Summer by the Tides
Written by Denise Hunter
Narrated by Nan Kelley
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
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. A summer of low tides could expose years of family secrets. . .
One of Southern Living's “25 Beach Reads Perfect for Summer” and Woman's World's “Best New Books”
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 apart is a struggle Maddy is not in the mood to face, especially since she's recovering from her ex-boyfriend's recent 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.
- Stand-alone novel by a bestselling author
- Engaging mix of mystery, drama, and romance
- Go-to beach or pool read for summer vacation
Praise for Summer by the Tides:
"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
"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
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.
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Reviews for Summer by the Tides
55 ratings12 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was very lucky and so excited to win a signed copy of "Summer by the Tides" by Denise Hunter in a giveaway sponsored by Writerspace: Communities for Readers and Writers. No review was requested or promised but I'm very happy to share my joy in reading this book.A grandmother's neighbor has called 3 sisters worried that his elderly friend is missing. The women put their own angst aside to hurriedly arrive at the grandmother's home. Maddy and Nora are the first to arrive at the beach cottage in Sea Haven, North Carolina. But Maddy knows that when Emma arrives there will be more tension in the cottage than only a missing grandmother.A story of relationships from grandmother/granddaughter, wife/husband, boyfriend/girlfriend, parent/child, siblings, neighbors, to employer/employee to name just a few. There are family secrets, wishes to protect others from hurt, and betrayals and it seems as though wishes for reconciliation and forgiveness may simply not be possible. "Bear in mind," Emma said as they walked through the house, "granting forgiveness doesn't mean granting trust. One is given, and the other is earned." There are many people that go through life expecting all to earn their trust first before any type of relationship can begin. But for some, everyone met is freely given trust as part of their opening welcome and first hello. Regardless of what group the reader is in it is a simple fact that when the human heart is hurt regardless of the relationship, the hurt is real and deep. It is often difficult to move beyond the hurt and forgive. For all who can easily put a name to a person in their life they have yet to forgive the message within Emma's words is particularly significant.I enjoy many novels of women's fiction but I'm rarely captivated to the degree I found myself engrossed in this story. Or, sometimes I'm interested in one character but with this author's writing I felt invested in the lives of all of the characters and anxious to learn what each one's future would hold. The best way to express the experience is to share that I look forward to reading more of this author's writing.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When their grandmother goes missing, the three sisters of the story converge on her home (and their summer home). But there are unmistakable tensions between the three - and over the course of the novel the story of betrayal comes out. While there is romance, the bigger story is how the three open up to each other, forgive each other, and make a start at having a more authentic relationship with each other.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summer 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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/54.5 stars.
Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter is a heartfelt novel of family secrets, forgiveness and love.
Maddy Monroe is a low point when she learns her beloved grandmother has gone missing. Rushing to Sea Haven, she is joined by her older sisters, Nora and Emma. Their grandmother's beach house holds a plethora of childhood memories but unfortunately, not all of them are pleasant. Twenty years earlier, their last family gathering at the beach house holds nothing but heartbreaking memories that still reverberate today. Emma and Nora have long been estranged and none of the sisters have much of relationship with their mother. The cataclysmic events have left Maddy with serious trust issues when it comes to men. And her latest relationship does nothing but reinforce her beliefs that her mistrust is well-founded. All of which leaves Maddy extremely skeptical of her grandmother's neighbor Connor Murphy. Will she change her opinion of the charming widower once she gets to know him? Or will Maddy's fears prevent her from giving their unexpected romance a chance?
Maddy's concerns about her grandmother are quickly laid to rest. However, instead of the sisters returning to their regular lives, they decide to stay and take care of some chores around the beach house. Maddy is tired of being in the middle of her sisters who have been unable to heal the rift between them. So when Connor asks her to temporarily fill in at his restaurant, she jumps at the chance to escape the simmering tension. Before long, Maddy realizes she has completely misjudged Connor. But does this mean she will agree to see where their unexpected attraction will lead?
Connor is no stranger to tragedy and until he meets Maddy, he has had not had any interest in dating. Unlike Maddy, he is willing to risk his heart once he realizes how much she is beginning to mean to him. Connor is patient and understanding once he learns why she is so leery of becoming involved with him. When Maddy continues to have doubts, will Connor give her up without a fight?
