BOOK SUMMARY 

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.

Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.

As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven—nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.

As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

ABOUT DENISE (from her website)

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 30 books, including “The Convenient Groom” and “A December Bride” which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are currently enjoying an empty nest.

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

First of all, this is a clean, Christian romance. There is nothing inappropriate in this book. While adult situations are mentioned, all situations are handled without being offensive in any way. And while this is a Christian book, it is not preachy in any way. Instead, the Christian faith of the characters is woven skillfully into the overall fabric of the story.

When I began this book, I have to admit that I was concerned about the pacing. While I am a connoisseur of sweet and clean romance books, I get concerned if I feel that the pacing is too fast or too slow. Because of this, I admit that I didn’t devour the first third of the book. I was wondering if the pace would improve or if I would truly become invested within the story.

However, as I continued to read (because after all, Denise is a skilled writer who captures the attention of the reader with dynamic descriptions and layered characters), I discovered that the pacing of the book was exactly right. As it slowly began to build, I understood that this was a summer romance intended to be read and relished at a leisurely pace. All too often, I am one who dives in and doesn’t savor the literary and story elements that authors the caliber of Denise utilize so efficiently. This is a book that is not intended to be read in a hurry. Plan on savoring every word, every detail, and ever portion of the romance and you are bound to agree with me that this is an expertly crafted tale of romance that is perfect for those summer nights of vacation or even at the beach.

The multi-faceted tale that Denise has detailed within this book is perfect in every way. I adored every single character. And just about the time I was lulled into complacency, she threw in a curve ball just to keep us guessing how each part of the story may end. While this is a romance and the end is never in question, this journey is one that will take through the gamut of emotions. I could easily see this book being mounted into a Hallmark movie with both its light-hearted and dramatic elements. I now understand why this is the ideal summer read.

With the plethora of Christian romance authors available to the reader today, it can be an overwhleming decision to attempt to choose your next book. Let me make it simple for you. Choose this book, and you will find yourself uplifted and smiling as you savor each page. Furthermore, the characters are relatable, and there’s bound to be someone to whom you will relate on some level. I highly recommend this as the top summer read of 2019!

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