Excited to read book 3 in Moonlight Harbor series (I am still looking for book 2)
I loved book 2 very much

Look for the rainbow in the storm
If not, go to the beach - Life is always good at the beach.

Jenna's sister comes to help and recover. Sisters helping each other.
Finding a good man - more likely have better luck finding
a unicorn eating a four-leaf clover.

Drink some wine
Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine

Catch up with old friends, meet some new ones
I want to hang around Moonlight Harbor
Read this and you will too

I am waiting for more books in this series

As a younger reader, I had a really hard time with women’s fiction. I felt too young to relate to any of the characters and like I could never fully understand or realize their struggles. But I also felt like I was too old for the YA genre—at least at that time.

Now that I am almost forty, I feel like I can finally appreciate women’s fiction in its entirety so lately I’ve been really open to this genre and enjoying it so much!

Sheila Roberts is a fairly well known author to me. I haven’t read any of her books, but I have seen them quite a bit in bookstores as well as grocery store end caps. Not to mention a few of her books have been turned into Hallmark Channel and Lifetime movies.

This is an author who clearly has a large fan base, so when this book came up for review, I was eager to see what all the fuss was about!

This book basically ended up being exactly what I was expecting it to be—-a quick, easy beach read with a HEA romance and I am 100% ok with that. I like to balance my reading so that I don’t get burned out on any one particular genre and this book was just what I needed to break up some of my heavier reading.

I can see why Roberts has such a large devotion of fans. She writes believable characters with realistic features, stories, and lives and the romances are believable with a little sizzle and sweetness resulting in a HEA. While this book isn’t going to change the world, it does offer a fabulous escape from reality and an enjoyable story.

While at times this book was really predicable, I didn’t mind all that much. I took my pleasure from reading about the lovely little Driftwood Inn at Moonlight Harbor, the fun characters and Celeste’s romance. While there were some obstacles between Celeste and her HEA, I thought it was appropriate and fitting for her character in the end.

This was a nice beach read—something you throw in your bag and read in one sitting while soaking up the sun—or maybe you read in one sitting while it’s raining outside while you dream of sunnier days (my situation). All in all, it was a lovely read and even though it wasn’t earth shattering in content, it was a nice escape and one that I read in only a couple of sittings as it read very quickly!

I did enjoy this book but found it a bit dull in places and not enough happened for my liking.

A good story though saying that, Celeste comes to help her sister Jenna at the Inn, she meets two different men and has to decide what one to choose.

Will she pick the right one for her?

Review to follow.
I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Mira in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is the third book in a series. I read the first two before reading this book to put it in context although they could easily stand alone. The books are light beach reads which unfortunately felt weighed down by too many characters.

The Summer Retreat(Moonlight Harbor #3) by Shield Roberts

April 23, 2019
Mira Publishing
Fiction, beach read
Rating: 3/5


I received a digital ARC copy of this book from Mira and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third book in a series. I read the first two before reading this book to put it in context although they could easily stand alone. The books are light beach reads which unfortunately felt weighed down by too many characters.

I enjoyed the first book but the following books seemed to be weighed down with many characters. The description and history of the characters were informative but not entirely necessary to plot and resolution. Maybe this was intentional to set the pace for upcoming books in the series.

Overall, a delightful, easy read with a lot of Christian undertones and nods to other women’s literature authors. This book centers mostly on Celeste Jones, who decides to move to Moonlight Harbor Inn for respite. Jenna Jones, her sister, had worked hard renovating the Driftwood Inn, which has been in the family for years.

I had read the first two books so I was prepared when this book started with a focus on Celeste. It didn’t feel organic in flow from the ending of the previous book. I was anticipating each novel to build off the other which they did but also provide insight into next book.

Of course, it is difficult for me to provide a review of this book as a stand alone since I’ve read the other books. The storyline is clever and the romantic subplots humorous. I felt it lacked a strong framework moving forward to support the additions to the series.

