Summer by the Tides

Our Review

SUMMER BY THE TIDES reeled me in from the very first page. The characters made me feel at home, and the descriptions of the shore made me feel like I was there. The community of Sea Haven, North Carolina is a place I wouldn’t mind visiting.

When sisters, Maddy, Nora, and Emma all get calls from their grandmother’s worried neighbor, Connor, they go racing to her beach house. The sisters are worried when they can’t locate her, especially since there are some things in her home that are amiss. As they work together to locate their grandmother, they remember fond summer memories.

Now estranged, the sisters are also harboring secrets, which never bodes well. Their grandmother’s neighbor isn’t what they expected, and Maddy dislikes him on sight.  But things seem to change as they get to know one another.

The story is a little choppy at times, going from past to present and back again. There are often hints about what has come between the sisters, but it takes a long time to reveal the truth. I liked the family dynamics between the sisters and their feisty grandmother as well as Connor and his sisters. The characters all had a depth to them, and we learn about them a little at a time. 

There is definite chemistry between Maddy and Connor. I enjoyed watching the girls fix up their grandmother’s home along with Connor’s help. Emma’s dog is a nice addition to the story as well. The story ends nicely. I only wish the epilogue could have continued on a little bit more.

Ms. Hunter is an author whose books I enjoy. They all have a small town feel with lots of family dynamics and friendships and lean toward Christian fiction. I look forward to reading what she writes next.