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White Sand, Blue Sea: A St. Barts Love Story
Olivia Miller is standing on the porch of her mother and stepfather's plantation style villa in St. Barts. They have been coming here every April for years but she is always thrilled to see the horseshoe-shaped bay of Gustavia and white sand of Gouverneur's Beach. This trip should be particularly exciting because she is celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday and hoping that Finn, her boyfriend of four years, will propose.
The only person who won't be here is her father, Sebastian, who she hasn’t seen in twenty years. He’s a well-known artist and crisscrosses the globe, painting and living in exotic locations like Kenya and China. When Sebastian walks unexpectedly walks through the door and floats back into Olivia’s life like a piece of bad driftwood she never knew she wanted, she starts to wondering if her world is too narrow. She questions the dreams and the relationship she’s always thought she wanted. But there seems to be more to the story than an innocent fatherly visit, and Olivia must decide if love is more important than truth.
Set on St. Barts, the jewel of the Caribbean, White Sand, Blue Sea is a heartwarming story about romance and adventure, and most importantly, about knowing yourself, and what makes you happy.
The only person who won't be here is her father, Sebastian, who she hasn’t seen in twenty years. He’s a well-known artist and crisscrosses the globe, painting and living in exotic locations like Kenya and China. When Sebastian walks unexpectedly walks through the door and floats back into Olivia’s life like a piece of bad driftwood she never knew she wanted, she starts to wondering if her world is too narrow. She questions the dreams and the relationship she’s always thought she wanted. But there seems to be more to the story than an innocent fatherly visit, and Olivia must decide if love is more important than truth.
Set on St. Barts, the jewel of the Caribbean, White Sand, Blue Sea is a heartwarming story about romance and adventure, and most importantly, about knowing yourself, and what makes you happy.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
51 people are currently reading
1250 people want to read
About the author
Anita Hughes
26 books1,028 followersAnita Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing program. She is the author of MONARCH BEACH, MARKET STREET, LAKE COMO, FRENCH COAST, ROME IN LOVE, ISLAND IN THE SEA, SANTORINI SUNSETS, CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, WHITE SAND, BLUE SEA, EMERALD COAST, CHRISTMAS IN LONDON and CALIFORNIA SUMMER, and CHRISTMAS IN VERMONT published by St. Martin's Press. ROME IN LOVE is coming to the HALLMARK channel in July, 2019!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 20, 2017
Olivia Miller is vacationing with her mother and step father in their villa in St. Barts where they plan on celebrating Olivia's twenty fifth birthday. When a man shows up at the door Olivia thinks it's someone her mother has invited to the party and welcomes him in but is shocked to find out it's her biological father, Sebastian, that she hasn't seen in twenty years.
A globe trotting artist Sebastian claims to have come to celebrate Olivia's big day and since she is excited to finally know her father everyone tries to be welcoming. However things heat up when Sebastian tries to invite Olivia to travel with him thus spoiling her boyfriend's surprise engagement and wedding plans.
When picking up White Sand, Blue Sea I was quite under the impression that this was supposed to be a romance read however the one thing the book is seriously lacking is any sort of romance to the story. This is really where my rating of 2.5 stars comes into play with this one, the story is all a rich family drama and really more of the problems brought by the runaway father's return.
The small bit of relationship involvement comes when Olivia and her boyfriend have a bit of a fight over her returning father and then a bit with Olivia's mother and her relationship. In my opionion though the author dropped the ball with not letting readers even know what was going on with Olivia's mother and stepfather until the very end so I wasn't even engaged in something there either.
Overall, 2.5 stars for this one. It had a beautiful setting being in St. Barts but that was the only saving grace for me as far as the story went, would have been much nicer to have a romantic story in this setting.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
A globe trotting artist Sebastian claims to have come to celebrate Olivia's big day and since she is excited to finally know her father everyone tries to be welcoming. However things heat up when Sebastian tries to invite Olivia to travel with him thus spoiling her boyfriend's surprise engagement and wedding plans.
When picking up White Sand, Blue Sea I was quite under the impression that this was supposed to be a romance read however the one thing the book is seriously lacking is any sort of romance to the story. This is really where my rating of 2.5 stars comes into play with this one, the story is all a rich family drama and really more of the problems brought by the runaway father's return.
The small bit of relationship involvement comes when Olivia and her boyfriend have a bit of a fight over her returning father and then a bit with Olivia's mother and her relationship. In my opionion though the author dropped the ball with not letting readers even know what was going on with Olivia's mother and stepfather until the very end so I wasn't even engaged in something there either.
Overall, 2.5 stars for this one. It had a beautiful setting being in St. Barts but that was the only saving grace for me as far as the story went, would have been much nicer to have a romantic story in this setting.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 9, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
2.5/5
Based on the blurb/cover combo I was expecting a total beach read, something to escape into and that’s exactly what I got. This is pure entertainment and not to be taken too seriously, there were parts that would’ve bothered me a bit more (though there were a few issues I still couldn’t get past) if I was expecting a book with more depth, but if you take this book at face value (just look at that cover, makes me wanna dive in) then it’s a pretty fun read.
Hughes paints such a pretty picture, the setting is definitely the strong point of this book. I could feel the sand between my toes, smell the flowers mixed with salty air and gorgeous scents of exotic food, it was so easy to conjure up an image of St. Bart. I had heard that a Hughes book was comparable to Elin Hilderbrand’s books and I’m a huge fan of her work, but besides the beach setting, I’m not really thinking that’s entirely accurate, this book lacked even a bit of the substance that Hilderbrand’s have.
The characters were pretty unlikable, and not in a, are they good or bad type of way. More like a, they’re all pretentious, spoiled snobs type of way. Olivia is turning 25 and she’s extremely immature and naive. She comes across as selfish and vulnerable, but not in an endearing way, it was annoying. Her dad, Sebastian is awful, he’s flighty, pampered and egotistic and I found him utterly boring. I did like Felix, Olivia’s stepfather though, he wasn’t as pompous as the rest.
This wasn’t a bad book, I actually did like it in a weird way, the location was amazing and Hughes is an excellent writer in terms of creating and capturing a fantastic atmosphere. I expected a little bit more romance and excitement and instead was thrust into the lives of some vapid, shallow characters who I couldn’t relate to at all. I would read another book by Hughes though, next time it’ll be on a beach while I’m drinking though so I can overlook the lack of substance and just take it for what it is.
