Shifting Sands By Amber Kelly Book Review

I will be honest, Shifting Sands by Amber Kelly made me smile and feel a bit sad. If you like small-town romance or have read this series, you will want this ending. It is emotional and makes you feel good. New readers can start here, but fans who have read the other books will enjoy it the most.

Key Takeaways

Shifting Sands gives a touching small-town romance. It has real feelings and a happy ending.
Fans of the series will like it a lot. The story has characters who seem real.
They change by dealing with trust and honesty problems.
This makes their story easy to understand and fun to read. Sandcastle Cove feels cozy and nice.
The town has a strong community. This adds warmth and charm. Readers feel like they belong in the town.
Family tension: Some scenes touch on family problems, but the focus stays on healing.

Book Overview

Premise & Setting

I have to admit, I read this book late into the night because I just needed to know what would happen with Brew and Brandee. The story takes place in Sandcastle Cove, a small coastal town that feels like home. I could almost smell the salty air and hear the waves as I turned each page.

Brew, the main guy, hides his true identity. That secret adds a twist to the romance.
Brandee, the heroine, has her own struggles but never loses her spark.
The town itself feels like a character. Everyone knows everyone, and you can sense the history in every corner.

If you love contemporary romance, this setting will pull you in. I felt like I was right there, watching Brew and Brandee’s story unfold.

Main Themes

Shifting Sands (Sandcastle Cove Book 6) really digs into some big feelings. I found myself thinking about trust and how hard it can be to open up to someone new.

Note: The book explores what it means to be honest with yourself and others. That hit me hard, especially when Brew’s secret came out.

Here are the main themes I noticed:

Identity: Brew’s hidden past shapes every choice he makes.
Trust: Both characters struggle to let their guards down.
Love: The romance feels real, with ups and downs that made me root for them.
Closure: As the last book in the series, it ties up loose ends and gives fans a sense of peace.
Emotional struggles: There are moments where characters feel lost or hurt, but nothing too heavy or graphic.

I’ll be honest, the emotional payoff made the late-night reading worth it.

Plot & Pacing

Storyline Flow

I have to give props to Amber Kelly for how she keeps the story moving. The plot never feels random or forced. Every twist and turn matters. I noticed that each obstacle Brew and Brandee face actually pushes the story forward. Nothing feels like filler. I could see the story break down into clear parts:

Setup: I met Brew and Brandee, learned about their secrets, and got a feel for Sandcastle Cove.
Response: Both characters react to new challenges. Brew’s secret starts to bubble up, and Brandee’s trust issues come into play.
Attack: The tension ramps up. Brew takes action, and Brandee has to decide if she can forgive.
Resolution: Everything comes together. The ending ties up the loose ends and gives a real sense of closure.

The pacing never drags. Each chapter builds on the last, and I never felt lost or bored.

Engagement

I’ll be honest, I couldn’t put it down. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” but I ended up reading way past midnight. The story kept me hooked because:

Obstacles felt real. Brew and Brandee’s problems made sense. Their reactions felt believable, not over-the-top.
No cheap tricks. The author uses foreshadowing, so nothing comes out of nowhere.
Steady momentum. The story never stalls. Every scene matters.

If you like a book that keeps you turning pages, this one delivers. I found myself rooting for the characters and needing to know how it would all end.

Characters

Brew & Brandee

I have to admit, Brew and Brandee felt real to me. Brew is not your typical romance hero. He keeps his secrets close, and that made me want to shake him sometimes. Still, I understood why he did it.

Brandee, on the other hand, has this spark. She stands up for herself and never lets anyone walk over her. I loved how she called Brew out when he tried to hide.

Brew: Quiet, guarded, but caring underneath. His secret made me nervous for him.
Brandee: Strong, funny, and honest. She brings out the best in Brew.
Their chemistry? It felt natural. I could see why they kept getting drawn back together.

To be fair, I sometimes wanted more from Brew. He held back a lot, and I wished he would open up sooner.

Character Growth

Watching these two change made the story worth it. Brew starts off closed off, but by the end, he learns to trust. Brandee also grows. She lets herself be vulnerable, even when it scares her.

Both characters face their fears.
They learn to talk about what hurts.
Their growth feels earned, not rushed.

I found myself rooting for them. Their journey felt honest, and I could relate to their struggles. That’s what kept me turning the pages.

Writing Style & Atmosphere

Amber Kelly’s Voice

I have to give props to Amber Kelly for her writing style. She writes like she’s talking to you over coffee. I felt every emotion right along with Brew and Brandee. Her words are simple but hit hard. I noticed she doesn’t waste time with fancy descriptions. She gets right to the heart of the moment.

Dialogue feels real. I could hear the characters’ voices in my head.
Short chapters kept me reading. I kept saying, “Just one more,” until I realized it was 2 a.m.
Emotional honesty. The book doesn’t shy away from tough feelings. I found myself nodding along, thinking, “Yep, I’ve been there.”

Note: Sometimes, I wanted a little more detail about the setting or what the characters wore, but the focus on feelings made up for it.

Sandcastle Cove’s Charm

Sandcastle Cove feels like a place I could visit. The town has its own personality. I loved the way neighbors pop in and out, always ready with a joke or a helping hand. The beach scenes made me want to pack a bag and run to the coast.

