Shell Beach

Miramar Bay #7

by Davis Bunn

Set in the breathtaking coastal California town of Miramar Bay, this uplifting new novel from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn celebrates the challenges and triumphs of new beginnings, faith in the future, and the power of dreams that just won’t let go. For fans of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury.

A man adrift . . .

Noah Hearst is leaving a life he's spent twelve years building. Professionally, a losing battle for his job after a hostile takeover. Personally, signing away his marriage in a split that was a long time coming. Now, the difficult deciding who he is, what he wants, and where to go next. Maybe it’s time to realize a dream that’s carried him through hard owning a boat. Traveling the ocean, exploring new ports, embracing the endless horizon. Blissful. Impractical. Impossible? For now, the dream alone gives Noah the strength to move forward . . .

An unexpected lifeline . . .

Jenna Greaves is an end-of-life nurse, devoted till her charges’ final breath. She’s been called a confidante, a surrogate daughter, and a best friend. She is all those to Dino Vicenza, a secretive millionaire who refuses to even speak with his greedy and impatient family. Gradually Jenna becomes Dino’s only confidant, and something far more out of the ordinary; she shares the old man's passion for sailing the open seas. With his passing comes an unexpected a luxury yacht that invites Jenna to break free of old chains, if only she might find someone to help steer her toward new horizons.

One twist of fate and Noah and Jenna are brought together in the most unexpected way to navigate their future—and discover more about life, each other, and themselves than they ever imagined.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Romance

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

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).

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
After a hostile take over of business Noah Hearst loses his job and his marriage which had been failing for some time. Leaving the life he had built over 12 years he decides to fulfil a dream of owning a boat and exploring the ocean.So he heads to Miramar Bay where his half brother Amos is sheriff. In Miramar Bay Noah meets Jenna Greaves among others. Jenna is an end of life nurse who comes to this work after caring for her half-sister Millie before she died. Jenna now wants to fulfil Millie’s dream of sailing round the world. Jenna cares deeply about those she looks after. When her latest patient, Dino Vincenza, who she nursed for 19 months, dies Jenna is left a legacy she never dreamt of. This angers his grasping family. Add to this, the boat he promised Tess would be hers when he died, has been wrecked and the remains picked up by Noah who hopes to restore the boat for his personal use. He does not know it had been promised to Jenna.
There is a lot too Jenna doesn’t know about the secretive Dino as she later finds out. Jenna and Noah bond over the love for restoring the boat and sailing. In the end, will their boat passion bring danger or cost them too much?
This is book 8 in the series about Miramar Bay. I had read number 1 but had not read the others in the middle. This reads fine as a stand alone anyway.
The two main characters are likable and the setting is beautiful. I wasn’t convinced about some aspects of the book towards the end. I found it a bit abrupt and jumpy in the way it was written. But then it sorted out and there is more to be revealed about Dino and his secrecy.
I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as the earlier book I read set in Mirimar Bay. Still, it was an engaging read, even if the author told this reader a bit much about boat restoration techniques at times. Readers of women’s fiction should enjoy this story of family, romance, community and an element of danger.

[Margie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shell Beach is the first book I’ve read by Davis Bunn. It reminded me somewhat of a Nicholas Sparks book as it centers around a romance. The location was beautiful and the characters were all the kind of people you’d want as family and friends. It’s the story of Noah Hearst and Jenna Greaves. They come from two totally different backgrounds and are both suffering from things that happened to them in their pasts. This is a story that teaches you that you should leave your past in the rearview mirror and look forward to your future. You must learn to follow your dreams because anything is possible especially if you have some really good friends and a possible love interest by your side. This couple did have some help from the dearly departed but it also added a little danger to the storyline. It was nice to see that good versus evil won out in the end. I’d like to thank Kensington Books for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more of this authors work in the future. I’m rating this at 4 stars.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this authors other books and loved them, and I will read future books of his as well… But this one just didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t really get emotionally connected to either of the main characters and all the information about the boat just seemed to bog down the emotional narrative and I couldn’t finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna Greaves is a nurse who gets into end-stage care when her half sister finds her and asks for her help. This begins a new career for Jenna, as well as a promise to try to fulfill her sister's wish of sailing around the world. Eight years later, a very rich patient leaves Jenna his yacht, but someone destroys it. It gets taken into police custody and is up for auction, barely worth the parts of it that remain.

