Mary Kay Andrews does it again. Another fantastic story with memorable characters and a plot that makes you want to keep on reading.

I enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator is so talented. The way she changes her voice to fit each character was phenomenal. It really helped me to keep track of all of the characters that were involved. The story was good. It was a nice mystery and the twist had me in shock.

Not what I was expecting from a Mary Kay Andrews summer beach read but I was still here for it. Twisty, with secrets, lies, murder mysteries, female friendships, love interests, reunions, inheritance fights and so much more!! I loved the setting at a Resort hotel with a long history, the flashbacks to the past and the new drama in the present. Suspenseful and entertaining, this is a great book for mindless fun this summer!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this novel before its publication in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I have long been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews' books on audio because of narrator Kathleen McInerney. She truly brings the characters and story to life with her narration and it makes listening to the book feel like I am watching a movie. Summers at the Saint was more evidence of this!

I started rooting for main character Traci Eddings from the beginning of the novel and didn't stop all the way through. She was a great protagonist as a believable, fun, and strong character among the many personalities in the story. While she was a great main character, the alternating points of view of the novel also added tremendously to the story. I did not find it difficult to keep track of everyone despite listening to the book and hearing everyone's names rather than reading them in print- fellow audiobook readers likely feel my pain of how stories with multiple POVs can become very confusing!

Nevertheless, this book was a breeze to follow and I found that it read just like one of Elin Hilderbrand's works as it was full of summertime-themed drama, romance, and humor. It even had a few thrilling twists worked in with an ending that I dare you to see coming! I loved it.

Well done Mary Kay Andrews, this was very memorable and fun to read. A perfect escape to listen to and get lost in!

Summers At The Saint is a decent summer read, one with mystery, suspense, and a bit of romance. Traci Eddings now manages Saint Cecilia, a resort off the Georgia coast, after inheriting it when her husband Hoke tragically died in a plane crash. Traci isn't well liked by Hoke's father and brother, however she's determined to keep the resort running smoothly and successfully. First she needs to get it out of the financial hole it's in. Traci hires a few teens to work at the Saint this summer, hoping to turn it around, but then a murder happens that leaves everyone in shock.

Overall, the story was an alright one. It did seem very slow at times and it took a while for me to get into it. There are a lot of characters to keep up with an at times it felt all over the place. I did appreciate the mystery aspect, and the overall setting of the resort was great, as was the anonymous POV!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Mary Kay Andrews for this read!

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑲𝒂𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒔

5⭐️1🌶

This book was so refreshing. A fun little summer read with a murder mystery! In a small costal town with a 1950s beach resort, no one would ever suspect there to be a ring of corruption. The FMC Traci is the CEO of the Saints beach resort, and she has been running in by herself since her rich husband died un-expectedly 4 years before. Traci has worked at the Saint since she was a teenager as the life guard. Her family didn't have any money, and during the summer nights her and her best friend with try and snag a rich "saint's kid" while out bar hopping. She never would have imagined that the shy nerd-type guy she found while bar hopping was the son of the owner of the beach resort she'd been working for.

One cold case and one murder later, and Traci is up to her neck in police reports and angry customers. With the help of several friends on the staff, they begin to unravel what has been happening at the Saint for decades.

This was a fun fast rom-com/murder mystery that would be a perfect read for any vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advanced Audio Copy of Mary Kay Andrews' newest book, just in time for the Summer 2024 season!

The Saint Ceclia resort has long been a popular retreat for the wealthiest of guests to visit the Georgia coast and relish in the exclusivity the resort brings. For the locals in the area, "you're either a Saint, or an Ain't". Traci Eddings may have started her life as an "ain't", but after working at the Saint one summer and falling in love with one of the Eddings brothers, whose family owns the Saint, she finds her living a life as a "Saint".

