This has been the PERFECT escapist read. Lockdown has definitely been made better with this utter gem of a book.’ – 5 stars, Netgalley reviewer Kat swore off dating many years ago, after her marriage ended in a catastrophic mess. Having moved to the Canary Islands for a fresh start, she has never had much time for romance, channelling all her energy into managing an all-male dance troupe – the … dance troupe – the Heavenly Hunks.
With golden beaches, sparkling blue water and relaxing after work with a glass of sangria – or three – for Kat, it’s summer all year round.
But despite life being postcard-perfect, Kat can’t help but wonder if she is missing out on the most important thing of all . . . love.
The dancers are all well known for their flirtatious antics and aren’t looking for anything serious . . . except Jay.
Handsome, caring and a good listener, he ignites a fire in Kat’s heart that scares her witless. But her relationship with Jay should stay strictly professional . . . right?
As the temperature rises, will Kat be able to take the plunge, let go of her past and find romance in paradise?
Fans of As Greek as It Gets, Sunrise Over Sapphire Bay, and My Greek Island Summer will love Victoria Cooke!
Readers LOVE Sun, Sea and Sangria!
‘Wow, wow, wow… I read it in one hot afternoon in the garden, and felt even hotter while reading it. I love, loved, loved it…’ – 5 Stars, Rachel’s Random Resources
‘Reading this book made me smile and transported me to a world of sunshine, sea and a drop or two of sangria…I recommend you pull up a sun lounger, pour yourself something fruity and potent, and settle down for a delicious and entertaining read.’ – 5 Stars, NetGalley Reviewer
‘It’s engrossing, entertaining, heartwarming and it made me laugh.’ – 5 Stars, NetGalley Reviewer
‘You might guess how this will end but gosh it has a unique way of getting there… A fun read with good characters you will root for.’ – 5 Stars, NetGalley Reviewer
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Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Kat’s history is interesting albeit sad that has made her a fighter. Through flashbacks we’re shown that she was in a bad marriage where her husband spent the entire time gaslighting her. Once her marriage was over she took off for the Canary Islands to build a new life. It’s here that she has found her independence, gained back her confidence and is now a stronger person. As a business woman who’s responsible for one of the area’s must-see entertainment attractions – Heavenly Hunks – she’s done well for herself and she can be proud of that. Everything is going swimmingly until Jay joins the Hunks and provides a new kind of emotional connection that she hasn’t had in years. He tests the boundaries that she’s firmly set since her divorce. Being attracted to Jay is one thing – she can control how far that goes – but falling in love, being in a relationship signals giving up control which is frightening for someone who survived an abusive marriage. Then there’s also the question of the Heavenly Hunks future – whether the show can go on as is on their island paradise or if they need to dream bigger.
Let’s get this out of the way – Kat’s a freaking warrior to get where she is today! It’s taken so much out of her to achieve her independence and learn to rely on herself. Her recollections of her husband are heart-rending but they explain why she’s hyper sensitive or quick to draw conclusions when she senses even a hint of the mistreatment she received in the past. I’m glad she and Jay became friends and gradually developed a level of intimacy that they were both in need of. The pair come with burdened hearts that require a lot of patience and sympathy, and most of all, trust – something that they’re both attempting to be better at.
All that being said, I’m sad to admit that I didn’t quite feel the story pull me in completely. Sometimes it felt like Kat was listing things she was doing or feeling. It’s a bit confusing, really because the flashbacks from her marriage felt more poignant compared to what felt kind of robotic in the present. It seemed like whatever was going on with her took me to just the very surface without allowing me in any further so it felt more like I was observing the motions rather than experiencing along with her. It’s odd that I felt that difference but that’s how I interpreted things.
Overall, Sun, Sea and Sangria was fine. Aspects of it were interesting like the behind-the-scenes workings of the Heavenly Hunks, their camaraderie, and of course, Kat’s metamorphosis from victim to being her own heroine. The island life is an obvious draw. It’s just that I wanted something more in the in between; to delve deeper into Kat’s mindset but that would probably have taken the story in a different direction than what the author intended. It’s still a good read for anyone looking for fun and island love.
If you’re tired of the typical romance/love stories, with the billionaire alpha male and the sweet, yet strong female, I recommend you check out “Sun, Sea and Sangria” by Victoria Cooke.
What makes it different? First of all, it takes place in a location that I haven’t yet discovered in a chicklit or romance book: The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco. Secondly, the heroine isn’t the usual sweet and wide-eyed ingenue, but rather a sassy and strong woman named Kat/Katelyn who has a rather interesting profession: she is the founder, manager and compere of a male exotic dance troupe. Thirdly, the lead male isn’t your hero who runs several multinational companies. Yes, he’s devastatingly handsome (because aren’t all male leads in these books), but Jay is the newest dancer in her Heavenly Hunks dance troupe.
By outward appearances Kat is strong and self-assured. But as the reader gets to know her, we began to realize that the strength is just her outer persona. Deep inside, she battles with issues of self-worth, mainly due to a ghastly abusive marriage. (She fled from England to the Canary Islands to escape her verbally abusive husband.)
She has a strict policy about not dating her dancers. In fact, they are all 20-somethings, and even though she’s only about 10 years older than them, they view her as a mother figure. But when Jay, who is close to her age, joins the troop, she finds herself attracted to him unlike she has ever been to any man before. He’s not only beautiful outside, but has a kind, thoughtful personality that allows her to open up and reveal the demons she’s hidden for so long.
She fights her attraction to Jay, but just as she tells him that she’s willing to try a relationship with him, something happens. The dance troupe is offered an amazing opportunity–a six month residency at a large Las Vegas hotel. If it is successful, they could become famous throughout the world, rather than just in the Canary Islands. Unfortunately, the hotel owner has a big name female star in mind to play the compere for the act. He offers to purchase the Heavenly Hunks brand from Kat. She’s left with a tough decision: Can she give up the one thing that has helped her overcome the devastation of an abusive marriage, so she can give the guys the opportunity of a lifetime? It also means she will need to give up a relationship with Jay, since she can’t go with them to Las Vegas.
Jay tells her that he would stay for her, but she refuses his offer. She suffers from the fear that Jay will eventually resent her and turn into a man like her ex-husband. He leaves brokenhearted for Las Vegas.
Forlorn and depressed, Kat wonders if she’s made a mistake letting the group go, and especially letting Jay go.
How does she deal with it? I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out!
I really enjoyed reading this book because it wasn’t the typical trope. I thought Cooke did a great job in helping the reader understand Kat and her demons. For example, the flashbacks to her husband’s abusive words and actions were especially heart-breaking. I thought the story was well developed and moved along quickly. My only criticism was near the end. (Spoiler alert–I’m going to reveal a bit of the ending here.) Jay and Kat talk about some of the roadblocks that would prevent them from having a relationship, but we never really see how they work them out. Then in the epilogue, the roadblocks are miraculously gone, and we see Jay making a surprising grand gesture to Kat. I just felt like too much was skipped between the last chapter and the epilogue, and felt a little cheated that I didn’t get to experience how they worked out their differences.
But the book is still a great read, so if you’re looking for something a little different in chicklit or romance, check out Sun, Sea and Sangria by Victoria Cooke!