Sand Dollar Cove

by Nancy Naigle

Growing up, Elli Eversol spent nearly every summer in Sand Dollar Cove at her grandparents’ beach house, working at their shops on the old fishing pier. After a hurricane and a Nor’easter damage the pier and the shops nearly beyond repair, Elli returns to town to help rebuild. She even launches the Buy-A-Board campaign to raise funds for the plight. Holden Moore is back in Sand Dollar Cove, too. He broke Elli’s heart years ago, but he’s pulling every Romeo trick in the book to win her back now. Yet there’s more to Holden’s agenda, and it doesn’t include saving the pier.

Brody Rankin is eager to scout the location for his company’s new mega-warehouse near a quaint North Carolina beach town. The online request for handyman assistance for the Buy-A-Board campaign in Sand Dollar Cove gives him the perfect reason to head to the east coast, check out the area, and contribute to a good cause. He’d only have to leave half of his playboy-surfer lifestyle behind for a little while—there are plenty of waves in the Atlantic. But when he meets Elli Eversol, she really gets the surf up, and he’s tempted to toss his playboy ways out with the tide.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Chick Lit, Fiction

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

I did something new! I wrote a short story about Tug and Rosemary from The Shell Collector Novels...and it was so much fun. You can read A Whelk's Island Valentine now.


USA TODAY bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming small-town stories of love, faith, and second chances. With more than forty novels to her name, eight have been adapted for television on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and FOX Nation. Her award-winning ECPA Bestseller The Shell Collector was also the first FOX Original Movie and is now streaming on FOX Nation.
Nancy’s newest Christmas novel, A South Hill Christmas Keepsake, is a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life hometown in Virginia—a tale of lost love, small-town wonder, and rediscovering the magic of community during the holidays.
Up next, she’ll return to the beloved Whelk’s Island universe in Home No Matter Where (coming May 2026), the third installment in The Shell Collector series—continuing her signature blend of coastal charm, healing, and hope.
After a successful career in the banking industry, Nancy followed her heart and took early retirement to write full-time. Now living in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, she crafts stories that celebrate the simple joys of life, the beauty of belonging, and the power of love to restore even the most fragile hearts.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her browsing antique shops, painting, or weaving pine needle baskets—always on the lookout for the next small spark of inspiration to turn into a story you’ll never forget.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific small-town story full of friends, family, and love. Elli spent her growing-up summers in Sand Dollar Cove with her grandparents and always saw herself eventually living there. But life intervened, and she has spent the last several years inland, building her real estate business. She returns to the cove to rebuild the shops and pier that were damaged in the latest hurricane, only to find that things have changed more than she expected. Her grandmother is feeling her age, the damage to the pier is worse than she realized, and an old boyfriend is back in town.

I liked the interplay of the various relationships. Elli and her grandmother were great. They have such a wonderful relationship. Nana may have slowed down some, but she is still full of life and enjoys taking care of people. I loved her practical outlook on life and how she uses it to help Elli over some rough patches. Elli's friendship with Pam is longstanding, and it was fun to see their "girl times" together. Elli also knows she can count on Pam when she needs her, such as the prep for the town council meeting.

Holden's appearance took Elli by surprise. She hadn't seen him since the summer before college when he broke her heart. He makes it plain that he'd like to get together with her again, but she's wary. There's still some attraction, but she's not sure about trusting him with her heart again. I admit that he bugged me, at times seeming almost stalkerish. But it was his actions at the town council meeting that showed his true colors.

I loved Brody. Elli found him when she looked for someone to help with the Buy-a-Board inscriptions. I really liked the way that he connected so quickly with Nana. They were so cute together, especially when he cooked for her. Brody is very laid-back and easy to get along with. He and Elli connect over their love of the beach and the woodworking he does for her. When things at the pier don't go well, Brody is the one who talks her back from the edge of despair and helps her look at things a different way. Unfortunately, there was a crucial bit of information that he didn't share with her that nearly ruined everything. I loved seeing him show a little bit of a vulnerable side as he made it right. His big moment at the end was great.