2.5/5
Based on the blurb/cover combo I was expecting a total beach read, something to escape into and that’s exactly what I got. This is pure entertainment and not to be taken too seriously, there were parts that would’ve bothered me a bit more (though there were a few issues I still couldn’t get past) if I was expecting a book with more depth, but if you take this book at face value (just look at that cover, makes me wanna dive in) then it’s a pretty fun read.
Hughes paints such a pretty picture, the setting is definitely the strong point of this book. I could feel the sand between my toes, smell the flowers mixed with salty air and gorgeous scents of exotic food, it was so easy to conjure up an image of St. Bart. I had heard that a Hughes book was comparable to Elin Hilderbrand’s books and I’m a huge fan of her work, but besides the beach setting, I’m not really thinking that’s entirely accurate, this book lacked even a bit of the substance that Hilderbrand’s have.
The characters were pretty unlikable, and not in a, are they good or bad type of way. More like a, they’re all pretentious, spoiled snobs type of way. Olivia is turning 25 and she’s extremely immature and naive. She comes across as selfish and vulnerable, but not in an endearing way, it was annoying. Her dad, Sebastian is awful, he’s flighty, pampered and egotistic and I found him utterly boring. I did like Felix, Olivia’s stepfather though, he wasn’t as pompous as the rest.
This wasn’t a bad book, I actually did like it in a weird way, the location was amazing and Hughes is an excellent writer in terms of creating and capturing a fantastic atmosphere. I expected a little bit more romance and excitement and instead was thrust into the lives of some vapid, shallow characters who I couldn’t relate to at all. I would read another book by Hughes though, next time it’ll be on a beach while I’m drinking though so I can overlook the lack of substance and just take it for what it is.
April 2, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and was asked to leave an honest review.
This book was disappointing. It had an interesting premise and characters that had the potential to be interesting but there was no real character development. The descriptions were repetitive; every time someone stepped outside they “inhaled the fragrance” of a different flower, or the sun touched a cheek or shoulder. The interactions and dialogue between the characters did not ring true. The beginning of the story is laid out a little too cleanly; a girl just happens to be thinking about her father whom she hasn’t seen in 20 years, and a taxi pulls up and her father happens to get out. Ten minutes later they are talking about her favorite past-times as if that was a normal thing to do. The end of the story wraps up in just as an unlikely manner, and just as cleanly. The author exclusively uses flashbacks to tell the history of the characters. Nothing happens during the course of the narrative, no one learns anything, and no one grows, or changes in any way. The novel is titled as a love story; I didn’t find a love story.
This book was disappointing. It had an interesting premise and characters that had the potential to be interesting but there was no real character development. The descriptions were repetitive; every time someone stepped outside they “inhaled the fragrance” of a different flower, or the sun touched a cheek or shoulder. The interactions and dialogue between the characters did not ring true. The beginning of the story is laid out a little too cleanly; a girl just happens to be thinking about her father whom she hasn’t seen in 20 years, and a taxi pulls up and her father happens to get out. Ten minutes later they are talking about her favorite past-times as if that was a normal thing to do. The end of the story wraps up in just as an unlikely manner, and just as cleanly. The author exclusively uses flashbacks to tell the history of the characters. Nothing happens during the course of the narrative, no one learns anything, and no one grows, or changes in any way. The novel is titled as a love story; I didn’t find a love story.
November 14, 2016
I found this book severely lacking. The characters were all unlikeable and I felt the first 30 pages of the story unrealistic. Father just shows up after 20 years and is welcomed with open arms? I realize the lives of wealthy people make for enjoyable reads, however, this one was not one for me. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
April 18, 2017
I'm convinced Anita Hughes does extensive research, travelling, or watches a lot of reality TV or documentaries. Besides, Emily Giffin, she's my new favorite adult writer. Her books are so beautiful and you'll wanna book a plane ticket to a gorgeous vacation, ala Paris (Par-ee~) or a pink-sanded beach, or possibly devour an entire cheese wheel, just so I could attempt to follow along.
Olivia is extremely fortunate, so when her biological father, Sebastian, appears on the doorstep of their summer house in St. Barts, she's more than a little shocked. She hasn't seen him in well over twenty years after he casually ditched their family to further his career as a painter. Her mother, Hadley, has remarried a wonderful man and Olivia is (allegedly) moments away from an engagement with a five-star man.
Sebastian, however, starts drama wherever he can. He's a freeloader, he constantly questions Hadley's marriage, Olivia's relationship, and how they live their lives, despite the fact he left them both twenty years ago. I mean, HELLO. The summary promises us Olivia's story, but it's more-so, Hadley and Sebastian's story, how they met, Olivia being conceived amidst the moonlight, why they broke up. All the drama, truly. Olivia consumes about 10% of the storyline. Lemme tell you, I was so relieved by the ending, but bummed we never get to see more of twenty-year-old her.
This is definitely one of Anita Hughes's more realistic books, interestingly enough. It suffers from a mild case of #RichPeopleProblems, but to the point, it makes fun of that. And to the point, it annoyed by how much it picked at the trope. I was like, "I get it. They're privileged. Let them eat caviar and cheese, and let me be jealous of them for ten minutes, kthanx."
I will definitely stick around to look for Anita's next book, which according to her author bio, she's already working on. Get excited, peeps.
Olivia is extremely fortunate, so when her biological father, Sebastian, appears on the doorstep of their summer house in St. Barts, she's more than a little shocked. She hasn't seen him in well over twenty years after he casually ditched their family to further his career as a painter. Her mother, Hadley, has remarried a wonderful man and Olivia is (allegedly) moments away from an engagement with a five-star man.
Sebastian, however, starts drama wherever he can. He's a freeloader, he constantly questions Hadley's marriage, Olivia's relationship, and how they live their lives, despite the fact he left them both twenty years ago. I mean, HELLO. The summary promises us Olivia's story, but it's more-so, Hadley and Sebastian's story, how they met, Olivia being conceived amidst the moonlight, why they broke up. All the drama, truly. Olivia consumes about 10% of the storyline. Lemme tell you, I was so relieved by the ending, but bummed we never get to see more of twenty-year-old her.
This is definitely one of Anita Hughes's more realistic books, interestingly enough. It suffers from a mild case of #RichPeopleProblems, but to the point, it makes fun of that. And to the point, it annoyed by how much it picked at the trope. I was like, "I get it. They're privileged. Let them eat caviar and cheese, and let me be jealous of them for ten minutes, kthanx."
I will definitely stick around to look for Anita's next book, which according to her author bio, she's already working on. Get excited, peeps.
April 4, 2017
Charming, engaging and lighthearted!
