The fifth and final Moonlight Harbor novel...and it's about time Jenna gets her happy ending!! I really could have done without the other books "starring" other Moonlight Harbor women so I was glad to get back to Jenna, Seth and Brody. When I saw in the description that there was a tragedy, I knew immediately what it was going to be. I did not, however, expect to bawling my eyes out for pretty much the entire last quarter of the novel. It hit me really hard for some reason (great writing on Sheila Roberts' part, let me tell ya). I alternated between crying and being annoyed that Jenna was going to end up with the wrong man. I was starting to get angry about it at one point. How could she end up with the wrong man when everyone else has found their forever person???? But everything turns out in the end, which shouldn't surprise anyone.

All in all, a great final installment in a wonderful series. If you like happy endings (with maybe a little tragedy thrown in) then you'll like this book. If you enjoy small, quirky towns with fun, helpful, supportive citizens, then you should stop by Moonlight Harbor for a visit...I really need to figure out where this town is because every man is hot and single, even with such a small population. ( )

Just the beach read I needed. Fell right back in with all the folks from Moonlight Harbor. Can’t wait to read the next one! ( )

Good story of love, friendship, family, and loss. The book takes place in Moonlight Harbor, a small beach town in Washington, full of ordinary people with real lives. This one centers mainly around Jenna Jones, one of the characters in the previous book (Beachside Beginnings), though her family and friends also have prominent roles.

After divorcing her husband, Jenna moved to Moonlight Harbor and took over managing her elderly great-aunt's Driftwood Inn. She poured heart and soul into bringing the vintage motel back to life, and it is doing quite well. Besides the motel, Jenna fills her time with her massage therapy business, raising her teenage daughter, and watching out for Aunt Edie. As if she weren't busy enough, Jenna also ran for and won a seat on the town council. There are only two real downsides in her life: the alimony she's stuck paying her ex-husband for another year and trying to make up her mind about the two men in her life, Brody and Seth.

Brody is the local real estate agent, handsome, charming, wealthy, and determined in his pursuit of Jenna. He's a nice guy, sensitive to Jenna's wariness about getting involved, and willing to be patient as she works through her fears. Seth is an ex-con who works as a handyman. He's a loner who avoids getting close to others, but he's there when Jenna needs him. Jenna spends most of the book arguing with herself about which man before making a decision. But what happens when she receives a devastating blow that upends her life again? From the outside looking in, I easily guessed why it happened that way, but Jenna was left in the dark. It all became clear at the end, but it changed her relationships with both men.

The book takes place over a year, and we get a good look at Jenna's life and the lives of her friends and family. Besides her man troubles, Jenna must also deal with her town council duties, including a problem with an exploding deer population. She gets accosted by people on both sides of the issue, and finding a workable solution is a challenge. I liked getting to know Jenna's family. Aunt Edie may be slowing down, but she's sharp as a tack. She has plenty of advice to give whether the recipients want it or not, but she also has a big heart. I loved the scenes where she cooks for everyone. Jenna's mother, Melody, is at a crossroads. The grocery store she works at was sold, so she's out of a job. I loved seeing her gather her courage and move from the house she's lived in for so long to Moonlight Harbor, where she's close to her family. She also faces the question of whether she's ready for a new romance after so many years as a widow. Jenna's sister, Celeste, wants to move down to be with the rest of her family but has trouble convincing her husband to take that step. There are a few scenes where she comes across as somewhat selfish but shows some growth by the end.

Jenna's friend, Courtney, also faces some significant changes in her life. She quit her job with her cranky boutique owner boss to concentrate on designing her own clothes. When that boutique goes up for sale, she dreams of buying it, but there are obstacles. I liked how her friends rallied around her when an unexpected twist put it within reach. She also has her handsome firefighter boyfriend in her life and a mother dropping heavy-handed hints about marriage and grandbabies. I liked Jonas a lot and had fun with the surprise he had for Courtney.

An unexpected loss devastates Jenna's family but hits her especially hard. A perceived betrayal complicates her grief and leaves Jenna questioning her judgment. I ached for her as her dreams for the future fell apart. There were times when I wanted to shake her for her lack of trust, but it also opened her eyes to feelings she'd ignored before. I wasn't surprised by either twist at the end of the book though I liked how they happened.

I've read the book before this, which I enjoyed. This one reminded me I want to read the others in the series. ( )

I absolutely loved this book! I was a little nervous about reading this (the genre is pretty hit-and-miss for me), but the synopsis intrigued me. I’m so glad I decided to read it! Jenna is a strong heroine, and I love how she handles everything. She has a great support system cheering her on, even when things take a wrong turn. This story was heart-warming, at times it tugged at my heart strings and made me tear up, but overall, when I finished the last page my heart felt fuller than when I started. A wonderfully emotional story that’s refreshing and sweet. ( )

If you are just joining this series for the first time...welcome. You will enjoy the people of Moonlight Harbor. Although, having read the prior two novels in this series; I do have to admit that this book was my least favorite. It felt like the story just kind of bounced around but without the "real meat" of the story. Too many side stories happening. Despite this, I did like getting to revisit everyone again.

There are sparks that fly between Jenna and Brody. Which I liked the chemistry between these two. Of course, there is Jenna's Aunt Edie, who I was a fan of as well. For the reason I mentioned earlier about liking the people of Moonlight Harbor is the reason that I did stick with this book. They did feel like people I have known for a long time. ( )