I liked the small-town setting. The hurricane's damage affected everyone in some way, and all hoped for something that would fix things before tourist season started. The way that the town council tried to put one over on the townspeople was maddening, and I laughed at the looks on their faces when so many people showed up for it. Even better was the plan that Brody helped Elli develop. It was so heartwarming to see the community pull together to make it happen. I also loved how welcoming they are to newcomers like Brody and Ed. Ed turned out to be an unexpected surprise who provided an interesting twist. I'd love to see him get a story of his own.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the town Sand Dollar Cove. If you like small town romances that take place at the beach this is the book for you. This is a sweet, clean story about returning home. Elli Eversol returns to Sand Dollar Cove to repair the shops that her grandfather built years ago, located on the pier. She has run a sponsor a board campaign. She was also there to visit her grandmother who she had not seen in awhile as she was living and working in Charlotte. Not only is her grandmother's health declining, but the town decides not to repair the pier. It seems like everything that could go wrong was going wrong. When she runs into her ex-boyfriend who convinces her to have dinner with him, her feelings begin to rekindle. Will she have a reason to stay in Sand Dollar Cove? This is a story of family, community coming together, help and motivation from unexpected sources, unexpected love, and returning home. A wonderful story for a beach read, poolside or just a nice sunny day. It is a quick read and once you start, you will want to just keep reading. I recommend this one to any readers of romance. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Lucinda Race · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful store set in a seaside town- I thought I might just pack my bags and join Nana, Elli and Brody.
It was a clean and wholesome quick read and just what I needed this week.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Welcome to the town Sand Dollar Cove. If you like small town romances that take place at the beach this is the book for you.

Elli spent summers in Sand Dollar Cove but she has settled in Charlotte and has a successful career in real estate. Now she is back home for a month to help rebuild the pier that was damaged in a storm. She found the perfect guy for the job on Facebook and now it's time to get to work.

While home Elli runs into not only old friends but her old flame. Although Holden is back in her life she knows it doesn't seem right to get back together. The more time she spends with Brody the more she realizes that he could be forever but would he want a small town girl like her?

This story was a fast read. Although I thought it started out a little on the slow side it came together well. I had a little issues about the Brody and Elli romance. I didn't feel like they spent enough time together to one. Sure they saw one another but they didn't really get a chance to know one another.

I liked the characters and would like to see more of them in the future. I liked how the town came together to work on the shops and build it together as a community to help the tourism. Hopefully we get more of Sand Dollar Cove and these wonderful characters.

[Medavis66 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The Outer Banks are my favorite place on this planet. While reading this, I could picture people and places in this book that could match up with the real location. This book took me back to many happy memories. The sense of warmth and community in this book is exactly what OBX is to people who see it beyond the sea and the sand. I can totally imagine this story happening out in Wanchese, where they DO have that accent mentioned, or even in Colington Harbor or the Avalon Beach area. Brody was wonderful. I loved that he kept some things close to the cuff, as we got to know the real him because of this. Holden was a creep. Elli and Nana were a perfect match. The memories they shared were touching. I loved the barn raising and can just picture it as described. Such a cute story!

A special note of thanks to the author for graciously providing me with this book. She asked for nothing in return.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Perfect

Nancy Naigle has given readers the perfect day at the beach, day beside the pool , day on the deck or day on the sofa read. I thoroughly enjoyed Sand Dollar Cove and found Elli's story to be pleasantly pleasing and simply perfect. I knew as soon as I started reading this book I wouldn't stop until reaching the end, and when I got to the end I was all smiles and quite satisfied.

I would love for Ms Naigle to write more Sand Cove books; perhaps a continuation of Elli's and Brody's story, a story for Ed, one for Pam, possibly Holden's story and the ultimate a story for Nana. Each of these books would be quite pleasurable to read. Please Ms Naigle continue the Sand Cove Series!

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of coming home, community, and new love. Elli Eversol returns to Sand Dollar Cove to care for her grandmother and help the town residents repair their shops after a hurricane damaged them. What she discovers is that the pier is beyond repair, to town never gives up, and the help and kindness of one can motivate many. Loved this one! I definitely recommend it.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sand Dollar Cove is a beautiful romance and I hope that it is the beginning of a new series. Nancy Naigle creates wonderful characters and offers the reader hope even in the face of adversity.

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, actually. This is a fun summer read set in the Outer Banks, the small town of Sand Dollar Cove to be exact. Elli Eversol spent her entire summers during childhood in Sand Dollar Cove with her grandparents, Pops and Nana. It's a special place for her. At one time, she thought she would move there, but her father made her promise to live in the big city for at least two years before she decided. One year led into another and before she knew it, it'd been almost five years since she'd even thought about living in Sand Dollar Cove. Now she's back and she finds the town isn't quite like she left it. It's fallen on some hard times. She's got to help fix it.

