This book is a little grittier than either the title, the blurb or the cover suggests. I was expecting a lighthearted romance in an idyllic setting, instead I got a look at the darker, seedier side of life that exists everywhere, no matter the location.

Rosa is a strong character, and so is Zach, although he is riddled with doubts and an ill-deserved lack of belief in himself. The other female characters in this story have their own issues and hardly any of their lives are straightforward (whose is?). However, it's the majority of the other male characters who are the real issues, here - very few of them are particularly nice, and this story cheerleads women standing on their own two feet and who are better off without those men unless they change their ways and attitudes.

Malta as an island is beautifully described, but the author doesn't shy away from also pointing out the less than lovely things about it. Some of the party areas, for instance, are rather more 18-30 holiday than I would want to experience and, along with the underbelly of crime exposed, not a place I would want to visit.

Ms Moorcroft does a fine job of showing that people can turn their lives around with the right opportunities, and of course the romance between Rosa and Zack is the shining light in this slightly darker than normal uplifting story.

Although I had this as a ebook through Netgalley I bought it as a audiobook as I'm having heal issues and audiobooks are better for me.
I enjoyed everything about the story read to me. I actually felt as if I was on a Sunny Island. It made me smile.
I have read a few of this writers books before and this one did not disappoint

Rosa Hammond has recently split from her boyfriend Marcus. She travels to Malta to be with her celebrity chef mum who is writing a cookbook and needs an assistant for photographs and social media.

Whilst she is there her mum tries to fix her up on a date with the gorgeous Zach to help her get over her ex, but Rosa isn’t looking for love just yet, and she isn’t sure Zach would be a good match for her anyway with his lifestyle and his families past.

However, sometimes love comes along when you least expect it to and with someone you couldn’t imagine feeling like that about. Fate does like to intervene!

This is the first book by Sue Moorcroft that I have read and I can confirm it won’t be my last. The setting of Malta was so beautiful and has me now eager to travel there (it has been on my bucket list for a while). Although I do feel like I have had a mini-tour of the island from my armchair after reading this book.

The characters were all a delight to spend my time with and were perfectly realistic. They were easy to imagine, as was the setting and the scenes. The book began quite abruptly with Rosa and Zach having a meal together and I did try to scroll backward on my Kindle wondering if I had missed the beginning as I didn’t expect that was how it would begin given the synopsis, but it worked.

The book covers lots of subjects, some easy-going and some hard-hitting, which were all done in a none condescending manner. The pace of the book felt steady and there were a few surprises along the way to keep me on my toes and intrigued.

In these hard times when we can’t travel the world, why not pick this book up and take a literary vacation in Malta where you will find exotic food, glorious drinks, wonderful characters, and a blossoming romance.

I enjoyed the life lessons and character descriptions this book imparted...some of which I could identify with and enjoyed reading about. There were also some exciting events involving the whole family that took place on the beautiful island of Malta. I didn't find any mystique in the romance of Rosa and Zach and the sexual interludes were cliche`. There was a lot going on in this light summer read and the ending took me by surprise because it was too lightly handled. Zach, for all his morality in the rest of the story was too easily taken down by his father and Rosa after a tongue lashing to Zach was too easily accepting of his actions. I think the middle of the book could have been (moved forward) and the ending been given a little more thought and creativity.

I would like to thank Avon Books UK for asking me to review Summer on a Sunny Island by Sue Moorcroft and to be apart of the blog tour.
Summer on a Sunny Island was an exceptional read. I found myself transported to Malta and even though I have never been I could visualise the setting and feel the heat of the sun on my face. Sue Moorcroft has quite literally sold Malta to me as a holiday destination. Malta is the perfect setting for this story.
Rosa is in Malta to work for her famous mother Dora after leaving her ex Marcus. She meets Zac who is working on his aunts apartment which is connected to the one where Rosa and her mum are staying. Both of them have issues in their lives but are hoping that by being in Malta they can work out what is next for them while also enjoying the heat of Malta and its historical past. As Rosa and Zac spend time together they realise that maybe there is more between them than friendship but with complications in their own lives they both see friendship as the way forward.
Sue Moorcroft has written an incredible story. Her knowledge of Malta shines through and you can easily see why Malta holds a special place in her heart. I was lucky enough to hear all about the inspiration behind this book during Avon's online book festival events. I have included the links below.
Summer on a Sunny Island has some incredible characters not only the two main characters but also the supporting characters. Rosa is a strong women and I loved that about her, you could see where she got it from by reading about her mother Dora and what had happened in the past to her. We also have Zac, now I thought I had a favourite character in Isaac from Let It Snow but Zac is one of those people that can be misunderstood but has a good heart and you cannot help but fall in love with him. He also happens to be very hot which helps. Thanks Sue.
A character for me that I could not help but love is Zac's sister Marci. I could completely relate to her troubles with anxiety, which was another back story that run alongside the main plot. I love it when you find a book that has it all, with backstories that give the story a real feel about it. All the characters belong and give something to the story. The plot for this story was brilliant. This book really does have it all, romance, family drama, a beautiful setting and hopes and reams for the future.
Summer on a Sunny Island was a delight to read. Sue is an exceptional writer and I am already looking forward to the next.

