Readers who love a second chance romance with a bit of humour will love this book. Very well written. I’m always happy to find an author who writes as well as Liz Johnson.

The dialogue must sound natural to what I call my reading ear and it was pitch perfect in this title.

Thank you NetGalley and Revell for the review copy. So sorry it took so long but this is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's writing style made me feel like I knew the characters. I was quite frustrated with Natalie, and wanted to shake some sense into her. I knew from the first or second chapter how the book would end, and I was watching for that to happen all the way through. The journey was worth taking, however; Natalie learned some very important lessons about forgiveness and honesty along the way that we would all do well to take to heart. I loved reading about Prince Edward Island!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

Title: On Love’s Gentle Shore

Author: Liz Johnson

Ch: 21 plus epilogue

Pg: 336

Series: Prince Edward Island Dreams book 3

Genre: Christian Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

On Love’s Gentle Shore by the Liz Johnson is the third book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series. Natalie O’Ryan never thought she would be back in her hometown. But yet she is because her fiancée thought he would surprise her with a wedding on Prince Edward Island. He thought she would love to get married in her hometown, because she’s never told him the reason she left and never looked back. She’s been keeping a part of herself and her past a secret from him. As well as the boy she left behind.

Justin Kane and Natalie where best friends as children and teens. But when Natalie left without so much as a goodbye Justin buried the hurt and their friendship and focused on running his family’s dairy farm. Now that Natalie’s back in town to get married he doesn’t know what to think. Can these two find a way to mend the past and save a friendship or will they find so much more.

Even though Justin is the boy from her past and she has a fiancée there isn’t a love triangle. This book isn’t so much about romance as much as it is about Natalie learning to love herself despite her past, and past hurts. Out of all the characters in this series Natalie was the one I related to the must because like her I didn’t really fit in with my classmates in school and I had stutter that never completely went away. Even now it still comes out when I am tired or stressed.

All in all, this is good series I would recommend reading. I read this one the fastest out of all of them because I just couldn’t put it down. This book should be read after the first two in the series. This isn’t the last book in the series. There is a Christmas Novella that comes after this one. That I still have to read.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Oh, I really loved this story! Natalie is a character you love to feel sorry for even though it's her own actions of running from the past (rather than facing it) which have cause a lot of the issue. Small-town gossip isn't kind, and it hasn't improved by neglect. As soon as the townsfolk realize Natalie's back for the summer, the old gossip rises up bigger than ever and flies around with new vigor.

I don't often read books that deal with the direct damage that town gossip can do, and I loved the application readers can draw of the damage it's all too easy to do to someone by a bit of unfounded or semi-founded gossip.

I did love how Marie (from book 1) befriends her and sticks up for her, and I really loved watching that relationship unfold. I also loved her interactions with Justin's mom.

Justin was fun to get to know and a likeable guy. Natalie's the most memorable, though! :)

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Growing up in North Rustico, PEI, all Natalie O'Ryan ever wanted was to leave. Leave the abuse, leave the stigma, leave the gossip that followed her everywhere she went. Her parents choices were NOT hers and she saw no reason to suffer for them the rest of her life. The only bright spot in her life was her friendship with Justin Kane.

Justin "adopted" her when, at age 5, he found her hiding in the lighthouse on Kane property. He took her home, his mom fed her, and through the years, he became her very best friend. They had a plan that, after she graduated, they would head for Nashville where Justin could pursue music as a career, and she could be as far away from PEI and its memories as possible. What they didn't expect was that Justin's dad would die young, leaving Justin to run the family dairy supporting his mom and sisters. He couldn't leave, and she couldn't stay.

Fifteen years later, Natalie's fiance, Russell Jacobs decides to take her back "home" to be married. He has no idea of the hornets nest he is stirring by dragging her back. The whispers begin the first time she enters the diner, and suddenly, venues they reserved in Russell's name for the wedding are "double-booked", leaving Natalie scrounging for a place to hold her wedding reception. When it appears that the only place big enough is an old barn on Justin's property, Natalie is sure all is lost.

Justin has been rescuing Natalie for so long that it's second nature. Even though he's always felt like she deserted him, he can't help feeling that they have unfinished business. When she left, she pretty much took his heart with her. As they work together to turn his barn into a showplace, will they discover they still have a spark of something between them? Can he convince her that marrying someone she hasn't been honest with about her past is no way to start a marriage? Can he rescue her one more time, before she steps into a future that doesn't include him?

What a story! Natalie's story made me weep for the child she was and the hateful way she was treated, through no fault of her own. Justin was always her light, which makes it ironic that they met in a lighthouse. The love his family showed her was pretty much the only love she received, so coming back to town was not even on her horizon. Her pain is woven through nearly every page until finally, she is shown truth.

This is a story of redemption and restoration, from despair to hope. The third book in Liz Johnson's Prince Edward Island Dreams series, On Love's Gentle Shore, is sweet contemporary romance at its finest, and is a beautiful conclusion to the series. While all three books are interconnected, each can be read on its own. I do recommend reading the whole series, though! The characters from the first book show up, and their story continues, in the third book. I loved this whole series, and of the three, I think On Love's Gentle Shore was the best one. I highly recommend!

This book was oh-so-angsty and I loved it! Natalie is in some serious denial through most of the book which frustrated me, but in a good way- I was totally consumed by the need for her to open her eyes and see how much better the alternate path would be. I loved seeing her process all the hard stuff as she reconciled with Justin and realized how much their separation devastated him too. Renewing her friendship with him also woke up a dormant part of her personality that she had suppressed, and it was interesting to see the clash between the submissive fiancé Russell knows versus the vibrant, funny, passionate woman Justin sees. I loved reading from Justin's perspective and how deep his feeling run, even though he attempts to be the strong and silent type. The amazing setting of the island and the Red Door Inn was a huge part of the book and I loved that the characters from the previous books played important roles in this book as well. One of my favorite scenes was the "kitchen party" where Justin and other musicians came together to play and we see how he puts his feelings about Natalie into his songs. A wonderful conclusion to the series and I highly recommend reading them all!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Fifteen years ago, Natalie O’Ryan escaped her suffocating little hometown and the people who showed nothing but disdain toward her and her family. In a new city, far from her ghosts, Natalie manages to reinvent herself and create a good life. Now she plans to marry music producer Russell Jacobs. But when he attempts to surprise her and books their special day on the very island she’d hoped never to set foot on again, Natalie must either come clean with her fiancé about her past or face the very people who once turned their back on her.

Justin Kane never forgot his childhood best friend and the girl he loved. He also definitely hasn’t forgotten the pain she left in her wake when she ran away disregarding their dreams and plans. But now Natalie has returned threatening to upheave the life he’s so carefully reconstructed. When Natalie’s reception venue falls through, Justin’s barn seems like the only place big enough to host such a crowd. However, working together to restore the rundown building could lay the foundation to repair past hurts or lead to broken hearts anew.

With this beautiful tale of love and forgiveness, one of my favorite series sadly comes to a close. On Love’s Gentle Shore delivers a poignant story that introduces readers to new friends, reunites us with old ones, and brings us home to Prince Edward Island. Liz Johnson knows how to tug at the heartstrings while creating flawed and relatable characters.

Considering Natalie was engaged to another man, the amount of time she and Justin spent together — especially considering their romantic past — was unwise. It was unfair toward both Russell and Justin. In that, I struggled to connect with Natalie. However, I could empathize with the pain and anxiety she carried from her childhood and understood the reasons for the walls she’d built around her heart. Despite addressing deep hurts and broken backgrounds the author still infuses the pages with hope.

I recommend On Love’s Gentle Shore to fans of The Prince Edward Island Dreams series and romance readers looking for a plot and characters that go deeper than just the surface. While the novel could stand alone, the entire series is too good to miss.

I had such a hard time with this book. Loved the setting and the details given. I could picture everything in my mind. I couldn’t get on board with the plot. Natalie’s personality is kind of whiny spoiled and I had a hard time connecting with her. Maybe I’ll go back and read the other books and try it again at a later time.
I received a digital copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was happy to be reading from this author again. Great storyline and character development to see throughout the book. Recommended!

On Loves Gentle Shore is book 3 in a series and I found that I just read through it without having read through the other 2 with no problems. It stands alone well although it was excellent and now I want to read the other two as well. That’s a nice “problem” to have, isn’t it? This book flows so well and it’s a page-turner. It touches on forgiveness and I loved the help that was given in support of Biblical forgiveness. In it is mentioned going forward and the advice given was “I suppose you do the next right thing.” The comment that we can carry bitterness around like a security blanket was thought provoking. I highly recommend this author and this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Also posted on Amazon, B&N, Christianbook

On Love's Gentle Shore is the third and, I think, final book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series. It is also my favorite of the series, which is a surprise considering I wasn't sure about the romance in the beginning...I mean, the heroine was engaged at the start of the book and yet it seemed like there was going to be a romance between her and her old beau -- or at least there were sparks -- and unless it was done right, I knew I wouldn't like the breaking up of a relationship that was serious.

Now I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say what happens or which way the romance went, but I did end up loving the book and I found the story captivating. I didn't want to put it down and am sad that it is over.

As with all the books in this series, I loved the characters and setting. The writing was fantastic; it held my interest and the story wasn't hard to follow. There were also some scenes that had me on the edge of my seat because I didn't know what was going to happen next and I didn't want it to be anything bad.

All in all, I recommend On Love's Gentle Shore. I don't think you need to read the previous books in order to enjoy this one, but since they were so good I think you might want to. ;)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thoughts:

ON LOVE’S GENTLE SHORE: A Novel by Liz Johnson, we uncover the inherent problems in returning to the place you left behind only to face all of those who remember everything about you!

Natalie O’Ryan’s plan is to stay in Nashville, but her fiancé’s brother is a new resident of the island where dreams never come true, and the red rock can hold you down. We feel the pain, worry, and ache of trying not to be who you are while whom you used to be remaining an insistent bombardment to us. Prince Edward Island does not hold fond memories for Natalie.

Her younger life provided plenty of abuse, family dysfunction, and alcoholic tendencies mixed with many other family issues never sorted through. Unfortunately, she still wears the stains of her family ways and their toxic lives.

The life she creates is Nashville involves a future marriage, a music label, and a clean slate cloaked in anonymity. However, attempting to be the person you are not will lead to someone else taking the lead and putting you right where you belong whether you wanted to go there or not.

Meanwhile, Justin Kane runs the family farm but still makes time for his music.

No, it was not supposed to be this way. His music was to take him away in life, but that dream died along with his dad years ago. His rebellious youth is long gone, and he is a responsible man. Falling in love with Justin’s caring ways, you may want to join him on the island. It’s his home from birth, and although farming isn’t his life’s dream, he’s made his father’s legacy a success.

Justin believes he has moved on in life, adjusting to the changed normal until the day that he realizes he hasn’t.

It may be that he does not want to either. He has been striving not thriving and managing everyday life without thoughts of his future. He is present in the blandness of every day, but he has given up on the forever-elusive state of happiness. However, he doesn’t know any of this until the friend who took his heart away the day she left returns, and his past comes back to him with unrelenting force. Memories and pain flood him like the tide!

Did his music dream truly die? Could a childhood friendship have been so much more than this?


***This opinion is my own.***



Preview:

Inside ON LOVE’S GENTLE SHORE: A Novel by Liz Johnson, Natalie O’Ryan’s fiancé makes their wedding plans without her input. While she understands that his new relationship with his brother is the reason, he has put her in the most difficult of situations.

She must face the past that even he does not know about, and she must face her facade crumbling in a life not lived.

With a plastic smile and the power of determination, Natalie will overcome this horrid destination and painful memories to plan a wedding and make a graceful exit from that old life. Her conjured up, get it done persona takes a major hit, once her music producer, soon to be husband, Russell Jacobs needs to return to Nashville. Music is his life. Sometimes, it can make her play second fiddle, but she has not been honest enough for him to know this about her and why.

Justin Kane lives on Prince Edward Island, manages his deceased father’s farm, and discovers successes where he can find them, and he plays his music for fun. His life is fairly settled, and he no longer dreams of leaving island life behind until Natalie comes back.

Now, Justin faces his past, present, and future with a ton of questions, many emotions, and hefty decisions weighing him down.

Life is alive with second chances providing you can let go of everything you thought you had. Starting over is never easy, but is it even doable?

What happens to friendships, broken dreams, and happiness?

Well, I was enjoying the book until it deleted itself off my device. Perhaps I can read it from my public library soon. The writing was well done and the story went along at a good pace. The dialogue was also good and varied enough that it helped the story flow well. Hope there will be a more from this author soon.

Another great contemporary romance written by Liz Johnson. This is the third installment of Prince Edward Island Dreams series but can totally be read as a stand-alone. Actually all three books can be read as stand-alones, though reading Where Two Hearts Meet (book 2) prior to this book will give a nice background story to Caden and Adam. Adam is Russell's brother and a big reason why Russell and Natalie come to PEI for their wedding.

The setting of Prince Edward Island is beautiful. I've never been to the area but felt totally transported to this world of beauty and majesty through the book. Ms. Johnson's writing, as always, is smooth, flawless, and delicious, like a good piece of milk chocolate. There is a good dose of humor in the book, especially in the dialogue between Justin and Natalie.

Just a warning to y'all who don't like love triangles - there is one here. I have to state this disclaimer: I really dislike love triangles, especially when there is an engagement involved between the couple and a third person is thrown into the mix. My dislike of this particular plot premise in no way affected my love for this book because the book is THAT good.

Natalie is a broken woman with a past that she clings to so tightly. She left PEI and reinvented herself in Nashville but returns to PEI, on fiancé Russell's insistence, to have their wedding on the island. She's so insecure in who she is that she's not even sure who she is anymore.
Russell is a top-notch record producer in Nashville who is busy getting his artists' records to top the charts that he barely has room for anything else in his life. Of course, I felt drawn to Russell simply because he is Adam's brother.
And then there is Justin. A broody, scowl-y, loyal to the core dairy farmer who once had a dream of making it big as a singer. Sure, he still writes songs and performs in the little town but never got over the pain Natalie caused him so many years ago. But he is totally a swoon-worthy hero once we see the tough outer layer peeled back.

The road to forgiveness is hard for everyone, especially for Natalie. The theme of true forgiveness, repentance, and redemption is so clear throughout the book. The redemption we have only through Jesus is underscored in the thoughts and words of several of the characters in the story.

Anyone who enjoys a well-written, thought-provoking, soul-stirring contemporary Christian romance will appreciate this book. I totally recommend all three books in this series.

I received an ARC of the book from Revell via NetGalley. I was not required to write a review or a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I am usually the odd one out when it comes to reviewing books. I do have very high standards, and this one falls short. But I do have a very good reason.

After 15 years Natalie and Justin are just as hopping mad at each other as if they had separated the day before. Fifteen years after my divorce from a man that cheated on me with 2 prostitutes not once but twice, I had forgiven him and we were able to be friends. Mostly because we shared 2 daughters and grandchildren, but the searing anger was gone. I knew that God said to forgive. Period. I had to work hard at forgiving, but I finally did.

These 2 lovebirds were supposed to be Christian and yet had harbored vicious anger forever. I wonder if Johnson knows just how long 15 years really is. I wonder if she even thought about God's command to forgive.

I got fed up with the spitting venom, which was not funny nor was it a particularly pleasant reading experience. Having lived for 22 years in a marriage with that kind of vicious bickering and venom, it took me a little while to understand why I had such an aversion to this story. It was the anger. And believe me, Johnson does an excellent job in describing that.

So don't take my observations to much to heart. I can imagine a really cold simmering anger after 15 years, but not this hot, raging vitriol. It didn't make sense.

4.5 stars~

Once again author Liz Johnson sweeps the reader away to glorious Prince Edward Island—where the lighthouse beams across the dark waters and magically illuminates the coves and cliffs and verdant meadows spring alive with wildflowers! Who wouldn't wish to go there? Our heroine, Natalie O'Ryan, that's who.

Having no plans to return after she left 15 years prior, her fiance Russell Jacobs books their wedding there, and Natalie reluctantly agrees. At first I didn't like Natalie at all. I thought she was rude and childish and treated her lifelong friend, Justin Kane, like dirt. Their constant immature squabbling almost made me put the book down until all of a sudden I "got" it. Having a similar childhood as Natalie, I finally understood her and I would not have wanted to be there either...no matter how beautiful North Rustico is. Justin has the patience of a saint, but can he actually help plan Natalie's wedding? Not to mention the fact that Russell holds the key to everything Justin has ever dreamed of. Is forgiveness and healing from all the pain and bitterness in their future—and perhaps more?

What a touching story. More than simply a romance, On Love's Gentle Shore explores the terrible atrocity of child abuse and the lingering affects from it. I so loved that the previous characters in Red Door Inn were back, but this book can be read well as a stand alone. Beautifully written and set in the perfect locale, readers everywhere will be stirred by this wonderful story of healing, forgiveness, and tender romance.

This third novel in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series culminates with a story of old love, family forgiveness, and uncovered dreams. The hope in these themes moves the characters along not knowing where they will find themselves. People from the former books connect the series. The beauty of the island adds to the mix with the lighthouse as a main focus.
Natalie O’Ryan fights against a town who has pegged her as the town drunk’s daughter but can she hold her head high on her own? Will her wedding finally happen?
I recommend On Love’s Distant Shore. You may connect as characters work out the best way to live their lives with God’s help.
I received a copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I absolutely loved this series and thought this was the perfect ending. The Red Door Inn was a magical place...I wish it was real :) I enjoyed getting to know Natalie...her character was so real and normal with her past hurts and how she dealt with them. Her story of working through the pain of her past and coming to find her true self again was one that will resonate with me for quite some time after putting the book down. I highly recommend this book and the two previous books in the series!

ON LOVE'S GENTLE SHORE is a beautifully written novel by Ms Johnson. I loved her writing, her storytelling and her imagination. I have shared this story w/ all of my reading friends. FIVE STARS.

What I Loved: From the moment I picked up the book I was hooked! I don’t know if Johnson was inspired by the movie Sweet Home Alabama, but I couldn’t help but pick up on some subtle similarities in the first few chapters. And I loved every minute of it! I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was a remake, but if you’re familiar with the movie you’ll likely enjoy watching a similar situation unfold.
Johnson kept my attention until the very end. I sympathized with Natalie in a way that I rarely do in a book. She made me laugh, she made me cry. And no heroine is complete without a lovable hero. Johnson did a great job crafting characters that felt and acted like real people. The supporting cast is equally charming.
I’m going to miss visiting PEI with Johnson and the crew, but I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author!

Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving On Love’s Gentle Shore 5 stars and recommending it to those who enjoy Christian Contemporary Fiction.

~I received a copy from Net Galley. I was not compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own.