Elli started a GoFundMe page after the most recent tropical storm hit Sand Dollar Cove. She's gotten a phenomenal response. Brody Rankin is the guy she hired to bring her GoFundMe project to fruition. But, who is Brody? She knows very little about him. And then, there's her "ex," Holden Moore who seems to want to start things up again.

This is a quick, fun, and entirely clean summer read.

[Beatrice Followill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Bach finance read

Perfect beach romance,great characters,small town gathering to save a iconic piece of the heart and soul of Sand Dollar cove. Felt like I was in the beach ,loved this story.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sand Dollar Cove is a standalone novel by romance author Nancy Naigle. I have enjoyed Nancy's previous books so I knew I would be in for a treat...and I was! Great book!

Sand Dollar Cove is set in the small coastal North Carolina town of Sand Dollar Cove. Charlotte realtor Elli Eversol returns to Sand Dollar Cove to oversee the installation of the fundraising recipient plaques for the funds raised to fix the town's pier. The pier had been damaged twice in recent years by storms. Elli had wonderful memories of the time she had spent there with her grandparents who had a shop on the pier. Lots of surprises were waiting for Elli in Sand Dollar Cove. Her grandmother is not doing as well as she thought and is ready to downsize. She finds an old love of hers has returned to Sand Dollar Cove. And what about the handsome surf bum who is going to ready the plaques? Can the pier be saved? Will Elli find love amidst the sand dollars that line the beach in Sand Dollar Cove....

A heartwarming Southern, small town, fast-read romance! Another winner from Nancy Naigle!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!
This is a great book by Nancy Naigle. Elli Eversol spent every summer in Sand Dollar Cove at her grandparents’ beach house. When a hurricane hits the small town and damages the pier and the shops. Ellie returns to help rebuild, she launches a “Buy-A-Board” campaign to help raise funds. Brody Rankin is looking for a location for his company’s new mega warehouse and he is eager to scout the North Carolina beach town. Brody sees an online request for a handyman to help the “Buy-A-Board” campaign and figures that while he is scouting the area he might as well help while he is there. The more time he spends with Elli he starts thinking that they are meant to be together. If you love a great romance set in a small town and how a town comes together when there is a disaster, then you need to read this book.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Ann Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple, warm and happy love story. I love romances that are set on the coast and Sand Dollar Cove makes me want to go live there!

Nancy's books are always strong on family and family loyalty and this is no exception. Nana is a wonderful character and I could almost see the twinkle in her eye!

I won't say too much about the actual love story - there are two males in contention and if I say too much, I'll give the game away! Elli definitely makes the right decision though ;)

[Karen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sand Dollar Cove would be a great place to live. I love the way the residents care for each other. It has the nice, small town feel. Nancy Naigle wrote a wonderful, romantic, sweet book. I really loved this book. The characters really fit together, and I enjoyed being a part of their lives for a while.

[Linda Dunn chilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plus Five Stars

This book was a little different than the usual romance book, but that's what made it so great. Ellie was such an interesting heroine, who is her hero, Holden or Brody? You have read to find out, it's more than worth it.
I loved this book enough that I wish you could rate it higher.

[Gail Moshier · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW I LOVED this book!!!

Best book I've read in a long time!!!! I highly recommend it!!! The best part is no erotic language at all!!!! I know you will enjoy this story!!!

[Linda Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet beach book

It made u feel like u were right beside them on the beach . Such a sweet story. Can't wait for the next one. Good clean book.

