Sanctuary Cove
Sanctuary Cove book cover

Sanctuary Cove

Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 2012

by
Price
$6.97
Publisher
Forever
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1455501403
Dimensions
4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
Weight
6.2 ounces

Description

"4/5 stars! Enticing and a pleasure to read, Haven Creek invites the reader in and entertains so well one doesn't want to leave. It is a gentle moving story that lets love find its way through the tangles and troubles of life and the flaws of characters." ― Long and Short Reviews on HAVEN CREEK "Rochelle Alers is the rock star of romance and proves it with each new book in this series."― The Reading Reviewer on HAVEN CREEK " 4 out of 5 roses! I loved how Morgan was a strong individual who wouldn't compromise about things that were important to her."― Seduced By a Book on HAVEN CREEK "... even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series I had no problem falling right into Morgan and Nate's story."― Love to Read for Fun on HAVEN CREEK "Haven Creek is a lovely, warm-hearted romance sure to please those who love a happily-ever-after style ending! Nicely done, Rochelle Alers!"― Crystal Book Reviews on HAVEN CREEK "You can't help but fall in love with the small town these characters live in, and their southern charm is so adorable ... It was a quick, cute read that I just couldn't get enough of."― Reading With Style on HAVEN CREEK " Haven Creek is a gentle, moving romance ... Alers' voice is tender, different from what I've been seeing on the romance market recently. She revives the romance of forty years ago and keeps the sexiness for modern readers."― Jandy's Books on HAVEN CREEK "... highly recommend this nice, enjoyable and relaxing romance novel."― The Avid Reader on HAVEN CREEK "Cavanaugh Island has an appealing population who show all of humanity's virtues and vices, some very humorous, some wrenching. Readers will enjoy returning to this setting and Nate and Morgan's love story."― Romance Reviews Today on HAVEN CREEK " With this introduction to the Cavanaugh Island series, Alers returns to the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Readers will enjoy the ambiance, the delicious-sounding food and the richly described characters falling in love after tragedy. This is an excellent series starter."― RT Book Reviews on SANCTUARY COVE "Soaked in an old-fashioned feel, Alers's hyper-realistic style... will appeal to readers looking for gentle, inexplicit romance."― Publishers Weekly on SANCTUARY COVE "I truly and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found it a wonderful, warm, intriguing romance and was happy to find a new author to read."― Jill Shalvis, New York Times best-selling author of Simply Irresistible on SANCTUARY COVE "Carolina Lowcountry comfort food, a community of people who care, and a wonderfully emotional love story. Who could ask for more? Sanctuary Cove is the kind of place you visit and never want to leave."― Hope Ramsay, bestselling author of Welcome to Last Chance on SANCTUARY COVE " Sanctuary Cove is a gripping, second chance at love romance...[it's] real and truly inspiring. I highly recommend it!"― Night Owl Reviews on SANCTUARY COVE "SANCTUARY COVE is a beautiful romantic story about second chances."― The Romance Readers Connection on SANCTUARY COVE Bestselling author Rochelle Alers has nearly two million copies of her novels in print. She is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

Features & Highlights

  • Sometimes love is the simplest choice of all.
  • Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future. Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been on a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place. As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected . . .

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(246)
★★★★
25%
(103)
★★★
15%
(62)
★★
7%
(29)
★
-7%
(-30)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Do life changes always have to be so difficult?

Deborah Robinson is dealing with a new business, going back home with her children, and living life as a widow. Her husband died a hero but the road to recovery is not easy when you have to say goodbye to old hurts. Moving forward is a challenge as well for Asa Monroe who has found some healing to his broken heart in this quaint, Southern town and its easygoing manner.

Small towns come with their own set of rules and a lack of privacy is the least of the worries that Deborah is dealing with. As she tries to release the past and move forward she, stumbles over guilt and too many memories from the life she had preventing her from building the life new now wants. The new bookstore she opens helps and finding Asa working for her exciting. He does not say much but there is a world of experiences he has also lived that she wants him to share. Every day they grow closer and discovering all his secrets is a healing balm for both of their hearts as they allow themselves to move toward a future.

Reading about two tattered souls finding each other and moving on with their lives is romance at its finest. This is a story of two people dealing with real life issues and making the difficult adult decisions everyone has to accomplish. My only question about this book is did Crystal get a dog or not?
5 people found this helpful
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Sanctuary Cove

Rating 4.5

Dr. Asa Monroe is a newcomer to the island, Asa is waiting for his assignment Doctors Without Border to be approved but in the mean time the island is a place for him to heal his heart. Asa lost his wife and son in a tragic accident.

Deborah Robinson is a widower who decided to move to the island after her husband death. Deborah and her kids (Whitney & Crystal) moves in her grandparent's home. Deborah comes home to heal after all of the investigation regarding her supposing improper behavior with a fellow student. Louis Robinson was a high school teacher.

This is a story of Charleston, South Carolina where the towns peoples know everybody and is there to lean there support. Deborah opens a book store and hires Asa to help. As time goes on Asa & Deborah realize that they have feeling for each other and slowly begin to fall in love. Although they wasn't looking for a relationship Asa still questioning why he no longer has his wife and son, and Deborah who is still grieving but in the midst of it all they become friends who would become lovers.

