The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle
Contemporary fiction. Partly Romance.
Amanda lost her husband to the armed services two years ago. She moves with her children to a cottage on the beach and to start a new business. They spend the summer on the beach and getting to know their new small town.
Mauve is an older widow they meet on the beach that teaches the children about shells and sea glass.

So emotional! I loved this story so very much. Yes, lots of tears. Life, death, love, loss, acceptance and moving on.
I’ll recommend this to anyone that needs a story that touches the heart.

“Live. Love. Laugh. And keep that sand beneath your feet. “

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration was done by Erin Cahill who is also an actor. I think she did a phenomenal job with voice variations and emotions. The elderly, slightly southern voice of Mauve was distinct and clear and just a bit husky. The children's voice were a bit high pitched but fit the ages. The difference between Amanda and Mauve and other characters were unmistakable.
Overall a wonderful performance that has me searching the catalog for other books narrated by Cahill. ( )

I really enjoyed this novel. It was light-hearted, fun and a cozy read. Yes, to some it might be on the heavy side with grief, but I really loved Amanda’s character and felt the author did a great job in making her grief acceptable with the help of Maeve’s character.

Amanda lost her husband two years ago and is still struggling- as to be expected. She has bought a fixer upper cottage and is wanting to give the kids a new start as well as herself. Although her mother is questioning her decisions, Amanda knows this is the right decision- it just feels right.

Maeve has lived on Whelk’s Island her whole life, and soon falls into being apart of Amanda and her two kids lives. Friendship seems to come very easily to them, and slowly Amanda opens up and Maeve is there to give her guidance and what advise she can- she is a widow herself.

The two quickly form a friendship and this is the type of relationship Amanda has been looking for in a mother figure, and Maeve has always wanted little ones to spoil and enjoy the rest of her days with. Children can see things so simply, and Maeve has quickly taken a liking to teaching and showing them all about the beach and the special shells.

With a little bit of nudging from Maeve, she has taught Amanda that it is ok to grieve, and take time for herself, and ask for help- and that she will find romance once again. It may not be the same as what she had with her husband, but she knows the right man will come along, and that man may just be from familiar to them both.

Thank you to the author for the free novel, and goodies and The Book Review Crew for the invite. I will be looking up more novels by Nancy, when I need something light and comforting. I really enjoyed this storyline, as well as Amanda and Maeve’s characters and relationship. ( )

This is such a charming book. Readers will delight in the characters as I know I did. My personal favorite is Maeve. She is like the grandma that everyone needs and wants. In fact, she kind of reminded me of another character...Mrs. Miracle from author, Debbie Macomber.

All of the characters in this story are what made it so enjoyable. They are very relatable. The romance between Paul and Amanda is sweet and "real". The pace at which Paul and Amanda took their relationship is what I would expect from two people finding "second chance" love again.

A shout out to Amanda's two children, Jesse and Hailey. Children are a weakness of mine in stories. They are adorable and help keep the story entertaining. ( )

When Amanda looses her husband, she and her 2 children move to the beach. At Whelk's Island, she meets a very special neighbor who loves to collect sea shells. Amanda knows what is it like to have a lost and soon knows what it is like to be found.

Solid, Maybe Not 'Real' For Everyone. This is one of those Hallmarkie type books - from an author who apparently has had a few of her books become Hallmark movies - that goes a bit deep into the whole pro-military, pro-say-your-prayers portrayal of a "small town" that many will love and many others will find doesn't exactly reflect their own experiences with small towns. But working within that Hallmarkie / conservative Christian / Christian Fiction type niche, this is one that will likely be beloved. And don't get me wrong, as an overall story it is genuinely solid for *anyone*. It does a great job as it explores some deep issues - including loss of a spouse, second chance romance, unrequited love, and other issues - that many experience well outside of the *exact* target demo for this effort, and thus it opens itself to a much wider audience... as long as you can stomach the not-*quite*-constant rah rah Go Military! type. There is nothing objectively here to hang any star reduction on, as, again, it is a solid story well told. Thus, it is very much recommended. ( )