Would a God that the finite human mind was capable of fully understanding be worthy of worship? That would put him at our level, and he's so much bigger than that.

Book Review | Starfish Pier (Hope Harbor #6) by Irene Hannon

This is the third or fourth book I’ve read in the Hope Harbor series. Note that each novel in this series is a standalone, and you don’t have to read the earlier stories for this one to make sense.

Starfish Pier has Charley and his fish taco stand (I would love to try one of his tacos!), seagulls Floyd and Gladys (what else do you name a pair of seagulls?), and the ongoing banter between the Catholic priest and the Protestant pastor readers have enjoyed in the earlier books in the series.

But the banter hid a serious message.

Holly Miller is a first-grade teacher who volunteers at church and is staunchly pro-life. (So she’s both anti-abortion and anti-capital punishment … which makes sense to me). Steven Roark is a ex-Army sniper who now runs a fishing charter business. He moved to Hope Harbor to watch out for his brother, a budding alcoholic.

Yes, Starfish Pier is a romance.

But it also has some of the bigger issues that are more often dealt with in women’s fiction. Patrick resents his high-achieving big brother, and there are definite elements of the Prodigal Son about the story in his actions. But Steven isn’t the self-righteous big brother he could be. He’s a man with his own history, a history he’s not entirely comfortable with.

Then there’s Holly. She’s mentally and spiritually strong, but has a history of medical problems she’s trying to overcome. I admired that about her. She wasn’t prepared to let her (real) issues get in the way more than necessary. Instead, she was willing to share herself and her history, and make a difference where it mattered.

Overall, Starfish Pier is an intelligent and timely look at modern issues through a Christian lens that shows but never preaches.

Recommended for romance and women’s fiction readers.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Irene Hannon

Author Photo: Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA.

Find Irene Hannon online at:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Starfish Pier

A year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope Harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good–but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.

First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence–until she’s recruited to advocate for a cause that’s dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven’s assistance, sparks fly–especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection–and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor–where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Find Starfish Pier online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Read the introduction to Starfish Pier below:

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