Since the Day We Danced

Definitely in the mood for a beautiful escapist Nicholas Sparks type romance. This book definitely fits the bill. I love the string over at forty mark and also how the love story is going to weave in with the single dad troupe and a cute dog and his much more perfect can you ask for? I really haven't seen a book like this in awhile...it's long overdue. I'm so happy its in the Read now section as well.i look forward to sharing much more soon!

So good!

I’m glad that I picked up this book, it’s my first by this author, but I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. This is a small town romance, second chance for both main characters, plus a cute dog and a troubled son. Emma and Luke’s path wasn’t easy or a straight line, but it was worth it. Sweet, clean story, well written and fast moving. Highly recommend.

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

Fabulous. A real weepy and beautifully written romance and second chance love for both Luke and Emma. Throw in an acting up 17 year old, a violent ex, a reappeared absent father and there are some threads to weave in Hadley Cove. The altercations are well told, the dog is just as cute as can be and the show stealer. This is one of those books you read on and on as you are desperate to get to the HEA and yet it is so bittersweet when the book is finished as there is no more.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial!

We all have pondered whether it is better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all. Since the Day We Danced answers the famous question and proves that is in fact better to have loved and lost.

It is natural to feel dazed when life careens off course and the unexpected happens. One day you are married with a son and a literal picket fence. Next thing you know you and that son are standing next to one another looking at a casket that marks not only an end to a life, but also to the end to a future you saw oh so clearly.

Grief is a complex experience one that has no starting point and has no ending point. Grief is continuous with its ebbs and flows. Grief is an opportunity to learn and grow. Grief is something that gives you the option that you yourself can stop living because of this loss or you can take it as an opportunity to see how fragile and short life is and live your own to the fullest.

The end of one life does not have to be the end of your own. You just have to choose to continue moving forward despite the weight of the despair some loss causes

Kerk Murray is able to take a complex experience and complex emotions and turn it into a simple story of faith, love, hope and second chances.

This is my first by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. This is a second chance for both main characters,. Sweet, clean story and fast moving.. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

I’m so glad I picked this book! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I read the book in one day because it kept me wanting to know what was next to come. The main characters, their formers loves and losses, and what led them to Hadley Cove was a wonderful romantic story - one of taking chances and finding love again. I highly recommend reading this book.

A lovely story with so many hidden depths. Emma has just gotten divorced from her cheating husband and is dealing with the loss of both her home and her self esteem.
Luke and his son Jeremiah are recovering from the loss of his wife and after Jeremiah becomes so disruptive he ends up being suspended from school, Luke decides a move to the coast is in Jeremiah best interests, and they purchase Emma’s old home.
When Riley Emma’s dog turns up as a stray they take him in, and once reunited with Emma a romance between her and Luke is started. Jeremiah is fragile so they decide to keep it quiet but that backfires and Emma sets Luke free to concentrate on mending the relationship with his son.
Jeremiah realises his mistake and ends up apologising and also rescuing her from her abusive ex.
A well written clean tale of second chances at love.

This is book one in The Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series and it is Emma and Luke’s story and what a great start to a new series and author to me. When Emma’s husband gave her divorce papers for their anniversary because he had found someone else Emma was devastated and not prepared at all so she decided to move away to Hadley Cove where she found a cottage so along with her rescue dog Riley Emma now needs to try and pick herself up after the betrayal and try to move forward with her new home and life. Luke is widowed and has a teenage son Jeremiah but there relationship is not what it should be and Luke is determined to mend what had been broken between them so he moved them to Hadley Cove so that they can start fresh in a new place and hopefully move forward and reconnect his son. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as it had great characters and a story that had you turning the pages while keeping your attention throughout the book and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

A sweet, heart-warming and heart-breaking story. A dog and a teenager add to the trials and tribulations of the couple. Nice to see it is the start of a series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Quick Summary: A sunshine after the rain, women's fiction romance

My Review: Since the Day We Danced by Kerk Murray was a second chance at life kind of story. It is the first book in what promises to be an outstanding, new series set in Hadley Cove, Georgia. It is the kind of story that breaks your heart even as it gives hope.

