Showing posts with label Sarah Morgan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarah Morgan. Show all posts

Friday, September 15, 2023

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan

Three friends have had a book club since their college days. Now (cough) somewhat older, all three are finding themselves at a crossroads. Erica has just discovered something about the father who deserted her when she was just days old; Claudia has lost her job and her boyfriend; Anna's twins are about to leave home and she's not sure what she's going to do with them gone. The three decide that they are going to have their book club anyway 
Hattie, the owner of the hotel is also at something of a crossroads. Her husband, the one who was the driving force behind the Maple Sugar Inn, died two years ago. Now, she's just trying to keep up with extravagant customer requests, her temperamental head chef, and the housekeeper who treats her as though Hattie is an idiot. Someone who doesn't treat her like an idiot? Her next-door neighbor. The one who kissed her at Halloween. Could there be something there? Should she even try?
A lot comes out this Christmas season, some of it surprising, but all of it leaving these ladies in a better spot than they were when they arrived at the inn.

Four stars
This book comes out September 19, 2023
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Friday, September 16, 2022

Snowed In for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

From the outside, the Miller family seems fairly perfect. Mom, Dad, Grandma, and three kids who would be the seventh in a generation of making shortbread cookies in Scotland. But none of the children stayed with the family company. Instead, Ross struck out on his own, Alice became an emergency doctor, and Clemmie works as a nanny. Glenda, their mother, is disappointed that none of them have settled down to get married. And last Christmas, with a little too much gin, she made that a little too clear. So the children aren't especially looking forward to the holiday season this year. Besides, they all have other issues they are wrestling with. Alice's boyfriend just proposed and she's not sure why she isn't screaming "yes," Clemmie has made a decision about children that her family isn't going to like, and Ross is married to his job. And their father Dennis has news of his own. 
This Christmas though, a number of secrets are going to come to light when the Scrooge Storm blows through, blocking  everyone in, along with Lucy Clarke who just happens to be the person Clemmie and Alice were basing Ross's fictional girlfriend off of. 
Lucy is not happy to be caught in the storm. She just wanted to drop off a marketing proposal for Ross's firm and then be on her way. After her grandmother, her only family, died two years ago, Christmas hasn't been the same. And here is this perfect family... yes, there are some underlying tensions she doesn't exactly understand but they are together and clearly love each other. 
When Morgan does a book with feels, she does it really well. Because there are so many people, we don't get to know each of them as well as we might and some of the plots are a little less developed than some of her other books but this is a really lovely story especially heading into the holiday season. 

Four stars
This book comes out September 20, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sunday, August 29, 2021

The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan

At eighty years old, Kathleen is ready to get out and <i>live</i> again. She used to host a series called the Summer Seekers where she went around the world and was televised doing it. Her daughter, Liz, was rather resentful that her mother was never home. That's why she's the consummate homemaker now. But that means that she's always having to be six steps ahead of whatever her husband and their twin daughters are doing so that everything goes right. But that's exhausting. And now her mother has had an intruder. True, she took care of the man with a frying pan but that's just evidence that the woman isn't eating correctly. 
But Kathleen isn't ready to go to the "peaceful rest home" that her daughter is pushing on her. She wants to have one last adventure: Route 66 in America (Kathleen is British.) But she knows she shouldn't drive so she puts out an ad.
Martha is mid-twenties and already divorced. Her family continually favors her prettier, more successful sister. Does she like to drive? Maybe not but it's a) a job and b) a chance to get out of her family's house. 
So Kathleen and Martha are off. Of course, they are going to learn some truths about themselves because this is a fiction book. They will also have some fun. But Liza will learn the same thing staying home in England and reconnecting with the life she had before her twins were born.
For everything that is going on in this book, it's a rather quiet read. Morgan's non-romance books are often like that. I didn't like that there were so many threads that it felt like a few stories got shortchanged.

