This is my first novel by this author and I enjoyed it. A light, quick read about starting over, repairing relationships, and finding "home".

Positives:
I like how the author combined Christmas time in a warm climate
The family relationships that were developed and mended
I was rooting for the main characters, especially Mary and "Kipper"
Universal themes

Negatives:
I didn't really connect with the grandmother role at 42 years old.

If you are looking for a feel good read about second chances and want to escape the holiday rush, this is the book for you.

Mary is begging for a relationship with her daughter CC and granddaughter Larkin. She books a vacation to get away and spend time together at Christmas time. Daniel a man that's adrift, living on his boat with a three legged dog and giving tours for a living, his son died in Afghanistan and he shares custody of his sons dog with his ex wife.

Mary ends up only vacationing with Larkin alone. But, ends up meeting Daniel and Larkin wants to spend time with the sweet 3 legged pup. Watching Daniel and Mary open up and become vulnerable is something magical.

Gotta love stories set in the crazy Florida Everglades!

I read this story a while ago and forgot to leave a review. I remember being very interested and connected to the story while trying to confirm the details (as a south Floridian).

This was a heartwarming story with a very young grandmother in her early 40's starting over. Very endearing with relatable characters.

This book fell short for me. I was familiar with Gingras’s artistic work and was excited to read her novel, but I found myself unable to connect with the characters or feel pulled in/interested in the story line.

This was a sweet story of found family, told from three POVs - Mary, Ollie and Daniel, who are all working through issues and trauma. It's a great summer read but also takes place around Christmas time so you could read it anytime. I wasn't sure what this book would be about so it was a nice surprise reading it all unfold. It was a heartwarming story and I was rooting for all. Just a little bit of criticism is that Mary was supposed to be a 42 year old grandma, which is fine but I'm almost 40 and I felt like Mary just read so much older - like a 70 year old. It was a quick read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

I finished this book in one sitting!!!!!!!!! I loved this story of healing and finding love and family while discovering yourself.

Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras presents a promising premise with elements of a broken engagement, a ruined vacation in paradise, and the inclusion of an adorable little girl. While the story has the potential for an engaging read, it falls somewhat short of delivering a truly captivating experience.

The concept of a broken engagement and a ruined vacation sets the stage for potential drama and emotional exploration. However, the execution of these elements lacks depth and fails to fully immerse readers in the characters' experiences. The emotional impact of these events is not fully realized, leaving the plot feeling somewhat shallow.

The inclusion of an adorable little girl adds a touch of sweetness to the story, and the interactions between the characters and the child offer moments of tenderness and warmth. However, the overall development of the characters, including the little girl, feels lacking. Their personalities and motivations are not fully explored, making it difficult to form a strong connection with them.

The writing style in Paradise Girls is simple and straightforward, making it an easy read. However, this simplicity also contributes to the lack of depth in the storytelling and character development. The narrative lacks complexity, and the dialogue fails to truly engage readers on an emotional level.

While the book presents an intriguing premise, the plot itself feels somewhat predictable and lacks significant conflict or tension. The story unfolds without many surprises or twists, which may leave readers wanting more excitement or depth to the narrative.

In summary, Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras presents an interesting premise with the elements of a broken engagement, a ruined vacation, and the inclusion of an adorable little girl. However, the execution falls somewhat short, with a shallow exploration of emotions, underdeveloped characters, and a predictable plot. If you're looking for a light and easy read with moments of sweetness, this book may still offer a pleasant diversion, but it doesn't fully live up to its potential for a truly captivating experience.

I DNFed this one about a third of the way through. It just wasn't grabbing me and keeping my interest. Not for me.

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the different storylines and how things ended. This book is a definite beach read..easy and enjoyable reading.
The story is about Mary, a grandmother who was seeing her boss. She suddenly finds herself single and relocates to Florida. Daniel, a fishing guide, who is grieving over the previous loss of his son. And Ollie, a widower who is trying to manage a run down inn. It really is about how wounded people can help each other out. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s publishing for the advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This story follows several people who are at different crossroads in their lives. Mary is estranged from her daughter and granddaughter and has recently left her fiancé. Daniel can’t seem to find his way since his son Timmy was killed in Afghanistan. Ollie, a widow, owns a run down motel, which is falling apart and causing her a lot of stress. Their lives intersect when Mary dumps her fiancé and books a trip to Florida and stays in Ollie’s motel, The Low Key Inn. She brings her granddaughter Larkin with her, and ends up chartering a fishing trip which is run by Daniel.

