This is the third book in the Hope Harbor series. It focuses mainly on Adam Stone (who gets a first name in this book), a carpenter, and Police Chief Lexie Graham. They meet when Adam is the victim of vandalism that's also hit other places in town.

Clyde (Adam's dog) is a cute touch and it's nice to see the dog become more trusting as he interacts with Adam and a few others that Adam introduces him to.

Matt (Lexie's son) seems age appropriate (at least in the audio version) and also provides some cute moments.

I do think Adam dwells a bit too much on his ex-con status. I doubt others care about it as much as he feels it marks him. Though I do admire that he is upfront about telling people about it and that he's willing to help a teenager who could go down that same path without guidance.

There's contrast between Lexie's loving home with her mother and son/Brenda's caring about her son, Adam's mostly solitary life with a touch of loneliness, and the Fishers's house where the father's bullying/abusive nature seems to be being mimicked by his son.

Big negative is how short a time Lexie and Adam know each other and date prior to them getting married. I'm not sure that quick a turnaround time works well in real life relationships. Also, Hannon has the characters get a bit more steamy on the night before their wedding than she has in previous books in the series--I was a bit worried she was going to veer from her clean romance genre. It is good that married (or about to be married) couples have that "spark" with each other, but I don't necessarily want to listen to it. ( )

Can a police chief and an ex-con find happiness together? That is the conundrum facing Lexie and Adam in this romantic novel. A series of vandalisms has the townsfolk upset, but Lexie is unable to catch the culprits. Newcomer Adam is looking for a place of peace, where he can regroup and become a contributing member of a community. He thinks that maybe Hope Harbor is it, but some hurtful rumors may force him to leave. The attraction between cop and ex-con can’t be ignored, though, and just adds complications when Adam fears he may have to abandon his new home. It’s quite an interesting novel, and deals with several social issues. The story is well written, and the characters are delightful, except, of course, for those characters we are supposed to dislike! ( )

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. ( )

Another well written novel from Irene Hannon. With a mixture of a man with a past looking for redemption and a woman with an emptiness looking for a new start this novel blends well together. When Adam Stone an ex-con relocates to a small town to start over he is thrust into the life of the lovely Lexie Graham, police chief of Sandpiper Cove. As she spends time helping him solve an act of violence towards him she finds herself drawn to his kind and repentant nature. As Adam tries to fit in to his new surroundings he helps Lexie steer a young boy who was accused of the attacks to redeem himself by sharing his skills and life lessons with him. Lexie falls in love with Adam at the same time he is wrongly accused of being the master mind behind the attacks. Lexie has to then take a stand for the person she has grown to love and proves to Adam that the whole town feels the same way. Awesome story of second chances and redemption. ( )

Oh, what a gem. I’m loving the Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon, and Sandpiper Cove makes for a perfect addition. Neither police chief Lexie Graham nor ex-con Adam Stone is looking for a romantic relationship. Yet, in a town known for second chances, of course, anything just might be possible.

Sandpiper Cove is a sweet story and delivers a hearty spiritual message, as Adam truly comes to understand his worth in light of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness. Again, this is another Hope Harbor novel I’m glad to recommend inspirational contemporary readers.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of Sandpiper Cove 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. ( )