This book was a little bit different than Denise's normal books, but I liked it! The first few chapters had me hooked and I was so torn on what i wanted to be true or not true! Romance and some intrigue and all the feels. Immediately yes. Sign me up. I will read anything of hers! This is not your typical romance novel but in a very good way, it keeps you on your toes!

#TheSummerofYouandMe #NetGalley
Maggie Reynolds and her four year old daughter come to Seabrook Norh Carolina for the summer. Maggie's husband died while on tour in the military. After five years, Maggie has decided to see where life takes her.
Josh Reynalds, Maggie's brother-in-law, has had a crush on Maggie's since he was a teenager. The crush has turned into something more. He's decided to see where things go this summer.
While taking a picture of her daughter, Maggie's sees someone who looks like her dead husband. She follows him, but he disappears. When Maggie brings it up to Josh, he decides to help her find him.
A book that gripped me with its emotions and twists in the plot.

This book was super sweet. I wish it had been written in first person instead of third is really my only complaint and it was a little slow to start but once the story kicked up it was great. Very sweet story about love that never gives up and was truly meant to be. Stars had to align just right for circumstances to work out. The characters were sweet and although I did predict some parts as they were happening I still enjoyed the book. ☺️

I really enjoyed the story. It was a romance and mystery mixed into one. I loved the romance story and the dynamics among the whole family. The few twist kept it interesting.

I Received an advanced copy from Netgalley.

I’m mixed on this book. On one hand, I felt it was so respectful of the complex situations it navigated, the ending tied things up nicely without feeling rushed or random, and I appreciated the cast of supporting characters having their own depth. On the other hand, it felt a bit slow paced and I found it hard to get really invested for about 75% of the book.

Maggie Reynolds is ready to love again after the death of her husband five years ago. When she decides to return to Seabrook for the closure she needs she discovers she has romantic feelings for her brother in law Josh. Josh has been in love with Maggie since the first time he saw her but she was in love with his brother. When Maggie spots someone who looks exactly like her dead husband, the two go a journey to discover the connection. Can they solve the mystery and will it lead to a relationship for the two of them. Great book with romance and a mystery.



Thank you to Denise Hunter and Thomas Nelson Fiction!

I absolutely loved the story of Maggie and Josh! A story of unrequited love wrapped in awe and wonder was hard to put down. So many feelings to catalog and finally own was revealed in a multitude of ways. I did not want the story to end! Many side events to keep you guessing and hoping to the very end. I hope there is a future installment to this series!

My thoughts:  The Summer of You and Me is a romance by acclaimed author Denise Hunter.  I enjoyed meeting and getting to know this couple is they navigated a new relationship to hopefully find lasting love. The characters interacted very well together and there was even a mystery to solve when  someone from the past seemed to have come alive. Would they find out the answers? Would it change anything between them? Will they be able to work out the obstacles before them? This book is a must read and and like all Ms Hunter's books your  attention will be snagged and you won't be able to put the book down. Recommended. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

This is a touching story of Maggie, who makes the decision to finally live again, and maybe even love again. Nearly five years have passed since the death of Maggie’s husband, and Maggie, along with her four-year-old daughter, Zoey, is back in Seabrook, North Carolina, for the summer. This is where her late husband’s family lives, including his sister, Erin, and brother, Josh. Both are close friends of Maggie’s, and Josh, especially, has been there for her and Zoey whenever they needed anything.

Just as Maggie feels like she is getting better at accepting the untimely death of her husband, a young man crosses her path at a carnival who looks exactly like Ethan, her late husband. She sees him disappearing into the crowd and, although she tries to follow him, he is not to be found.

Josh agrees to help Maggie track the unknown man down, and after an exhaustive search, they find he works at the carnival. Josh is also startled at the resemblance this young man has to his brother.

This is a fascinating story, complicated by the fact that Josh, Maggie’s brother-in-law, who both she and her daughter adore and are thankful for, has secretly been in love with Maggie since they were teenagers. However, she was always his brother’s girlfriend. The unreciprocated love Josh has for Maggie has destroyed his ability to love anyone else, and he has bounced around dating many, always quickly moving on to the next one.

Such a heartfelt, fascinating story with a few astonishing revelations that made it impossible to put this book down. I neglected my entire to-do list so I could keep reading until I turned the last page. Each of Denise Hunter’s books is always my new favorite. They have lovable, relatable characters that get right into my heart from the start. Denise is a gifted storyteller who brings a warm, cozy feeling of coming home each time I open one of her books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this sweet romance! Denise Hunter gives readers a summer read full of sweet characters and beachy vibes! I loved the relationship the built between Josh and Maggie, plus the little mystery kept things exciting!

