The Sands of Sea Blue Beach

by Rachel Hauck

Emery Quinn finds herself at a crossroads between her career and complex family dynamics. Living at home in Cleveland and clinging to memories of her late mother, Emery struggles to connect with her blended family. Seizing the chance for a fresh start, she accepts the position of editor-in-chief at the struggling Sea Blue Beach Gazette. Returning to the Sands Motor Motel in the picturesque Florida town, she is flooded with bittersweet memories and past regrets.

Architect Caleb Ransom has returned to Sea Blue Beach, a place filled with both cherished and painful memories. He means to make a difference for his family and hometown by raising his abandoned nephew and preserving the history of Sea Blue Beach as the leader of the new historical society. He never expected to see Emery Quinn again, the girl who captured his heart sixteen summers ago.

As Emery and Caleb rekindle their friendship and explore a chance at love, they join forces to unite Sea Blue Beach, a town bitterly divided into east and west, old and new. Together, they navigate family challenges, professional setbacks, and a high-stakes royal visit, all leading to a place where forgiveness and love reshape their journey back to each other.

From the talented pen of New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck comes a poignant tale of second chances and the enduring power of love.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Audiobook, Summer Reads

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2025

About the author

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.

A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.

The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio

She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and is a retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.

Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

www.rachelhauck.com

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not having read ‘Meet Me At The Starlight,’ I really enjoyed this lighthearted seaside romance. It’s set 40 years later and reveals the need for restoration, both personal and structural.

What’s not to like?
✔️Seaside setting; small town, historical setting, with families who grew up together
✔️Tension; family drama, division/rivalry in town between progress and preservation, romantic tension
✔️Real life situations; career disappointments, step-mother, blended family, wayward sister, overbearing father, death of family member
✔️Faith threads; Delilah’s influence, faith, love, forgiveness
✔️Thought-provoking narrative; great for book clubs

Grasping at straws and looking for fulfillment, 32 year old Emery Quinn stuffs her Honda Accord with all her worldly possessions and checks her rear-view mirror as she heads out of her suburban Cleveland neighbourhood with the promise of a job and sets out on the 900 mile journey to freedom and second chances in Sea Blue Beach, a coastal town in northern Florida.

I wanted to hug Emery! I knew exactly what she was feeling at the beginning of the book; being the older sister with “zero prospects in career or love.” I was so happy when she took the editor-in-chief position and took a leap of faith. Meeting her childhood friend, Caleb Ransom, was serendipitous, and I was along for the ride as they rekindled their relationship, navigated the challenges in their way, mended their hearts, and set their eyes on a fresh start.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[BookLoverAmanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach - Rachel Hauck
4 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...

Rachel sure does know how to deliver a heartwarming, emotionally layered story! This one is filled with second chances and healing. If you want a book with depth, charming seaside town and a second chance romance, check this out.

Emery Quinn is our main character and she is very relatable with her realistic feelings of grief after losing her mother to cancer when she was a teen. Cut to being in her 30s with no real career or relationship and her step sister is set to be married. She struggles with comparison and the complexity of her blended family. She goes back to Sea Blue Beach and starts a new role at the struggling Sea Blue Beach Gazette. Here is where she runs into her old boyfriend from a summer long ago and they reconnect in many ways, recounting events of the past. Caleb Ransom has a sense of devotion to his nephew and preserving the town's history - you really root for him and Emery.

Their reunion 16 years later if filled with so many feelings. There is a sweetness to their romance but also a lot of hardship. We see family wounds brought to the surface, community divisions and issues with the paper they try to work out.

Emery is such a layered character because we see every aspect of her mother's cancer diagnosis leading up to her passing away. You learn about their past together in flashbacks and why they drifted apart so long ago.

This is a story about coming home and finding second chances. An emotional, sweet and raw story. I love the town's motto is "Emmanuel, God with us." and how that tied in with the ending for Emery. I do think I would have liked a bit more of her faith journey explored, but it was a realistic take on someone walking through grief, emotions of anger and frustrations to God and coming back to being open to Him.

I always love Rachel's family stories and look forward to more by her. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Bethany House for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review.

Content: lots of discussions and feelings about grief surrounding loss of a parent with cancer, flashbacks to those moments real time with the parent. clean romance.

[Alissa J. Zavalianos]

✨The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck - Book Review✨

This was my first time reading anything by Hauck. Overall, I enjoyed the love story & family dynamics the most, especially how all the flashbacks played into the story, but I found the Gazette and small town politics hard to get into, which was unfortunately a large part of the story.

