One summer could expose years of family secrets . . . or leave them with a happily ever after they never saw coming. One of Southern Living’s “25 Beach Reads Perfect for Summer” When her grandmother goes missing from the family beach house, Maddy and her estranged sisters converge in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma in the home where their family broke … family broke apart is a struggle Maddy is not in the mood to face, especially since she’s recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s betrayal.
As the sisters wait for word of their grandmother, they begin to pack up the family belongings–and unpack memories of the idyllic summers of their childhood. But with those memories come long-buried secrets, and Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven. Meanwhile, Gram’s neighbor, Connor Sullivan, seems overly interested in Gram’s whereabouts. Maddy is drawn in by his quick smile and steady gaze in spite of herself.
Undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the family under again, maybe for good this time. As tensions rise, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become–and Maddy must decide if falling in love again is worth the potential heartbreak.
This inspirational contemporary read is a standalone novel.
Book length: approximately 85,000 words. Includes group discussion questions.
Praise for Summer by the Tides:
“A perfect blend of romance and women’s fiction.” –SHERRYL WOODS, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“I have never read a romance by Denise Hunter that didn’t sweep me away into a happily ever after. Treat yourself!” –Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Who I Am With You
“Denise Hunter once again proves she’s the queen of romantic drama. Summer by the Tides is both a perfect beach romance and a dramatic story of second chances as sisters unravel secrets that have torn them apart for years. This novel is Hunter at the top of her game. If you like Robyn Carr, you’ll love Denise Hunter. I couldn’t put it down!” –Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Lavender Tides series
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Hunter writes with a deep understanding of complex family dynamics in Summer by the Tides. A perfect blend of romance and women’s fiction.
Denise Hunter once again proves she’s the queen of romantic drama. Summer by the Tides is both a perfect beach romance and a dramatic story of second chances as sisters unravel secrets that have torn them apart for years. This novel is Hunter at the top of her game. If you like Robyn Carr, you’ll love Denise Hunter. I couldn’t put it down!
I have never read a romance by Denise Hunter that didn’t sweep me away into a happily ever after. Treat yourself!
A sweet, clean contemporary romance, author Denise Hunter takes us to Sea Haven, where secrets abound. This book deals with some tough issues; infidelity, marriage problems, law breaking, and trust issues. That’s a lot for one family, but it happens in real life. Life isn’t all rainbows and lollipops so why should Christian novels have to be that way all the time? Hunter deals with things tactfully and honestly.
The characters are well developed and true to life. I appreciated that God is a part of this book, causing things to come to light and then bringing healing. And the fact that we see it’s okay to love “less than perfect” people is a good thing to have in this story.
I felt as if I was at Sea Haven. I could hear the gulls and smell the water. The settings were very descriptive. I think the only thing that kept me from five stars is that it wrapped up really fast. All in all a good book and I recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
“It’s not the how, Maddy. It’s the Who.”
Denise Hunter has an amazing ability to grab hold of your heart and imagination no matter what topic or setting she writes about. This newest release has three sisters converging on their grandmother’s seaside cottage in North Carolina while they search for their grandmother who has gone MIA, and all three are broken, hurting, and insecure. There is plenty of backstory to the tension that suffocates the sisters and, though this is not a suspense novel, the pieces of the backstory that slowly come together via flashbacks had me turning the pages with anticipation. The dialogue is fun and lively, the characters are deeply layered and multi-faceted and so lovable, and the writing is easy to read. If you are a fan of contemporary romance, you will love this book.
Maddy, our heroine who has been hurt by her ex-boyfriend, is jobless, direction-less, and hopeless as she tries to figure out what happened to her grandmother. She’s fun, creative, and motivated but wary of strangers and doesn’t trust easily. She’s also the peacemaker within the sisters and the strained relationship of her older two sisters makes things even worse as they all worry about their grandmother. Connor, the swoon-worthy neighbor next door, has also seen his share of pain and hurt and chooses to bury himself in work and helping those around him. He’s the one who calls the sisters together when he realizes that his elderly neighbor is missing and he and Maddy get off on the wrong foot from the beginning. But as they spend more time together, Connor’s overwhelming charm, honesty, loyalty, compassion, and steadfastness help Maddy re-evaluate her first impression. The encouraging theme of granting and accepting forgiveness as well as overcoming fear with love is prominent in the story.
Don’t miss this awesome summer read! I am hoping for a Hallmark movie from this book….
I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson and via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Well done story of sisters and family secrets. Very satisfying.
Finished this book yesterday. A great story! I am still thinking about the characters today.
