Is she living a dream deferred OR is her life gone seriously off-course with no hope of getting it right? In A NOVEL PROPOSAL, Denise Hunter tells the story of intrepid, way out of her depth western novelist forced to write a romance novel when she has neither the interest nor experience to tell a story in a genre she doesn't read, know, or respect. Sadie is out of her depth as is Sam, her hapless neighbor desperate for peace and quiet, the opposite of what enthusiastic Sadie and her charming dog bring to the beach house duplex. While I found the story predictable and at times off-putting for its precious polite language, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

A sweet romance from author Denise Hunter, A Novel Proposal makes a great addition to the summer reading list for fans of wholesale romance. If I had one note, it would be that it could have done with less baby talk to the main character's dog, but there are worse crimes (wink).
3.5 stars

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sam and Sadie sitting in a duplex. While Sam is healing from a bad breakup, he utilizes the planters on the shared deck to erect a barrier between the two sides. Sadie thinks she is a big city girl, but flees NYC for solitude on the beach in South Carolina to write her first romance novel. Accompanying each chapter is a tip from 'Romance 101' and I loved the correlation between the tips and the plot. There is a mystery to solve due to a discovery in the Little Library that Sadie puts up on the beach path. The coincidences in finding an answer to that question and another near the end were just too unbelievable for me, so one less star. This is a very entertaining and clean romance. Book group questions are included.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An easy, sweet read from Denise Hunter, A Novel Proposal ticks all the boxes of a classic romance novel. This wasn’t my personal favorite of Hunter’s, but I enjoyed the setting and the fact that Sadie was trying to write her own romance novel throughout the book. I’m excited for more from Hunter. 3/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A very sweet and inspirational story about love, grace and the power of forgiveness. Sam and Sadie couldn’t be more opposite but in a summer on the beach they find each other and true love. The author created a great plot and wonderful characters. The story is easy to read and will leave you refreshed and inspired.

This is the classic sunshine meets grump trope. Only the main character is very annoying which made me side with the grumpy guy. He's stuck living next to her for the whole summer when all he wants is to be left alone.

I received an ARC through NetGalley and the publisher's logo was on every page in the middle of the sentences - sometimes 2 and 3 times - which was also annoying.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

Overflowing with the components of a beachside cottage, a young female author, a dog, and a little free library, A Novel Proposal is a romance book lover's dream. Art Teacher and Author, Sadie, relocates for one summer from New York to a South Carolina coastal community to write a romance novel. Due to poor sales of her western novels, she now faces the task of writing in an unfamiliar genre. Giving her even more writer's block is the fact that she has never been in love herself.

While hoping for inspiration from the sand, sea, and sun, Sadie finds herself distracted from getting words on paper by her summer neighbor, Sam. She also puts up a little free library, which leads to a tantalizing romantic mystery when a book with a secret compartment is dropped off in it. In Sadie, Hunter created one of my favorite characters this year, with her spunkiness, warm heart, and zest for life. As Sadie wrote the pages in her book, I cheered for her to find her own happy ending in love. This book is truly one that provided me happiness with its breezy, seaside setting of Tucker Island and contemporary romantic story. Being a lover of little free libraries, I was thrilled to see one included in the plot.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson for an advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

I really enjoyed reading A Novel Proposal. It made me smile and laugh which is always good thing if you ask me. The storyline was very entertaining though I felt like it was drawn out a bit longer than necessary.
Overall, a recommended beach read for sure. The book was easy to read with a sweet romance.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

While I loved the main characters, Sadie and Sam, this story type uses two of my least favorite plot devices: a misunderstanding that forces the characters apart, and the story being the story. On one hand, I could appreciate the idea of an author trying to write a romance novel without having experienced love for herself, but it always hurts my brain a little to twist the character into the author, who's the character, as an author.

3 stars to this book, but that was mostly personal preference.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel! Sadie had this whimsical quality but also just this down to earth feel to her. Sam started out as our somewhat grumpy MMC but quickly became endearing. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from the romance writing guide. I loved the little library and the mystery it brought!

They both have a lot to overcome with her parents past and his own relationship past. All in all they both learn the lessons needed to overcome each obstacle.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Title: A Novel Proposal
Author: Denise Hunter
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.

Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?

However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.

A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.

She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?

Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?

This was a sweet, fun read. Definitely made me yearn for beach life! And a little free library---which I’ve never wanted before, despite my love of books. I really liked Sadie, despite her hangups and tiny, useless dog, although her penchant for listening to loud music made me wince as an apartment dweller with an upstairs neighbor with a love of music. Sam and his family were great. I can’t imagine trying to get over what he was getting over, but I loved the journey they both went on and the growth they experienced. The ending was absolutely perfect!

Denise Hunter is an award-winning author. A Novel Proposal is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

A cute story with some great forced proximity. I liked the setting of neighbors in a duplex with a shared backyard on the beach.

But, unfortunately neither character's ability to be open and honest with the other worked for me. So while I loved their chats and time spent together I just didn't love everything.

Normally this author's books are my favorite so I'm looking forward to her next book.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

"She mentally took a brush and painted a swath of black across those worries. She didn't have to think about any of that today."

