They say authors tend to write what they know, but the main character here is a romance author who is not doing well with sales. This could be that she has never been in love so her stories have no depth into the hearfelt love and romance that can come along with a great love. Taking time to be on the beach and fall in love for the first time will she now be able to write a story that more people will related to?

This was a great beach and escape read. I loved the chemistry between Sadie and Sam.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a fun read! A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter has everything you could want in a summer romance. The premise is that a talented, yet undersold, Western fiction author has to write a romance novel in order to keep her already spent advances. The trouble is she has never been in love. Headed from NYC to the South Carolina coast for the summer, Sadie is armed with lots romance novels and a romantic playlist for inspiration. Enter her grumpy and hunky next door neighbor and the sparks fly. I liked both of the main characters a lot. They both had plenty of baggage to work through, yet they were so great together from the beginning. Sam agrees to help Sadie find the owner of a lost ring if she will accompany him to a wedding. They grow from friends to more quickly. I like that the book is anything but predictable. Yes, it’s a romance and you know there will be a happily-ever-after, but the characters take a twisty journey to get there. Readers can relate to the obstacles that stand in their way. The mystery of the lost ring is a great story thread that came with its own twists and turns. When you add the beach setting and the many book-ish references, A Novel Proposal must be added to your Summer TBR list!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

I enjoyed reading A Novel Proposal, set on an island off the North Carolina coast. Sadie is a school teacher in NYC who’s reluctant to fall in love and replicate her parents’ unstable marriage relationship. Sadie supplements her school teaching income by writing during the summer. When her literary agent suggests she writes a romance novel proposal, instead of a western, Sadie is short on ideas. She’s hoping a summer stay in a beachfront duplex will inspire her creativity.

Sam is Sadie’s neighbor at the beach duplex where he’s temporarily staying to get some space from his family. His cousin, who works with him in the family gardening business and is like a brother, has betrayed Sam and is now engaged to Sam’s ex-girlfriend. Sam’s not happy when Sadie arrives and disrupts his peaceful beach escape.

A fun romance develops as Sam and Sadie get to know each other and work together to solve the mystery of the engagement ring found in an old book in Sadie’s free library that she set up on her back deck. I recommend A Novel Proposal to contemporary romance readers who like grumpy sunshine beach reads with an intriguing mystery and a light faith element in the story.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Sadie Goodwin is living in NYC, working as an art teacher, and writing westerns. When her publisher wants her to try writing romance novels instead, she tries to pivot by spending the summer at a beach duplex and reading and writing romance. She hadn't counted on the tenant in the other half of the duplex being handsome and brooding - and quite possibly the inspiration for her new romance novel. She also is surprised by a book in the little free library box outside the house, which is a copy of a novel with a hollowed out center containing an engagement ring. Can she find the owner of the ring and help make a happy ever after?

I wanted to read this novel because I love Denise Hunter's books. They read like the best Hallmark movies ever! I also found the beach setting of this book appealing.

This is a charming and engrossing story. Sadie is a likable protagonist and the sparks with her handsome neighbor, Sam Ford, are palpable! I loved the way they teamed up to solve the engagement ring mystery -- and got closer in the process.

There is a fun and unusual structure to this novel -- each chapter begins with an epigraph from Romance Writing 101, which points out things Sadie is learning about writing and about love.

I recommend A Novel Proposal for fans of beach reads, beach settings, and sweet romance.

I loved this whole story! I loved the Chapter Headings and how the whole story mirrored the authors story! I fell in LOVE with the good heart of Sam and the charming and happy heart of Sadie! loved their chemistry and character! I also really enjoyed the other characters and how it rounded out the story and tied up all love ends! I was left satisfied and with a smile! Enjoy!

Cute love story to read.
An author, Sadie, who writes westerns needs to learn to write romance and she’s never been in love. What does one do? Use real life as an example which Sadie does. But along the way does she find real love or will it end in heartbreak?

