be a great book. I am fond of books by Ms Mason. This series is turning out to be a wonderful ride. It's heartwarming, romantic and funny! The trifecta of a good romance for me. A book works better when I find myself crying one second, laughing the next. Perfect

Really liked this book. Like the history of the town and its people in books passed down. Interesting characters and good story flow. Good read. Would recommend.

Ava DiRossi is on a mission. If she doesn't find Colleen Gallagher's hidden diary, the diary that contains the secrets of Ava and other residents of Harmony Harbor, things are going to get ugly. Because there are things in that diary, things that are best kept covered up. And with the return of Ava's ex-husband, Griffin Gallagher, to Harmony Harbor, she's more determined than ever to find the diary and keep her secrets in the past.

STARLIGHT BRIDGE, the second book in the Harmony Harbor series by author Debbie Mason, is a lovely combination of second-chance love story with a twist of mystery and a wee bit of the paranormal. I love stories that revolve around small-town life, and Harmony Harbor is just that sort of place, a place where love, friendship, and community are the focal points, and everyone looks out for each other.

When Griffin returns to find that life for Ava is anything but easy, his unexpected feelings of protection point to deeper emotions that he thought he'd put to rest. Never fully understanding why she'd ended things the way she had, Griff is determined to start fresh with Ava. But that darned diary. Ava is certain that the secrets that it hides could rip them apart forever.

I am a sucker for an happy ending, and second-chance love is so much the sweeter sometimes. The obstacles that Griff and Ava have to overcome to get their HEA are heartbreaking, but seeing them get past those things made me a happy reader.

STARLIGHT BRIDGE is the sort of book that makes me remember why I return to romance again and again. It's got heart and friendship, and the focus isn't on fan-your-face steaminess. It's just a sweet read that shows how important it is to take a chance with your heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. An easy 4 stars, I highly recommend this book, and look forward to visiting Harmony Harbor again soon.

I know that clean, or sweet, romances can be a hit or miss with some authors. Some can't quite build up the sexual chemistry to a level where it becomes believable that the characters are actually having sex behind that bedroom door. I've read books where the chemistry just wasn't there and when that door closed, I pictured them playing Monopoly instead of messing up the sheets. Debbie Mason is one of the few authors that I've read that always brings the chemistry and sexual tension without needing to be in the room. The chemistry between her couples is always sizzling. Once the spark ignites, it's amazing and such fun to watch.

I started pining for Ava and Griffin from the moment I met them in the first book from this series. Ava tugs at your heart. She's drastically changed since her divorce from Griffin. No longer the bright and bubbly person he once loved, Ava tends to fade away in the background. Once they reconnect, all of those feelings they thought were buried so deep come rushing back to the surface... His need to not only protect her, but also buy her shoes. It's a cute story, trust me. Ava starts to blossom back into her usual self and it doesn't take long for Griffin to notice. I adored them together, especially how open Ava was when it came to accepting Griffin's past. Honestly, I don't think I could open my arms as wide as she did, but that is what makes Ava such a strong woman. It takes a while for her to shed the shell surrounding her heart, but it is a wonderful transition once she does.

From start to finish, Starlight Bridge enchanted me. There's an element of magic in Debbie's romances that is on a whole different level. I love how everything fades away as I immerse myself into her creative worlds. It's a place where I'd love to live filled with characters that I would love to call friends. If you are ever in the mood for a sweet, behind closed doors romance, never pass up one of Debbie's books. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Review by Leah for Love Romance Books Blog

I was given this book by the publisher and asked for an honest review.

4 Stars!

A second chance romance that tugs at your heartstrings, Starlight Bridge is Ava and Griffin's story of love, loss and rekindled feelings. Once married, Ava experiences a horrific event and her way of managing it was to push Griffin away and file for divorce, but now he's back in town and it's only a matter of time until fate, and Colleen (the recently deceased family matriarch) stick their oars in.

I really enjoyed the humorous turns of phrase and interaction tween Colleen and her put upon corporeal assistant. I love the strength of character that Ava shows after taking life's hard knocks and getting back up ready to take on the world. I had an easy time cheering on Ava and Griffin and found myself smiling throughout the book.

