By the Sea: Glimpses of Eternity, Reflections of Simple Hope

by Robin Jones Gunn

Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn invites women to the shore to refresh their souls as they savor this collection of ocean-inspired stories and reflections.      
 
Does your idea of a perfect day include a lazy afternoon under a beach umbrella or a serene oceanside stroll? If the coast seems a million miles away from where you are today, let these engaging stories bring the ocean and all its gifts to you. Author Robin Jones Gunn wants to help you relax, recenter, and be reminded of the places that draw your heart closer to God.
 
Robin shares poignant, humorous, and heartwarming stories inspired by the beach, along with poems, quotes, and Scripture verses to help take your mind off whatever is burdening you and bring your focus back to God.
 
This is your invitation to soul restoration. There’s a place waiting for you by the sea.
 

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

ROBIN JONES GUNN has written more than 100 books with over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide. Her Father Christmas books have been made into three Hallmark Christmas movies. The timeless Christy Miller series now continues in Christy & Todd: The College Years, Married Years, Baby Years, and the Haven Maker series. Robin's novels and non-fiction works include Before Your Tween Daughter Becomes a Woman, Victim of Grace, Praying for Your Future Husband, and Before You Meet Your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. Her books have received multiple awards and are a favorite with book clubs and study groups. Many of Robin's books are in eBook, audiobook, large print, and foreign editions. Robin does a weekly Podcast called "Women Worth Knowing" with Cheryl Brodersen. Robin and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in California.

Reviews

[Lillian B (Kaladin Stormblessed version)]

This was really good!!! Robin Jones Gunn is one of my favorite authors, so it was cool to get to see true stories about her that inspired her books, and the art/photography inside the book was stunning!!!

[Talia Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favorite books. This book took me back to the wonder I used to have on the beach that I’ve lost sight of over the years. Beautiful and refreshing.

[Tabitha Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing book for the soul!! I absolutely LOVE everything Robin writes, her artistry for stringing words together is always stunning and beautiful! And the way her heart for the Lord shines through everything she writes! After reading this my heart needs a beach day, it's been far to long since I last enjoyed the sea!! 🏖️

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous Christian nonfiction book filled with mediations. The full color photography in this book is breathtaking and Gunn brings her memories of the beach and ocean to life in her meditations and chosen selections of poetry and Bible verses. Perfect for the beach lover you know, this book would make a great gift. As we prepare for our first large winter snowstorm of the season, it has been unique to snuggle up in my blankets and relax with a book about the beach, sun, and ocean each morning. This was a good read with faith, lessons, history, family, and a good dose of sunshine and beach feels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this more stars if I could. I love it because it's a kind of biblical devotional written by someone who loves the beach as much as I do. The Author and I share many of the same memories growing up in Southern CA and visiting a lot of the same places there, shared memories of a kind. The ocean has many benefits and healing properties, something I've instinctively know all my life. She addresses this in the Chapter on Vitamin Sea, pg. 55. There is a chapter on going to the Dutch North Sea. We've had Dutch cousins take us there twice.
There is a chapter; Heavens to Betsey, about Betsy Stockton, who was born into slavery. She taught herself to read & was set free at 18. She taught children in Sunday school and how to read. She was turned down from going to Africa to be a teacher. On Nove. 20,1822 she boarded a ship to go to Hawaii to teach Hawaiian kids to read. She kept a diary. I plan to get that book and read it. She taught herself Hawaiian, taught Hawaiians English and how to read. She stayed there until Oct. 1825. There is a chapter on sand. I have been fascinated with sand for decades and have a collection of sand and seashells from all over the world. 245 jars of sand and shells labeled with dates and beaches. I have a book called Grains of Sand, that shows sand from all over the world magnified many times and it's amazing what you see in the pictures. The Author lives in HI and I actually talked to him on the phone. Grains of Sand by Gary Greenberg published in 2008. In the chapter 52 Saturdays by the sea, she discusses a time when she and her daughter went to the beach every Saturday for a year, before sunrise and watched the sun come up and bonded. In Hawaii. Our youngest daughter went to a semester at the University of Hawaii, and I brought her over to settle in. The author talks of seeing her grown daughter as an adult instead of her child, and I too experienced this this year, vividly with both of my daughters. In the chapter on Tommy the Turtle, she talks of the time she and her Husband got caught in a rip tide. I too experiences this and it is beyond scary. I don't know if everyone would love this book as much as I did, but I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the beach. The author has written other books and writes poetry, and many of her poems are in this book along with other Beach Quotes and beautiful photograpy.

