⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for a copy of this new release in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book solely because of the title, the cover was a bonus. When it came up on Hoopla I figured why not, I need to get my Netgalley percentage up. I’m really glad I dived in because this was a good audiobook!

The narrators did well, especially the male narrator. I loved the side characters so much. The concept of this book was a lot of fun, and totally unique. It follows two main characters who are essentially marine biologists and study sharks. 🦈 I haven’t heard of or read a book with that kind of idea in it.

The romance was fun between the two, it was a second chance. They dated in the past, broke up, didn’t talk, and now are forced to be around one another. Once they got past the initial irritation, they really did communicate really well. That’s been occurring more in the books I’ve been reading, and I am so here for it.

I hope this becomes a series because I already have an idea of who the next couple could be and I am so here for it!

This was a good second chance stem romance. I don’t read too many second chance romances but the characters won me over with their charming nerdy selves. Hope and Adrian are just meant to be and it’s very entertaining to see how they navigate back to each other.

Second Tide’s the Charm is a light-hearted women’s fiction/romance with marine biology (STEM) content.

Hope lands a perfect summer job on a shark research boat. Unknown to her, the boat belongs to her ex-boyfriend, Adrian. This job will rejuvenate Hope’s career, so she figures she can deal with the uncomfortable situation. Adrian has stayed on track with his career and has even launched a successful and educational YouTube channel about sharks. Even though the attraction is still strong, they are committed to the job and strive to work together.

For readers who enjoy women in science content…and especially marine biology and sharks…this is an interesting read! In fact, I found the shark content to be a compelling part of the story.

Fun tropes include slow-burn romance, second-chance romance, and close proximity. We know in romance there will be a HEA (happily ever after) but getting there is full of twists and turns and ultimately satisfying. The initial breakup seemed realistic to me and I appreciate that the author didn’t rely on cheating or secret keeping or miscommunication and focused on the fallout from “this won’t work” fears. Because the drifting apart was one-sided, better communication (as opposed to no communication) definitely could have helped. Adrian was left in the dark which didn’t seem fair.

One topic the author addresses well is “having it all”…. career + romance with possible long distance complications. Can two scientists committed to their work also find romance? Can two people be in a relationship and give the other person space and freedom to follow his/her dreams? The couple works out these issues in healthy ways.

Throw this one in your beach bag! I’m recommending Second Tide’s the Charm for readers who appreciate women’s fiction featuring smart and career driven women who strive to have it all. Fans of marine biology (sharks) will enjoy the story especially. I also think you’ll appreciate the diverse representation. Limited profanity and closed-door romance (some passionate kissing). I will definitely read more from this new-to-me author.

Thanks #HarlequinTradePublishing @CanaryStreet @BookClubbish for a complimentary e ARC of #SecondTidesTheCharm upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I loved the sharky aspect of this book! It was such a cute second chance romance and I loved the “third act breakup” which wasn’t a third act breakup. I thought it was well written and the shark expeditions made it so much more interesting! I also loved all the side characters and hope to see their books!

I’m an animal lover with a biology degree who loves romances, so this one checked off a few boxes for me.

Hope is a marine biologist who has a chance to work with sharks again. The problem is that she would work on a team with her ex-boyfriend, Adrian.

She takes the chance because she wants to research sharks again. What she isn’t aware of is that Adrian became a popular influencer for his shark videos during their time apart. Oh, and Adrian didn’t know that Hope was joining the team.

This is a cute and entertaining second-chance romance. Hope and Adrian go back and forth about whether they shouldn’t reignite their old romance like a boat tossed about the waves. But it makes for some great tension. Secondary characters, especially Marissa and Gabe, the other shark team members are fun and interesting, which helps to make the story well-balanced.

One of my favorite parts was all the shark encounters and shark facts. It’s not something you usually get in a rom-com.


Thank you @Htpbooks and @harpercollins for this gifted ebook via NetGalley.

Adult | Romance

This story was a cute little thing about two marine biologists. I was feeling the story and honestly wish it focused more on that aspect because the romance was truly in the back burner for me. I enjoyed how mature the two main characters were despite me wanting to smush them together. I enjoyed the slow burn aspects and the reasoning behind this second chance romance.

a second chance romance with all the puns. I am a sucker for both. I will say I don't enjoy reading books that take place near where I live cause I am a bit more nit picky. That being said there were scenes where I was like *eyeroll* okay, but overall the book was a fun read and quick read.

I adore books where people refind each other because it totally relates to my own life and it just makes me so giddy. This was one where they end up working together and rekindling the fire. This was more different where "fate" kind of put them together as our fmc knows what she is signing up for by accepting this job. She could have absolutely found a job elsewhere but she was totally chill with working with her ex. Prepare for nerd facts and LOTS of puns.

If you're looking for a second chance romance Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg might be the perfect catch. The story explores the lives of two marine biologists who are passionate about sharks and the ocean, bringing a fresh twist to the romance genre with a profession you don’t see every day. The southern coastal setting adds a breezy vibe and provides the ideal backdrop for the characters navigating both the challenges of their work responsibilities and their rekindled feelings. The author does a great job describing lots of sensory details. I felt like I was at the beach!

One of the standouts in this book is the witty banter between the hero and heroine. Their back-and-forth is fun and engaging, and the secondary characters are supportive, well-developed, and add depth to the story. Plus, the social media component gives it a modern feel, especially with one of the characters having a substantial online audience—it's a nice touch that adds relevance to their lives and careers.

However, I have to admit that the book was a bit of a slow start for me. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, which made it difficult to connect deeply with the characters. I also found myself struggling to fully understand their romantic conflict—it didn't always feel as strong or clear as I wanted it to be.

That said, the second chance romance really carries the plot and kept me turning the pages. The unique setting, profession, and of course, the happy ending made it worth the read. If you’re into slow-burn second chance romance with a dash of marine biology, this one’s worth checking out!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

[ DNF @ 70% ] I really tried to finish this book given its short-ish page length but couldn't. I didn't particularly like Hope from the beginning. I did like Adrian for the most part. However, it was hard to root for these two to get back together again after six years of a seemingly perfect relationship.

I had thought the story would get better and the plot more interesting as time went on. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. Instead, I found myself struggling to pick up the book. As days became weeks and then became months, I decided to discontinue reading out of lack of interest.

I liked that the main characters are marine biologists, their enthusiasm to share their knowledge with others, and their passion for advocating for sharks.

In short, I had high hopes for this story as a second chance romance - one of my favorite tropes - but it ended up being a DNF for me.

Thanks again Canary Street Press, HTP Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

When I saw this on the Modern Mrs. Darcy summer reading list, I snatched it up. I figured she would have excellent taste in rom com. But this was a big miss for me. This book is the epitome of the overuse of metaphor. It was just one metaphor after another. Plus the characters were not appealing to me, I felt no connection to them, and in fact was annoyed by them. And perhaps this was a fault of it being an advanced digital copy, but the writing felt choppy at times. My hope is that it was missing some section breaks. Overall, a very fun concept that was a flop for me.

Thanks to Canary Street Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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)