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Seaside Letters (2009)

by Denise Hunter(Favorite Author)

3.89 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Thomas Nelson

series

Nantucket

review 1: I really wanted to read this book. The premise looked cute, and I got it for next to nothing, so I figured it would be a fun light read. Let's just say this book didn't at all deliver on that.My biggest issue with the book would be with Tucker himself. I get that most reviewers seem to love him, but I honestly don't get it. He's kinda creepy, a borderline stalker, and happily uses deception to try to win over a girl who's repeatedly told him no. I mean seriously, she's repeatedly turned him down for dates already, but just because she can laugh with her coworkers or enjoy a nap on the beach gives him the okay to intentionally stalk her on a forum just to trick her into an online relationship? Yuck. It really doesn't help that some of his methods of trying to get her to fes... mores up were downright malicious, such as temporarily taking in a cat with the serious intention of triggering her allergies, or trying to force her into eating food he knows she finds repulsive. I think one of the other reviewers nailed it when they commented that the only reason he's not universally considered a creep is because he's a romantic hero/representation of God.In fact, that last bit sums up the main reason I decided to give this book only one star. I didn't mind the author's writing per se (even if it did get melodramatic at times), and sure Tucker isn't quite the dedicated stalker that Edward Cullen is, but I was highly disturbed that the author seriously intended Tucker to be a type of Christ. Sure he forgives the protagonist and all that, but I know my God would never resort to deception and downright malicious behavior like I see from Tucker, and honestly this makes me lose any possible desire to try any of the author's other books.Sabrina I didn't mind so much. She wasn't so great (I mean, she's lying through the whole book for starters), but she was also a damaged character who had a (relatively) great personal story of redemption, so I could forgive her her faults (okay, not so much her slight stupidity, but you know what I mean). I feel like I should also comment that I didn't particularly mind the inclusion of multiple affairs in a Christian novel like this, even if the protagonist was partially responsible for one of them. These things do happen in the real world, as bad as they are, neither scene was particularly explicit, and both were presented as Very Bad Things, not to mention were both very integral to the story.The writing itself was fine. It wasn't particularly amazing, but I honestly think I could have enjoyed it had Tucker not been such a horrible representation of who God is (since again, this was seriously the author's intention, even though I still have a hard time believing it). Also while I wasn't a particular fan of the main characters, the supporting cast overall seemed like a lot of fun, and I wish we'd gotten to know Renny better. She seemed like she could have been interesting, but she barely even shows up. Arielle was also pretty fun while she was around, and I wish the coworkers and regulars had been fleshed out a bit more (surely Oliver has more to his character than "that guy who like testing Sabrina's vocabulary." So in short, I wish I could have liked this book more, but the negatives simply outweighed the rest far too much.
review 2: A Secret Romance (5 Stars)Seaside Letters (A Nantucket Love Story) by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson)This is the first novel I’ve read by Denise Hunter other than the Smitten series that she co-wrote with Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, & Diann Hunt. This will not be my last book. I loved her writing style and the way she developed her characters...romance and some drama and then tying it all together with God’s mercy and forgiveness.Sabrina, who is a part-time waitress and part-time mystery writer researcher has a past she can’t escape from. Her nickname is “Ice Princess” because she keeps to herself and won’t open up to anyone. But then she connects with a man online and they hit it off, just friends, talking, eventually opening up a little about their hurts, but never revealing their identities.And then there’s a local man who runs charter boat tours, Tucker, and he comes to the Nantucket cafe every morning to drink coffee and “read the paper” while trying to get Sabrina’s attention. Of course, with every romance there is a beginning, but this one is very different. And the reason that Sabrina wants to remain alone eventually comes out. I really don’t want to say anymore. The book is adorable and I read it in one day, could not put it down. God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness comes through the pages of this book as you see Sabrina and Tucker relationship evolve. I did not know there are 3 other books in this series, but from what I can tell, each story is about different people. I can’t wait to read the other 3! I hope they are as good as this one. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest opinion and did not receive any compensation for a favorable review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” less

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