I am a sucker for small town contemporary romances. When I was approached about reviewing The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts I took the opportunity. A woman spurned by a lover taking retreat with her sister at the hotel she owns and operates in a small seaside town? Sign me up!

Celeste Jones heads towards her sister’s hotel The Driftwood Inn after she is spurned by her last man. Just like every other man in her life Celeste was sure he was The One. He wasn’t. Celeste swears off rushing into another relationship again. It’s time for her to slow down and really make sure before she commits to the next guy.

One of the things that I didn’t like about The Summer Retreat was, sadly, Celeste. Most of the time she was fun and enjoyable but I had a lot of issue with the constant focus of needing to be married and how insanely fast everything progressed. I feel like if Celeste had taken her vow to not rush into things seriously a lot of strife could have been avoided.

The other issue that I had is that I didn’t feel that the actual romance focus in this story had a lot of time or development. Most of the book was spent focusing on the other relationship. For me this was a pretty big issue. I like to see the couples in a romance work against and with each other to gain that happily ever after. That certainly happened here but it was a someone else issue and not something or themselves standing in their own way. I think that love triangles (and I hesitate to use that term here) have big risk but can have big pay off too. The reason for my hesitation is why it didn’t pay off here. It made me actually more annoyed with Celeste than anything else.

There was a lot that I did like in The Summer Retreat. I really liked the small town vibe. I loved the relationships that Celeste had with her family. I really enjoyed some of the banter between the characters. It definitely had some funny moments.

One thing that I promise myself when I read a book that I end up giving a 3 out of 5 is that I will give the author’s work another read. Sometimes the first book that I read by a new to me author doesn’t hit all my check boxes. Not every book is going to. So I’ll give another book by Sheila Roberts a shot to make sure it wasn’t just a fluke. A perfect example of this is The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton. I didn’t love that book but I just pre-ordered the fourth book in the series. I’ll definitely be picking up the first book in the Moonlight Harbor series.

I received an ARC copy from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review. I read this book as a standalone and found it to be absolutely lovely!!! Celeste goes back to Moonlight Harbor after her boyfriend cheated on her to get a break from life. She stays with her sister and Aunt there. I loved the main characters and all the other ones as well!! Both sisters had it rough with men and I won't spoil the ending but I loved the ending so much! Great characters! A must read this summer! I can't wait to read the others!!!

A perfect book to read at the beach!

Celeste is a teacher, so when her summer holidays start she decides to go to visit her sister for the summer and help her at her motel at the beach .,.. what better way to get over a broken heart. What Celeste doesn't expect to find is the love ... with a minister and hate ... with a writer.

This book had me laughing out loud ... the crazy things that happen at Moonlight Harbor. No only were Celeste and her family kinda quirky ... all the town's characters who also a hoot! I didn't read the first 2 books, but I had no trouble picking up the story ... although I will have to go back and read them because they are about Celeste's sister Jenna and the two guys she's in love with. This book is a sweet romantic comedy that is perfect for summertime reading.

I received an early copy courtesy of Harlequin-Mira through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

While I enjoy a feel good, predictable romance read, this one missed the mark a bit for me. I loved the setting of Moonlight Harbor, the beach vibes and of course, Nemo the dog, but the story fell a bit flat. I love the premise of spending the summer with her sister at the beach while recovering from a breakup, but Celeste seemed to dive right in trying to find another man, and literally all the female characters were OBSESSED with finding a man. I get it, but....finding yourself first? Sisterly bonding? It just wasn't what I expected.

This is a cute story and would be a good beach read. I liked the characters and would like to hear more about them. Celeste finds that her boyfriend, that she thought she would be marrying soon, has been cheating. Since she is off for the summer, she decided that she needed a change of scenery. She went to visit her sister at the beach. While there, she meets two men. One is a pastor and she knows that he will be faithful, even if he isn't very exciting. The second is a writer who makes her feel so much, but can she trust that. She hasn't had the best of luck when picking men, so she thinks being with the pastor is a safe decision. So what if life might be a tad boring in the future. She can adapt, can't she?

