Sandy Gingras

Mary has just broken up with her boyfriend and has decided to run away to a well deserved vacation. She ends up taking her young granddaughter with her after her daughter backs out at the last minute. Things just go down hill from there. She wrecks a boat, she loses her wallet…just to name a few.

Mary is a character I wanted to slap most of the time. She is very wishy washy and will not stand up for herself. She just takes and takes and takes, especially from her daughter and her boyfriend. Enter Daniel! Daniel is a fabulous character with a 3 legged dog named Tripod (not original at all 🤦🏻‍♀️). Daniel is struggling with his own issues but he can’t help but feel a connection with Mary.

Quite a few eye roll moments in this read. Now, I did finish it. I might not have if I had been reading it physically. But, I have more patience with a book if I am listening to it. No idea why!

I am definitely in the minority on my review of this read. And usually I love these types of books. But, this one just didn’t sit well with me. I almost gave it 2 stars. However, I did like several of the characters and the setting is perfect. An old, outdated hotel by the Everglades…I can just picture some of the decor!

Now, don’t let my review stop you from trying this book, especially if it is your genre. This novel definitely has a few perks.

Need a book with a great setting and an adorable dog…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.… (más)

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Mary Valley has had better days. Her job, writing about décor for home magazines, no longer inspires her. She’d rather find a way to repair her relationship with her daughter, CC. She hardly ever saw her daughter, Larkin, and her relationship with her boss is going nowhere.

Mary didn’t think things could get worse, but they did. Her boss, Ron, told her of his plans to spend Christmas with his ex-wife, Alexandra, and their daughter, Joanna. So, no Christmas together with her supposed-to-be fiancé for Mary.

Hurt and angry, Mary books a trip to the Everglades for herself and her family to stay at The Loy Key Inn. But things don’t go smoothly with that plan, either, as CC decides to go on an adults-only cruise with her uptight boyfriend, James-Walter, and leaves an unhappy Larkin with Mary.

Mary arranges a fishing charter for herself and Larkin. The charter boat owner, Daniel, brings this three-legged dog, Tripod, on the boat with them. He’s a man barely holding on, adrift since the death of his son, Timmy, in Afghanistan. He lives on a houseboat; arranging fishing charters is his livelihood.

What does life have in store for damaged, lost people who need nothing more than understanding and a bit of guidance to find their way home again?

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“Paradise Girls,” a story about starting over, about second chances, is both heartfelt and emotional. With believable, well-defined characters [one or two of which readers are sure to deem completely unlikable], the unfolding story pulls the reader in with its strong sense of place and its

This is a story of love, of loss; of grief, of vulnerability. It’s a magical, promise-filled tour-de-force filled with family, friends, and possibilities. This is a book that belongs on every reader’s must-read list. Don’t miss it.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley
#ParadiseGirls #NetGalley… (más)

It's Christmas time and 42 year old Mary has just broken up with her long time love. Ron was also her boss so she quit not only Ron but also her job. She was an interior decorator but for the last several years she's been writing home improvement columns for Ron's magazines. She isn't sure what to do with her life. Her daughter CC has gotten distant with her and keeps Mary's young grandchild, Larkin, away from her because she believes that Mary doesn't set boundaries. Her best friend convinces her to go out of town with her daughter and granddaughter for the holiday. Her daughter cancels at the last minute to go on a cruise but is allowing her daughter to spend the time with Mary. Mary rents a room at the Low-Key Inn. It's a rather run down hotel in Florida but when she sees that her room is a small igloo like structure, she decides to stay. As Mary and Larkin spend time together, Mary starts easing up on some of the rules that CC set for her. She lets Larkin eat sweets instead of the vegan diet her mother believes in, let's her wear casual clothes instead of dresses and continues to break down other rules. Mary and Larkin go on a charter fishing trip with Daniel, a guide, and get to know Ollie, the owner of the Low-Key Inn. Mary plus her two new friends are all at crucial places and their lives aren't very happy. Will their new friendship help them all to heal and be ready to face life again? Will her daughter keep her granddaughter away from Mary again because of all the rules that she's broken?

This is a fantastic book about making changes in life and doing the things that make you happy instead of the things that life expects of you even though change is emotional and difficult. I enjoyed all of these characters as they made changes in their lives and found happiness in proving that no matter how old you are, you can still change.

This is a book that made me laugh and made me cry. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

Thanks to goodreads for a copy of this book to read and review.… (más)