Starfish Pier (Hardcover)

“Maybe coming back to Oregon had been a mistake.” Opening line of “Starfish Pier” by Irene Hannon “Starfish Pier”, by Irene Hannon, is the sixth book in the Hope Harbor series. It is a enjoyable standalone story which includes community members from the previous books. At it's heart, it explores the value of life and who has the right to end it from a cultural and Christian perspective. Whilst a heavy topic, Irene surrounds it with a heartwarming story full of triumphs, love and humour. It also challenges the reader to love our neighbours even when we disagree, to debate tough topics with respect and civility. There are four central characters and each adds a different perspective on the life debate: one has a condition diagnosed in-utero because which doctors recommended an abortion, another is considering ending his because of a terminal diagnosis, one is ex-military and another is struggling to win the battle with alcohol addiction. Interconnected, they discuss the topic along with the two religious leaders in the community. It is an interesting topic. There is also romance in various forms; a young couple struggling in married life, two loners looking for connection and a widower who doesn't know how to live through the grief. The ending is a happy one which I so appreciate. If you are looking for a thought-provoking romance novel, this one is for you! I highly recommend it and it's a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.