This was the cutest small beach town romance ! It was such a fun & entertaining read. This is book #2 in its series, but can be read as a standalone. Its a closed door, enemies to lovers with a sunshine x grump trope as well. A love story between Molly, a cheerful mermaid (just dressed as one, not a real mermaid) & Max, a grumpy marine biologist. The small beach town setting makes it a perfect read for summer. Its such a light hearted, fluffy romantic comedy that not only had me smiling from ear to ear, but also laughing out loud. It reminded me of a hallmark movie, which I loved.

You can expect:
* Based in North Carolina
* Enemies to Lovers
* Closed Door Romance
* Sunshine x Grump
* Laugh Out Loud Romcom
* Lots of Adorable Animals
* Mermaid & Nerdy Scientist

A light and frothy romance set in an unbelievably cute little island town. It was a wee bit too cutesy for me. None of the characters ring true and the two protagonists were just too immature. I didn’t really care for either of them. The octogenarians helping them out were more entertaining.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I was quite excited about this book. I mean look at this cover. It seemed right up my alley but I just have to say that this book just simply didn't work for me. The main reason why is just that these characters just didn't work for me. Molly truly acted like a child. She was so immature and made big issues out of nothing. She also has a tendancy to put the blame upon other people rather than recognizing that she did something wrong. I also didn't like Max. I thought he was very inconsitantly written. Sometimes he was just a mean person that only cared about work, and then at other times he was such a cinnamon roll. It felt very jarring and you couldn't predict which Max you were going to get in the scenes you were reading. He also did quite a lot of things that felt out of character, which feels weird to say because at this point I don't even know what would be in character for him because he flip flops so much. The romance between them also just didn't work for me. I didn't see any chemistry between them. Their feelings seemed to come out of nowhere and there was no real developement between them. I also just don't think they would make a great couple. They're constantly at odds with each other and they never properly adress things or apologise. They just kind of forget about what happened until their next argument to use it to throw it in the others face. It was just so disfunctional. That all being said I do still love this town. Turtle Beach is such a great setting and Teri Wilson completely transports you to that place. I love the different people in the town and all the excentric personalities in it. Ursula was also an amazingly cute dog and I really loved her. On top of that I also liked the aquarium side storyline. I thought that was really interesting and well done and I was super invested in that bit of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

If you are looking for a cutesy funny romance summer read this is the one for you!

After being saved by a mermaid clad woman from drowning Max Miller is realizing that his childhood summer town has changed immensely since he last visited 12 years ago. But he is ready to take it all in stride as he embarks on taking over as the aquarium director, gripped with the knowledge that the finances may close the aquarium before he can even get his feet under him. And how is he supposed to save the aquarium when he’s too busy saving his reputation after being painted as the town villain because he fired the mermaid from the aquarium…and her little dog too!

I went into this book very cautiously thanks to that cute little dog on the cover. And I was pleasantly surprised to find a wonderfully fluffy and heartwarming summer island romance. I was ultimately disappointed due to their being approximately three too many plot points that ultimately took away from the relationship growth and led to the end of the book being so rushed that I was left wondering when the romance was going to develop even on the last page of the book. I love me a slow burn and a book without spice now and again, but there does have to be a fire at some point.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casa for the advanced copy

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was so cute and adorable!
If you are looking for a fun and mindless summer romance, this is the perfect book for that. It‘s lighthearted, it’s goofy and just gives you all the fuzzy feelings.

It admittedly lacks depth and some of the plot points don’t make a lot of sense and some might consider the story to be ridiculous, but I personally thought it was cute. Not every romance novel needs to portray the depth and complexity of human emotions and love in my opinion.

The romance was cute, even though it felt a bit like a subplot. The big focus of the story was on saving the local aquarium, a feat that forced the two main characters to work together.
It was a classic enemies to lovers & grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and it was just so nice to watch the level-headed MMC get enchanted by the FMC and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ursula.

Speaking of which, if you love dogs/animals in general, this book is for you! It has so many dogs, turtles, sea horses and marine life in general, and Ursula is honestly the star of the show.

Overall, this is a great vacation/summer rom-com for when you just want something that will make you giggle and feel happy and I definitely recommend it if this is something you‘re looking for.

3 stars

In a story that seems ready-made for the Hallmark Channel, A Line in the Sand is a light, fluffy small town romance with a classic grump/sunshine dynamic between the two leads. Having had mixed feelings about the first installment of this series thanks to a highly problematic first scene, I hoped that this would deliver on all of the escapist, summer feels that I need as I come into six weeks of non-stop work.