After losing his Hollywood set design business and finally divorcing his wife, Noah Hurst has packed his few belongings in his truck and is off to visit his brother Amos, the sheriff of a county that includes Miramar Bay. When Amos tells him about the boat up for auction, Noah can see all the possibilities. What follows is life-long friendships and new family formed by a common interest and hard work.

I really enjoyed returning to this fictional world, especially getting to see Ryan, Ethan and sweet young Liam some more. I read this quickly and easily, intrigued by what would become of the yacht as well as the element of danger. But I felt like the book stopped before the story was quite over. I wish we had a glimpse a little farther down the road to see how the new plans and new romance were working out. Aside from its abrupt ending, this was a heartfelt, entertaining read that I can easily recommend.

[Charlene Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I didn’t know that it was part of a lovely series called Miramar Bay.
When I realized that it was part of a series I immediately searched for the series on Amazon.
Downloaded! 👍
From the first page it was clear to me that author Davis Bunn had the no-nonsense yet extremely eloquent writing style that felt intriguing and satisfying all at the same time.
He easily describes characters, articulates connections between characters and is thorough with back stories.
All in a quick and comprehensive way.
But although a second chance romance of sorts, the storyline is in no way a formulaic, predictable storyline.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a lot more depth to the story right from the start than I assumed there would be.
Particularly because of the title and titles of the other books in the series which could make the book seem like it would be light and formulaic.
There is more than meets the eye.
I can’t wait to read the others in the series!

Thankyou to Author Davis Bunn, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

Charlene 🌸📚🤗 @lastnownext

[Leslie Callahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book with all the characters having a boat being their common interest, this book didn’t flow very easily. Seemed to jump around and skip. A couple times I thought I had missed a whole chapter or two. A few times found myself wondering who this and that characters were.
Disappointing to say the least.

[Carol Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an OK book. Not as good of a story as the last book of his I read. If you are looking for a book to read that doesn't take any thinking, this one would fill the bill.

[Mary Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out with a different twist the last chapter was a dud.

[Matt Large · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best work and by far the weakest of the series

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davis Bunn is the consummate storyteller. His stories draw you in and keep the suspense building, the characters growing and changing, the plot developing, until you are swept before it like a wave onto a beach.

Shell Beach is the story of two people whose paths cross unexpectedly. Jenna is a hospice nurse, spending her days being a "friend to the end" of people who may not have any other support. Her most recent patient, a secretive millionaire who is estranged from his greedy family, gifts her with something she's always wanted - a boat. To be precise, a multi-million dollar yacht. But before she can take possession, the yacht is horribly vandalized, blown up and sunk. Now it's a hopeless ruin.

But one person is interested in resurrecting the ruined yacht - Noah Hearst. Reeling from the loss of his career and his marriage in a double whammy, Noah is left licking his wounds in an old farmhouse, when he hears about this salvage opportunity and decides he may as well spend his days fixing up this old boat. As Noah begins to work on the boat, and Jenna discovers what has become of it, the two join forces, along with a ragtag group of friends and relatives.

But someone else is interested in the boat. The secretive millionaire had been affiliated with the Chicago mob and made off with millions of dollars before disappearing for 11 years. Now someone thinks the boat is the key to the lost treasure and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shell Beach is the latest in the Miramar Bay series, but it works as a stand-alone novel. My first exposure to this author was reading “The Christmas Hummingbird” (5 Stars), which I found to be an exceptional book. With that as an intro, I looked forward to reading this latest offering. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this story and its protagonists. There are a few cross-over characters from “Hummingbird,” but they play a tangential role.

Noah Hearst has fled the chaos of Los Angeles after he lost his business through the betrayal of his partners and an acrimonious and costly divorce. As he attempts to put the pieces of his life back in order, he purchases a vandalized yacht through a police auction with the intention of rebuilding it and his life simultaneously.

Unbeknownst to Noah, the yacht was sold by the original owner to his end-of-life caregiver, Jenna Greaves. Jenna is a Registered Nurse who found her calling in supporting terminally ill clients and their families. She spent the last nineteen months with her most recent client, the secretive yacht owner who kept his past well hidden and his greedy family at arm’s length.

When Noah and Jenna cross paths, their mutual attraction stirs up all their fears concerning love, vulnerability, and intimacy. The story unfolds as they explore their potential relationship while restoring the yacht and building a network of friends.