Unbeknownst to Maddy, both Nora and Emma are dealing with problems in their personal lives. Neither is forthcoming about recent developments back home nor are they willing to set aside their animosity over a long ago betrayal. When their grandmother returns home, she finally decides to set the record straight about the truth about their beloved family memories. What, if any, impact will this have on Maddy and her budding romance with Connor?
With a gentle undercurrent of faith, Summer by the Tides is a poignant yet uplifting novel of family and love. Each of the characters is well-developed with true to life strengths and shortcomings. The conflict between Nora and Emma is realistic and fraught with the pain of regret and betrayal. Maddy's kneejerk reaction to protect herself from heartbreak is easy to understand but can she overcome the fears of a lifetime in order to find happiness? Denise Hunter brings the characters and their fears and hurt brilliantly to life as they each try to heal from their emotional wounds. I truly enjoyed and highly recommend this captivating novel to readers of contemporary Christian fiction. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Denise 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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Take a trip to the beach with Denise Hunter’s newest release, Summer by the Tides. A coastal beach town, sisterly relationships in need of mending, and of course, sweet, sweet romance… This book has the makings of a delightful beach read, not to be skipped this summer.Reeling from a betrayal that hurt both romantically and professionally, Maddie Monroe heads to Sea Haven, North Carolina when she hears (from the handsome neighbor, naturally) that her grandmother is missing. Little did she know, this trip is exactly what she needs.Sea Haven offers the perfect venue for sorting through issues, like Maddie’s distrust of men, and mending long-fractured familial relationships. It’s heartwarming to see the drama play out—secrets uncovered, truths acknowledged—as Maddie reconnects with her sisters and gets to know Connor Sullivan pretty well, too, in the process.If you’re in need of a solid contemporary romance this summer—no matter where you’re reading—I highly recommend Summer by the Tides.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I liked the setting of the story and found the quaint place in Sea Haven, North Carolina very inviting. The author describes the area so well, you could feel the sand on your feet as you walked along the beach. It was a great place at Gram's cottage in the summertime. Those memories are special to Maddy and soon she will find herself back at Gram's place when she receives an upsetting phone call. I really liked the clever way Gram was able to get all three sisters to come back to their summer hangout. Maddy, Nora and Emma each descend on the place frantic about their grandmother. A phone call from her neighbor has them worried that Gram has disappeared. Will they be able to mend their relationship between them? Can each sister learn to trust again and lean on each other?Conner was a welcome addition to the story as Gram's next door neighbor. He always watched out for her and knew something was wrong when he hadn't seen her in a few days. Maddy didn't trust Conner as soon as she met him. She thought he had something to do with Gram's disappearance and didn't trust him at all. I thought she judged him very quickly and didn't care for her attitude towards him. She has come there with a preconceived notion that Conner is not a nice person. The story starts to take shape as we learn that the family hasn't really been close in a long time. Nora and Emma haven't talked to each other in awhile and having them there together at the cottage is going to be explosive. There are lots of secrets that have been hidden in Maddy's family that has caused hurt so deep that it has divided the family. It is easy to hold a grudge for some people but what I have realized is life is too short. All the years we walk around refusing to forgive the person who hurt us, takes precious time away that you can never get back. It was like a domino effect as secrets starting coming out and soon the sisters learn that growing up their mother had protected them from a secret to keep the family together. It was easy for each sister to blame their mother but they never knew what a precious gift she gave them to protect their feelings all these years. There is a lot of repairing to do in the family and the most important lesson they will learn is about forgiveness and trust. There is a romance blooming in the story that didn't surprise me at all. What I liked was how two people who had been hurt by relationships slowly let the wall they had around themselves fall away. The sisters luck with men are not going well and I think that helped them at least try to communicate with each other. All three are struggling with a relationship and it will take a miracle for these sisters to reconnect. There was something that Conner said to Maddy that I really liked. He said," When I can't trust others and I can't trust myself, I can always trust God." It was a perfect way for Conner to share his faith with Maddy and let her know God was there waiting for her to turn to Him for guidance. Overall good story about a broken family that must leave their pride behind, learn to trust again and find happiness.