In this new novel by Hughes we are transported to the beautiful island of St. Barts complete with pristine beaches, exquisite restaurants, designer boutiques, and million-dollar yachts and are swept into a story that delves into the complexities of maternal, paternal and romantic relationships and highlights the importance of honesty and communication.
The writing is descriptive and smooth. The characters are an appealing variety of young and mature; unsure and grounded; stable and peripatetic; loved and secure. And the plot is a sweet journey about discovering oneself, appreciating what you have, letting go of the past and the power of unconditional love.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, easy read that is a nice choice for a relaxing, sunny afternoon.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
In this new novel by Hughes we are transported to the beautiful island of St. Barts complete with pristine beaches, exquisite restaurants, designer boutiques, and million-dollar yachts and are swept into a story that delves into the complexities of maternal, paternal and romantic relationships and highlights the importance of honesty and communication.
The writing is descriptive and smooth. The characters are an appealing variety of young and mature; unsure and grounded; stable and peripatetic; loved and secure. And the plot is a sweet journey about discovering oneself, appreciating what you have, letting go of the past and the power of unconditional love.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, easy read that is a nice choice for a relaxing, sunny afternoon.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
December 23, 2016
*** I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This book takes place in St Barts and centers around Olivia who is fixing to celebrate her 25th birthday. The father she hasn't seen in 20 years surprises her by showing up at the villa where she is staying with her mom, stepfather and Olivia's boyfriend/soon-to-be fiance. His showing up wreaks havoc on everyone. If you are familiar with Anita Hughes' books then you will want to add this to your pile of books you want to read. It will definitely make you wish you were in St Barts along with them!
This book takes place in St Barts and centers around Olivia who is fixing to celebrate her 25th birthday. The father she hasn't seen in 20 years surprises her by showing up at the villa where she is staying with her mom, stepfather and Olivia's boyfriend/soon-to-be fiance. His showing up wreaks havoc on everyone. If you are familiar with Anita Hughes' books then you will want to add this to your pile of books you want to read. It will definitely make you wish you were in St Barts along with them!
March 22, 2017
I can not wait for this title to release for you all that haven't read it yet!
I loved the book and St. Bart's!!
Enjoy my full review here:
https://kcboymom26.wordpress.com/2017...
I loved the book and St. Bart's!!
Enjoy my full review here:
https://kcboymom26.wordpress.com/2017...
July 6, 2021
Light, summer story with a happy ending. Anita Hughes writes in an easy to read, contemporary style.
April 5, 2017
There will be spoliers later on. This book held so much promise. A long lost father coming back for his daughters birthday/engagement. Said father staying with mom and new stepdad. Plenty of conflict abounds. YET, at the very end of the book the author resolves everything with 5 pages of nothing. Long lost father, Sebastian is portrayed as a shyster, a rake, a lover of himself. Yet the last five pages where the reader is waiting for him to be caught for the fool that he is, the author says NOPE he is awesome, just a father who has faults.
Hadley, the mom, is hiding a secret from stepfather. The reader thinks, an affair, a disease, something. NOPE, at the end we find out its nothing.
I liked the writing of the author and the way she describes places and things, yet her storytelling fell flat at the end.
Hadley, the mom, is hiding a secret from stepfather. The reader thinks, an affair, a disease, something. NOPE, at the end we find out its nothing.
I liked the writing of the author and the way she describes places and things, yet her storytelling fell flat at the end.
September 20, 2024
A feel good story set in the Caribbean on the island of St. Barts. It is centered around the twenty-fifth birthday of a young woman and her family and her desires for the perfect life. The book was an easy read.
May 26, 2017
Olivia is celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday with her family at their St. Barts vacation home. It's pretty much heaven there with its gorgeous views and perfect beach. To top it off, Olivia is expecting her boyfriend, Finn, to propose, which only makes her life even sweeter. All of her family is here, except for her vagabond father, Sebastian, who is an artist that travels the world. Olivia and her father don't have a relationship (she hasn't seen him for twenty years!), but she has always wondered about him. Her perfect calm world starts to have ripples in it when an unexpected visitor shows up knocking at the door. It's her father. Not only does his presence upset their family trip, it also makes Olivia start questioning things about her life. White Sand, Blue Sea by Anita Hughes is an enchanting and fluffy beach read. It's filled with family secrets and drama all set to the gorgeous backdrop of St. Barts.
Read my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
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August 10, 2017I loved the book. Did not have quiete the ending I expected. This is the second book I have read by Anita Hughes. I read the sample on the kindle. I bought the book at Barnes and Noble. I would definitely pick up more of Anita Hughes books to read.
March 13, 2017
Olivia goes to St. Bart's to celebrate her birthday with her Mom, Step-Dad and boyfriend. Her father who she hasn't seen in 20 years shows up!. Sebastian is an artist and has been all around the world. He has many stories of his adventures through out the years. The story tells of Olivia and her soon to be fiancee, and also of her Mom and Dad's love story. It is a story of love and family. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
February 8, 2017
My Review: I gave this book three stars. It lost one star because it is supposed to be a romance and it isn't romantic. It lost another star because the characters aggravated me, a lot. They all needed a really good shake. Ms. Hughes wrote really good aggravating characters. Maybe for that, I should give her a star back.
The biological father had shady motivations for being involved after all this time. Where the heck has he been and what is he doing back here now? The stepfather should have shown more backbone on two fronts - the invasion of his house and his marriage. These two make strange friends.
The mother-wife-ex was conflicted and not sure about which way to go or what to do about what was happening. She needed to speak to her husband and lay down some boundaries with her ex. She needed her husband's support to handle the situation and she kept waiting for the right moment. There is no right moment - just ask for it. He needed to know she needed him. Instead, he's playing tennis and loaning out his wardrobe to the ex.
Everyone should have stopped tip toeing around the fiance. He needed to show his support for the woman he's claiming to love instead of whining. Here's a young woman who hasn't seen her father since she was a very young child. She wants to spend time with him and the last thing she needs to be doing is worrying about who else's feelings might be getting hurt. This is a major crisis in her life and she's not getting a lot of support from those closest to her. She's having to handle it on her own! A very strange family situation.
But, I didn't write this book. Anita Hughes did. She chose this family dynamic. She's not new at this either. She's written almost a dozen books and is a well thought of author. So, maybe she's just not my style. Or maybe I just need to read more of her work to get a better feel for her. I think to do her justice, I should read at least one more of her books. I'll let you know what I think once I've done that. Then maybe I'll read this again and re-review it. But right now, I just can't recommend this book when it shows up on shelves in the spring.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley
The biological father had shady motivations for being involved after all this time. Where the heck has he been and what is he doing back here now? The stepfather should have shown more backbone on two fronts - the invasion of his house and his marriage. These two make strange friends.