About the Book: When two strangers who have each lost so much have a chance encounter, they are both gifted with the opportunity to heal in ways that they would never have imagined.

My Final Say: I would love to visit and sit a spell with the Hadley Cove residents. It would seem that this is a very special place with very special people. Emma and Luke's story kicked things off nicely. I am all in for the rest of the stories that are to come.

Other: Readers who are looking for a beautiful love story with texture, color, movement, and growth will find it in this wonderful novel.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💞

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own thoughts and opinions. I look forward to reading more from the Hadley Cove series.

Since the Day We Danced is a sweet, romantic story with a lovely setting on the coast of Georgia with its marshes, bays, and beaches, near historical Savannah. I liked the characters and pulled for them to find happiness. Luke moved from Chicago to give his son Jeremiah and himself a new start, as they recover from the loss of his wife, who died a couple of years prior. Jeremiah is especially having trouble dealing with the loss. Luke blames himself for his workaholic lifestyle. His wife always wanted to live in coastal Georgia so this seems the right decision. Emma is reeling with a divorce from her husband who she found out was cheating. Thankfully, she has her sweet dog, Riley, and has started a dog treat company to supplement her teaching sub job. When Luke and Emma meet, they have an instant connection but with Jeremiah's problems, they have to be careful. This story pulls on heartstrings with both Emma and Luke's past to overcome and move on. It is great book for those who love romance and second chances.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts

This was a lovely sweet romance, set in a small Georgia town. The main characters were terrific, and I loved the inclusion of a rescue dog named Riley. It was a touching story of new beginnings, and a sweet romance without being graphic.

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

This is a beautiful story. I enjoyed it a lot!

Since the Day We Danced by Kerk Murray is a book about two main characters, Emma and Luke, who have gone through separate tremendous heartaches. The book starts on a sad note, with both Luke and Emma devastated by the pain and torment that life was offering them yet again in some way or another, finding the inner strength to go through. They understand that they need to begin life over again, or possibly try to move on with their lives, by relocating, not knowing that this decision will change their lives forever. Emma's pet, Riley, plays a very significant role in making the story more captivating, as does Jeremiah, Luke's son. The story is all about life, its pains and gains, and all that life presents.

What I like about the book is the manner in which the author incorporates the lives of two people, explaining their side of the story. This way, readers get the whole picture. I also like the way the author does not sugarcoat the story; he brings out both the joys and the pains of life in the book. Additionally, I like the positivity portrayed in the characters despite life challenges; a good example can be seen in Chapter 40: "They were evidence that happiness could be found again, even after the most devastating losses. He wasn’t willing to part with that hope."

I rate this book, since the day we danced, 5 out of 5 stars for the above reasons, not to mention that the book is extremely fascinating

I recommend this book to those who have experienced love at some point in their lives, but unfortunately, it didn't last. As they read this book, they will realize that happiness can be found again and as the author puts it, despite the heartaches in life, it is also full of second chances, redemption, and love

When fate strikes
Luke moves into Emma's old house and they slowly get closer and closer, it's more of a friends to lovers story and Luke's son also plays a role in it

Nice to read, lots of emotion and deep insights.

Have fun reading for yourself!

“The heart wants what it wants, and it doesn’t always have to make sense.”

Emma Wright’s world came crashing down when her husband blindsided her with divorce papers on their anniversary and left her for a younger woman. Starting over at forty, she moves into a quaint beachfront cottage on the other side of Hadley Cove with her beloved rescue dog, Riley. But just as she’s picking up the shattered pieces to her life, Riley goes missing.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, widowed father Luke Grayson vows to repair the strained relationship with his teenage son, Jeremiah. In search of new beginnings, he moves them to the picturesque small coastal town of Hadley Cove, Georgia. While they're getting settled, an unexpected visitor arrives at their doorstops, and seems to believe this is his home.

As destiny weaves Emma and Luke’s paths together in unforeseen ways, their lives will change forever. Will they find the courage to open their fragile hearts to a second chance at love? Or will the scars of the past keep them from their happily ever after?