I never felt an investment in either of these two characters. In fact, despite the time and effort the author devoted to their emotional challenges, I found the story emotionally sterile, more intellectual than warm and heart-felt. Additionally, the thread involving organized crime seemed contrived rather than suspenseful. Overall, this was a mildly entertaining book, but I can only give it a luke-warm endorsement.

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.

[DR · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a contrast between this & the previous book I was reading to review. Both included couples, at the beginning of a relationship, but whereas the former was all about feelings (& acting on them!) this book has taken its time, with the pair gradually learning about each other & the things which will matter – for a lifetime. There is such a depth here, there really is no comparison between the two. What a pity we probably only learn the importance of these matters when we are long past the time we needed to know them! It could have made such a difference to our choices – or maybe the choice was right but we didn’t have the maturity to make it last. I guess so much of this is only learned through experience, & when we are young we can think we already know it all – would we have listened, had anyone been prepared to enlighten us? Here the commitment is made, before anything physical : in the other book I mentioned, the physical began long before any hint of (possible) commitment. It seemed to be about an entirely different 4-letter word... (And no – I didn’t post a review on that other book as it was heading way past my comfort level – so don’t go looking for it & misjudging the wrong author!)

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great!

I’ve only read a couple of books by this author before this one, but will definitely look for more. This is a clean story, no outright Christian references but you get the feeling between the lines. I like that style since I’m not much of a faith-based person (nothing wrong with it, just not me).

There is mystery, family ties and a growing romance in this book. Jenna has a job most people couldn’t do, being an end of life caregiver for strangers. Noah has been through a lot recently, a business partner’s dishonesty and a bad divorce, so he is eager to take on an all-consuming project. Enter the boat. A boat Jenna was promised by her last patient, a boat that was nearly destroyed by a violent assault, and a boat now under auction by the police.

After Noah wins the boat, Jenna is pulled by unexplained forces to work with Noah, and their attraction begins. There is danger, surprise and family support all throughout, leading to a wonderful ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book , but my opinions are my own.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHELL BEACH is another wonderful trip to Miramar Bay and its surrounding environs. This time around, readers meet Noah Hearst, who's been ousted from his own company and divorced by his wife, and Jenna Greaves, an end-of-life nurse whose last patient left her a boat. A boat that is subsequently damaged and purchased by Noah. And that's when the story becomes interesting.

A greedy family, family secrets, Mob muscle, and more threaten Noah and Jenna physically and emotionally as they work together to restore the boat -- reintroducing Ethan, Ryan, and Liam from THE CHRISTMAS HUMMINGBIRD, as Ethan lends his skills to the restoration project -- and draw closer together and desire to take a risk on love.

Miramar Bay continues to by an idyllic community, reminding me as the 21st century Waltons Mountain -- a place where all are welcome and loved, unless they're troublesome, of course. I enjoy each return visit and look forward to many more.

I received a DRC from Kensington Books through NetGalley, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any of the other books in the Miramar Bay series, but this book can easily be read as a standalone.

Jenna is an end-of-life nurse and one of her clients insists that Jenna takes him out on his yacht. She starts to really like being on the ocean and she gradually learns how to sail the yacht. And then, of course, her client dies and everything changes.

Noah is a guy who has lost everything. He has lost his business and his wife....and it seems like he has lost his way.

Somehow, these two people's paths cross and what happens between them is pretty special.

It is a slow burn of a novel, and there is an undeniable thread of danger running through the whole story. This is not some kind of "boy meets girl" book (although there IS a bit of that). It is more about shining a light on what is important to you, as a person, and getting up again after you have been knocked down multiple times.

Loved the friends that Noah had around him, really loved those characters.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shell Beach by Davis Bunn was a great read. Even though it was technically a romantic thriller, the mood and tone were totally different. There were tense scenes and the bad guys were interesting and CREEPY. The quiet tone with the thoughtful main characters really made the novel feel warm and drew you in.

The main characters, Noah and Jenna, had so many obstacles. Their backstories and how they came to be in Miramar Bay really allowed you to get to know them and to feel close to them. I loved the other characters and how they were not a shy team working together. I like how Jenna felt safe with Noah even when she was angry with him.

I think one of the most interesting elements was that of the boat they were rebuilding. Since both had such an affinity for the ocean and the boat that was so badly damaged, it almost became a character within the story.

The novel didn’t end quite the way I thought it would, it was a happy ending. There was just a twist to it that made it much more interesting. Shell Beach by Davis Bunn was a warm and inviting read.