The mother-wife-ex was conflicted and not sure about which way to go or what to do about what was happening. She needed to speak to her husband and lay down some boundaries with her ex. She needed her husband's support to handle the situation and she kept waiting for the right moment. There is no right moment - just ask for it. He needed to know she needed him. Instead, he's playing tennis and loaning out his wardrobe to the ex.
Everyone should have stopped tip toeing around the fiance. He needed to show his support for the woman he's claiming to love instead of whining. Here's a young woman who hasn't seen her father since she was a very young child. She wants to spend time with him and the last thing she needs to be doing is worrying about who else's feelings might be getting hurt. This is a major crisis in her life and she's not getting a lot of support from those closest to her. She's having to handle it on her own! A very strange family situation.
But, I didn't write this book. Anita Hughes did. She chose this family dynamic. She's not new at this either. She's written almost a dozen books and is a well thought of author. So, maybe she's just not my style. Or maybe I just need to read more of her work to get a better feel for her. I think to do her justice, I should read at least one more of her books. I'll let you know what I think once I've done that. Then maybe I'll read this again and re-review it. But right now, I just can't recommend this book when it shows up on shelves in the spring.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley
February 15, 2017
I liked this book. It's the story of a 25 year old women who's life is veering into a new course. She is celebrating her birthday with her mother and step-father in St. Barts, just like every other birthday but this year she thinks her longtime boyfriend is about to propose marriage. She also looks out the window and sees her father for the first time in 20 years. Olivia and her mother are both surprised when Sebastian shows up. He's an artist who is a very free spirit. Both women have to adjust their thinking about this birthday. There is not a who lot of substance to this book. The characters are normal everyday rich people who expect their lives to run smoothly. I like Anita Hughes as a writer and expected a little more.
November 1, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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Rich, beautiful, priveleged WASPs? Check. Amazing, tropical location? Check. More food courses served at every single meal than you could eat in a week? Check. Must be reading a new Anita Hughes story. Check. I’ve finally decided to take an Anita Hughes novel for what it is – Danielle Steel on an even lighter side, (is that even possible?) or Steel-ite for short. I’ve found that if I go into the novel expecting candy corn and cotton candy sweetness and fluff, I’m not so angry when the sugar rush fades out.
What I loved: I think that Hadley is a remarkable character in this novel – and the plot seems more about her rather than her spineless daughter with some big-time Daddy issues, Olivia. Hadley has spunk, guts, and morals. She’s a good role model for her annoying daughter. I wish her daughter would learn from Hadley – and also give her the respect she deserved by calling her “Mom” (or basically anything other than her first name.)
What I didn’t love: It’s a toss up between Olivia and her father Sebastian, but ultimately, Sebastian wins hands down. He is the type that shouldn’t be trusted with anything and his entire persona just screams “USER”. Olivia is so darn desperate for her Peter Pan Daddy that she can’t see the forest for the trees. But what do you expect by someone who calls her mother by her first name.
What I learned: Nothing – and I’m finally okay with it.
Overall Grade: B
www.FluffSmutandMurder.com
March 19, 2017
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. . .
This was great spring break read. I have read a couple of Anita Hughes books prior to this one and I have enjoyed them all. I love the detailed descriptions of the the setting, it really makes the reader feel as though they are in whatever fabulous location the book is set in.
This novel is set on the Caribbean Island of Saint Barts. Olivia is a young twenty four year old woman enjoying a vacation for her birthday with her mother, stepfather and boyfriend Finn. Olivia is excited for her birthday celebration and an almost certain proposal from her boyfriend. Everything is going along smoothly until Olivia's father Sebastian shows up to help her celebrate her birthday. Sebastian left Olivia and her mother to pursue his career as a painter when Olivia was five, but she never stopped hoping he would come and celebrate her birthday with her. Olivia is understandably overjoyed by his arrival but as the week progresses it seems that Sebastian's presence only stirs up problems. Will Olivia and her mother Hadley make it through her birthday with all of their loved ones in one villa?
This story is a well imagined love story. It is a young love story as well as a story about lasting love and missed opportunities. You will enjoy your time in the Caribbean sea with this novel and a cold pina colada in your hand. Cheers!
This was great spring break read. I have read a couple of Anita Hughes books prior to this one and I have enjoyed them all. I love the detailed descriptions of the the setting, it really makes the reader feel as though they are in whatever fabulous location the book is set in.
This novel is set on the Caribbean Island of Saint Barts. Olivia is a young twenty four year old woman enjoying a vacation for her birthday with her mother, stepfather and boyfriend Finn. Olivia is excited for her birthday celebration and an almost certain proposal from her boyfriend. Everything is going along smoothly until Olivia's father Sebastian shows up to help her celebrate her birthday. Sebastian left Olivia and her mother to pursue his career as a painter when Olivia was five, but she never stopped hoping he would come and celebrate her birthday with her. Olivia is understandably overjoyed by his arrival but as the week progresses it seems that Sebastian's presence only stirs up problems. Will Olivia and her mother Hadley make it through her birthday with all of their loved ones in one villa?
This story is a well imagined love story. It is a young love story as well as a story about lasting love and missed opportunities. You will enjoy your time in the Caribbean sea with this novel and a cold pina colada in your hand. Cheers!
March 11, 2017
This novel actually covers two love stories. It takes place on St. Barts in the Caribbean. Olivia is about to celebrate her 25th birthday, hoping her boyfriend is going to propose. Her dad shows up after not seeing him for 20 years. Needless to say he wreaks havoc. Is romantic and the characters are likeable. Life happens and ups and downs take their toll. One will laugh and cry. Thanks to Goodreads
April 2, 2022
I have read almost all of Anita Hughes books. They are easy reads, often light love stories which draw you in and make you like the characters. Her writing is often very descriptive when it comes to the scenery of the area she writes in, the food they are eating, what they are wearing. One thing about Highes writing is that her characters are often from money and quite spoiled. You are not usually going to read about a character that is in jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie with no makeup and a ponytail. It is always expensive outfits and luxury locations. That is kind of one of the things I like about her books though. They are so far away from my own life that it is interesting to read about another way of life.