Having had a dog reactive to fireworks and loud bangs those parts of this book hit me in the feels. It’s a helpless and exhausting experience. 🥺

But otherwise OH MY GOD! I loved this book!! I couldn’t read it fast enough. This story was heartfelt, hopeful, and so incredibly endearing. I read it in a day. A small coastal town with dogs and love?! Come on now. An automatic 10/10!

Thank you Kerk for the #gifted copy. I can’t wait to read the next installment!! I need so much more Hadley Cove in my life. 💙

I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley, Kerk Murray, and Magnolia Press!

This is Kerk’s debut romance novel, and it is so good! It’s a true five star for me. I related to the female main character, Emma, in so many ways! Her vegan representation is something I’ve not come across in a book before, and I found it to be very thought provoking. (Side Note: There are vegan recipes in the back of the book that I’m excited to try out.) The male main character, Luke, has ALL of the golden retriever energy I love in a sweet, book boyfriend! He reminds me of my real life boyfriend A LOT. I’m blessed to have found “my Luke,” and I loved being a part of Emma’s journey to find hers. And Riley … the ACTUAL sweet, golden retriever who is as energetic and goofy as you would expect this breed to be. I loved him so much! Oh!!!! The scum ex-husband, Chad …. Well, I won’t spoil it, but he gets what he deserves.

I completely appreciated this was a second chance romance in a non-traditional sense of the term. The same goes for the 3rd act breakup and how all of it unfolded. I loved the time I spent in Hadley Cove, and I can’t wait for this series to continue.

Spoilers: I loved that all of the sweet things Luke did for Emma (helicopter ride, getting her dog biscuits in other stores, etc.) did not result in a miscommunication break up. I appreciated how grown-up they both handled the break up and anytime they ran into each other. The break up stemming from Jeremiah being upset and lashing out was a perfectly logical reasoning. I loved that Chad got what was coming to him especially from the protection of Riley. My heart hurt when Riley got hurt, but I knew the happily ever after wouldn’t be there without him so I trusted Kerk to not take him away from us too soon. I loved the scene that described the image on the cover. I loved when the title of the story was dropped in the novel. I love that there was a playlist that went along with the book. I loved it all!

I really enjoyed this sweet romance, the main characters were very likeable and I felt drawn to seeing them succeed in there relationship, beautifully written felt myself rooting for there engagement and would love to read more.

This is a clean, second chance, later-in-life romance set in a cozy Georgia coastal town. The storyline is Hallmark-sweet. I would have liked more depth, but if you’re looking for a light read, this is a good choice. I loved Riley, the rescue dog, and although he’s in the background, Riley is a blessing to Emma and many people in the story. My only critique would be that the past relationships Emma had with her dad and ex create conflict at the end that would have been lots more effective with more build up throughout the story- harassment from Carl, an out of the blue attempt at contact from dad…. That said, overall, I found this to be sweet, redemptive & hopeful.

absolutely loved this story, kept my interest right to the end.

Just love Kerk's style of writjng.

Can wait to read the next story

Readers looking for a sweet romance will adore SINCE THE DAY WE DANCED. I love the coastal Georgia setting and the Hallmark-style plot. This is a second chance, later-in=life story that kept me turning the pages. And did I mention there's a sweet rescue dog who steals the show? Emma is a relatable main character and I like how the author shows her journey and leaves the reader with a message of hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinion expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a new-to-me author and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a beautifully written story that hooked me on the first page and didn't let go. It's a sweet second chance romance that was a joy to read. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC of ‘Since the Day We Danced’ by Kerk Murray

First of all what an amazing start to a series! I am so so happy that we will get more books in Hadley Cove. I usually go for a spicy romance in all honestly but say this and couldn’t resist. The chemistry between Emma and Luke was perfect! This book was just so wholesome and I can’t wait to read more!

