I was lucky to have the two first books in this series so I finished the first and started book two right away.
Photographs From The Cove is another delightful story, same gorgeous setting, beautiful writing and characters that will steal your heart. Fun, heartwarming and captivating.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲 by Jennifer Bardsley Author released February 15, 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

I loved being back in the small seaside town of Sand Dollar Cove. I think I enjoyed this book even more than book 1 of the 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

Hannah’s sister Mary has just suffered a heartache. But a newcomer and his pet snakes are in town. Steven Clarke bought the Sand Dollar Cinema and needs help fixing it up. Steven hires Mary to help and slowly Mary begins to open up her heart to love again. This was such a fun one, as it brought in some of Mary’s past time in Hollywood and some people crept back into her life. There’s mystery, romance, and family, with Hannah and the sisters’ grandmother playing a role in this story too.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙖, 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @jenniferbardsleyauthor for a spot on tour and a gifted book and ebook via NetGalley.

I love a contemporary romance book series because it's always nice to see characters from previous books and know they're still together. This is Mary's love story and I really enjoyed seeing her come into her own in this book. Steven is an adventurous character and just what she needed. Also, he comes with Elvis the snake, loves horror films, bought the local cinema, and hired her to redesign it. Mary has a difficult time trusting due to traumatic events in her past and it was so nice to see her find her happily ever after.

It was great to be back in Sand Dollar Cove! It’s such a unique town and Jennifer’s writinng is so descriptive that I can clearly picture it. I loved the first book and it was good to catch up with Hannah, Mary and Cheryl. I really enjoyed that this second book focused more on Mary and her next chapter. I’ve always been fascinated by tunnels so found the underground developments in the Pacific Northwest really interesting. I’m excited about book 3 and look forward to returning to Sand Dollar Cove.

We are on to Mary’s story in book two of the series. I liked Mary in book one and thought she got a raw deal. I was intrigued when she found an album with an old photo that looks like her.

I enjoyed seeing a little more about Hannah and Guy and learning a little more about this deadbeat Mom that was often mentioned in the first book.

Underground tunnels, snakes, and a mystery. I must admit I was a little less accepting of the snakes than the rest of the characters but it was unique.

In addition to a romance, what is family is explored a little deeper.

I’ll miss Jeremy but I can’t wait to see what happens in Brittany’s story.

I liked the first book in this series and I LOVED this second book.

I liked the familiarity of knowing the characters from book one. I also loved the male main character in this book, newcomer, Steven Clarke. He is such a quirky guy. He has come from Vegas with a few pet snakes and a new purchase of the Sand Dollar Cinema that is in need of refurbishing.

Mary is an interior designer that has recently had a relationship end badly. Steven hires Mary to get the old cinema shiny.

There is not only the budding relationship between Mary and Steven, but also the continued dynamics of Mary’s family (her sister, Hannah is the main character in book one) as well as a mystery of an old photo album with a snakeskin cover.

I was so happy to get Mary’s story after getting to know her in the first book. For me, she had more of a self discovery journey than her sister Hannah did. The relationship she ended up having with Jeremy (her teenage housemate) was so sweet. I loved that he felt comfortable talking to Mary about his life and he took her advice seriously.

Even though Steven owned three nope ropes (AKA snakes) I still loved his personality. I loved the mix of banter and serious conversations he had with Mary. He did whatever he could to help her in any situation and it made my heart melt. I do think Mary did overreact over one situation but I loved how her family helped set her straight.

The mystery that was involved in this one was so interesting and I loved how it allowed us to get even more information on the sisters' past as well as the coves. A perfect mix of the two genres while keeping it a heartwarming small town read.

I haven't looked ahead to the next book in the series yet but I really hope that it follows Brittany. I feel so bad for how this book ended for her but I also loved both Mary and Hannah's reaction to it.

Thank you @jenniferbardsleyauthor and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

This book follows Mary. It picks up right up where book 1 left off. Aidan is such a jerk, I can't believe the way he tried to justify his behavior! She was good to get rid of him though it took her a bit to get over it.

Enter Steven. He just bought the movie theater and picked Mary to use her design skills to fix it up. He's a little bit strange and has 3 pet snakes but seems to be a good guy. Mary is very careful with her budding relationship with him.