I think this book would be perfect for those who love the ins and outs of town meetings, quaint coastal vibes, rivalries, and heart-warming characters with interesting back stories. Oh, and second-chance romance :)

Content:
- two cancer diagnosis (one leading to death)
- a wayward sister with a shady past (redeemed by the end)
- wholesome romance

I’m thankful I had the opportunity to read this book, graciously provided to me by Bethany House Publishers. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook
I loved this “now and then” love story. And it wasn’t love just between hero and heroine. It was the love of community and the love of brothers and sisters and parents and children. A feel good story from start to finish.

Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Glad I read it. Will probably read more by this author.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…is it possible we met then for now?”

The unique history of Sea Blue Beach charmed me in the 80s-set Meet Me at the Starlight, so I was excited to learn we were heading back there for a more modern (but no less charming) visit in The Sands of Sea Blue Beach. Rachel Hauck is known for seamlessly weaving dual timelines together in moving stories that often allow her characters a tangible glimpse of the Divine working around us, and these latest two novels are prime examples. If you’ve ever wished you could spend a moment here on earth looking into the eyes of Jesus, or even if you think I’m a little crazy for suggesting such a thing, the picture painted here (both in the figurative and literal sense) will stir your soul.

Decades after the events of Meet Me at the Starlight, Sea Blue Beach is still fighting a battle between progress and preservation and in fact seems more divided than ever. It’s into this charged tension that Caleb Ransom and Emery Quinn – who fell in love as teenagers one summer in Sea Blue Beach – find their paths crossing once more, and I appreciated the ‘then’ and ‘now’ structure to their story. Not just because I found their adolescent romance sweet and fun but also because their lives, separately, were never the same after that summer (for unrelated reasons) and the layers to their respective present day stories still reflect that upheaval. I felt the past timeline added depth & emotion to the present timeline and made me fall in love with Caleb and Emery together – and Emery’s dad as a supporting character – earlier than I may have otherwise. And then there’s Caleb’s nephew, who perfectly represents eleven-year-old boys, the spot-on characterization making me chuckle more than once.

Bottom Line: The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck is a second-chance-at-first-love romance told with a women’s fiction vibe and a spiritual twist, all of which fits the ‘beach read’ moniker perfectly. Along those lines, town drama (including old rivalries and old-fashioned greed) and family wounds cause their fair share of tension but also add several compelling layers to the story itself and make the threads of restoration all the sweeter. I enjoyed not only getting to know Caleb, Emery, and their families – as well as a handful of intriguing supporting characters – but also being back in Sea Blue Beach itself. This quaint coastal town has learned firsthand the ‘God with us’ meaning of Immanuel and, while this theme is presented in Sands as a bit more of a subtle undercurrent than in Starlight, it nevertheless has far-reaching and touching implications for the characters and for readers too. Heartfelt, emotional, witty, and hopeful, The Sands of Sea Blue Beach is the perfect choice for your next summer read!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great summer read from Rachel Hauck!

I loved the setting and the Easter eggs that the author placed from her other books. I normally don't spot those while reading books but she does such an incredible job that I instantly recognize people and places.

The dual timeline worked really well for this story. I enjoyed both timelines and the second chance romance was sweet. Paired with a strained family bond and new beginnings, the author had me captured!


*thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Chris Jager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Hauck takes us back to the beautiful town, Sea Blue Beach, once again. Her title Meet Me at the Starlight, introduced us to the town last year. It was wonderful to wander the streets once again.

Emory is returning to Sea Blue Beach in spite of swearing to never return because it is the last place her family visited before her mother died. Caleb is also returning to make a go of it with his own architecture business. Neither of them expected to see each other again after the summer they spent falling in love.

A lovely summer read, filled with a sweet teenage story and how sometimes those stories go wrong. It is a story of families and how sometimes things are not what you would expect. I really love reading Hauck's books for that reason. She pens a love story that is so much more.

Pull up an Adirondak chair, enjoy the fire, and get to know those of Sea Blue Beach.

P.S. if you haven't read Meet Me at the Starlight, don't miss out, read that one also. You won't regret it.

[Heather Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love doesn't require perfection."
"Nor fairness."

I really enjoyed getting lost in this book and going back to Sea Blue Beach with Rachel Hauck. The second chance romance was everything, and I loved seeing Prince John again. It's a gentle, sweet story that kept me turning pages. I have to say, one of my very favorite things was Emery's dad and his response to 16 year old Caleb showing up to get to know his teenage daughter. When he called Caleb's dad, I just fell in love with him right then and there. So precious!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of the book so I could write an honest review.

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Sands of Sea Blue Beach, author Rachel Hauck wove small town charm and drama with sunshine, sand, and a second-chance romance. This combination created a lovely, summertime beach read. I particularly enjoyed Emery and Caleb’s romance because of the support and long-standing friendship they shared. Both main characters came from families with difficult relational issues that required love, forgiveness, and healing to set things right (or at least on the right path). Their common experiences drew them together and created an abiding affection between them.

