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Serendipity by the Sea by Jennifer Vido

What's It About?

Will a hopeless romantic on the verge of landing her dream job reconnect with her wanderlust ex-boyfriend for a second chance at love?

In the small town of Gulf Island, nobody’s business stays secret for long. Word travels fast when someone new shows up. So it isn’t long before Cate Ainsworth bumps into her ex, Knox Price, at his uncle’s shop, and everyone starts talking about Cate’s one-that-got-away. Cate has no plans to let Knox break her heart again. Cate could save herself and guard her heart, but she’s far too curious to know what would happen if she gave Knox — gave love — a second chance. Serendipity by the Sea (Wild Rose Press) by Jennifer Vido is a perfect beach read about second chances, responsibility, and following your dreams.

Romantic and Compelling Beach Read

On the beaches of Gulf Island, South Carolina, tourists wander, taking pictures of the sunset, going on boat tours and out to dinner, before departing for the summer. But for people like Cate, Gulf Island is home. Cate works in Guest Services on the island, coordinating check-ins, scheduling events, and keeping tourists happy. She has been chasing a promotion to manager for ages, and the opportunity is finally within arms reach. 

But the arrival of big-city photographer, Knox — her high school ex-boyfriend — catches her off guard. The last time she saw Knox, he had left town for college with no explanation, just a dream to pursue his passions and explore the world outside of Gulf Island. Now, he’s back to assist with his uncle’s surgery recovery, help out around town, and maybe, in the meantime, win Cate’s heart back.

Despite the pull he feels towards Cate, and regret for breaking her heart all those years ago, Knox isn’t sure if he can handle the pressure to stay. All he wants to do is flee back to his life in the city, and the photography gigs that take him around the world. His closest friend, Will, offers his perspective: “The way I see it, you belong on Gull Island right here, right now. This is your chance to make things better for the people you care about most. The question is … can you commit to sticking it out this time?”

Knox is forced to reevaluate what he really wants out of life. Can he be content with life on Gulf Island, and build a career there beside the woman he loves? Or does the outside world call his name, and is it worth losing Cate for a second time?

Second Chances and Tough Decisions

Jennifer Vido expertly explores the conflicts Knox and Cate experience in their everyday lives. They must decide how to plan for the future while repairing past mistakes they’ve made and breaking free from the patterns they’re trapped in. Cate has to figure out how to think quickly and keep up with the fast pace of everyday life when life throws unexpected responsibilities at her. Knox has to learn how to prioritize his wants and needs while balancing the life he imagined for himself with the one he is currently living. For things to go right, Knox and Cate need to meet each other halfway and find the perfect balance that keeps them both happy.

Anyone looking for a heartwarming, clean and inspiring second-chance romance will delight in reading Serendipity by the Sea. With complex characters forced to confront their past, acknowledge their true feelings, and make sacrifices for love, there’s something in this novel for everyone. Every reader is sure to be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series.


About Jennifer Vido:

Jennifer Vido is the author of the Gull Island sweet romance series. An avid book lover, she interviews bestselling authors for her bi-weekly Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com. A longtime Arthritis Foundation advocate, she teaches an arthritis-friendly water exercise class to seniors in the morning before heading to the office to serve as the executive director of a legal non-profit in her community. The proud mom of two sons, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband, two rescue dogs and a finicky calico cat.

Serendipity by the Sea by Jennifer Vido
Publish Date: 4/12/2023
Genre: Romance
Author: Jennifer Vido
Page Count: 248 pages
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 9781509247851
Megan Beauregard

Megan Beauregard is BookTrib's Associate Editor. She has a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from Fairfield University, where she also studied Publishing & Editing, Classical Studies and Applied Ethics. When she’s not reading the latest in literary fiction, dark academia and horror, she's probably making playlists, baking something sweet or tacking another TV show onto her list.