Four stars
This book came out May 18th, 2021
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own


Monday, October 5, 2020

One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

Gayle Mitchell did everything she could to make sure that her girls grew up stronger than she did. Unfortunately, that means that she alienated them when she found out her younger daughter was going to be a teacher, a “soft” profession; not at all what Gayle had steered her towards.
Samantha is shocked to hear her mother’s assistant on the phone. Even more to hear that her mother is in the hospital. She tells Ella that she doesn’t need to come but Ella does anyone. And they are both shocked when Gayle says that she wants to spend a family Christmas. Little does she know what that will entail.
Luckily, Samantha needs to check out a lodge in Scotland that she might start including in her holiday excursions business. So off the family goes. There’re hurt feelings,tears, and self-discovery. This is definitely not a a Morgan romance novel because there is no HEA or even an HFN but it was a nice family story.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out October 6th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Sunday, May 3, 2020

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

Family for BeginnersFlora Donovan's father deserted her before she was born. Her mother died when she was eight and she grew up with an aunt who saw her as baggage. Her past has made her very sensitive to others who are hurting. And she sees the daughters of Jack Parker hurting. He came into the flower store where she worked and was immediately intrigued. A widower for almost a year, he knows his daughters are in pain but he isn't able to see how deep. When he introduces Flora to seventeen-year-old Izzy and seven-year-old Molly, it doesn't go well but he isn't able to see.
And I think Morgan does a good job of showing the emotions of each character and the blocks that each one has as well. The book was a bit narrow compared to some of others of Morgans books -- the focus is super tight mainly on Izzy and Flora but I strangely felt like they were a bit one-dimensional as well in places. Definitely on par with others of Morgan's books that aren't strict romances (though there is an HEA here) but didn't pull on as much emotion as others.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 5th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, May 10, 2019

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

One Summer in ParisTwo women, both at crossroads in their lives. Grace, an American, has just been told, on her twenty-fifth anniversary no less, that her husband is having an affair. Audrey is  British and is ready to get out of her alcoholic mother's house. She's not going to college, that's for people who are smart and not dyslexic. Their lives will collide when Grace is mugged and Audrey comes to her rescue. Eventually they realize that they each need something from the other; a chance to step out of their day-to-day.
I really wish this book had been a bit longer. There were some real problems in this book but it felt like the solutions were glossed over or rushed through. I liked Ms. Morgan's other step toward romance light but this book, while worth reading, was not as successful.

Three stars
This book came out April 9
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

Three sisters, each thinking that the other has the perfect life but each with their own secrets.
Hannah, the oldest, is high up in a management consultant, flying all over the world helping companies work better. She's a genius but, of the three, the most scarred by their parents' death twenty-five years ago. It's led her to a life that is peripatetic with few relationships, even with her sisters. So now that she's got a man who's lasted longer than two months,  she's starting to panic.
Middle sister Beth is a stay-at-home mom with two darling girls. But she's tired. She just wants to go back to work. When she gets that option, she's blindsided that her husband is thinking they should have a third child.
Posy, the youngest, just wants to leave home. But after the way her bio-parents died, she feels guilty for not wanting to stay and take over her adoptive parents' coffeehouse. She's getting just aa little taste of freedom with her current renter. But is he telling her everything about his past?
This was a heart-warming story that I sped through, not the usual Morgan fun and flighty contemporary romance. Yes, the stories suffered because of having three different characters in the book but this was overall just a lovely read and I look forward to seeing more like this from Morgan.

Four stars
This book comes out Septemeber 25
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan

How to Keep a Secret by Sarah MorganSisters know how to keep a secret. Lauren and Jenna learned that when they were young. Even if htat secret still haunts them, they know not to let it out. It's 24 (ish) years later and they're now adults. Adults who are in the middle of crises. Jenna has the perfect husband, the perfect job but can't seem to get pregnant. Neither can turn to the mother, except when Lauren's husband dies and her whole world implodes. Lauren and her daughter, Mack, move back to the States to stay with her mother. But Nancy has problems, and secrets, of her own.
At the end of the book, Morgan mentions that this book is a departure for her. This is true and it is one I most heartily enjoyed. Her last two fast, fun, and fluffies were a little too shallow for me. This book was a welcome change. Did I love all the characters? No. And we didn't get to see enough of Lauren and Scott's new romance to feel like this was anew love not just echoes of their puppy love. But I really enjoyed this book.