This third story in the Moonlight Harbor series gives great background on all the characters so it can be read as a standalone story.

Celeste retreats to the Driftwood Inn that her sister Jenna runs. She lives with their Aunt Edie and her daughter Sabrina. Along with the story of their unfolding lives, there's a bit of romance. There's a plethora of eligible bachelor's in Moonlight Harbor including a policeman, firefighter, a pastor, and the mystery writer staying at the inn for the summer.

After a rocky start, Celeste and Henry (also know as Dirk the aurhor) forge a friendship. He makes her a bit uneasy and they're like oil and vinegar but something clicks between them. The problem is she's met Pastor Paul, the perfect man for her. As their relationship progresses, she decided to stay in Moonlight Harbor giving up her job and apartment. I found the push for finding the perfect man a bit drawn out and unrealistic. It was clear to me which man was perfect for Celeste.

You'll have to read the book to find out which man is the right one for Celeste. I will say this was better than book 2, but not as good as the first book. For me 3.5 is the rating. .

I received a free ARC eBook from the publisher and Net Galley for my honest review.

The Summer Retreat is just as the title says - an opportunity for Celeste, one of the main characters, to retreat to the inn owned by her sister, to help out with the summer rush, and a light retreat for the reader seeking a feel-good, easy read (summer or not!).

The characters are charming and well-fleshed out; people with whom you would like to meet and spend maybe a summer week or the whole summer. There’s a love story, of course. Celeste has just been dumped by her ex (a good thing, it sounds like) and while she’s not looking for love, love finds her, twice. Will she fall for the charming Pastor Paul, or will she be enticed by the mysterious but charming thriller writer who holes up in his room writing the entire summer?

I’ll never tell. You will have to read it for yourself to find out.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is the third book in the Moonlight Harbor series. If you enjoyed the first two books you will love this one! This book follows Celeste Jones on her journey to find herself after she discovers her boyfriend of one year is cheating on her. She decides to spend time with her sister for the summer as she’s figuring things out. This is a great story showcasing Celeste’s relationship with her sister, Jenna, as well as developing as a person. I definitely recommend this one!

The Summer Retreat
By Sheila Roberts Published by Harlequin MIRA
pub date: 4/23/2019

3.75 stars / 5
Celeste Jones has plans for a perfect summer with her boyfriend (and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé)—until he dumps her to be with the woman he’s had on the side for months. Heartbroken and furious, Celeste resolves to move on. When the going gets tough, the tough…okay, the not-so-tough go to the beach.

As soon as school lets out for the summer, she waves goodbye to her first-graders, packs up her bikini and heads for Moonlight Harbor, where she knows her big sister, Jenna, will receive her with open arms. Jenna could probably use some help at the Driftwood Inn, and Celeste is happy to do chores around the place in exchange for a relaxing summer escape. She just needs something—or someone—to distract her from her troubles.

The Summer Retreat is the perfect beach read, to take to the pool and not put down till it is finished I hadn't read a Harlequin title since my senior year in college when Nora Roberts , Sandra Brown, and Fern Michaels were the authors we all wanted to read . Sheila Roberts writes with substance and great attention to detail, I simply fell in love with the town Moonlight Harbor and it had me daydreaming about that perfect summer that you want to last forever. I loved the tension between Celeste and her writer, and without spoiling it who would you choose between a Pastor and a writer who makes your knees shake? Thank you # NetGalley and #Harlequin for my advanced reader copy I will have a blog with perfect beach reads with #A SummerRetreat featured!

The writing and characters in this book were well fleshed out. Although we arrive at Moonlight harbor in its third installment we are well caught up with the goings on of the regulars in the series. These were all the plus points of the book. The story revolves around Celeste who moves in with her sister for the summer and contributes to the daily cleaning of the hotel that she runs in Moonlight Harbor.

