by Irene Hannon
Settings: Hope Harbor, Oregon (fictional seaside town)
Plot Summary: When high-profile attorney Eric Nash is laid off, he returns to his hometown of Hope Harbor, Oregon, where he finds his father has hired BJ Stevens to help renovate Eric's childhood home into a bed-and-breakfast. BJ's previous relationships have left a sour taste in her mouth, but when the pair team up on a project to benefit the senior citizens of the community, they both end up finding love and hope for the future as they come closer to each other and to God.
Subject Headings: Christian life, lawyers, architects, men/women relations, homecomings, bed-and-breakfast.
Content Warnings: Suicide attempt, depression.
Elements of Gentle Reads:
The textbook by Wyatt and Saricks (2019) mentions very little about Gentle Reads. They are mentioned in a list of "types of novels [that] do not constitute genres in and of themselves because they are too amorphous" (p. 194). They are also mentioned specifically as a class of books "that draw from so many genres [that] they cannot be defined as even a subgenre of fiction" (p. xxiv). Therefore, the elements of Gentle Reads listed below are compiled from other sources, as cited.
- Little or no sex, violence, or offensive language (April S., 2020?; E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; Redwing Public Library, n.d.).
This work is ultra-sweet*. The Romance elements are so mild that they wouldn't make even the most old-fashioned, strait-laced, or sensitive reader blush; the characters never advance beyond hugs and kisses. I also counted just one mild expletive throughout the entire work.
*A quick aside: I like to use the terms "sweet" and "spicy" when describing the sexual content of a work with patrons because it removes any potential judgment that might come from a term like "clean" (with its implied partner "dirty"). Just as we all prefer different kinds of food without one being inherently "better" than another, we can all have different tastes in romantic content without assigning value. Patrons shouldn't feel bashful or shameful when consulting a librarian, and this helps to reduce those negative feelings. - Upbeat, sometimes humorous or inspirational (April S., 2020?; E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; League of Extraordinary Librarians, n.d.).
This book features a heartwarming, uplifting tone. It's sprinkled with humor throughout, but not so much to detract from the storyline. The flawed characters find ways to strengthen their relationships with God and each other. They don't call it Hope Harbor for nothing. - Happy ending (E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021).
Without spoiling the ending, all characters arrive at a happy ending, including one that doesn't involve a romantic relationship. In fact, I would say that the primary focus of the novel is how the main characters eventually arrive at their "happily ever after." - Typically small-town setting (April S., 2020?).
Eric's move from the big city stands in contrast to the coziness of small-town life. While the exact population of Hope Harbor isn't mentioned, the tight-knit community lends charm and a sense of place to the work. - Often contain Christian elements (E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; Redwing Public Library, n.d.).
This book contains extensive references to a Christian life and spiritual content, featuring God, prayer, miracles, and Bible scriptures in virtually every mental debate and discussion.
Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009)
- Leisurely pace. This work features several passages of introspection and contemplation, as well as extensive internal monologues. Like real-life small towns, Hope Harbor is a relatively quiet place, and this work is wholly devoid of intense action sequences.
- Heartwarming tone. Being an inspirational book, the tone lends itself to the hope that can be found through a relationship with deity. While there are bleak moments and problems to be solved, the overall tone is upbeat, optimistic, and atmospheric.
- Christian and spiritual elements. The book centers on the religious experiences and lifestyles of the characters and how they incorporate God into their relationships and lives.
Similar Works (Read-alikes):
- Love without End by Robin Lee Hatcher
The first work in a series of Christian Gentle Reads. Both Hatcher's and Hannon's heartwarming works feature likable, flawed characters finding fulfilling, religious lives and relationships in small towns with a strong sense of place. - The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber
Both of these Gentle Read works feature a bed-and-breakfast in the Pacific Northwest. Further, they both have a heartwarming tone and a leisurely pace as characters process grief from past events, unexpectedly find love, and learn the power of optimism and hope. - The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
These contemporary Christian romances include themes of returning to a hometown and finding small-town love. While both books share a heartwarming tone and the setting of coastal Oregon towns you'd love to move to, Carr's work is significantly spicier than Hannon's ultra-chaste Romance. - Elephant Speak: A Devoted Keeper's Life among the Herd by Melissa Crandall
A heartwarming story that also takes place in Oregon, this time at the Oregon Zoo. Both works feature a positive, uplifting message. - Stay: Lessons My Dog Taught Me about Life, Loss, and Grace by Dave Burchett
These heartwarming stories both feature Christian and spiritual elements throughout, pointing the reader to the importance of faith in everyday life. - Crescendo: The Story of a Musical Genius who Forever Changed a Southern Town by Allen Cheney
These two works tell heartwarming tales about life in small American towns. While Cheney doesn't write about romantic relationships, he does focus on the uplifting and inspiring power of family relationships.
April S. (2020?). 7 charming gentle reads. The Blog of Toledo Lucas County Public Library. https://www.toledolibrary.org/blog/7-charming-gentle-reads
League of Extraordinary Librarians. (n.d.). Gentle reads. https://leagueofextraordinarylibrarians.weebly.com/gentle-reads.html
Redwing Public Library. (n.d.). Gentle reads. https://redwing.lib.mn.us/gentle-reads/
Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.