An unexplained tragedy changed her life as a teen while she worked at the Saint, and now Traci finds herself tragically widowed and facing nothing but challenges from her horrible brother-in-law who wants nothing more than to see the Saint Ceclia fail under Traci's guidance now that she has inherited it. Traci won't go down without a fight, and she is determined to make this summer the year the Saint does better than ever, putting together a staff that she knows will help her succeed. Things aren't always as they seem, especially when money, power, and greed are all involved, and Traci's world is thrown another tragic curveball as things begin happening around the Saint that prove someone is out to get her - and the Saint - out of play.

Surprisingly, this was my very first Mary Kay Andrews book that wasn't a holiday story. She has been on my TBR list for a long time, but her titles tend to get put aside for some reason...not anymore! This book was a fantastic summer story, and it will be at the top of many beach read lists for sure. The storyline moved at a great pace that made me keep wanting to listen more, full of twists and turns, jumping between the past and present, and trying to guess what was happening before the big reveal at the end. The narrator did a fantastic job with the story, and I am now a fan of Mary Kay Andrews!

I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this book but I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would! I had no idea where the story was going and it really took a turn when one of the characters was found murdered. I didn't see this book going that way but I really enjoyed it. The narration was really good as well. Will definitely be picking up more books from this author.

Summers at the Saint is a captivating tale that defies easy categorization. At first glance, it may seem like a breezy beach read, but beneath its inviting cover lies a rich tapestry of intrigue, romance, and family drama. As they are known in town, Saints are the super-rich who buy memberships at the resort. Ain’ts are those who can’t afford to be there but are often employed by the resort. I must be on a small town quest lately, as many of my recent reads are set in small towns.

At the heart of the story is Traci, a resilient woman navigating the tumultuous aftermath of her husband's tragic death. Fifteen years ago, she was an Ain’t employed as a lifeguard. She met, fell in love, and married Hoke Eddings. They were happy until Hoke’s untimely death in a plane crash. Despite the challenges Traci faces, from a bitter familial feud to the pressures of running a resort, Traci emerges as a formidable force, determined to honor her husband's legacy and protect visions of the future.

What sets this novel apart is its skillful blend of genres. It intertwines romantic suspense elements with chick-lit charm, creating a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The flashbacks offer glimpses into the past, weaving together the friendship, love, and mystery threads that shape Traci's world.

Central to the plot is Scott Wayland, whose arrival at the resort sets off a chain of events that will change everything. As he delves into the truth behind his half-brother's death, he finds himself drawn to Traci in unexpected ways. Is he driven by a desire for justice, or is there a desire for romance?

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its portrayal of strong female characters. Traci stands out as a beacon of resilience and determination, refusing to be sidelined or silenced in a male-dominated management team. Her unwavering commitment to her beliefs and ability to navigate the complexities of business and personal relationships make her a protagonist worth rooting for.

Kathleen McInerney's narration adds another layer of depth to the story, bringing its characters and emotions to life with skill and precision. Her ability to inhabit each role and capture the essence of the narrative ensures that listeners are fully immersed in the world of The Saints.

In conclusion, Summers at the Saint is more than just a summer read—it's a compelling journey filled with twists, turns, and unforgettable characters. Whether you're a fan of romance, fractured friendships, mystery, or family sagas, this novel offers something for everyone, making it a must-read for any book lover.

Another great summer vacay read from :Mary Kay Andrews. I loved this one and the narrators did a fantastic job as well. Well done!

A Delightful Beach Read Full of Substance and Mystery

SUMMARY
Traci Eddings is the owner of St. Cecelia, a historic and renowned hotel painted in pink, located off the coast of Southern Georgia. The hotel is full of traditions and even a few scandals. Traci, an outsider, inherited the hotel from her late husband. Currently, she is facing staff shortages and financial difficulties while striving to restore the hotel to its former glory. Traci has only one season to turn things around.

Rick, Traci's brother-in-law, is greedy and unconscionable and wants Traci to fail. He thinks that an outsider like Traci is not fit to run his family's hotel and is willing to do anything to obstruct her every move.

REVIEW
SUMMERS AT THE SAINT is a delightful beach read full of substance and mystery. Traci Eddings’ character is strong, smart, and delightful, and her story is captivating.