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Books about summer, settings that include a body of water , an author you know will not disappoint – all reasons that I chose to add this to my summer reading list. Not surprised at all that it checked off each box and earned it’s spot. I enjoyed the storyline of the three sisters who all hold juicy secrets that come bubbling to the surface and discovering how they would resolve the issues at hand.Summer by The Tides will tug at your heartstrings from the moment the three sisters arrive at their grandmother’s Seahaven cottage to find her missing. Those dynamics continue until the end when generational family secrets are exposed. Each sister has her own problems hiding behind closed doors, but it doesn’t take long for them to come barreling out. The angst between two of the sisters is one I have not yet read in a book, so it was interesting to see how the riff was tackled. “Drawing a line in the sand” brought about many meanings in different chapters. Coastal, boating and ocean themes were brilliantly sprinkled throughout. My coastal loving heart couldn’t have been more smitten with every line I read with a metaphor in it.And then there is Grams – oh Grams. She doesn’t come on the scene until the last few chapters, but boy does she make a statement. She is in her eighties, spunky and says just what she is thinking. One of her lines is “But things aren’t always as they seem.” and that one line sums up the book!Love is too big a risk or is it? That is the question that is pondered throughout. Before I even opened the book to read it, I knew it would be a winner. Denise Hunter always has a way of pulling me into her stories. Summer by The Tides is no different.Grab Summer By The Tides and toss it in your beach or pool bag. It has a great story and touches on family dynamics and everything that comes along with it. Enjoy this coastal read!NOTE: I received an e-copy of this book for review via NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I was sent this book to review. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.It is no secret that I love Denise Hunter and I will read everything she puts out. I was very excited when I knew I was getting an ARC of her new title, Summer by the Tides. Did I like it? Yes! Was it my favorite from her? Unfortunately, no.This is a romance, but so much more. It is a story around love, second chances, and family. There are triggers for A LOT of infidelity. I really enjoyed seeing Conner get a second chance at love. I also liked seeing the family coming back together after so many years. The one thing I was really shocked with was how much the story skipped so many details. I just wanted more details or a more in depth look into certain topics. I feel there were so many missed opportunities to bring this story to a different emotional level. Some aspects were just thrown in without much back story. I wanted to know more about Conner and his past and his previous loss. The story around forgiveness just ends and I wanted to see more development around the healing between the sisters and the sisters and their mother.I loved the scenes with the Grandmother and the sisters. There was so much going in within their stories, but again I wanted more out of this storyline as well. I did not feel that all of the infidelity brought anything powerful or impactful to the story. I was just underwhelmed when everything came out with the Grandmother, Mother, and sisters. Overall, I know it may sound like I did not enjoy this, but I did. I just expected a little more from one of my favorite authors.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Summer by the Tides” by Denise Hunter, May 2019Denise Hunter, Author of “Summer by the Tides” has written an entertaining, and emotional family drama. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Family Drama. The story takes place in Sea Haven, North Carolina. The timeline of the story takes place in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.Maddy Monroe gets a phone call that her Grandmother is missing from her home in Sea Haven, by a neighbor Connor Murphy. Maddy has just had a betrayal from her boyfriend and loses the job that she loved as well. To make matters worse, Maddy finds out that Connor called both of her estranged sisters.Maddy is no stranger to betrayal. Her family has also had issues with betrayal and secrets that are the cause for Maddy’s distrust of men. When both sisters see each other, there is terrible tension and animosity. Maddy hates being the one in the middle. The most important task at hand is to find where their Grandmother is.Connor has been a wonderful friend and neighbor to their grandmother and continues to offer his help. Maddy finds herself drawn to Connor, but dreads that it will only be another disappointment in her life.I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friends, love, and hope. I would recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy dramatic suspense.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"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.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I asked to read and review this book through Netgalley.com and Thomas Nelson publishing. I liked the book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. I give it 4 and not 5 stars because the storyline is not very different and that the characters were fairly well developed but not great. The characters were believable though, which helped. The editing was pretty good but it's hard to tell with an advanced reader copy how it will end up.I have not read books by Denise Hunter before but I will probably read more. The storyline was a typical boy-next-door romance and that part was pretty average. The family dynamics was a bit unique and kept my interest. This is a Christian book and you could see the faith of the main character, Maddy, growing throughout the story. The story was not a heavy read and I read the book in a fairly short amount of time. It would be a good book for a vacation or a day at the beach or such.