Bookshop by the Sea

By: Denise Hunter

Narrated by: Jessica Holtan

Sophie Lawson should be enjoying her sister’s wedding day. But nothing could have prepared her to see the best man again.

After her mother became bedridden and her father bailed on the family, Sophie found herself serving as a second mother to her twin brother, Seth, and younger sister, Jenna. Sophie supported her siblings through their college years, putting aside her own dream of opening a bookshop in Piper’s Cove - the quaint North Carolina beach town they frequented as children.

Now it’s finally time for Sophie to follow her own pursuits. Seth has a new job, and Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance.

When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart?

Praise for Bookshop by the Sea

“Sophie and Aiden had me hooked from page one, and I was holding my breath until the very end. Denise nails second-chance romance in Bookshop by the Sea. I adored this story! Five giant stars!” (Jenny Hale, USA Today best-selling author)

“Denise Hunter has never failed to pen a novel that whispers messages of hope and brings a smile to my face. Bookshop by the Sea is no different! With a warmhearted community, a small beachside town, a second-chance romance worth rooting for, and cozy bookshop vibes, this is a story you’ll want to snuggle into like a warm blanket.” (Melissa Ferguson, author of The Dating Charade)

• Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: 75,000 words

©2021 Denise Hunter (P)2021 Thomas Nelson

Nice Plot—-Horrible narration

The storyline of this book was ok with decent character development. The narration on the other hand was terrible. The narrator was monotone and often made the writing sound contrite. I hope the other books have a different narrator.

Grocery list

Like reading a list with occasional highlights. To get through the narrator’s rush, it helps to set the speed a notch slower. Unfortunately, that doesn’t eliminate her uninvolved tone.

Refreshing

Refreshing to find a book that tells a love story about a wholesome couple. Thankfully

LOVED IT

I loved everything about this book!! it was heartwarming and real. a must read!!

Great summer beach read

Nice, simple love story. Quick listen. I wasn't too sure if I liked the narrator at first but she was ok, not one of my favorites but definitely not the worst either. I had to listen at regular speed, if I sped it up at all I couldn't stand her voice, sounded way too monotone.

sweet story

overall I loved the book. the narrator was awful. very monotone. I had a hard time with her voice.

forgiveness

Talking out their problems and realizing the real reasons behind the break ups both times

Love the story and growth of the characters

Love the character development as well as the faith-based aspects of it. very well written book

Not my Favorite

This story was ok, but definitely not my favorite. The story was monotone and predictable. I did love the idea of a bookstore in a little sea town. Thinking about owning the bookshop and setting it up etc. that was fun. But there was nothing that grabbed me. Nothing that was a wow. It seemed like a plug and play romance.

The simplicity of the writing and the lack of substance in the characters. It’s something I would have read when I was 13.

This turnout not to be a favorite of mine. It was too mushy, predictable and not very creative. It was elementary. I do believe this style of writing appeals to many people. I’m just not one of them.