3.5 Stars: Pride and Piña Coladas is the 5th book in the Paradise Bay romantic comedy series, but each story seems to be a standalone. I have only read one other book in this series, and was able to enjoy this one easily. Nora Cooper is almost thirty, single and is working hard to get a promotion to the head of the Hospitality Team at the Paradise Bay Resort. She is presently an event planner and has been asked to step up and head the team working on the World Bartender Championship. The big problem is working with the sponsor, Rojas Rum. Theo Rojas is the head of the company and he onsite, demanding, and micromanaging every bit of the event. He has also made some rather rude comments about Nora that she overhears. Nora finds him rude and arrogant, but she plans on putting him in his place. When they head to the private island owned by the Paradise Bay resort to plan the final event, a storm blows in early and they are trapped together. A time to face the music and each other. Will the event play out as planned? Will Theo change Nora's mind about him and rich people in general?

I enjoyed a lot of this story, but it wasn't perfect. I enjoyed the enemies to friends trope, as well as the forced proximity. Theo isn't necessarily happy in his role as the head of the family business, but he does what he can to save the company from a previous scandal. The main thing that I didn't like was Nora's attitude toward Theo, mainly because he was rich. For someone working with wealthy people all the time, she was pretty quick to judge and not back down. The story of the event was interesting. There were some not so nice participants, one in particular, who thought he was "God's gift to women". The night on the island was totally unexpected and I enjoyed reading that part. I loved how they spent their time. Nora's family have some issues that they seem to expect her to fix, and that causes some conflicts in the story. Overall, this is a nice breezy, summer, romance with a few more serious issues (family expectations, blackmail, secrets, social issues), some laughs, and a happily ever after.

Amazing, A rom-com very enjoyable and I would absolutely recommend it! As a fan of Pride and Prejudice I wan't sure if I was going to likethis book and I've love it so much.

3.5 stars. thanks to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the E-ARC. While I have not read any other books in this series (for now) This was easily read as a stand alone. I truly enjoyed the story of Nora and Theo and the concept of the story. I cant wait to dive into the rest of the series.

I love a good Pride and Prejudice retelling and this one did not disappoint. I found it sweet and adorably funny. My one complaint is that I felt like the romance was a little rushed. I wish it would have taken longer to develop but that's my personal opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book review:
"Pride and Pina Coladas" is a fun, entertaining read that takes place at Paradise Bay Resort where Nora Cooper is the event planner and Theo Rojas is the major sponsor at the resorts latest event.

Nora Cooper finally sees her big chance! A resort is hosting the World Bartender Championships and she was invited to manage the hospitality team. She’s a control freak and a workaholic – she knows she can do this! Then she meets Theo Rojas of Rojas Rum who is also a control freak and rude. She even overhears his comments about her to his brother, and they are not flattering.

From a shaky beginning, Nora and Theo struggle to protect their professional reputations as they do their own thing to get what they want. A storm that strands them on an island is where they take the time to notice each other. But even when the attraction becomes real, others work to pull them apart.

From the moment these two meet sparks fly but not always. Nora needs the World Bartender Championship to be successful and that means putting up with Theo whilst at times butting heads. So will the event be a success and more importantly what happens when this couple cross the line…..Can Theo prove himself and convince Nora to give him a chance? Are they what each other needs? Or are they too alike to make it work?

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I received a e-copy from @Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice retelling. It kept the main plotlines in it and ignored several others in the orginal story, which was kind of nice because the Lizzie/Darcy relationship was the main focal point. I liked the dual POV and beach setting in this. The story was easy to read quickly and a great addition to the series!

Overall I liked Pride and Piña Coladas, it was funny and enjoyable, but the romance was a little too quick and a sort of imprinting between the two main characters.

I like this author, so I'm already looking forward to getting next book in the series.

