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Bell Sound #2
Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness
Welcome to Bell Cove, North Carolina.
Independence Day may have just passed in this small Outer Banks town known for its famous bells, but one ex-Navy SEAL has a declaration of his own to make . . .
Merrill Good knows there are many different kinds of exciting. There’s the adrenaline rush he experienced during his years in the military. There’s the thrill of starting up his own treasure hunting company. But topping them all is the surge of exhilaration he feels every time Delilah Jones crosses his path. Smart, voluptuous, and outspoken, Delilah is a bombshell with a secret that could explode at any moment.
Since Delilah moved to Bell Cove to take over her great-uncle’s Elvis-themed diner and motel, the locals have been nothing but friendly. And that’s a problem. The moment someone gets close enough to figure out her ex-con past, her future will be jeopardized. But keeping Merrill at arm’s length isn’t easy when the rest of her body has other ideas.
Add to the mix Delilah’s little girl who fashions herself “Little Orphan Annie,” a former showgirl grandmother with a gambling problem, a whole town full of quirky matchmakers, and there’ll be fireworks long after the Fourth of July . . .
Independence Day may have just passed in this small Outer Banks town known for its famous bells, but one ex-Navy SEAL has a declaration of his own to make . . .
Merrill Good knows there are many different kinds of exciting. There’s the adrenaline rush he experienced during his years in the military. There’s the thrill of starting up his own treasure hunting company. But topping them all is the surge of exhilaration he feels every time Delilah Jones crosses his path. Smart, voluptuous, and outspoken, Delilah is a bombshell with a secret that could explode at any moment.
Since Delilah moved to Bell Cove to take over her great-uncle’s Elvis-themed diner and motel, the locals have been nothing but friendly. And that’s a problem. The moment someone gets close enough to figure out her ex-con past, her future will be jeopardized. But keeping Merrill at arm’s length isn’t easy when the rest of her body has other ideas.
Add to the mix Delilah’s little girl who fashions herself “Little Orphan Annie,” a former showgirl grandmother with a gambling problem, a whole town full of quirky matchmakers, and there’ll be fireworks long after the Fourth of July . . .
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2019
81 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Hill
92 books1,313 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.
Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 1, 2020
2019 bk. 233. 2020 bk 43. I do not read many contemporary romance authors, but I make an exception for Sandra Hill. She writes with humor and has an editor that catches spelling errors and other irritants. This is the second in a new series, but the characters come from earlier series. Another reason to like Sandra Hill is that her characters age and mature in her novels. This time it is Geek's turn. One of our lovable SEALS, Geek has retired from the military and turned his attentions to a new treasure hunting company purchased from Jinx, Inc. When a beautiful woman tells him she badly needs $10,000 - he gives her the money and a job working as cook and general jill of all trades for the crew. I do take exception to the way he makes decisions for her without consulting her, but Sandra Hill has again created a new female character who knows when to pick her battles.
March 3, 2021
I love Sandra Hill. She writes a combination of hot romance, laugh out loud humor and some of the most wonderful and quirky characters ever, which I find irresistible. I find myself comparing all the romance books I read to hers and they, for the most part, are lacking.
When former SEAL Merrill Goode decided to leave the Teams and invest in a treasure hunting and salvage business, he had no idea just what moving to Bell Cove, NC was going to do to his life, but he was definitely up for the challenge. The biggest challenge just happened to be Delilah Jones.
As Delilah Jones tries to renovate and bring the aging Elvis themed diner and motel her great-uncle left her back to life, the last thing she needs in her life is a drop dead gorgeous former SEAL reviving the libido that has been in hibernation for five years. She moved to Bell Cove to put her past as an ex-con behind her and start a new life for her daughter and herself.
Of course the road to true love never runs smoothly and when you have a heroine trying to escape her past, a mini "Little Orphan Annie" who only wants a Daddy Warbucks and a dog, a chain vaping, gambling, ex-showgirl, Avon lady Grandmother and a treasure ship, well, what more could you possible want in a romance?
When former SEAL Merrill Goode decided to leave the Teams and invest in a treasure hunting and salvage business, he had no idea just what moving to Bell Cove, NC was going to do to his life, but he was definitely up for the challenge. The biggest challenge just happened to be Delilah Jones.
As Delilah Jones tries to renovate and bring the aging Elvis themed diner and motel her great-uncle left her back to life, the last thing she needs in her life is a drop dead gorgeous former SEAL reviving the libido that has been in hibernation for five years. She moved to Bell Cove to put her past as an ex-con behind her and start a new life for her daughter and herself.
