In the ultimate Christmas comfort read for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury, a bracing Christmas on North Carolina’s Outer Banks opens the door to a second chance at love…
Some places never leave you . . .
Two days before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames left the Outer Banks to fulfill his dream of sailing. For years, it’s been a liberating, wayfarer’s life, crewing on ocean-bound vessels and joining cross-Atlantic races. He knew leaving his hometown wouldn’t be forever, but to mend a disillusioned heart in Fortunate Harbor, it was for the best. Still, he never expected that a family upheaval and his loving mother’s plea would call him back. With Christmas nearing, Brody is coming home again—to a crisp chill in the air and a warm former flame . . .
Some goodbyes aren’t meant to be forever . . .
Attorney for the Outer Banks’ 5-star ocean-front resort and resident treasure hunter, Rae Alden has a life that is adventurous, rewarding . . . and lonely. Still struggling with recent romances gone wrong, Rae directs all her energy into her career and caring for her ailing aunt, taking respite in dawn runs along the beach. But now, after eight years, she sees Brody again. They share more than a passion for the island realm. There are memories of a lovely once-upon-a-time fling. It lasted until a fateful change of seasons—and heart.
Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning? For Brody and Rae, this Christmas is all about making wishes come true.
Davis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than eight million books in twenty languages.
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
Lovely title & great setting, but the seaglass connection is a bit thin, as is the ending. Also, hard to keep track of all the women's names and their various degrees of angst.
📚A Sea Glass Christmas ✍🏻Davis Bunn Blurb: In the ultimate Christmas comfort read for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury, a bracing Christmas on North Carolina’s Outer Banks opens the door to a second chance at love…
Some places never leave you . . .
Two days before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames left the Outer Banks to fulfill his dream of sailing. For years, it’s been a liberating, wayfarer’s life, crewing on ocean-bound vessels and joining cross-Atlantic races. He knew leaving his hometown wouldn’t be forever, but to mend a disillusioned heart in Fortunate Harbor, it was for the best. Still, he never expected that a family upheaval and his loving mother’s plea would call him back. With Christmas nearing, Brody is coming home again—to a crisp chill in the air and a warm former flame . . .
Some goodbyes aren’t meant to be forever . . .
Attorney for the Outer Banks’ 5-star ocean-front resort and resident treasure hunter, Rae Alden has a life that is adventurous, rewarding . . . and lonely. Still struggling with recent romances gone wrong, Rae directs all her energy into her career and caring for her ailing aunt, taking respite in dawn runs along the beach. But now, after eight years, she sees Brody again. They share more than a passion for the island realm. There are memories of a lovely once-upon-a-time fling. It lasted until a fateful change of seasons—and heart.
Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning? For Brody and Rae, this Christmas is all about making wishes come true. My Thoughts Two days before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames left the Outer Banks to fulfill his dream of sailing. For years, it’s been a liberating, wayfarer’s life, crewing on ocean-bound vessels and joining cross-Atlantic races. He knew leaving his hometown wouldn’t be forever, but to mend a disillusioned heart in Fortunate Harbor, it was for the best. Still, he never expected that a family upheaval and his loving mother’s plea would call him back. With Christmas nearing, Brody is coming home again—to a crisp chill in the air and a warm former flame . Some goodbyes aren’t meant to be forever . Attorney for the Outer Banks’ 5-star ocean-front resort and resident treasure hunter, Rae Alden has a life that is adventurous, rewarding and lonely. Still struggling with recent romances gone wrong, Rae directs all her energy into her career and caring for her ailing aunt, taking respite in dawn runs along the beach. But now, after eight years, she sees Brody again. They share more than a passion for the island realm. There are memories of a lovely once-upon-a-time fling. It lasted until a fateful change of seasons—and heart. Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning? For Brody and Rae, this Christmas is all about making wishes come true.Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning? For Brody and Rae, this Christmas is all about making wishes come true. This is Brody Reames, mother and father's story. This is Rae Alden and aunt Emma Alden's story. Thanks NetGalley, Kensingtonbooks and Author Davis Bunn for the advanced copy of "A Sea Glass Christmas" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation. #ASeaGlassChristmas #DavisBunn #Kensingtonbooks #NetGalley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Raise a glass to A Sea Glass Christmas, out this week, where emotional baggage washes ashore harder than any wave, and small-town love tries to patch the cracks.