This book has a lot of wholesome, small-town charm. Think classic Hallmark movie. There were lots of feel-good moments while all of these characters were on the road to self discovery and finding happiness again. I’d recommended it if you like these kinds of stories!

I was a little worried when I picked this one up. I seem a bit off with romance right now and I wasn't sure how this one would fit. Imagine my surprise when I was completely swept away!

I like the varying POV and their different points in their life. I found Mary a bit. . .boring in the beginning but once she started making some big decisions and growing in to herself, finding herself again, I liked her a lot more.
I started out with hearts in my eyes for Daniel as his story broke my heart AND he had a 3 legged dog named Tripod (I loved this!)

I found the side characters (daughter, granddaughter, Ollie and others) interesting and nice additions to the story we needed to see it all clearly. Maybe it was the hustle bustle of the season, but I loved this little Christmas time read and the journey Mary went on!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

After reading the synopsis, I thought that this would be a bit more of an upbeat story. But, it was a bit more sad than I had thought. But, it still made for a great read. Would recommend!

A story of starting over, family and forgiveness, Paradise Girls follows the lives of three adults at crossroads in their lives. We’re introduced to Mary, who decides to book a vacation in an old hotel in Florida with her estranged daughter and granddaughter. There’s Daniel who lives on a houseboat with his deceased son’s three-legged dog and leads fishing charters. And there’s Ollie, the aging hotel’s owner who struggles with the financial burden her husband left her in.

This reflective book had me contemplating the twists and turns life throws our way, and just how quickly life’s journey can be.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Sally Gingras and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

This was such a beautiful read! The cover is what first drew me in, and honestly, I didn't know what to expect from the story. What I read definitely wasn't what I expected, but was a wonderful story, nonetheless. In this book we see multiple characters who are all starting over in various ways. Mary, a grandmother who was seeing her boss, suddenly finds herself single and relocates to Florida. Daniel, a fishing guide, who is grieving over the previous loss of his son. And Ollie, a widower who is trying to manage a run down inn. My favorite character though was probably Larkin, Mary's granddaughter. This story takes place around Christmas time. It's definitely worth the read.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I was looking for a light-hearted romance and I found it in Paradise Girls. Ms. Gingras' writing pulls you into the characters and they stay with you even after you have finished the book. The story looks at how people handle the stresses of loss. Each of us is on our own journey and sometimes we cross paths with those that can make a difference. You find out that you don't know everything and may never actually like the paths that the characters are taking but it's their way of dealing with the situations at hand. Well written and developed.

This book left me wanting more. It was a sweet tale of finding one's self in even the most unexpected places and a beautiful reminder that it's never to late to pursue the things that make you feel most whole. The author's descriptions allowed me to fully picture each scene and the beauty of the nature around them.

However, it felt somewhat cheesy and predictable. It was easy to read but I didn't find myself wanting to pick it up constantly because I had an idea of where it was going to go.

Paradise Girls was a bit more sad that I thought it would be, but I was really enjoying the story. The problem became the dialogue that made it difficult to continue reading.

Example: "He took a sip of beer. It was very cold."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest opinion.

Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras


This book is about Mary and her family and how her life changes a bit over a short time.

Mary is unhappy at the start of the book. She makes a decision to go on a trip to refresh and relax.

She goes to Florida and stays at an interesting igloo of a room. Her granddaughter Larkin joins her.

They have a few adventures and meet Daniel.

I don't want to say a whole lot about the book but I really liked Mary, and wasn't fond of her daughter.

I liked the adventures Mary and Larkin enjoyed and was enthralled enough to finish the book fairly quickly.

Reading the back cover description had me thinking that it would be a light fluffy read.
No, it had depth and some heavy topics in it but it was enjoyable anyway.

I liked how Mary took more control of her life as the story unfolded.


Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the e arc.

Who I would recommend the book to- readers who want more than a quick fluffy story, where the characters think, and grow and even do some healing during the story.

4*****