More Than Friends + Giveaway

There’s nothing like teaming up to investigate your mother’s shady new boyfriend to make you see your best friend in a whole new light . . .

Jenna Greene has been very clear with her She is not ready for marriage. Too bad he didn’t listen. Turns out a rejected proposal is a sure way to lose a boyfriend—and a job. Because, yes, he’d also been her boss. But it seems the firing has come at the perfect time. Back on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, Jenna’s widowed mother has returned from a cruise—with a new boyfriend in tow. Something isn’t right, and Jenna decides to return home to find out what’s going on.

Tyson Parker has a pretty great life on Chincoteague. He’s gainfully employed at his parents’ bed and breakfast—in the very home where he grew up with his three brothers, right across the street from his best friend, Jenna. He loves volunteering for the island’s illustrious fire company and being one of the saltwater cowboys who cares for Chincoteague’s wild ponies. If only he could’ve skipped the whole part where he’d married a two-timing woman. Still, he’s elated to have his best friend back when Jenna returns to the island, even if it is only temporary. And he’s happy to help her figure out what her mom’s suspicious new beau might be up to. But soon his feelings for Jenna begin to shift into. . . something different.

Jenna expected to enjoy visiting her mom, Tyson, and his whole family. She’d expected to feel closer to her deceased father on the island where the foal they’d named years ago now roams the wild salt marshes of Assateague like its ancestors have for hundreds of years. What she didn’t expect was for her feelings for her best friend to change. But she’s always sworn she’d never date a firefighter. Plus, Tyson is fresh off a betrayal. And also, there’s that teensy commitment problem she seems to have. Would she even have the courage to finally give her heart away? And should they really risk their beautiful friendship in the hopes they could someday be something more?

My Review:

First off, I have to fangirl over the setting! I have been fascinated by Chincoteague Island since reading Marguerite Henry’s ‘Misty’ series when I was a child so to discover that returning home for Jenna means Chincoteague, well, I might have squealed out of sheer bookish glee. And then to discover that our hero, Tyson, is a volunteer saltwater cowboy! I can’t even…happy sigh. Love all the details the author includes about the island, it’s history and the wild ponies. The next best thing to actually being able to go there myself.

This emotional slow-burn friends-to-more romance delivers just the right balance of humour and drama. Jenna and Tyson have always been best friends, and while they haven’t been as close since Jenna moved away from the island, they easily pick up where they left off when she comes back. Hunter writes this classic trope with such skill. Love the way their relationship develops. The dawning realization that their feelings are changing. The fear of risking their friendship for the uncertainty of romance. I agonized with them every step of the way. Thrilled when they got it right and groaned when the inevitable missteps occurred. I was completely invested in their love story!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘More Than Friends’ and really enjoyed Kim Churchill’s narration. She has become a familiar voice in my audiobook listening and I appreciate the way her performances enhance my ‘reading’ pleasure. Always a delight to listen to.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – ebook copy

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of More Than Friends, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 4 2026

33 thoughts on “More Than Friends + Giveaway”

  1. I was looking forward to reading your fantabulous review on this one, Kav! Now I really want to read this! No doubt about it. I love me some Denise Hunter!

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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  2. Oh yes, I’m right there with you on the Chincoteague Island and the Misty love. I read the book when I was young and saw the movie. Living in Virginia, it was always my goal to visit the island. I made it one time, for a very short time, before my car had trouble and I had to call AAA and be towed the 2 hours home. So, good and bad memories. But I digress.

    I love that Denise Hunter set her upcoming book there. I also love a friends to more story. Please throw my name in the hat for More Than Friends! thanks Kav! tracey14567 atgmail.com

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    1. Eeeeppp — so many Misty vibes in this story. Makes me want to revisit that childhood series. And I can’t believe your car gave out on you on such an important trip! Not very sporting of it! Definitely on my bucket list (the island, not the car trouble!) Good luck, Tracey!

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  3. YES, I’m always ready for a Denise Hunter book! Thanks for the review, everything about it sounds fantastic. Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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  4. MORE THAN FRIENDS sounds like the perfect way to armchair travel and swoon at the same time. I had to google what saltwater cowboy was, but when I saw the definition I was like – Oh my! (Fanning myself at top speed) Because of your review, this book is now on my TBR list.

    Alas, I’m not entering the contest because I can’t read ebooks. Whoever wins is in for an amazing read I am sure.

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Christy Barritt has a suspense series featuring saltwater cowboys, Kay, in case you need to add a few more books to your wishlist. Bwahahaha! Hope you get to meet Denise Hunter’s saltwater cowboy sometime soon. Happy Reading!

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  6. I love friends-to-more troupes for the very reasons you listed in your review, especially the not wanting to risk losing the friendship. I think it makes the story even sweeter!

    My husband and I had that type of romance story, and I think friendship makes for a strong foundation for love to develop between the couple. Maybe that’s the reason this is one of my favorite troupes! ☺️ Plus, you can’t go wrong with anything Denise Hunter writes. ❤

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  7. IN SO MUCH PAIN. ON MY WAY TO EMERGENCY ROOM. MAYBE I HAD MORE THAN A UTI. TO ALL WHO SEE THIS PLS PRAY.

    P.S. I know this isn’t a prayer blog but am desperate. Will update. Thank you! 💖

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      1. Thanks so much, Tracey! I just got home at 11:45 pm. I didn’t put anything on FB bc I didn’t want my phone binging while I was up there. Have a bad UTI, got antibiotics by IV & a prescription. The bad news which caught me totally off guard is that I have shingles. Wahhh…. 😢

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      1. Thank you, Kav! This is a very special place for sure! I just got home. Have a bad UTI, got antibiotics by IV & a prescription. The bad news which caught me totally off guard is that I have shingles. Wahhh…. 😢 Painful rash on hip.

        Happy Anniversary to hubby & me today! 53 yrs! 💘

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      2. Well, this is not the way to celebrate 53 years married. Glad you are home. Hopefully getting the antibiotics through an IV will really quick start the healing but the shingles — oy. Nerve pain is nasty. Not sure how it is treated, but praying that your bout with it is short-lived! Hugs, Diane!

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      3. Definitely not what I had in mind for 53rd wedding anniversary, but life can change in a minute. I used to think when I saw those shingles commercials on TV that they were exaggerating. Now I know better. 😩 I can get some relief if I don’t move. But how long can you go without moving? A great excuse to read! There’s not a lot you can do for for it except put cool cloth compresses on it several times a day. You can put Lidocaine patches on it but the rash has to scab over 1st so in the meantime, I cry. Thanks, Kav!

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