If you came here looking for a feel-good, Hallmark-movie-on-paper situation where someone kisses under the mistletoe and learns the true meaning of Christmas via hot cocoa and a small-town bake sale... yeah, this ain’t that. A Sea Glass Christmas is a warm hug, sure, but it's the kind of hug that squeezes just a little too long and makes you cry about your unresolved childhood trauma.
Brody Reames (yes, that’s his actual name, and no, he is not starring in a forgotten Nicholas Sparks movie... yet) rolls back into Fortunate Harbor after years of aggressively not dealing with anything. He’s been out on the ocean, living his dream of sailing around the world while emotionally sailing away from every real human connection. His dad was the kind of emotionally stunted patriarch who treats affection like a weakness, so naturally Brody bailed at the first opportunity. Christmas is looming, his mom called in a favor, and now he’s back home with more emotional baggage than a holiday Delta flight.
Enter Rae Alden, our tough-as-seashells small-town attorney, who is currently running entirely on grief, caffeine, and stubbornness. She’s taking care of her dying aunt, healing from a breakup, and has zero interest in catching feelings for her old almost-flame, especially not the one who ghosted her in a sailboat. But the man walks in needing legal advice and a hug, and suddenly all those carefully buried feelings start doing the cha-cha right back into her life.
Their chemistry is low-key but believable, like two people who never got closure and are now emotionally circling each other with a polite “So... we gonna talk about it or just keep pretending that storm never happened?” It’s not spicy. It’s not even slow burn. It’s more like a candle flickering in a storm — fragile and warm and deeply human. Rae is honestly the MVP here. She keeps her boundaries while also being one of the only people who sees Brody clearly. She is ride-or-die in a lawyer suit and deserves a beachfront statue in her honor.
The emotional meat of the story belongs to Brody. And I mean that in the "go to therapy, my dude" kind of way. He’s haunted by his father’s voice, his failed career arc, and the general spiritual exhaustion of being a sensitive man in a toxic system that only rewards aggression. His growth doesn’t happen in some big cinematic monologue. It happens in small conversations, awkward silences, and finally admitting that he doesn’t have to be at war with the world just because he was raised on conflict. It’s quiet, cathartic, and honestly? Kind of beautiful.
There are a few other characters floating in the emotional tide, Rae’s aunt Emma, who is probably the best person in the entire town and has “wise dying woman” energy turned all the way up, and the community as a whole adds some soft, golden-light ambiance to the heavier themes. But the story stays tightly focused on Brody and Rae figuring out whether they can love each other without breaking apart in the process.
Now. I have to roast one thing. The ending? Ma’am. Sir. Davis. Why did you slam the book shut mid-sentence like someone pulled the fire alarm? We were building toward something real and earned and then... lights out. It wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it sure wasn’t a landing. It felt like watching the last 10 minutes of The Notebook only to have the screen cut to black and say “you get the idea.”
This one lands at 3.5 stars for me. It's a cozy, character-driven holiday read, but it leans heavier on internal healing than external plot, and while I appreciate the emotional weight, I wanted just a little more payoff. If you like Sweet Magnolias but wish it had a touch more therapy and a touch less wine mom energy, A Sea Glass Christmas might be your thing.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Most Likely to Trigger an Existential Crisis Between Caroling Sessions
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of A Sea Glass Christmas. I devoured it faster than a grief-stricken attorney downs a peppermint schnapps on Christmas Eve. Appreciate the chance to be emotionally wrecked and romantically teased all in under 300 pages.
A Sea Glass Christmas by Davis Bunn (An Outer Banks Novel Book 2) In the ultimate Christmas comfort read for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury, a bracing Christmas on North Carolina’s Outer Banks opens the door to a second chance at love… Some places never leave you . . . Two days before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames left the Outer Banks to fulfill his dream of sailing. For years, it’s been a liberating, wayfarer’s life, crewing on ocean-bound vessels and joining cross-Atlantic races. He knew leaving his hometown wouldn’t be forever, but to mend a disillusioned heart in Fortunate Harbor, it was for the best. Still, he never expected that a family upheaval and his loving mother’s plea would call him back. With Christmas nearing, Brody is coming home again—to a crisp chill in the air and a warm former flame . . . Some goodbyes aren’t meant to be forever . . . Attorney for the Outer Banks’ 5-star ocean-front resort and resident treasure hunter, Rae Alden has a life that is adventurous, rewarding . . . and lonely. Still struggling with recent romances gone wrong, Rae directs all her energy into her career and caring for her ailing aunt, taking respite in dawn runs along the beach. But now, after eight years, she sees Brody again. They share more than a passion for the island realm. There are memories of a lovely once-upon-a-time fling. It lasted until a fateful change of seasons—and heart. Like waves along the Crystal Coast, emotions thought long-gone come rushing back. But with both of them facing family turmoil and secrets yet to be revealed, how promising is a new chance at happiness, no matter how powerful the yearning? For Brody and Rae, this Christmas is all about making wishes come true. This is Brody Reames, mother and father's story. This is Rae Alden and aunt Emma Alden's story. My favorite quote is "Okay, here goes." Olivia's smile was wondrous to behold. She swung the phone around so the screen was pointed at the older woman. "Say hello to Cameron's baby girl. Her name is Emma". I recommend this book. A Sea Glass Christmas by Davis Bunn is a 4 star book. I am looking forward to reading more books by Davis Bunna . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
A Sea Glass Christmas is the second title in the Outer Banks series. While it’s perhaps not “necessary” to have read the first story in the series, I believe you’d have a better understanding of the background of this small, coastal town if you can possibly read them in order. In my opinion, you do what works for you.