A really fun read with well written characters. A total joy to read and would totally recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🧉 Jane Austen
🧉 paradise island escape reads
🧉 beautifully descriptive scenery
🧉 multiple POV
🧉 Happy Ever After
🧉 grump x sunshine
🧉 enemies to lovers

Nora Cooper is an event planner at Paradise Bay Resort.. and also 30 and single. She is about get her big break when it’s announced that her resort with be hosting the World Bartending Championships, and Nora has to be asking to head up a hospitality team. The only problem is Theo Rojas, who’s family owns 209 liquor companies, including Rojas Rum which is going to be the main sponsor of the event. Theo is grumpy and rude and seems determined to make Nora’s life a living hell! Well 2 can play that game! She is JUST about to tell Mr. Grumpypants what she really thinks about him, when she suddenly finds herself getting lost in his eyes and completely forgetting all the terrible things she was meaning to tell him. What is happening here?!? Nora can’t fall for THIS guy …

This story is a take on the classic Pride and Prejudice, with just the slightly twist: it takes place on a beeeeeaitful paradise island. I will admit I have not read Pride&Prejudice, and now I’m never going to be able to because there is no way it’ll be anywhere near as fun as this version was 🤪
This book was EXACTLY what I need right now, as we are just coming to end of winter and I am OVER IT. This book was fun and light and the vacation vibes was just the absolutely perfect escape!
I loved the illustrations and maps and flyers thrown in with the narrated story! I love when a book starts with a map on the first page; I know I am in for a treat! I love illustrations because they bring me back to my childhood of picture books, and they’re also very pleasing to the eye instead of just black text on every page. I really like when authors include extra things like this, it just makes me appreciate how much extra work they have put in to delivery a super fun reading experience 💕
The little illustrations at the top of every chapter and the chapter titles 🤣🤣 The titles made me laugh everytime, I loved it.
I always enjoy a multi-POV because I get to see multiple sides to the same story 🙂
The story was fun and FUNNY and lighthearted, it was exactly the kind of escape I was looking for right now!

Cool concept of P&P adaptation in the tropics. Adaptations are tricky, especially with such a well-loved original. Unfortunately, Pride and Pina Coladas make it look even more challenging. The family dynamics were so over the top as to become annoying. The info dumps popped up every other paragraph, disturbing any flow and lending to an unfinished feel. Disappointing.

A fun romantic read. Nora and Theo meet.Theo is the owner of a thriving rum.nisoness which gives this novel a unique development. Witty writing and a swoonworthy ending. A fun light and enjoyable read.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Melanie Summers never lets me down when I need a feel-good read, and I can't wait to get my hands on her next book! (Please let it be a story for Theo's younger brother Markos...)

Pride and Prejudice remakes are very hard to mess up and I was pleased about this modern take. I hadn't read any of the previous series books, but Pride and Pina Coladas worked well as a standalone. Theo was so swoon-worthy in my opinion, I loved that he was so devoted to his family legacy despite the personal cost. Carolina in the book was just as annoying as Caroline in P & P as well as the shady bartender meant to be Wickham. The plot was predictable, but I had fun along the way. Nora wasn't my favorite at first, but she did grow on me. A few of the past books were alluded to and they sounded interesting enough for me to check out soon.

This was a cute romance! Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite movies of all time, so I enjoyed that this story followed a similar storyline, but with tropical beaches and lots of rum. Pride and Pina Coladas was a cute enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with many a misunderstanding, but some sweet moments as well. Definitely a cute romance to pick up, especially if you are sitting on a beach, preferably with a frozen, alcoholic beverage in hand!

I picked this one because of the title. Even though as a reader I think we have too many Pride and Prejudice retellings it does stop me from picking them of up when I see that they have a punny title. Like this one. And this one ended up being one of the more unique ones I’ve read. And I enjoyed that.

What an interesting take on a Jane Austen book. I was hoping it would be better, I'm not going to lie but I still did enjoy the rendition of it.