I fell in love with the characters in Starlight Bridge and this romance will have you believing that true love can truly conquer all. Ava DiRossi has been hiding a terrible secret from everyone including her ex-husband, Griffin Gallagher, about what happened that caused her life to do a complete turnaround. The vibrant, sexy woman that Griffin once knew is now afraid of her own shadow and putting these two back together to save the Graystone Manor has brought certain feelings to surface that they both thought were long gone. Now, they have a chance to make things right but Ava is afraid that her secret will destroy whatever future they may have once Griffin finds out the truth.

I loved Ava and Griffin’s story and I wanted so desperately for them to find their way back to one another! Ava was such a strong character that had gone through so much and wanted to take care of her family. She was still in love with Griffin after all these years and it hurt her to see him back in Harmony Harbor. I loved her spirit and I was so glad that Griffin was able to see past the facade that she was hiding behind and get her to give love a second chance.

This is the second book in the Harmony Harbor series and I’m absolutely hooked on this series. Ms. Mason is a delightful writer and her stories definitely pull on your heart-strings. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next for these great characters.

The book was really cute, but it drove me absolutely insane that Griffin called Ava "sweet face" all the time. Like ALL. The. Time.. Ugh.

Starlight Bridge is the second novel in Harmony Harbor series by Debbie Mason. I had absolutely loved her first book, Mistletoe Cottage and was eager to read the next book in this feel-good series.

Despite being part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone novel but I would recommend that you read these books in order because we meet the main protagonist and other characters of this book in the previous one, so reading in order would help the reader understand the back stories better.

In Starlight Bridge, we get Ava DiRossi's story. I have to confess, I had been intrigued by her in the first book. She had been hinted to have transformed from a strong, vivacious woman to a meek one that had shocked Sophie (heroine in the first book, Mistletoe Cottage) so much that she just could not believe her eyes. Ava works at Greystone Manor and is currently frantically searching for the book hidden here that contains all the dirty secrets of Harmony Harbor including her own that she is determined never to reveal, least of all to her ex.

We also meet the Griffin Gallagher, Ava's ex-husband. Griffin is a retired Seal and back in town after his retirement. He loved Ava and had been devastated when she suddenly divorced him without an explanation. Determined to never make that mistake again, it is soon evident that his heart has other plans.

The romance between Ava and Griffin is full of difficulties but it was amazing how Debbie developed the feelings and emotions of these two. I loved Ava. She has been a victim for too long and is a character that I connected to easily. I rooted for a happily-ever-after for her and stuck to the story until the very end without pause!

Griffin is a nice guy but I seriously didn't know how I would feel about him. He has had two failed marriages, is in love with his first wife but also wants to hold on to his second wife. I mean, what is this?
He is confused and sometimes I sympathised with him and at other times wanted to smack him but all through, could not help but love him.

I enjoyed meeting Liam, Sophie and Mia from the first book and felt glad to see them so happy together. The supernatural element in this book had me laughing and thoroughly enjoying the resulting chaos. The book of secrets hidden in Greystone added so much appeal and entertainment quota to this book. I loved searching for it along with everyone else.

I laughed, cried and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Another gem from Debbie Mason, this series is proving to be a must read. 4.5 out of 5 to Starlight Bridge, I strongly recommend it to everyone. Go read this book and series for the absolutely gorgeous covers, thoroughly enjoyable stories and memorable characters.

I received an ARC from the author and publishers via Netgalley and I am very thankful to them. The above is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

What a beautiful second chance romance this story was! *happy sigh* I am so lucky to have read it because my heart seems fuller from it 🙂

I’ve never read any work by Debbie Mason before and I feel like I’ve been missing out on something special. She created characters in both Ava and Griffin that will affirm your faith in love, friendship and humanity. I was awed by Ava and everything she went thru and OH SO proud of the woman she was! And Griffin … he was just perfect!

Their story is quite the journey. It is not for the weak at heart. It is not fluff. It is wonderful and uplifting . I seriously could not love this book more!

Debbie Mason …. you are on my radar!

Copy provided by the publisher for blog tour review

Life has been difficult for Ava for a long time now. The past has a way of coming back and making itself known. Destroying the past and hampering her future. Life has been difficult for her since that day all those years ago. The one person she should have been able to confined in. She left him to make assumptions. Griffin Gallagher was the man of her heart for so many years and one night took all that away from her. Now, he has come back home and this time he’s not willing to just walk away so easily.

Graystone Manor has lots of secrets that it holds, hides, keep, and will eventually reveal. Now, it Ava and Griffin that will have to stand the test of the secrets held so close for so long. I loved Ava from book one. I was getting a better handle on Griffin with book one and his appearance in book one point five. To have them both here together and seeing what started it all and how they worked around, through, and with it was beautiful. I felt a deep connection with Ava and her pain of the past. I hurt with her and grieved with her.

There are many more secrets that Graystone Manor holds and I can’t wait to see them and what else they reveal. There’s a deep romance with the beauty of the manor and the possibilities that are there for its future. I highly recommend that you come on aboard and see what lies in wait for you at the Graystone Manor and Harmony Harbor. You will find something that will have you coming back again and again.

I am absolutely hooked on the small town charm that Debbie Mason does so well. This new series is no exception, with friends and neighbors who know each other and their business better than they should, and meddle more than is necessary. Yet, it is just the kind of community one would dream of, where someone has your back, where people look out for you, and where you can find happiness.

The only reason that I didn't give this story 5 stars was that this was a tale based around a gross lack of communication, and that is always the kind of conflict that I struggle to follow, to sympathize with. It doesn't take a lot to just open up, especially to those who you profess to love, and show a little honesty and trust. I often struggle to believe the level of love and commitment in the feelings when such a small thing as words are so difficult to share.

Still, this was overall as delightful a read as the ones that came before, and as the Christmas series before that. Ava was a likeable heroine, who I could easily find myself at least hoping she received her well deserved HEA, and Griffin was as much the alpha and so little the asshole that I couldn't find it in me to fault him for his actions either. The drama of ex wives and meddling family kept this in a true Debbie Mason style that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait for more from Harmony Harbor. ~ George, 4 stars

I love the town and employees at the manor - they all play an interesting and important role in this book. Ava and Griffin were great together, and apart, both growing and changing regardless of being together. Their relationship with his ex-wife was tangled and weird, but the ending was beautiful.

Wow. Just wow.

Starlight Bridge is a terrific book. I couldn’t put it down.

One of the things that make it great are the characters. I just love Ava, Griffin, and Lexi. Even though I was pretty sure I wouldn’t love them when we started.

One of the big topics of Starlight Bridge is abuse. The hiding. How it changes us. How we need friends and family to move past it.

There is a rape discussed in Starlight Bridge. It’s not detailed just a quick recounting of events. But there is a lot of dealing with the emotions and guilt of the victim. It could be cathartic for some, but painful for other readers.

Starlight Bridge is a compassionate second chance at love romance. The novel is set at Greystone Manor which is located in Harmony Harbor, a coastal suburb north of Boston. Debbie Mason writes an amazing, heartwarming love story for Ava DiRossi and Ethan Gallagher.
Ava DiRossi and the members of the Harmony Harbor Widows Club learn that the late Colleen Gallagher wrote a book about her life and her secrets. Harmony Harbor is a small town where everyone knows everybody’s business. As the owner of Greystone Manor, Colleen knew many of the locals and more secrets than anyone else. And Colleen’s book is hidden somewhere at Greystone Manor. Ava DiRossi confided in Colleen many years ago. Ava’s secret is deeply personal and if it was revealed could cause much heartache.