Brody is coming home after years of sailing the world, his passion for sailing and the solitude involved come from a deep place, and years of dealing with his father’s unreasonable expectations… even his bullying personality, at times. He doesn’t really “want” to come home, but for his mother, he’ll face old demons once again.
Rae is a brilliant lawyer with a side passion for treasure-hunting. She’s probably settled, is the best word. Settled in her job, settled with her life, and no longer yearning for that special something that’s eluded her. Until Brody returns. The man she’s never forgotten, the man she might have found that “special something” with… if he hadn’t up and left her behind while he sailed the ocean alone.
Although centered around the week before Christmas, A Sea Glass Christmas isn’t a cute sipping cocoa by the roaring fireplace while carols play in the background kind of story. It’s gritty, the characters face their past decisions and choices in a hard-hitting manner. It is a romance as Brody and Rae deal with their past, and perhaps, move forward to a future together. It’s also a story of redemption, in a way, of accepting that life isn’t always kind, but to make the most of it because it’s the only life you’ve got. There are layers here that attract and reveal uncomfortable things in life. It will, perhaps, make you think and come away from the experience satisfied.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*
I have enjoyed several of the author’s previous Christmas novellas – my favorite being The Christmas Hummingbird, part of the Miramar Bay series set on the west coast. This latest offering is the second book in a new series – The Outer Banks. I was unaware there was a preceding book and as I read this one, I felt I was missing key elements of the background story. While this did not pose an insurmountable obstacle to enjoying the book, I did feel it detracted from fully engaging with several characters.
Brody Reames lived under a tyrannical father who never let an opportunity go by to diminish his son’s self-confidence and sense of worth. As a result, he left home withdrawing into himself and his passion for sailing to the detriment of his ability to form lasting, intimate relationships. The story unfolds as Broady returns to his hometown as he faces his disillusionment with his life circumstances and his father’s pernicious influence on the family. In the process, he reconnects with Rae Alden, an attorney who was perhaps the only woman he ever loved. If each one can move past their past relationship failures and express their vulnerability, Brody and Rae may have a second chance at love.
The setting for this novella is the week leading up to Christmas and the holiday theme is amply woven into the storyline. However, this is not a light-hearted seasonal book as it addresses terminal illness, a nasty divorce, broken relationships, and bullying. These are heavy topics to be sure, but the overall tone of the story is one of redemption.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The last few years have been exciting for Rae. First a legal case to save a local landmark, then falling in love with the rule—breaking stranger who stole more than just her heart. And now, she’s face-to-face with the man her heart never got past – the adventure-chasing brother of her closest friend. He’s here to ask for her help to deal with family drama, but it’s her own family crisis that will bring them together. Will they find a way to reignite their passion, or will it fizzle as soon as it has restarted?
A Sea Glass Christmas is the second installment in Davis Bunn’s Outer Banks series, following Fortunate Harbor released in early 2025. Bunn, known for his suspense and mystery works, has released more than 70 novels across multiple genres. Currently the Writer-in-Residence at Regent’s Park College at Oxford University, Bunn grew up in North Carolina and often features the state in his novels. This work will take readers from Research Triangle near Raleigh-Durham out to the Crystal Coast of the Outer Banks on a tale of standing up for what is right and staying open to the love in front of you.