Given the depth and the interesting sketch of the people introduced to us, it is disheartening to see that there is a single topic of conversation throughout. It is supposed to be a lighthearted book set in a cozy town and where people find their happily-ever-afters but that idea dominates every conversation and every chapter. I just felt like the characteristics of the women were overshadowed by the need to find Celeste a man ASAP. There are a few funny moments and good narration but I was not as invested as I usually am with such a scenario because the picture kept changing and some people had a fixed outlook which did not change despite multiple iterations of conversations. 

Despite the entire previous paragraph, I still liked the book enough to recommend it those already reading this series since there were a lot of loose ends left in the book for possible future uses.

The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

Contemporary small town, clean romance. Multiple points of view.
Lots of characters give the story charm.
Third book in the Moonlight Harbor series. Can be read as a standalone. I hadn’t read the previous books and had no trouble follow the characters.

Man hungry. The heroine had no other life goals than finding and marrying the right man. The explanation behind it was that she never knew her father. Nothing made her happy and she whined about being alone at various events and holidays.
I understand wanting to find love but hated this premise. The entire time reading this I wanted to shake her, telling her to have some self respect and try loving herself first.
The romance in this book missed the mark.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I read and enjoyed the first book in Moonlight Harbor series, somehow missed the second, and still didn’t feel lost reading the third and newest book The Summer Retreat. So if you haven’t read this series you should know each book can stand alone.

Celeste Jones is fresh out of what she thought would be a permanent relationship with the perfect man. She’s lost confidence in her ability to pick the right one and heads to her sister Jenna’s home in Moonlight Harbor. Jenna owns a small motel and could use Celeste’s help for the summer. Plus, she loves her sister and is happy to have her nearby. As Celeste gets to know the people and places of Moonlight Harbor she starts to feel like she’ll be okay. When she meets a couple of possible boyfriends she feels more than okay! But when it comes to making a choice should she listen to her heart or her mind? Go with the one who feels right or the one who should be right? As you might expect, the reader will know before Celeste.

Sheila Roberts made me laugh out loud and then cringe – and I enjoyed it. The Summer Retreat (and the Moonlight Harbor series) should appeal to fans of contemporary romance and small town stories.

Celeste has a pattern of falling for the wrong men. She is hopeful that her current boyfriend, Emerson, will soon be her fiance! Sadly, she finds that he has been cheating on her and is leaving her to be with the "other woman". She is fed up and leaves to visit her sister Jenna in Moonlight Harbor, hoping some time away in the sun will help heal her broken heart. Her sister wants to help Celeste find "The One", but with Jenna having love life issues of her own, they'll end up helping each other.
This was a good read - not my usual genre but I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Sheila Roberts, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Celeste seems to always be unlucky in love, and her current romance is no different. When she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, she's had enough. To nurse her broken heart, she decides to spend the summer with her sister, niece and aunt at Driftwood inn. She is going to spend the summer at the beach and also help her sister run the inn. She meets two men while she's there, the perfect man and the man who makes her heart race....thus begins her dilemma. I didn't realize this was the 3rd inn a series--but it held up well as a standalone. This was a quick easy read, and any book about the beach is always a book I enjoy....I could see this being read while at the beach! I've read a few other books by this author and this didn't disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review! I will be reading more by this author!!

Perfect for a beach read. Well written, enjoyable, a bit predictable. Great read! I have not read the previous books in the series and had not issues with the book being able to stand alone.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin`Mira for an ARC of this book for a review. This is the 3rd book in Sheila Roberts Moonlight Harbor series, but you dont have the read the 1st two to get into the story. Celeste finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her and decides to visit her sister and help her out at Driftwood Inn while trying to get her life back on track. There are quite a few guys that her sister is trying to fix her up with including a cop, and a pastor...but who is the guy staying at the inn plotting murder??? This is a nice light summer read that most people will enjoy.