I love Denise Hunter's book and I was excited about this new one from her, and I was not disappointed. This is such a good story of forgiveness and healing. Honestly, there was a bit of an aura of mystery as well so it really kept me reading as I was not sure what all each character knew of the situation, specifically Connor. Gram seems like a feisty, yet sweet woman, and she has done so much for the girls throughout the years and that is continuing with her trying to get her granddaughters to mend their relationships with each other. Maddy, Emma, and Nora are all so different from each other, but all so similar. Each of the three are so different, but yet so alike as well. I felt like it was so easy to connect with and relate to these characters as family relationships are trying, more so at stages in life than others, and yet they are family so there is always some kind of thread or bond, of varying degrees of weakness and strength. I loved the setting of the story and learning more about managing restaurants and a marina. This town just came to life in the pages as did the characters. This is another winner from Denise Hunter for sure.

Summer By the Tides is a beach read about Maddy Monroe. Maddy has just lost her job as a restaurant manager when she caught her boyfriend cheating with her boss. Then Maddy finds out her beloved Gram has gone missing, so she hurries to her Gram's beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina to look for her. She is soon joined by her older sisters, Emma and Nora, who don't get along. Over the summer they work on the house together, sort through family history, and Maddie finds a surprising new romance.

I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. It looked like a perfect beach read and it absolutely was! Denise Hunter does a great job at capturing coastal North Carolina and beach life. I enjoyed settings like Sullivan's Landing, the little seafood restaurant where Maddie works over summer, and the marina where Connor works. I found details like hurricane preparations at the marina fascinating.

I really liked Maddie. She is in such a conflicted place at the beginning of the book, but she really comes into her own when she is reunited with her sisters and when she meets Connor. Connor is a perfect book boyfriend! He is sweet and sad (a young widower), and their relationship moves slowly with a few little stops and starts.

This is also a lovely book about family and forgiveness and choosing to move forward instead of staying mired in the past. I also liked Maddie's sister Emma (and her cute little beagle Pippy) and her delightful Gram. Nora (her oldest sister) was a complex character, but I appreciated her by the end of the novel.

I recommend Summer By the Tides as a beach read or a good read for a leisurely weekend. Fans of southern fiction and women's fiction will especially enjoy this book.

I 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.

Whenever a Denise Hunter book hits the shelves, I have to get my hot little hands on it. It’s during these times I wish I can feed my children cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner until I reach The End. And while all her stories are unputdownable. (I’m not above creating my own words LOL) her latest release Summer by the Tides has something uniquely special about it.

This story immediately drawn me in with the initial interactions with Maddy, and from the first pages I was rooting for her success. It was amazing how immediately I bonded to her, wanting her to move past the hurt and embrace life.

Another factor I want to point out is this romance had an element of women’s fiction in dealing with the relationships of the three sisters. Each sister harbored layers of hurt and secrets, and I found myself immersed in their situations, trying to figure out the truth behind their troubled interactions. I love how the author delicately addresses sensitive topics such as betrayal and family pain.

And of course there is a need to mention the hero! Connor is an amazing character that is sensitive to Maddy’s need for space to process and breathe. His honest nature makes her cautious heart suspicious on different occasions, but he’s consistently transparent and it’s fabulous.

One thing I absolutely loved was the setting- the beach! I could almost hear the waves lapping against the shore, almost taste the sea-tinged air. The author did such a brilliant job of painting the scenes using an oceanic backdrop.

*I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Books 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.

Maddy had been convinced of several truths in her life. This summer, they would be put to the test. And the truth would indeed set her free.

True to Denise Hunter's signature style, Summer by the Tides takes Maddy on a journey of self-discovery as she and her sisters join together to find out where their Gram had gone. Each one seems to be hiding something...

The source of the drama between the sisters was alluded to in bits and pieces via flashbacks sprinkled throughout the story. While I quickly figured out part of the problem, a big revelation came near the end which surprised me, one that threw quite a wrench into the works and caused the sisters to realize the lies they had believed for so long.

"The truth will set you free" could be considered the theme of the book as the women discover their secrets have only served to imprison them.

