I found this book to hs so many aapects. It had some mystery, friendship, as well as romance. When I started reading it, I immediately took to it and had high hopes, however is went up and down for me. I did enjoy the book overall and will read more by this author in the future.

Beautifully written and atmospheric. i enjoyed the story of Noah and Jenna, and hope to learn more about them in a future installment.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a perfect mix of heartbreak, friendship, romance and intrigue. The characters were well developed and realistic. The story was attention grabbing right from the start. Thanks #NetGalley

Shell Beach by Davis Bunn was a great read. Even though it was technically a romantic thriller, the mood and tone were totally different. There were tense scenes and the bad guys were interesting and CREEPY. The quiet tone with the thoughtful main characters really made the novel feel warm and drew you in.

The main characters, Noah and Jenna, had so many obstacles. Their backstories and how they came to be in Miramar Bay really allowed you to get to know them and to feel close to them. I loved the other characters and how they were not a shy team working together. I like how Jenna felt safe with Noah even when she was angry with him.

I think one of the most interesting elements was that of the boat they were rebuilding. Since both had such an affinity for the ocean and the boat that was so badly damaged, it almost became a character within the story.

The novel didn’t end quite the way I thought it would, it was a happy ending. There was just a twist to it that made it much more interesting. Shell Beach by Davis Bunn was a warm and inviting read.

I have not read any of the other books in the Miramar Bay series, but this book can easily be read as a standalone.

Jenna is an end-of-life nurse and one of her clients insists that Jenna takes him out on his yacht. She starts to really like being on the ocean and she gradually learns how to sail the yacht. And then, of course, her client dies and everything changes.

Noah is a guy who has lost everything. He has lost his business and his wife....and it seems like he has lost his way.

Somehow, these two people's paths cross and what happens between them is pretty special.

It is a slow burn of a novel, and there is an undeniable thread of danger running through the whole story. This is not some kind of "boy meets girl" book (although there IS a bit of that). It is more about shining a light on what is important to you, as a person, and getting up again after you have been knocked down multiple times.

Loved the friends that Noah had around him, really loved those characters.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

What a contrast between this & the previous book I was reading to review. Both included couples, at the beginning of a relationship, but whereas the former was all about feelings (& acting on them!) this book has taken its time, with the pair gradually learning about each other & the things which will matter – for a lifetime. There is such a depth here, there really is no comparison between the two. What a pity we probably only learn the importance of these matters when we are long past the time we needed to know them! It could have made such a difference to our choices – or maybe the choice was right but we didn’t have the maturity to make it last. I guess so much of this is only learned through experience, & when we are young we can think we already know it all – would we have listened, had anyone been prepared to enlighten us? Here the commitment is made, before anything physical : in the other book I mentioned, the physical began long before any hint of (possible) commitment. It seemed to be about an entirely different 4-letter word... (And no – I didn’t post a review on that other book as it was heading way past my comfort level – so don’t go looking for it & misjudging the wrong author!)

This is a great addition to the Miramar Bay series. It is a well written romance with just enough suspense to hold your attention. I really enjoyed this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Great!

I’ve only read a couple of books by this author before this one, but will definitely look for more. This is a clean story, no outright Christian references but you get the feeling between the lines. I like that style since I’m not much of a faith-based person (nothing wrong with it, just not me).

There is mystery, family ties and a growing romance in this book. Jenna has a job most people couldn’t do, being an end of life caregiver for strangers. Noah has been through a lot recently, a business partner’s dishonesty and a bad divorce, so he is eager to take on an all-consuming project. Enter the boat. A boat Jenna was promised by her last patient, a boat that was nearly destroyed by a violent assault, and a boat now under auction by the police.

After Noah wins the boat, Jenna is pulled by unexplained forces to work with Noah, and their attraction begins. There is danger, surprise and family support all throughout, leading to a wonderful ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book , but my opinions are my own.

This latest book by Davis Bunn is book #8 in this series. I have not read the other books before this one and I don’t know if it’s because of that, I just did not “get” this book at all. I tried, I really did and I just got lost with all the characters … etc. I was bored at only 30% so I did not finish. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. To be published April 2023.

Noah must rebuild his life. After losing his business and his marriage … he decides he wants to rebuild a boat. Jenna has a calling as an end-of-life nurse. She is devoted to her patients for however long they are in her care. When her most recent charge dies, his family descends to take over his fortune. He leaves her a yacht, but it is destroyed with no insurance. Noah buys it with the intent to return it to its former glory. As these two begin to rebuild their lives and the boat, they discover new truths about themselves and each other.

Shell Beach is the eighth book in the Miramar Bay series. Although all the books take place in the same region, they do not need to be read in publication order to fully enjoy the stories. This book could easily be devoured as a stand-alone story and there is action, mystery, and a little romance included. This is not a very long novel and can certainly be finished over a weekend or while relaxing after work.