3.5* A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter takes on a lighter dramatic tone than previous stories I have read by her and it was sweet. I loved the Anne of Green Gables spunky innocence that the main character Sadie had and the cynical, curmudgeonly man that she decides to make the hero of her first romantic novel.
Having always written westerns, her contract has been cancelled and she must find a way to pay back the advance a romance novel it is, the problem is, she has never been in love.
I always love a beach setting and liked the use of a Little Free library and the mention of various other books and authors throughout the story. Was the story a little predictable, yes but I liked the characters enough to keep reading. There is also a little mystery that must be solved as well which also keeps the story moving along.
Thanks to NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Novel Proposal

I’ve got the feels and the hope in all things good again! Great story!

Sadie is an art teacher at an Elementary school in NYC. During the summer she writes western novels. Her publishers decide they want her to write a romance novel.
With the help of her friend she goes to North Carolina to write in a beautiful beachside duplex.

Sadie meets Sam, her neighbor who lives in town but is staying at her duplex.
He offers her a deal in order to help her with a favor.

It will take everything you’ve got to not want to jump inside this book not just to read it but to want to be in this town, or on that beach filled with amazing friendly, laid back characters.-

Only con is the publisher's name for kindle so annoying, it was everywhere. Please consider removing it for us ebook readers.

If you’re a fan of sweet romance, kind of like Hallmark, with some mystery and suspense, then read this, It was beautifully written. A page turner. Not my normal genre but I loved it.

If you're looking for a good, clean romance to read, then this one will do that for you. Set on the East Coast, it also makes for a great beach read. Sadie is a fun and quirky main character who falls for the handsome and broody hero who happens to be living next door for the summer. The meet-cute was, well. cute. On top of that, the book centers around reading books and finding treasure in a book. I love books about books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 Stars
I had to keep reminding myself that this was a Denise Hunter book. It is quite different from her other books. It was lighter in a lot of ways. The story revolves around an author who's preferred genre has been rejected by her publishing company. They suggest that she try writing romance...something she knows nothing about. She goes to a beach house to try to write this story and encounters the man who is renting the other half. Sparks fly, but not the exciting kind. Sam can't stand anything about Sadie. She's loud and, to him at least, obnoxious.

In the story, there are many friendships, some family moments, a small mystery that runs throughout, some betrayal and the slowly evolving romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson-Fiction for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Whenever I pick up a Denis Hunter book I always. know that I will get a good love story and this one was no different. I loved this story about a romance author to takes a beach vacation so she can finish writing her book. Sadie is such a fun quirky character that readers are likely to fall in love with and Sam is such a grump that you can't help but want to lighten him up a bit. It is a joy to watch Sadie brighten up his days even before he realizes he is falling for her. I loved how each chapter started with a romance writing 101 tip! It was such a fun chapter intro.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Sadie and Sam. They meet on an island in South Carolina. Sadie is an art teacher and writer in New York. Sam works for his family landscaping business. The both are residing in a duplex. Since they are neighbors they meet. They both have some issue but together they work them out and fall in love.

My heart is always full after reading a book by Denise Hunter, and this one was no exception. She just has a way with words that will tug on your heart strings. Sadie Goodwin is a novelist who has always written western themed books. Suddenly she gets the news that the publisher is not interested in any more of her western books. If she can write a suitable romance, she will not have to return the initial money. She knows she must get away from the hustle, bustle and noise of New York. She ends up at charming beach cottage/duplex in South Carolina. Sadie is all sunshine and roses. On the other side of the duplex is Sam Ford. He is the polar opposite of sunshine and roses. He is actually a little grumpy, but he is a hunky grump. Sadie's glass half full personality is about to put Sam over the edge. Sam is at the beach for an entirely different reason. Someone broke his heart, and he had to get away. He is not interested in happiness.

Sadie has brought piles of romance books to read in hopes that it will stir her imagination for her book. She decides to build a Free Library to place on the walkway to the beach to share her romance books with others. It is quite the hit. When Sadie discovers a book in the free library with a hidden compartment and a very valuable piece of jewelry, she knows she must find the owner. Sam grudgingly agrees to help her try to find the owner if she will be his plus one for the wedding of his cousin to his ex-girlfriend, which he hopes will soften the blow of attending the wedding. Sam begins to find Sadie's sunshine personality a little infectious.

This is a wonderful beach read as the beautiful view from the deck of the beach house is described in great detail. You can almost feel the ocean breeze. I dearly loved the character of Sadie. I could relate to her so well. She was a little clumsy, and she did not know a stranger. To some people, she might be a little too happy, but I just identified with her. I also liked the character of Sam as it was readily apparent that some of that gruff exterior was a shield of protection for his feelings.

If you need an escape from every day woes, you can find that escape in this wonderful love story about how opposites can attract to one another.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When it comes to sweet stories that touches the soul I know I can trust Denise Hunter.

This book is just epic. I loved the very personal touch of the story. The characters were so sweet and relatable. I loved the profound and inspiring lessons from the book.

A book to read when you need something deep but calm too.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.