Hello, Friend,
I thought I’d share a little about Sunrise Beach—a little about its main street and a few of the shops. So, let’s get started!
Sunrise Beach sits along the South Carolina coast between Pawley’s Island and Myrtle Beach. It’s a fictional town, but it’s where my sweet romance series takes place, and I’ve spent so much time writing about it that it feels real to me—so much that I want to climb into my car and drive there.
Picture a small beach community with none of the tourist chaos—just a quiet main drag, a dog-friendly beach, and people who actually know each other’s names. The kind of place where you can relax and enjoy your time there.
Seabreeze Boulevard
Seabreeze Boulevard runs through the heart of town with tan storefronts shaded by live oaks and palmettos. You’ll smell coffee and saltwater, hear dogs barking down at the beach, and probably spot a few locals chatting on benches. Shop owners wave when you walk by. Everything moves at beach time, which means slower and without the rush you find in bigger coastal towns.
Brick sidewalks wind past small shops, each one with its own personality. The buildings are tan now—practical but a little dull. Older residents still talk about when they were painted in bright beachy pastels, and there’s always someone saying the town should bring those colors back.
Sunrise Cafe
Sunrise Cafe sits right across the street from the beach, just south of the town square. The screened porch is perfect for watching the sunrise, and inside you’ll find strong coffee, cinnamon scones, and walls covered in photos of the town over the years—fishermen, weddings, dogs in the sand.
My characters meet here for first dates, heart-to-hearts, and those conversations that change everything. It’s the heartbeat of the morning routine in Sunrise Beach.
The Dog-Friendly Beach
The beach is a couple of miles long without any buildings on that side of the main street and welcomes dogs. Mornings bring pups chasing waves and locals getting their coffee-to-go from Sunrise Cafe. Evenings are for sunset walks. You’ll see tennis balls flying, leashes tangled, and tails wagging nonstop.
I share my life with Belle and Jessie, so I couldn’t write a beach town without dogs. They show up in my stories as companions, matchmakers, and scene-stealers. The beach is where a lot of my characters meet, reconnect, and figure things out while their dogs play in the surf.
Dawson’s Market
Dawson’s Market has been family-owned for over 50 years. It’s not big, but it has everything you need—fresh produce, local seafood, and a deli counter where they’ll make you a sandwich while you wait. The aisles are narrow and the floors creak, but that’s part of the charm.
Everybody shops here. You’ll run into your neighbors, catch up on town news, and probably leave with more than you came for because the owner talked you into trying something new. It’s the kind of place where they know what you buy and ask how your family’s doing.
Breezy Beach Pizzeria
After a long day at the beach, locals head to Breezy Beach Pizzeria for dinner. It’s casual, loud, and always packed on weekends. The pizza is thin crust with the perfect crunch, and they’ve got a patio out back with string lights and picnic tables where families gather and friends catch up over pitchers of sweet tea.
Why Sunrise Beach Exists
I created this town because I love small beach towns. Sunrise Beach is the kind of town I want to visit—and maybe even live. It’s a place where characters get second chances, and life slows down enough to actually feel it. Writing these books has given me that space, and I hope reading them does the same for you.
Sunrise Beach is small-town coastal living at its best—no pretense, just good people, great views, and stories that unfold one sunrise at a time.
Thanks for taking this tour with me. I’ll see you back here on Seabreeze Boulevard soon!
Your friend,
Michele
PS Don’t forget to join my free membership to get even more!