I loved Maddy and Conner together. As Maddy was torn between wanting to trust him and the pains of her past, which held her back from doing just that, the tension was just right. I particularly enjoyed the scene when they were sitting outside, drawing lines in the sand with their toes. His strategy to the game of tic-tac-toe she started was incredibly sweet!

Lovers of both Christian Romance and women's fiction will enjoy this poignant story.

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.

Summer by the Tides was written by Denise Hunter, and is a modern-day fictional novel. The book follows the story of three estranged sisters, and how they cope when a potential tragedy is staring them in the face.
Summary: Maddy, Nora, and Emma barely speak any more. Too much pain from the past, combined with an unwillingness to forgive, has fractured the family into pieces.
But when each sister gets a call that their beloved Grandmother has gone missing, they are forced to join forces (albeit reluctantly), and come up with a search and rescue plan.
Can the sisters work through the pain of the past and the present? And what has happened to their Grandmother?
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a perfect summer-time read, pick this one up-it’s worth it. It might not look like it from my summary, but this book is actually quite the romantic read as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story line as it wove through the sisters’ past, their present, and some new beginnings for each of them.
The book is well-written, the characters are interesting and believable, and the storyline is wonderful.
I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to pick it up. I don’t often say a book is buy-worthy, but this one definitely falls into that category.
I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Summer by the Tides was a wonderful story full of forgiveness, second chances, new beginnings, love, faith and family. I read this one in one day, taking every spare moment to see what was going to happen next. All three of the Monroe sisters end up at their grandmother's beach house at the same time. Her neighbour Connor, called them all when their grandmother had not been seen for three days and none of her friends knew where she might be. They all had different reasons for running to the beach house, but the family has always done a good job of keeping secrets from one another. What the reader knows is that Maddy lost her boyfriend, her promotion and her job all in one instant and came to the beach to lick her wounds. What we find out about her sisters and parents comes out over the story in a well-paced and interesting way.

I enjoyed the dynamics of this family, as dysfunctional as it was in the beginning. There had been a betrayal in the past and forgiveness had never been given. Maddy was the buffer between Emma and Nora and when she left them to their own devices, they began to heal, slowly and painfully. Maddy is afraid to trust a man and when she and Connor begin to have feelings for one another, she tries to pull back, but it is so hard. As Connor quietly and unobtrusively speaks to her about her faith, love and trust of God, she begins to pray and gradually turns things over to him. Connor has his own baggage that he has to deal with as well. When their grandmother returns home, more secrets come to light as Maddy and her sisters discover that all was not as it seemed that last summer in Sea Haven. As well, they all have secrets in their present day lives that they finally share with each other. Can they forgive one another, as well as those who are no longer with them in order to move forward in the new lives that God has planned for them? This is not a story that solved all the problems quickly and easily, but one where everyone has to give a little, share a little, forgive a lot and remember to trust God. It all comes together well and the conclusion worked for me. I will definitely look for more books by Denise Hunter. I recommend this one to those who enjoy Christian Fiction, Second Chance Stories, Family Relationship stories and Sweet Romances.

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).

In Denise Hunter's Summer by the Tides, this heart-warming inspirational contemporary romance will have you believe in God and in second chances to fall in love. When Maddy Monroe receives a call from Connor Sullivan about her grandmother's strange disappearance, she returned to Seahaven to help look for her. She was also reunited with her two sisters, Nora and Emma, who had been estranged for many years. As they helped put her grandmother's house together, they look for clues about her grandmother and old hurtful memories resurface that summer. For Connor, he's a widower and a restaurant and marina owner, who has his eyes set only for Maddy, and also a handy man. During that summer, Maddy learns the truth about what happened that summer that split her family apart, and what's happening now with her sister Emma's pregnancy and Nora's strange behavior. During a hurricane, things come to ahead when her sister goes missing and Connor gets hurt in the process. For Maddy, she had been hurt and betrayed from a man she had thought she loved and lost the promotion she wanted. After the calm of the storm, things were alright with Maddy and her sisters when they were set for a fresh start for new beginnings.