I have loved Denise Hunter's books for many years and this book was just as good. I loved the neighbour element as well as the bit of suspense. The way the whole mystery unfolded was reallyt interesting and I loved that it wasn't predictable. A great book, with great themes and characters. I can't wait for more from Denise Hunter.

A Novel Proposal is the perfect beach read! Friendship, romance, a little mystery, a beautiful beachside setting...and books! Who doesn't love a book that includes books in its plotline!?

Sadie Goodwin is a novelist whose passion is westerns, but her books aren't selling that well. So, her publisher gives her the opportunity to write a romance novel because even though sales arent great, her writing is excellent. But how can a woman who's never been in love write about love? She accepts an invitation from her friend's mother to spend the summer at her beach house to try her hand at writing the romance she's never experienced. When she gets permission to put up a Little Free Library, someone donates a book that has a compartment inside. Sadie opens it to find a beautiful engagement ring and decides right then and there that she must find out who the book belongs to.

Sam just wants to be left alone as he tries to mend his broken heart when he finds out his ex-girlfriend is marrying his cousin...whom she cheated on him with. His family is trying hard to get Sam to forgive and join them for the weekend long destination wedding, but the last thing he wants is to try and make it through the event on his own.

This is when Sadie and Sam strike a bargain. He'll use his local connections to help her find the owner of the ring, and she'll be his +1 to all the wedding festivities.

This is such a cute read! These two have a super fun, relationship that starts pretty rocky, but grows. The mystery of where the ring came from is also a really fun aspect of the story. A very enjoyable read!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter would make the cutest on screen movie! Loved the setting, the story and the characters! Glad I finished it on a Friday so I had the rest of the weekend to think about it and enjoy its story. Having stories within a story that played out so beautiful. Highly recommend this read to lift your spirits. A feel good book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. opinions expressed, are completely my own.

I totally couldn’t put this one down. Carried it around with me while I was taking care of laundry, making lunches, etc.

You wouldn’t expect a beach romance about an author and a landscaper to have a lot of fighting in it, but this one did. They were fighting their feelings, fighting their fears, their memories… And fighting together to solve a mystery.

Sadie’s invested herself into solving this mystery when she had nothing to gain by doing this very good deed. And she doesn’t give up, even though she keeps hitting dead ends.

I really enjoyed her optimism and enthusiasm. And the way she didn’t offer a bunch of excuses when confronted with a mistake that cost her way more than she bargained for. Yes, it may have been a self-sabotage situation, but I still liked the way she handled that individual scene.

Sam, well, you really feel bad for him a lot during the story, but watching him grow through it, and have some aha moments was great. It wasn’t all what happened ‘to’ him, he had to work some things out inside (as did Sadie).

And the Romance writing 101 tips at the beginning of each chapter were perfect!

My first Denise Hunter, but certainly not the last.

I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

The premise of this book--a novel within a novel-- was unique and made it interesting to read. As a writer I could well relate to the writer's block and her need to branch out from the tried and true that had worked for her in the past. This book was enjoyable from beginning to end and I would love to see what happens when she goes to write the next book. Great standalone read from Denise Hunter.

4.5 stars

A Novel Proposal was such a good read! I've loved many of Denise Hunter's other stories, so I was excited to start this one. It grabbed my attention right away and I couldn't read it fast enough.

The characters were great. I loved how the MC was an author trying to write her first romance and that story mirrored this one. An interesting storyline.  ;)

I liked the quest of finding who lost the book/ring. I was surprised by how that storyline ended up.

All in all, A Novel Proposal was a great read and I recommend it to fans of contemporary romance. It was a quick and easy read. 

*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.*

Another delightful beach read from Denise Hunter! I've read a few of her books, but this is definitely my new favorite. Sadie was such a fun main. She was quirky and fun and I couldn't help but root for her. Sam was a good love interest and I loved the touch of the little free library. I definitely recommend this sweet story!