Of course the road to true love never runs smoothly and when you have a heroine trying to escape her past, a mini "Little Orphan Annie" who only wants a Daddy Warbucks and a dog, a chain vaping, gambling, ex-showgirl, Avon lady Grandmother and a treasure ship, well, what more could you possible want in a romance?
July 5, 2019
Merrill Good and Delilah Jones each have very good reason for being in Bell Cove. Merrill is a former Navy SEAL and is now quite excited to begin a treasure hunting company. This is something that Merrill excels at. Delilah moved there as her great-uncle has left his Elvis-themed diner and motel to her. This is a fresh start for Delilah, as she is an ex-con. This is a past she hopes that no one ever discovers.
As things progress, it becomes quite clear that Merrill and Delilah are bound to be together, especially when it comes to the people in the town. They are all a bunch of matchmakers, and that is adorable. However, Delilah's past is threatening to reveal itself, so that brings in just the right amount of tension in this story.
The townspeople are great. What's more is that Delilah and Merrill hit it off quite well. In this humorous story we have little Maggie, Delilah's daughter and the fact that she believes herself to be "little orphan Annie". There is also Gram, Delilah's grandmother, who is affectionately called "Glam Gram". I love these characters in this romance because they really round out this delightful story. Beyond the romance, there are a bit of hi-jinks.
Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness is the second book in the Bell Sound series. Since I hadn't had the opportunity to read the previous story I wasn't familiar with Merrill, but I rather enjoyed his character and the development I got to see in this book. With regard to Delilah, it was great to read of someone with a questionable past who had the chance to be redeemed.
This was a fun, quick read that clued me in to the wonderful writing of Sandra Hill. I might go back and read the first book in the series. I do look forward to reading the next book, A Hero Comes Home, in January 2020.
Many thanks to Avon and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
As things progress, it becomes quite clear that Merrill and Delilah are bound to be together, especially when it comes to the people in the town. They are all a bunch of matchmakers, and that is adorable. However, Delilah's past is threatening to reveal itself, so that brings in just the right amount of tension in this story.
The townspeople are great. What's more is that Delilah and Merrill hit it off quite well. In this humorous story we have little Maggie, Delilah's daughter and the fact that she believes herself to be "little orphan Annie". There is also Gram, Delilah's grandmother, who is affectionately called "Glam Gram". I love these characters in this romance because they really round out this delightful story. Beyond the romance, there are a bit of hi-jinks.
Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness is the second book in the Bell Sound series. Since I hadn't had the opportunity to read the previous story I wasn't familiar with Merrill, but I rather enjoyed his character and the development I got to see in this book. With regard to Delilah, it was great to read of someone with a questionable past who had the chance to be redeemed.
This was a fun, quick read that clued me in to the wonderful writing of Sandra Hill. I might go back and read the first book in the series. I do look forward to reading the next book, A Hero Comes Home, in January 2020.
Many thanks to Avon and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 24, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I don't know about other Sandra Hill readers but for me, this book was a long time coming. I can remember when we first met Geek. He seemed so little boyish. I know that sounds weird but for those who read Hill, you'll understand. When we first met him he was young and on top of that, he looked young. He had and still has, a baby face.
From the beginning, he was one of those characters that you wanted their stories. He was so smart and seemed better suited for a classroom than being in the military. For me, that's what makes him such a good characters. He's much more than he seems. I understood why he didn't have his own book before this, he needed to grow up, literally! He was young and needed some life behind him before he was ready for his story.
But now he's come of age and I was so excited about that. How could I have not been! Love me some Geek!
Those of us who know Geek know that he needed a special woman in his life. Not any woman would do. She needed to be special. He needs someone who can mentally keep up with him, not so much with the same IQ, but someone who could talk to him at the end of the day. It's no fun when you have to explain the simple things in life to someone.
Right away Delilah intrigued me. I wanted, no, needed to know more about her. For Geek's sake of course. As much as the author gives you she keeps a lot back too. I don't hold what happened in her past against her, but I also feel it wasn't explained enough. I needed more backstory on this. I'm just that type of person, I'm the why, asker.
I loved both Delilah's daughter and grandmother. Both are funny and entertaining. They add to the mix of the craziness of the town. Sounds like a fun place to live. I love how the book ended and was left wanting more of the fun people of Bell Sound.
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ARC received for an honest review
I don't know about other Sandra Hill readers but for me, this book was a long time coming. I can remember when we first met Geek. He seemed so little boyish. I know that sounds weird but for those who read Hill, you'll understand. When we first met him he was young and on top of that, he looked young. He had and still has, a baby face.
