Member Reviews
Get ready to climb aboard and set sail with Sarah on her love-triangle adventure with James and Josh. Since Sarah's Mediterranean trip, she's been harboring feelings for both men. They complement other sides of her personality. James is cultured and well traveled while Josh is younger and adventurous.
A Sunset in Sydney picks up where Sandy Barker's backlist titles end. It can be read as a standalone novel or Baker fans will enjoy the new escape read. When I started the book I had trouble getting into the story. I felt the character protested too much but I didn't have prior knowledge of the characters. I took their actions from A Sunset in Sydney and was swept away by James' cultured maturity.
That being said, I understand why there are Team Josh fans. His naivete, boyish charm and sense of adventure charged Sarah to venture outside of her comfort zone. Without giving away spoilers, Part II and III were my favorite sections. I would give the book four stars but I disappointed by the quick ending when the rest debated every issue of the love triangle. After making a choice, I wanted to revel in the aftermath not just scratch the surface.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the adventure but felt the story missed the boat in some ports. At times, I wanted to shake Sarah into realizing she had a fortunate problem. Instead of fretting that she had two guys fighting over her, she needed to listen to heart and set the other one free. There's a lot of single women out there looking for a catch!
Wow! Three is definitely the magic number!
It’s the third book in this brilliant series of travel/food/romance books by the immensely talented author Sandy Barker, whose wonderfully descriptive words whisk you away to amazing exotic locations, where you mix with tremendously entertaining and engaging characters whilst you are there.
Three is all significant as it’s a love triangle going on!
I adore both James and Josh, and I honestly would struggle too, they both have very endearing moments and connections with the love confused Sarah. I constantly kept changing my mind as to who would become her choice, it was an awesome will they won’t they theme, that was double the fun as it was played out so well with both love interests throughout the story.
I won’t divulge too much more on this as I don’t want to give away any spoilers, just to say it was incredibly entertaining to read!
Loved the travelling and eating/drinking components of the story, you feel like you are there too! Many times I craved what the characters were eating and drinking, and I certainly wanted the gorgeous men she was deciding over too! ❤️
This is the perfect balance of romance, heartwarming friendships, breathtaking locations and intrigue to find out who will be chosen, it kept me enthralled constantly. Just a sensational summer read 📖😊☀️
I'd not read the one before this and, whilst I feel sad that I deprived myself of a treat, it really didn't matter as I thoroughly enjoyed this who-will-get-the-girl romance. I liked Sarah and could easily understand why she had such a hard time picking between Josh or James. I found myself constantly changing who I was rooting for. Combined with some wonderful locations, great characters and a great storyline and an absolutely gorgeous cover I just loved this book. A perfect read.
I loved the two previous books in The Holiday Romance Series.
Book 1 was One Summer in Santorini, which featured Sarah on a boat, touring the Greek Islands.
Book 2 was That Night in Paris, this one featured Sarah’s sister Cat. She was on a coach tour around Europe.
Sarah has returned from her Greek Island adventure, where she met two men after vowing to forget about men for a very long time. Fellow shipmate Josh, a cute American guy, several years younger than herself, who makes her laugh and shares her longing for a bigger life. And there was James, a very handsome silver fox from England who she bumped into on shore. She felt either could turn into something serious. How could she choose? Did she want either?
So, was I Team Josh, or Team James?
Sarah meets up with James in London, he lives a luxury lifestyle with lots of travel and a beautiful house. He wines and dines her and she can feel herself falling for him.
She feels a constant guilt because she is meeting up with Josh in Hawaii for New Year.
I especially loved the holiday with Josh in Hawaii. The scenery and days out were just stunning. The trip out when they swam in the waterfall pool was amazing. A friend they made at the hotel, Siobhan, was very amusing and a real party girl. I loved the relationship between Sarah and Josh, although there were many unsaid conversations. Were they destined to become serial holiday flings?
