Sandpiper Cove - Irene Hannon (Revell - Apr 2017)

Series: Hope Harbor (Book 3)

Hope Harbor police chief Lexie Graham has plenty on her plate raising her son alone and dealing with a sudden rash of petty theft and vandalism in her coastal Oregon hometown. As a result, she has zero time for extracurricular activities--including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn't looking for love either--but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief? Yet wishing for things that can never be is foolish.
              
Nevertheless, when Lexie enlists Adam's help to keep a young man from falling into a life of crime, sparks begin to fly. And as they work together, it soon becomes apparent that God may have a different--and better--future planned for them than either could imagine.
 
Terrific book. This was my first trip to Hope Harbor, but it won't be my last. Hope Harbor is a small town on the Oregon coast filled with people who care about each other (and perhaps a few bad apples). It's an excellent place for people who are looking for somewhere to start over. One of those people is Adam Stone, an ex-con who turned his life around while in prison. He has a job with a construction company, a hobby making furniture, and a companion in a stray dog he rescued. He lives in a cabin in the woods, has a few friends, and keeps mostly to himself.
 
Another person who changed her life is Lexie Graham. After several years working for diplomatic security and tragically losing her husband, Lexie and her son moved back to her hometown. They live with her mom, and Lexie became Hope Harbor's police chief. She and her small force are currently dealing with a rash of petty theft and vandalism, which adds to her already busy life.
 
I liked the first meeting between Lexie and Adam. The vandals hit Adam's house twice, but he hasn't bothered to report it. The damage wasn't too bad, and as an ex-con, he tends to avoid interacting with law enforcement. When Lexie hears about it, she visits Adam, hoping to find clues to the vandals' identities. Adam is wary but cooperative, and Lexie realizes that she may be guilty of judging him without knowing him. Neither expected the sparks they felt nor did they want them. When Lexie comes to Adam's aid after his dog, Clyde, is injured by one of the vandals, their connection deepens. It's no surprise that Lexie thinks of Adam when she needs help turning a young teen away from the wrong path.
 
I liked Adam a lot. From a lousy childhood to a youth filled with wrong choices, he had a lot to overcome. Thanks to the help he received, Adam became a kind, compassionate man with a big heart, always ready to help where he's needed. He also has some serious self-worth issues, thanks to his past and his record. Adam tends to believe that people look down on him because of it, so he keeps to himself. He's hesitant to get involved in Lexie's project, but if he can keep a kid from going through what he did, he has to try. I liked his connection with young Brian, and his ability to empathize with the boy went a long way toward helping him.
 
I liked Lexie, too. She's a terrific mother, has a great relationship with her mom, and loves her hometown. I liked her relationships with the various townspeople who like and respect her right back. I liked how Lexie thought outside the box when it came to helping Brian and that she also thought it would help Adam.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Lexie and Adam. Though the sparks are there, both intend to ignore them. Adam can't see anything happening between an ex-con and a police chief, and Lexie isn't interested in risking her heart again. They do agree that they can be friends and partners in helping Brian. But it isn't too long before those sparks begin to intensify, and each of them starts to wonder, "what if..." I loved the scene at their friends' wedding and seeing Lexie and Adam think about possibilities. I especially liked seeing them share their pasts and the support and understanding that followed. But just as the future starts to look bright for them, Adam's past creates problems. A disgruntled parent and troublesome teen threaten to cause problems for Lexie because of her relationship with Adam, and he steels himself to walk away. I loved how Lexie and the people of Hope Harbor showed Adam what he meant to them. The epilogue was terrific and contained an unexpected twist.
 
I loved the secondary characters. One of my favorites was Adam's dog, Clyde. Animals are wonderful judges of nature, and Clyde's devotion to Adam is a terrific indicator of what a good man Adam is. I loved how Clyde bonded with Lexie's son Matt. The two of them were sweet together. I liked the author's portrayal of Matt as a typical four-almost-five-year-old. He wasn't too good, and he wasn't a brat. As a character, Matt showed Adam that he could be a good father even though he had no role model in his own father. I ached for Brian, the reluctant vandal. He and his mother finally escaped his father's abuse, but Brian had to leave everything he knew behind in doing so. It left him vulnerable to being used, even though he knew he was doing wrong. Working with Adam gave Brian the chance to break free, and I loved the changes. So many others, such as the preacher and the priest, Luis, BJ, and Charley, had profound effects on Adam.