Small-town quirks: Everyone knows everyone’s business, and that made me laugh.
Community warmth: The side characters add so much heart. I felt like part of the group.
Atmosphere: The salty air, the sound of waves, the cozy shops—these details pulled me in.

To be fair, I sometimes wished for a map or a little more about the town’s history. Still, the charm of Sandcastle Cove made me want to stay a little longer.

Series Finale Context

Series Connection

I have to say, finishing this book felt like saying goodbye to old friends. Shifting Sands really brings the whole series full circle. I noticed how Amber Kelly weaves in familiar faces from earlier books. The town feels even more alive because of these callbacks. I loved seeing how past couples have grown and how their stories blend into Brew and Brandee’s journey.

The book ties up storylines from previous books.
Side characters get their moments, which made me smile.
The sense of community feels stronger than ever.

If you’ve followed the series, you’ll spot little nods to earlier moments. I felt a real sense of closure. The ending gave me that warm, satisfied feeling I always hope for in a series finale.

Standalone or Not

I get this question a lot: Can you jump in with the last book? I think you can, but you’ll miss some of the magic. The author gives enough background so you won’t feel lost, but the emotional payoff hits harder if you know the history.

Tip: If you want the full experience, start from book one. You’ll care more about Brew and Brandee if you’ve seen their world grow.

New readers can follow the main plot.
Returning fans will catch all the inside jokes and callbacks.
The book stands on its own, but the series connection adds depth.

To be fair, I always recommend reading in order for the best ride. Still, you won’t feel left out if you start here.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Highlights

I have to give props to Amber Kelly for making me care so much about Brew and Brandee. The emotional payoff in this book felt real. I found myself rooting for them, even when they made mistakes. Here’s what stood out for me:

Authentic Characters: Brew and Brandee felt like people I could meet at a coffee shop. Their struggles with trust and honesty hit close to home.
Small-Town Vibes: Sandcastle Cove has this cozy, welcoming feel. I could almost hear the waves and smell the salty air. The side characters add so much warmth and humor.
Satisfying Series Finale: As the last book, it ties up loose ends and gives closure. I loved seeing old friends from earlier books pop in for a visit.
Pacing That Kept Me Up: I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter.” The story never dragged. Every scene mattered.
Relatable Themes: The book explores identity, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. I saw myself in some of those moments.

I’ll be honest, I finished the last page with a smile and a little sadness. Saying goodbye to these characters felt like leaving a favorite vacation spot.

Areas for Improvement

No book is perfect, and I noticed a few things that could have made my reading experience even better. Here’s what stood out:

Sometimes Too Guarded: Brew kept his secrets a bit too long. I wanted him to open up sooner, so I could connect with him more.
Background Details: I wished for more about the town’s history or a map. Sometimes I got lost in the setting and wanted a clearer picture.
Side Stories Left Hanging: A couple of side characters had storylines that felt unfinished. I wanted just a bit more closure for them.
Repetitive Obstacles: Some of the trust issues circled back a few times. I found myself thinking, “Didn’t we already work through this?”
Room for More Depth: The book focused a lot on feelings, which I loved, but sometimes I wanted a little more about what the characters were doing or wearing.

I noticed in some reader surveys that people wanted more consistency in how secrets and problems were revealed. Sometimes, changes in the story—like a character’s job or a big event—weren’t explained right away. That left me flipping back to see if I missed something.

Sustainability of Series Threads: Keeping all the storylines from earlier books tied up is tough. I saw a few loose ends that could have used a final bow.

To be fair, none of these things ruined the book for me. They just made me wish for a little more polish in places. If you love character-driven stories and small-town romance, you’ll probably forgive these bumps like I did.

Reader Experience

Who Will Enjoy It

I have to give props to Amber Kelly for writing a story that feels like a warm hug. If you love small-town romance or stories about second chances, you’ll probably get hooked just like I did. I stayed up way too late, telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” until I realized the sun was coming up. That’s how much I needed to see Brew and Brandee find their happy ending.

Final Thoughts

I have to admit, I lost track of time with this book. I started reading after dinner, and before I knew it, the clock said 2 a.m. My eyes felt heavy, but my heart kept racing. I just needed to see Brew and Brandee get their ending. That’s the kind of pull this story has.

Reading Shifting Sands felt like saying goodbye to a group of friends I’ve grown to love. I laughed at the small-town jokes, and I even got a little teary when the characters finally let their walls down. The emotional payoff felt real. I could almost hear the ocean and feel the sand between my toes.

Here’s what stuck with me:

The romance felt honest, not forced.
The town’s warmth made me wish I could visit Sandcastle Cove.
The ending gave me closure, but I still wanted just one more chapter.

If you want a book that feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy day, this one delivers. It’s not perfect, but it’s heartfelt.

I’ll be honest, some parts dragged, and I wanted more from a few side stories. Still, I closed the book with a smile. For fans of small-town romance, this is a satisfying finale.

I read Shifting Sands late into the night. The story made me feel happy and gave me a sense of closure. It has real feelings and a warm small-town setting.

This book is great for fans who want a touching ending to the series
Dionysus Review Rating: 7/10