All in all, this was definitely an improvement on A Spot of Trouble. Sure, it has its moments where the over-the-top quirkiness gets a bit old and I'm starting to realize that maybe clean romance is not my genre. However, I absolutely felt transported to the town of Turtle Beach and I would definitely read more in this series if Wilson decides to continue with these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a fair and honest review!

This was a very cute and easy read. The main characters are likeable (with a flaw or two) who meet in an unexpected way and unfortunately, waste some time being enemies with each other. But do not worry because they have turtles, a lobster dog named Ursula and a group of headstrong old ladies to help them figure it all out.

This was an adorable romance novel. It wasn't spicy, so this would be a great way for new readers to get into romance if they aren't sure about the sex scenes. The main characters were both so likeable, and bonus points for any book that has a puppy as a main character!

This was a super cute read! Witty, romantic, and just fun to read. It kept me hooked from the first page!

I’m a huge fan of Teri Wilson and was excited she had another book with a spaniel in it after Unleashing Mr. Darcy! This was a great, quick read that I enjoyed. Both characters were easy to like. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

3.5/5 stars

This is a great follow up to A Spot of Trouble. The plot was fun and funny and not too high stakes at any point. I did find that the conflict resolved itself far too quickly for my liking but otherwise it was a great rom-com.

When I’m looking for a book filled with whimsy, warmth, and romance, I know I can’t go wrong with one of Teri Wilson’s books! A Line in the Sand features Molly and Max, who meet when she (dressed as a mermaid because of course!) rescues him from drowning. They’re off to a promising start, until shortly thereafter he fires her, and she is reminded over and over why she must protect her heart. I loved following along with their story, two charming characters along with her sweet dog Ursula and a host of friends and neighbors who live in Turtle Beach! I was enchanted, my heart experiencing all the swoops and dives of their blooming feelings.

3.5 stars

This was an easy, small town, beach read - and while at times a little quirky, that vibe fit with the overall story and the characters. I do wish the romance was a bit more of the focal point rather than the aquarium, but I still enjoyed it!

Such an adorable and sweet, quick read. I really am a sucker for beach themed romcoms. I love that it was a quick read, however I wish the relationship between the leads could have been more fleshed out. For real though, All I want is for a little spaniel in a lobster costume.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Line in the Sand (Turtle Beach, #2) by Teri Wilson from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Even though I've read one other book by the author and enjoyed it, I was nervous if I'd like this newest book by Teri Wilson.

To say I liked A Line in the Sand would be an understatement . . . I loved this book and read it within a 24-hour window. It's such a fun beach read. Even though I thought I knew what would happen (and it did), it was an enjoyable book. So enjoyable, that I am going to read the first book in the series. Don't worry, you don't need to read the series in order.

Normally, I don't like books that have a dog as one of the main characters, but in this book, it just worked. I loved the main character of Molly Prince. At first, I disliked the male lead, Max Miller. However, he started to grow on me, especially after Molly's parents came for a visit. I don't really have any complaints.

If you're looking for a fast paced, entertaining beach read, then A Line in the Sand (Turtle Beach, #2) by Teri Wilson is the perfect book. I gave it five out of five stars and can't wait for the next installment in the series.

“When his Uncle Henry retires, Max Miller moves to Turtle Beach, North Carolina, to take over his aquarium and sea turtle hospital. Little does he know the business is struggling, and he’s being called in to captain a sinking ship.

After a recent heartbreak that left her feeling lost, Molly Prince is desperately trying to find her direction in life. That’s easier said than done when you’re distracted by a new puppy named Urusla and overbearing advice from parents who own the beachfront house you’re living in.

Max and Molly meet during a near-drowning incident and feel instant attraction, but their acquaintance is quickly put to the test when uptight Max decides an aquarium is no place for a mermaid and her puppy, with or without the lobster costume. His first day on the job is a disaster, and he realizes his rash decision cost the aquarium its heart and soul. The town points their justified anger towards him, and he almost caves, but there’s something about Molly’s attitude that puts his defenses back up. He sticks by his decision and tries to manage the financial mess in front of him without thinking about the blonde mermaid who happens to be his next door neighbor. When things start to look up thanks to a fundraising idea from Molly and the unique ability of her puppy to sniff out sea turtle nests, the pair realize they might have no choice other than working together. Will they be able to get along and save a business they both love, or has the sun set on their chance at both friendship and romance?”

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I don’t often dive into the romance genre, pun intended, but “A Line in the Sand” spoke to my inner child. As a 90s baby and 2000s kid, I was obsessed with Aquamarine, H2O: Just Add Water, and Lisa Frank. Summers were reserved for waking up early and swimming in the pool for at least three hours. Needless to say Teri Wilson’s romance between a marine biologist and mermaid might as well have been plucked from the imaginations of millenials.

