Monday, July 6, 2020

Book Review: A Sunset in Sydney


By Sara Steven

How far would you go in the name of love?

Sarah Parsons has a choice ahead of her. After the trip of a lifetime she’s somehow returned home with TWO handsome men wanting to whisk her away into the sunset.

Pulled in two directions across the globe, it’s making life trickier than it sounds. Her gorgeous American Josh, wants to meet Sarah in Hawaii for a holiday to remember. Meanwhile silver fox James plans to wine and dine her in London.

It’s a lot to handle for this Aussie girl, who had totally sworn off men!

Join Sarah after her adventure in One Summer in Santorini, for the heart-warming and uplifting third book in The Holiday Romance trilogy. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I’ve read two of the three books in the Holiday Romance series, and even though I haven’t read One Summer in Santorini, the beginning to Sarah’s story, I never felt lost or like I didn’t understand the premise behind A Sunset in Sydney. This could totally be a standalone reading experience, and it was a great one.

I appreciated how Sarah finds herself in the midst of two potential budding romances. The men represent two opposing personalities that appeal to her sensibilities, bringing out various characteristics that make up who Sarah is, as a whole. That’s what makes it so hard. At times, I felt as though I’d delved head-first into scenes reminiscent of Sex and the City, an exciting and whirwind adventure and even Sarah has no idea on where she’ll end up, or with whom. On the one hand, I could see the need to remain neutral, in order to not push any buttons or demand more than what she feels they’re willing to give her. Yet, on the other hand, she deserves more than just a “vacationship”, a word I’d never heard of until hearing it from Sarah!

The adventures are shrouded in fun and excitement, yet all good things come to an end, and what comes after that? That’s the question. I could see from Sarah’s experiences that she’s not entirely sure on what she wants, or what she needs, not to mention her worries and self doubts that creep in. She isn’t sure she’s enough for James, or maybe Josh won’t be enough for her. She has a hard time believing that either man would be interested in her, and this comes off as a really strong presence when she’s trying to appreciate and be in the moment with both of them. While we eventually learn what the right choice is for Sarah, we’re also watching her grow and change and evolve, as well. It’s so much more than Sarah’s romantic escapades.

Another strong character within A Sunset in Sydney are the gorgeous scenic moments the reader is introduced to, from the tropical backdrops of Hawaii, to the bright sunny skies of Sydney, with cool languished breezes in London, and beyond. It made me want to be there, or reminded me of my own adventures depending on where I’ve been in my life, in this case, Hawaii. The scenery was always another love for Sarah, the safety net who would never let her down. It was also nice to meet up with Cat again, Sarah’s sister and the main protagonist in the second book in the Holiday Romance series. I love it when we get to see former characters from other books, making it feel as though I get to reacquaint myself with an old friend. Ultimately, this was a fun read, and a welcome respite this summer!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK * Amazon US * Google Play * Waterstones * Kobo

Sandy Barker is an Australian writer, traveler and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list and a cheeky sense of humor. She’s also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.

Many of Sandy’s travel adventures have found homes in her writing, including her debut novel, a contemporary romance set in Greece, which was inspired by her true-life love story.

Visit Sandy online:
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1 comment:

Sandy said...

Thank you so much for the lovely review and for being on the tour!