Summer by the Tides is the must read book of the summer! I have always been a fan of Denise Hunter’s ability to draw you in to the lives of her compelling characters and this novel was no exception. Three sisters return to Sea Haven, North Carolina when a neighbor of their grandmothers reaches out to them because their grandmother is missing. Putting their own turbulent lives on hold, the sisters come together for the first time in a long time because of past hurts and broken relationships. Readers get a front row seat to past and present family secrets being revealed, reconciliation, forgiveness, dealing with heartbreak, and the prospect of bright futures for these sisters. Oh and in true Denise Hunter fashion, readers will enjoy just the right amount of romance.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Loved it! this a Story is about 3 sisters who rush to SC to find their missing grandmother, and also find love , truth, and forgiveness and much more!
I loved it. A great summer read. And also based on a town that is about 30 miles from my hometown.
Authentic, engaging and easy to read – Summer by the Tides pulls you in like the ocean’s tide and doesn’t let you go until you turn the last page. The history of the estranged sisters, the hidden secrets and a sweet romance completely engrossed me into the story. Readers, like me, will shift through the pain, guilt and brokenness of these character, in hopes that they find peace, reconciliation and love. I also enjoyed how the romance stemmed from instant friction into something endearing and swoony (Connor ). Overall, an excellent read and a perfect selection for your day at the beach. Highly recommended!
I enjoyed this a lot. The characters are believable, ordinary people facing life’s challenges just like the rest of us. There is tension and strong emotion, but not constant angst. The mood is hopeful and light, with a comfortable, clean romantic note–just what I like in a summer read.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley. I offer my honest opinion in response.
Denise Hunter’s new book takes us right to a beach house at the NC coast. It has a little bit of everything – three sisters trying to move past a hurtful past and family secrets, a good looking neighbor, a little romance, a hurricane and a lot of beautiful descriptions of the beach. It’s the perfect book to read during a hot summer day while you are wishing you are at the beach.
Maddie, the youngest of the three sisters gets a phone call from her grandmother’s neighbor on what was already the worst day of her life. She had lost her job and her boyfriend all in the same day and now she finds out that her grandmother is missing. When she rushes to her grandmother’s seaside cottage, she meets Connor, the handyman who helped her grandmother. He tells her that he had also called her other two sisters and she immediately knows that there will be trouble since the sisters are estranged and haven’t talked to each other for years. While Maddie is thrilled to see her sisters and get their help finding their grandmother, she quickly tires of being in the middle of the nasty comments that Emma and Nora continue to make to each other. The continued resentment over what happened at the beach house years earlier threatens to end any relationship that the sisters have. As they are going through boxes in the attic, they are continually reminded of the carefree summer days that they’d all spent together in the past. Will they be able to get past their resentment and learn how to be sister’s again? Will Maddy’s fear of love and happily ever after keep her from developing a relationship with Connor? The answers are all in the well written and fun read.
I enjoy reading books about sisters because I have two sisters. I had a bit of trouble understanding the betrayal of one sister to another and was hoping that they would find common ground. My favorite character was Maddie – she had lost so much and I wanted her to find happiness in her life.
This is a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.
I can always count on Denise Hunter to provide me with a great easy-to-read book that is not only entertaining but usually holds a few life lessons as well. Summer is all of that and more.
Grandma is missing and her neighbor calls all three of the Monroe sisters to her home in Sea Haven, North Carolina. The problem is that the two oldest sisters have not spoken to each other in years due to something that took place in their past and younger Maddie is not too sure she wants to be the mediator. Reeling from a major betrayal that cost her boyfriend and her job, Maddie doesn’t trust men and neighbor Connor falls into that category. Nevertheless, after learning where their grandmother is, the three sisters agree to stay until she decides to come home and help make much needed repairs on her home.
Summer by the Tides was a wonderful tale that delved deeply into what made each character tick behind the carefully controlled public faces. It was encouraging to observe how the sisters got to know each other again and slowly begin to let down their defenses and allow the others to see the pain behind their smiles. The relationship between Maddie and Connor was also fun to watch develop. Hunter skillfully blends just the right amount of faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation into the narrative to make Summer by the Tides the perfect beach read.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Summer by the tides
Bringing a broken family back together. Grams takes off without telling anyone. Her granddaughters are called. It has been awhile since they had been together. They have a lot of making up to do.
Connor who is Grams neighbor has an attraction to Maddy. She has a lot to work out with a recent break up.
All the sisters has a lot to work out. A lot of family history to work through. They start going through things at Grams and a lot of memories come. They find out a lot of family secrets. Read and see what they are.
I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
I LOVE Denise Hunter!!!!! Let’s get that out of the way. Once again she didn’t disappoint except for the fact this is a stand alone so no following the other characters to other books.
A story line that flowed well. Check. Characters that captured you, had you invested, worrying, wondering, cheering and chastising. Check. A plot that held you to the end. Check. This book was so good it was really hard to put down.