The story takes you through South Carolina the wonderful business the restaurant. I tell as I reading this I decided that I need to take a trip to South Carolina to experience some of this hospitality.

I am waiting for the next installment of Cavanaugh Island.

Smooches,
Louise
4 people found this helpful
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Somewhat Disappointed; But Entertaining

I am familiar with the moss covered trees and the charm of Charleston as well as the nearby island of Kiawah. The region is very scenic and romantic, so I had high hopes for a "romance" novel set in the area.

Sadly, I was somewhat disappointed...

There were two situations (leading to the inevitable "Man Beds Woman") in the book that were unsettling to me. First, if Louis Robinson had "Erectile dysfunction (ED)" and could not perform sexually, why did he not come forth and defend his honor and the honor of his family (let's not forget that his teenage children were impacted as well) against the allegations of impregnating one of his students? Although the author attempted to explain this "tidbit" I found this to be very unrealiatic of him to put the needs of his student ahead of his own family?

Next, what recently widowed women (Deborah Robinson), or better question...in this day and age, what physician (Dr. Asa Monroe) would have "unprotected sex?" Again, even in the heat of passion, at their educational levels, ages, and with teenage children looking to them to set examples...how realistic is that?

With those two situations out of the equation, Sanctuary Cove was entertaining and "cute." I could almost smell the ocean and feel the breeze as she described the island and its surroundings. The descriptions of the towns people were rich with characterization and charm. I could visulize everything from the town meeting in the book shop to the nosey neighbor "running" into Deborah and Asa as they took a stroll in the park.

With that said, I am new to Rochelle Alers' work and have pre-ordered and look forward to "Angels Landing" to be released in August!
3 people found this helpful
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A heartwarming read

***original review posted at Romancing Rakes***

Ecclesiastes 3 is one of my all time favorite verses in the Bible. I'm not going to get all religious but it's the verse provided at the beginning of the book. You know the one (variations and all): "To everything there is a season... a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

Deborah Robinson is a recent widow who has sold her house and moved her family from Charleston to her grandmother's home in Sanctuary Cove. She's got 2 teenagers, is opening a bookstore called The Parlor and reconnecting with old friends. Sanctuary Cove is a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business (thanks to the town gossip) including Deborah's. Her husband was accused of having an affair with a student and later drowned saving someone.

She's come to Sanctuary Cove as a way to start over. Her kids and The Parlor are her main concerns. At least until the handsome and charming Asa Monroe catches her eye. He's a snow bird, just coming down for the winter and going back home in the spring.

Asa Monroe lost his wife and child in an accident. He's been traveling from place to place, repressing his grief and all the while waiting to hear from Doctors Without Borders. Coming to Sanctuary Cove might be the best thing that's happened to him since the death of his family. In the form of one, Deborah Robinson.

Of course, Asa has had women throw themselves at him while he was staying at the boarding house but none have intrigued him as much as Deb. He knows she's looking to hire someone part time to manage The Parlor so he steps up to the plate and offers his knowledge. In a spoken agreement (after some negotiating) between Deb and Asa, he would live in the apartment above the bookstore if she could give him food money.

Once the The Parlor opens, business is booming. Deb has events planned for the bookstore including themed months, book clubs and tea time, just to name a few. Asa is a fantastic piano player and this brings the ladies in. Things are going great. Asa and Deb are getting closer even though they're still a bit hesitant to succumb to their feelings. Deb knows that Asa is only there temporarily but her friends urge her to take a chance. She looks content and happy, like before her husband died.

This is such a heartwarming story of a woman and a man who lost someone very close to them but found love again. I liked the fact that Deborah was a little older than most of the heroines I normally read about (I do get a tendency to get stuck in the Regency era) and she also has older children. I think the children add a little something more to the story. They're not just fillers. Asa's inner turmoil was heartbreaking. Of course, Deb's situation was as well but losing both a spouse and child is hard. Ms. Alers introduced quite a few of the townsfolk that had me laughing, cursing and wondering. The teaser at the end of the book definitely will have me coming back to Cavanaugh Island.

***review copy provided by publisher***
3 people found this helpful
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No need to buy this one

This is not a bad book... but it isn't a good book either. It's just... 'meh' if you know what I mean. The main characters are both reasonably likable, but as a couple they just don't really click in my opinion. I was more interested in the main character's relationship with her daughter, than in her relationship with Asa (the hero). I'm not sure if it was just the Southern slow pacing, or what, but I spent most of the last 150 pages wondering when this book was going to gel... and for me, I guess it never really did. For example (spoiler alert) ----- when he goes off to be in doctors without boarders, I didn't care. When she turned up pregnant, I didn't care. (Well, that isn't true. I cared because I was peeved that such an annoying and played out plot trick was used to bring him back to her.) I don't like books where the ending feels like the author suddenly realized they've written 280 pages and they need to wrap things up. This book had that feel. So, as I was saying... this book is meh. It is not really bad, but not a compelling read IMHO. If you love Rochelle's book, you might want to borrow this one, read it, and then decide if you need to buy it.
2 people found this helpful
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Second Chances