I almost always like Hughes books. This one, however, I did not like. I recently went on Amazon and bought the Hughes books that I was missing from my collection, and this was one of them. I wanted to like it but I could not really get into it. Like her other books, this one is set in the luxury vacation spot of St. Bart's. It centers on one family, where the daughter, Olivia, is about to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday. Olivia is privileged, you get that right away. She has been to the right schools. She manages her mother's art gallery in New York. She celebrates her birthday and Christmas in St. Bart's every year. She is there knowing her boyfriend of four years, Finn, is going to propose so a lot of the early story is her waiting for that proposal.
Suddenly, her long lost father shows up to surprise her for her birthday. Other than a few letters,she has not seen her father since she was five years old. Everyone around her is less than thrilled her father has suddenly made an appearance but Olivia is seemingly swept off her feet at being able to see her father again and get to know him.
What I liked about this book was the imagery. I liked the description of St. Bart's. The activities. The description of the food. It made me want to see it one day, just to see if it matched the book. I also liked the flashback moments between Olivia's parents, Sebastian and Hadley. I liked the sections where they met, fell in love, and Olivia's early life. I felt like you really needed that for this book so you understood Sebastian and Hadley's relationship later in the book.
What I did not like was everything else really. This is labeled a "St. Bart's Love Story" but I did not find much of a love story. The relationship between Olivia and her boyfriend, Finn, irritated me. It might have been romantic if these two were not such spoiled, immature kids. They did not look like two people who should be thinking about marriage. Their "fights" were superficial. Every couple fights, that is just life, and having those fights is strengthening the relationship. But, their fights were nothing. It was over stupid things. Olivia wants to get to know her father and Finn is upset that her entire world is not revolving around him for a few days. Give me a break. I kept wanting to yell at this guy, "If you want to marry her, support her! Get to know her father too! Stop whining that she did not want to watch you play tennis!".
Now, the love "triangle" between Hadley, Sebastian, and Felix. I really liked Felix in this book. He was my favorite character, with Hadley being my second favorite. Felix is Hadley's second husband, and Olivia's stepfather. I thought he was a great guy. He came in, helped to raise Olivia, and supported her as her "father". I felt like Felix should have had a bigger part in this book. He is kind of in the background and I would have liked to explore more about Hadley and Felix's relationship.
Now, you do read a lot about Sebastian and Hadley's relationship, and it is done in the classic Hughes style. They were kids, they were quick to fall deeply in love, they get married and have Olivia, and are still in love but it did not work out. Sebastian disappears and Hadley is left on her own to raise Olivia. Later, Sebastian is back and it throws Hadley for a loop, as it should be. Through most of this book you don't know if Sebastian is back for Hadley, or if it for Olivia. You also don't get a sense if Hadley is still in love with Sebastian or not. That left a lot of questions for me through this. It was not even a "will they, or won't they" kind of thing. It was just dropped, not explored. I liked Hadley as a character. I thought she was a little more down to earth than her spoiled daughter but Sebastian, for all the comments about him living commission to commission, he was just as spoiled and entitled as Olivia was.
Then the ending. I felt this fell flat. There was no romance in it. It just kind of ended and I was not pleased. It felt like Hughes had nowhere to go so she just ended it. This is not her usual style. Like I said, I have read almost all of her books and there is usually a romantic, beautiful ending. Not this time. I was disappointed because I felt like there were so many other way she could have ended this story which would have satisfied the reader.
Overall, not my favorite Hughes at all. I am glad I read this one now because, if I had read it back when I first started reading Anita Hughes, I likely would never have picked up another one of her books. I have one more on my "to read" pile and I am really hoping it is better than this one.
I almost always like Hughes books. This one, however, I did not like. I recently went on Amazon and bought the Hughes books that I was missing from my collection, and this was one of them. I wanted to like it but I could not really get into it. Like her other books, this one is set in the luxury vacation spot of St. Bart's. It centers on one family, where the daughter, Olivia, is about to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday. Olivia is privileged, you get that right away. She has been to the right schools. She manages her mother's art gallery in New York. She celebrates her birthday and Christmas in St. Bart's every year. She is there knowing her boyfriend of four years, Finn, is going to propose so a lot of the early story is her waiting for that proposal.
Suddenly, her long lost father shows up to surprise her for her birthday. Other than a few letters,she has not seen her father since she was five years old. Everyone around her is less than thrilled her father has suddenly made an appearance but Olivia is seemingly swept off her feet at being able to see her father again and get to know him.
What I liked about this book was the imagery. I liked the description of St. Bart's. The activities. The description of the food. It made me want to see it one day, just to see if it matched the book. I also liked the flashback moments between Olivia's parents, Sebastian and Hadley. I liked the sections where they met, fell in love, and Olivia's early life. I felt like you really needed that for this book so you understood Sebastian and Hadley's relationship later in the book.
What I did not like was everything else really. This is labeled a "St. Bart's Love Story" but I did not find much of a love story. The relationship between Olivia and her boyfriend, Finn, irritated me. It might have been romantic if these two were not such spoiled, immature kids. They did not look like two people who should be thinking about marriage. Their "fights" were superficial. Every couple fights, that is just life, and having those fights is strengthening the relationship. But, their fights were nothing. It was over stupid things. Olivia wants to get to know her father and Finn is upset that her entire world is not revolving around him for a few days. Give me a break. I kept wanting to yell at this guy, "If you want to marry her, support her! Get to know her father too! Stop whining that she did not want to watch you play tennis!".
Now, the love "triangle" between Hadley, Sebastian, and Felix. I really liked Felix in this book. He was my favorite character, with Hadley being my second favorite. Felix is Hadley's second husband, and Olivia's stepfather. I thought he was a great guy. He came in, helped to raise Olivia, and supported her as her "father". I felt like Felix should have had a bigger part in this book. He is kind of in the background and I would have liked to explore more about Hadley and Felix's relationship.
Now, you do read a lot about Sebastian and Hadley's relationship, and it is done in the classic Hughes style. They were kids, they were quick to fall deeply in love, they get married and have Olivia, and are still in love but it did not work out. Sebastian disappears and Hadley is left on her own to raise Olivia. Later, Sebastian is back and it throws Hadley for a loop, as it should be. Through most of this book you don't know if Sebastian is back for Hadley, or if it for Olivia. You also don't get a sense if Hadley is still in love with Sebastian or not. That left a lot of questions for me through this. It was not even a "will they, or won't they" kind of thing. It was just dropped, not explored. I liked Hadley as a character. I thought she was a little more down to earth than her spoiled daughter but Sebastian, for all the comments about him living commission to commission, he was just as spoiled and entitled as Olivia was.