There were side elements that gave this book potential as a nice summer read. The North Carolina island setting almost made me feel positive towards summer, which is a feat if you know me as the cold-loving November baby that I am. The snippets of the senior citizen activity agenda had me feeling exhausted; that lively group put my sedentary life on blast, and I’ll admit I felt shamed into being more busy. Ethel Banks, Opal Lewinsky, and Mavis Hubbard, known around town as “Charlie’s Angels,” were hilarious, always sticking their noses where they don’t belong and trying to move things along between a certain couple. My favorite part was learning about the day-to-day operations of the aquarium and sea turtle hospital. If the “Angels” are giving a tour with complimentary frozen Milky Way lattes anytime soon, count me in!

Unfortunately this is where the aquatic fun ends. Even though it was supposed to be the crowning jewel, the romance was a huge letdown. There was a muddle of tropes: several handfuls of enemies to lovers with a dash of fake dating and insta-love. I don’t mind tropes, but pick a lane if none of the scenarios are going to go far enough to be worth the time. Everything felt skin deep and not fleshed out enough to make me feel invested in Max and Molly’s relationship. I was left feeling “meh” which is probably why I felt irrationally irritated by the overuse of Ursula’s breed “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.” I know that breed is special to the author, but I think Ursula’s adorable face on the cover and the first or second mention of the full name is enough. I also didn’t love Molly as a character, although her love of The Great British Bake Off was a redeeming trait. She came off as petty and whiny at times which annoyed me as someone who’s more like Max, very serious and a little awkward in situations meant to be loose and fun.

I was much more invested in the last fourth of the book and flew through it so my rating is rounding out to three stars. This was not a new favorite, but perhaps it will work for readers more acquainted with the genre. I would recommend this book to romance fans but only those who genuinely enjoy an easy, fluffy read. Think of it as the literature version of a Hallmark movie, and you should be fine. Play an ocean ambience video for extra beachy vibes!

•

Content Breakdown:

*Disclaimer: I read an uncorrected ARC so certain things might change in the final copy.

Alcohol: Rosé, Whisky, Wine, general mentions of alcohol, & one instance of being drunk

Language: Molly uses the term “lady bits” while referring to her mermaid tail.

Ethal, Mavis, & Opal wear sun hats to SandFest, two of which say “Cheers Beaches” & “Resting Beach Face.”

Ethel & Opal argue over a game of Scrabble because one of them wants to use “vayjayjay” as a word.

Steaminess: Ethel Banks remarks in chapter 5 that Max is “even more good-looking dry than he is wet,” referring to his appearance after nearly drowning at the dog beach.

Max and Molly constantly admire and think about each other’s physical assets (i.e. Max’s abs & Molly in her clamshell bustier & mermaid tail). Their physical contact stays in the realm of hand holding, hugging, almost-kissing, & kissing.

Toxic Relationship: There are several mentions of Molly’s previous boyfriend who cheated on her.

Violence: Max has a complicated relationship with his Uncle Henry; in chapter 3, he’s upset & contemplates killing Henry for real, though it’s not a serious threat.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance with tender kisses set on the beach and a nerdy scientist falling in love with a mermaid, this one’s for you!

I read the first book in this series, A Spot of Trouble, and was so happy to return to Turtle Beach. The Charlie’s Angels are up to their old shenanigans to help Molly and Mac see they’re perfect for each other. While we see Cinder and Sprinkles (and their human companions) again, the adorable Ursula, a high spirited Cavalier King Charles, takes center stage.

Don’t miss out in this quick, heartwarming beach read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

So to preface this review: I read it while on vacay so I didn’t write notes like I usually do for leaving reviews. This may be more brief than my usual reviews. That said, this book was adorable!

Molly works at an aquarium as a mermaid. She owns a dog named Ursula (who really stole the show). Max, the love interest, returns to Turtle Cove to take over his uncles aquarium and promptly fires Molly because he thinks her mermaid job is stupid. Little does he know that Molly knows everything and everyone and is a much beloved fixture and asset of that aquarium.

The relationship between the two I think grew at a perfect pace. The tension wasn’t overly drawn out but it also wasn’t too rushed. The banter between them was also good. Like I said above Ursula, the spaniel, stole the freaking show. I loved that dog!

The author does a very good job as describing the atmosphere and details of the surrounding world. I found it was almost a bit too descriptive at points, but it was still an enjoyable read.

This is the perfect summer beach read or a book for while you’re on vacay! It’s well paced, has cute characters and a dog. What more could you ask for?

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was cute but the characters had no depth. The author tried but they only gave us endings and not any of the actual details in between, it made it very annoying to read. Also there should have been an epilogue.

I received an arc through netgalley.