Hope and Adrian split up years ago when life began to take them in different directions. Hope had family responsibilities paired with no real direction for her career while Adrian was ambitious and didn’t seem to support her need to help her best friend. Years later, Hope is finally offered a shark research position that caters beautifully to her schooling, but the catch is that it is with Adrian’s research boat. She takes the job not knowing Adrian is now a successful and popular YouTube star that highlights shark rescues and research. Uncomfortable with being in the spotlight, but still with plenty of sparks flying between them, Hope and Adrian have many obstacles to overcome on their way back to each other.

This was a sweet and flirty fun read. I thought there was very good communication between the main characters which I loved. I found it to be a little too back and forth towards the end. Really liked Adrian’s character. He seemed to have genuine pining for Hope and came across as apologetic for his lack of understanding towards Hope when their previous relationship ended.

Hope was too wishy washy and aimless for me. Couldn’t make a decision on anything. I didn’t connect with her at all and didn’t think she had much chemistry with Adrian. Overall, I felt like there was a lack of real love between the two so the book fell a little flat for me.

Tropes- second chance romance, closed door, forced proximity, STEM romance

This was a fun dual POV, second chance summer romance between two shark scientists reunited after three years apart. When Hope's friend fires her she's left floundering and in need of a new career direction. Having left her love of shark research and her long time boyfriend, Adrian, to move back home and help her friend, she now has to face both and confront the feelings that have never died.

Lighthearted and full of shark content, this was a wholesome, feel-good read from an author who I really enjoy. Learning more about shark research on a boat was my favorite part! Different and quick-paced, I sped through this and definitely recommend for a fun summer read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

I’m not typically a fan of second chance romances, but I thought this one sounded interesting so I gave it a try. It started out as an ok read, but really dragged on making me quickly lose my interest.

As a huge fan of Shark Week and shark science in general, when a friend mentioned this book to me I jumped to read it. Two shark scientists with a helping of second chance romance? Sign me up! I really enjoyed the way these two worked through their formerly dissolved relationship, even if it was more obvious to everyone around them that neither of them had actually moved on in their lives. Together they found a way to work through the issues that had caused them to drift apart. The meddling (good naturedly) friends were great secondary characters and all the scenes out on the boat with the sharks reminded me of watching fun documentaries every summer and learning more about my favorite marine life. The way that both of the main characters grew throughout the story and found a better equilibrium was exactly what they needed. A very enjoyable summer book that I loved reading out by the water.

This was a good read. Second chance romance with the typical tropes like forced proximity. But I had a hard time rooting for this couple. The sexual tension wasn’t really there despite it being said over and over again. I think maybe more and show don’t say would have really helped. I just feel like two grown adults with no outside influences keeping them apart but themselves isn’t really my kind of thing. On the fun side I got to learn a lot about sharks. I do enjoy when books let me teach me new things! . This was an adult relationship with no outside forces keeping them apart-just their own personal issues.

This was exactly what I wanted for a second chance romance about marine biologists who research sharks. Hope and Adrian have both been doing their own thing for three years, and now Hope’s determination to return to shark research has them colliding back together in the best way possible.

I don’t read a ton of second chance romance, usually because it feels like their reasons for breaking up originally are still valid and their outlooks on life haven’t changed. However, for Hope and Adrian, they both hid a part of themselves that didn’t allow them to truly open up to the other person fully before, and it’s nice to see them recognize that and return to what is something special for them. While it is certainly more on Hope’s part, overcoming the fear they both have was a great journey to follow. Sometimes you just need a push in the right direction, and that’s certainly what happened thanks to Marissa and Zuri.

As someone who loves making science more accessible for the masses, I love how the idea of science communication is handled. YouTube and other outlets have become such key parts in STEM outreach, and it’s wonderful to see how beautifully it’s done here. It’s the kind of thing I wish had been around when I was a kid, and it gives me hope that programs and channels like this will continue to grow for the next generations.

Second Tides the Charm-a standalone

By Chandra Blumberg-new to me author

Publication 8-6-24, Read 8-6-24

Format: e-book 350 pgs.

Setting: Michigan

Genre: AA Interests, Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic

Tropes: 2nd chance romance, forced proximity, workplace romance, slow burn, off page sex, STEM, dual POVs, 1st person POV

FMC- Hope Evans-Marine biologist working for her BFF helping tourists with paddleboarding, kayaking, etc. She gets an opportunity to work on a new project researching sharks, but she will have to work on a boat with ex-boyfriend Adrian.

MMC- Adrian Hollis- Youtuber who shares his love of sharks and other marine life. He has moved on, but now three years later he still misses Adrian.

🤔My Thoughts

This was a light romance that I couldn't connect with the couple because the sexual tension was lacking. As a nature lover I appreciated all the shark facts Hope threw out at random times. This was an adult relationship with no outside forces keeping them apart-just their own personal issues.

