Join USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts for a seaside escape to the beaches of Moonlight HarborCeleste 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 … 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.
Finding The One can be tricky, and Jenna is determined to make sure Celeste gets it right this time around. Not that Jenna’s an expert. She’s still trying to sort out her own love life. But if both sisters listen to their hearts, eventually they’re bound to discover that life—and love—is good at the beach.
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This was a very good read about relationships between sisters and mothers and daughters. I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. Even though I hadn’t read the previous books in this series, this was okay to read stand alone. The author did a very good job catching the reader up on what they’d missed in previous books.
If you enjoy small towns, family sagas and sweet beach reads, this is definitely the book for you. Check it out!
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in the review are my own.
Sheila Roberts has written a delightful story. The Summer Retreat will likely be a popular choice for summer reading. This is the perfect type of escape story for the beach. Basically, Celeste is escaping her cheating ex by going to visit her sister at Moonlight Harbor. Celeste will help her sister run The Driftwood Inn for the summer. The town has a benevolent atmospheric presence that will be familiar to anyone who has lived in a small town. The characters of the town, etc. are kindly, gracious, and well meaning, although perhaps intrusive and gossipy at times. Celeste is sympathetic because she’s at sixes and sevens about love and life. She’s of an age to settle and start a family, and this is a vexing situation for her. Celeste is also resilient, capable and relatable to women who understand that your heart and your head will sometimes disagree. She has a wonderful bond with her sister which is heartening in the overall picture. This may be the most momentous summer of her life! The journey Celeste makes is transformative and progressive. When summer ends, will Celeste be strengthened and encouraged by her choices? Summer Retreat is a light read that’s wholly enjoyable, charming and enticing. You can’t beat it for a day relaxing poolside. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a fun read full of emotion, humor and banter that I could not put down. Celeste has arrived for the summer in Moonlight Harbor to help her sister, Jenna out at the resort and mend a broken heart. Jenna wants her sister to start dating again right away. Pastor Paul is the most logical choice but he doesn’t make Celeste’s heart pitter patter. Then there is Henry, staying at the resort working on his first novel, but he is only there for short time and his life is kind of a mystery. So who will you be, Team Paul or Team Henry??
I loved these characters, very likable. They will have you laughing out loud and cheering them along. This is the perfect light beach read. This is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand alone.
Great book
Helps to read the Moonlight Bay series in order they’re all great
When one needs to heal from a broken heart, one goes to another town to heal won’t family. And that’s what the heroine did, spending time with her sister and niece as well as beginning a new romance with a local man. Alas, the relationship is not without some bumps and twists. The book features a great set of characters that includes a dog named Nemo. While the story gives positive vibes, there were instances in which some characters annoyed me. Overall, I found the book a good read.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
In this third book in the series, Jenna’s sister arrives in Moonlight Harbor to spend the summer helping at the inn and recovering from a broken heart. Like her older sister, it doesn’t take long before Celeste has captured the hearts of two males. It was a cute story, involving the family and some familiar characters from the series, as well as a lovable puppy. Henry was my favorite character.
Celeste thinks she has found THE ONE! Then she discovers he is cheating on her. She needs a new outlook on life. So what is better than the beach?! She heads off to help her sister at The Driftwood Inn. Celeste is cleaning rooms and doing chores in exchange for a summer retreat.
I found Celeste to be a little sullen and whiny. All she studies is finding a man. This gets a little old. I wanted her to have more self confidence and more vigor. But, the setting makes up for her lack of assurance. I mean…who doesn’t love a story set at a wonderful, little inn right on the beach.
This is part of a series. I have not read the others in this series and had no trouble keeping up. This is a good, clean, fun story. It can be predictable in places but I found it very entertaining. If you are looking for a lite, sweet read…this is it!
I received this novel from Mira Books for a honest review.
I thought this book was fantastic! Celeste is a teacher who is just trying to live a happy life with the perfect man. Unfortunately right before summer, she walks in on her “perfect” boyfriend, Emerson, with another woman. She decides it’s time to get away and make a change. She decides to spend her summer with her sister, Jenna, in Moonlight Harbor. She plans to stay away from men, but plans change.
Celeste is such a relatable character, and her sister is so much fun. This story was a fun and relaxing read. Perfect for a beach day! I got lost in the story, and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend you grabbing a copy for yourself!
The Summer Retreat has been a bit of a struggle. Celeste comes to live with her sister in Moonlight Harbor for the summer to nurse a broken heart. Apparently, Moonlight Harbor offers a smorgasbord of eligible men and even with all the men to choose from Celeste quickly reels in the one that is totally inappropriate for her. I really had trouble liking Celeste or sympathizing with her. She seems shallow and flitty and not the kind of person I would ever call a friend. I wanted to like Jenna, the big sister, but I found her very judgmental. The writer Henry seemed to be the only relatable character and you wonder why he is interested in Celeste at all. Celeste spends way too much time feeling like she’s not good enough to be with the pastor and yet still trying to force a happily ever after with the man. It takes a catty church lady to save the day. The book’s ending is totally predictable and just okay. Though not my preferred read, I am sure some people will enjoy this but its not for me.