Four stars
This book comes out July 10
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah MorganHarriet Knight has always been the shy twin. She grew up with a stammer that got worse when her father would berate her. Her brother and sister always stuck up for her. It's a habit that has continued into adulthood. And it's annoying Harriet. She's ready to step out on her own and has started daily challenges to help build up her bravery. Too bad she's on the date from hell when the book opens. It ends with a badly sprained ankle. It's in the ER that she meets Doctor Ethan Black. He vaguely notices that she's more polite than most of his patients but then forgets her. He doesn't even recognize her when she comes over to help with his sister's dog; Ethan's taking care of the dog while his sister is taking care of his niece who has broken her leg. Unfortunately, he's doing a terrible job at it. Harriet can't stand to see a creature suffering so she moves in with the doctor while he is taking charge of Madi (the dog). 
This book was so much better than the last in this series. Ethan was fallible and even admitted it. The ending was a bit drawn out but I think that regular "From Manhattan..." readers will not be disappointed.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 28
Follows Holiday in the Hamptons
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Monday, August 21, 2017

Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah Morgan

Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah MorganToward the end of New York, Actually, we learned that Felicity Knight had an ex-husband who had turned up in Manhattan. Felicity had married Seth Carlyle when they were both too young and divorced him soon after. She has tried to face the sexy vet but has been unable to do so. Instead, she grabs the chance to leave town and head to the Hamptons when her grandmother calls for help.
Unfortunately, (at least in Fliss's eyes) Seth was only in Manhattan for a short stint before he returned to the Hamptons where he immediately runs into Fliss who panics and claims to be her twin sister.
Seth still has feelings for Fliss and is delighted to have this chance to get to know her now. If only she'd cooperate...
And, ufda, was Seth a totally bland bulldozer. We know nothing about him except that he seems to be an all-forgiving saint who doesn't want to give up on their love. He's not an alpha-hole because he does give Fliss a little bit of space but other than the fact that he's missing his father, we really don't get to know him. Nor does he have any discernible flaws while Fliss is described as being just riddled with them (and not just in her own head). At the end, I'm really not sure that these two people are getting an HEA.
I am hoping for better in the next book because I know that Morgan can write in-depth characters and fun-to-read books.

Two stars
This book comes out August 29
Followed by Moonlight over Manhattan

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love, #4)We've met the Knight siblings on the periphery of the other "From Manhattan with Love" books. Harriet and Fliss are dog walkers who have worked with the Urban Genie women. Their brother Daniel, the hero of this book, is Lucas Blade's friend and neighbor. Each of the siblings was scarred in different ways by their parent's explosive marriage. For Daniel, he became a divorce lawyer; a shark specializing in helping to make sure that parents who shouldn't be together don't stay together "for the kids." This is why he gets so upset when the advice of a popular blog has one of his clients (both of whose children are having emotional problems) getting back together with his ex. It's a good thing he has is finally making headway with the gorgeous brunette he sees running in the park. Yes, it involves borrowing a foster dog from his sisters and engaging in some deception but he doesn't have long-term relationships anyway, so what does it matter?
Molly fled England after her personal life imploded on national television and her friends deserted her. She's decided that, because she has never fallen in love, her mother's abandonment has left her unable to love. But as a psychologist, she knows she can help others and does so on her blog. Too bad the hot guy with the gorgeous dog keeps distracting her.
There are some awkward expositional moments so I don't think you'll need to have read the other books in this series to keep up. Other drawbacks of this book are the somewhat fast resolution to the big drama and a bit of a twee ending with Yet Another Thing. I did, however, enjoy the characters, most of the story, and the light touch of adding in previous characters from the series.