A lovely story. I enjoyed the travelogue element, as Rosa, and Zachary, and Dory made their way round Malta, visiting tourist sites and restaurants, they were so well-drawn I could visualise the journeys. Rosa has come to Malta to be her mother Dory’s assistant. Dory has a cookery book to write, She is quite a famous cook. She is a bit of a hard taskmaster, but loves her daughter to bits and wanted to help her after a bad breakup from her boyfriend, who had proved to be a cheat and deceiver. Persuading Rosa to come to Malta with her Is a way of helping her sort herself out. Dory has rented an apartment for the summer, owned by a family she knew as a child when she lived in Malta when her father was stationed there in the army. Their apartment is one of four, and Zach lives in the apartment above them while he is getting the other downstairs apartment ready for his aunt (one of the owners) to either live in or rent out. His sister Marci, along with her daughter Paige have come to stay with him, she and her brother have both escaped from Cornwall to get away from their domineering father, who doesn’t approve of either of them.

We find out a great deal about Maltese food, Dory often spends much of the day cooking variations of recipes she has found, and Zach, Marci and Paige are often invited to come down for a meal as there is so much to eat. They discuss which variations of the recipes they like the best, Rosa makes notes about their choices so that Dory can decide which ones to include in the cookbook. And some of it sounds absolutely delicious! They all get along really well, and Rosa starts to go out an about with Zach, on a friend basis. But all is not completely well in Paradise, there are troubles and surprises in store for all of them, as well as happiness, and some sadness.

It is a very ‘real’ story, the unpleasant things that happen are perfectly feasible, you can understand how and why they happen. Sadly they make Rosa and Zach have second thoughts about their budding relationship, although they have different reasons for their doubt. Of course we have a happy ending, it is a romance after all, but there are times when that is not a foregone conclusion!

It is a sweet story made more special by having a cast of ‘real’ people and by a believable, uncontrived meeting. Very well worth reading.

Best-selling author Sue Moorcroft is back with an addictive, romantic and immensely enjoyable page-turner readers will not want to put down. Set on the Mediterranean island of Malta, Summer of a Sunny Island sparkles with all the drama, heart and humour that have become Sue Moorcroft’s hallmarks.

After the acrimonious end of her relationship, Rosa Hammond had decided to heed her mother’s advice and spend the summer in Malta. Not having strayed further than her home town, Rosa is looking forward to spending some time with her cookery writer mother Dory on an island where the sun doesn’t stop shining. Rosa might be nursing a broken heart, but the one thing she does not want or need is to embark on yet another romance. Relationships are strictly off the agenda for Rosa – but sadly Dory doesn’t seem to agree with her daughter’s intention to remain single as she sets her up on a date with handsome Brit Zach Bentley. Going out on a date would hopefully get her mother off her back and stop her from interfering in her life, but little does Rosa realise that she is in danger of losing her heart to the man who has trouble written all over him: Zach…

Zach had always been a bit of a rebel. As a teenager, he had got involved with the wrong crowd and caused his parents no end of trouble. Zach might no longer be the moody and brooding teenager he once was, but he has certainly learned his lesson when it comes to taking a walk on the wild side. Keen to ensure that other young people do not get into trouble like he did, the former troublemaker now works with vulnerable teenagers and tries to set them on the right path which is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but work which he finds rewarding and fulfilling – even when there are times when he feels frustrated at the fact that his advice falls on deaf ears. Having settled in Malta, Zach is not looking for romance or commitment of any kind. Even though his first date with Rosa is not exactly a roaring success, fate seems keen to throw the two of them together again and again. Will Cupid’s arrow strike under the hot summer sun?

As the weeks go by, Rosa and Zach’s feelings for one another intensify, but as the summer draws to an end, will Rosa want to go back to England? Or has she finally found a place she can call home?

An engrossing and entertaining tale that is so vivid and well-written readers will feel the warm Mediterranean air on their skin, Summer on a Sunny Island is a fantastic novel by Sue Moorcroft featuring characters that are richly drawn, believable and relatable, compelling family drama, delightful humour and touching romance that will keep readers glued to its page.

Rosa and Zach are two terrific characters that jump off the pages and straight into readers’ hearts and their story is sure to make them laugh and cry and keep them on the edge of their seats hoping that things work out for them.

Wonderfully escapist, brilliantly romantic and a delight from start to finish, Sue Moorcroft’s Summer on a Sunny Island is a spellbinding and captivating read that is the literary equivalent of a glass of something chilled and sparkling on a warm day!

Summer on a Sunny Island by Sue Moorcroft is a sweet romance. Rosa Hammond recently split from her partner, Marcus because of his gambling problem. Dora, Rosa's mother offers her a job as her assistant in Malta. Dora, wanting to see her daughter happy introduces her to Zach. Rosa and Zach are both determined not to get involved with anyone romantically. I enjoy this book, and I will be reading this author again. I recommend this book for people who enjoy romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amazing book, loved the story line! Actually made me want to go on holiday! Sue has done it again! This book a must read relaxing in the garden with a refreshing drink!

How lovely to be transported back to Malta , especially at the moment when foreign travel seems so far away. The island is centre stage and all the colours and scents of the island seem to be captured here. You slip effortlessly into the story and I found all the characters to be intriguing in their own way. Rosa and Zach have complicated relationships with their families, especially their fathers, but there is always a feeling of care and togetherness which makes for a heart-warming read.Thre is plenty of background detail about the lives of the Army families who were billeted on the island, as Rosa's mother was as a girl. It emphasises the strong sense of place which you have.

I found some of the secondary characters to be the most entertaining, especially the irrepressible Paige Nevertheless, it is Rosa's independent streak which she is always true to, which drew me to her. Zach's image of himself is in severe need of a makeover but you can see that he cannot help but try to help the underdog. There is a strong 'will they, won't they? ' theme running through the story but you are rooting for them.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Having been to Malta several times as a child, and again as an adult, it holds a special place in my heart. I was therefore excited to see that Sue Moorcroft had written a book, based in Malta. I knew it would be descriptive after having read "One Summer In Italy".

Immediately as you start reading you are drawn into the beauty of this small island, with it's charming fishing boats, lovely pavement cafes and clear seas. Throughout the book the author is very descriptive about the island, which having been there I could picture.

The Author had given us two main characters at the start, Rosa, who had just split from her partner and had been encouraged to come to Malta by her Mother, and then Zach, who was renovating an apartment for his family, in the apartment building which Rosa's Mother was living in. Rosa's Mother was a celebrity chef in Malta and often tried to get Rosa to help her out, so there are some delicious dishes described in the book.

The relationship between Rosa and Zach, both "Military Brats", was slow to blossom, but Zach came across as a kind and loving friend. There are many family members in the story, and the author has developed a real closeness between the family members, which is lovely to read. The Military aspect is an interesting read too, as it talks about life for children living in Malta, who's parents are in the Military.

For a change, there is another "side story" which adds a little criminal element to the tale, with the introduction of Luccio, who Zach is trying to help. An unusual element for a Sue Moorcroft book, but it did not feel out of place, and was well blended with the main story line.

This book is full of content and not at all predictable. I found it an enjoyable read and something slightly different from the Author.

A perfect book to get you ready for summer. I loved the authors descriptions of Malta so much so it's now on my list of places ro visit. The characters were so likeable, I'd love a sequel to catch up on more. A great book that gives you that warm feel factor.