[Jane Hoppe · Rating 3 out of 5]

That Shell Beach is a love story between Noah Hearst and Jenna Greaves is no secret. The book jacket describes Noah as a man adrift and Jenna as an unexpected lifeline. Of course they'll fall in love. Their path, however, is fresh, emotionally intelligent, and interesting. I especially enjoy their inner dialogues during the challenges of restoring a demolished dream yacht.

I do not want to read any more romances where the plot tension is as evil as it is here. But I do want to read more romances where the couple is emotionally honest about themselves, sets good boundaries, demonstrates humble apologies and reconciliation, and depends on family for support. Davis Bunn's Shell Beach has all that.

Another plus is that Noah's and Jenna's careers are unusual and interesting. Their respective journeys toward trusting themselves to love again and trusting each other feel real and rocky. I also appreciate that most of the characters courageously stand up for what's right. Bunn has written a novel that gives hope for second chances.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot imagine owning a luxury yacht. In fact, I am not even sure that I would want to head out on the ocean in anything smaller than a cruise ship. Yet, Jenna let the dream of her dying sister become her own dream, and then the old man for whom she was his end-of-life caregiver arranges for her to receive his luxury yacht after his death. Talk about a shocker. I would not expect anything like that in my wildest dreams. Neither did Jenna. But then, all kinds of monkey wrenches get thrown into the works and everything becomes completely unsettled. The riveting part of the book is the way that Jenna seems to remain steady in all kinds of upheaval in her life, from the death of the old man, dealing with his family, losing the yacht, and on it goes. She seems to be able to withdraw into an internal place where the outside world has little effect on her. Reading this story was a bit like preparing for a cruise, but hitting numerous speedbumps. I enjoyed this latest visit to Miramar Bay where some old friends put in an appearance. An enjoyable read.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah must rebuild his life. After losing his business and his marriage … he decides he wants to rebuild a boat. Jenna has a calling as an end-of-life nurse. She is devoted to her patients for however long they are in her care. When her most recent charge dies, his family descends to take over his fortune. He leaves her a yacht, but it is destroyed with no insurance. Noah buys it with the intent to return it to its former glory. As these two begin to rebuild their lives and the boat, they discover new truths about themselves and each other.

Shell Beach is the eighth book in the Miramar Bay series. Although all the books take place in the same region, they do not need to be read in publication order to fully enjoy the stories. This book could easily be devoured as a stand-alone story and there is action, mystery, and a little romance included. This is not a very long novel and can certainly be finished over a weekend or while relaxing after work.

[Lisa Malmquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in a small town on the California coast.
Noah Hearst has been through a lot of upheaval in his life recently. His business was stolen out from under him after 12 years, by his "best friend" by hostile takeover.
And he has just gone through a divorce.
He has a dream to own a boat, but other than that he has no idea what to do with his life, what he wants and what the future will hold form.
Jenna Greaves is an end of life nurse-best friend to the end of someone's life.
She has just been taking care of Dino Vincenzo. He was a mobster and the family is just waiting to spend all his money.
But Jenna and the old man have shared their love of sailing. She took him out on his 84 foot yacht whenever he wanted to go.
Dino passes and Jenna is taking a break from all the drama.
Jenna and Noah connect unexpectedly over the idea of sailing.
Jenna and Noah both have to figure out what they want in life and what is the next chapter.

[Rosemarie Grainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense with some action and threats of action!

Jenna is a nurse who cares for people at the end of their lives. Noah is finding his way back after losing his work and his wife. Both feel strongly about this boat that Noah has started repairing. There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, as well as a lot of different characters. But during all of the various things that happen, they start caring for each other. But when some super bad guys come along, can they survive to act on their feelings?

The pace is engrossing and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful with a character oriented storyline that has some action and some kisses. The characters are vivid and engaging. Read books 1 through 6 first and then The Christmas Hummingbird book before this one. Enjoy this intense story.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Successful, confident woman with a thriving career arrives just in time to save a broken, divorced, unemployed man with poor emotional intelligence with her love, and her money. At least the woman is the hero in this story?

This book could have been 4 stars if it wasn't for the preposterous ending. It could have been 4 stars if Noah and Jenna had ANY chemistry on the page - she had more chemistry with Amos and Zia than with Noah, and I didn't believe for a second that they were anything other than good friends.