Four stars
This book came out May 30
Follows Miracle on 5th Avenue

Monday, November 21, 2016

Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

So, on my Goodreads review, I rounded up my review of this ARC from three and a half stars to four because it just generally gave me good feels. I was a bit disappointed that I could tell you how the whole story would play out after the first 1/4 of the book
Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan I just kept thinking "Oh, wouldn't it be nice if [this romance convention] were turned on its head and the characters didn't just do what all romance characters do?" And yet, as I mentioned, this was still a fast, fun, and fluffy read for me that generally made me smile at the end. Even with the not-so-subtle introduction, reintroduction, and further mention of the Bark Ranger twins and their hot-to-trot brother Daniel.
Eva Jordan works for Urban Genie, a company that can make your life easier. She's blue because it's the holidays and this is the second year that her grandmother won't be around (I think it's the second year? She says her grandmother died "last year in the fall" which should indicate a second round of holidays). However, Eva begins this book by deciding to change her attitude, starting with the decorations that she's going to put up in the home of a famous author while he's away working on his book.
Luke Blade hates the holidays for a good reason. His wife died during a storm three years ago. The woman that he had loved (sort of off-and-on) since kindergarten. Theirs was a love story to stand the test of time. At least according to his biography. But this year he's hit writer's block and hard. So when a short, cute, and stacked blonde (this comes up an awful lot) sneaks into his apartment, he is not amused. But then he finds out that his grandmother sent her and then she starts to spark his creativity. He decides to hire her as his muse (and personal chef) so that he can finish his book on schedule.
Generally, books where one of the characters (usually the hero) says they can't love and then their partner (generally a heroine) gets all upset because "he won't love me" (which he's been telling you the whole book, why wouldn't you believe him?) engender a real sense of rage within me (see Book #2 of the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts) but at least this one got cleared up pretty fast. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the book, I can't explain why this book gave me such good feels when I have so many issues but it did and I can recommend it to others who have enjoyed the "From Manhattan with Love" series and regular contemporary romance readers.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 29
Follows Sunset in Central Park
Followed by New York, Actually

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan

Sunset in Central Park by Sarah MorganFrankie Cole grew up on Puffin Island with her best friend Paige Morgan. And Paige's brother Matt. Matt, who has been secretly in love with Frankie for years. But Frankie's prickly. At least, that's how I described her in my review of the first book in this series. And she has reason to be. Her parents... her mother... they're... interesting. And it really screwed her up. But one night, she finally wakes up to the fact that Matt is a man. A handsome, handsome man. One who not only loves her madly, but respects and needs her wicked-mad landscaping skills .
This book was not the up-all-nighter that "Sleepless in Manhattan" was for me. It felt a little... meandering. There was a little too much going on. And I didn't love that we had to return to characters for another series. But it was a good book and I'm ready to read about Eva and her mystery-writing and mysterious hero.

Three stars
This book comes out August 30
Follows Sleepless in Manhattan
Followed by Miracle on 5th Avenue

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Sleepless In Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Sleepless In Manhattan by Sarah MorganThis book is evil. EVIL I tell's ya. I could NOT put it down. It was horrible. Just horrible. Did I have problems with the "she's my best friend's sister, so hands off" storyline? Yes. Sarah Morgan worked her magic and made it <i>almost</i> reasonable. But still felt a little false. And in this story, the best friends were a little <i>too</i>. Eva was too sweet, Frankie was too prickly. But I'm guessing that will be straightened out in their own books. The books which I can NOT wait for. Hopefully they're already in the pipline because I am distraught (distraught, do you hear me?) that I can't read Frankie and Matt's (Paige's brother) story.
Also, did we have to have yet <i>another</i> trio of one blonde, one brunette, and one redhead? Couldn't they be a trio that are ash, mousy, and platinum blondes?
But I quibble. And despite my numerous quibbles, this was a REALLY good book. Even the end (not the end-end but the lead up was a little too pat and predictable for me) couldn't knock this down to three stars.
Paige is on Cloud 9, convince that she is about to be promoted only to find out she (and half of the company she works for, including her two best friends) have all been fired. It's Jake (her brother's best friend and her lifelong crush) who convinces the women to go into business for themselves. He's a handsome and successful bazillionaire who dates a new woman every month. So when his attraction to Paige finally boils over, sparks will fly (or is that mixing metaphors?). Either way, this is definitely a book worth picking up!

Four Stars
Followed by Sunset in Central Park

Friday, February 20, 2015

First Time in Forever by Sarah Morgan


Oh, Sarah Morgan. I love your writing but your heroes... oof. If you don't mind your heroines apologizing because the hero lied to them and she got mad about that (which is is obviously a no-no for the heroine,) this is going to be an okay book.

