Lovely escapism with beautiful setting and emotional story. This is a family story, without quite becoming a saga or spilling the tea. The setting -- both the island and the upper-class lifestyle -- makes this a lovely stor.y

2.5 stars
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is typical of all books written by Anita Hughes. Lots of color, scenery and exotic locations, but shallow and underdeveloped characters who go through some sort of crisis in their romantic relationship. This book had a little less celebrity name dropping and fashion references than some of her older books, but this book follows the same premise of all of her others.

Holy drama- there wasn't an abundance of romance in this story, which is what I expected, but the writing is very descriptive and makes me want to take a trip to St. Barts!

If you enjoy sitting on white sand looking at the blue sea and want a quick easy read you may enjoy this book. It is extremely light reading, a bit implausible with characters that don't really reach their potential and an ending leaving you wondering is that it?

Review will be posted week of 5/22/17

Olivia is celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday with her family at their St. Barts vacation home. It's pretty much heaven there with its gorgeous views and perfect beach. To top it off, Olivia is expecting her boyfriend, Finn, to propose, which only makes her life even sweeter. All of her family is here, except for her vagabond father, Sebastian, who is an artist that travels the world. Olivia and her father don't have a relationship (she hasn't seen him for twenty years!), but she has always wondered about him. Her perfect calm world starts to have ripples in it when an unexpected visitor shows up knocking at the door. It's her father. Not only does his presence upset their family trip, it also makes Olivia start questioning things about her life. White Sand, Blue Sea by Anita Hughes is an enchanting and fluffy beach read. It's filled with family secrets and drama all set to the gorgeous backdrop of St. Barts.

Olivia is just an ok character in White Sand, Blue Sea. She's the quintessential "rich girl" and quite frankly her "rich girl" problems got quite old. I mean she is only twenty-five years old, so I don't doubt her second thoughts about getting engaged, especially once her father returns. With her father's unexpected arrival, she starts thinking about her life and where its headed thanks to his influence. Plus, there's the issue of her father's return and its impact on Olivia's family. This doesn't just send ripples through Olivia's life, but also her mother's.

I did expect a bit more romance in White Sand, Blue Sea, but that's not the focus of this novel. It's more about the family dynamics as well a Olivia's life choices. Her relationship with her father is interesting and I was glad to see him break out of her comfort zone a bit.

Hughes does know how to set the stage when it comes to exotic locations. Her descriptions of the striking beaches, the Caribbean food, and the high-end way of living are all spot-on in White Sand, Blue Sea. This is what Hughes does best. When I read her novels, I am also transported to a perfect beach with champagne in my hand watching a breathtaking sunset.

White Sand, Blue Sea didn't wow me by any means, but it does make for a good vacation read if you like a book that has a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous type of vibe. Sometimes you just want a taste of how the other half live and be transported to your own private Caribbean villa. But if this isn't your type of thing, then look elsewhere this summer.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Olivia Miller and her family during Olivia's birthday week vacation at her step-father's home on St. Bart's. Olivia is soon to turn 25 and she has been waiting for 20 years for her biological father to come to one of her birthday parties. So when he turns up at the door about 4 days before her birthday, she is ecstatic. Sebastian is a charmer and in no time has everyone eating out of the pal, of his hand. But is there really room in Olivia's life for someone like Sebastian after all these years?
Overall I didn't care for this book. I found the characters to be flat and emotionless and unrealistic. After 20 years of not seeing her father, Olivia is overjoyed to have him show up? I find it hard to believe that she wouldn't have been a little more angry at him. And the "arguments" in the book as well as most of the conversation felt forced and unbelievable. The narratives would jump from flashbacks to present tense with almost no transitions, which made it really confusing to read. I didn't really like or connect with any of the characters. There didn't seem to really be a particular plot and most of the narratives about flashbacks didn't add any value to the story line and seemed irrelevant.

Although I liked certain parts of this book, there were other parts I didn't like at all. I loved the setting and the setting description a lot. I also liked the premise of the book. It was a fairly quick read, but I did have trouble with the flow of the story. The writing seemed jilted at times, and it didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked. The main part of the book dealt with young Olivia and her relationship with her recently returned father. He had been largely absent during her youth. I found him to be very unlikable. I also wasn't super fond of Olivia's finance, he just didn't seem all that supportive. I really liked Olivia and her mother and step-father though. So an average book for me.

Anita Hughes and beach read fans alike are going to love White Sand, Blue Sea. As always the settings in Hughes' books are just as much a character as the heros and heroines. From the beautiful beaches of St. Barts to the sprawling landscapes of Africa this book explores the complicated relationships of parents and children, lovers and former lovers, and what it means to open your heart.

Anita Hughes does it again – takes me on a luxurious vacation where ladies drip with diamonds, succulent dinners abound, and you can almost taste the salt of the sea.

Olivia and Finn vacation in St. Bart’s with Olivia’s mom and step dad… and Olivia hopes Finn will finally propose. But the love story is just part of the plot. There’s Sebastian, the long-absent father making an insincere attempt at redeeming himself, Felix the stepdad, trying to be perfect for everyone, and Hadley the mom, a little bit jaded and disappointed about the way her golden years are turning out.

Hughes did a great job with the characters of Olivia, Hadley and Sebastian. It was harder to get to know the others, but I don’t know that character development mattered too much in this story. I like to read Hughes because she whisks me away from real life — April showers, bills to pay, and a house to clean – into the luxury of a fancy vacation. Reading Hughes, I get to virtually stay in the best villas, go to the best beaches, wear the most expensive cocktail dresses, and eat the fanciest food.

I’ll take that escape any day.

https://randombookmuses.com/2017/04/22/review-white-sand-blue-sea-by-anita-hughes/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1978877156

don't discourage any writer. I try to write all the best about books but with Anita Hughes months ago the opposite. Not only I gave her one star, but my review was very negative. Yes: Christmas in Paris not a great book.

I am a good person and I don't want to be nasty with anyone so I thought a lot at that negative review. After all I picked up that book. Maybe, just it wasn't for me and my soul.

When I was re-contacted by St.Martin's Press for reading another book by Hughes I said yes enthusiastically because I wanted to give her a second chance.

If Christmas in Paris appeared very superficial, don't wait a complete change of route with this new book: White Sand, Blue Sea . It's a book about escapism and beauty.
The atmosphere is exotic, cocktails help and the vision of life of Hughes incredibly good. I would want to have her same opinion of life and her same lightness.

Sure: I can't understand why there is not a different profundity....

A girl who doesn't see her dad for more than 20 years can't react like Olivia react when she meet her dad after such a long time. It's not normal although it would be great to live in the lightness proposed by Hughes. We would surely avoid a lot of big or small dramas.

My impression is that Hughes doesn't want to explore the human feelings, although it would add much more at a novel. Her writing-style in fact is great. I don't want to say that she should arrive at a Woody Allen's level but it would help.

To me Anita Hughes wants to present a light product for permitting to all of us, women, to read a novel for de-stressing the mind. If the book is read in this way it's perfect for its genre.

What Hughes loves the most are exotic places, beautiful places, great cocktails, sand, sun, beautiful houses, rich people, sometimes pretty superficial.

I suggest to this writer again to try to go in profundity choosing a story able to let her travel across the world, in beautiful locations like St.Bartz can be but that, at the same time can let explore her, if she wants, the human feelings left alone according to my point of view in these books too much.

I thank NetGalley, St.Martin's Press and ms Hughes for this book.

Oh, I have such mixed feelings about this book! More rich family drama than romance, the storyline itself is good, but I found the over-emphasis on the glamour of the St. Bart's setting to be too much and actually distracting - the descriptions of the people, the shopping, the meals - so much description, and the story would have worked just as well if the emphasis hadn't been so much on the over the top wealth and privilege.

Olivia's father Sebastian's behavior was duly frustrating and problem-making, and Olivia's behavior around him was both to be expected and at times, exasperating. As the reader, we can see past his charm and I held my suspicions about his intentions throughout the novel. Olivia's mother Hadley is a bit of a mystery too, as is the nature of the problem with her relationship with Felix.
The story was both engaging in the overall themes and offputting in the details. I SO wanted to love this book.

I was so excited to read this book but unfortunately I did not enjoy it at all. The setting was beautiful but the characters just weren't my type of people

Olivia is celebrating her 25th birthday with her long time boyfriend and her mother and stepfather on the island of St Barts. Olivia is really hoping that her boyfriend will propose to make it a perfect holiday.......that is until the unexpected guest turns up!

Olivia has not seen her father for 20 years - he is an artist that finds it far more important to travel the globe for his art than to take any responsibility for his daughter. Olivia however has always wanted to get to know him and so is pleased to see him - but will he enhance her life or just let her down again?

The setting is what made this book for me I just wanted to be there on the beautiful sandy beaches in the sunshine - eating at the gorgeous sounding restaurants looking out at the blue sea

A light, expressive beach read that will keep the reader entertained.

This is the second Anita Hughes story that I have read and I love being taken to the worlds she creates. St. Barts in the Caribbean is the local of this book and I felt like I was on a vacation with friends.

Olivia is preparing to celebrate her 25th birthday and expecting an engagement ring from her boyfriend but what she gets is an unexpected visitor; her father whom she has not seen in 20 years. Emotions and loyalties get all jumbled up as everyone tries to adjust to the appearance of this long lost person from their past.

The evolvement of the relationships was what made this story a page turner. It was interesting watching them all try to figure out what they wanted, and what they needed to be happy. As I mentioned, reading one of Anita's books is like taking a vacation and I am glad I took this trip to St. Barts.

Beautifully descriptive and entertaining.

Olivia Miller is excited to be celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday with her boyfriend, mother and step-father at their island home on St. Barts. She is almost positive her boyfriend is going to propose too. But she still can’t help thinking about her father, Sebastian, who never shows up for her birthdays even though he is sent an invitation every year. When Sebastian shows up at the door, Olivia is thrilled. But, she can’t help wondering why he decided to show up this time. What she finds out is a total surprise.

The story takes you back and forth, from the present day to the past, as Olivia and her mother remember Sebastian and their life together. He is a popular artist and they traveled the world together until it was time for Olivia to start school and needed to settle down for a more stable life. That’s when he left them and never came back.

I always know when I pick up a book by Anita Hughes, I will be transported to some exotic location and the story will be filled with glamorous people. The descriptions always feel so real too, whether it’s describing the scenery, people, food or even clothing. The stories are always interesting and entertaining. This book is right up there with the rest of them, another new favorite.

Charming, engaging and lighthearted!

In this new novel by Hughes we are transported to the beautiful island of St. Barts complete with pristine beaches, exquisite restaurants, designer boutiques, and million-dollar yachts and are swept into a story that delves into the complexities of maternal, paternal and romantic relationships and highlights the importance of honesty and communication.

The writing is descriptive and smooth. The characters are an appealing variety of young and mature; unsure and grounded; stable and peripatetic; loved and secure. And the plot is a sweet journey about discovering oneself, appreciating what you have, letting go of the past and the power of unconditional love.

Overall, this is an enjoyable, easy read that is a nice choice for a relaxing, sunny afternoon.

Thank you to NetGalley, especially St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sort of at a loss for words with this one. There wasn't much I really liked about this story. Yikes I hate saying that but it's true. Didn't care for the characters. Didn't care for the pace of the story. While I get the overall point of the story - stay true to yourself - I'm not sure the story ever really got you to that point. Simply put, this one just didn't work for me.

Such a great read by Anita Hughes. This book grabbed my attention right away. I found myself loving the characters and the way their stories are told, both in the present and in their flashbacks. There are mysteries involved with all of them and it kept me trying to guess and see what would happen next. Without giving any spoilers away, I'm glad how it all turned out in the end. A beautifully written book!

Olivia Miller is vacationing with her mother and step father in their villa in St. Barts where they plan on celebrating Olivia’s twenty fifth birthday. When a man shows up at the door Olivia thinks it’s someone her mother has invited to the party and welcomes him in but is shocked to find out it’s her biological father, Sebastian, that she hasn’t seen in twenty years.

A globe trotting artist Sebastian claims to have come to celebrate Olivia’s big day and since she is excited to finally know her father everyone tries to be welcoming. However things heat up when Sebastian tries to invite Olivia to travel with him thus spoiling her boyfriend’s surprise engagement and wedding plans.

When picking up White Sand, Blue Sea I was quite under the impression that this was supposed to be a romance read however the one thing the book is seriously lacking is any sort of romance to the story. This is really where my rating of 2.5 stars comes into play with this one, the story is all a rich family drama and really more of the problems brought by the runaway father’s return.

The small bit of relationship involvement comes when Olivia and her boyfriend have a bit of a fight over her returning father and then a bit with Olivia’s mother and her relationship. In my opionion though the author dropped the ball with not letting readers even know what was going on with Olivia’s mother and stepfather until the very end so I wasn’t even engaged in something there either.

Overall, 2.5 stars for this one. It had a beautiful setting being in St. Barts but that was the only saving grace for me as far as the story went, would have been much nicer to have a romantic story in this setting.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.