Other aspects I enjoyed in The Sands of Sea Blue Beach included:

- The citizen preservation efforts and cherishing of local history (by some of the characters).
- Family love as an important source of strength and support was a key theme.
- A faith element that somehow felt both subtle and poignant as both Caleb and Emery were open to the idea and presence of Immanuel, God With Us.
- I enjoyed both of the timelines (though most of it is present day) because the dual-timeline showed the past events instead of summarizing what had occurred.

Readers who enjoyed Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck will recognize name dropping in The Sands of Sea Blue Beach, but it reads as a full stand-alone novel with no requirement to read the previous book. Four Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher. My review reflects my honest opinion.

[Lauri Gentry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the return to Sea Blue Beach. A story of second chance at love. Although the location is the same and some characters are mentioned this is not a sequel.

[Hope · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and tuned out a little by the end. Main character was quite annoying. She held onto the past so hard and if only she didn’t hold a grudge against her “blended” family then she would’ve found happiness sooner. She all of a sudden changes at the end and is calling her stepmom “mom” after being so rude to her and her step sisters for almost 20 years. I mean she doesn’t like to acknowledge the fact that she has sisters even though she has 2 step sisters and a half sister that all love her. (Will say that the sister Ava is quite annoying and sounds like a brat. Why the weird obsession with the pearl necklace) Back to Emery…She’s had 16 years to get used to this new family dynamic and she’s still not over it because she’s so self-centered. Caleb is fine but they’ve only loved each other after meeting at age 14 and then ended up not talking for 16 years?!?! I get they talked once but they never thought to try getting in contact again???

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet love story. Caleb and Emery fell in love as teenagers when Emery was visiting Sea Blue Beach on her summer vacation. But after going back to Ohio and experiencing a tragic loss, Caleb was forgotten. Sixteen years later, Emery finds herself accepting an editor job in Sea Blue Beach. Caleb, meanwhile, has come back to Sea Blue Beach to build his small architectural business. Of course you can predict what happens.

[SaraNicole]

on hold, had to return to library

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this beach romance set in the Florida panhandle. The Sands of Sea Blue Beach brought all the nostalgia and feelings. My newest fave from Rachel Hauck until the next one releases xoxo

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent from start to finish! I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook narration, the characters, and the inspirational uplifting themes of hope, forgiveness and second chances. Rachel Hauck is an author whose work I truly admire. Every time I read one of her books, I'm motivated to work toward improving my craft.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story set in a divided Florida beach town except for more than a few errors—typos, missing words and grammatical—in my ebook from Libby.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This was the power of love. Conquering those little fears. Healing the hurts. Opening eyes. More than anything, being a family.“

Once again Rachel Hauck shows herself to be the queen of the dual timeline, dual POV romance. I started reading this immediately after I finished Meet Me at the Starlight and I loved getting to visit Sea Blue Beach again. I truly hope more books are written in this sweet little town. This sweet beach read had me hooked all the way through and I found myself tearing up several times. I could relate so much to Emery and her fears of putting herself in a position where she would be vulnerable. There were so many times I just wanted to hug her because she just didn’t see how strong and amazing, how loved she was. I would have liked to see more on how she grew in her faith, but that’s really the only thing I can think of that could have made the story better. I loved how her relationship with Caleb grew, both in the past and in present day. I would love to get more stories with Emery’s and Caleb’s siblings. Both of their families were incredible. And, really, I love the idea of a town where we can potentially walk with Immanuel, God with us. Yes, I know He is always with me and I am so incredibly grateful, but the chance to walk with and be able to physically see and hear Him would be amazing.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach, by Rachel Hauck, is a heartwarming, impactful story with realistic characters, an empowering message, and an engaging plot.

Emery Quinn lost her mother years ago to cancer. It’s a trauma she never fully recovered from, and the new family that formed after the loss, uniting her father, his new wife and her two daughters, and a subsequent half-sister, never quite felt like her own. Emery struggled to feel like she belonged and therefore kept her distance as much as possible.

After suffering a professional loss and the end of a significant relationship, Emery decides to take a job as a small town newspaper publisher in the place where she and her parents spent their last vacation together as a family. While there, Emery reunites with her first love, delves into the complex, but emotion-packed town politics, reestablishes a new, meaningful career, and eventually comes to terms with her complicated blended family.