I give A Sea Glass Christmas 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but some sections of dialogue felt forced or unnatural. I did enjoy how vividly detailed the scenes are – this book transported me to one of my favorite places on earth on the Outer Banks! With this being the second book in the series, I may have missed some of the background setting up the plot of this book, but there were times that it felt like the author jumped the start on the plot and missed an opportunity to build up to the story. With that said, this was a quick and easy read, and would be perfect for a holiday getaway, especially at the beach!
If you love Bunn’s other works, you will love this one. I would also recommend this novel to readers who enjoy Nicholas Sparks’ or Pamela Kelley. The small-town romance is a crowd pleaser! I would also recommend this to executives and professionals looking for a quick literary getaway – the inclusion of some high-pressure careers among the characters will help you feel right at home!
A Sea Glass Christmas Davis Bunn is the second book in the series called Outer Banks. This series is set in North Carolina on the Outer Banks. The story line picks up with Rae Alden after her win with the corporation over the hotel. She proved her ability to work with people to a positive conclusion for her client. She faces a new situation in this novel. On top of her new situation, a woman who meant the world to her declines significantly and causes Rae to take stock of her life.
Brody Reames left the Outer Banks for sailing. He found a job with a man who was determined to win races on the ocean, Something Brody was good at. He worked for a company that allowed him time for racing and his math skills. A couple of events caused Brody to reassess his decision at 21 and look toward his future. One of the events was his parents divorcing and Brody’s fear his father would cause problems for his mother.
Brody goes to Rae for help with his new challenges and while she helps him solve his legal issues with sailing and employment. They band together to help a beloved older woman have precious time with them as her health ebbs away.
Brody and Rae are surprised by the other and find themselves working together. Maybe Brody coming home again will allow a relationship between them. A Sea Glass Christmas is another great book by Davis Bunn.
After leaving.....just before his 21st birthday, Brody Reames has been doing what he wants. Work and sailing fill him, or so he thinks. He gets an urgent message from his mother right before Christmas and returns home. He is unsettled in his life and searching. He doesn't really know what he is searching for. Might it be love, acceptance, career change, or something totally different?
With a heart broken years ago, and an unsatisfactory relationship now, Rae Aldon is a successful lawyer, great friend, although lonely. Her beloved aunt is slipping away and she can't face that. Brody had been the one who broke her heart long ago and when he requests her services as an attorney AND asks for help with his mental state, Rae really doesn't know if she can help.
This book was a bit drawn out for me at first, and sometimes it felt like the dialogue was going no where. Then...it all came together fabulously.
This is the second book in this series and you really need to read the first book before you dive into this one. I did read the first book and had to go back and familiarize myself with the premise of the series by re-reading a portion of book 1, Fortunate Harbor. The community became more clear once I did that.
This book continues the series that started with Fortunate Harbor, which is also the location on the Outer Banks where the stories are set. Brody returns to Fortunate Harbor where he grew up. His childhood was difficult due to an overbearing father who showed little love. As soon as possible, Brody left for school and his first love, sail boat racing. He crewed for many years but then discovered that his boss was just like his father, and he became disillusioned and burned out.
Rae is dealing with her beloved aunt Emma's terminal illness and coming off a breakup. She's a small town attorney, loves Fortunate Harbor and the ability to work with the residents daily. When Brody comes back and asks for her legal advice, old feelings start to emerge between the two.
I loved the locale, the way the town's people supported Emma and the relationship between Brody and Rae. She's a strong female who isn't afraid to show it, and that was great. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
This was my first read by this author, who expertly weaves a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of returning home. Brody Reames is a relatable protagonist whose journey from the free-spirited life of a sailor back to the familiar shores of the Outer Banks pulls readers into his emotional turmoil. The backdrop of the picturesque coastal setting amplifies the story’s themes, enhancing the reader's connection to Brody’s nostalgic reverie. His reunion with Rae Alden, a strong and independent attorney, adds depth to the narrative, as both characters grapple with unresolved feelings and the weight of their past decisions.
While the novel unfolds at a deliberate pace, this slow burn allows for rich character development and a deeper exploration of their shared history. The chemistry between Brody and Rae is palpable, making their interactions both tender and poignant. The challenges they face keep the stakes high as they navigate their rekindled relationship. Ultimately, the heartwarming ending provides a satisfying resolution, leaving readers with a sense of hope and the belief that sometimes, the tides of love can bring us back to where we truly belong.
