It’s always a delight to read a new Denise Hunter book and this one is a wonderful second chance story. With a few twists and turns, a delicious setting, and a cast of realistic, flawed, but engaging characters, I quickly became engrossed in it and kept the pages turning. Aiden and Sophie needed some hefty doses of forgiveness and healing from past traumas, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship change and grow.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a great second-chance romance. I loved the setting and the situation that led to rekindling a romance. There were misunderstandings in the history of the two, but the novel worked to resolve them instead of pushing them around back and forth. I would read it again!

This is the first book by this author that I have ever read and she does not disappoint. Bookshop by the Sea is a wonderful story of starting over and second chances. It’s a great beach read and one I had a hard time putting down. I fell in love with the characters and loved the twists and turns along the way. I will definitely be looking to read other books by this author!!

"Having a few walls to guard herself was perfectly acceptable as long as there was an operable doorway."

I loved being in Piper's Cove, NC and never wanted to leave. Denise Hunter always brings her readers delightful, heart-tugging, deliciously romantic, thoroughly redemptive stories and this book is no exception. Aiden and Sophie are wonderful, even with their insecurities, fears, and doubts. They have a history and it was so much fun to see their past, present, and future mingle as forgiveness triumphs and second chances take front stage. Sophie's newly opened bookshop and her love for books set a great backdrop to the story. Cameo appearance from Bluebell Inn series characters was the icing on top. I hope I run into Aiden and Sophie again in future books!

I received the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

I haven’t read a book by this author that I didn’t enjoy. They are always a great beach read. Sweet and charming with a twist here and there. Her writing never disappoints me.
Thanks for netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Bookshop by the Sea is sweet second chance romance that Denise Hunter fans will love. Set in a charming coastal North Carolina town, this story reunites Aiden and Sophie after seven years apart. A hurricane coming through town forces them to confront their past, and other circumstances lead to them unexpectedly working together to get Sophie's bookshop ready to open. They each bring their own quirks and flaws to the story, making them both likable, relatable characters. If you read Denise Hunter's Bluebell Inn series, you will enjoy Molly and Adam's brief appearances in this book!

While Denise Hunter is known as a Christian fiction author, the faith element in this book wasn't very overt. It's a sweet, clean romance that would make a great beach read, and I just might want to start my own bookshop by the sea after reading it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a wonderful why to spend the afternoon. Great read truly, after all it is a Denise Hunter. As always the characters are believable, loveable, and at time unbearable, but in the in they have you interest in the story being told. of Sophia and Aiden. Aiden sounds like a dream. I do believe she (Denise Hunter) has done it again with another second chance romance.

This is the first book I have read by Denise Hunter and I loved it. The characters grabbed me from the beginning of the book to the final chapter. I felt like I was part of the characters, sharing their feelings of happiness, their heartbreaks from losses they dealt with, and their strengths they faced throughout the years. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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

I really enjoyed this book by Denise Hunter. The characters were all very easy to like and easy to follow. The romance and added struggles really added to the story and it was nice to read one that is a stand-alone title.

Great novel!

I am a long time Denise Hunter fan, reading as far back has her Big Sky series up through her Bluebell Inn series. And have you read December Bride?! Oh-My-Goodness! So good. And funny! So good, in fact, that Hallmark made it, as well as The Convenient Groom, into a movie. Hunter is an amazing story teller. Bookshop by the Sea is written in classic Denise Hunter style and fans will not find anything other than the good, clean, well written characters that they are used to.

I give this story 3.8 stars. This story did not steal my heart or move me but it was an overall good story. If you've ever dealt with abandonment, this is a great read for encouragement. Again, Hunter's characters are realistic and vivid. I loved the nod to the Bluebell Inn series (guess you'll have to read those too!).

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book; the opinions here are my own.

Aiden and Sophie were high sweethearts but one decision changed everything. They assume they’ll never see each other again. Then Sophie’s sister is getting married and Aiden is invited. Could this be a second chance or more heartache?

Sophie’s determination to open Bookshop by the Sea on time will not be dampened by the threat of a hurricane–or the appearance of her ex-boyfriend Aiden. A charming story showing the power of community and second chances.

Who wouldn't want to own or at least visit a bookshop by the sea? This is a dream come true for Sophie. She and her mother meticulously planned it all out as her parent spent her final days on earth. Everything is coming together as she finally has independence from her responsibilities to her siblings and caregiver devotion to her Mom and is about to open her book store. Then Aiden comes back into her life stirring up the anger and heartbreak she has felt for years since he left her behind.
This is a sweet romance rekindled between two people who need to uncover and admit to baggage leftover from abandonment and pain. Author Denise Hunter knows how to burrow into realistic storylines and grab attention from the opening page.
This is an excellent read for the beach, summer vacation spot or your favorite place to read while at home.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book. It's just right to take home from your favorite bookshop.