"Sanctuary Cove" by Rochelle Alers is an excellent love story. Deborah and Asa both lost the love of their lives in unexpected and tragic circumstances. Neither one of them were looking for love but on the beautiful Cavanugh Island a friendship blossoms into a much needed romance. Debroah after losing her husband picks up her family and moves them to "Santuary Cove" which is the home of her youth. She strives to give her family a second chance at happiness but falls short at believing that she deserves a second chance at love.
Asa, believes he does not deserve to be happy. He will not sit long enough that happiness can find him. After the lost of his wife and only child he gives up all that he owns and loves.
His stay at "Sanctuary Cove" while he awaits his next plans proves that he is deserving and due a second chance at love and having a family.
I have read other titles by Mrs. Alers and this is one of my favorites.
2 people found this helpful
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Finding Love The Second Time Around

Rochelle Alers introduces her fans to a new series that takes place on Cavanaugh Island in South Carolina. In Sanctuary Cove, Deborah Robinson husband has been killed in a horrific accident. Instead of dwelling on her loss, she decides to return to Sanctuary Cove, her childhood home, to raise her two teenage children. Deborah finds a perfect location for a bookstore and she begins to make the store and home cozy for her and her family. In order to do that, she realizes she needs help setting up the bookstore.

Dr. Asa Monroe is what the folk in Sanctuary Cove call a snowbird, people that frequent the island during the winter months. Asa has spent the last year traveling in an effort to forget the accident that killed his wife and son. He sees Deborah in the local coffee shop and he is immediately intrigued by her beauty. Asa and Deborah are instantly attracted to each other. When he hears of the position at the bookstore, he applies for it. Asa and Deborah realize as much as they want to be together both must come to terms with their pasts before they can move forward. Just when Deborah is ready to give herself fully to the relationship, Asa makes an announcement that changes everything.

Alers deliverers a wonderful story that is filled with colorful characters that make you laugh and cry. Readers will enjoy learning about the Carolina Islands and its history. This story, unlike previous stories, focuses on the romance of two older, mature people that I found to be very refreshing. The only drawback, for me, was Deborah fell in love with Asa just weeks after the death of her husband. All in all, I am looking forward to reading more on the residents of Cavanaugh Island.

The uncorrected proof was provided by the publisher for review purposes only.

Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub
2 people found this helpful
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Solid Writing

This was the first story I have read by Rochelle Alers so I was not really sure what to expect. What I found was a solidly written, well laid out, and consistent romance novel but much more that just that. There is grief, pain, loss, frustration, friendship, change and more. the story is about Deborah who is moving her children to Cavanaugh Island, the place she spend her childhood summers, after her husband is the middle of a school scandal and drowns trying to save a few boys swimming in a rip tide. I love that she is opening a bookstore on this small island, I loved watching it come together and how she finds her first employee, Asa. Little does Deborah know that Asa knows more about how she feels that he leads on as he lost his wife and young child in a car accident just a year before. Deborah finds herself falling in love with Asa but there are so many different things to consider. Once she get to the point of making a decision Asa announces that he has been accepted into Doctors Without Borders and will be leaving, turning Deborah's world upside down once again.

This was a pretty typical romance story. The only thing that really bothered me about this story and I can't just let it go is the fact that Deborah just falls for this man mere weeks after her husband dies. I just have a hard time with this part of the story line it is just too fast and she does not ever seem to grieve. She is just happy go lucky most of the time. I also found a piece of the end of the story hard to believe, teenagers just don't react in the manner in which they do.

Overall, Rochelle Alers brought a pretty good story and I would for sure give another one of her stories a shot in the future.
2 people found this helpful
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Love Story - Very Romantic

This story was very romantic. There was a little intimacy towards the end, but the beginning is what kept me reading. Seeing to extremely hurt souls come together was awesome. At times during the reading I could hear the tenderness and longing in the voice of Asa. I really enjoyed reading about parents doing their part in letting their children be children but holding very high expectations. The relationship between Deborah and her children was a good change and added twist to the saga. Keep them coming. Looking forward to Angel's Landing. Also, I have never been to South Carolina, but after reading about its beauty, it is now on my list. I must get to the low country.
1 people found this helpful
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Sanctuary Cove

Just finished and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

There was such a 'sensual' vibe between Asa and Debs. Whenever, I read his words, I would pronounce her name diffently as described in the novel. Oh, and I loved his winking at her all the time.

These two met, became friends, then lovers -- their relationship developed naturally and honestly without pretense. This novel is what I'd call, 'grown & sexy' bcz the main characters went for it without a lot of drama. I loved Debs friends, Mabel and Babs bcz they were her champions and voice of reason.

Sanctuary Cove sounds like a wonderful place to live and raise children. Yes, its a typical small town with nosey people, but more importantly, its a community where neighbors care about one another. The community is more interested in preserving their way of life than profiting from selling to land developers.

This novel reminds me of another one Rochelle wrote and I read 10+ yrs ago, named Summer Magic. There were common threads between the two and that same sensual vibe.

Read it and enjoy!
1 people found this helpful

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