Ethan Gallagher and several of his relatives travel to Greystone Manor because they need to decide the fate of Greystone Manor. Should they sell the property to a developer or try to restore the building and family business? Ava , who is working as a maid at the Manor,is searching for the missing book in her ex-husband Ethan’s room when she hears his voice. Ava hides in the bathtub and the couple meets when Ethan turns the shower on and soaks Ava!
Ava and Ethan’s feelings towards each other are very strong. Their attraction drew me into the story. They loved each other. I wondered what caused Ava to leave her marriage and nursing school. Why didn’t they fight for their marriage? What did Collen know about Ava? These questions intrigued me and kept me reading the novel past my bedtime.
Debbie Mason has written a well-paced emotional novel that touches upon several topics that are important in a marriage, trust and communication. The author does a fabulous job with continuing the feud between the DiRossi and Gallagher families and having Colleen’s ghost appear throughout the novel. The conclusion to the story holds several surprises—I enjoyed being surprised! Kudos to Debbie Mason for a fabulous story. And, yes the ending made me cry!

Another great story in Debbie Mason’s continuing Harmony Harbor saga. This story belongs to Ava and Griffin. It’s a story of lost love, second chances and past secrets ready to explode at any moment.

As we learned in the first book, there is a journal which spills the deepest, darkest secrets of several people from Harmony Harbor. The book is hidden somewhere in Graystone Manor. Unfortunately for Ava, she’s one of those people with a deep, dark secret. She is determined to find that book before anyone else does. It’s especially important now when her ex-husband Griffin Gallagher returns to Harmony Harbor. He must never find out the real reason she divorced him all those years ago. He must never know that she is still in love with him.

Griffin hardly even recognizes the woman Ava has now become. Her face no longer shines with happiness, instead she seems defeated. Obviously life has taken its toll on her. Griffin’s feelings for her have never died and he plans to win her back. He has no intentions of backing down, regardless of how much she pushes him away.

Ava and Griffin’s story hooked me immediately. I couldn’t put this one down. I had to know how it would all work out. Their love shines through each page. There are a couple of times I wanted to knock some sense into both of them, but overall, I just wanted to hug them and tell them it was going to be alright.

The secondary cast of characters are well written and grab your interest as well. There is an excellent mix of villains and “good guys”. It taught me that I need to read the entire book before jumping to conclusions about characters. I started out hating one, then loving the character by the end. There’s even a ghost that hangs around. I won’t say more as I don’t want to spoil it.

This is an excellent addition to the series. In fact, I loved it even better than the first one. It had intrigue, mystery, and romance wrapped into one package. Can’t wait for the next one!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

First let me say that Debbie Mason can certainly tell a story. I was enthralled from the very beginning and captivated until the last word. The Harmony Harbor series is just that…a series….but each individual story acts as a stand-alone title. With the characters in one story after another, it may just persuade you to read the entire series in due course….I know I want to ☺

Griffin and Ava used to be husband and wife. When they split up, Griffin left town while Ava remained. She is working at Greystone Manor as a chambermaid. Greystone Manor (built in the early nineteenth century and fashioned after a medieval castle) is the Gallagher family legacy, the family to which Griffin is a part of. With the passing of Colleen (the Gallagher matriarch), a book of secrets kept by Colleen is at risk of being discovered and this could lead to trouble for Ava for the book contains her biggest secret, which led to her walking away from Griffin.

I love how Griffin remembers his and Ava’s previous life together:

“She might be as stubborn as she used to be, but she was at least thirty pounds lighter. When they were together, she’d been all soft, lush curves……he caught a whiff of the same perfume she used to wear – sweet and sultry. It brought back memories of all the times he’d held her in his arms. Seven years of memories, most of them amazing.”

Colleen is still around, in ghost format. Her goal is to get Ava and Griffin back together again (they did make the cutest couple after all – they are soul mates in Colleen’s eyes). With the help of Simon, the cat who’d arrived at the manor just a week before Colleen passed, no end of shenanigans take place in an effort to keep hidden the book of secrets from Ava. There were other ghostly interventions which added a certain levity to the story.

There certainly was no end of additional story-lines to keep this reader interested – some not so uplifting, others quite comical. I found the storyline about Ava and her father VERY emotionally moving. It certainly added depth to this contemporary romance novel. Given the intensity I would rather you read it as opposed to me trying to quickly explain – you will understand once you have finished reading this book.