The Summer Retreat
By Sheila Roberts
Beginning, Again!
What’s the best part of Sheila Roberts’ books?
FUN! She draws you into her setting, sits you
Down with the characters and makes you feel
at home!
Celeste has a major disappointment but does
she let it stand in her way? Nope! She heads to
the beach, to her family to regroup, to overcome
and to make an absolute pest of herself.
To whom, you may ask? The why you ask? Read
along with Moonlight Harbor residents as sisters
handle life the only way there is —-
straightforward, on a Summer Retreat!
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.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2775864073
https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-summer-retreat-book-3-by-sheila.html?m=1
Book 1: Welcome to Moonlight Harbor
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2775868731
Book 2: Winter at the Beach
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2775871175
After finding her boyfriend cheating on her Celeste decides she needs some time away, to reflect on her past decisions
What better place then the Driftwood Inn a place where life is simple and there is always a good time.
This is the third book in the series, but the first I read and I wasn’t lost at all.
Loved this town and the people and I look forward to revisiting time and time again.
I liked this book. It is part of a series but is easily read as a standalone. With plenty of small town charm, sweetness and emotions powering this well written story, you will find yourself deeply involved in Celeste search for love and that elusive HEA.
This is the first book by Sheila Roberts that I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last. Ms. Roberts has written a clean second chance romance. It was refreshing to read a romance book that had great characters and a romantic story line that wasn’t riddled with steamy sex scenes…proving that a good writer doesn’t have to rely on sex scenes to write a wonderful book.
I enjoyed reading about Celeste, who moved to the small town of Moonlight Harbor to help her sister, Jenna, run the Driftwood Inn after a bad break up with her two-timing boyfriend. She can hear her biological clock ticking and fears she will never have a husband and children. The story follows her as she tries to find ‘Mr. Right’.
The Summer Retreat is the third book in the Moonlight Harbor series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I will definitely go back and start reading at the beginning of the series. I recommend The Summer Retreat to readers who like a good clean romance. You won’t be disappointed.
I received at ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts, book three in A Moonlight Harbor series, is Celeste Jones’, story. Celeste’s summer plans were destroyed when she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her. Instead she heads to the Moonlight Harbor, and the beach, to help her sister, Jenna, with the Driftwood Inn. Almost from day one, Jenna is pushing Celeste to start dating again. First up is Pastor Paul who falls head over heels for Celeste. It’s possible that he is just too perfect. So what if there is no chemistry, he still checks all the boxes and loves her. Then there is the mystery guest in one of the cottages. Celeste stumbles upon him as she attempts to clean his room. Peeking at his laptop she finds he’s a serial killer!! Oh wait, that’s not right, he’s writing a book, killing off his ex-girlfriend who had no faith in him. As Celeste discovers, despite making herself a fool at the beach with Harry, they are attracted to each other. Plus there is definitely chemistry between them and he is definitely not Mr. Right. Or is he? Jenna has her own problems in sorting her own love life; loving two completely opposite men. If only both sisters would listen to their hearts, not logic, they just might discover that life, and true love, can be found at the beach.
Ms. Roberts wrote a wonderful, funny, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters giving Celeste a chance at finding true happiness and love and a future with the right one. I highly recommend The Summer Retreat to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
It was fun to take a trip back to Moonlight Harbor and visit friends at the Driftwood Inn. If you haven’t visited yet you will enjoy getting to know everyone.
Celeste visits sister Jenna for the summer after her boyfriend dumps her. Although she finds herself doing housekeeping services for her sister at the Driftwood, it’s still nice to getaway from her teaching duties.
Jenna is still stringing along two love interests. She can’t make up her mind. Funny thing is Celeste is finding herself also attracted to two entirely different guys as well. Their elderly but spunky Aunt Edie is still baking cookies for the motel guests and her delightful parrot Roger still repeats everything he hears, whether nice or not!
Shelia Roberts does not disappoint in the romance department as well as the humor. She writes a wonderful, fun read for a relaxing day at the beach or if you’re not able to be at the beach you will find yourself feeling like you are as you eagerly turn each page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through the publisher but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts
MIRA
April 23, 2019
10-0778369404
978-0778369400
384 pages
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
This is the 3rd book in the series, and the second one that I have read. Celeste returns to Moonlight Harbor after finding our that the police officer she has been dating for the past year has been cheating on her. School is out for the summer so off she goes to spend the summer with her sister, and help out at the hotel. What follows is a fun filled read, with ups and downs as Celeste looks to get over her heartbreak. Is there such a thing as a perfect man? Only time will tell. I would certainly recommend this book to others, it is a good summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin/Mira for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Summer Retreat (Hardcover) by Sheila Roberts This is the 3rd book in the MOONLIGHT HARBOR series and since it was my first I had a little catching up to do. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books. Thanks to the publisher and #Netgalley for letting me preview this book. This was Celeste and Henry’s story… there were a lot of other stories mixed in … This is a lot of angst, laughs, tears, and missteps getting to their HEA.