I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was great!

"Serenity by the Sea" is a sweet romance set on the exclusive resort town of Gull Island. The two main characters are both interior designers with different, but complementary, design aesthetics. When tasked to work together on a project, after a bumpy first meeting, neither are too keen, but they both see the value in working together to accomplish their different objectives.

Overall, I enjoyed the small-town feeling of the story and some of the characters were great, but the story didn't really suck me in. Everyone seemed like the best version of themselves (most of the time), so it felt a bit unrealistic to me. Even when there should have been conflict, we never see any.

Thank you to Jennifer Vido, The Wild Rose Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This contemporary romance, "Serenity by the Sea", is a romantic and witty enemies-to-lovers small town romance! Full of heart, banter, and beautiful settings, this novel kept me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning to see the journey to happily-ever-after.

Jennifer Vido's writing is descriptive and vivid. I could envision each and every moment, location, and oh how I wish I could travel there! I so look forward to going back and reading the first book in the series, and hope this series will continue with many more books!

Hailey and Will are partnered together on a renovation project, and things get off to a rocky start between them. Knowing the project needs to go well, can they put their differences aside? The more time they spend together, Hailey and Will start to understand one another on a deeper emotional level, and their feelings begin to completely change and develop. What happens? You will just have to read to find out!

I highly recommend this to lovers of Contemporary Romance! It is truly so heartfelt and sweet!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Get Red PR, and The Wild Rose Press for the e-ARC of this book, and to Get Red PR, The Wild Rose Press, and author Jennifer Vido for the beautiful finished copy. And thank you so much to Get Red PR, The Wild Rose Press, and Jennifer Vido for having me on the book tour! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Title: Serenity by the Sea
Author: Jennifer Vido
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3 out of 5

Will a celebrity designer and her stubborn project manager sabotage their renovation or fall madly in love?

Celebrity designer Hailey Maybank escapes to Gull Island to reinvent herself after a high-profile divorce, lending her expertise on a renovation project. Working with the boss’s son comes with complications, but will she risk her reputation for a chance at love?

Will Purdey is vying to become a partner in the family business by showcasing his design skills on the firm’s latest project. Partnering with a famous designer with a tarnished reputation can ruin his plans, but will his growing attraction for the colorful artist allow him to get the job done?

This felt very rushed and choppy. Hailey and Will meet and don’t like each other, and then five page later, she’s jealous over him talking to another girl? I felt like some scenes were cut and transitions were ignored, leaving the pacing feeling jagged and off. I loved the setting and thought it was very well done, but the choppiness was a problem for me.

Jennifer Vido is an award-winning author. Serenity by the Sea is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of The Wild Rose Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Hailey Maybank, a popular designer, takes on a design project on Gull Island, South Carolina, seeking a break from the chaos of her divorce and life in Atlanta. Hailey is partnered with the local, Will Purdey, trying to prove himself in his family’s business.

There is a “meet cute”, followed by lots of tension, obstacles and challenges for the two competitive designers. Can they work together and still satisfy their personal goals?

This is a fun, enjoyable and easy read, perfect for the summer.

Although this is a second novel in the Gull Island series, it is an easily read stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Haley goes to Gull island after a divorce to help with a renovation project. I enjoyed the story very much.