The Second Story Book Shop
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 18
- 3 min read
By: Denise Hunter
Narrated by Kim Churchill
ISBN: 9781400348725
Publisher: HCCP & HCF Audio | Thomas Nelson Fiction
Publication Date: 10/07/2026
Format: Audio
My Rating: 4 Stars
She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again.
Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she's helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby's heart years ago.
Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn't skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he's back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend's will. Facing the town's animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.
As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram's beyond-the-grave scheme is working—Shelby's old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces—one that threatens Gram's beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?
Praise
'. . . a beautifully complex romance about being loved in a way that transcends others' judgments. Hunter (HARVEST MOON, 2022) poignantly contrasts the fire of youthful passion with the deeper pull of mature love, while first-person flashbacks intensify unresolved hurt and undeniable chemistry. Set in small-town North Carolina, it highlights the imperfect but enduring bonds of family and community, and features tender notes of second chances and sweet literary charm.'
-- Booklist
'A second story bookshop leads to a second chance at love in this tenderly told tale of old wounds, forgiveness, and redemption. Book lovers, book clubs, and anyone who's ever dreamed of owning a bookstore will adore this cleverly interwoven story in which the business of books steers the business of life toward a beautiful new beginning.'
-- Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of SHELTERWOOD
About the Author
Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on The 700 Club and been featured in Woman’s Day and Southern Living.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.
In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later, it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are currently enjoying an empty nest. WEBSITE
