I haven't yet had the chance to visit the Port Aransas area of Texas (yet), but from author Jeff Hampton's descriptions, it has the same sleepy feel of other touristy beach locations I am familiar with, rife with locals that my dad would describe as "characters". Aransas Morning is a wonderful character study with enough well-developed action to drive the plot forward and create some excellent tension.

The pace of the book is slow and easy, and I slipped into its rhythm like the ebb and flow of the water lapping against the shoreline. I was quickly drawn into the story of each of the characters; Hampton does a lovely job of bringing them to life and giving them a depth I wasn't expecting. Each is a bit flawed and real and likable. The men in the book are each running away from their past in one way or another. Sam was the most fascinating to me, having completely thrown aside his old life - and lifestyle - and seemingly taken himself in a completely different direction. I think at one point in time we've all been frustrated or devastated or heartbroken and wanted to chuck everything and run away, and the depiction of Sam's life when he's done just that is both honest and sad.However, as this group of five people come together, they slowly become like family, and each regains their purpose, their reason for being, and a few find self-forgiveness. Giving a little of themselves let them regain what they were missing, and that is a wonderful, quiet message in itself. I enjoyed watching each character rediscover themselves in some way, stepping well outside their comfort zones at times.

Aransas Morning is a lovely story about community, and how family isn't always the one you are born into. In fact, sometimes the least likely people end up being the ones who mean the most to us, in all their messy, infuriating, complicated selves.

I was sad to see this book end, as I wanted to know what happened next in the lives of these people I had become so invested in. While this book worked wonderfully as a stand alone, I was tickled to learn that a sequel will be following, so I don't quite have to let go of all these wonderful characters.

I was provided an review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )