I've never read a romance in which the heroine's job is a NICU nurse. Though B&Bs seem to be common place in romance novels lately, but this still read like a beautiful new story that I hadn't read before.

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn is a sweet, slow-burn love story filled with warmth, humor, and just the right touch of emotional depth.

Everleigh Hartnett, a free-spirited NICU nurse, inherits half of a cherished coastal inn from her godmother, as introduced in the novel. Aiming to sell her share and finally realize a cherished dream, she encountered an obstacle: Cade Witherspoon, the rough, brooding co-owner, who fiercely protected his only home. Their meeting ignites an immediate conflict, fueled by opposing personalities and strong wills, rather than romance.

The contrast between Everleigh and Cade is what makes this book so good. Everleigh’s vibrant energy and sunny outlook perfectly complement Cade’s quiet, practical approach. Their witty exchanges, undeniable chemistry, and heartwarming evolution from rivals to something deeper are a treat to watch. The inn’s future is explored alongside themes of second chances, healing, and community.

Clipston masterfully blends lighthearted romance with heartfelt emotion, using Cade’s brother and a developer as key elements. The conflict and growth from these elements make the resolution even more satisfying.

Readers who enjoy sweet, emotionally resonant small-town romances will adore Second Chance at Sunshine Inn. It’s a cozy, uplifting read that proves sometimes, the best things in life come from unexpected partnerships.

What a lovely story. Everleigh and Cade are brought together at a sad time after the death of Alana. She left them equal share of her B&B.
Lots of back and forward, romance brewing, then not, trusting, then not trusting, and trying to find a way to keep the inn or go separate ways.
Really lovely, light story and would love to read moreon this couple and their family and friends.

I’m sixty percent of the way though and finding the plot has little substance. The two main characters, sadly, have very little chemistry or compatibility. I don’t find my self being bothered if they get together or not. Their story getting to know each other comes across as quite flat . Cade, one the of the main characters, comes across as belittling and controlling towards Eveleigh.

An aspect of the book I did enjoy was the setting and descriptive nature of the inn. I could very clearly picture being on the beach and the town fair.

Overall, I found it difficult to finish to finish this book as the plot ending was predictable but built up badly.

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

I wanted to like this, I really did. I found Everleigh insufferable as well as childish and the writing so basic and repetitive it was exhausting to read. Cade I liked, he had some sense at least.
The idea was good, and so was the setting which is why I had high hopes but by the end of chapter 2 I could tell this wasn’t going to be what I was hoping it would be.
Lots of useless and random subplots that did nothing to the story, felt almost forced.
Took too long to get to the ending, which was way too brief. Overall, not for me unfortunately.

For some reason, I just don’t click with a main female character who is red-headed, happy-go-lucky, and can’t cook. So I had a hard time enjoying this book, because Everleigh seemed kind of shallow and immature. Neither she nor the main male character, Cade, fit with the 30 year olds I know. If you are red-headed and happy-go-lucky, you will probably love the book. The plot kind of wore me out, with lots of unexpected twists, and way too many plot threads pulled together in the epilogue.

I’ve read other books by Clipston that I really enjoyed, so go ahead and try it out for yourself.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #SecondChanceatSunshineInn #NetGalley

An easy read with a relatively predictable, but still lovely, ending. The enemies to lovers trope worked well although Everleigh really needed someone to talk some sense into her a lot earlier! Bryant the cat gets special mention...

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn follows Everleigh and Cade, two strangers that are forced to find middle ground after receiving 50/50 ownership of Sunshine Inn.

Polar opposites, Everleigh and Cade try to get along while holding differing plans for the inn. Will they sell, like Everleigh wants? Or will they commit to working together and running the inn, like Cade desires.

The premise of this book held so much promise and I’m really sad to be giving it a 2.5/3 star rating. I fell in love with Amy’s writing when I read The Heart of Splendid Lake but this book fell short of my expectations.

I enjoyed the small town setting, the fall festival they had, the summer days spent at the beach; it was very reminiscent of how I spend my days in the summer/fall!

I just could not get past how childish Everleigh was. For her to jump right to selling, not even giving any time to hear Cade out was off putting from the start. She was so confident she could change his mind! And then for her to trust Trevor over Cade, I was so frustrated with her!

The side plots did nothing to further the main story and I feel like she really could have just chosen one instead of the five she wrote in. The ending felt rushed!

I really do love Amy and her writing but this book just didn’t hit for me! I’m glad to read the uplifting comments and hope this book finds the right audience!!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

The Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston is the perfect type of romance book for me. It was like a breath of fresh air to read. It had so much heart and love in it, nothing cheesy or corny. I absolutely loved it, and would recommend it to everyone!

We return to Coral Cove in Second Chance at Sunshine In. I enjoyed the small time flavor of books written in small town. I was instantly drawn to the storyline and the characters which were well developed. Everleigh learns she has inheirted half of the Sunshine Inn which was left to her by her beloved godmother, Alana. Alana is a traveling NICU nurse and enjoys her job. She is hoping to sell Sunshine Inn for a profit to establish a charity that she and her godmother dreamed of starting but her partner Cade Witherspoon does not want to sell. He eventually agrees and gives her a timeline to sell. They both agree that they don't want it to be sold by a developer. Will they each get what they want? There were some bumps along the way but I like how the story played out. Relationships were repaired and everyone got what they really in their heart wanted.

Plot was cute. I love a clean and low stress read. Execution was lacking though and the writing did stress me out. The dialogue felt unrealistic and cheesy most of the time. The two main characters felt immature going back and forth from friends to not friends, getting upset at what felt like minor things and not being able to communicate well (until magically at the end when everyone suddenly can share their feelings and open their hearts up, even the jealous sister and the closed off mom). I had to drag myself through this one. As in "With This Ring" this was a slooooow burn until the last chapter.

Trigger warning as well if adoption is a sore subject for you, I wasn't expecting this subplot in here. Especially rejection by birth family (which, is a very real reality and I respect that). And, if outdated language like “give up” bothers you 🫠 As a birth mom reader, I really, really wish fiction books would do better research and show not just outdated practices, language, and consequences, but what modern open adoption can like so we can continue to shift the stigmas of birth moms and adoption (let me know publishers if you need someone to write that book!)

Second chance at Sunshine Inn was a sweet and heartwarming story that is very reminiscent of a hallmark movie!
Cade and Everleigh are the embodiment of two people who could not be more opposite in character. While is brooding and grumpy, Everleigh is all sunshine and smiles.
Both find themselves crossing paths when they are named shared inheritors of Sunshine Inn.

With different plans in mind for this little corner of heaven, they start of as reluctant business partners. However, as they come to know more of each other, their pain, their hurt, and their dreams, they find themselves in a position where they must choose between love and what was meant to happen.

This closed-door romance is a sweet and easy read. There are plenty of sweet and swoon-worthy moments between the main characters, with just enough plot and world building to make this read like a movie. It is def a must read for anyone who enjoys romance without the spice!

Spice: 0/5
Plot and characterisation: 3.5/5

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn is a true Sunshine vs Grumpy trope, which I’ve come to realize I don’t really enjoy. Our female main character Everleigh is sunshine. She’s naive, but also immature. I felt like the characters were teens rather than in their 30’s. She inherits an inn from her beloved godmother - but finds out she only gets half, with the other half going to a handyman named Cade. He’s our grumpy, but he’s also a jerk. He’s been hurt, he’s terrified, blah blah blah. He’s also a spoiled brat when he doesn’t get his way. After a fight with his mother, he tells her she just lost her son. Mom didn’t want to divulge personal information to him just yet as she wasn’t ready, so he just washes his hands of her. Mom was a little immature too - constantly running away - but whatever. She’s still his mom. Grow up! They worked it out in the end and Cade finally came to his senses and decided to start trusting Everleigh and being sweet. This is a Christian book but didn’t mention anything about God or faith, it’s a clean story with no sex or cursing. It ended cute and I enjoyed it well enough, I just want more character development starting sooner.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

This is a good read.
Emotions run high when a well respected member of town passes away. Her will is a surprise. She has left the inn she loves to two persons.
The main characters have major personal issues to sort through. There is a lot of back and forth as the future of the inn hangs in the balance.
All the main characters are passionate about really good ideas but is the time right?
I like the realist approach of the author. This isn’t just a feel good book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!**

I had a good time reading this book! It was super cute and very clean, though there weren't any faith aspects, so I wouldn't call it Christian. There were some issues with the character development that bothered me, though, and the writing was cheesy at times. It's also pretty predictable, but I still had fun reading!

Everleigh and Cade are just too extreme for my liking. Everleigh was at some points so.. stupid? naive? etc. that I wanted to shake some sense into her, and Cade was sometimes so brooding and angry that it felt unserious. I also think some of the predictions/guesses that the characters make throughout the book regarding various plot events are so far-fetched yet also correct that it was hard to suspend my disbelief.

All of that said, though, the romance was super cute and also clean (though can they just TALK TO EACH OTHER AND EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS????? Ugh. But I guess I kinda get it). I still really enjoyed reading and would recommend for anyone wanting a cutesy book that doesn't take much brain power to read.

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn follows Everleigh, a cheerful nurse, and Cade, a grumpy innkeeper, as they unexpectedly inherit the Sunshine Inn in Coral Cove. I loved the vivid descriptions of the inn and the town—it sounds like a place I’d love to visit! I also enjoyed Everleigh’s family dynamics (apart from her odd sister) and thought Bryant, the cat, was a sweet character who added a calm, harmonious presence and even acted as a bit of a mediator.

The exploration of grief in this book felt heartfelt and genuine. I appreciated how Everleigh and Cade’s emotions surrounding Alana’s death were portrayed—it didn’t feel overly scripted. Seeing Alana through their eyes made her feel real and significant to the story.

That said, I struggled to finish this book, even though I usually love romance novels. The pacing was slow, and the characters didn’t feel like people I'd want to spend time with. Everleigh, in particular, rubbed me the wrong way at times—her actions felt naive, and I had a hard time connecting with her.

I also found myself wondering about the purpose of the story as a whole. The subplots, like Cade’s dynamic with his adopted brother and Everleigh’s swimming issue, didn’t feel strongly tied to the main plot, which made it harder to stay invested.

If you enjoy small-town settings and heartfelt explorations of grief, this book may resonate more with you. While it wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, I can see how others might find its emotional depth and setting enjoyable.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Amy Clipston does it again for me! Second Chance at Sunshine Inn was such a sweet read and I loved the dynamic/banter between the female and male main characters. There was such a sense of community and healing in this book that brought tears to my eyes. Enemies to Loves is such a great trope and Clipston did a great job weaving romance into this book. The only reason I didn’t not give it five stars is because the faith elements were not very apparent to me as a Christian Fiction.

This was such a lovely, lighthearted, cosy read! Perfect for curling up with on a rainy day. I loved the Grumpy/Sunshine trope and think the author did a fantastic job with creating those characters in this story. It was clean, with no explicit scenes or language, so would be appropriate for younger readers who are more advanced too. Coral Cove and Sunshine Inn sound so idyllic that I finished the book feeling long overdue for a holiday!
Highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Amy Clipston, the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy I received in return for my honest review.

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston is a heartwarming story of healing, second chances, and the complex journey to find where you truly belong. In this delightful romance, two seemingly different people—Cade Witherspoon and Everleigh Hartnett—are brought together by fate, grief, and the inheritance of an inn that could change both their lives forever.

Cade Witherspoon, a rugged and grumpy former Army man, is reeling from a broken engagement and the collapse of his business. Seeking a fresh start, he moves to North Carolina to work for Alana, his friend’s godmother, at the Sunshine Inn. There, he plans to eventually take over the business and turn it into something much bigger than a simple bed-and-breakfast—expanding it into a full-fledged venture that will help him get back on his feet.

Everleigh Hartnett, a compassionate NICU travel nurse, returns to the inn after her beloved godmother Alana passes away. To her shock, Alana has left her and Cade joint ownership of the Sunshine Inn. Everleigh, who has spent her career dedicated to helping newborns, is adamant about turning the inn into a charity to support her dream of providing for vulnerable infants. She has no interest in turning it into a business empire and is determined to sell it, leaving Cade frustrated and determined to change her mind.

The tension between Cade and Everleigh could easily become the central conflict of the story, but what truly makes this novel shine is how Clipston skillfully balances their differences with undeniable chemistry. Cade, despite his rough exterior, proves to be a man of quiet depth and tenderness—particularly when it comes to Everleigh. He may be gruff on the outside, but his protectiveness toward Everleigh is one of the most endearing aspects of his character. Cade’s soft side shines through, and it’s impossible not to fall for him as he begins to open up to Everleigh.

Everleigh, on the other hand, is fiercely independent and determined to honor Alana’s memory by carrying out her godmother’s wishes. Her passion for the charity she wants to create is inspiring, and her caring nature makes her a character you can’t help but root for. While her stubbornness about selling the inn at first feels like a wall between her and Cade, it’s clear that both characters are searching for healing in their own ways.

Their dynamic is built on both external and internal conflicts—Cade’s desire for a new future and Everleigh’s devotion to her cause—but what really drives the story is their emotional growth and the gradual realization that they may just need each other to fulfill their dreams. The way the author weaves in their pasts, Cade’s personal losses, and Everleigh’s nurturing heart brings a depth to their romance that is as moving as it is beautiful.

What I loved most about Second Chance at Sunshine Inn was the way it blends a lovely, small-town setting with deep emotional arcs and a budding romance. The Sunshine Inn itself feels like a character in its own right, a place of refuge and hope where both Cade and Everleigh can grow and heal. The support from the secondary characters adds richness to the story, especially Alana’s legacy and how it continues to affect Everleigh and Cade.

In the end, Second Chance at Sunshine Inn is a beautifully crafted novel about finding love when you least expect it, healing old wounds, and honoring the people who shape our lives. The romance is sweet and slow-burn, with plenty of tender moments that will make you smile and sigh. Cade’s protective, soft side combined with Everleigh’s determination and passion creates an unforgettable couple that readers will love rooting for until the very last page.

This is a great beach read. It’s a sweet romance with a great ending. It starts out slightly slow at first - but I started to enjoy the characters and the story got better.

I’m glad I was offered an ARC version and I will look for books by this author.