Bookshop by the Sea

Hunter (Summer by the Tides) reunites a bookstore owner with her high school sweetheart in this chaste, angst-filled romance. Sophie Lawson hasn’t seen her ex-boyfriend Aiden Maddox since they broke up seven years ago. But now Aiden returns to Piper’s Cove, N.C., for the wedding of his best friend, Grant Foster, to Sophie’s sister, Jenna. Sophie is preparing to open a bookstore in the small seaside town, and Aiden has achieved success in Florida with the extreme sporting business he left Sophie to run. When a hurricane delays Aiden’s departure, he decides to crash at the Fosters’ empty beach house—only to discover Sophie already staying there. The forced proximity allows Aiden the chance to apologize for hurting Sophie, while Sophie discloses the family tragedy that held her back from leaving town with him. After Sophie sprains her ankle, Aiden puts off returning to Florida to help Sophie remodel her bookstore before its opening day. As their old flame rekindles, they consider the possibility of a long-distance relationship. Hunter’s story highlights the complexity of adult relationships through flawed but down-to-earth characters. Sophie and Aiden’s intense romantic tension keeps the pages flying. [em]Agent: Karen Solem, Spencer Hill Assoc. (Apr.) [/em]