From the beginning, he was one of those characters that you wanted their stories. He was so smart and seemed better suited for a classroom than being in the military. For me, that's what makes him such a good characters. He's much more than he seems. I understood why he didn't have his own book before this, he needed to grow up, literally! He was young and needed some life behind him before he was ready for his story.
But now he's come of age and I was so excited about that. How could I have not been! Love me some Geek!
Those of us who know Geek know that he needed a special woman in his life. Not any woman would do. She needed to be special. He needs someone who can mentally keep up with him, not so much with the same IQ, but someone who could talk to him at the end of the day. It's no fun when you have to explain the simple things in life to someone.
Right away Delilah intrigued me. I wanted, no, needed to know more about her. For Geek's sake of course. As much as the author gives you she keeps a lot back too. I don't hold what happened in her past against her, but I also feel it wasn't explained enough. I needed more backstory on this. I'm just that type of person, I'm the why, asker.
I loved both Delilah's daughter and grandmother. Both are funny and entertaining. They add to the mix of the craziness of the town. Sounds like a fun place to live. I love how the book ended and was left wanting more of the fun people of Bell Sound.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for an honest review
April 16, 2024
Well I marked it off of my tbr list 🤷♀️🤦♀️😞
Read
November 19, 2019I just can’t get into it. I am 50 pages in and nothing makes me want to continue on 😪
August 13, 2019
3.5. Love the humor and the characters. Could maybe use a little more rounding out of characters--liked best when Glam Gram is shown without her makeup-- and I do think even though Merrill says he doesn't need an explanation because love isn't a qualified emotion, I think Delilah's situation should have been explored more. Enjoyed it and would encourage others to read Sandra Hill. Looking forward to Bell Sound #3.
August 28, 2019
While the sex scenes were steamy and the characters were fun and interesting nothing can fix the rushed ending. We never find out Delilah’s side of the crime that put her in jail and that’s a deal breaker for me, considering what the crime was.
July 1, 2019
While I loved the romance between Delilah and Merrill the writing of the actual story left much to be desired. Let me list a few things :
-The actions of the senior center folks were horribly underwritten
-The first 50% of the book dragged horribly overall
-The "I am too proud" mantra wore thin really quick
-The revenge on some folks was muted to the point the reader is not even sure anything happened (my inner revenge junkie was NOT amused)
-The transition from strangers to lovers was too sudden and clunky, then it became a way for a writer to burn off pages
With so many colorful characters to bring this story to life it was wasted, I guess maybe Sandra Hill is saving some of those folks for future books but I felt cheated. I gave it 3 Stars mainly because the only really bad people in the story seemingly got away with being horrible people with nothing happening, and a lot of wasted pages with nothing really going on.
A reluctant 3 stars that I wished could have been more
-The actions of the senior center folks were horribly underwritten
-The first 50% of the book dragged horribly overall
-The "I am too proud" mantra wore thin really quick
-The revenge on some folks was muted to the point the reader is not even sure anything happened (my inner revenge junkie was NOT amused)
-The transition from strangers to lovers was too sudden and clunky, then it became a way for a writer to burn off pages
With so many colorful characters to bring this story to life it was wasted, I guess maybe Sandra Hill is saving some of those folks for future books but I felt cheated. I gave it 3 Stars mainly because the only really bad people in the story seemingly got away with being horrible people with nothing happening, and a lot of wasted pages with nothing really going on.
A reluctant 3 stars that I wished could have been more
June 27, 2019
4 1/2 stars
Where does a woman find a Merrill Good of her very own? That's what I want to know. To say that I became infatuated with the caring, rational, studly, handsome, thoughtful, planning, geeky Merrill would be an understatement. He's the type of guy most smart women want to meet and fall in love with. Fortunately, I liked Delilah, the vulnerable ex-con as well, so it was all good.
In Love, Life, and the Pursuit of Happiness, Sandra Hill has written a novel that is fun, sexy, heart-warming, snarky, and just filled with so much feeling of every sort that you are just swished away into lovely emotions, much like being on a beach vacation despite lacking the actual proximity to a beach.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2019/06/2...
Where does a woman find a Merrill Good of her very own? That's what I want to know. To say that I became infatuated with the caring, rational, studly, handsome, thoughtful, planning, geeky Merrill would be an understatement. He's the type of guy most smart women want to meet and fall in love with. Fortunately, I liked Delilah, the vulnerable ex-con as well, so it was all good.
In Love, Life, and the Pursuit of Happiness, Sandra Hill has written a novel that is fun, sexy, heart-warming, snarky, and just filled with so much feeling of every sort that you are just swished away into lovely emotions, much like being on a beach vacation despite lacking the actual proximity to a beach.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2019/06/2...