I like that the girls eventually give their mother, Kelly, a chance to be in their lives again and she seems to be doing well now.

Love the sisterhood and their relationship with their grandmother who is still so fun to me, what a great character she is.

This is the second book in the Sand Dollar Cove series. I do suggest you read these in order as this book starts immediately after the first one ends. I love the description of Sand Dollar Cove. Having never been to Washington State where this takes place, I'm now ready to visit. Though it may rain a lot in the Pacific Northwest I'm ready to visit the beaches and take walks.
The book is absolutely packed full of so much going on.
Sisters Mary and Hannah and their grandmother live with their friend Bridget and her son in her boarding house. It's a great situation for all of them.
Hannah's boyfriend is not at all what she thought he was and she's much better off without him. If only she wouldn't still have to see him so often.
Mary is an interior decorator and is thrilled to be hired by the cove's newest resident Steven Clarke to renovate the cinema and bring it back to its former glory days. It's a huge job and the pressure is on, she's afraid of failing. What does it mean when she finds an old album in a storage area of the old cinema and a girl looks like her? Can Mary's budding romance survive the secrets that are revealed about her family and town? So many secrets and feelings of betrayal, self-discovery, family bonds renewed. Such a beautiful story, I enjoyed it a lot.

Pub Date 15 Feb 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Bardsley does not disappoint in book 2. Her writing draws you in and you become invested in her characters.

Mary Turner's dreams of a perfect life in Sand Dollar Cove are shattered when her boyfriend returns married. Determined to stay and find true love, she embarks on renovating the town's historic movie theater. A discovery of an old photo album leads her on a journey to uncover family secrets and her true identity. The well-developed characters and captivating storyline make it an irresistible read, filled with heartwarming moments and coastal charm. It's a tale of self-discovery, love, and overcoming past hurts, with Mary's journey at its center. A beautifully written, lighthearted read that comes highly recommended.

Welcome back to Sand Dollar Cove! This is book two in the series and starts right where book one left off. I love when an author does that for us, never missing a beat! Even tho it’s a continuation, I think you could read it as a stand alone but things would probably click more if you read book one first. But I’m a little OCD about reading books in order, so there’s that!

Just like Hannah’s story in the previous book, her sister Mary’s story is part romance and part mystery with town secrets and family drama. We get to know the characters a little better and some become more lovable and some not so much! Another easy, light and enjoyable escape in this little seaside town!

After reading Postcards from the Cove, the first novel in the Sand Dollar Cove series, I continued on with the second book: Photographs from the Cove.
In Postcards Hannah tells her story. Photographs is all about her little sister Mary. At the end of Postcards Mary finds out that her boyfriend was cheating on her and actually proposed to the girl he cheated on her with. Photographs starts with Mary slowly building her life back up after that disaster.
She starts her own business in interior design. She redecorates the lobby of Seaside Resort and also the senior center. Then she is offered a job to work on reopening the old cinema in town. The owner of the cinema, Steven, has only just moved to Sand Dollar Cove and hires Mary on the spot after being recommended to her.

As with Postcards, lots of stuff happens in Photographs. It is not just a story about getting back on your feet after a massive break-up, or a story about love. There is so much more. It is a story about being true to yourself and those around you. That means sharing secrets, whether they are awkward or heartbreaking or not.

I've enjoyed reading Photographs from the Cove. I like series in which the setting is the same, but in which the focus changes to other characters. It gives the reader a sense of familiarity, but also offers new insights.
I especially loved the character of Steven. He is so quirky and so lovable. Of course he is handsome beneath it all and on top of that, a gentleman. So let's hope that he will, just like Guy in Postcards, will stay in Sand Dollar Cove and that he will show up again in the third novel, Notes from the Cove.

Hannah's sister Mary is the main character in the second book in the series. She is hired to renovate the cove's old cinema. I loved getting to know the characters and have the family history fleshed out a bit more. Mary suffers heartbreak and the job is helping to keep her focused. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

I enjoyed this story! This one continues where the first one left off and focuses on Mary, Hannah's sister. After her boyfriend breaks her heart, Mary struggles to believe in love and herself again. When Steve Clark, the quirky newcomer arrives in Sand Dollar Cove after buying the old cinema and wanting to reopen it, he recruits Mary to help him redesign the old landmark kicking off her career as a designer.