The relationships of siblings was brilliantly handled. I loved the little glimpses of the past, it really helped to understand the present. I loved that reconciliation and forgiveness are not rushed but worked through and recognized as a process and journey.
You will love the characters of Maddy, Nora and Emma along with their grandmother as well as Connor and his sisters (even if they were mostly minor).
Shhhh…..want to know a secret? I love the magic Denise Hunter weaves when she attacks family relationships with depth. This is a family who keeps secrets and holds grudges until the day of reckoning and what may have been believed just may have been a lie. The tension in this book is palatable and the betrayals that are revealed are shocking, as in I didn’t see that one coming. I could easily identify with Maddy as I tend to be a peacekeeper also and it is a stressful place to be. The author captures it perfectly. Throw in the romance and the faith elements and you have the makings of a top notch contemporary romance. I can just visualize Gram and her plotting to throw the sisters together. I loved when everyone talked and were real and honest. My favorite quote is, “Our mistakes don’t define us—thank God. If they did we’d all be up the creek.” This should be your top beach read this summer.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/CelebrateLit. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Summer by the Tides is the perfect novel to read on a lazy weekend afternoon. It’s fun and engaging, the characters are seriously endearing, and the themes are timely. It’s just an all-around good novel!
Fear is such an ugly thing. It robs people of so much good — good Gods wants us to experience. Maddy, the heroine of Summer by the Tides, has a lot of fear. All of her fear is 100% reasonable, but it really holds her back from true love and loyal relationships. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but ask myself why do we allow fear to stay in our hearts? I know logically that the enemy uses my fears to get me off track and to mess up my walk with God. But I also know that God tells me through His Word time and time again to “fear not.” Isaiah 43:1 is my go-to verse when I’m feeling really fearful in the moment: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” Isn’t this Truth so fantastic?! But even knowing this, sometimes fear still gets the best of me. There is a moment in the novel when Maddy ponders fear, secrets, and healing. She states, “Maybe it was painful when people unburdened their secrets. But transparency was necessary for honest relationships, for real intimacy.” Maddy’s point reminded me that to get rid of fear, I have to be 100% transparent with God first and foremost. When I go to God with my issues, my heart accepts and believes that I truly am God’s and the fear I may have been storing up in my heart diminishes. When I am right with God, the fear diminishes from my earthly relationships too. Trust is stronger, intimacy is better, and love is deeper. I enjoyed watching as Maddy realizes this fact, and I really appreciated the reminder for myself. Summer by the Tides is well worth the read for this reminder alone!
Summer by the Tides is a great story that I highly recommend. I enjoyed my time with the characters, and I’m quite sad this story is over for me. If you are looking for an entertaining, sweet romance that honestly deals with some of life’s issues, then this is definitely the book for you!
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was such a good book and a fast read since it was so enjoyable! The characters were well portrayed and fun to get to know. Three sisters come together for a common cause. Summoned by a next door neighbor, Connor, who explains their grandmother is missing. They arrive almost simultaneously and the bickering begins. Each sister has a secret she’s hiding from the others. There are some misconceptions by Maddy and a total surprise revealed by Nora. Knowing their grandmother wants to clean out her beach house, have repairs made and sell it, they begin working together. Throw in a hurricane, good looking neighbor, secrets galore and you have a fun read to kick back and devour for some summer beach time entertainment! Oh, and what about the grandmother, hmmm??
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
With its North Carolina beach setting, Summer by the Tides couldn’t be more perfect for an entertaining summer read, but it is so much more! Denise Hunter excels at writing contemporary romances with complexity and depth. Summer by the Tides is a perfect blend of atmospheric setting, relationship drama, romance, and inspiration. While I’ve greatly enjoyed all of Hunter’s books, this is definitely a favorite.
The story opens as three sisters – Nora, Emma and Maddy – converge on their grandmother’s coastal cottage due to the fact that she has apparently gone missing, quite possibly by design. Family relationships are at the heart of this story as Nora and Emma deal with unresolved anger and unforgiveness toward the other, with Maddy attempting to be a peacemaker. And then there’s the oh-so-appealing neighbor, Connor, with whom Maddy immediately gets off on the wrong foot. I was drawn to each of these characters instantly, and the chemistry between Maddy and Connor sizzles.
Hunter’s writing is smooth and even, with the pacing just right. Flashbacks to a summer 20 years earlier when everything fell apart shed light on current-day feelings. As in life, characters erect walls and keep secrets, hiding painful realities. This story reminds us that true peace only comes through openness and honesty.
Best of all is the transformation and growth of several characters, both emotional and spiritual. I love that Hunter doesn’t shy away from faith elements, rather making them a natural part of our daily walk. And there’s a realism in the way that reconciliation is shown as a slow, gradual process.
I don’t know if this is the beginning of a series or not, but I’m certainly eager for more of these characters. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.