Another story-line had me totally giggling. As you learn, Ava’s goal is to become the chef at the manor. With Griffin back in town, she may never get the chance. You see, the manor is in imminent danger of being sold unless it can turn its fortunes around. One way to accomplish this is to win a cook-off against a rival manor. Unbeknownst to Ava, Monsieur Gaston St. John as just been offered the job as the manor’s new head chef. The sabotage that ensued (both towards and from Gaston by Ava and crew (which definitely includes ghosts) is hilarious. If you are not laughing at their antics….I don’t know what will make you laugh.

The story-line involving Griffin’s other ex-wife started out less than stellar for me but as time went by, I found I liked Lexi more and more. All I have to say on this front is…why don’t people communicate more? Of course, that is a given with any of the relationships in this book. So many misunderstandings could have been avoided by plan ole fashioned communication.

All in all, I found this story a very satisfying read. There was sufficient depth of the characters to pull me in and keep me fully invested in the outcomes for each and every one of them. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Really, not much else I can say except that I cannot wait for the next book in the series, Primrose Lane.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I love how the author uses a sweet cover to entice the reader into a story that is full of secrets, twists, and plots you don't expect. This book had me pulled in until the last page. Talk about a well-crafted, intriguing, and captivating read! This story is full of secrets and when you think you have it figured out, turn the literary corner and there is another surprise. Ava and Griffin are getting divorced. Which makes no sense. They seem truly happy and in love. He gets deployed. Next thing you know, divorce! Why? And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I will be reading more by this author and I will definitely be reading this series.

Starlight Bridge is storytelling at it's best. Ever since I read the fun start of the series, MISTLETOE COTTAGE, I have been waiting for Ava and Griffin's story.
This series has something for everyone. It is full of love, family, loyalty, betrayal, laughter, an odd new friendship and even a ghost. It's been over a decade since Ava divorced Griffin, without telling him why, and since then she's a shadow of her former self. Griffin has returned to Harmony Harbor for a short time, to see for himself if the family Graystone Manor should stay with the family or be sold. He is also in search of a new start since the end of his military career and a second marriage.
With Griffin's presence around the manor, Ava is on edge since her secret is in the missing journal of his late grandmother. But the sparks still fly between her and Griffin. Something else is happening in her life and it is making Griffin start to worry about her again, even though she broke his heart.
It was nice to see the changes in Ava as she found her strength. She was kicked in the gut more than once by life, but life is starting to look good again as Griffin has her back to a lot of the negatives in her life. She is no longer the young woman whose world was torn apart, but now she is a vivacious woman who can tackle life, knowing that she matters to those in her world. She has a generous heart which is truly tested when Griffin's second ex comes to town. I can't say too much more about the story, you are going to have to take a look yourself, because boy it's worth it! This story is so complex-it makes you laugh one moment and tearing up the next. The characters are fun at times and frustrating at other times which makes them realistic and oh so human. The story is a reflection of the ups and downs of life with friends and family and a second chance of a forever love. STARLIGHT BRIDGE is a wonderful addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book this summer.

Fans of the series have been waiting Ava and Griffin’s story. There is a lot of mystery surrounding this couple and I could not wait to get my hands on this book! And it proved to be a great emotional journey with plenty of heart, love, laughter and tears.
Ava and Griffin were once married, but something happened (which is a big mystery to the reader as we start) and so with Griffin back in Ava’s world, you can tell that there is still a spark between the two of them. Ava had a reason for leaving Griffin, and her secrets are out there for anyone to find, in Colleen’s diary.
I really don’t want to give too much away with the book because I really think this is the best in the series. I loved Griffin and Ava together. Theirs is an emotionally driven story. Debbie has a great way of bringing you into the story with well developed characters and secondary characters that round out the story intertwined with humor and fun.
I absolutely recommend this series. Starlight Bridge can be read as a standalone in the series but I suggest reading all the books to get the full experience.

Debbie Mason is a great author and her books are a must-read for romance fans!  Debbie creates believable characters whom the reader falls in love with and wish they were real.  The books also offer an escape from everyday real life.  Graystone Manor sounds amazing and a home that would be amazing to explore.  Griffin and Ava have a history and the spark is still there when Ava has returned to find a book before secrets are discovered by anyone else.  "Starlight Bridge" is a great addition to this series and one that is available now to read!