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Photographs from the Cove: A totally stunning, sweeping and uplifting page-turner (Sand Dollar Cove 2) 

369 pages Bookouture publisher February 15,2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mary Turner’s hopes of a happy life in beautiful Sand Dollar Cove come crashing down when her boyfriend leaves her. After her mother walked out when she was just a child, Aiden’s betrayal destroys the last shred of belief in love that Mary’s been clinging on to.

When the cove’s newest resident Steven Clarke hires her to renovate the town’s historic movie theater, Mary is scared of failing. But she dreams of bringing the fading theater back to its 1960s glamor. Plus, the more she works with the elusive Steven, the more she comes to like him and his striking good looks—against her better judgement…

As Mary’s confidence grows, her heart starts to reopen to the possibility of love. But then, hidden in the cinema’s storage room, Mary discovers a mysterious photo album containing pictures of a little girl who looks just like her. She can’t believe her eyes. How is Mary connected to this album and the cinema? And will the answers help to heal her broken heart?

Mary is willing to risk everything to learn the truth. But when she uncovers a secret that casts a shadow on her family, on Steven, and on Sand Dollar Cove, will the past haunt her forever? Or will she choose to believe in love and finally claim her happy ending?

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Sand Dollar Cove series. I do suggest you read these in order as this book starts immediately after the first one ends. I love the description of Sand Dollar Cove.

Having never been to Washington State where this takes place, I’m now ready to visit. Though it may rain a lot in the Pacific Northwest I’m ready to visit the beaches and take walks.


The book is absolutely packed full of so much going on.
Sisters Mary and Hannah and their grandmother live with their friend Bridget and her son in her boarding house. It’s a great situation for all of them.


Hannah’s boyfriend is not at all what she thought he was and she’s much better off without him. If only she wouldn’t still have to see him so often.
Mary is an interior decorator and is thrilled to be hired by the cove’s newest resident Steven Clarke to renovate the cinema and bring it back to its former glory days. It’s a huge job and the pressure is on, she’s afraid of failing. What does it mean when she finds an old album in a storage area of the old cinema and a girl looks like her?

Can Mary’s budding romance survive the secrets that are revealed about her family and town? So many secrets and feelings of betrayal, self-discovery, family bonds renewed. Such a beautiful story, I enjoyed it a lot.

Pub Date 15 Feb 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Bardsley’s delightfully sweet romance books set in the Pacific Northwest have touched the hearts of readers all over the world. She lives in Edmonds, Washington with her family and enjoys walking from her house to the beach every chance she gets.

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferBardsleyAuthor/

Find her on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755219.Jennifer_Bardsley

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbardsleyauthor/

Visit her website: https://jenniferbardsley.com

Thank you once again for stopping in today. Wishing you the best.

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A Novel Proposal-A sweet and sizzling story of a romance writer surprised by her own happily ever after.

348 pages March 21,2023 publish date Thomas Nelson publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.

Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?

However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.

A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.

She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?

Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?

MY THOUGHTS

A Novel Proposal is a Women’s fiction book that has been on my shelves for over eight months.
I was drawn to the book for the cover and the author who I have read before and enjoyed. Who wouldn’t relish the idea of being able to relax on the beach for the summer while having a changing selection of books available at your fingertips at the Little Free Library?


Not having made a splash in sales, her publisher is not impressed and will not renew her contract to write more westerns and advises Sadie to turn in a book in a genre totally unfamiliar for her in reading and writing, it is romance.

When her friend offers her half a beach house duplex for the summer for relaxing and writing she jumps at the chance. In this enemies to more she meets the tenant on the other side of the duplex, grumpy Sam. He’s had a bad breakup from his cheating girlfriend and he’s not ready to allow his heart to get attached to another woman, namely Sadie and her. adorable dog.


The descriptions of the Little Free Library and the South Carolina beach is marvelous, and I’d love to be there. Sadie, an out of towner, just there for the summer is able to meet a lot of people through her library there and it sounds like a great conversation starter.


Sadie one day finds a book that has been donated to the library with something of great importance in it. She enlists Sam’s help in trying to trace this item back to its rightful owner. After several weeks of phone calls and more they frustratingly seem no closer to finding the rightful owner than when they started. Will they find the items owner?

I thought Sadie’s character was a bit too pushy for my tastes, she barges into Sam’s house unannounced quite often. She’s just too over the top for me. I am neutral about Sam’s character; he didn’t have any redeeming qualities to make me really like him, but I didn’t dislike him either.

As Sam’s heart starts to warm to Sadie, he finds out something about her that makes him sad and hurt. Can they talk things over and come to an understanding or will this romance fade away like the sunset? I enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t one of my favorites by her.

Pub Date 21 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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. DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

I hope you’re able to enjoy a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping in today.

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 Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank by various authors-Review

About The Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

In this warm and moving anthology, a group of bestselling authors and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy.

Inspired by the title Dorothea Benton Frank planned for her next book—Reunion Beach—these close friends and colleagues channeled their creativity, admiration, and grief into stories and poems that celebrate this remarkable woman and her abiding love for the Lowcountry of her native South Carolina—a land of beauty, history, charm, and Gullah magic she so brilliantly brought to life in her acclaimed novels. 

From Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author, a sequel to Summer of ’69.

From Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author, comes a heartwarming, humorous interview from the hereafter with Pat Conroy and Dorothea Benton Frank, two beloved icons of Southern literature.

From Patti Callahan, bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Surviving Savannah, comes The Bridemaids, a story about a trip to the South Carolina beach.

From Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author, Mother and Child Reunion, a heartwarming story set under the warm South Carolina sun.

Reunion Beach also features letters, short stories, poems, and essays from:

  • Mary Norris, New York Times bestselling author and staff writer for The New Yorker
  • Cassandra King Conroy, bestselling and award-winning author of Tell Me A Story
  • Nathalie Dupree, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author
  • Marjory Wentworth, former Poet Laureate of South Carolina
  • Gervais Hagerty, author of In Polite Company
  • Jacqueline Bouvier Lee, Peter Frank, Victoria Peluso, and William Frank

Infused with Dorothea Benton Frank’s remarkable spirit, Reunion Beach is a literary homage and beautiful keepsake that keeps this dearly missed writer’s flame burning bright.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

Reunion Beach was to be the title of Dorothea Benton Frank’s next title but sadly this larger-than-life beloved author was diagnosed with a fast-acting disease that claimed her life several months later.
She had many friends in the publishing industry and made all around her feel at ease.
The authors of this book collaborated on writing this title to honor her life by writing essays,stories,poems,sharing recipes and sharing memories.
I enjoyed all of the memories, but I’d have to say Adriana Trigiani’s story of Postcards from Heaven was my favorite. It is written as if it’s from her best writing friend Pat Conroy who passed before Dorothea. In his own way he did not leave her behind as he kept in touch. He sent post cards from heaven.
Nathalie Dupree, award winning cookbook author shares recipes for foods and drink.
This is a warm and moving anthology paying tribute to New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank.

Pub Date 27 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Authors

Thank you for visiting today. I was inspired to read this today because I am on vacation this week in OBX, the Outer Banks are beautiful and it’s so peaceful. We are in Corolla,NC today. Have a beautiful day.