Description
Saving her family’s beloved seaside resort was never going to be easy—but falling for the man who could ruin everything wasn’t part of the plan.
Kalinda Wingate is pouring her heart into restoring the Sunshine Sisters Resort, determined to protect the legacy her parents left behind. With renovations stretching her budget, guests dwindling, and the future hanging by a thread, one thing could change everything: a glowing review from the elusive travel critic known only as The Secret Sightseer.
When rumors spread that the mysterious reviewer may be headed to town, Kalinda is determined to make every moment perfect. What she doesn’t know is that the critic is already closer than she thinks.
Clarke Cantor only planned to stay long enough for his sister’s wedding. Instead, he finds himself face-to-face with Kalinda—his first love, the woman he never forgot, and the one person who can never discover the secret he’s keeping. As wedding festivities, quirky mishaps, and the charm of their coastal hometown pull them back together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.
But with old wounds still lingering and a life-changing secret standing between them, Kalinda and Clarke must decide whether love deserves a second chance—or if some mistakes are too painful to forgive.
A heartwarming small-town romance filled with second chances, hidden identities, family bonds, and all the cozy seaside charm readers love.
Each book in the Sunny Banks series is STANDALONE:
* Resorting to Romance
* Returning to Romance
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Sexual Content - 1/5
1/5
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Violence - 0/5
0/5
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Language - 1/5
1/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
0/5
Summary
Book Review: Returning to Romance by Jennifer Shirk
Returning to Romance is the second book in Jennifer Shirk’s Sunshine Sisters series. While it can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, I think reading the books in order would make the experience even richer, as each installment continues the sisters’ stories and deepens the family dynamics.
This book belongs to Kalinda, the oldest of the three sisters, and as the oldest sibling myself, I found her especially relatable. 😊 Responsible, dependable, and always looking out for everyone else, Kalinda pours her heart into running the restaurant at the Sunshine Sisters Resort. As a talented chef, she is determined to help make the resort a success, believing that a glowing review could be just what the business needs.
When Clarke, the man who broke her heart years earlier, unexpectedly returns to town, Kalinda is forced to confront a past she thought she had left behind. Clarke is in town for his sister’s wedding at the resort while also working on an assignment for his job. I appreciated that his reasons for ending their relationship years ago felt believable and added emotional depth to the story. Even so, I found some of his present-day decisions a bit frustrating, which made it harder for me to fully embrace his character at times.
Jennifer Shirk does a wonderful job exploring second chances, forgiveness, and family while delivering a satisfying happily-ever-after. That said, I would have liked to see a more fully developed resolution to the third-act conflict, as it wrapped up a little more quickly than I expected.
I'm looking forward to book three and can't wait to read Marise’s story.
Content Notes: Mild to moderate profanity. Includes an LGBTQ wedding, brief references to sex (without description), and occasional innuendo.