I was surprised with the depth of the people, the challenges that they each face, and as they come together, they are all searching for one thing. This is about Brody Reames, who has been having nightmares for a long time. He had one, that made him choose to reach out to a friend, and she agreed to help him. His journey changes, with reconnecting with the people who love him, facing the things that he hid from, and discovering the man that has been trying to come through, that he kept buried. There is so much they have to work through, but I saw the growth, the determination, and they knew now was the time, to keep moving forward, and create the lives, they needed and now wanted. It does take place at Christmastime, and answers to the sea glass were answered. You will have to read the book to see if they get that one thing they are all searching for I received an ARC from Kensington through NetGalley. If you have heard the saying you can't judge a book by its cover, this is one of those books, It is so much more.
I have read and enjoyed several of this author's books, however, I wasn't all that sure about book 1 in this particular series. This book was much more like it for me, though.
Rae finds herself just walking through her life, not enjoying herself particularly but not being all that unhappy either. She had a fling with Brody a long time ago but he was a restless soul and needed to continue his life on the stormy seas. So they parted ways.
Brody makes a reappearance in her life when he comes back to town, due to his mother's nagging. Both of these people have unresolved trauma to deal with and I think the book deals with this sensitively. I love that Rae goes to bat for Brody and how she does it is masterful.
Be warned though, this is NOT one of those books that gives you the warm and fuzzies. It is a bit of a slow burn and not everything is resolved at the end :)
Brody may seem to have it all together on his job and at his favorite pastime. However, he seems to have hit a brick wall emotionally. Since childhood, he has been one of those people who can hide in plain view. Hiding is his coping mechanism. I think it would be fair to say that he probably would have been better off with an absentee father than to live with his father present in the home. His father had a favorite saying. My roof, my rules. No matter how hard he tried, Brody never could live up to the expectations of the man. Interestingly, I never picked up in the story what the father expected, other than for everyone else to jump the second he told them to. For a father who only garnered one appearance in the book, he had a huge negative impact on his family. As the story opens, Brody has decided that the time has come to make some major changes in his life. I found it inspiring that certain people whom he had hurt when he left the Outer Banks were ready for him to come home and willing to help him figure out exactly where he belonged.
If you have not yet read Fortunate Harbor, or if it’s been awhile since you read it and you don’t remember the details well, I strongly suggest you read that book first. This one picks up shortly after the end of Fortunate Harbor, is set in the same location, and has a lot of the same characters. It had been over six months since I read Fortunate Harbor, and I started reading A Sea Glass Christmas. I felt totally lost and was not enjoying the book at all until I went back and re-read Fortunate Harbor. Then I was in the groove and really enjoyed A Sea Glass Christmas. (I also enjoyed Fortunate Harbor a lot more the second time through than I did the first.)
There’s a lot of good insights on facing one’s past, change, what is home, how to open up to love, and healing from brokenness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #ASeaGlassChristmas #NetGalley
This short tale is a sequel to Fortunate Harbor. Most of this story can be easily understood without having read that first, but towards the end you may feel a bit lost. This is a good story with strong characters. What this is not is a syrupy Christmas novella, even though there is romance involved. These characters are dealing with some heavy issues mostly related to family and some hard life changes.
That’s not to say this is a depressing book. It isn’t. It’s filled with hope for the future. And everyone needs an Aunt Emma.
I enjoyed it though I felt the ending was rather abrupt.
Family friendly.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This clean and heartwarming read swept me away with its engaging story—I was 70% in before I realized it, and ended up finishing it in a single day!
As someone who lived in North Carolina and along the NC coast, this book gave me everything I wanted in the environmental arena—the setting felt so authentic and immersive.
I loved how it explored friendship, healing from familial trauma, and how those experiences shape the choices we make as adults—without ever feeling heavy or depressing. The romance was sweet (even if a little sudden), and the writing flowed beautifully.
The only reason I didn’t give it a full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was because the ending felt abrupt—I was left wanting more resolution. Still, it was a lovely, heartfelt read perfect for the season.
The book is being published on September 30th and just in time to get your holiday reading list off to a cozy start. Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of the book.
There are a handful of storytellers whose work I eagerly anticipate, and this is one of them. Bunn's novels are part Hallmark movie, part after-school special, and part colorful history, this time of the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.
We pick back up with our favorite attorney, Rae Alden, while she's dealing with her aunt's terminal illness. When Brody Reames rolls back into town, he's faced with all the emotional issues he sailed away from at age twenty one. Being adrift, facing life changes, and dealing with his past, well, Brody finds it all easier to tackle with a strong, compassionate woman like Rae at his side.
