• Sanctuary Cove

  • A Cavanaugh Island Novel, Book 1
  • By: Rochelle Alers
  • Narrated by: Nicole Small
  • Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (402 ratings)

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Sanctuary Cove  By  cover art

Sanctuary Cove

By: Rochelle Alers
Narrated by: Nicole Small
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Publisher's summary

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 traveling from one town to another on a quest for faith and meaning. 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.

Rochelle Alers, with nearly two million copies of her novels in print, is a regular on the Essence best-seller list. She has received numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the EMMA Award, the Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

©2012 Rochelle Alers (P)2012 Blackstone Publishing, and Urban Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"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)
"A gentle romance focused on second chances…. Soaked in an old-fashioned feel, [this book] will appeal to readers looking for gentle, inexplicit romance." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Carolina low-country 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, best-selling author of Welcome to Last Chance)

What listeners say about Sanctuary Cove

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not Good, Clean Fun

Well, I was trying for a gentle and healing story. This was not it. The main character, a widow, is supposedly a devout Christian mother who attends church regularly. Be warned. She believes that there is health and healing in coming to the point where she can purposely plan to have pre-marital sex with a man she believes will soon be gone for good. This is no mistake in the heat of passion. Not only that, but the sexual descriptions are very graphic. This is not a book for me.

In fact, I would appreciate it if "Romance" categories were not all lumped together. Leaving the intimate details to the imagination is satisfactory for a great many readers.

I had to fast-forward past material I paid for.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Slow Slow Slow

Although it's later in the story, I like the way values are instilled in the raising of the children. I'm kind of tired of the "I've got him but not really" theme. This book is slow for me, most love scenes happen before the middle of the book, this one happened towards the end...SLOW.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Kind of slow

I really like Alers' writing. However, I found myself wanting the story to pick up or end quickly. It's not necessarily a terrible tale of the two main characters who both lost people in their lives, it just lacked something.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Just Okay

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This was a refreshing romance. Somewhat predictable and not very engaging.. I felt like the book was well written, but not very interesting.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable

Would you listen to another book narrated by Nicole Small?

Yes. She is the only reason I bought this novel.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No!

Any additional comments?

No.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

This book was a great read. I also read Angels landing. Nicole Small's narration is what made the characters come alive. I think if there are future books, she should continue to narrate the series!!!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Sloooooooow to start!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Don't make everyone so perfect.

Has Sanctuary Cove turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Have you listened to any of Nicole Small’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. Narrator was fine. She neither turned me on or turned me off, but it could have been the material.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Never!

Any additional comments?

Each character was perfect, mostly did everything perfect. Anything that was not perfect was in their past. The children were perfect except in one scene and then it was not believeable because she had already convinced me they were perfect. The male character was to good to be true and the female didn't need anything from anybody.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story of you can love again!

Sometimes we forget you can love again. After losing a spouse and you still have live to give. Don't give up on lovem

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great For Work

Such a beautiful story of two broken hearts becoming one. I enjoyed listening while at work.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love and life after the death of love & life

Delightful!!!
I picked the book because of the narrator and it's a series. It was slow and fast at the same time. I know you can fall in love quick, but marriage and the teen kids approve. It's a beautiful yet unbelievable collection of events. Im intrigued and opting to read the next installment.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Vi
  • 03-04-18

Baby makes five

Loved closeness with Deb and her children, courtship was best part and email Dr. Monroe.

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