When I started this book I didn’t know that it was part of a lovely series called Miramar Bay. When I realized that it was a series I immediately searched for the series on Amazon. Downloaded! 👍
From the first page it was clear to me that author Davis Bunn had the no-nonsense yet extremely eloquent writing style that felt intriguing and satisfying all at the same time.
He easily describes characters, articulates connections between characters and is thorough with back stories. All in a quick and comprehensive way.
But the storyline is in no way a basic predictable storyline. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a lot more depth to the story right from the start than I assumed there would be, particularly based on the title and titles of the other books in the series. There is more than meets the eye.
I can’t wait to read the others in the series!

Thankyou to Author Davis Bunn, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!
Charlene 🌸📚🤗 @lastnownext

Shell Beach is the first book I’ve read by Davis Bunn. It reminded me somewhat of a Nicholas Sparks book as it centers around a romance. The location was beautiful and the characters were all the kind of people you’d want as family and friends. It’s the story of Noah Hearst and Jenna Greaves. They come from two totally different backgrounds and are both suffering from things that happened to them in their pasts. This is a story that teaches you that you should leave your past in the rearview mirror and look forward to your future. You must learn to follow your dreams because anything is possible especially if you have some really good friends and a possible love interest by your side. This couple did have some help from the dearly departed but it also added a little danger to the storyline. It was nice to see that good versus evil won out in the end. I’d like to thank Kensington Books for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more of this authors work in the future. I’m rating this at 4 stars.

A fresh start that turns to love. Jenna is an end of life care nurse who has inherited a boat from her last patient. Noah is trying to start over and he's restoring it. But there are bad guys out there and this turns to a bit of romantic suspense. As always, Bunn makes good use of his small beach town setting and creates characters you'll root for. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Loved it. Sorry that I haven't read the previous ones in this series. Something I want to do now. This definitely works as a standalone. I enjoyed Davis Bunn's writing so that I want more. A definite page turner. Sometimes it is action and other times it is a heart-warming or heart-wretching moment. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Jenna and Noah. Jenna is an end of life nurse. Noah has moved to be near his half brother and bought a boat to restore. The boat was owned by Jenna’s last patient. Noah calls Jenna to ask some questions about the boat. She goes to see the boat and help repair it. They have some difficult decisions but work them out and fall in love.

Another installment of the Miramar Bay series. Noah, newly divorced and Jenna, an end of life nurse meet in an unlikely circumstance. Will restoring an old boat and the secrets it hold bring than together? Enjoyed the setting of the story but found the story just okay.

Shell Beach by Davis Bunn: A sweet read. Full of compelling characters and hope for the future. I quite enjoyed it. Noah is rebuilding a boat and his life. Jenna is an end of life care giver who just lost her patient and friend after eighteen months of care. Together, they try to find a way forward. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I've always enjoyed Davis Bunn books and so looked forward to this one. An end-of-life care nurse and a top notch ex-set designer meet when a basically destroyed luxury yacht is purchased at a police auction. Both have issues they have to work through while navigating the ups and downs of a possible relationship while also restoring the yacht. There are times the story felt like reading a John Grisham novel (which I have enjoyed read) then there are times it felt a little slow and odd. Although part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Shell Beach
by Davis Bunn
Pub Date: April 25, 2023
Kensington
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Set in the breathtaking coastal California town of Miramar Bay, this uplifting new novel from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn celebrates the challenges and triumphs of new beginnings, faith in the future, and the power of dreams that just won’t let go. For fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury.
Miramar Bay#8
I had not read the previous books in the series, but it works as a standalone novel. I just never felt an emotional attachment to the characters. The thread involving organized crime was not suspenseful. This book did not hit the spot for me. I can only give it a mild endorsement.
3 stars

Jenna Greaves is a nurse who gets into end-stage care when her half sister finds her and asks for her help. This begins a new career for Jenna, as well as a promise to try to fulfill her sister's wish of sailing around the world. Eight years later, a very rich patient leaves Jenna his yacht, but someone destroys it. It gets taken into police custody and is up for auction, barely worth the parts of it that remain.

After losing his Hollywood set design business and finally divorcing his wife, Noah Hurst has packed his few belongings in his truck and is off to visit his brother Amos, the sheriff of a county that includes Miramar Bay. When Amos tells him about the boat up for auction, Noah can see all the possibilities. What follows is life-long friendships and new family formed by a common interest and hard work.

I really enjoyed returning to this fictional world, especially getting to see Ryan, Ethan and sweet young Liam some more. I read this quickly and easily, intrigued by what would become of the yacht as well as the element of danger. But I felt like the book stopped before the story was quite over. I wish we had a glimpse a little farther down the road to see how the new plans and new romance were working out. Aside from its abrupt ending, this was a heartfelt, entertaining read that I can easily recommend.