The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle is a touching story about love and second chances. This is a special book that will touch your heart. The characters and setting truly bring this book to life. The shells-- oh so many details bring life and hope to truly tragic situations. Maeve's character is my absolute favorite. If you are looking for a beach themed summer book with an inspiring message, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is a much more serious Naigle title than I’m used to. I enjoy her writing style, but expected more Christmas in Evergreen type storyline. Worth a read, but definitely a more heavy subject matter.

Make sure you have tissues ready when you read this. It is such a good story of love, grief and learning to live again. Maeve made such a difference for not only Amanda, but the kids and Paul too. She was a light for so many. When Amanda became a widow and was left with 2 small children, she knew she had to go on with her life, but didn't know how. After 2 years, she made a big change and moved to a cottage by the sea. When she and the children meet Maeve on the beach, all their lives were changed. Being a widow of many years helped Maeve to know what Amanda was going through and she was able to help Amanda. Amanda's children became the grandchildren Maeve never had. When Paul comes back into their lives, Maeve helps Amanda navigate her new feelings for him. Will Amanda be able to open her heart again to a new love?

I smiled and even shed a few tears reading this book. What a wonderful story of caring and sharing. You never really know what someone is in need of at anytime in their life. Just simple acts of kindness go a long way. I believe this is my favorite Nancy Naigle book yet. What a treasure this book is!

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this heartwarming novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.
The Shell Collector is another heartfelt story with endearing characters and a plot that will touch your heart. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. Ms. Naigle has set this novel in a small coastal beach town with a close community.
Amanda Whittier is the heroine, and I quickly became enmeshed with her character from the start. I loved her courage, her stamina and determination. When she befriends Maeve, my heart melted. Her love of her adorable children is admirable, and although her grief is deep from the losing her husband, she doesn’t allow it to pull her under.
Paul Grant is the hero, and he has the characteristics I most admire. Not only is he ex-military, but he’s also a dog lover and has formed a company to rehabilitate ex-military animals. When he meets Amanda on the beach, it amazed him. The last time he’d seen her was at her husband, and his best friend’s, funeral, where she placed the blame on him for Jack’s death.
Maeve Lindsay is the third major character in this tale, and she’s feisty, quirky and will steal your heart. Her love and unconditional acceptance of Amanda is amazing, and her deep relationships with the folks in their community are heartwarming.
The romance between Amanda and Paul is not the central focus of this novel, but added to my enjoyment. While they have a good bit of angst to overcome from their past, they don’t antagonize each other. I enjoyed their romance and wanted them to find their happy ending.
If you enjoy novels that deal with grief, friendship and unconditional love, and with characters that will grab your heart, then you will love The Shell Collector as much as I did. I always know I’m in for an emotional reading experience with one of Ms. Naigle’s novels. Happy reading!

I literally read this book in two days. What a heartfelt charming story of overcoming pain and moving forward for a new life while holding on to what is important about the past. I absolutely loved the characters and ended up crying with snot and all at the end. This is my first book by this author and I would love to read more in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

A great summer beach read. Nancy developed a loveable cast of characters.

Although, I don’t know personally Amanda’s grief in losing a husband I know heartache and the need to just rely on someone and cry. I can’t imagine the overwhelming responsibility of taking care of two little ones on your own.

It takes a long time for Amanda and Paul’s paths to cross, I was anxious to see what would happen when they would finally meet.

Mauve is wonderful character, someone I think all of should have in our lives.

If you want a heart provoking read I highly recommend this one.


A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderfully sweet story. I loved this story about friendships and second chance romance. Nancy Naigle has written a heartwarming story about the gift of new friends and old ones too in her newest book, The Shell Collector. Amanda and her two young children are dealing with the grief of losing their husband and father. Starting over seems like the right thing to do and yet there are struggles to overcome in their new situation too. Meeting Maeve is a God-send and the friendship evolves into such a special relationship. The characters are strong, realistic, and relatable, people I'd love to know in real life! People who breathe 'new joy in each other's lives.' Lots of interesting tidbits about life on the Whelk's Island in North Carolina, a trip to a Southern plantation to see the Spanish Moss, and shells with messages that seem to show up at just the right time to just the right person. I am so looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

The title immediately attracted me because I love collecting seashells.
The shell collector here is Maeve, an elderly woman who wears colorful gauzy outfits. She’s delighted when Amanda and her children become her neighbors. Amanda lost her Marine husband two years ago, and Maeve, a longtime widow, helps her grieve.
We meet Paul early on, but it takes a while to learn the connection between him and Amanda. Both have a ton of regret to overcome.
This is a sweet story that will be especially helpful for those lost in grief.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh this book deserves so many more stars than just five. I wished I could give them to it. T it the most heart felt and touching story that I have read in a while! We have all felt these feelings and that’s what makes this book so wonderful! I love Amanda, Maeve, Hailey, and Jess. Everyone should have a Maeve! She is such a spectacular character. Nancy I can’t say how much I love this book enough! Thank you for writing it for us! Oh and by the way, keep your tissues close!

