I read Sheila Roberts years ago and when I saw that the start of a new series was available on NetGalley (back in 2018), I snagged the book. And then never got around to reading it... until now. One of my goals for the year is to read down my NetGalley shelf and I decided to start with the oldest book on the shelf, Welcome to Moonlight Harbor.

Going in, I was expecting a contemporary romance. But while there are hints of romance, it's really more a women's fiction about a woman starting over after a divorce. She's not looking for love, but rather she's looking to pull her life together for herself and her teenage daughter. And that means moving to a small Washington coastal town to help her great aunt to rebuild the family inn.

Welcome to Moonlight harbor isn't a bad book, but honestly it wasn't what I was looking for and therefore left me wanting. The writing is fine, in fact, the story tugged on my heartstrings. I was drawn in and wanted to know how everything was going to work itself out. But I also wanted more. For me, I would have been more entertained if I had gotten more romance or less. I felt I was in this weird limbo, which I suppose is realistic, but is unsatisfying to me as a reader.

While I'm mildly interested to learn more about this series and the inhabitants of Moonlight Harbor, I don't know if I'll ever pick up more in this series. I don't think it piqued my curiosity enough to see what will happen next in this small town, and really that's a shame. Welcome to Moonlight Harbor just ended up being a middle of the road read for me.

This is a very good start to a new series by Sheila Roberts. It is full of vivid and complex characters and the heartwarming story is told with emotion and humor. The main character, Jenna Jones, is going through a messy divorce that is leaving her financially ruined. On top of that, she has an angst-ridden teenage daughter to deal with. When her elderly aunt calls an offers her a place to live and the opportunity to take over running her inn, Jenna jumps at the chance, thinking it will be the answer to their problems. That doesn't turn out to exactly be the case, but it does give Jenna the chance to start over and meet new people. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed how Jenna felt with her selfish x husband. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you netgalley and harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Roberts kicks off her new series with this delightful story of family, friendship and new beginnings. The vividly-drawn coastal Washington setting comes alive (and may cause serious cravings for caramel corn, blackberry coffee cake, bubble gum ice cream and saltwater taffy). Readers will instantly relate to Jenna Jones as she heads to Moonlight Harbor to recover from her bitter divorce and help her great-aunt Edie restore The Driftwood Inn. Handyman (use that term loosely) Pete and Jolly Roger the parrot bring humor, and Aunt Edie brings a little bit of sass. The ups and downs of the bigger-than-she-anticipated renovations and her tumultuous relationship with her hurting teenage daughter threaten to break Jenna’s spirit but her resolve – and the genuine friendships she forms in the process – is inspiring. A couple of romantic potentials simmer in the background, a tough choice for Jenna and ultimately for readers since both men are good guys who also happen to be good-looking.

first appeared on RT Book Reviews, April 2018

A light summer read about a newly divorced woman with a teenage daughter. Of course, there are struggles from the ex-husband wanting money from her to support his new "woman" and there is a romance of her own. Good quick, albeit predictable and light read. Will probably read the next in the series.

This was a wonderful start to a new series set on the Washington coast. With a remarkably well written teenage daughter in tow, Jenna Jones heads to Moonlight Harbor to help her Aunt Edie renovate the Driftwood Inn. Jenna spent summers in Moonlight Harbor as a girl, and her memories of the place makes her believe it is a great place to begin again after her divorce. Roberts recently finished her popular Icicle Falls series, and I thought the nod to Muriel Sterling's self help book was very sweet. I liked how the book meandered through the boring parts of renovation, and was quite worried about how Jenna would come up with the money for this project. Moonlight Harbor houses a plethora of great secondary characters, certainly some will rate their own book as time goes on.

A nice start to a new series. I've read quite a few by this author before and I've always enjoyed them. A little slow to start in the beginning but very warm story and I'm looking forward to more in the series.

This was an atypical novel - didn't follow the traditional chick lit formula - but I liked it, I just wish that there was a longer wrapping up of the story. The ending felt rushed. The animosity between Jenna and her ex husband seemed like it was mainly perpetuated because the author felt like it was the "right thing to do", not because it felt authentic to the character.
That being said - it was a decent read.

This is definitely a title that delivers on its promise -- a great, uplifting story with characters that the reader grows to care about.

What is it about Ms. Roberts' books that makes you want to pack up and move to a small seaside town, get to know and become friends with all of the citizens and, open a small shop???!!!
Jenna is not having a good year. She's about to turn 40, has just divorced her worthless husband, has to pay HIM spousal support because, 'he's an artist' and, has to move to Moonlight Harbor in order to help her beloved aunt renovate her seaside inn. New start, rent free. Should be great, right? Thing is that the inn is falling apart. Neither Jenna or her aunt has the money to fix it. Her teenaged daughter is hormone driven and, miserable. She has two men interested in her and, the feelings are mutual but, men are off limits after her husband!
It would seem that Jenna is faulted at every turn. Fortunately, she finds friends, acquaintances, new interests, a reason for living again and, most important of all, a new, chosen family who has her back whether she knows it or not!!!
I could read a Sheila Roberts book every week and, happily live in those dream worlds forever!