Then the ending. I felt this fell flat. There was no romance in it. It just kind of ended and I was not pleased. It felt like Hughes had nowhere to go so she just ended it. This is not her usual style. Like I said, I have read almost all of her books and there is usually a romantic, beautiful ending. Not this time. I was disappointed because I felt like there were so many other way she could have ended this story which would have satisfied the reader.
Overall, not my favorite Hughes at all. I am glad I read this one now because, if I had read it back when I first started reading Anita Hughes, I likely would never have picked up another one of her books. I have one more on my "to read" pile and I am really hoping it is better than this one.
November 6, 2016
I am so confused by what this story was meant to be about. It didn't feel like it went anywhere. I didn't like the characters they were just over privileged rich annoying people. I didn't feel like the story went any where and it took me ages to read as I couldn't make myself carry on.
Unfortunately not for me.
Unfortunately not for me.
March 7, 2017
I wanted to like it, I looked forward to reading it, but I just couldn't get into it. The story and characters just weren't believable or even likable.
June 27, 2018
They met at a bed and breakfast in Cape Town. She was just 22 and was on a tight budget and she was due to leave for Florence, Italy in one week for the art course she was to take. He was slightly older, but not by much. He was to leave South Africa for Chicago to attend law school orientation. He was to follow his father’s footsteps, but he loved art. He wanted to paint. In fact, in his own words, he could not breathe if he could not paint. It wasn’t the money. It was the freedom, the colors, the adventures of travel to put down on canvas. And, most of all, he wanted her.
That is how Hadley and Sebastian came to marry and for years they traveled Africa and Asia, and indeed, saw beautiful sights. Money was no problem. No, Sebastian didn’t sell many paintings; but when he did it was all because of his beautiful wife and her tantalizing ability to promote him and his work. When money was earned, Sebastian spent it on luxuries for Hadley. When no money was left, he bartered his work for favors or tangible items. He wasn’t above selling the luxuries he had bought for Hadley. Still, they were in love; and about to be parents.
Hadley gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Olivia. The three of them had wonderful adventures. It was only when Hadley had had her fill of the nomadic life that she gave Sebastian an ultimatum: the three of them return to the states or it would just be Sebastian left behind. He chose the artist’s life. Olivia was just 5 years old.
Now, 20 years later, Olivia, her mother, and her stepfather are in St. Bart’s. Her stepfather, Felix has been her “father” for nearly 19 of her 25 years and he has been a loving father and husband. He comes from wealth and the three of them have enjoyed going to St. Bart’s every year in April. This year, though, the trip is especially important. Olivia is turning 25 and she is absolutely positive that her fiancé, Finn is going to finally propose after 4 years of dating.
And just like that, Sebastian shows up on the island at Felix’s home to see his daughter and celebrate her birthday. And…the mischief begins. Sebastian can stir up more trouble than any one person should be capable of. But, he’s so charming and so loving and he tells tales of his adventures of rubbing elbows with the best and wealthiest of people. Why, it’s easy to forgive and forget those years of not coming to visit her and of not staying in touch. When Sebastian suggests that he and Olivia spend more time together, with or without Finn, Hadley begins to boil. How dare he! And how dare he show up at their vacation home and insert himself into their lives.
But is Sebastian really interested in Olivia? Is he interested in Hadley and restarting a relationship? Is he sincere in anything? He always seems so repentant when he believes he has said or done the wrong thing. He is very convincing….maybe.
Ok. This book has no real deep plot or message. It is what it sounds like, a good beach read. I have to wonder if Hughes is a painter herself. She paints beautiful pictures of Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan...with her explicit description of the sights and sounds, and especially the colors of the surroundings. I traveled quite comfortably from my cozy beach chair.
The characters aren't quite as colorful. Olivia came across as fairly juvenile and immature for her age, or that could have been the privileged upbringing coming through. Felix was totally clueless about what was going on around him, or maybe he was enamored of the larger than life Sebastian. Finn maybe had a backbone, but Olivia was always the victor in their spats. Hadley could see things clearly, but she really needed to confront her husband.
Now, Sebastian! He was a hoot. Charming, full of himself, remorseful like a scolded child. That's it. You just couldn't stay upset with him. You either took him for the way he was, or you would drive yourself crazy trying to change him. He made the book fun to read.
That is how Hadley and Sebastian came to marry and for years they traveled Africa and Asia, and indeed, saw beautiful sights. Money was no problem. No, Sebastian didn’t sell many paintings; but when he did it was all because of his beautiful wife and her tantalizing ability to promote him and his work. When money was earned, Sebastian spent it on luxuries for Hadley. When no money was left, he bartered his work for favors or tangible items. He wasn’t above selling the luxuries he had bought for Hadley. Still, they were in love; and about to be parents.
Hadley gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Olivia. The three of them had wonderful adventures. It was only when Hadley had had her fill of the nomadic life that she gave Sebastian an ultimatum: the three of them return to the states or it would just be Sebastian left behind. He chose the artist’s life. Olivia was just 5 years old.
Now, 20 years later, Olivia, her mother, and her stepfather are in St. Bart’s. Her stepfather, Felix has been her “father” for nearly 19 of her 25 years and he has been a loving father and husband. He comes from wealth and the three of them have enjoyed going to St. Bart’s every year in April. This year, though, the trip is especially important. Olivia is turning 25 and she is absolutely positive that her fiancé, Finn is going to finally propose after 4 years of dating.
And just like that, Sebastian shows up on the island at Felix’s home to see his daughter and celebrate her birthday. And…the mischief begins. Sebastian can stir up more trouble than any one person should be capable of. But, he’s so charming and so loving and he tells tales of his adventures of rubbing elbows with the best and wealthiest of people. Why, it’s easy to forgive and forget those years of not coming to visit her and of not staying in touch. When Sebastian suggests that he and Olivia spend more time together, with or without Finn, Hadley begins to boil. How dare he! And how dare he show up at their vacation home and insert himself into their lives.
But is Sebastian really interested in Olivia? Is he interested in Hadley and restarting a relationship? Is he sincere in anything? He always seems so repentant when he believes he has said or done the wrong thing. He is very convincing….maybe.
Ok. This book has no real deep plot or message. It is what it sounds like, a good beach read. I have to wonder if Hughes is a painter herself. She paints beautiful pictures of Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan...with her explicit description of the sights and sounds, and especially the colors of the surroundings. I traveled quite comfortably from my cozy beach chair.
The characters aren't quite as colorful. Olivia came across as fairly juvenile and immature for her age, or that could have been the privileged upbringing coming through. Felix was totally clueless about what was going on around him, or maybe he was enamored of the larger than life Sebastian. Finn maybe had a backbone, but Olivia was always the victor in their spats. Hadley could see things clearly, but she really needed to confront her husband.
Now, Sebastian! He was a hoot. Charming, full of himself, remorseful like a scolded child. That's it. You just couldn't stay upset with him. You either took him for the way he was, or you would drive yourself crazy trying to change him. He made the book fun to read.
November 22, 2025
This was my first book by this author, but if you've read any others, the themes are pretty much the same. All the characters are out-of-touch and and unaware of their privilege. They are all insufferable human beings with the waspiest names to match -- Hadley, Sebastian, Finn, Olivia, Felix, etc...
The problem with the story is that the author doesn't appear to see these people as out of touch. Olivia, our heroine (kind of), is a boring privileged girl who vacations on St. Barts twice a year and also some time on Nantucket as a flex. Her boyfriend Finn is accompanying her this time. Finn is portrayed as a perfect candidate for fiancé, but I found him to be extremely boring. His life is very routine and I think he's a lawyer maybe? Honestly I was so bored with his storyline, it doesn't even matter. Point is -- this is contrasted with Sebastian, Olivia's biological father who has been absent for most of her life. We know he's had a life of adventure because he casually works this into LITERALLY. EVERY. CONVERSATION. "Oh, we're having pasta tonight? This reminds me of a time I had pasta with the Dalai Llama. Ah the sun's setting! This reminds me of the time I was riding an elephant in Thailand and the sun set!" Not actual lines, but you get the idea. I couldn't help but laugh, but I'm not sure it was even meant to be funny.
The characters are unlikable, so I didn't really care about their outcomes. I kept reading because I was oddly entertained by the absurdity of it all. I also read this book because I was going to St Barths myself and thought it would be a nice setting of the scene. To that end, Anita Hughes does a decent job pointing out actual locales and businesses on the island with accurate depictions. But also because of that, I learned even more how out of touch the characters were. Casual appetizers at Eden Rock? Just a few nachos for €45 please.
The ending was pretty "meh." Will she go traveling the world with her father, or will she settle for a boring life with Finn, who has some anger issues that aren't addressed? Who knows? Furthermore, who cares?
The problem with the story is that the author doesn't appear to see these people as out of touch. Olivia, our heroine (kind of), is a boring privileged girl who vacations on St. Barts twice a year and also some time on Nantucket as a flex. Her boyfriend Finn is accompanying her this time. Finn is portrayed as a perfect candidate for fiancé, but I found him to be extremely boring. His life is very routine and I think he's a lawyer maybe? Honestly I was so bored with his storyline, it doesn't even matter. Point is -- this is contrasted with Sebastian, Olivia's biological father who has been absent for most of her life. We know he's had a life of adventure because he casually works this into LITERALLY. EVERY. CONVERSATION. "Oh, we're having pasta tonight? This reminds me of a time I had pasta with the Dalai Llama. Ah the sun's setting! This reminds me of the time I was riding an elephant in Thailand and the sun set!" Not actual lines, but you get the idea. I couldn't help but laugh, but I'm not sure it was even meant to be funny.
The characters are unlikable, so I didn't really care about their outcomes. I kept reading because I was oddly entertained by the absurdity of it all. I also read this book because I was going to St Barths myself and thought it would be a nice setting of the scene. To that end, Anita Hughes does a decent job pointing out actual locales and businesses on the island with accurate depictions. But also because of that, I learned even more how out of touch the characters were. Casual appetizers at Eden Rock? Just a few nachos for €45 please.
The ending was pretty "meh." Will she go traveling the world with her father, or will she settle for a boring life with Finn, who has some anger issues that aren't addressed? Who knows? Furthermore, who cares?
May 29, 2018
"White Sand, Blue Sea" was an interesting piece of women's fiction that follows a mother (Hadley) and daughter (Olivia) as they celebrate Olivia's 25th birthday at St. Barts. The book begins with Olivia's father, who has been absent for 20 years, showing up at the villa and turning everyone's lives upside down. Hadley knows how dangerously charming he can be- she was married to him for a while- but she can't resist allowing Olivia to get to know the father she adored from afar.
Hadley is now married to Felix, who has been a wonderful stepfather for Olivia, doing all the things her father should have done- showing up for graduations, recitals, etc. Hadley is hopeful to get Felix alone to have a discussion she has been hoping to have for a while. Olivia has been dating Finn- she thinks he might propose at St. Barts- and they are quite the power couple. She acquires art for a gallery and he is set to become a law partner.
It was an intriguing read, but I found Sebastian, the pompous artist who was full of himself and quite the manipulator, to be as grating as nails on a chalkboard. It was particularly difficult to read about the main characters falling for his manipulations, although they all learn as the story moves forward. In terms of this being a love story, I am not sure I found it to be a romance- it was more about family drama than any romance. I was expecting something a little more charming and beachy but found this a bit more of a serious read. The writing flows very well and it's easy to read pretty quickly, but I couldn't get over Sebastian as a person and the chaos he brings.
Please note that I received an ARC through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
Hadley is now married to Felix, who has been a wonderful stepfather for Olivia, doing all the things her father should have done- showing up for graduations, recitals, etc. Hadley is hopeful to get Felix alone to have a discussion she has been hoping to have for a while. Olivia has been dating Finn- she thinks he might propose at St. Barts- and they are quite the power couple. She acquires art for a gallery and he is set to become a law partner.
It was an intriguing read, but I found Sebastian, the pompous artist who was full of himself and quite the manipulator, to be as grating as nails on a chalkboard. It was particularly difficult to read about the main characters falling for his manipulations, although they all learn as the story moves forward. In terms of this being a love story, I am not sure I found it to be a romance- it was more about family drama than any romance. I was expecting something a little more charming and beachy but found this a bit more of a serious read. The writing flows very well and it's easy to read pretty quickly, but I couldn't get over Sebastian as a person and the chaos he brings.
Please note that I received an ARC through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2017
You know how when you see a cover that looks so inviting that you just can't help to pick it up? Yup, that's why I grabbed this one. That and the blurb about it taking place in St. Barts. Who wouldn't want to get immersed in that part of the world?
Unfortunately, this book fell entirely flat. I didn't care for it one bit, and in hindsight I should've given up after about 30 pages in. All five of the major characters were completely aggravating. There were minimal redeeming qualities about all of them. The only saving grace was the description of the island.
