“Bookshop by the Sea” by Denise Hunter is her latest stand alone book. I enjoyed this read. Denise is one of my favorite Christian contemporary authors so I was excited for this one. This book focuses on a former high school couple, Sophie and Aiden, who reunited at Sophie’s younger sister’s wedding. Sophie was heartbroken when Aiden took a job offer after high school instead of staying with her in their town. She had to give up her dream school to take care of her dying mother. She still held a grudge against him (along with some of her family members as well). Because Aiden was trapped in town because of tumultuous weather, Aiden was forced to stay with Sophie and the rest is history. Sophie is opening a bookshop and Aiden helps her with it. While it was a nice story, it was predictable. Sophie’s family wasn’t that likable especially her grandmother and her father. Another plot in this story is how he’d family takes advantage of her. I though how her family (except Jenna, her sister) treated Aiden was unnecessary. He was a teenage boy who saw an opportunity and decided to take it; he wanted Sophie to come with him. Her father didn’t like Aiden for that yet he did much worse. Nonetheless, Sophie’s family apologized to her about their neediness. Sophie and Aiden’s relationship was sweet although it did get annoying at times with the back and forth. It was a nice read.

Bookshop by the Sea was a sweet romance story from Denise Hunter. I've been a big fan of her books for years now, and this was another hit.

I loved the whole bookshop aspect and that the romance was a second-chance story. The characters were great and it was sweet to see them reconnect.

All in all, Bookshop by the Sea was a great read and I recommend it.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

One of my favorite things about Denise Hunter's writing is her ability to create palpable tension between her hero and heroine, especially when they already have a past together. So when I read the blurb for this book and realized we were talking about a second chance romance in a BOOKSHOP near the OCEAN, I knew I needed to read it. It's so many of my favorite things.

Sophie is an enneagram 2 if I've ever seen one in my life. She frequently inconveniences herself for the sake of others and wants to be supported without being able to vocalize her need for support. It's a tangled mess of emotional damage Hunter weaves for this character, which is only matched by Aiden's equal need for an emotional overhaul.

But instead of experiencing two train wrecks worthy of all the eye rolls, readers are given two characters who genuinely put in the work to better themselves. Not for the other person, but for the betterment of their own existence. And I'm definitely here for that kind of growth.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The pacing seemed to slack a little in the middle for me, but it recovered well in the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter is a good read. I thought it was a fun and entertaining. Three and a half stars.

This was a cute book. I love love stories, but this one had an element of stress in it. It was a bit much for me, but I know most people enjoy the realness of tension and drama. I feel like there's enough of that in the world, so my personal preference is to keep my reading more on the light side. Still a lovely story, but I wouldn't read again.

I always try to read any book with bookshop or library in title and hope for the best. This book is one of my new favorites. It was such a mesmerizing book from beginning to end.

This was a nice romantic read, almost an oasis amongst my tempest of thrillers. My first book by author Denise Hunter, I was quite taken in by Sophie, my main character, who had lived her life for her family but found herself running her bookshop at Piper’s Cove.

Everything was going well until the entry of her high school sweetheart Aiden. Memories crashed on to her, and nature too had her say when a hurricane caused them to be stranded together. Sparks were bound to fly.

I loved the sweetness of this romance. A gentle read about family and love and forgiveness. A HEA it was for sure, but I enjoyed how the author made me care for the characters. I found myself longing to read more of her books.

Overall, a fast, comfortable read about two lovable characters. Almost an escapist read.

When her mother became sick and her father left, Sophie Lawson stepped in to care for her siblings, sacrificing her goals. Years later, with her sister about to marry and her brother starting a new job, Sophie can finally pursue her dream of opening a bookshop in the small beach town of Piper’s Cove. She only has to make it through her sister’s destination wedding where she must face Aiden Maddox, the best man and the guy who broke her heart in high school. However, Sophie didn’t count on a hurricane stranding Aiden in Piper’s Cove or that all the hotels would be booked, forcing them to weather out the storm together. With the bookshop’s grand opening days away and plagued with delays, accepting Aiden’s help might be her only option, but Sophie already knows well that trusting him can come at great risk.

A sweet, second-chance romance Bookshop by the Sea delivers a fun, heartwarming read. With a quaint setting, former lovers reunited at a wedding and trapped by a storm, a bookshop grand opening faced with many delays, and much more Denise Hunter pens a story reminiscent of Hallmark movies. Thankfully with more than an hour and twenty minutes to develop it. A light, feel-good story, it offers the perfect escape from the busyness of life.

Interesting characters, a gorgeous setting that comes to life before one’s eyes, enchanting storytelling, and lots of charm keeps the reader speedily flipping pages. My one regret is that we didn’t get to spend more time inside the finished bookshop. I wanted to climb in the novel, and spend hours perusing the shelves, the scent of books and sea air surrounding me. I recommend Bookshop by the Sea to fans of romance, Hallmark, and anyone not quite ready to say goodbye to the summer.

Classic Denise Hunter. A sweet read. Memorable characters. Engaging storyline. Contemporary setting. Enjoy this novel on your patio. Five stars.

Wasn't what I expected. Not much about the bookshop or the sea. For me it was a dull romance between unlikable characters. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

A bookshop and the sea and a second chance love story! Count me in!

A sweet, quick and fun feel-good story involving books and love set in a gorgeous sounding beachside town, however I did have a hard time getting into this book and did not find myself feeling connected to the characters and felt frustrated with them. I also found this one a little bit predictable.

On requesting this book, I didn’t realise it was a Christian book which is not an issue but I there is reference to God, church and prayer that I wasn’t really expecting.

I had a hard time with this book. I normally enjoy Denise Hunter but I just couldn't get into this offering. I didn't like either of the main characters and I thought it was just kind of boring the way it all unfolded.