Y’all know I don’t usually give 3 stars, but I’m on the fence with this one. On one hand, I read the book in one sitting. I’ve always had an appreciation for Denise Hunter’s books, so we can probably attribute my compulsion to keep going on the writing.
Now for the other side of the fence… I was bothered by the fact that the hero, Josh, claimed he’d been in love with the heroine, Maggie, all through her marriage to HIS BROTHER. And she seems charmed by this admission. I could go into more detail, but not without major spoilers.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher, but as always, my opinions are my own.

Mystery, romance, family relationships, and suspense all blend into a beautiful story. This plot is full of surprises. The wonderful characters and beach town location add depth to the book. Definitely worth the read. This book was provided by @Denise Hunter, her publisher and #NetGalley for me to read. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.

This was another great book from this author. If you are needing a new read I recommend this book. You won’t be disappointed.

I really enjoy most of Hunter’s books; I loved the plot of this one but not so much the character development.

It was fine for me that Josh was Maggie’s brother-in-law, but I always felt it a bit off to have him refer to her as “honey” pre-relationship. And the tight writing and plot developments I’m used to with Hunter weren’t quite there for me either; it emphasized thoughts and feelings disproportionate to either plot or character development—and suddenly interjecting Will’s POV past the halfway point (and only for a handful of times) felt oddly disjointed. It was a fine read, and I really appreciated the faith element, but for me it wasn’t a wow read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Five years after the death of her husband, Maggie is finally ready to move on at a chance to love again, but when she sees a man who looks exactly like her husband, at a carnival, she and her brother in law are on a new mission this summer.

To be honest, the story line was really good. It really keeps you guessing and when you think you finally get the answer, the author throws in surprises. The writing and story line made me think I was reading a Nicholas Sparks book.
However, the romance was not my favorite. I really tried to like it, but I just couldn’t. I give this story 3.5 stars because I really did enjoy the story line, just not the romance part of it.

I graciously received an advance e-copy from the publisher and netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I had read one of Denise Hunter’s works before and hadn’t noticed that I had requested another one of “the author who writes lighthearted books with not much content” (or so I thought.) I’m glad I made this mistake because this story is unlike the previous one. Lots of mystery with some very unexpected twists. It keeps you guessing (your guess will probably be wrong) and you wonder where this is going to end up. True to life characters with problems you can relate to and some good advice in between. The story is both intense and lighthearted, and relaxing to read. It goes much deeper than a beach read and touches on issues that I’m sure some of us struggle with like loss, abandonment, manipulative parents, lack of self-esteem and daring to set boundaries. You’ll feel right at home with the Reynolds family. I highly recommend this enjoyable and clean book,

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A closed door romance with a little mystery, a lot of drama, and multiple ‘what the heck is going on’ moments.

I tend to like Denise Hunter’s writing and this way the same. I think she captured emotions well, as well as the conversation for adults with kids that felt realistic. I especially enjoyed the first third of the book - while it was destined to be a bit heartbreaking, I wanted to keep reading.

However, there was too much drama in the second half of the book for my liking. Without spoilers, I had a lot of thoughts including ‘poor Josh’, ‘poor Maggie’, and ‘how is this not a huge lawsuit’. I personally would have enjoyed less drama / a more believable story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Denise Hunter, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so great. I have been a long Denise Hunter fan and her books are always heartwarming and give me all the feels!

Denise Hunter has written another delightful story. Seabrook Island, South Carolina is the setting of a mystery that leaves everyone pondering.

Josh and Maggie are best friends. Maggie thinks she has seen her deceased husband at the carnival, and is determined to find him. Josh offers to help with a stranger than life outcome. It turns out to be quite the adventure.

Without giving away the story, the complicated romance that develops concludes with a surprise ending. Denise Hunter is a master storyteller. Writing well rounded characters, she is able to convey her characters deep feelings and emotions. Publication is in April so you need to put this on your TBR list.

I received a complimentary an e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This delightful story takes readers on a whirlwind journey filled with unexpected twists. Just when you think you've pieced everything together, another layer unfolds. I loved getting to know Maggie and Josh—their friendship was heartwarming, marked by his steady perseverance and her courage to push forward despite challenges.

This book is labeled Christian fiction, I'd say there's references to Christian practices, but faith elements weren't particularly strong in the characters.

*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.