This is late I know but I was saving this book for last. Man I loved this story!!
You sure could feel the tension between the sisters which I kind of thought was dumb because it all happened some years ago.
Denise is a wonderful storyteller and I do love her books. I love the way she slowly draws her reader in and before you know it the book is done!!
I really enjoyed being at the beach and sailing with the characters and I loved going down memory lane with the sisters. I thought the memory lane part was kind of fun.
I thought it was rather dirty what Grandma did but everyone does things in desperate situations I guess you'd call it that. Scaring everyone half to death!! I was even holding my breath about that one!
I admired Maddy because in a way, she reminds me of my father in law who was always trying to keep the peace in the family. Maddy is my girl. She's sensitive, smart and good at what she does.
Nora is the sly one. I didn't really care for her much. I didn't like her attitude when the story first began.
Emma and her pooch. I loved her pooch. I could picture in my mind what the little dog looked like and I even wanted to reach out and pet her!! ( The dog of course).
Everyone has their ups and downs and these pair of sisters certainly have those!! Even Conner and we sure can't forget him! I mean, I couldn't have done all of that myself and in the end I think he finally realized he couldn't either
Fear is the biggest factor in our lives. Satan loves to make us fear! He also likes to make us do mean things to other people. He wants to control us. but, only if we let it,. God can prevail and help us in our times of trouble if we only turn to HIm.
I think this is my favorite book by Denise Hunter and I've read a few.
The cover certainly is inviting!! I probably wouldn't have any luck with the hammock. I'd be picking myself up off the ground until I got the hang of it or something!!
I wish that I could give this book 5 stars or more though. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. No compensations were received and all opinions are my own!!!

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter is the latest novel by a favorite author of mine.

This story of familial redemption is set in a quaint seaside town. When Maddy Monroe is betrayed by her boyfriend, loses her job, and then gets a call that her grandmother has gone missing, her life is upside-down. She rushes out to her grandmother’s home and is surprised to find her elder sisters there too. Despite their great differences and tension, the sisters decide to stay and search for their grandmother. Will they be able to reconcile their differences and become a family once again?

This was somewhat of a different sort of novel for Hunter, with more of a focus on family and reconciliation and forgiveness and less on romance, yet it was still a sweet and moving story. The themes of love and prejudice, forgiveness and family are strong and inspiring throughout the novel. I would recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Secrets can harm family relationships and Hunter portrays that in this novel. Sisters maintain successful images, forsaking the deep sibling friendships possible. Parents and grandparents maintained secrets too, much to the harm of their children. We see forgiveness as essential to family harmony but so hard in being given.

The theme of forgiveness is the strong point in this novel. Flashbacks help us understand the deep seated tension between the sisters. I do wish the characters had been developed a bit more. I would have liked more conversation between the offended sisters, grappling with the huge elephant in the room in relation to their faith. Restoration comes through self sacrifice during a serious event rather than working through the hurtful issues.

There is a good romance between two hurt and flawed people. The obstacles to their relationship are mostly self inflicted. I did feel the storm was a bit convenient to the plot and there sure were lots of unfaithful men.

This is a good novel of strained family relationships and the necessity of forgiveness. The importance of Christian faith is present even though it could have been more essential to the plot.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This was an enjoyable romance and a quick read. I didn't realize it was a Hallmark movie but I can imagine it completely. It was a quick read and made for a nice afternoon escape. The plot was a little thin but the characters were well-drawn, and I would read more books by this author.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing novel! The characters are well-drawn and truly pull at your heart strings. I couldn't put the book down till I reached the final chapter. Highly recommended.

This was an enjoyable summer beach read by Denise Hunter. It has a little bit of everything - strained family relations, romance and a setting at the beach. This is an easy-going light beach read, perfect for summer. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is THE beachiest beach novel I've read! From the cover to the setting details to the summer storm, I can't think of a more perfect book to read while lounging poolside or in the sand.

There's just the right mix of romance and the slow revelation of family secrets. (It reminded me a lot of Catherine West's The Things We Knew.)

I thought the author did a good job at developing the heroine (and her sisters). Resistance to falling in love for fear of being hurt is an overused conflict in my opinion, but Denise Hunter really builds a solid back story that made that fear real and reasonable in Maddy's case.

Denise has penned a nearly perfect summer beach read in Summer By The Tides. A great blend of of romance and humor with a dash of mystery kept me intrigued by the book throughout. This story would make a GREAT Hallmark movie! A great summer read!

I received this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.