First Time in Forever by Sarah Morgan
Emily Donovan is not in a good place. Her half-sister (an evil, evil character) has died and left Emily custody of her daughter. Emily knows nothing about children and she's terrified of the ocean so she decided to bring Emily to an island. Someplace to escape the paparazzi.
Ryan Cooper helped raise his siblings and doesn't want to have anything to do with any more children. So why is he so attracted to Emily?
I will probably try at least a few more Sarah Morgan stories because I really do enjoy her writing. But I wish I could connect with the heroes more. Not that wishy-washy Emily whose troubles with swimming seemed to clear up really, really fast.
It comes out next Tuesday.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Maybe this Christmas by Sarah Morgan

Image linked from Goodreads
If you are looking for a story with a slow build, this will certainly satisfy your urges. If you aren't, this could be something of a slog.
I was very much looking forward to Brenna and Tyler's story. They have been minor characters in the last two books and everyone has commented on Brenna's love for Tyler. One that he doesn't seem to reciprocate.
They are both good people. Tyler was sliding toward not being a very good person but, one bad turn on the ski hill, and the champion skier became a "former." He can still ski, and still do hard hills, but he isn't up to championships.
Brenna has always loved Tyler. And not in a "friend" way. But she doesn't want to push any harder, afraid that she'd lose even that tenuous connect.
But everyone else is tired of seeing both Tyler and Brenna unhappy. They all think that the two are perfect for each other. So... some machinations ensue. For as many people that are pushing these two, it is a long, slow story where the tension is dragged out for far too long. Great character development and nice to see the characters again.

Previous Books in the Series: Sleigh Bells in the SnowSuddenly Last Summer

Friday, May 16, 2014

Suddenly last Summer by Sarah Morgan

Image linked from Goodreads
I'm quite enjoying Sarah Morgan's (SM) books. It's always lovely to find a new contemporary author that you can enjoy. Especially one who hasn't jumped on the BDSM bandwagon. The sex in this one is hot, but not super-explicit.
We are re-introduced to two characters from the first book, Elise and Sean. Elise is a French chef, both by nationality and cuisine She's had a hard life, including losing the only person who was her real family, her mother while they were in the midst of an argument. But she was rescued from a bad situation by Sean's twin, Jackson, and has created a new family for herself at Snow Crystal Resort.
When Walter, the family patriarch (Sean's grandfather), collapses from a heart attack, Sean is called home, to the place he hates most to go. Even with the promise of returning to Elise with whim he had a torrid one night stand last summer, Sean does not want to go back. The place his grandfather loves was a burden to Sean's father and the place Sean only wanted to escape from. Even becoming a well-known surgeon hasn't lessened the disappointment Sean sees in his grandfather ever time he returns to Snow Crystal.
This is a great story where Sean and Elise are going to have to meet halfway in order to find their HEA. And I liked that SM was really able to get them to that point in a believable and fun manner.

Previous Books in the Series: Sleigh Bells in the Snow
Next Book in the Series: Maybe this Christmas

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan

Image linked from Goodreads
Kayla Green is a rising star for her marketing firm. She'd be the happiest girl in the place if it weren't for the office Christmas party right outside. Kayla, it turns out, doesn't like Christmas. In fact, she accepts an assignment to go to a remote lodge just to get away from the celebrating. 

Jackson O'Neil was once a very successful entrepreneur. Now, he's left his business behind to help try and save his family's once-popular resort. His grandparents and mother have been working at it for years but it's just fallen out of favor with the general public. Now he's hoping that Kayla Green can help them pull it into the 21st century.

While the resort is indeed festive, Kayla Green is not prepared for Jackson's family and the warmth that she receives from them. Nor is she ready for the attraction that she and Jackson feel for each other. She lost the dream of happily-ever-after a long time ago and she doesn't want to reintroduce the hope that led to such heartbreak in her past.

The reviewers at Smart Bitches Trashy Books talked this book up so much I jumped at the chance to read the ARC from NetGalley. It's a good first full-length novel. I didn't connect fully with Kayla and there were some plot points that I thought weren't quite wrapped up fully but I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Next Books in the Series: Suddenly Last SummerMaybe this Christmas