Take a lovely trip to a coastal Oregon town with Melody Carlson’s Harbor Secrets. There’s adventure, there’s danger, and yes, there are a few secrets. If you enjoy historical fiction, it’s a trip worth taking.

When her estranged father suffers a stroke, Anna McDowell and her daughter relocate to Sunset Cove. She steps into her father’s newspaper as editor-in-chief, and being a woman in a man’s world comes with a whole mess of problems. Add to that the complicated relationship she has with her father, the onset of statewide prohibition, and a mysterious story that won’t let her rest, and life in her hometown is not as idyllic as Anna hoped.

I enjoyed delving into this historical story with Anna. There are times it is slow and predictable, and yet, the setting and characters kept me fascinated. All in all, Harbor Secrets is an entertaining read, and I look forward to reading the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

I enjoyed this book with a little romance and some mystery. I love reading about newsman during the days before the Second World War started. I love small towns during this time period. I loved the characters and how they worked with each other. I am looking forward to seeing what might happen in the next story. It was interesting to read about the rum runners. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

Harbor Secrets captured my attention right away and held it until the very end. I liked the characters and the quaint town of Sunset Cove. Anna McDowell is a strong, intelligent and independent female protagonist who has become a successful reporter at the Oregonian. When she receives word of her father’s illness, Anna quits her job and heads home with her daughter, Katy. This is Anna’s chance to end the estrangement between her father and herself. She did not anticipate becoming editor-in-chief of the Sunset Times which was started by her grandfather. Then Anna stumbles onto a big story, but there are those that will do anything to keep their secret. I thought Harbor Secrets was well-written, plotted and paced. The author crafted a novel with family drama, mystery, friendship, intrigue, danger, and a hint of romance. Melody Carlson captured the time period especially with how men (not all men) felt about women in the workplace. Katy added lightness and humor to the story with her easy going manner. Harbor Secrets is a jam-packed novel with rum-running, a dirty mayor, the running of the newspaper, the upcoming mayoral election, Anna’s mother returning to town, Mac’s rehabilitation and Anna’s search for answers. The mystery was intriguing and kept me reading to find out more. I look forward to reading the next book in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series. Harbor Secrets has secrets, illegal hooch, family drama, handsome men, and one determined newspaperwoman. ( )

I enjoyed getting to know Anna and how independent she was. The story takes place in 1916 when prohibition was gong on. It was interesting to see Anna and her daughter Katy travel to Sunset Cove after hearing that Anna's father had a stroke. Anna is a bit apprehensive about going since she has not been on good terms with her father. Being home again brings old hurts up for Anna , but maybe this will be a time for her and her father to heal and forgive each other.

I really liked Katy and how she took to her grandfather right away. She decides to help her grandfather recover and it was nice to see a bond form between them. Anna's father asks her to run the newspaper while he is recovering and that's when the story really gets interesting. To say that Anna ruffles a few feathers at the newspaper office is an understatement. Someone seems to think he is in charge and is quickly demoted. I could feel the tension in the air as Anna begins to make changes in the office. Not everyone believes a woman should be in charge, but Anna reminds them that women did get the right to vote so they can keep their opinions to themselves.

There is a big secret in the community and Anna is set to find out what is going on. She doesn't seem to worried about her safety and is determined to unearth the crime. Rumors are going around that liquor is being smuggled and some members of the town are involved. I did like the mystery surrounding who it was and the danger the author included to give the story a little intrigue. It's a nice story that isn't just about crime but about forgiveness and reuniting a family.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Melody Carlson has been a long time favorite author of mine. Her Christmas novellas are special treats each year. Harbor Secrets, the first book in the Legacy of Sunset Cove series has many of the things I look forward to in a book by Carlson — easy style, detailed setting, and relatable characters — plus the inclusion of a mystery. The result is a fun read that was the perfect traveling companion. Recommended!

The year is 1916 and the place is the Oregon Coast. The nation is undergoing changes and facing a looming crisis. Women are making their way in the business world, but slowly, and the ripples of the war in Europe are reaching our nation. In small town Sunset Cove, times haven’t changed all that much, but when Anna McDowell returns, there is a definite shakeup of the status quo. Anna is a newswoman, a rarity in the male-dominated field. Her father’s illness places her right in the middle of his newspaper, a place she relishes. Whispers of sinister goings on and political corruption cause Anna to be on the case.

There is much to love about Harbor Secrets — the family drama, the historical context including women’s rights and Prohibition, the mystery that engulfs the small coastal town, and the promise of romantic developments. Characters are well-developed, and the narrative proves to be a light and quick read. This book accompanied me on my bucket list trip to Alaska. With a cozy mystery-vibe, I found this book easy to pick up among all my vacation-doings. Despite the distractions of travel and the days of not getting to read at all, I found it easy to slip back to Sunset Cove and Anna when I got the chance.

I really enjoyed my time with Harbor Secrets and look forward to traveling back in time to Sunset Cove in book 2, Riptide Rumors.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )