One element that Morgan always brings to her books is the way that the plot follows central female figures. For me, this has yet to grow stale and I liked how contrasting the women were in this story. Initially seeming very disparate, Ashley, Joanna and Mel gradually come together. I enjoyed seeing the connections revealed and established between the three characters, with them eventually being brought together at Silver Point on the Californian coastline. Over the story it becomes clear how the women know each other in the past and this merges effortlessly with the developing plot in the present. Aided by the chapters being told from each character’s perspective, I felt invested in each of the women and were keen for them all to find their happy ever after. Nessa slid off the stool and refilled her glass. ‘I’ll tell people in the office you won’t be in for a few days. Give it time to calm down. They’ll soon move onto something, or someone, else.’ She added ice to the glass, splashing droplets of water onto smooth Italian tiles. ‘Anyway, unless you’re going to wear a disguise and shimmy over the wall like I did, your only way out of this place is through the front entrance. You can drive over the photographers, but then you’d be arrested and I don’t have enough money in my account to bail you out. I suppose they’ll go away eventually.’ To add to the charm he had the car, a high-performance convertible, low, sleek and expensive. It shrieked look at me, in case the other trappings of wealth and power hadn’t already drawn your attention. Good decision.’ Nessa carried on scrolling, her expression alternating between disgust and surprise.

Beach House Summer - HQ Stories Beach House Summer - HQ Stories

You prefer slow?’ His hand caressed the wheel. ‘I can go slow when I need to. What did you say your name was?’ We’ve met.’ She rested her hand on her abdomen. Blinked away the tears. The time to wish she’d been more careful was long gone. She had to look forward. Had to do the right thing, but it wasn’t easy. Yes, she had to go. Divorce or no divorce, it was the respectful thing to do. People would be watching. Everyone would want to know how she felt, not that she would tell them. She never spoke to the press.Her legs were shaking. Why were her legs shaking? She sat down hard on the nearest chair. Dead. Her journey with Cliff had been bumpy, but she’d known him for half her life. She should be sad, shouldn’t she? She should feel something? Yes, Cliff Whitman was a liar and a cheat who had almost broken her, but he was still a person. And there had been a time when they’d loved each other, even if that love had been complicated. There had been good parts. At the beginning of their marriage he’d brought her breakfast in bed on Sunday mornings, flaky, buttery croissants he’d baked himself and juice freshly squeezed from the citrus fruit that grew in their home orchard. He’d listened to her. He’d made her laugh. She’d organised his chaotic life, leaving him free to play the part he enjoyed most. Being Cliff. He’d said they were a perfect team. Nessa had settled herself at the kitchen island. She had a glass of water in one hand and her phone in the other. She was scrolling through social media. ‘We’re trending, no surprise there. Interesting hashtags. Lots of speculation about what they were doing when the car went off the road –‘ she sent Joanna a sideways glance, ‘sorry. This is – awkward.’ Some authors handle multiple POVs and sub-plots well. In this story I felt like author didn't bother to explore more deeply any of the characters or their problems, so they remained superficial and flat. Ms. Sarah Morgan followed her usual formula. Her characters just did what they did. No complexity, growth, explaining why things were like they were, no genuine emotions or tension.

Beach House Summer - Sarah Morgan Beach House Summer - Sarah Morgan

Not a friend (did she have any true friends? It was something she often wondered), but Rita, Cliff’s personal assistant and his lover for the past six months. They didn’t know anything about her relationship. They didn’t know anything about her life before she’d met Cliff. They weren’t interested in who she was or what she felt. They didn’t know that although Cliff was the face of the business, it was her hard work that had made him famous. There was a popular TV show, a chain of expensive restaurants, branded cookware, cookery books – the franchise had grown like a monster.The other characters in this story; Ashley, Mel, Nate, Greg I just adored. I have a very strong urge to go live in this small beach town with these people. A bookstore? Yes, please. A beautiful view of the ocean. Sign me up. Great people who will protect you no matter what? Yup! The scenery that was set by Morgan really drew me into this story. It gave you good feelings while you read it and really had you cheering for everyone involve to get some form of a happily ever after, even if it wasn’t what they had originally planned. Joanna begins out as a person in hiding - mostly from the press. She has had a few bad experiences in her earlier life and that plus the present pressure of the press hounding her has made her want to curl up into herself. But... her personal assistant and later Ashley have things to say about that.

Beach House Summer | Sarah Morgan | 9780008916718 | NetGalley

I’m usually the person reading the murder mysteries or suspense novels. I do like a good women’s fiction and romance novel though and I had good feelings about Beach House Summer when I read the description. Sarah Morgan did not disappoint. What is wrong with people? I tried coming in the conventional way, actually through the front door, you know, like a normal person? But there are a million people with cameras and two TV vans which, frankly, I don’t get because why are you news? You’re not the one who was trying to have sex in a moving vehicle. I’m all for multitasking, but it depends on the task, doesn’t it? Sex and driving – call me boring, but those two things do not go together.’ No, thank you.’ Her thoughts were complicated enough without clouding them with alcohol. Untangling her emotions was complicated. Was she feeling humiliated? Cliff’s behaviour had continually embarrassed her, even after they were divorced. Was she prostrate with grief? Angry at the impact his actions might have on the business and the people they employed?She wasn’t sure what she felt. It couldn’t be relief, because that would make her hard hearted. Would it? Or would it make her human? Joanna had watched it, appalled but also fascinated by this external analysis of her life. Was that really who they thought she was? Apparently she was a doormat, a coward, a disgrace to women. Where was her strength? Her dignity? He created that recipe for me, Joanna thought. He was trying to teach me to cook. I ruined the salmon and he laughed at me and said some people couldn’t be taught. It had been the day she’d given up cooking. Book an exceptional beachside cottage with Dream Ireland and explore some of Ireland's most beautiful beaches. Dream Ireland offer a range of quiet and tranquil seaside holiday cottages in scenic coastal locations across Ireland, for those who are looking to get away from it all. This was such a well-written story that I felt a bit saddened when it had finished. I do wonder if Morgan has enough material to write a follow-up novel because I would be so keen to see what happens next with Ashley, Joanna and Mel. I don’t think the story is completely over yet and I would not be sorry to return to such an amazing location, perhaps featuring more of the community and even Mel’s daughter as a more prominent character.

Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan BOOK REVIEW: Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan

She knew that. She knew his reputation, and yet still she was here. What did that say about her? She should have more pride, but pride and desperation didn’t fit comfortably together. She saw the words Breaking News appear on the screen and turned up the sound in time to hear the newsreader telling the world that celebrity chef Cliff Whitman had been killed in an accident and that they would be giving more information as they had it. Currently all they knew was that his car had gone off the road. He’d been pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a young woman as yet unnamed, had been flown to hospital, her condition unknown.He glanced at her again, curious. ‘Now I think about it, you do look familiar. Can’t place you though. Don’t be offended.’ He gave her another flash of those perfect white teeth. ‘I meet a lot of women.’ Beach House Summer is the most delightful novel that will warm your heart and make you smile’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