Denise Hunter is always an auto-buy author for me! A NOVEL PROPOSAL is no different, and is such a cute premise for a novel!

Thank you @thomasnelson {partner} for my copy of @deniseahunter new release! It releases March 21st and can be preordered now!

Sadie is forced to switch her genres of choice from westerns (??) to write a romance in order to maintain her contract with a publisher. She quickly heads out of NYC to a quiet beach town in order to focus her thoughts. It is here that she meets Sam and begins to use their experiences as the premise for her new novel.

Sadie builds a little free library (love it!) on the property and it is here she finds a secret little surprise in a novel that sends her and Sam on a chase to find the novel’s true owner. I loved their little adventures, and the struggles they had along the way. Also totally love when they discover who owns the novel!

Hunter uses these little Romance Novel Writing Tips to headline each chapter and it is just adorable and a great way for us as a reader to focus on the content coming next in the chapter.

If you enjoy clean romance, beachside towns, second chances, grumpy-sunshine troupe, realistic “get to know you” moments, then you will most certainly enjoy A Novel Proposal!

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter is a fantastic book. I loved everything about this book. The characters were likable and the scenario they found themselves in was so fun and interesting. I loved the writing quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I’m a pretty fast reader, but this book was so good that it made me want to slow down and enjoy it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

A Novel Proposal is a different kind of story from prolific author Denise Hunter. Sadie Goodwin teaches in NYC to try to pay the bills, but her goal is to follow in her grandfather Rex Goodwin’s footsteps as a writer of westerns. Her writing is quite good hence she is offered a four book deal only to have it cancelled upon receipt of book three, which won’t be published either. It seems westerns just aren’t selling. Now she is not only very disappointed but also owes the publisher $20,000 in reimbursement of the advance she received. However, there is one option Sadie can pursue, turn her writing to the popular romance novels and have her book completed by the end of summer.

Sadie is panicked but must give it a try. What does she know about romance, she has never even been in love. Her best friend Caroline extends a lovely offer from her mother. Mrs. Miller has purchased a seaside duplex in Tucker Island, SC, and is offering Sadie a quiet place to work for the summer in exchange for house sitting. Sounds great until she meets the grumpy tenant, Sam Ford, from the other side of the duplex.

Since this type of story is way outside Sadie’s wheelhouse, she finds ways to procrastinate by meeting locals and even putting up her own Little Library. When Sadie finds a donated book in the Little Library that has a hollowed out pocket containing a beautiful engagement ring, it becomes her quest to find the rightful owner and she enlists her neighbor as they begin the search that will not only find the owner but also find a lovely story for Sadie.

This is a fun story told with humor and heart! Believable characters coupled with a lovely beachside setting make for a delightful read. I enjoyed this book and do recommend it!

I’m sorry, I thought I was in the mood for a romance, but unfortunately I mis-judged my emotional and mental interests and though I have no doubts this a 100% marvelous book, I must confess that it is currently not the book for me.

This was a great read from start to finish! The characters were very interesting and I loved the way she intertwined the characters within the setting of the story. It really have some good points for every marriage. Can't wait to recommend it at my library.

Denise Hunter has become one of my favorite go to authors. I love that her books are clean romance. This particular one makes you fall in love with the characters. Sadie is the cutest mass of confusion. Jaded by her parents' marriage she has no idea she unconsciously keeps men at bay after a single date. Sam is still heartbroken from the betrayal of his previous girlfriend with of all people, his cousin/best friend. Sadie is tasked with writing a romance novel. The problem is, she has never been in love so she certainly can't write from experience. To get away from noisy New York, she rents a duplex on the beach. Sam rents the other side. Sam wants to be left alone. Sadie is outgoing and never meets a stranger. But opposites do attract in this case until Sam feels he has been betrayed by Sadie. This is a must read whether you are on the beach or curled up by a fire you won't be able to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.