Overall Rating
3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing |Canary Street Press for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was not a favourite of mine. While the shark facts were interesting and kept me reading. The romance was a bit lack luster and I found the book slogged along a bit.

2.5 stars rounded up to a 3

Happy release day! Thank you to the Canary Street Press (HarperCollins) team for providing this NetGalley copy in exchange for an honest review.

In the end, I came for the sharks and the Black marine biologists...and I stayed for the sharks and the Black marine biologists! This was a cute, quick read, with occasional moments of depth, that got me thinking about love and compromise. I appreciate the second chance romance trope when it's done this thoughtfully. Midway through I was wondering how the couple would ever reconcile what initially broke them up when the issues were so big (lifestyle and values are pretty important for choosing a life partner of course). And so my favorite part of this novel were the genuine conversations that the couple had about balancing their dreams with love. It was really refreshing to see! Additionally, I appreciated the amount go research the author clearly put into this novel. It was fun learning about sharks, shark research, and the life of the marine biologist as an avid ocean lover myself.

This was a cozy little second chance romance with shark researcher MCs. I enjoyed the passion the author has for sharks shining through in this book and that she put in the effort researching shark research (yeah ok that’s a mouthful) to make sure it was as accurate as she could make it. The fact that Hope and Adrian didn’t have a breakup filled with loathing for each other helped make the story work. They had some communication issues to work through, but it was believable.
I felt like a lot of the internal dialogue was repetitive, when more time could have been spent on page showing them working together and/or having meaningful conversations. They still had good conversations that addressed their prior and current issues. It was pretty sappy and a bit hallmarky, but that’s kinda the vibe I was expecting from the blurb and cover. Overall, good book.

Spice: 0/5

Triggers: mentions of spouse death in car accident (side character), brief perilous scuba diving equipment malfunction, tropical storm, mentions of car accident (not involving MCs)

Title: Second Tide's the Charm
Author: Chandra Blumberg
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Love puts you in uncharted waters.

At first glance, Hope Evans just landed the perfect job: spending the summer on a shark research boat. Except as every marine biologist knows, it’s what’s going on beneath the surface that counts, and Hope’s new position comes with a big catch—the boat belongs to her ex-boyfriend, Adrian Hollis-Parker. For three years Hope’s been treading water, staying away from anything that reminds her of their past. It’s time to dive back into a job that could springboard her career—and maybe offer much-needed closure.

Since their split, Adrian has risen to internet fame as a shark expert with the launch of his YouTube channel to dispel myths and educate viewers about sharks. But success rings hollow without Hope. Embracing this new career trajectory was a risk, but working in cramped quarters with the woman he never stopped loving? That has the potential to backfire in heartbreaking ways.

Side by side, weathering storms of every kind, they’ll have to navigate the murky waters of past hurts…and hope it’s not too late to chart a new course…

This was a cute read! I enjoyed the scientific setting—and the ocean views—and found the shark details fascinating. I loved both Hope and Adrian, and the author did a great job showing their struggles, both alone and together. It was fun to watch them work things out, and I liked their chemistry.

Chandra Blumberg lives in Chicago. Second Tide’s the Charm is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Canary Street Press in exchange for an honest review.)

A second chance romance with shark week vibes, this STEM rom-com from Blumberg fits late summer perfectly. Hope is a marine biologist who has been working in her Michigan hometown after a career setback, but she is ready to jump back in to her true passion of shark research. When she gets a summer job doing just that, it sounds perfect, except the part where it means working with her ex-boyfriend Adrian. Hope has spent the last three years steering clear of him and anything that reminds her of him. Still, this is an opportunity she can’t pass up. There is a little more than just research going on though. There is conservation awareness too! Adrian found internet fame after a video of him saving a shark on the beach went viral. He seized the opportunity and started a YouTube channel to educate internet users about sharks. Hope and Adrian test the waters of their working relationship, but is there more lingering just below the surface?

With tidbits of marine biology and plenty of humor sprinkled throughout, this forced proximity and closed-door romance is a fun read that will appeal to a variety of readers. The added layer of navigating social media for personal and professional use makes this even more relevant and timely.

Second Tide’s the Charm is an utterly perfect second chance romance between two marine biologists who are scared of the future, and the unknowns. I utterly love Hope, I’m pretty sure she’ll stay a favorite of mine for a long time, she is so relatable, smart, and just charming. Her POV was hands down my favorite, she is afraid of making mistakes, but when she’s hurt or on a roll, the consequences are forgotten. Her love for the sharks was so cute, and makes her so human, but also you can see why she loves them, and how it makes her who she is in so many ways. Her love taught her to go for what she wants, to make mistakes but that it’s okay, and to continue to try to keep the things she loves in her life.

Hope and Adrian are the ones who got away, the one they’d question their entire life if they made the right decision walking away, and it’s so clear how much they love each other every time they interact. Their love for each other runs deep, but so do their fears, and figuring it out if it’s worth it, is the basis for this story. Marissa, Gabe, and Zuri are amazing side characters who give out the best advice, and where the best lines come from!