I always enjoy Melanie Summers books and returning to the Paradise Bay world is a fun treat! I think this book actually marks my fifth book reading in this ‘world’! This one is a standalone in the same world and while it’s fun to see the side characters from other books, you could enjoy it all the same even if you haven’t read another book in the series.

I can’t say this is my favourite book of Melanie’s though. It was decent, good even, but it missed a bit of something extra I can’t place a name on for me. A quick read, it held the little laughs, cuteness, drama, and love I’ve come to expect in a Melanie book. 3.4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo Group for the ARC of this novel. This was a pretty good adaption of Pride and Prejudice and thankfully did not require me to go back and read the previous novels in the series to know who the characters were or worry about the backstory, In the author's note, Summer said she wanted to use a different type of scandal but, hate to break it to her, a sex tape for the Lydia character was done by The Lizzie Bennet Diaries 10 years ago. I did enjoy the book overall and it really hit the same beats as P&P in almost every way. A fast enjoyable read for those looking for a bit of romance.

Though I started with book 5 of this series, it works as a standalone and I enjoyed the angsty characters and beautiful setting.

Nora and Theo are made for each other as Theo’s brother Markos states. They are both tightly wound workaholics with no personal lives. Well, that’s about to change.

Nora Cooper is working hard to get that promotion from event coordinator to managing a team. She has no time for a personal life. Her dream is to purchase a small cottage on the beach with a beautiful garden and her big break is the World Bartending Championships. She needs to nail this job and her promotion is in the bag. Until she meets the arrogant and wealthy Theo Rojas of Rojas Rum who is sponsoring his brand at the event. There is one thing she has learned about the rich and they are rude, demanding, and they treat service industry folks like dirt. And Theo Rojas is no exception with the unkind words she overheard him speak to his brother about her. The less she sees of this man the better.

Theo Rojas is trying to save his company and his 8,000 employees from the scandal that tarnished his reputation and lost major sales. He promised himself he would never trust his idiot brother Markos again, but he really had no choice but to be a part of this wild and risky idea of sponsoring a bartending championship. He’s used to being in control, but it looks like Nora Cooper, the event coordinator is going to be a challenge. He regrets what she overheard him say and he means to apologize. Little did he know she would change his life forever.

Nora and Theo have a rocky road ahead as they resist their attraction while working hard to keep their professional reputations. It doesn’t help with the many misunderstandings and unsavory and unlikeable characters making it even more difficult. Nora doesn’t trust anyone else to help her because she’s a control freak who works much too hard. Theo wishes he could start his own company from the ground up and not constantly worry about the company that has been in his family for many years. In the beginning, I found them both to be snobs in their own right. What they both learn is that no matter how rich or poor you are, there are prejudices on both sides. It takes a sudden storm that strands them on a secluded island to make them see each other in a new light and the attraction gathers momentum until life happens and nasty people start to interfere. Throw in an irresponsible sister and a scandal that could ruin Nora’s family, and you get a man ready to prove his love with no strings attached. Don’t worry. There is a happy ending where the girl gets the boy.

There are supporting characters, good and bad, that add depth to the story including Nora’s family including her pushy aunt, her careless and unambitious sister, and her pastor parents. There are also Theo’s carefree and unprofessional brother, Markos, and Carolina Armas, the wealthy, bitchy old friend from Theo’s past who will do anything to make Theo hers.

This is a sweet and clean romantic comedy with plenty of angst and a beautiful setting. Who wouldn’t want to live on a beautiful island? Pick up this lovely book. I certainly can’t wait to read the rest of this series.

Thank you to Ms. Summers for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Every time I pick up a book, I am hoping to be blown away. Though, I may have enjoyed #3 in Paradise Bay series, #5 here was no bueno. I could not fathom the chemistry and how they could've fallen in love so fast. It was also hard to build up any sort of relationship since they were apart so much, like there were so many chapters before they were even in each other's orbit in the beginning. The confessions of love were awkward, quick and had no true build-up. Disappointed.