A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter Review

 Happy Friday Friends :)

I pray that this week was a wonderful week for you all, and that you all have lots of fun things planned for this weekend.

As per usual for me, I will be working today and tomorrow, but will have Sunday off with my hubby. 

I'm hoping to have some time for reading, but I do have a lot of stuff happening the following week so we will have to see. 

In the meantime however, I'm excited to get to share a review with you all today of another one of the titles included in my "2023 most anticipated releases post."

I feel like I'm flying through the titles on that list, and it's been awesome to get to start out the new year by reading so many of the titles I was eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to share this review with you all, so let's go ahead and dive right in!

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 21st, 2023

Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary/Small Town Romance/Beach Read

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a sweet and sizzling story of a romance writer surprised by her own happily ever after.

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?

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Denise Hunter has long been one of my favorites, and I always look forward to getting to dive into her new titles. This one sounded especially intriguing because I love getting to read "bookish" books. The plot revolving around a writer who is forced to change from her regular genre of westerns to writing romance sounded intriguing and original, and I had a feeling that I wouldn't end up being disappointed.

This author has such a talent for writing stories that draw the reader right in, and give them an escape from all the craziness of the real world. With a beachy setting, a romance that starts off on all the wrong feet, and a mystery that begins from a little library of all things, this one pretty much had everything I love in a romance book all rolled into one.

Sam and Sadie's romance is a little bit crazy, a little bit hysterical, and all types of swoon worthy, and I loved every single moment of it. I especially loved how they both had to learn how to let go of past hurts before being able to find their own way to a happily ever after, and I appreciated how this is illustrated both realistically and authentically to the reader.

While I loved many bits about this one, my personal favorites ended up being the quest that our two main characters go on to solve the mystery of who the engagement ring belongs to that ended up inside Sadie's little library. And the wonderful tidbits that start out each chapter showcasing the process that goes into an author writing a successful romance novel.

This was such a wonderful and sweet romance, and while I wouldn't say it's my personal favorite by this author, it was definitely a worthy contender, and I highly enjoyed it.

My only complaint was that Sadie was a bit too much to handle at the start of the book, but as more of her story came known to the reader, I started to feel more for her, and by the end of the story I was definitely rooting for her to find her own happily ever after.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys sweet and clean romances, or to anyone who has enjoyed books by this author previously.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via Netgalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review. 

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your weekend, and God Bless!