We meet Olivia and her boyfriend Finn who are in St. Barts with her mother Hadley and her husband Felix. The four travel there each year around Olivia's birthday. Her biological father suddenly decides to join them at the house after not having any involvement in her life for 20+ years. He had shady motivations throughout the entire book, and the flashbacks to me were more annoying than helpful.
Her stepfather had no backbone and didn't seem to care about much of anything other than tennis. And her mother didn't seem to know what to do now that her ex was back in the picture. She seems to want the perfect moment to talk to anyone about anything, yet she waxes poetically about so many former occurrences that it was hard to keep track. Her boyfriend seemed extremely insecure and questioned Olivia about so many of her choices. It's an extremely odd family dynamic.
The ending didn't even seem right, but maybe by then I was just tired of the whining done by almost every person. Make a decision and stick with it. Totally frustrating, but I'm glad to be done with this one.
Unfortunately, this book fell entirely flat. I didn't care for it one bit, and in hindsight I should've given up after about 30 pages in. All five of the major characters were completely aggravating. There were minimal redeeming qualities about all of them. The only saving grace was the description of the island.
We meet Olivia and her boyfriend Finn who are in St. Barts with her mother Hadley and her husband Felix. The four travel there each year around Olivia's birthday. Her biological father suddenly decides to join them at the house after not having any involvement in her life for 20+ years. He had shady motivations throughout the entire book, and the flashbacks to me were more annoying than helpful.
Her stepfather had no backbone and didn't seem to care about much of anything other than tennis. And her mother didn't seem to know what to do now that her ex was back in the picture. She seems to want the perfect moment to talk to anyone about anything, yet she waxes poetically about so many former occurrences that it was hard to keep track. Her boyfriend seemed extremely insecure and questioned Olivia about so many of her choices. It's an extremely odd family dynamic.
The ending didn't even seem right, but maybe by then I was just tired of the whining done by almost every person. Make a decision and stick with it. Totally frustrating, but I'm glad to be done with this one.
December 13, 2017
I don’t know if I’m the only one but there’s something about this book that reminded me of Mama Mia.
Olivia, her mother Hadley and her step-father Felix travel regularly to St Bart’s.
This year its extra special. It’s Olivia’s 25th Birthday and she thinks her boyfriend Finn will propose during the trip.
What she definitely doesn’t expect? Her biological father to show up on their doorstep planning to stay for her birthday.
Olivia hasn’t seen him in 20 years, since he walked out on her and her mother.
Her father is an artist and he has definitely lived an exciting life.
The story flashes back to his days with Hadley, when they were young and in love. They traveled around the world together, never really thinking about settling down until after Olivia arrived.
Then what was likely to be a short lived relationship turned into a marriage and a family. And living the artist life and being a father did not easily go together.
He showed up at St Bart’s and quickly tried to make everyone fall in love with him and his life. He was somewhat condescending, seeming to this his daughter and ex wife’s lives were dull.
Needless to say, this made for a rather chaotic week at the beach and a birthday no one is likely to forget.
Olivia, her mother Hadley and her step-father Felix travel regularly to St Bart’s.
This year its extra special. It’s Olivia’s 25th Birthday and she thinks her boyfriend Finn will propose during the trip.
What she definitely doesn’t expect? Her biological father to show up on their doorstep planning to stay for her birthday.
Olivia hasn’t seen him in 20 years, since he walked out on her and her mother.
Her father is an artist and he has definitely lived an exciting life.
The story flashes back to his days with Hadley, when they were young and in love. They traveled around the world together, never really thinking about settling down until after Olivia arrived.
Then what was likely to be a short lived relationship turned into a marriage and a family. And living the artist life and being a father did not easily go together.
He showed up at St Bart’s and quickly tried to make everyone fall in love with him and his life. He was somewhat condescending, seeming to this his daughter and ex wife’s lives were dull.
Needless to say, this made for a rather chaotic week at the beach and a birthday no one is likely to forget.
July 22, 2017
I confess I've never read any of Anita Hughes' books before this one. I won an advance uncorrected proof on Goodreads and finally found time to read it. Olivia Miller is in St. Barts celebrating her 25th birthday (also her mother, Hadley's, 48th). She is anticipating a proposal from her boyfriend, Finn. To everyone's astonishment, her father, Sebastian, shows up at her stepfather's villa. Hadley is immediately suspicious of Sebastian's intentions, particularly as his every move seems to sabotage Olivia's plans (and others' plans for her). Sebastian, a semi-successful artist, is charismatic, and Olivia is smitten with the father she barely remembers. Despite some awkward dialogue and predictable plot, the novel is still impossible to put down. Despite the glorious setting, little of St. Barts really comes through, and many readers may have trouble identifying with the extremely wealthy characters. Good escape reading, but hardly literary genius.
February 26, 2017
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Unfortunately this book did not really do anything for me. It lacked direction, purpose and meaning. The characters were not particularly likeable. I found Olivia's acceptance of her father suddenly turning up when she had not seen him for 20 years, annoying and unrealistic. Sebastian was self absorbed, selfish and appeared to want to cause trouble with his ex and her new husband.
On a positive note the descriptive narrative of St Barts was appealing. I enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and her stepfather.
Unfortunately this book did not really do anything for me. It lacked direction, purpose and meaning. The characters were not particularly likeable. I found Olivia's acceptance of her father suddenly turning up when she had not seen him for 20 years, annoying and unrealistic. Sebastian was self absorbed, selfish and appeared to want to cause trouble with his ex and her new husband.
On a positive note the descriptive narrative of St Barts was appealing. I enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and her stepfather.
June 10, 2017
Book Club Book 156 - Chosen by Cindy!
Want a fast read! Read this book! It's the perfect book for reading at the beach and being easily distracted by other things! The story is quite lame and the characters make you want to slap them, but yet you find yourself reading the whole book! It's not a story I'd recommend, however because the characters leave you with so much to discuss about them, and the whole premise of the story, it makes for a great book club discussion. Although I wasn't at our Book Club get together, it seems that this was one of the most rambunctious book club discussions ever! I'm sure it provided a lot of laughter!
Want a fast read! Read this book! It's the perfect book for reading at the beach and being easily distracted by other things! The story is quite lame and the characters make you want to slap them, but yet you find yourself reading the whole book! It's not a story I'd recommend, however because the characters leave you with so much to discuss about them, and the whole premise of the story, it makes for a great book club discussion. Although I wasn't at our Book Club get together, it seems that this was one of the most rambunctious book club discussions ever! I'm sure it provided a lot of laughter!
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