This was a cute cozy beach town romance. I enjoyed the romance between Emma and Luke, especially after her toxic marriage to Chad, which unfortunately was too relatable. Emma deserved the sweet and understanding temperament that Luke was. Luke is a single dad after the death of his wife, and he and his son, Jeremiah, are still learning how to cope and be each others support. His wife was the glue before since Luke was always so busy working.
Luke and Jeremiah move from Chicago to Hadley Cove for a different pace of life, and there Luke meets Emma. He lives in her old house, and her dog Riley ran away to the house. He didn’t think he could love again after the death of his wife, but Emma brings out a happiness in him, and later, Jeremiah, that is good for them all.

Read this one if you want a sweet, clean romance to settle and snuggle into the couch with!

Thank you Kerk for the copy!!

𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 by Kerk Murray is book 1 in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series and is chock-full of your favorite romance tropes:

🐚 Second chances
🐚 Small town
🐚 Later in life romance
🐚 Rescue dog
🐚 Beach setting

Y’all this book is the epitome of a Hallmark movie! Big city guy meets small town girl, they take long walks on the beach, sprinkle in some lighthouse kisses, throw a rescue dog in the mix, and voilà! The perfect makings of all things Hallmark, and I’m here for it!

𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 was so sweet and swoony! I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading! You’ll love rooting for Emma and Luke as they navigate life after loss. And dog lovers, there’s a loveable ball of fluff to root for too! Riley you have heart 🐾

Will there be a happily ever after for Emma and Luke? Pick up 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 to find out!

I can’t wait to go back to the small town of Hadley Cove in book 2, 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙒𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙡.

@kerkmurray thank you again so much for the beautiful PR box and signed book! This story was beautiful.

This is a nice easy romance with a feel good factor.

The characters are likeable and the story goes along at a good pace.

I would recommend this for a nice cosy evening.

The story begins with Emma, whose marriage is over and her family's home sold. But Emma got to keep Riley, her precious rescue dog.

Emma moves, but her dog returns to her old home. The new home owner adores Riley, but knows his owner needs to be reignited with him. Luke then meets Emma. A friendship is formed. But not without issues popping up from ex's to son's and other life problems.

A touching story, where you feel welcomed into Hadley Cove and the people in it.

This was the first book I've read by Kerk Murray, but it will not be my last! I really enjoyed the romance between Emma and Luke, and I love that they were a bit older in their 40's. Riley, the pup, added so much to the story line. I am eagerly waiting to read the next 4 books in this series!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 14 November 2023

Wow, what a great book! It was so engaging and kept me turning pages until the very end! I highly recommend it to fellow readers!

Since the Day We Danced
Kerk Murray
Published 14 November 2023, Read 2024
4 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher BooksGoSocial for my copy of Since the Day We Danced by Kerk Murray. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer. I have purchased a physical copy of this book.

In summary: Second chance romance, life change over 40.

This my first book by Kerk Murray.

Interesting story with the main characters within their forties given a second chance at love. I think the story is uncomplicated (in a good way), it’s clean storytelling with a low level of heat to it. The plot is believable and plausible. I enjoyed the romance unfolding set against the backdrop of a beach town.

This is book 1 in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series. Emma is devastated when her husband demands a divorce and marries a much younger woman. She decides to move to Hadley Cove and start over with her dog Riley. All is going smoothly when Riley goes missing and is found at her neighbor's house. Luke is new to Hadley Cove and is trying to fix his relationship with his teen son, Jeremiah. With some help from Riley, the couple are constantly thrown together and love follows. Very sweet and I can't wait for book 2.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Emma and Luke. Emma is a recently divorced, substitute teacher, and dog biscuit entrepreneur. Luke has recently moved from Chicago, a widow, and a dad. They meet when Emma’s dog gets lost and winds up at Luke’s house. They keep unexpectedly meet up at different parts of town. They start dating. They each have trust issues but resolve those issues and fall in love

A sweet romance that offers the potential for a second chance. When you're blind-sided by divorce, wishing love would come, or just want characters you cheer for, this will be a book for you.

I struggled through it because the background was dark - but what I read was a story I'd take on a commute or shove in my tote bag for a day away. You'll get absorbed in the romance and possibilities.