It’s been a while since I read Bookshop by the Sea, and I couldn’t work out why I hadn’t written the review. Checking over the notes I took while I read the book reminded me.

On the face of it, Bookshop by the Sea should tick all the boxes for a booklover like me. It’s about a bookshop. It’s beside the sea. It’s Christian romance. It’s by Denise Hunter. And it has a cameo from some of the characters from Denise Hunter’s previous series, specifically Nathanial Quinn.

But the characters …

I haven’t been reading long before I decided that the main character, Sophie Lawson, was a spineless doormat. Her mother has recently died after a long illness, and we find Sophie has been caring for her mother, her brother, and her sister. That would be noble if her siblings were younger—much younger. But they are both adults. Her brother is her twin, so he’s the same age.

As such, I couldn’t understand why Sophie was the only adult in the family, and was continually running around, doing favours for her selfish siblings. Why didn’t or couldn’t she tell them they were adults and it’s time to start acting the part.

Even worse was her father. Her parents were divorced, yet when her father visits because he wants money, she still writes out a check for $3000 even though that’s the last of her cash—the money she and her mother had saved for opening the titular bookshop by the sea.

Sophie does later realise that she needs to stand up for herself and grows a backbone, but she’d lost my respect long before that. If anything, the solution was even more frustrating, because there was no drama.

And so to Aidan, the hero of the story. He was a nice enough guy, but his absolute dedication to Sophie showed a lack of discernment. He also didn’t strike me as particularly savvy for an apparently successful businessman (top tip: don’t sell intellectual property such as a patent or copyright. Hire a competent lawyer, and licence that intellectual property. At the very least, ask if licencing is an option).

Denise Hunter has written some brilliant Christian fiction—Sweetbriar Cottage springs to mind. Bookshop by the Sea didn’t work for me because I find it impossible to enjoy a romance novel where I can’t engage with or respect one or both of the main characters.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter caught my attention based on the title alone. I haven’t read many if any books by this author, so I wanted to give this book a try.

It was an entertaining read even though the two characters—Sophia and Aiden—have a past filled with misunderstanding and a lack of considering the other. It did seem to have more focus on the physical side of romance than I usually prefer. In fact, it seemed physical attraction was the only thing tying these two together. I’m not overly fond of those types of romances, so this book wasn’t quite for me.

The hurricane and bookstore aspects I loved. The ending, unfortunately, felt contrived and rushed. It just seemed like the two characters didn’t fit together. There was so much potential in this story, it just didn’t quite reach to what I hoped for in reading it. Perhaps it will fit your reading preferences better than mine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

This is another great Hunter book. The characters are lovable and defective in their own way, but the blemishes and problems they have make them more lovable and relatable.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit! I haven’t really enjoyed the last few books by Denise Hunter(excluding the last book in the Bluebell Inn series) so I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Denise is one of my favorite authors so I am thankful that I enjoyed this read! The characters were lovable, their insecurities relatable, and their love so real. A fantastic read!

This book has wonderful characters that completely pulled me into their stories. Sophie Lawson, the main character, immediately had my full support. She has experienced great losses in her life, but she will do anything to help make the lives of her twin brother and younger sister go smoothly. Since they are both adults now, Sophie is finally at the point she can begin to follow her own dreams of owning her bookstore by the sea. All seems to be on track for Sophie, but she never expects a hurricane and her former boyfriend, Aiden, to have a major impact her plans.

This book has some heart-touching moments between Sophie and her siblings. The romance between Sophie and Auden is clean and sweet. There’s a very light theme of faith in the book, mainly highlighting the theme of dependence on God to lead us along life’s path. This is another lovely story by Denise Hunter. I’m hoping she’ll have another new series in the near future.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Bookshop by the Sea. By Denise Hunter. 2021. Thomas Nelson (ARC eBook).

Sophie is finally at the finish line of realizing her dream of owning a bookstore in Piper’s Cove when her two grown, but overly dependent siblings and father, a hurricane and Aiden, the high school sweetheart who broke her heart, almost sets her back. Sophie and Aiden both harbor fears of people they love leaving them. Sophie compensates by not implementing boundaries with her twin brother and sister, who she cared for after their mother died and their father took off. And Aiden runs when his relationships are challenged. But overall, they are two good, hardworking people who need a second chance as they have never stopped caring for each other. Bookshop by the Sea is charming small town romance, although there were not really any beach vibes (what, with them being by the sea).

*Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley
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This is the first book that I have read by Denise Hunter. It is a sweet, clean second chance romance, with likable characters making it an engaging and enjoyable read.

Sophie Lawson and Aiden Maddox were not only girlfriend and boyfriend but best friends. However, seven years ago, on the worst day of her life, Aiden came to tell her about an opportunity he couldn't turn down and he was leaving town, but wanted her to come with him, knowing she couldn't. She never told him what had happened that day or returned his calls. But never got over him either. Now they come face to face with each other at the wedding of her younger sister and his best friend. The spark is still there, but so is the fear. Can they rise above it?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter is a sweet clean romance perfect for summer that will have readers swooning, sighing, and smiling!

I assumed a standard romance trope would form the plot; this uses forced proximity - not once but twice. However, this device was at the beginning of the novel rather than near the end, increasing my interest in the rest of the story. The focus is main characters Sophie and Aiden (high school sweethearts who broke up 7 years ago) and their careers which made it very down-to-earth, even given the thrill-seeking nature of Aiden's work. As a lover of bookstores, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the creation of Sophie's bookshop.

This is a stand-alone novel with a small nod to Lake Season, first in the Bluebell Inn series. Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley, and JustRead Publicity Tours for the review copy; all opinions are my own.