This is the 2nd in the Sand Dollar Cove series. A lot of the characters that we enjoyed in the first series are around in this story. This could be read as a stand-alone, although it's better if you read the first in the series. This is a story that focuses on friendships, family relationships, and how it affects your ability to live fulfilled lives, romance, and mystery. The next book in the series is coming out in March and focuses on Brittany, the girl's landlady.

Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC

This is the second book in the Sand Dollar Cove series and picks up where the first book ends. This explores Mary's story and focuses on her figuring out how to heal and move on from the past and create the life that she wants.

Mary is trying to get her design business off the ground and move on from the disaster of her ex-boyfriend which is hard when he lives next door. She can't believe her luck when the new owner of the cinema hires her to update the cinema. She is not sure what to think of Steven and his snakes and unique sense of style but she is determined to do a good job. When her mother reappears in her life Mary is forced to confront the past. What she finds is a secret that could impact everything she has built. Will Mary be able to build the life she wants or will the secret destroy everything?

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Photographs From the Cove by Jennifer Bardsley, published by Bookouture

Another heartwarming novel by Jennifer Bardsley, this sequel to her first novel Postcards From the Cove does not disappoint. Amazing characters, some new and most we are familiar with from the first book. Loved the plot. This 2nd novel is written from Mary's point of view as she gets over the fact that her boyfriend cheated on her. She starts to establish herself as interior designer in the community and lands her first job at the local cinema that needs a total makeover. We learn a lot about Mary in this novel including her insecurities and also her drive to be a better person.
Mary is also battling with concerns she in going to turn out like her mother Kelly who battled with alcoholism since Mary and her sister were young.
In all I really enjoyed this 2nd book and I'm looking forward to the next in this series. This novel was a great escape from the everyday, really well written and an easy read. Wasn't hard to devour this book over 2 days.

Mary Turner longs for a “happily ever after” life in Sand Dollar Cove. She is expecting her boyfriend to propose. Of course her answer will be yes. But when he returns to Sand Dollar Cove after being gone for four months, he returns married and his wife is pregnant. Mary is devastated but decides to stay in Sand Dollar Cove and she is holding on to the hope that she will find true love one day. Steven Clarke a new resident of the Cove, hires her to renovate the town’s historic movie theater. Mary is excited to have something worthwhile to do. An opportunity to make a difference in the town she loves. While she is clearing out a storage room in the old theater she discovers an old photo album. Flipping through the old pictures Mary sees a little girl that looks exactly like her. But who could it be and what is the connection to Mary. Mary must find the truth but is she willing to accept it?

Photographs from the Cove written by author Jennifer Bardsley is an amazing continuation to the Sand Dollar Cove Series. I really enjoyed this story. It was so great to return to the cove and feel the warmth of the sand under my feet and the sunshine on my face. I love the characters in these books and I think Mary’s story is one that kept me guessing. This story tugged at my heartstrings and I was cheering for Mary to find the answers she was searching for. I loved this story and I highly recommend it.

this is book 2 in a series. It can be read as a standalone, I have read all three books in the series and enjoyed them.

Photograph from the Cove is the second book in the series.

In book 1, Hannah is the focus, and in book 2, Mary Turner, Hannah's sister, is the focus. Mary recently broke up with her boyfriend, Aidan, who she believes was going to ask her to marry him. Instead, Aidan returns from his work trip with a pregnant wife. Mary gets really upset and decides to focus on her interior design career, where she meets Steven, the new owner of an abandoned theatre, who has an affinity for snakes. Mary is quickly interested in Steven but does not want to make the same mistake again by falling too quickly. Mary has a past that she finds hard to share with anyone. As she grows up, she often feels insecure because of her mother, Kelly's drug addiction.
Mary aspires to be loved and achieve success in her life and career. Her past is what holds her back.

I really enjoyed reading both books and am halfway through the third book. There are none of the characters I dislike. I think this can be a standalone, but I recommend reading the whole series. There are a lot of conversations between them that never bore me. I did not know what to expect when I first started. This series is surprisingly enjoyable for me.

Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for this ARC series.