October 22, 2019
This book was entertaining. Ex-con Delilah travels to Bell Cove after being released from prison for something her boyfriend was responsible for. She has inherited an old rundown diner and motel that is closed from her uncle. Her five-year-old daughter lives with her gambling grandmother who lives in Atlantic City. The dialogue involving her five-year-old daughter, Maggie, was hysterically funny.
Delilah meets ex-Seal Merrill Good who is starting his own treasure hunting company looking for old ships off the coast of Bell Cove.
Great book!
Delilah meets ex-Seal Merrill Good who is starting his own treasure hunting company looking for old ships off the coast of Bell Cove.
Great book!
February 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. When you put together Merrill, a former SEAL, Delilah, a felon, her daughter, Maggie, an "Annie" wannabe, and her grandmother, Sal, a former Las Vegas showgirl and top Avon rep, you get a book that keeps you laughing and not wanting to put the book down. Plus you get to revisit with all the colorful residents of Bell Cove. I just love this series!! Thank you Sandra Hill for all of your great books!
July 20, 2022
This was a fast, fun read that left the reader feeling satisfied. This book cured this reader's book hangover and left them ready for their next read! This is labeled as book 2 but I started here and was ok and had no problems catching up and starting off here. The reader enjoyed the characters, the location and the story line. The reader felt like they were a part of the story and that they were hanging out in Bell Sound. I will read more by this author for sure!!
October 2, 2019
A fun tale of treasure hunting, romance, and lots of secrets. Beware the secrets.
I love the characters as they seem very real although the excessive male comments about sex and conquest are a little much. Of course, it's a romance, so I expect steamy scenes.
The performance is enjoyable. For more on the performance, see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemagazine.com
I love the characters as they seem very real although the excessive male comments about sex and conquest are a little much. Of course, it's a romance, so I expect steamy scenes.
The performance is enjoyable. For more on the performance, see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemagazine.com
March 11, 2020
I really wanted to love Merrill's story, but there are so many unanswered questions. We never get to hear Delilah's side of her story as to why she was in prison, why his parents and brother wanted to see him (scene in hospital where a comment of does he know is made - yet never explained what it is he's supposed to know). I just left with the feeling of an unfinished story.
July 24, 2020
Back in crazy Bell Sound. That alone makes you pick up the book. You never know what to expect from this crazy town. Add to that an ex-con, some ex-SEALS, a Cajun, an ex-showgirl who's a bit crazy and an impossible 4 year old. The end product is hilarious, sad, bawdy and a general delight. Now I'm on to the next book is this series.
May 9, 2025
Curious but entertaining mix of a dark background (ex-con heroine) and goofiness that seems to work. The inciting incident is her needing money to pay her grandmother's debt to a loan shark, but this is treated more as a source of humour than a threat, and everything works out for the best, even when it seems an unlikely stretch.
dnf
July 6, 2019DNF @ 10%
July 18, 2019
I loved the story of Deliah and Merrill. The fact that they were opposites and attracted plus he was always taking care of her. He was just so darn nice. GREAT READ. Can't wait for the next one as the first 2 were so,so, good.
May 20, 2020
A nice summer romance from Sandra Hill.
Dlilah, the MC, is struggling to pull her messy life together, and Bell Sound is just the place to do it. I enjoyed the quirky characters and quick pace of the novel.
Dlilah, the MC, is struggling to pull her messy life together, and Bell Sound is just the place to do it. I enjoyed the quirky characters and quick pace of the novel.
July 9, 2020
I thought It was good. I liked all the seal ones. Always waiting to see who is going to be the next book star. Jam? K4? Or even hearing about someone from still in the service, Max? I loved them!
July 16, 2019
No Tante Lulu.
July 18, 2019
I kept turning pages looking to see if Tante Lulu was hiding behind a corner. The story is fun and the characters are just that. REAL CHARACTERS... I can't wait for the next book in the series.
August 16, 2019
Love her all out funny writing and her storytelling.
August 28, 2019
3.5 Stars
September 8, 2019
Mixed feelings. A little tooo much sex and little too much action so that things sometimes seemed jumbled. Overall enjoyed the book.
September 27, 2019
Cute second book in the series.
October 2, 2019
Fun read
October 6, 2019
Enjoyed the second book in the Bell Sound novels! Merrill "Geek" Good and Delilah Jones lead a cast of characters that are fun and heart stealing! Try it!
October 11, 2019
Finally get to read Geeks story (Navy Seal).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews