After the death of her husband Paul, Jo Marie Rose buys an established bed-and-breakfast in Cedar Cove, Washington. Losing her husband was very hard on Jo, and she wants to start over in a new location. The Inn at Rose Harbor is named in Paul’s honor, even though at the time Jo purchased the property there wasn’t a rose in sight. This is soon corrected, along with some other changes Jo wants to make. Jo hires Mark Taylor, a handyman that makes his own rules, and one that stays “booked up”.

The very first guest at the Inn is Josh Weaver, a native of Cedar Cove that left twelve years ago and never planned on returning. His stepfather, Richard, is dying and there is no love lost between Josh and Richard. However, he would like a few personal mementoes of his mother’s. Michelle Nelson, the “girl next door”, contacted Josh and urged that he come as quickly as possible. Michelle, a quiet, sweet, overweight girl had always been in love with Josh’s stepbrother, Dylan, a jock that never gave her a second glance. Dylan was killed in a car accident a few years back. Michelle has been taking care of Richard, and now she is refereeing between the ill man and the stepson he kicked out of the house after the boy’s mother died.

Jo’s other guest is a young woman who is back in her hometown after being gone for over ten years. Abby Kincaid is back for the wedding of her brother Roger. Abby’s parents had moved from Cedar Cove to Florida and this will be the first time the whole family has been together in a decade. Abby was driving when her car slid on black ice and her passenger and life-long best friend was killed. Guilt is still eating the young woman alive.

The Inn at Rose Harbor is Debbie Macomber’s first book in a new series. Residents you already know from Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series stick their heads in to say "welcome."  Ms. Macomber’s signature wonderful characters have interesting and emotional stories to tell, but the magic of Cedar Cove makes everything come together for a happily ever after ending. There’s just a little bit of paranormal included—a spirit watching over Jo. Another picture perfect, entertaining outing with new found friends.