Tag: sweet romance

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The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

5 Stars

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter is hands-down the best romance I’ve read in some time. She wrote a believable, sweet romance with deep characters and a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Romance with a touch of mystery in a beachside town–what more could I ask for? Definitely put this book on your 2025 summer reading list!

Picture of the book cover of The Summer of You and Me by Denise HunterBook Summary

Ethan, Maggie’s military husband, was killed five years ago, shortly before their daughter Zoey was born. Although Maggie and Zoey live in a different town from Ethan’s family, they’ve stayed close. Ethan’s brother Josh has been great emotional support for Maggie. Ethan’s sister Erin is Maggie’s best friend. The in-laws have offered their house near the beach to Maggie for the summer while they’re on a European vacation. When they return, they will all honor Ethan by scattering his ashes together over the ocean. Maggie thinks this closure may help her open her heart to love again and provide a father-figure for Zoey. Maggie accepts the offer for her and Zoey to spend the summer surrounded by loving family by the beach, where she fell in love with her husband. 

While walking around the beachside carnival, Maggie is shocked to see a stranger who looks like her deceased husband, Ethan. She takes a photo on her phone and shows it to Josh. It sets them on a mission to find this man and figure out why he looks so much like Ethan. As they work together to uncover this mystery, Maggie begins to see Josh in a new light. He’s had a crush on her since the first time his sister brought her home as a teenager. However, the idea of them dating is complicated. She struggles with what others would think if she dated her deceased husband’s brother. Faithful, kind Josh doesn’t pressure her. Meanwhile, their investigation of this stranger goes through several twists.

My Thoughts 

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME is truly a feel good, enjoyable read that you’ll want by the beach or poolside this summer. I love how close Maggie is with her family’s husband, and how Zoey gets to spend time with that side of the family. Since Erin and her family and Josh all live in town, they spend family time with Maggie and Zoey, enjoying summer activities–swimming in the pool, backyard picnics, making sand castles, beachside carnivals, etc. The stranger’s identity will keep you guessing each time you realize you’re wrong. I liked how the story was respectful to Ethan’s memory while inspiring happiness after loss. This is a story of family, support, closure with honor, personal connection, second chances, and unexpected joy.

If I had more time, I would love to read this one again because it is so sweet and well written. The story has stuck with me. Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are so many other books out there calling my name! On to the next!

THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter is out April 22, 2025. Considering buying it here through Bookshop.org. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC of THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME. The opinions are my own.

Photo of author Denise Hunter, author of The Summer of You and MeAbout the Author

Denise Hunter isn’t new to the publishing world. She’s the bestselling author of more than 40 novels, and Hallmark has made three of them into movies. Her website states, “Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. 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.”

If You Like…

If you like THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter, check out my past blog review of JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

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Seabreeze Inn by Jan Moran

Robin’s Reviews 2024 

Looking for a sweet (clean), second-chance romance novel? SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran is a good pick.

I have high expectations for romances. I need something more than the typical romance tropes in a book. This one gave me that extra in an unexpected subplot, but because I would have liked stronger character development, I give SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran a 4-star rating.

Summary

Ivy and Shelley are sisters, headed from the east coast to California for a party their parents are throwing. While in the area, Ivy checks out the house her husband purchased using all his retirement funds just before he died. (She didn’t know about their financial trouble or the house purchase until after his death.) She put this California house up for sale, but meanwhile, she also had to sell her own home to get out of the debt he put them in.

When she arrives, she discovers the house isn’t the small cottage she imagined. It’s a mansion, designed by famed architect, Julia Morgan, who also designed Randolph Hearst’s castle in San Simone. Unfortunately, time hasn’t been friendly to the structure. Ivy needs a plan B in case it doesn’t sell or she’ll lose it anyway in a forced sale to cover taxes. Ivy and Shelley decide to make it into a Bed and Breakfast to raise the money needed to pay the taxes and keep the new business afloat. It doesn’t help that the town residents aren’t very welcoming. Ivy’s husband’s plans to tear down the house to build a resort annoyed the locals, so Ivy has to prove herself trustworthy. It gets more complicated when Bennett, her realtor and the town mayor, turns out to be a past crush.

So far it sounds like a typical romance storyline, but I like more substance. Jan Moran meets the challenge. A subplot concerns something found at the house that may have been hidden for protection during the war (no spoilers here). I love the plausible situation. Readers get a touch of history through this discovery which complicates Ivy’s tight timeline to save the house. I love when a romance crosses genres, blending historical tidbits into a contemporary story. Unfortunately, I think I loved this historical part of the story more than the romance. However, Ivy’s sister gets a romance of her own, so it’s a two-for-one in this book.

My Thoughts

I had a hard time believing the romance between Ivy and Bennett. They were on again, off again several times. By the end, they seemed too distant to be in love. And I found it hard to believe he didn’t remember her from their teen years when he supposedly had a crush on her. I mean, how often do you hear the name Ivy? Shelley’s romance with Mitch was more believable to me.

Author Jan Moran

I give Jan Moran credit for adding a good side story. I’m glad I read SEABREEZE INN. I liked it enough that I’ll be checking out more books by this author. SEABREEZE SUNSET and SEABREEZE SUMMER are the next two in the series of ten books. I’m also interested in another series by Jan Moran, the first installment called CORAL COTTAGE.

SEABREEZE INN by Jan Moran is worth the read if you like an easy-read, beachy romance.

If You Like…

If you like SEABREEZE INN, check out this past recommendation: The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

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