The Sweet Life

Sunshine Bay #3

by Debbie Mason

Sometimes you can go home again . . .
 
Attorney Sage Rosetti is a force to be reckoned with. Work/life balance? Never heard of it. But when the unexpected loss of her mentor sends her spiraling, she’s prescribed a healthy dose of time off. Luckily, she’s just inherited the perfect home where she can recover. Unluckily, she’s now co-owners with her high school crush/nemesis, Jake Walker. How can she truly relax when her heart is at risk?

Sage’s mother, Gia, is dealing with a crisis of her own. A new book is about to reveal their family’s biggest secret—and Gia’s devasting heartbreak. The only person she can confide in is the one man she shouldn’t be getting close her sister’s ex.

But just as Sage and Gia are starting to find their paths, someone from Gia’s past resurfaces who could ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

Genres: Mystery

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. The first book in her Christmas, Colorado series, “The Trouble with Christmas,” was the inspiration for Hallmark’s “Welcome to Christmas.” Her books have been praised by RT Book Reviews for their “likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots.” When Debbie isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ottawa, Canada.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the Publisher and ntgalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review



I thought that this book gave me a lot of bang for

my buck. You want a little bit of a mystery..done. You want sweet romance..done. You want family drama..done.

I havent read the other books in the series but I know they center around one family in a small town. This one has two love 💕 stories in one. Again more bang for your buck. Double lve and pining.

Gia and Flynn have recently reunited. He is her younger sisters ex. He's 6 years younger then her. Her sister is about to release a tell all book which upsets Gia as her sister ran off with Gias ex husband. Luckily Flynn is there to hold her hand through it all and show her the meaning of romance

Jake and Sage ( Gia's daughter) were once bitter enemies but they reunite when their mutual mentor, Alice is found dead. James works into Sages heart right awY as they work together to deal with Alice's death.

I thought this story was engaging and kept me on my toes. I really liked the family dynamic and the drama between the different generation of women

However I wished that there was more backstory in the first half of the story about the previous animosity of Jake and Sage plus they just seemed to immediately jump into a relationship and I wish there was more back and fourth before they got together. Also I wish there was justmore of Gia and Flynns story overall as well as backstory before they started dating

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I haven't read one of Debbie's books that I haven't loved and this story is no exception. It is the culmination of the Rosetti family and everyone in their lives.

Debbie does an excellent job of making you feel like you know the characters personally and are right there with them experiencing their lives. The characters are well developed and the settings are very enjoyable. There is romance, mystery and characters at different ages so anyone can develop a connection with a character no matter your age. Every series that Debbie writes has different nuances so you don't feel like you are reading the same thing but with different characters. This is especially true with this series which makes it so you don't want to put the book down.

I highly recommend this book but also the 2 before this in the series.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this is the conclusion of the Sunshine Bay series, but it definitely feels like it is. This series has been different as there are 2 stories in each of the bo0ks. One featuring the daughter and the other featuring either her mother or aunt. By doing this the books seem larger than life, which is actually also true for the Rosetti family. This story features Sage and her Mom Gia. It is a very heartwarming and loving story about strong women and the men who fall in love with them

Sage and Jake are perfect for each other and their story is beautiful. It is couched as an enemies to friends to lovers story. The two of them have to rally together to handle the estate of a good friend who they loved and lost. There is of course a lot of drama from Sage's family. I love Jake he is a super great character, and Sage is a good match for him. The dynamics of the extended family add to the chaos, but also bring a lot of fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC.

[Heather Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Debbie Mason for the privilege to review this book. We return to Sunshine Bay with this adventure featuring the Rosetti women & the men who love them. This book, as all of Debbie Mason’s books, filled with family drama, laughter, misunderstandings, high emotions & plenty of love. This book follows Sage & Jake as they try to come to terms with the legacy of a woman who’s been a mentor to each of them, while also exploring the feelings they have for each other. It also features Gia & Flynn their relationship with their adult children & Gia’s sister Cami while trying to forge their own happily ever after. Add in a bit of mystery & the reader is taken on a thrilling emotional ride with laughter, tears & passion.

I really hate to see the series end.

My favorite part is the food fight between Gia & Cami on Instagram Live.

[Maureen Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege to receive an early copy for review from Debbie. This was such an enjoyable read. We got to revisit the Rosetti clan and all their family spats, love and of course romance. This series ending book follows Sage and Jake as they try to come to terms with the loss of their mentor and in Jake's case the woman who took him in from an abusive home. They revisit feelings they had for eah other as teenagers. Sage is burnt out from her job as a divorce attorney and a panic attack forces her to return to Sunshine Bay and Jake and her family. Her Mom Gia is navigating a new romance with Flynn and scared of getting hurt. Her sister Cami is causing her to doubt their relationship. It was wonderful to see them all find their happy ending even Nonna Rosetti, one formidable lady. I will miss the Rosettis. I loved the book and their ending.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We return to Sunshine Bay with this adventure featuring the Rosetti women and the men who love them. The book, as all of Debbie Mason’s books, is filled with family drama, laughter, misunderstandings, high emotions, and plenty of love. This book follows Sage and Jake as they try to come to terms with the legacy of a woman who’s been a mentor to each of them, while also exploring the feelings they have for each other. It also features Gia and Flynn, their relationships with their adult children, and with Gia’s sister Cami while trying to forge their own happily ever after. Add in a bit of mystery, and the reader is taken on a thrilling emotional ride with laughter, tears, and tender passion.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun trip to Sunshine Bay!