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a little soul refresh this summer? I’ve got just the book for you! Robin’s latest read is everything: warm, peaceful, and full of heart.

I was so excited when this arrived in my mailbox, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! I saved reading it for summer break, and it did not disappoint! It’s full of beachy vibes, inspiring stories, quotes, poems, and verses that seriously help you slow down and reconnect, with yourself and with God.

This book doesn’t just speak to your heart... it’s BEAUTIFUL too. The kind of book that makes you feel like you’re right by the ocean, breathing in peace. You all know what I mean... seabreeze in your hair, seawater misting your face, waves tickling your feet. *I need to go the beach asap!

Loved this! It’s 100% going on display in my home all summer long.

I received a complimentary copy, this review reflects my honest opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely lovely book! Robin Jones Gunn writes so beautifully! Her descriptions are new, unique, and fresh...not the typical cliches. Always, her eyes turn to the Father and Creator of all, and thus she causes my eyes and heart to turn to Him, as well. Like Robin, I have a deep love in my heart for the ocean. However, living in a land-locked state, I have to settle for the lakes nearby. But oh how this book made me long to visit the ocean once again. This book now joins Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift From the Sea as my 2 favorite books about the sea that I will revisit over and over again throughout the years.

[Hunter Radecki · Rating 2 out of 5]

[Audiobook]
I love the beach.

But the book took a turn halfway through in which religious influence began to dominate the text through interjections that lacked flow and ease.

I grew up on the beach, so the first half’s focus on sandy whimsey and wonder was refreshing and comforting. Verses then became introduced and at first, intertwined smoothly. Towards the end, I felt their inclusion was forced.

As someone who favors faith over institution in religion, my bias came into play, and I no longer enjoyed the writing as much. Still a good, quick read/listen.

[Paulette Kneip Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a lovely, short (176 pages) summer read. “By the Sea: Glimpses of Eternity, Reflections of Simple Hope” by Robin Jones Gunn.
The book is filled with a number of personal vignettes. If you like the beach, the sea, scripture and poetry, along with beautiful pictures. You may enjoy this book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Sea: Glimpses of Eternity, Reflections of Simple Hope by Robin Jones Gunn is a beautifully written love letter to the Creator and his handiwork, the sea. This is a special book to be savored very slowly. I loved it and plan to give copies to my siblings who love the ocean even more than I!❤️🌊❤️

[Tecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book has the feel of sitting on the beach where you can enjoy without a sense of urgency, revel in beauty, and have space to appreciate things. Love the mix of storytelling, poetry, and scripture. I used this like a devotional and added it to my morning routine as another way to start the day from a place of gratitude and making space for beautiful things in the day.

[Katerbean98 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. Everything about it: the photography, the poetry, the stories Gunn shared from her personal experiences… I think I want to be best friends with her. This is such a sweet book and I could see myself returning to it again.

[Joan Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and enjoyable read about all things sea. Some personal stories from Robin as well as poems are reflections by Robin and others. Also included are some beautiful pictures and sea themed Bible verses.

[Kayley Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite RJG ever!

[Ellie Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF... this is as someone who has read multiple series by Robin Jones Gunn & who knew this was a gift book.

[Laurie]

Beautiful stories and beautiful photos, with beautiful poems and quotes sprinkled throughout the book.

[Mary Whitehorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable book!

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book filled with stories, scripture and poetry about the love the author has for the sea.