MY RATING:
Synopsis:
Welcome to the Sunshine Inn, a picturesque coastal inn with sweeping views and two new owners who couldn’t be more opposite. From bestselling author Amy Clipston comes a no spice, grumpy/sunshine romance perfect for fans of Anne-Marie Meyer and RaeAnne Thayne.
Two polar opposites, one cozy inn–and one sweet and surprising chance at unlikely love.
Read More:
When Everleigh Hartnett, a cheerful traveling NICU nurse who can’t sit still, inherits half of her godmother’s beloved seaside bed-and-breakfast, she dreams of selling the place to fund the nonprofit she and her godmother always envisioned. But there’s one tiny her new co-owner. Rugged, grumpy, and fiercely loyal to the inn, Cade Witherspoon isn’t about to let his peaceful life–and his new start–be sold off so easily.
Everleigh and Cade are opposites in every way. She’s sunshine and laughter, while he’s all rough edges and quiet brooding. Their clash of wills over the inn soon has them wondering what on earth Everleigh’s godmother was thinking when she left them both in charge.
As Everleigh gets to know Cade’s softer side–and Cade finds himself drawn to Everleigh’s optimism and kindness–their disagreement over the inn becomes something sweeter. But with the arrival of Cade’s long-lost brother and the looming threat of a developer sniffing around the property, they’ll have to make some hard choices–together.
Can Everleigh and Cade let go of their expectations and build something lasting together? Or will the Sunshine Inn be the place they both leave behind?
Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by bestselling novelist Amy Clipston is a heartwarming, standalone romance, which features the grumpy/sunshine trope and a charming small-town setting that’s Netflix’s Falling Inn Love meets Debbie Macomber set in a seaside bed-and-breakfast. This book delivers all the emotions and butterflies, leaving out the explicit scenes. And it comes with engaging discussion questions, making it a fantastic choice for your next book club pick!
- Pages: 368
- Genre: Contemporary, Christian Romance
- Publication date: July 8, 2025 by Thomas Nelson
- Format: Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
- Source: NetGalley Audiobook
PURCHASE LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
KOBO
REVIEW:
This is going to be a difficult review, because I really thought I would like this one. This book is a prime example that a good premise does not equal a good execution.
I had a lot of issues here. I understand that authors try to portray realistic characters by making them flawed; nothing wrong with that. However, there is a fine line between realistically flawed and borderline insufferable and totally off the mark. These characters here are just that, 33 and 27-year-old acting and having the thought process of teenagers who have no idea what being an adult and having to deal with important matters actually entails.
Cade and Everleigh were just irritating me page after page. He may have had more sense than she did, but altogether they make a lethal combination. I was so pissed at the FMC she was so annoying and plain stupid at times, I couldn’t.
The plot was all over the place, with tiny subplots out of nowhere. I was really pissed at Cade for how he treated his mother. And pissed at his mother and the author for making whatever was going on sound like something hugeeee had happened, and I was convinced it was really horrible when it actually turned out to be something so normal. There was this great build-up that something terrible had happened to only be left with disappointment that it wasn’t that deep at all!
Additionally, the whole inheritance bit with the inn had so much potential, but I digress. What was her godmother even thinking? And what was that Trevor?(i think this is what he was called) guy? Why was that even in there as a subplot? I called it right after he was introduced and saw right through him, but she didn’t! Everleig was so gullible and naive that it made me roll my eyes more than I could count throughout this book. I lost all sympathy for her a long time ago. How was she a NICU nurse? I don’t know. It would have been nice to see more of her actual job on the line, but nope, we saw none of that.
Also, her sister? What is your problem? Why was everybody in this book so annoying and acting like kids? It’s beyond me. So disappointed, the only parts I liked were the cat, and that’s it, the cat. The romance was not believable at all. I appreciated that it was clean, but other than that not convincing at all.
There are so many other things I could say, but I will stop here, because it makes me angry having to think about them all. If you liked it, I am happy for you.
Overall, 1.5 stars.
Lin's Perspective 
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