It's such a treat being back in Fortunate Harbor, a place with a vivid history, small-town charm, and colorful townsfolk. We meet some new people, reacquaint with beloved characters like Aunt Emma, and experience the characters' healing and growth during the most wonderful time of the year. Poignant, heartfelt, and uplifting, this is the warm, cozy blanket and cup of hot cocoa by fireplace you’ve been looking for.
It's so exciting to have a romance style novel written by a man who isn't afraid of writing men as humans. Brody is real, flawed, and refreshing. The story itself will most likely be most special to locals of North Carolina as the geography pokes nostalgia to natives of the region. I did find that keeping Brody's job as some big, plot changing, mystery was lackluster. The whole conflict of the novel wasn't as emotional to the reader as it was to the character. The characters are built up quickly which might be a bonus to some and a downfall to others. Introducing three women in the same location and briefly describing them and then only using their names later was quite confusing. Yet still, "A Sea Glass Christmas" was a refreshing read via the authors portrayal of a mans perspective with good writing and a true passion for the subject of the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my review. This is my first book by this author. I do understand there is another book in this series and maybe that’s why I felt lost at times. It takes place right before Christmas. Brody decides to leave home and follow his passion……sailing. When he returns home later, he becomes reacquainted with a friend, Rae, and she might have been his one true love….ever. However, they both have had relationship issues. So, will they be able to move past their prior relationship failures and take a second chance on learning to love again? Only time will tell how this journey ends.
A Sea Glass Christmas by Davis Bunn Outer Banks #2 3.7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 4) Spice: 0.1/5 Cursing: none Format/Source: hardback from Goodreads and Between the Chapters Genres/Tropes: romance, holiday, second chance, adventure Audience: Adult Setting: Outer Banks Characters: Rae, Brody, Olivia, Emma, Cameron, Jacob, Mia, Amiya 👍 short chapters, multi POV, psychologist rep, healing, "home," cathartic, no cursing 👎 slow (not a lot happens)
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #goodreads #romancebooks #booktok #davisbunn #outerbanks ***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Sea Glass Christmas by Davis Bunn returns to the Fortunate Harbor with Brody Reames also returning home there. Rae Alden is there too now an attorney and as the caregiver for her aunt. So once again they are in the same place at the same time. Both of these characters have issues to be resolved and struggles to overcome in their lives, yet this is a Hallmark kind of story. Two people who need closure in their lives or a happily-ever-after. Their story seems realistic, and it is quite believable. With past failures, present vulnerability, and current family issues aside these two deserve the love they find with each other and more.
A Sea Glass Christmas is book #2 in the Outer Banks Novel series by Davis Bunn.
I love the Outer Banks and was drawn to this book. After reading this book, I’ve seen reviews recommending that the reader start with book 1, Fortunate Harbor. I think that would have been beneficial but I was still able to enjoy this one. There are a lot of heavy topics in this book. I liked seeing the characters heal and grow and get second chances. I plan to read the first book and possibly re-read this one in anticipation of the next book.
Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
First off, I love Mr. Bunn’s books. There is a haunting quality to them that I so admire. As I sat to write this, I read the story blurb here on Goodreads. I’m glad I went into this blind. It made for a much better story. One thing was obvious from the beginning but I let come to me midway through the book having no insight. It was a masterful puzzle like all his books but was solved with grace and honor. I always love the tenor of his books because they, like Richard Paul Evan’s, are always relaxing to read. As I age my style of books is becoming clearer and clearer and Davis Bunn’s books are high on the list! I gave it five stars for all these reasons and more.
The author, Davis Bunn, has written a sweet love story of second chances. Although A Sea Glass Christmas takes place during the Christmas season, it can be enjoyed any time of the year. The characters are relatable. The story primarily revolves around Brody and his growth over time, accompanied by some therapy. This reader quickly began rooting for Brody to stand up for himself. Readers looking for a sweet romance should check A Sea Glass Christmas out.
I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a while to get into the story. Brody and Rae spend a lot of time brooding about where they are in life. Brody’s tyrannical father harmed his psyche. Then he worked for a man just like his dad. It’s the women in his life who, realizing he sincerely wants to change, give their support. Once the process gets going, it was fast reading.
This is book two in a series. It’s been a long time since I read book one and I didn’t remember all the particulars about the characters.
I really enjoyed this author's Miramar Bay series. This one, based in North Carolina, not so much. This is the second in the series and will probably be the last one I read. The theme of financial fraud and wrongdoings is not interesting to me. Plus, the characters all seem a bit cold and impersonal. I just never grew to like any of them much. It takes place at Christmas but there was really only one scene that was very "Christmasy". No sex or profanity.