A wedding is an odd way to rekindle a broken relationship but that is how it goes for Aiden and Sophie. They had broken up seven years earlier at a time when they each were at a crossroads. Aiden to go off and create his own empire, especially for a guy who had nothing and Sophie was needed by her family, especially now that her father was gone. Now they are in the same space during a wedding and a hurricane but can it fix the past. Denise Hunter brings these characters alive by creating issues that we can all relate to at one point or another. She allows us to connect with Sophie by having two siblings that need her after their mother becomes bedridden and how after taking care of everyone it's hard to stop doing that, and Aiden who is given an opportunity to be something more than people see him as. She also shows us how we battle what is right for us, others and each other. She also gives us a glimpse of what happens when you mix two people that care about each other together during a natural disaster when they have issues to work out. The characters are easy to relate to and the story flows smoothly that you don't realize how long you are reading till you are almost done.

"When you give fear a voice it's louder than logic or reality. It overshadows everything you know to be true and all you can hear are the lies you fear most."

I enjoy Denise Hunter's books and this one was no exception. I discovered her during the first month of the pandemic shut down and I very much appreciated her style of writing during that time. This second chance romance was 100% clean and was a quick read. I was invested in Sophie and Aiden's story from the first page. Ms Hunter is skilled at dialogue and is good at conveying emotion. I felt the hope, the frustration, and the sense of community found within this book. I will always recommend her books to anyone.

I knew I would love this book the minute I saw it. And I was not disappointed! I mean, opening a bookshop by the sea and getting to be there everyday?! It’s perfection. I adored Sophie and her character. She’s selfless to a fault, even if it means putting her own dreams on hold. This book has a little bit of everything: cozy settings, family drama, a hurricane, and a second chance at love. It’s as sweet as it is inspiring.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

After taking over the raising of her siblings and caring for her ailing mother for years, Sophie is finally pursuing a dream of her own, opening her bookshop by the sea. Mishap after mishap threatens her opening, including getting stormed in with the man who left her seven years ago.

I liked seeing how the town came together to support Sophie in her endeavor when things fell apart. They exemplified what a community should be like, whether a small town or a church. It was hard seeing Sophie's own family not behaving well towards her and how that impacted other relationships in her life. In the end, it was a good story about second chances, taking risks, and trusting God with our hearts and lives.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

An adorable book! I loved the setting and cheered alongside the heroine as she worked to get her bookshop set up. I loved the fact this was a second-chance romance. I'm definitely a fan of all of Denise's books.

Denise Hunter is a highly skilled contemporary fiction/romance writer. Her books are clean, engaging, and always have a happily ever after. I decided to read Bookshop by the Sea simply from the cover design. I did not read what it was because I LOVE books and enjoy reading about bookshops/libraries or anything else that has to do with literacy. Of course, this book did not disappoint.

From the first line, "Eleven months had not been long enough to prepare Sophie Lawson for the sight of him" I was completely captivated. I had all kinds of questions and the only way I was going to find the answers was by reading on!

The reader gets to know Sophie and Aiden by the story alternating between their perspectives. Sophie is the mother figure to her siblings, caring, empathetic, and oblivious to the ways that they take advantage of her. She struggles with trust and abandonment issues, but she is working hard to have her own life after being a caregiver for many years. Her dreams are finally about to come true as she works to get her bookshop open. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she struggles to meet her deadline.

Aiden is the dreamy, dare-devil, run from commitment type. He left Sophie once to chase after his dreams. When a hurricane strands him in Piper's Cove he is forced to reconnect with Sophie. As they spend time together the wall that Sophie has built to keep Aiden out starts to thaw. She reveals things from the past that he had no clue about and he is hurt that Sophie had not trusted him at the time to share the details. Aiden is dealing with his own abandonment and trust issues and when Sophie is hurt, he decides to stay to help her get her bookstore off the ground. Unfortunately, Aidan once again runs when his fears get the best of him.

"But when you give fear a voice, it's louder than logic or reality. It overshadows everything you know to be true, and all you can hear are the lies you fear most."

I enjoyed this book immensely. I was surprised when a character from a different book made an appearance and had to go back and see if this book was part of a series. It is not, it is a standalone novel, and it was great fun for the character to make an appearance here! The dynamics between Sophie and her family are so real and relatable. The relationship that Sophie had with her mom and Aiden has with his dad, had me longing for a better relationship with my parents. I absolutely adored the way the residents of Piper's welcomed Sophie into their community.

A heart-warming, second-chance romance that is sure to engage and delight avid romance readers. From the engaging characters, witty dialogue, and slow-burn romance you will have a hard time putting this one down.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to give a positive review but I am happy to be able to do so. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked how the author invited readers to the wedding of Sophie Lawson’s sister, Jenna held at beautiful Piper’s Cove. Jenna has pleaded with Sophie to keep the peace between their brother Seth and their father who ran away from his family when their mother became ill. I felt for Sophie who was a compassionate, smart, strong, caregiver of her family. Sophie was prepared for that but not the way she felt when she saw her ex-boyfriend Aiden at the wedding. If these complex relationships were not enough, they get the news that a hurricane is heading their way. Hotels are booked up Aiden asks Sophie for help. Can Sophie prepare for the storm outside while she was dealing an emotional storm inside her heart?

Trust, that is an issue for many of the characters. Their hearts had been shattered. Once broken how do they get it fixed? I enjoyed the wedding, and how Sophie was preparing to open a bookstore. I also liked how this author brought the spiritual thread naturally throughout the story.

This is a heart-warming, fun beach read with characters to root for and I small town I would like to visit!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through 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 the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org