This layered story has a subtle element of faith, a main character who has depth and feels authentic and relatable, a slow-burn, second-chance romance, and a satisfying conclusion. There is so much to unpack in this story and it is not only enjoyable, but also a thought-provoking, worthwhile read.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book! I love the setting of Sea Blue Beach! It gave me nostalgic feelings as I remembered all of the small beach towns I visited as a child. The second-chance romance is super sweet! The second chance at family is heartwarming.

Wow! The characters are wonderful! They are relatable and easy to like. I love and adore Emery. She is a woman with a sad past and emotional wounds that never healed. She built up walls around her heart. Her life isn't going the way she planned and she takes a leap of faith moving to SBB to make a fresh start. Little does she know that life has a few surprises in store for her! Caleb is hunkalicious! He's a hometown boy, intelligent and committed to his family and job. Life throws him a couple of curveballs too.

It's amazing how the town comes together and decides to revitalize the East End. Small town America! I have read a few books by this author and I look forward to reading many more!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review: 4.25 ⭐️ A former first love, a small beach town in Florida, and complex family dynamics… The Sands of Sea Blue Beach was such a fun read.

Emery Quinn, a journalist, returns to Sea Blue Beach after many years away to try to save the town’s struggling local newspaper. The last time Emery was there, she was visiting with her parents while her mother battled cancer. When she returns, she runs into Caleb Ransom, a Sea Blue Beach local and Emery’s first love. As they work together to help a divided town, they also begin to explore the love they once shared sixteen years ago.

This was a very sweet small-town romance that is PERFECT for summer. The story has both a dual timeline and dual narration, which I always enjoy. The complex family dynamics felt authentic; however, some of the pacing in those relationships felt uneven.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes beachy romances and faith-based fiction.

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

the sands of sea blue beach was such a sweet return to a beloved setting. i loved revisiting sea blue beach and watching caleb and emery slowly find their way back to each other. the flashbacks to their teenage summer romance made the present day story even more heartfelt. emery’s independence and passion for running the newspaper really stood out, and the subtle thread of faith added a gentle layer of hope. cassidy’s story was heartbreaking but ultimately healing, and i appreciated how emery grew closer to her stepfamily while still honoring her boundaries.

thanks to bethany house for a gifted copy. my thoughts are my own.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emory, who has lost her newspaper job, has an opportunity to return to Sea Blue Beach. This town, though, holds bittersweet memories of the last summer with her mother and the place of meeting her first true love. Family circumstances propel her to return and to try to make peace with the past. She moves into an efficiency apartment, still managed by Delilah, where her family spent that beautiful and difficult summer long ago.
Architect Caleb Ransom has also come back to Sea Blue Beach. He grew up here but left for college and to pursue his career out on the west coast. When his business partner wanted to make a chance, Caleb took it as an opportunity to return to his roots and reset his career.
Thanks to Baker Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for a review in my own words.

[Emma Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

ummm OBSESSED
Rachel Hauck is my idol love her and her writing so much!

this book has heart, sorrow, and the journey of the human experience
it felt like a normal life wrapped up in a warming romance. it was real life with ups and downs and figuring out how to see God throughout it all

my favorite thing about this book is the romance isn’t about drama it’s about pure deep love! I’ve learned the last couple days love doesn’t come in expected ways and that’s exactly what this book taught me…it doesn’t always have to be large dates and fanfare but about being open and they gave us that and so much more!

i love it will everything in me
😌😍😌

[Natalie Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this book, and it would have been a 4 star if not for some reasons.
First was broad and confused when it was talking about the town problems and political issues in the town.
Second I really hated when she gave her step sister her mom’s pearl earring to wear at her wedding.
Three I forget my third reason but I have a third reason
But I really like the romance that was happing between Emery and Caleb. I love the then and now parts even though my favourite was the then parts leaning about Emery and Caleb’s past, when she went to Sea Blue Beach for the first time.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 While I love this author and her stories, this story had so much happening from start to finish. It was difficult for me to keep the characters and plotlines sorted. That said, I am not sorry I read this. It was a good summer read.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just… like what was half of this story? The main romance plot was so cute but all the extra side plots about the town were so ridiculous and far fetched lol

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and romantic beach story
Second chance love
Lovely characters full review to
Come

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too cheesy

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple book about a first love, new starts, and preserving a beach town’s history. Cute for a beach read. A little cheesy and at times unrealistic.

[Chloe Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story. I absolutely loved the past + present timelines, the sweet second-chance romance, and the all the small-town feels. 🥰 Watching the teenage romance blossom was super cute + there were so many heartwarming redemption moments throughout. ❤️ This book made me cry. 🥹

Clean, no spice romance; no language; references to sex/sleeping with someone very briefly (portrayed negatively); a few references to bars/alcohol beverages; cancer; death - nothing in detail.