[Natalie Badolato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story. I love Nancy's characters and story flow. Her books make me want to visit these places and be friends with these characters. Well done!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book. Sand Dollar Cove is a wonderful place to escape to. I look forward to visiting again in the future. Hint hint Nancy Naigle!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, Elli Eversol spent nearly every summer in Sand Dollar Cove at her grandparents’ beach house, working at their shops on the old fishing pier. After a hurricane and a Nor’easter damage the pier and the shops nearly beyond repair, Elli returns to town to help rebuild. She even launches the Buy-A-Board campaign to raise funds for the plight. Holden Moore is back in Sand Dollar Cove, too. He broke Elli’s heart years ago, but he’s pulling every Romeo trick in the book to win her back now. Yet there’s more to Holden’s agenda, and it doesn’t include saving the pier.
Brody Rankin is eager to scout the location for his company’s new mega-warehouse near a quaint North Carolina beach town. The online request for handyman assistance for the Buy-A-Board campaign in Sand Dollar Cove gives him the perfect reason to head to the east coast, check out the area, and contribute to a good cause. He’d only have to leave half of his playboy-surfer lifestyle behind for a little while—there are plenty of waves in the Atlantic. But when he meets Elli Eversol, she really gets the surf up, and he’s tempted to toss his playboy ways out with the tide. A well written book that will catch your interest from beginning to end. Love the characters. 5 stars.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elli is back in her grandparents beach house after finding out that well known pier in her town has been damaged to the the point where there might be a decision of no building she comes around to help out where she can. This is a big source of tourism in her town and there were shops and stuff and this can really impact the town and she will do everything she can to help save the pier. She wasn't expecting the hot as heck guy who is helping her with the rebuild or for her ex who she seems to might still have feeling for to show up in the picture.

Overall this was a pretty good short contemporary romance book. It was by no means original I've read many variations of this book before but there really are some subtle differences in this book to make it stand out a bit. If you are looking for a good summer contemporary to read while on the beach this might be for you. It also has the benefit for being short so you can spend a bit of time with this book and really great a good contemporary read out of it. I liked the characters and the story was well written I really enjoyed it.

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This is a sweet small-town beach romance. Elli comes back to the town where she spent summers with her grandparents. There's been damage to the pier and shops due to a hurricane, and she is wanting to help her grandmother and the town. The story is more novella length (less than 200 pages) so it moved quickly and didn't leave a ton of room for character building and conflicts. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Sand Dollar Cove sounds like a delightful place to visit, and I wanted more of Elli and Nana.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the Hallmark Movie advertised, recorded it, but did not want to watch it until I read the book. Elli has come back to Sand Dollar Cove to help save the pier. This pier was where she worked during her summer visits. She started a Buy-a-Board fundraiser to help get the pier repaired, and hired Brody Rankin as a handyman, to help with the endeavor. After a town meeting nixes the plans to revive the pier, Brody and Elli work together on a new plan. It is more than just the town that comes together in the end. Now I can watch the movie. Loved this clean beach read.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sand Cove has always been home for Elli, and always wanted to return.
Heading the repair of the shops that are on the pier, and being with her grandmother she is back. Using the social media for someone to do the work, in exchange for room and board. Brought someone from Calif, and her grandmother now had someone to fuss over. What about Ellie, a small town girl would Brody be willing to stay. A delightful story of a community, and love.

[JoAnn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elli returns to her grandparents’ home and beach town to begin the fix-up of the shattered pier. She had hired Brody on-line as a volunteer to help her with the repair. Will her old boyfriend Holden get in the way of that restoration? Loved Elli’s friendship with Pam, and her relationship with her grandmother. And I loved revisiting the Outer Banks! Sweet story.
One nitpick: Cover art - the female model has long hair, and the story referred several times to Elli's new short haircut!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet read

This was a sweet, quick read. There was some predictability, but it didn't really take away from the book. What did take away was bad grammar, misspellings, using "they're" when it should have been "their," and nothing is ever the "first annual." The first time an event is held, it is the inaugural event.

[Victoria Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It takes me to the six years I called Rocky Point, North Carolina my home. The characters are so authentic. My best friend Christy was born and raised in Wilmington, NC and lives there still. I heard her voice throughout the story.

I chose a 5 star rating because the storyline was interesting and the book is well written. There are a few misspellings and extra words where they should not be but it did not take away from the story. I loved this book!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story

This was a fairly quick small town romance. I really liked the way the town and others came together to help renovate the buildings for Elli and her grandmother which would, in turn, help rejuvenate tourism in the area. The romance seemed to come out of nowhere and quickly turn to love with a HEA.

[Dana Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sand Dollar Cove

I really liked this book. I heard that this book was made into a movie so I had to read it. Nancy Naigles books are wonderful. I have mainly read all her Christmas books. You will love this story of how they make Sand Dollar Cove wonderful and the amazing love story.

[Maria Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Story Worth Promoting!

It is a special take on the usual beach scene.
North Carolina’s Outer Banks are beautiful, breezy, salty, and peaceful.
The story is well written, flowing along, capturing the imagination.
Delightful characters abound.
I am so glad I found it. I hope you give this author a try.