The Shell Collector is author Nancy Naigle’s summer 2021 offering. Amanda Whittier was widowed a few years earlier when her Marine husband, Jack, didn’t make it home. She is finally in a place where she and their two children, Hailey and Jesse, can start over. Amanda chooses Whelk Island, where she and Jack were married on the beach.
As Amanda relocates, she purchases a small beachside cottage and has a new job teaching to begin at the end of summer. One of the first people Amanda bonds with is elderly Maeve Lindsay. Maeve has an instant rapport with Hailey and Jesse, as well as their bulldog Denali. The children are intrigued with Maeve’s treasure/shell collecting and want to follow suit.

Maeve is a cornerstone of the community, attending most town council meetings. She was the number 1 proponent for former marine Paul Grant when he sought community approval for his Paws Town Square, where Paul repurposed a desolate big box store and turned it into a combination dog park, pet store, kennel, and facility to rehab military dogs so they could be placed with families, especially the soldier they had already served with, as well as training veterans in the job positions for training and caring for the dogs.

Maeve is a wonderful influence on all she meets, especially Amanda and her children. An even a greater influence when Paul, who was once best friends with both Amanda and Jack, enters the picture after a serendipitous run on the beach from Maeve’s home past Amanda’s. Once Amanda and Paul reunite it isn’t long before their friendship amps up to more.

There is so much more to this story, especially the connection between Amanda and Maeve. There is a magic between the two ladies, no matter how many decades separate their ages. And that magic brings closure for one and a future for the other!

This is another well written story by Nancy Naigle. It taps deep emotions and offers hope. With wonderful characters and beautiful settings, Ms Naigle again gives her readers a treat. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I asked for this book based on the cover (I know, I know) and what a sweet and wonderful story it was! Glad I chose it.

I love this author and her books. I'm always finding it hard to put it down. I like books that I don't have to think about. Just pick em up and get lost for awhile. Very awesome read

Nancy Naigle is another favourite author I like to read before bed with a hot cup of tea. Her books always entertain me and keep me wanting more books from this author. Some of her books have been made into holiday movies on Hallmark and were delightful. The Shell Collector does not disappoint and I highly recommend this story as a great summer read.👏📚👍❤️

What a wonderful story! Author Nancy Naigle has given us a beautiful, unforgettable character in Maeve Lindsay, an elderly widow who cares deeply for the people in her community. Maeve is compassionate, active, and wants to help everyone find their “happily ever after”. When she meets widow Amanda Whittier and her two young children, Maeve wants to do anything possible to help this little family to find a place to belong in their beach community. Both Amanda and Maeve form the friendship of a lifetime. Both will be surprised at how God works in their lives, and both Amanda and people in the community will be forever changed because of Maeve’s faith and influence.

This is a heart-touching story on several levels. I didn’t want the story to end, and I’m still thinking about the books days after I read it. I’ve read several of Nancy Naigle’s books and enjoyed them, but this book takes her to a different level of storytelling. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one nominated for an award.

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

This book gave me ALL the feels! I really enjoyed this sweet story chock full of lots of heart and fantastic characters. From Amanda and Paul, to Tug and Maeve, to sweet Jesse and Hailey, these characters made the story. I was rooting for these characters from the first page and the ending was pretty much a perfect one for the characters and for me as the reader. I really really loved this story and I think it would make an excellent Hallmark movie. Here’s hoping!!

I purchased a copy of the audiobook on Audible and it was very well done. Great narrator and enjoyable listening experience.

