pp 20-21
Taking handouts didn’t sit well. And this was a handout, no question about it. When Fred rented
the cottage to tourists, he no doubt charged the monthly amount he’d quoted her for a mere handful of nights.
“Don’t overthink it, my dear.” Fred’s mouth bowed. “Helen would be happy to see the cottage
occupied again, and she was all about extending a helping hand to those in need. Let me do this for you in her memory.”
Smart strategy to position it as a favor to him.
And since he’d put it that way, maybe she should think of his out-of-the-blue offer as a birthday
gift on this day that had otherwise been totally unbirthdaylike.
“If you’re certain, then I accept.”
“Wonderful. Come by whenever you like later today, and I’ll give you the key.” With a courtly dip of his head, he strolled across the shop and exited.
As the door closed behind him, Bren went back to work, heart lighter, spirits buoyed.
See? Even on an otherwise bad day, there was goodness to be found.
And there was yet more goodness after the shop closed at one o’clock and a dozen of her friends from Hope Harbor spilled out of the back room bearing brownies from Sweet Dreams Bakery and tacos from Charley’s stand to help her celebrate her milestone birthday.
Warmth bubbled up inside her as they all indulged in a hug fest.
This was why she’d settled here. Put down roots.
Maybe she didn’t earn a lot of money working as a barista. Maybe she didn’t live in a plush house like the one of her youth. Maybe a carefully vetted special someone to share her life with wasn’t in the cards for her.
But look at her friend at Bev’s Book Nook. The bookshop owner lived a simple life too—on her
own terms, with no apparent regret about the lack of romance in her life. She was a role model, for sure.
And as Bren gathered up her things, thanked everyone for coming to her surprise party, and set
off for her house to pack up the items she’d need for the next few weeks, she made a resolution.
In this new decade of her life, she was going to embrace her solo life and put to rest the insidious, romantic daydreams that crept up on occasion. Banish once and for all any illusions about happily ever after.
Because as she knew firsthand, illusions could lead to nightmares.
© 2025 by Irene Hannon
Published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Grand Rapids, Michigan
RevellBooks.com
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 16, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
thanks so much for sharing about Sunrise Reef!
ReplyDeleteChristi, Thank you for sharing. Hope Harbor is one of my favorite series!
ReplyDelete