I am a fan of Hughes but this one fell a little short for me. Interesting story of love and family in a beautiful setting, just not the normal captivating read I was hoping for.

Olivia goes to St. Bart's to celebrate her birthday with her Mom, Step-Dad and boyfriend. Her father who she hasn't seen in 20 years shows up!. Sebastian is an artist and has been all around the world. He has many stories of his adventures through out the years. The story tells of Olivia and her soon to be fiancee, and also of her Mom and Dad's love story. It is a story of love and family. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I wanted to like it, I looked forward to reading it, but I just couldn't get into it. The story and characters just weren't believable or even likable.

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with the story or the characters.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Unfortunately this book did not really do anything for me. It lacked direction, purpose and meaning. The characters were not particularly likeable. I found Olivia's acceptance of her father suddenly turning up when she had not seen him for 20 years, annoying and unrealistic. Sebastian was self absorbed, selfish and appeared to want to cause trouble with his ex and her new husband.
On a positive note the descriptive narrative of St Barts was appealing. I enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and her stepfather.

I liked this book. It's the story of a 25 year old women who's life is veering into a new course. She is celebrating her birthday with her mother and step-father in St. Barts, just like every other birthday but this year she thinks her longtime boyfriend is about to propose marriage. She also looks out the window and sees her father for the first time in 20 years. Olivia and her mother are both surprised when Sebastian shows up. He's an artist who is a very free spirit. Both women have to adjust their thinking about this birthday. There is not a who lot of substance to this book. The characters are normal everyday rich people who expect their lives to run smoothly. I like Anita Hughes as a writer and expected a little more.

Olivia arrives at her family property on St. Bart's to celebrate her birthday and is met by her mother and stepfather. Her mother, Hadley, is a beautiful and radiant woman. Both Olivia and Hadley are astounded when Olivia's estranged father, Sebastian shows up after a 20 year hiatus. Olivia's soon-to-be fiance, Finn, is also on the island for the celebration. Sebastian ends up staying with the family and even wears Hadley's present husband's clothes! Wow! Really nice of the family to welcome home this cad! I was not really interested in this story. To read about rich people who are sad, pathetic characters is not exactly something I enjoy. Sebastian drove me over the edge as I thought about the people that I knew like him and tried hard to avoid. Olivia and Finn were not very likable either. Sorry, but I can't recommend this book.

White Sand, Blue Sea by Anita Hughes will be available April 11, 2017 from St. Martin's Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.