This book might have been a relationship between Adrian and Hope, but it was both a second chance for Hope’s love for him and for the sharks. If you can’t tell how much I love this book (and Hope), I’ll say it a million times, but definitely go check out this book!

Cute and on the Clean side of the Second chance romances. This was a cute story and I appreciate the marine biology science added in being a science nerd. This story holds its own with the closed door romance and in the end was worth the read. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the book.

Second Tide’s the Charm was a delightful romantic comedy with a STEM twist. Hope and Adrian had previously dated for five years before splitting due to career and personal reasons. They’re reunited when Hope takes the opportunity to work with a YouTube channel that gives education about sharks, a channel that happens to be run by her ex, Adrian.

I enjoyed how these characters had common interests and passions, while also pursuing them in different ways. Hope is more comfortable with uncertainty while Adrian is not. And for the longest time, Hope prioritizes her career over romantic love, but Adrian starts to change her perspective on this.

I found the book very character focused, so it was a good thing that I found the characters relatable and wanted to root for them. The plot and the pacing however was a little more meandering especially towards the end. I found that the characters’ development helps balance that aspect out in terms of my enjoyment, though. Overall I like how this book added some much needed diversity to the emerging trend of “STEMinist” romance novels.

An entertaining and funny second chance rom-com featuring a STEM heroine and the fascinating world of marine biology.
Well plotted, entertaining. I rooted for the characters and had fun.
Recommended,
Many thanks to Canary Street Press for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Tropes: Second Chance Romance, Workplace Romance, Black Love, Forced Proximity, Closed Door Romance, STEM Romance, Cinnamon Roll Hero, Slow Burn

Adrian & Hope are given a second chance at romance. Two marine biologists with a little complicated past are thrown together to work on shark study broadcast for social media. To Hope, her dreams for her career are coming true spending her summer on a boat researching sharks... but that boat is owned by her ex boyfriend. For three years, Hope has been avoiding any and everything that reminds her of their past. But once she steps foot on the boat she's forced to relive those memories and moments right with the person she once shared them with all the while she may get the closure she needs.
Mr. Boat owner seems to be flourishing in his career since he launched his YouTube channel so this is Hope's chance to take a leap in her career. Hope goes from her temporary job to working with her ex researching sharks instead of taunting little kids about sharks being in the water.

This author can do no wrong. And she’s a Chicago based author? Yes please. While second chance romances aren’t my fave trope , the author did a fantastic job with this book. Plus the cover? Is so pretty. We love celebrating black stories and black authors, so three cheers for this romance book. I can’t wait to see more from
This author

"Love is simple. Relationships aren't."

Y'alllll I loved this book SO SO SO DAMN MUCH! It was so romantic, made me literally laugh out loud many times (one of my updates was "romcoms are so back baby!), and had me swooning left and right.

Also: shark researchers. This really was the nerdy contemporary romance of my dreams.

Hope and Adrian had parted ways three years ago. There wasn't really an end so much as there was a slow but sure dissolution. The lack of closure has bothered both of them, with an abundance of hurt feelings between them. When Hope gets fired from her "its temporary" (three years ago) job, she ends back working with Adrian bringing shark education to the masses via his very popular YouTube channel. Along the way they realise their feelings for one another are very real and very present.

Watching their love story unfold was an utter delight. The writing is beautiful. The characters are grown ass adults who talk about their shit, own up to their mistakes and misunderstandings, and support each other endlessly. I loved the little ways Adrian showed he cared (e.g by not having Hope report to him). I loved watching them titrate together as they went in and out of orbiting each other. I loved how they shared what they were feeling even, especially, when it felt scary AF.

I love that their happy ending didn't require a compromise of either of their hope and dreams OR of them being physically together. More happy long-distance rep please and thank you!!!!

I also loved the side characters who were fully fleshed out (though I wanted a bit more from Zuri) and integral to the story. I hope we get follow-up stories for Zuri and Marissa (her and Gabe perhaps? Am I reading into things too much?). I loved being in this world and hope I get to go back.

Thank you to HTP and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A cute story of second chances. Hope and Adrian’s relationship sort of drifted apart without any real closure and after 3 years of no contact they finally come face to face when Adrian’s cousin hires Hope as an assistant on Adrian’s Shark Research boat.

What I liked about this story besides the FMC and MMC being POC but they were super smart. Both well versed and skilled in Marine Biology and STEM research was a breath of fresh air.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and this book represents that phrase well because Hope never got over Adrian and over the last 3 years Adrian was still holding out hope for another chance to see Hope again.

Just like any couple of the cusp of reconciliation and reconnecting their journey was not without some challenges and hard decisions to make but when life gives you an opportunity for a do over you owe it to yourself to take a chance and enjoy the journey.