Back in Oz, James visits Sydney on business and promptly whisks Sarah off to New Zealand for a few days. The scenery here was idyllic. Many unsaid conversations here too.
Sarah has to make a choice on Josh, James or neither. Who do she feel her real self with? You will need to read it to find out.
An easy-going read, I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.
Will post to blog on publication day
Sunset in Sydney is the third book in the Holiday Romance trilogy but can definitely be read as a standalone novel which is what I read it as. The book follows Sarah who is stuck in a love triangle between Josh and James and has to choose to be with one of them by the end of the book.
This book was fun and perfect to be read outside in the sunshine. The locations (Hawaii, New Zealand and London) this book was set in were beautiful and the author did an amazing job of describing the places and making you feel like you are actually there with these characters.
I was not that invested in the relationships as I guessed straight away who Sarah was going to choose and I did not connect with Sarah, Josh or James. That might be because I read this as a standalone book rather than as part of the series which might have helped me to get to know these characters a bit better. However, I did really like the character of Siobhan and was really rooting for her.
One of the parts that I did not like about this book was Sarah. She was a bit selfish and even rude at times. Throughout the book, she gets angry multiple times at waiters or workers in the hotel she’s staying at for calling her ‘Ma’am’, to the point where at one point her thoughts get a little violent towards these waiters. This was a small thing in the overall book but because it happened multiple times throughout, I started getting annoyed at Sarah because of it.
Sunset in Sydney was a fun, summer read which will whisk you away to beautiful places around the world within its pages.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of this Holiday Romance series, and I’m so happy to have read the third book. I really enjoyed travelling to London, Hawaii, Sydney and New Zealand with Sarah and the two men in her life - Josh (sexy American boy) and James (Silver Fox). It was like stepping into a fantasy; the perfect escapist read during lockdown. Armchair travel is the way to go!
I’m not going to include any spoilers, but suffice to say that A Sunset in Sydney had the same light, fun feel as the other books, and while I couldn’t relate to Sarah as I’ve never been in a love triangle, I could relate to her confused feelings and how hard she found it to make a decision. I would’ve liked her to be more proactive, but that’s just because of how decisive I am!
What I also enjoyed - like with the other books - were the self-discovery and growth elements, together with the strong friendship bonds. They add a warmth and extra dimension to the story.
I can’t wait for another Sandy Barker book.. Who knows where we’ll travel next?
I did enjoy this book, however, I'm not sure if the main character really could have been seeing two men at the same time. I think it would have been too confusing. Personally, I was rooting for the Silver Fox, but a good read for a summer holiday.
Ugh. A Sunset in Sydney is not for me. The whole love triangle just didn't work for me. I was disappointed, as I was really excited for this book.
I must begin by saying that the love triangle trope is my least favorite. That being said, this book was charming, engaging, and a worthwhile light summer beach read!
Sarah is faced with two amazing relationship choices: a slightly older millionaire who is falling for her and wants to show her the world, or a slightly younger "vacationship" with whom she is completely herself. The best relationship, though, is the one she has with her sister and friends, who are there to support her though it all. Underneath it all is a message of hope and the strength a woman has to make the difficult choices that are best for herself.
Advanced reader copy provided by #NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The novel begins with the protagonist, Sarah, already having met two different men while vacationing in Greece. What follows is basically a travelogue as Sarah meets up with the extremely handsome, wealthy, older James in London and later in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, she is also traveling to Hawaii to spend time with the hunky, younger Josh. Both are sexy and seemingly very attracted to Sarah. They both spend time telling her how beautiful she is while taking her to great restaurants and then sleeping with her. Afterwards, she debriefs with her younger sister and best friend as they try to help her figure out whether she should go with the older or younger guy. The fact that one lives in London and one lives in Chicago while she lives in Sydney is an additional complication.
