Member Reviews

I haven't read many Mary Kay Andrews books but I really liked this one. It's a combination of family drama and suspense with a mystery thrown in. It's basically about a rich southern family, the Eddings, that is used to getting what they want even if it hurts others. Traci marries into the family and is never quite accepted but she will do her darndest to do a great job running the family hotel resort and make her late husband proud. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters in this story and seeing their interactions, rooting for some of them, despising others. and getting to know them and find out their secrets and how they are woven together. There were a few surprises that I didn't expect. I thought the story was going one way and then there was a detour. It's not a deep and difficult book but rather a great story that sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading until the last page.

Was this review helpful?

I don’t think this book is ready. There is too much reiteration of information. I mean, if you’ve written the information once that’s enough. Twice is a little much. Three times or more is way too many times to tell the reader what’s happened.
Also, these people are just clueless and unbelievable. The plot point about the illegible writing is just silly. The girl was a college graduate and worked as one of the main front of house employees. I’m sure you could read her writing.
One of the male characters admits to dosing people early on. But these girls keep trusting him? Plus they make a big deal out of drug testing new hires. Shouldn’t they do follow up testing? The boys are just drugging out with no one the wiser. No repercussions what so ever.
Loose plot points all over the place. Why was Felice’s phone in Olivia’s room during the fire. Never mentioned again.
Conspiracy to commit murder would not get 5 years in prison. If Olivia drank the dosed Dr pepper early in the afternoon, why wouldn’t she be passing out before trying to break in the boys rooms?
The story was engaging enough that I got through it but I was bothered by too many inconsistencies. Maybe one more rewrite before publishing.

Was this review helpful?

Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints - another great summer read. A fun romance (and mystery) set at a posh hotel. Shannon and Traci are friends who work at the same resort.....one summer changes their lives. That summer comes back to haunt them years later due to a secret...how will it change their lives?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I loved this book!

Was this review helpful?

Classic Mary Kay Andrews Southern feel good read with a little Kathy Hogan Trocheck mystery thrown in

Was this review helpful?

Another fun escapade with my favorite "beach read" author. Mary Kan Andrews delivers a solid fun read every time. Her books aren't Earth shattering or life changing, I don't learn anything or uncover any great literary magic but sometimes I just want to relax with a glass of wine and an easy story to read. My favorite thing about her books is that while I won't say they are formulaic or predictable they are entertaining. That doesn't sound awesome but to me when I want to just be entertained, enjoy meeting some new characters that aren't going to haunt me forever, and finish a book without a hangover Mary Kay Andrews is an author that I reach for.

Was this review helpful?

This book felt like a fresh, more modern story than I've read from MKA in a while. It had a little bit of whodunit too, which I don't associate with her books, but really liked and it definitely kept me engaged and turning pages!

I liked the hospitality/hotel aspect, it was super interesting to read about all the different jobs (and employee dynamics!) within a hotel. And I also really liked the main character; I felt like she was a strong, smart woman & her character was well-developed (I can't stand it when authors make the female characters idiots). I LOVED all the hotel details...imagining the Saint at the end of a long causeway in the water - gah I wish I could see a picture of this place in real life! Felt super glamorous and upscale & I definitely kept imagining how beautiful the hotel was.

I didn't love how blatantly the last chapter tied everything up with a bow - and believe me, I usually LOVE a good tiffany-bow ending. It just felt a little abrupt (and a tad far-fetched) that "6-weeks later" Traci would run into Ric and get to spend 10 mins on her soap box basically explaining the entire book. I'd like to believe Traci would have said a lot of that a lot sooner, especially since she was so guns-blazing about being at Madelyn's house the chapter before. Other things that didn't resonate with me: too much slang from all the young "kids" in the book (I'd think people could speak a little better at a super posh hotel like the Saint, even if they are "aints"), and Shannon's character (what a wackadoodle mom!).

I just generally love everything MKA writes! Great light, breezy, fun beach reads. Definitely reco this one!

Was this review helpful?