Visiting with the crazy Rosetti family is always filled with love, arguments and the unexpected. When Sage returns home because her friend and mentor Alice is suddenly unalive, she finds out that Alice left her lavender farm to Sage and Jake. They’ve had a love/like relationship for a while, but are determined to make this work.

Meanwhile Mom Gia and her sisters are launching a product line they started at their restaurant, and a surprise turns up from the past like a bad penny. Will things ever calm down for this family? Read this fun, fast-paced, emotional book, you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Barb Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great family story. Sage is a successful divorce attorney working for a demanding law firm putting in ridiculous hours. She learns that Alice, her friend/mentor is missing and rushes home to find her old nemesis there as well. They learn that Alice, has died and they are both crushed. Meanwhile, her aunt Cami and her mom are at odds. Cami has written a book with family secrets; her sister is really her cousin; her aunt ran off with her father and things are crazy in this Italian family. There is a lot of drama, a lot of love and great storytelling. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage Rosetti is a hard working lawyer who takes on a lot of divorce cases and pro-bono work for women who need to get out of abusive marriages. She fights the good fight for these women. So much so she sleeps at the office as it is her home away from home most days.. But then she gets a call about her friend and mentor Alice and she rushes back to Sunshine Bay, she is missing and then turns up dead. And then she is suspended from her job, and collapses from exhaustion and grief. Not to mention that her nemesis Jake Monroe is back in her life. He was also mentored and given a home by Alice and she has left her practice to him and the Lavender farm she purchased before her death. So many things happening to Sage all at once and the hits keeps coming because in the Rosetti family, it's one drama after the other. But there is food, love, laughter and joy when the Rosette women have each other's back.
Falling for Jake is the one good thing in Sages life. And Sage's ,mom Gia is having her own life crises with when her little sisters book is coming out and all the family secrets are being reveled and bringing someone back her life she does not want to have to deal with. Not to mention that she has the hots for someone she shouldn't get involved with but can't stay away from. While trying to mend her relationship with the sister writing the book.

This book brings the Rosetti women all back together with the men they love. It is a great way to round out this series and give us a look into the future for all of these women, mother's, daughters, sisters, and granddaughters. These six women have a bond that will always be there. The love of family, friends and the town they love so much will keep them forever in each other's hearts. Not to mention the food that binds them together for La Dolce Vita... The Sweet Life. The "Beaches" are one of my fav trio of women who are sisters, whether they are on the beach or in the kitchen having food fights, you will want to be them.

This book is family, love, romance, friendship and small town women fiction that is a must for anyone who loves a great story to read

This is a wonderful book and I have to give it 5 plus stars.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book to review. All opinions are given with my own thoughts and feelings freely.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story of love, family, resilience, and forgiveness. The Sweet Life starts out a bit sad with the passing of Sage's mentor, Alice. But it also quickly introduces Sage's once nemesis and soon to be love interest Jake, which is when things get really interesting. I love that this story also follows Sage's mom, Gia's adventures in finding love as well. How wonderfully blessed the Rossetti women are. Such a loving and boisterous bunch! Mason's writing is such a wonderful experience and the ending was so heartwarming and just perfect. Love it!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sweet Life was a book that gave me the conclusion to the Sunshine Bay series I needed. The series was filled with so much emotion, fun, laughter, family drama and lots of love.
The series should be read in order because this helps you connect with all the characters. I am so glad I have found Debbie Mason as an author.
This is a perfect series to grab and relax while on vacation.
Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Mason and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the copy of The Sweet Life. This is my personal review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, these Rosetti women are really something! Lots of sub stories and different social connections in this story. At first I was having trouble keeping the who's who lined up right, and yet everything made sense in the end. I certainly enjoyed being surprised by the way each character had his or her own intensity and purpose in the book. A very fun read! Thanks Net Galley for a chance to read and review an advance copy.

[becky becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to the Rosetti family.
What an absolutely wonderful family.
I laughed and cried. It's the book that grabs you from the very first sentence and you can not put it down.
It's a must read even if you've not read the other 2 in the series yet.
A few secrets held by everyone and so interesting finding out more about them and knowing they weren't really all that bad except maybe Gia's.
Absolutely loved this book.

[Doris Lankford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed going back to Sunshine Bay and visiting with the Rosetti family. The story was full of intrigue, humor, sadness and even had a happily ever after. Debbie Mason always keeps me entertained from the first page to the last. I received a copy of the book from the author and was asked to leave an honest review.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about Sage and Gia Rosetti. Sage is an attorney that works too much and needs to relax more. Can she and her high school crush Jake Walker find love?
Sage's mom Gia is trying to find her path. Can she be with Flynn?

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. This story is about the Rosetti family. It includes a grandmother, sisters, their children, mostly girls. The grandmother and her daughters all run the family restaurant. It is a story about loves, betrayal and finding romance. It tells a story about a family that is united.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always an emotional rollercoaster ride when I read a Rosetti story! I adore this family and all their antics.

[Mary Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great family summer filled drama!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final book in the Sunshine Bay series.

Debbie Mason books are such comfort reads for me. They feel familiar and easy, like you can just slip right into the world and the story without having to catch up or work hard. There are serious topics and a touch of heaviness, but you know everything will work out. And you'll be entertained along the way. I love the close families, complex relationships, and the slightly over the top drama.

I do think the romance was missing depth, there were some pacing issues, and at times things felt a little too silly. But it was still enjoyable.

And this one was a great ending for the series and all of the characters I've gotten to know along the way.