I am not fond of a plot that includes the heroine alternating sleeping with two different guys while not being completely open with either. Both seemed like really good guys who deserved better.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
Oh this series is perfect in every way. I love it! This is a fantastic author with another absolutely wonderful book.
Fun, light romance novel about a women deciding which man she met on a post-breakup trip to Greece might be her happily ever after. I was absolutely back and forth between Team James vs. Team Josh. A good, fun read! Would be a perfect summer or beach read. Definitely will read more from this author.
#netgalley #asunsetinsydney
Are you team James or Team Josh?
Whichever you are they are both back and still vying for Sarah to make up her mind and pick one of them.
So we have the gorgeous silver fox who can promise to keep Sarah in a life of luxury. Or the young one who is sexy, hasn't got a clue how to express his feelings.
The book is split into three parts, one for each man in a different location, and the the culmination where I still wasn't sure who Sarah would pick.
Part two was easily my favourite section, but whether that was due to Sarah's companion or the exotic location I'm not sure. All I know is I would have happily jumped on plane to join them based on the descriptions.
Then again I could have easily spent time in bed with part one's male lead!
I'm being deliberately vague about it all so as not to give anything away but suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Seeing Sarah torn at times is painful but equally I could understand her too, and thankfully her best friend and sister both have great advice at points in the story..
There is probably enough background in it to be read as a standalone, but why deny yourself the opportunity to read One Summer in Santorini first if you can.
I loved spending more time with these characters and just adored every second of this book.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
A great quick summer read for everyone longing for romance and missing travel.
Sarah has herself stuck between two men and the “who will she choose” storyline will have you gripped throughout.
I only realised this was part of a series later on in the book but I don’t feel I missed anything by not having read the rest of the book.
Having devoured the first two books in Sandy' Barker's series, I was eager to get to this concluding title to see what happened.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Sarah went on a trip to the Greek islands, sworn off men, and ended up coming home with the possibility of two relationships at the end of the first book.
In this third episode detailing the lusts, losses and loves of Sarah, along with plenty of wine and alcohol, we hoped to come to some conclusion.
And it didn't disappoint!
Sandy Barker has a great way of describing the places visited, so you feel as if you are there with the characters, so I feel like I can say I've visited Maui, Sydney and parts of New Zealand!
Aside from the travel, the 'who will she choose?' scenario kept me on my toes the whole book.
Would it be cute, young American dude, Josh, or older, more experienced, extremely attractive, and rather rich, James?
Of course, I'm not going to tell you... you'll have to get the book to find out!
Many thanks to NetGalley. Harper Collings and One More Chapter for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
Sarah, who went on holiday not expecting to meet anyone after breaking up with her boyfriend. But she meets two someones, and now has to make a decision - except that she finds making this decision isn't easy.
James is a silver fox and she feels that she is out of her depth with him.
Josh is younger and indecisive.
But, at least she gets to travel and see new sights while she ponders about the decision she has to make.
If you love reading about drama and travelling, this book has both in spades.
A love triangle which has a backdrop that includes lovely places like London, Hawaii, Sydney and New Zealand.
It was great reading about the plot threads from the first book One Summer in Santorini to this.
Another fabulous book by Sandy.
Sarah went on holiday not expecting to meet anyone. She meet two someones and now must make a decision - except that decision isn't easy. James is a silver fox and makes her feel out of her depth. Josh is younger and indecisive. At least she gets to travel and see new sights while she makes her decision!
If you love drama and travelling, this book has both in spades. And why read about a love triangle when you can read about a love triangle with a backdrop that includes London, Hawaii, Sydney and New Zealand? It was great to see the resolution of plot threads from One Summer in Santorini, even if Sarah's toing and froing was a little exhausting. Barker has provided another enjoyable shot of escapism.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was light hearted and fun, the perfect summer read!
The dialogue was fun and fresh. The characters were relatable.
However I didn’t like the whole two men fighting over her thing. That wasn’t for me.
Overall an enjoyable and fast paced read.