Just what I wanted at this time when we are in lockdown. Right from page one, Sue Moorcroft transported me to a foreign country and made me feel that I too had travelled to Malta and the Mediterranean: “They ate outside gazing out at the pretty harbour of Marsaxlokk. Compact, high prowed fishing boats, bluer than the sea and piped with red, green, brown, white and yellow, bobbed beside a quayside, scattered with nets.” And breathe, and relax.
Well drawn characters, interesting plot, a feisty heroine – (I was cheering her on in the final chapter… no spoilers), a hunky hero with fire and a conscience. All the ingredients. Thank you for letting me escape for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy of "Summer on a Sunny Island". This is my honest review. 4 good stars out of 5.

To celebrate the publication of Summer on a Summer Island, Sue was recently a guest on the blog with a post about the book ‘Five Places in Summer on a Sunny Island: now and then’. Now as part of the blog tour, I’m pleased to share my thoughts on this summery read.

With holidays abroad being a hope for the future with the current situation, it was lovely to get away to sunny Malta for a short while. I’ve only ever been to Malta once before, and that was as part of a cruise holiday a few years ago (a few of my Malta pics are below). My memories of that day were of searingly hot weather, wandering through intriguing looking side streets and being bothered by flies when we were trying to eat outside! However on to the story.

Rosa’s mum Dory is a celebrity cook, and is temporarily based in Malta to research a new Mediterranean cook book. Rosa, having split from her ex Marcus (good riddance!) has taken a leave of absence from her job and joined her mother to assist with the food photography and social media etc. The last thing on her mind is romance.

Zach Bentley is renovating and also living at one of the apartments owned by his grandmother, accompanied by his sister Marcie and her young daughter Paige. Paige was an absolute delight – a forceful young child, she wasn’t backward in asking for what she wanted but she had a charm and innocence with that ‘aww’ factor.

Well, you can guess what happens can’t you! Zach was a favourite of mine from the outset, he was one of those characters that you can’t help falling for. In his early thirties, his family background was complicated and he had a bit of a chequered past (not entirely his fault) but he was compassionate and brave and would do anything to help the underdog, which often caused quite a bit of drama in the book. I particularly loved the way he was with Paige, kind but firm and he didn’t let her get away with any nonsense. Rosa, I took a bit longer to warm to and I can’t quite put my finger on why, as there was nothing really to dislike about her. She’d been dealt a bad hand in the love stakes but certainly wasn’t a shrinking violet – her mother had taught her to stand up for herself.

This may be a story about romance in the sun but as ever with a book from Sue Moorcroft there are some darker subjects included within the pages. There are problems of family dynamics, depression, gambling, troublesome exes, plus some pretty nasty characters all make their presence felt to ensure that this is far from being just a ‘light romance’ read.

The author’s love and knowledge of Malta comes over clearly with vivid descriptions of locality for that sense of place. It wasn’t just the scenery that was well described – the food too! Some of Dory’s recipes sounded delicious and I was quite envious of all the food tasting that went on!

The book isn’t all about Rosa and Zach; other characters have their share of romance and conflict and this makes for an interesting and absorbing read, when wondering if, and how matters would be resolved.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on the island of Malta. There is drama, romance, (and as I’ve come to expect from a Sue book, some of it nicely raunchy), witty dialogue and a story that has relevance and depth. Definitely one to be recommended for some lockdown relaxation!

My thanks to Sanjana of Avon for the tour invitation and the publisher for providing the review copy via Netgalley.

I really struggled to get into Summer on a Sunny Island. I felt it was really slow to get into and although I tried to persevere I gave up in the end. Sorry not for me.

I’ve heard of the author before but have never read any of her books. She writes the kind of books I don’t read very often. I really enjoyed this so maybe I should broaden my horizons? I read a lot of dark, intense books and sometimes it’s good to let some light into your life. This is the perfect escapist fiction; fun, light, frilly and sheer indulgence. The book is set in Malta and the author really brings the island to life, evoking sights, sounds, tastes and smells that transported me there every time I picked up the book. The book isn’t all light and frivolous though and focuses on dysfunctional families and military families. The characterisation is spot on. This impressed me. I have another new author to obsess over.