I received a copy of the ebook as a member of the launch team and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle is a sweet, inspiring story. It is one of those novels that makes you feel good. It is the perfect type of book to read while relaxing by the pool or while on vacation. We get to meet Amanda Whittier and her children along with Paul Grant and Maeve Lindsay. I just loved Maeve who is a free-spirited woman who enjoys life to the fullest. The friendship between Maeve and Amanda was touching. The point-of-view switches between Maeve, Amanda, and Paul. This allows readers to see things from each of their perspectives. The Shell Collector is an emotional story that will tug on your heartstrings. I thought The Shell Collector was well-written with developed characters and a beautiful setting. I just loved the sound of Whelk’s Island. I liked the small-town community as well as the beautiful beach. The shell descriptions allowed me to imagine what they looked like. I thought it was creative for someone to write inspirational messages inside shells and leave them where they can be found. It seemed the right shell was found by the person who needed it at that time. One of my favorite quotes from The Shell Collector is, “Unfortunately no life is free of sadness, be it from pain, loss, ill, or…, well, you get the idea. It’s all a necessary part of a life well lived.” In life we need both the good and the bad so that we have balance. The other is, “When the tide goes out, we get to appreciate the treasures it reveals. And when it comes in, new life is washed ashore. There’s beauty in both.” Faith is at the forefront of The Shell Collector. Our three main characters are Christians who knows God is there for them. They pray for his guidance and know that all things happen in His timing. This is a story about wisdom, friendship, a second chance at love, and finding joy in nature’s beauty. The Shell Collector is a touching tale with cute kids, a playful pooch, special seashells, a mournful mother, a free-spirited friend, superannuated soldier, and a gracious God.

The Shell Collector celebrates friendships, special moments, and the gifts each of us has to share with the world. Nancy Naigle shows readers how Maeve lives life to the fullest and how she cherishes the small things that make life worth living. I adored this charming story about receiving second chances in life and how to move on after a death. Whelks Island is a magical place I’d love to vacation to. Maeve reminded me of a special family friend we had that embraced life and made the ordinary magical. This story is thought-provoking and touched my heart with loveable characters I instantly connected with.

Shell collecting becomes meaningful to Maeve after the sudden death of husband Jarvis. Maeve wrote messages on the shells she found, …”I was just the shell collector. I found the treasures and shared them when I thought someone needed to be reminded of hope, but when and where those shells were found was out of my hands.” She continues, “Just something to make people pause for that split second it takes to get back to the reality of a situation and find hope. It’s all about hope.”

This is written by an author who knows grief, loss and how to take a chance and go on again. She says, “This story has been pressing on my heart to be told since the year I lost my husband, but I just couldn’t bring the words to the page until recently. Wishing you unexpected strength in your most difficult times.”

Maeve and this author wanted to encourage people with quotes, scriptures, or a simple word or two, things to believe, have faith in and give hope to the receiver of the shell. I had happy tears running down my face as this story came to a close and friends remember special times with loved ones.

This book is a treasure, one that makes you feel a wide range of emotions and is a reminder to smell the beautiful flowers of life and appreciate love and life with family and special friends. This author brilliantly navigates difficult subjects with great tenderness, talking about loneliness, wrenching loss, renewal, and healing. The author ideally shows how the compassion of strangers and the love of family makes all the difference in someone’s life. This is a bittersweet compelling novel I highly recommend. It’s a delightful and moving novel that makes you laugh, cry and everything in between. Readers will put this novel down knowing that it will stick with them for a long time to come. This is the first book I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last.

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

The Shell Collector will stay with you long after you finish it. My first book by Nancy Naigle and it won't be my last. It is beautifully written and heartwarming. Would highly recommend.

“Life is rarely predictable if we’re doing it right.”

Two years after her husband’s death during a deployment, Amanda has decided to raise her children near the beach in a cottage in North Carolina. Her mother wanted her to come home to Ohio, but Amanda feels drawn to follow the dream she and her husband had for their children. While getting settled in, Amanda has to change her plans of starting an herbal salt business to teaching. However, she tries to focus on the children who keep her busy to keep going day after day. Then, a day at the beach changes their lives forever.

The Shell Collector was available on NetGalley to read before the book was published. The plot sounded really interesting so I requested it. However, when I chose to read religious books during Lent, it moved to the bottom of the pile. The book was published May 11 and I finished reading it just a few days before.

Maeve is an older woman who has lived near the beach her whole life. She finds joy in meeting Amanda and her children and they grow close as the summer passes. However, Maeve knows she can’t be around for very much longer. When a chance encounter with an old friend sparks possibilities for Amanda, Maeve encourages Amanda to take a chance with her heart again.

The Shell Collector is a feel-good, easy read. It would be a perfect vacation/beach read. The book shows how we can all have a profound influence on the lives around us even when we think our impact is small. We should be open each day to live life to the fullest. The book has a subtle Christian message with the characters praying throughout the book.

Fans of Debbie Macomber would enjoy The Shell Collector. Readers in their teens and older would enjoy the story and the clean romance of the book.