THE SHELL COLLECTOR by NANCY NAIGLE is an enjoyable romance novel which takes place in the seaside town of Whelk's Island. It is a story about love, coping with grief, friendships and second chances. The characters are unforgettable, with two delightful children, a parrot called The Wife, dogs called Methuselah and Denali, together with the friendly inhabitants of the small town.
Maeve Lindsay has lived in Whelk's Island her whole life. She loves the sea and spends a lot of time on the beach collecting shells, which is where she meets Amanda Whittier and her two children. The two women have a special bond, both having lost their husbands, and they influence each others' lives in a god way.
Paul Grant is a former marine who runs Paws Town Square, where he rehabilitates military dogs, with ex servicemen with PTSD helping him.
I will leave you there, with the stage set.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from WaterBrook & Multmomah. the opinions in this review are completely my own.

A moving take on grief and loss, sad but not depressing, “The Shell Collector”, by Nancy Naigle (Waterbrook & Multnomah), features a grieving heroine and how she heals, due to her inner strength and with the help of new and old friends.
Amanda is a wonderful heroine, valiantly trying to overcome loss, beloved memories either painfully present or just fading, while raising two precious children.
Starting over during summer in a small-town atmosphere is proving to be the right choice for Amanda when she meets and befriends an older, sage woman, Maeve, and other residents of Whelk’s Island, North Carolina.
I really liked how the author wrote the process of mourning and healing and the way fate gave Paul and Amanda a second chance at love.
I also liked seeing Amanda from other characters’ perspectives, it gave her personality depth.
Paul felt sometimes as a too-good-to-be-true, too perfect hero. He was so smitten and his devotion to Amanda and her kids was in such a high level that often he didn’t seem a real person.
As for Amanda and Maeve, their relationship was interesting but some aspects of it seemed a bit rushed.

A sweet book about loves lost and second chances.

The story starts with Amanda's husband, Jack, not returning from his Marine deployment. She struggles for two years before moving her two kids to a new start at the beach house. They have a wonderful summer adjusting to the area and finding a great friend in Maeve, the older lady who lives next to them. Maeve is a memorable character - the shell collector - she collects the ocean's treasures and turns them into gifts. I loved how everyone found the shell they needed, just at the right time. She is such a special person. She helps Amanda in so many ways, the whole island really. The community of Whelks Island has a group of fun characters - and The Wife is such a fun touch to the story.

This was such a good book I don’t know where to begin this review. The book is about love, loss and moving forward. It is a heartfelt story from start to finish. All the characters are very real, as is the story and the area it is set in. Once again Ms Naigle has written an unforgettable tear-jerker. I recommend this book to everyone. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

After losing her husband, , Amanda moves to a small community on the ocean shore. Se is tired of everyone looking at her as a the 'poor' widow. She and her children begin a new life where they know no one, After cutting herself from the majority of her former friends, she and the kids meet Maeve who becomes a member of their little family. But who leaves mysterious shells to be found hither and yon? A puzzle for the entire town and tourists who have heard about it and come flocking to the area. . They aren't plentiful but seem to have meaning for the people who find them. An extremely moving story. One of Naigle's best.

I laughed and cried over this story. It’s about loving someone so much then learning how to deal with their loss. Then finding a wonderful, amazing friend to help you learn to live again. Very beautiful heartfelt story. This is a 10* all the way.

Nancy Naigle is a new author for me, but I found this introduction to be quite moving. I am not sure if the main character is Amanda Whittier or Maeve Lindsay. Their stories are so intertwined that it's hard to tell who takes center stage.
Amanda is a widowed Marine wife and mother who moves to Whelks Island for a chance to start over and possibly start her home-based business. She buys a fixer-upper cottage by the beach and finds solace through her neighbor, Maeve. It is through the friendship she builds with Maeve that she comes to the point of being able to find love again.

Paul was the best friend of Amanda's husband, Jack. By chance, he meets up with Amanda on the beach as he was running past while Amanda and her children were playing. Amanda's daughter, Hailey, believes at first that Paul is her father who finally came back to them. But when Hailey sees who it really is, she finds someone she knew but had forgotten about.

Cancer comes to play in the final stages of the book and it was something to which I could relate quite well. Seventeen and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and told that while it was not curable, it was treatable. Much of what Nancy described of Maeve's journey resonated with me, and the faith exhibited by the characters in the throes of Maeve's final days is something that I could relate to extremely well.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a large box of facial tissues to wipe the copious amount of tears that will be shed.

Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an advance copy of, The Shell Collector. I really loved this book. Nancy Naigle is one of my favorite authors, especially her Christmas stories. This is a great story, I loved the characters, and the setting.