Bookshop by the Sea

Denise Hunter

Apr 2021 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

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 bestselling 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
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter is a sweet Christian romance. It contains Denise Hunter’s conversational writing style which draws the reader into the book. The book has realistic characters. I like that the characters were not perfect. It gave them a chance to learn from their mistakes and grow. I just love Pippa, Sophie’s dog. She was such a sweetie. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Piper’s Cove. It sounded like a quaint town where I want to live. The residents are just great. This is a special community where people help each other in time of need. They are a welcoming bunch. Sophie had a vision for the bookshop that was special. I could relate to her love of books. My favorite phrase from Bookshop by the Sea came from Sophie when she said, “I love how books can transport you to another place.” For those who love Christian romances, you will thoroughly enjoy this charming tale. While it is a lovely story, it is predictable and there are repetitive details. I like how the Christian elements were woven into the book. There are good life lessons learned by our characters. We see that we are never too old to learn from our mistakes and change our ways. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the book. Bookshop By the Sea is a story about healing, forgiveness, realizing dreams, and second chances.

“Aiden tossed his head back, laughing with abandon. He looked much the same, just a little less boy and a little more man. His shoulders were broader, and he sported a five o’clock shadow. “ Aiden and Sophie were high school sweethearts whose relationship did not end well. They both have baggage and issues which they carry with them. They meet again at Sophie’s sister Jenna’s wedding in Bookshop by the Sea. Through a hurricane, family issues,and the opening of a bookshop we discover the story of Sophie and Aiden’s second chance at a future together. “His arms went around her, drawing her closer until his heart beat against hers. “ Denise Hunter is an expert storyteller, and the master of romance. Bookshop by the Sea does not disappoint. She creates excellent romantic tension with Sophie and Aiden’s story. It was a pleasure to watch both characters learn to grow deeper in their faith, their own self-awareness, and mature into people we respect and love by the end of the book I really enjoyed Bookshop by the Sea, and recommend it. This book was given to me by the publisher and I was not required to write a positive review.

What a sweet romance with praiseworthy characters who are flawed but working on getting better, especially with each other. Sophie put her life and dreams on hold when her mom got ill and her father walked out on the family. She became her mother’s caregiver and a surrogate mother for her twin brother and younger sister. Her mom has died and now she wants to build her dream, her own bookstore in Piper Cove. Aidan was the love of her life when she was in high school, but when he left her behind for a business opportunity on the same day that her dad walked out, she “put on her big girl pants” and muscled through the heartache. Jenna, her little sister, gets married and Aidan is at the wedding, causing Sophie heartache but again she plans to get through it. The story of how the two sacrifice for each other and have more than a few misunderstandings and miscommunications is such a wonderful tale that it was hard to put down. The plot was well paced and intelligently written, with compassion for the humanity of the characters shining through. All of the characters were likable and well portrayed with realistic details. Fans of romance in a beautiful setting will enjoy this book and the fact that it is a clean read is an extra bonus! Themes of relationships with family and the help of friends are front and center and a welcome addition to this lovely story. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I checked out a copy of this book from my local library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than forty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and three beautiful grandchildren. Follow Denise at DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; X: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.