Rosa followers her mom to Malta to be her assistant while her mom is working on writing her latest cookbook. But her Mom has plans for Rosa that go beyond her being an assistant. She's also trying to play matchmaker for Rosa and her neighbor Zach, despite Rosa and Zach both believing their not ready for a relationship. This was a very fun, enjoyable book. Reading it made me feel like I was on vacation!

Unfortunately after two or three attempts I gave up on this book. I have read other Sue Moorcroft books but I couldn't get into this and found the first few chapters cliched and clumsy.
Thank you for allowing me to read this. I wont leave a review on Amazon as I don't like to leave negative reviews.

Rosa flees her ex and her ex best friend and goes to Malta to spend the summer with her mother Dory who is writing a Mediterranean cookery book. Their upstairs neighbour is an Englishman called Zach who has fled the UK with his own demons, his sister Marci and her daughter Paige.

You can run away from your problems and your family, but soon they'll come knocking at your door. Soon Zach is embroiled in the troubles of a young man at the youth centre where he volunteers, Rosa is enchanted by Marci's daughter and romance is in the air.

I love Sue Moorcroft's Middledip novels but for some reason I have never warmed to her books set overseas, so shame on me for requesting another one. The first quarter felt all tell and no show, we got a tourist guide to Malta on every page and the stilted way in which each character felt the need to give long detailed back stories for everything was very wearing. There's a scene at a party early on where Zach talks about the youth centre where he volunteers, but he goes into the history of the centre and who founded it and their philosophy, then Rosa says, oh I work somewhere similar in the UK and gives her own long, boring detailed history of the founder etc.

I persevered (although TBH I was just trying to get to 30% before I DNFd) and gradually the characters took over from the author telling, there were multiple plots unfolding and it all started to get better.

Overall, if you don't mind a slow beginning, or have a deep fascination with the history of Malta, this is a charming fun holiday read. Warning your wine and beer consumption is likely to increase as the characters always seem to be sitting on the terrace with a glass of something cold and alcoholic in their hands LOL.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Transport yourself over to Malta for a sweet romance, a family in crisis and the beautiful summer sun. Reading this book was like going on holiday – without the inconvenience of travelling, fatigue and all the inevitable washing that needs to be done when you return!

My first read by Moorcroft and I enjoyed this book. I loved the holiday vibe that this story has. The cover is as appealing as the narrative and I felt swept away to Malta. It’s not an island I have ever visited, but Moorcroft’s descriptions make it sounds attractive – especially the prospect of snorkelling and the wonderful weather! To make this book different to other summer reads, Moorcroft explores the influence of the military bases on Malta. As such, all the main characters are connected to “Military Brats” and all have their own experiences of either living in Malta, or having a family member who was in the army. I appreciated this unique element and found it gave the story a different twist. However, my lack of knowledge of this also made me feel like I was on the “back foot” for a percentage of the story.

What I found most surprising was how the story began with Rosa already being in Malta. I felt a little discombobulated and as if I had missed the opening of the narrative. I am not sure why, but I expected the story to begin in England, establishing the background of how Rosa came to Malta. Consequently, I did feel disconnected from Rosa and Zach because I wanted to see more of their past at the beginning of the story. Whilst this information is provided throughout the narrative, I think a prologue exploring this would have caught my imagination far quicker.

As such, I found that although I did enjoy reading this book, I did not feel a “spark” of attraction to it, hence me not awarding it the full five stars. Feeling like I had been absent for the opening scene and like I was playing “catch up” through the first half of the narrative, I did struggle to fully immerse myself into Maltese life. Finding the characters of Rosa and Zach believable, I wanted to see their romance succeed. However, there was something, and something that I can’t exactly specify, missing from these characters.

The plot was unpredictable; I could not foresee so many of Zach’s family arriving at the apartment – just as his relationship with Rosa was developing. The sub-plot around Luccio adds an element of danger and fear, naturally pushing Rosa and Zach together even more. The arrival of Zach’s family showed the cracks that can form through a lack of communication and even listening – which I am sure many readers will be able to relate to. As such, I thought that Zach was not some stereotypical “Lothario”, but someone who had more baggage than you would initially expect.

This is an enjoyable summer read and will inevitably leave you with a smile on your face. It provides an all-year-round escapism, whatever your reading circumstances. A sweet, romantic story, it shows that with a little bit of sunshine, everyone, including the reader themselves, can find love and happiness.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.