Author Mary Kay Andrews has packed the intricate story with many great characters, several plot lines, and some interesting twists. It’s a murder mystery and family drama with just a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure.

I listened to the audiobook of SUMMERS AT THE SAINT, and the narration by Kathleen McInerney is expertly delivered and draws you into the story from the beginning. It was a great book for listening,

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press/McMillian Audio
Published May 7, 2024
Narrated Kathleen McInerney
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

It’s so much fun to dive into a book that you expect to be one thing, and it just surprises you. Having only ever read The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews, I was truly expecting a cozy coming-of-age romance. This is actually a mystery with layers and layers of intrigue. There are so many moving parts and characters that it kept me guessing. It remains relatively light hearted, and sprinkles a little romance there in the last half to offer a ray of hope in the unexpected darker world that’s painted.

Keeping things as spoiler free as possible, I will be very honest. I got a little hopeless and worn out feeling during the first half of this audiobook. There is a lot that goes wrong. You know that something is just not right, but you also don’t see the way out. The second half of the book starts uncovering those rays of light and hope that I was expecting from Andrews. I actually really enjoyed expecting a certain type of novel from her, and getting something different. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn’t. This worked for me.

Additionally, I listened to the audio of this book. The narrator did such a good job with the cool, southern tones. I never felt the accents were forced or distracting. I devoured this listen while I cooked dinner several nights in a row, and of course while driving back and forth to dance class and ball games. (Welcome to my life).

This story did express a wide use of very strong language. There were certain characters whose dialogue was increasingly rough. Pay attention to trigger and content warnings for one of the major plot points. Use caution if moments of abuse are hard for you. I’m happy to go into further detail in my messages.

This story registered a 2/5 on the FOTMS scale. (Detailed explanation for the scale on my pinned post). There is really only one scene, and it’s very brief. It is not explicit, but it put one toe over my comfort level. It’s in the last quarter of the audio book and is blanketed in a lot of major plot moments, so keep that in mind.

Thank you to @netgalley , @macmillan.audio , and @marykayandrews for an advanced listen to this audiobook. It tee-d up my summer reading list just right! ⛳️

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
•
The Saint Cecilia Resort or The Saint is the place to be in the summer. Traci and Shannon are lucky enough to work there, until a tragedy strikes The Saint. Traci and Shannon never speak again. Years later, Traci, now widowed to Hoke Eddings (the owner of The Saint) and is doing what every it takes to keep The Saint alive.
•
Right from the start I was hooked to this story. I fell in love with The Saint. It's no secret that a death had occurred at The Saint so many years ago. I wanted to know more about this death. Flash forward twenty years and that's when another death occurs. Not only did this murder occur but things just don't seem to be flowing well at The Saint. This turns into a full-blown mystery mixed with a love story, and I ate this shit up. The Saints and the Aints reminded me so much of the Kooks and Pogues (IYKYK).
•
The characters in this one are just perfect. They are so complimentary of one another. They are so well developed, and they are easy to love or easy to hate. The setting was detailed to perfection. I felt like I was at The Saint alongside this group trying to figure out just what was going on, who was the murderer and why. The romance part of the story was great, I have no complaints there and the mystery had some really great. And those twists... those twists are so emotionally deep and had so much thought behind them it made this such a fun read. Summers At The Saint has a steady pace throughout and there are parts that are more suspenseful and parts that are a bit slower but overall, you will definitely devour this one in a few short sittings. It is that good. This book got me so hype for summer I'm not even going to lie.
•
I listened to this one via audiobook and it was narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She was the best narrator for this story, and she truly brought everything to life for me. If you plan to read this one, I highly recommend that you pick up the audiobook!
•
Summer At The Saint will release on 5/7, be sure to check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

I’ve read and Mary Kay Andrews books previously, so I was excited to dive into Summers at the Saint. However, it wasn’t quite what I expected. Somehow, a lot was going on but little actually happened. It felt uneven and leaned a bit further into the murder mystery aspect than I’d expected. Still entertaining enough, just not quite as I’d hoped.