Everything about the found family building relationships and rebuilding the boat was the best part of this novel. There were some nice moments of writing, and some at the end that made me gag. The story from Jenna's perspective was a good time, especially her origin story. I didn't care at all about Noah's perspective.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah’s business was taken over by his partner and his marriage ended in divorce. He arrives in Miramar and buys a destroyed yacht to restore. He needs to stop viewing today through the lens of yesterday’s pain.

Jenna is an end-of-life nurse/caregiver. Her wealthy centurion patient dies and his greedy family hover to claim everything. She learns from her patients to live each day to the fullest. Don’t put off life, or love.

She was supposed to get the yacht, which was probably destroyed by a family member. Noah and Jenna become close as they work on the boat, but now the Mob takes an interest in them, or rather, in the yacht.

This is the eighth book in the Miramar Bay series. Familiar characters reappear.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Noah Hearst and Jenna Greaves are mourning. Noah-the loss of his company and the end of his marriage. Jenna is mourning her sister, and the patient she recently lost, Dino Vicenza. Dino promised her his boat, but someone trashed it and sunk it before it was insured. Noah buys the boat at a police auction, and is determined to restore it. His brother, Amos, the local sheriff and some other police help Noah. Jenna and Noah meet and feel a connection. She is drawn to his quiet, gentle ways, and Noah likes Jenna's calmness. Dino's family, however, believes Jenna stole from them. When Dino's past comes to light, Jenna remembers something that helps her and Noah make some decisions.
A nice, clean story with a bit of mystery and intrigue.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice entry into this series based in Miramar Beach, California although it didn't grab me as much as others in the series. These books feature interesting stories and fun characters. I have listened to audio-book versions and my only minor criticism is that the characters that differ from book to book begin to all sound alike. This one features Noah, who is reeling from a lost business and a failed marriage and Jenna, a nurse for end-of-life patients. Her last patient was a wealthy but very secretive man with a hostile family. When he dies, Jenna couldn't guess what lies ahead of her. This path takes her to Noah and they begin to work together to revive dreams and hopes. No sex or profanity.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am seriously laughing 'cause of the point .... that a huge part of the books i read from my local library leaning program ... are mostly all from the end of each of these series. weird??! i wonder why i can get the beginning books?? i love this book cover. GORGEOUS!! so pretty. i mean you could daydream for hours. way cool. check this series out. i will try to find more of the beginning books soon. bye.
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Seabreeze Shores - Jan Moran
Coral Cafe
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Lighthouse Cove - Rachel Hanna
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Summer on Sag Harbor - Sunny Hostin
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Shell Beach - Davis Bunn
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Nantucket Threads - Pamela M. Kelley

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since I gave a book five stars but I think this one deserves it. I thought the story was captivating and the characters were well developed. I have not read any of the other books in this series but I might after reading this one. I like strong female characters and Jenna was a very strong character. She was an end of life nurse. That in itself tells you that she is unique, has strong beliefs and a good character. I finished the book last night and have already recommended it to a few people. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

[Bookish Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eBook.

Great title, just great! I absolutely loved it. Davis Bunn did an amazing job setting up the characters and the storyline to create a very heartwarming and drama filled novel.

Noah and Jenna were my favorite characters and I loved how the sole focus was on them and the story, but also had additional characters brought in as friends, etc.

Jenna had a job that was very difficult and challenging for most when it comes to caring for those who are dying and Noah did too but in a different field. I greatly enjoyed how they met and bonded and worked together for the completion of such a daunting task until the end.

Great novel!

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davis Bunn has a written a new Miramar Bay book! Shell Beach has the things I like from Bunn – people trying to heal from past hurts and start new lives, a few characters from past books (this time from The Christmas Hummingbird), romance, some mysteries thrown in to keep me turning the pages, some bad guys to outsmart, and good old Sol Feinnes to sort out the legal issues. Once again Bunn doesn’t disappoint.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ShellBeach #NetGalley

[Jennifer K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: I entered a giveaway because I have enjoyed Davis Bunn’s writing and I won! I began listening right away and was easily hooked. The storyline was engaging and had a few unexpected twists. Anyone who enjoys stories with a community of family and friends bringing a new person into the fold, this one is for you! The narrator, Graham Winton made this audiobook an enjoyable listen. Well worth your time. Although, I haven’t read the other books in this series, I will be looking into them now. All opinions are my own.