I have read all of Sheila Roberts' books- she takes me away with her through her books.

I was excited to see that she had a new series beginning
and the setting is a beach and small town. I love this setting for a series!
I would enjoy a stay at the Driftwood Inn. I want to live in Moonlight Harbor.

Jenna needs to hit Restart
each chapter begins with her To Do List.
I fell in love with the setting, the characters, and their story.

I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

When Jenna and her deadbeat artist husband divorce and he chooses to live with his new girlfriend, fourteen-year-old Sabrina still only sees her father as someone to revere. So when Jenna receives an offer from her beloved Aunt Edie to move down to the beach town of Moonlight Harbor and run the Driftwood Inn, this mother and daughter duo uproot their lives in Seattle and take Edie up on her offer. Upon getting to this quaint beach town, they realize the Driftwood needs more than just a few cosmetic touchups; it's clearly been in disarray for years. Sheila Roberts does a great job of creating a community of characters that will make you smile and realize that there are kind, helpful people who ultimately want the best for the people they love. Sparkled with a touch of romance, renovations, and a few reservations, Jenna and Sabrina's move to Moonlight Harbor changes their lives as well as those around them.

Newly divorced Jenna and her very unhappy fourteen year old daughter move to the shore to live with Jenna’s elderly aunt. Rent is free and they can help get Aunt Edie’s inn back in shape – all while hoping to find the rainbow at the end of the storm aka Jenn’s life.

In her typical style Sheila Roberts brings her characters through easily relatable situations – if not for the reader, surely the reader knows someone who has been through similar life events. It’s a story of new beginnings and being open to possibilities.

I enjoyed Welcome to Moonlight Harbor. It’s a great start to a new series. Recommended to fans of the author, contemporary romance and beach town settings.

Welcome to the picturesque coastal town of Moonlight Harbor, Washington!

In Welcome To Moonlight Harbor, the first book of the Moonlight Harbor series, author Sheila Roberts provides her readers with a heartwarming story that follows forty year old divorcee Jenna Jones as she embarks on a journey to rebuild her life in Moonlight Harbor.

On her fortieth birthday, Jenna Jones celebrates her birthday and divorce from her cheating, deadbeat, wanna be artist husband Damien Petit. As her reward for being the responsible one in the marriage, the court deemed that since she was the main support and wage earner for the family, they awarded spousal support to her struggling artist ex-husband and new girlfriend until he could get on his feet. Financially strapped and not sure what to do to stay afloat, Jenna receives a birthday card and note from her Great Aunt Edie, who asks her to come to Moonlight Harbor and help her renovate and run her motel, The Driftwood Inn. Aunt Edie has already bequeathed the motel to Jenna in her will, and hopes that she won't refuse her offer. Jenna hasn't visited Moonlight Harbor in a long time, but she has fond childhood memories, and Jenna knows that this is just what she needs to rebuild her life if she could only convince her surly fourteen year old daughter Sabrina.

Moonlight Harbor is a coastal town whose lifeblood depends on tourism. Jenna is excited to see Aunt Edie and get started on the motel's renovation project, that is until she arrives to find the motel and her aunt's house in a rundown ramshackle condition. Aunt Edie is convinced that they can restore The Driftwood Inn to its former glory, and with a little luck and a lot of help and support from the friendly coastal town community, Jenna may get that new beginning after all!

Welcome To Moonlight Harbor is a delightful story that flows seamlessly and is engaging and fun. It has a lot of humorous scenes that will keep you entertained. I really enjoy the author's descriptive style of writing, she has a way of drawing the reader into the story, you feel like you have been transported into Jenna's life and the lives of the townspeople of Moonlight Harbor. It's a whimsical story about family and friends, of community spirit, and of course there is romance thrown into the mix. I loved how each chapter begins with Jenna's daily to do list, I think it was a great lead into each chapter.

With a lovable cast of characters, humorous dialogues and interactions, and a richly detailed description of the town of Moonlight Harbor, Welcome To Moonlight Harbor is a lighthearted story full of second chances, love, laughter, community spirit, and friendship that will leave you wanting to return to Moonlight Harbor for another enjoyable visit.

RATING: 5 STARS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Publicity Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2018/03/welcome-to-moonlight-harbor-by-sheila.html

Jenna is newly divorced and floundering a bit. She decides to move to the small beach town where her aunt and uncle ran an inn. It is is need of serious renovation in order to keep it running. She is not sure how they will get the money needed, but is willing to fight for it. The residents of this small town are all supportive with two of the men adding a possible romantic angle. Her teen daughter adds plenty of angst. Enjoyed this second chance story set in a beach town and look forward to returning.

This was a sweet book, and a great introduction into a new series. I enjoyed the characters and the setting by the beach. A couple of the incidents seemed a little unbelievable when they happened, but the story had a great ending that nicely completed the events in the book. Since the current trend in series is to set it in one town and focus on different characters in each book. I look forward to getting to know the other town residents better in the subsequent books in the series.

I really could not get into this book which is a shame because I really like this author. Too much negative from the beginning made it really hard to enjoy