Kathleen McInerney did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I always look forward to Mary Kay Andrew's new book that comes out each year. They are generally a nice beach and something that brings me great joy. This one however fell just a bit flat for me. While I absolutely loved idea for this story and the mystery element, there are a lot of characters to keep track of and not enough character development for me. The amount of characters made it hard to keep track of them all and sometimes it pulled me out of the story. I also found myself feeling as if this story was a bit to long and somethings probably could have been cut. I am not sure I would have finished this had I not been listening on audio.

I have come to love books crafted by Mary Kay Andrews. This one was a nice and easy read ... though a little bit on the raunchy side for my taste. A little bit of romance and a lot of family drama and a murder mystery thrown into the mix. That makes for a fun time getting lost in the story. I had a good idea what was really going on, so I wasn’t surprised by the ending. But it will had lots of twists and turns and random storylines that keep you interested. The characters were well developed with lots of personalities ... devious, naive and gullible, truly invested in doing what is best for everyone ... and the way Traci works so hard to make The Saint Cecelia a working classy resort kept my attention. While touted as a summer beach read, this is one that would be enjoyed any day of the year.

Another delightful read from Mary Kay Andrews! I look forward to her next adventure in the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is another hit for me by this author. I started the book without reading the publisher's blur, so I didn't realize going in that it would be a pretty involved mystery. That was a fun surprise, one that had me wondering throughout 'who done it' in all of the twists and turns. The story follows CEO Traci Eddings as she does her best to keep her swanky resort "The Saint" afloat amid a murder, drowning, fire, greedy family members, nefarious employees, and a little bit of romance. The setting sounds beautiful and MKA does a great job of painting a picture to be imagined in my mind with well-fleshed out characters. This book held my interest throughout, I fully enjoyed it!

Traci Eddings hasn’t always been part of The Saint’s “in crowd,” but while she was working there in high school she met and married the son of the owners of the prestigious resort. After his death she has tried to do her part to bring The Saint back to its glory days. With staff shortages, budget issues and an unexpected murder investigation, Traci is struggling. With the help of a couple employees Traci will give her all to make her deceased husband proud.

You can always count on Andrews to give us a fantastic summer read that is full of mystery and suspense. This one has tons of characters, but each is utilized and needed for the plot. The narrator can make or break a book for me and I really enjoyed this particular narrator! I thought it was fantastic!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrew’s is a romance mystery novel. St. Cecelia is a hotel on the coast of Georgia. The hotel is run by Traci Eddings and her deceased husband’s family. The hotel has had a shortage of staff and reservations over the past few years and Traci wants to bring it back to its prime. In order to get more staff Traci decides to create lodging for staff to entice them to work there. Tragedy hits the hotel throughout the summer while Traci tries to bring the hotel back.

Summers at the Saint felt like 3 books in 1. There were so many different POVs and way too many story lines. There’s romance, murder, theft, a drowning, ex best friends and the search for a biological father. I was excepting more of a fun summer mystery but this book was all over the place. It’s hard to get invested in a book when there is too much going on. I felt pulled in so many different directions that I was unable to become attached to the characters or intrigued by the story lines. I’d suggest you pass on this one and read some of Mary Kay Andrew’s other books. She’s a phenomenal author but this one isn’t it.

I did a combination of reading the ebook and listening to the audio version of this book. I'm so glad I was able to do that because it felt like I could stay within the story much better. The narration by Kathleen McInerney was superb. I always love a good accent, and she certainly provided those.

I'll admit that when the book started out, I wasn't really sure about it. It just didn't seem like it was going anywhere, and it seemed like there was an endless stream of characters being introduced--way more than I was going to be able to keep straight. Then, the story started to roll, and it just kept on rolling!

The story centers around an exclusive hotel on the coast of Georgia and the people who have or still work there. There is mystery, romance, friendship, some messed up families, crimes from the past, and crimes in the present. It's all rolled up together in a very entertaining story that concludes with a very satisfying ending.

I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.