I love this book! This is a new author for me and I love her writing style. This book had me from the first page to the last. The characters were so true to life with real joys and trials. Sadie and Sam cover all the emotions of a relationship. Love little Rio. Very heartwarming read. A must read! I was given an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and I am freely leaving a review.

I am always in awe of how Denise Hunter writes books that from the first page captures your heart. The characters are so authentic, that soon they feel like real friends. In Sadie's story, when she is heartbroken and has lost her appetite, I realized I also had no appetite. I felt the emotional turmoil Sadie was feeling. Denise's characters are so very authentic, I easily get lost in her stories and forget they are fictitious.

Sadie, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, tries her hand at writing a novel - a western novel, following in the footsteps of her late grandfather, a well-known author of western novels. Although well written, western novels are not such a popular genre in the current market. Rather than have to return her advance, which she'd already spent, she was offered the opportunity to keep it if she'd write a romance novel. She agreed, however, questioned how one write a romantic novel if having never experienced romantic love. Sadie was an expert at never getting too close to any man or even going on a date more than once or twice with the same man. She is an expert at protecting her heart.

Of course Sadie agrees to the new genre, since the other option is to come up with $20,000. I loved how each chapter begins with Romance Writing 101, a brief overview of how to write a romantic novel.
The mother of her best friend, Caroline, agrees to let Sadie stay at her house on the beach in South Caroline, where it will be a be a quieter, calmer atmosphere to write than noisy New York City. It's a duplex and one side she keeps rented and the other is always available for her own use. The renter right next door is Sam, a handsome, single man, who is nursing a broken heart and has no interest in any type of a relationship with a woman, even such an interesting, friendly and beautiful one as Sadie. Sam has perfected the art of keeping to himself.

There are many intriguing moving parts to this absolutely delightful, heartwarming story, I felt so involved in these characters' stories that I couldn't put this book down until the last page was turned.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

A Novel Proposal
By Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Series: Stand alone
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow

Back of the Book: “When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.
Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?
However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.
A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.
She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?
Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?”
Impressions: This was a beguiling contemporary romance. Each chapter had a foreshadowing quote on how to write a romance novel which sparked me to read past my bedtime to discover what was to come. Although the romance was somewhat predictable the romance had a pragmatic tension that was genuinely relatable. I think this would be a great summer beach read as it was easy to read and enjoy.

Quotes: “Fiction should be a visceral experience. Whatever your protagonist is feeling, your reader should be feeling it too.” -Romance Writing 101 – This was one of the pre chapter quotes and I enjoyed this description of what good writing looks and feels like.

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Sweet, slow burn romance. Sadie needs some time away to write her book. Sam needs time away from some family drama. They both end up renting next door to each other in a duplex at the beach. Add in a fun mystery and watch the slow burn begin.

I really enjoyed the Romance Writing 101 snippets at the start of each chapter. It was a fun hint for what to expect that chapter.

(Added for my NetGalley review, but didn’t post this in my other reviews online. The ARC on kindle was a bit hard to read. The publisher’s logo was on every page or every other page and the spacing of the paragraphs were off. Did not affect my review, but want others to be aware if they have the same issue with the ARC. The story is worth putting up with the formatting issues!)

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for A Novel Proposal to come out March 21, 2023.

This is a new light-hearted, hilarious book by Denise Hunter. Her pairing of a talkative author trying to break into a new genre with a quiet guy who works for his family’s lawn care business is so much fun! Poor Sam doesn’t stand a chance against vivacious Sadie. Add in a cute dog and various friends and relatives, and you get a lot of crazy interactions. You’ll enjoy the play on words in the title Hunter has chosen as you discover all the meanings it has while you read through the twists and turns of writing a novel and falling in love. I stayed up way too late to finish this book, but it was worth it.

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

I've read a few of this Authors previous books.
My favorite being Bookshop by the Sea and Summer By the Tides!
I was super pumped for a new story.

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter was just what I was wanting and needing.

When novelist Sadie Goodwin who writes westerns novels is forced to stop and start writing contemporary romance novel to save her lackluster sales.
Only one little problem.... Sadie has never been in love.
In dire need to save her career, Sadie starts reading romance novels.
She has know the genre.
When she accepts an inivite to curl up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer.
She I hoping to find some inspiration and what better way to witness love than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?
Finally there in the lovely ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she is finding ways to postpone the inevitable.
She is also finding ways to annoy her grouchy neighbor Sam Ford. Who is on the other side of the duplex.
Sadie being the social person she is soon get to know all the beach regulars.
When she finds a novel with a secret compartment inside with a stunning engagement ring tucked away inside. She sets out on a mission to find the owner.
Sam starts in on this hunt and slowly their connection begins to bloom.
Are these feelings a sign of love? Inspiration for her novel?
Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to save her career?

The way she writes women's fiction is just amazing. It's something we can all really relate too.
A Novel Proposal is so realistic and not to be missed.
The lead characters are wonderful. And their journey toward each other is believable and sweet.
This is a great romance/women's fiction novel that checks all the boxes and brings the reader everything they could want in a wonderfully written story.
Another great book from one of my favorite authors.
Denise Hunter writes the most charming, unputdownable contemporary romance novels.
ANP was one where I sat down to read it and didn't move for hours after.

I already can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

Rating: I freaking loved it! Everything about it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Expected Pub Date 3|21|2023

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

Thomas Nelson,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A Novel Proposal was such a cute romance book, and a little free library featured heavily in the beachside romance.

A fun and entertaining read about novellist Sadie Goodwin, who is forced to stop writing westerns and pen a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales. The problem is, she’s never been in love.

Holed up in he friends beach house with a stack of romance books for research, Sadie is soon using any excuse to procrastinate. Sadie soon gets to know all the regular beach goers, and her grumpy neighbour Sam.

When Sadie starts a tiny library and discovers a book with a hidden compartment housing an engagement ring, she sets out to find the owner, with Sam's help. Can she find the ring's owner and write a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter. A charming romance and how to book in one. Sadie and Sam's relationship is played out with chapters of Romance 101. A little free library is featured and has a large part in the story. Of course, there is Rio who adds his own special touch to the story. An entertaining and heartwarming read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This cozy romance is delightful. The characters are likable and come alive on the pages. There are several themes going on at once…the main character is writing a novel…she meets a new man…she is looking for the former owner of a book she has that contains some personal items…she is attending a wedding with the man…meeting his family…she deals with her dysfunctional parents…her dog is a member of the family…her dear friend in NYC…new friends…love…teaching…moving…the main character is quirky and enchanting…curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy this novel. The author has written a cannot put down romance. The book was sent to me by Netgalley electronically for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. I really liked this story.