Mary Kay Andrews books never disappoint. I flew through this book ! It had drama, small town charm, mystery, and it kept me guessing until the end. Even though it’s not a traditional “beach read,” it will be a great addition to this summers new book releases.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I love Mary Kay Andrews's books, and this one was no exception.
A summer mystery set at a five star hotel with some romance thrown in is my kind of book!
Traci and Shannon are friends who work at the resort when one summer changes their lives. Years later, that summer comes back to haunt them again.
The revelation of a tightly held secret will also change both of their lives.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's for this ARC which I received in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Traci Eddings has a long history with “The Saint,” an exclusive hotel on an island off the coast of Georgia. As a teenager she served as a lifeguard and fell in love with Hoke, the son of the owner. After their marriage, they jointly managed the facility until his sudden death. Now a widow, Traci is the CEO of the hotel, struggling with her grief, the financial instability of the business, and an unscrupulous, interfering brother-in-law and his wife.

Tragedy strikes when Parrish, Traci’s niece, is murdered, compounding her grief, and tainting the hotel’s reputation. Much of the storyline explores the dynamics of a multitude of relationships and interests that support and hinder, revealing what is really going on among the staff. It is not really a mystery, but it is a well-crafted suspense novel with elements of romance. I enjoyed the character development, and the pace kept me engaged throughout.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Was this review helpful?

Another well written book by the author. Great beach read with. many well written characters and plot twists. The setting was perfect. I wanted to be there at the Saint on a getaway.

Was this review helpful?

Another terrific beach read from this very popular author! This one takes place at the Saint (St. Cecilia's), a five star luxury resort on the Georgia coast, owned by the storied and wealthy Eddington family. Traci, a local girl, is the widow of Hoke Eddington, one of the owner's sons. She inherited his share and is struggling to keep the resort running. Along the way, one person is murdered and another's life is in danger -- but who has the motive to kill? It's a question Traci wrestles with, and gradually finds the answers to as several other small town secrets are brought out in the open. Great, fast-paced mystery with appealing characters and a beautiful beach resort setting!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. There were definitely characters that you liked, and some that you couldn't stand. The story moved along very well, and there were plenty of clues to the ending. I had part of it figured out, but not all of the details. I was invested in this story and wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I would recommend both this book and this author to anyone who asked.

Was this review helpful?

Another good read. Interesting plot and well developed characters. I thought it would be mostly romance but turned into a mystery n

Was this review helpful?

Summers at the Saint is a great read. Mary Kay Andrews writes a suspense novel set in a ritzy resort that pits the have and the have nots. I loved the setting and the wonderful, strong female characters. Lots of shenanigans take place at the Saint and they keep you guessing until the end.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

4.0 stars
DEFINITE RECOMMEND

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

As always, Mary Kay Andrews writes a fun and interesting novel. This one had some intrigue and mystery which added to the appeal. It had me going to the end and the villains were revealed. WOW!!

Her books may not be Jane Austen, but they are beyond entertaining!! Not everything read has to be hard-core - it is sometimes good to read something just for the joy of reading! Or to put it another way, this book is a great beach read for 2024!

Was this review helpful?

The Saint is a posh resort with a lot of history. Traci Eddings is trying to keep it afloat after the death of her husband and dealing with labor shortages and ballooning costs. The author is known for her beach reads and this one certainly hits that note, In addition to the beach vibes, there are several side stories as Traci fights for control of the resort from her brother-in-law, grieves over the death of her niece, and finds love. The book is a page turner as you think you know what is going to happen and then there is another curveball thrown.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Summers at the Saint. Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors and I was very excited to read this and I was not disappointed. This isnt a typical story line of hers, but it still was beautifully written. Each main character had a different personality that added to the book. Traci, the main character, was my favorite and loved the ending for her! I will recommend this book to everyone!

Was this review helpful?

I was so happy to read this ARC- the author did a great job transporting the reader to the setting of this story. Who wouldn't love the glitz and glam of a ritzy beachfront summer vacation resort? That is, until secrets are exposed, a family member of the resort is found murdered on the propety and other evidence of shady involvement is exposed. 4.5 starts- the characters were all of high interest and the plot twists kept me reading to uncover the truth about "The Saint"!

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun and easy read! I enjoyed it! There were quite a few characters, but I was able to keep track of them all pretty easily after the first few chapters. I definitely feel like this is a great summer read - great at the beach or by the pool.

Was this review helpful?

Summers at the Saint might be Mary Kay Andrew's best novel yet! Perfect for the beach, this book contains all the mystery and romance you could want. Murder, robbery, affairs-it's all there! Fans of Andrew's previous works are going to love spending part of their summer at the Saint!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?