Loved!

Okay, so Fliss did get on my nerves a bit--her inability to see herself and her relationships as they truly were was aggravating. Her reasons for this were absolutely understandable, which is why I stuck with her, but still...aggravating. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hug her or shake her more. Her HEA, though? Totally earned.

And Seth...Seth. He cooks. He's good with animals. And especially once the fear of (not going to say who here, that would give it away) someone is put into him, he absolutely sees Fliss for who she is and gives her that one last chance that they both need.

Le sigh. Pretty sure this is my favorite of the series so far...although I somehow missed Daniel's book, something I plan to remedy ASAP ;)

Harriet's next--can't wait!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Sarah Morgan's From Manhattan with Love Series is such a cute and charming one! This book fits in with the others of the series well. It features Felicity "Fliss" Knight, who with her twin sister, runs a dog walking business. She is happy in New York until her ex-husband, Seth Carlyle, shows up working in her local veterinary practice. When Felicity learns that her grandmother has been injured, she takes off for the Hamptons in order to escape Seth's proximity - and to help her grandmother. When Fliss gets to the Hamptons, there is Seth again! Seth is interested in seeing what is left between he and Fliss, while she feels like a bad girl who ruined his life.

I find all of Sarah Morgan's books delightful, and this one fit the bill! I loved the characters, the storyline, and the settings. This was a great addition to the series!

The fifth book in Sarah Morgan's From Manhattan with Love series, sees twin Felicity "Fliss" Knight facing down her ex-husband Seth Carlyle whom she's managed to avoid since they got divorced ten years ago.

Readers saw Seth pop up unexpectedly in the previous book New York, Actually when Fliss's brother Daniel ran into him at the vet. From that moment the history between Seth and Fliss was clear and intriguing. And as we come to learn, Fliss like to avoid anything like history, so when her grandmother calls and needs help for a few weeks in the Hamptons, Fliss decides now is a perfect time to get out of the city. What she doesn't expect, is for Seth to also be in the Hamptons this summer.

Seth Carlyle has never quite gotten over Fliss. Probably because their divorce was so sudden. They never got the closure they needed. Well, Seth is determined to get said closure so he can finally move on with his life. Thing is, Seth doesn't really want to move on from Fliss. What he wants is the ever closed-off Fliss to confide in him and to start over with her. When he runs into her in the Hamptons, he realizes that fate put her in his path, and he's not going to give her up to easily this time.

Second-chance romances are one of my favorites. I love when couples have history between them, it just makes for such a heated / chemistry filled read, and Seth and Fliss's romance is no different. Not wanting to really give too much away, I'll suffice it to say that I liked the way Sarah Morgan built up their relationship. They way the pieces of information about their marriage are steadily given throughout the book was perfect. Not too much at one time, and not too little that I felt the story was dragging along.

Their history, while heart-breaking, was not the whole defining feature of the story. We know from Daniel's story in New York, Actually that the Knight children grew up in a less than ideal situation at home with a father that was both physically and verbally / emotionally abusive towards his children and wife. We see a different aspect of this abuse from Fliss's perspective. The words her father would spew at her took a much more emotional toll on her that ended up filtering its way into her eventual relationship and marriage with Seth. Sarah Morgan is deft, yet subtle, at conveying that these issues don't necessarily go away with time. The words people speak to us can have a profound effect on us, and this is what Fliss is going / has gone through her entire life. It was also a form of miscommunication between Seth and Fliss which ends up ruining their relationship. In Holiday in the Hamptons we see Fliss take steps towards moving past the damage done to her and I loved it.

Now that we've gotten both Fliss and Daniel's stories told, I guess it's time for Harriet's turn next. Fliss's twin had her own horrible experiences during childhood, but she's come a long way and working with animals has helped. Harry has been such a sweet, often soft-spoken character in these last two books, I was happy when we kind of see her break out of that shell in this book. I can't wait to see how her Happily Ever After comes about.

While the stories in this series are all completely able to be read as standalones, I think the three books that make up this story arc about the Knight siblings are best read together. I think the depth of the connection between Daniel, Fliss, and Harry is best conveyed if you read it from the start, and really this series has been nothing but great romantic reads for me anyway, so I don't think it's too much to recommend reading them all!

i really liked the start of this series but it has gone downhill for me and i dont think i will be reading anymore. fliss was a good supporting character in previous books but a hot mess on her own. i had no sympathy for her. she was whiny, lying, and manipulative. she behaved like a high schooler and not a women in her 30s. i really disliked the prologue because the setup made it seem like they had a one night stand on the beach but then as the book went on it mentions snippets of a real relationship. i never felt like they had this epic love story and was confused as to why they would want to get back together. i wanted to tell seth to move on and not waste his time.

This book was just perfect! I truly dislike Sarah’s cheesy as hell happy endings but this time round I wanted Fliss and Seth to get that cheesy happy ending that it truly emotionally hurt me. If Sarah didn’t give them a happy ending, tables would have been flipped.

Fliss and Seth’s characterization felt so real and I always had trouble connecting with Sarah’s characters but this time the flow, the connection was made even before I read this book (read and was introduced to Fliss and a bit of Seth in New York, Actually) and when I read their story in this book it just increased the emotional connection.

Whilst I figured out the plot twist earlier it didn’t take away anything for me from the plot, I still empathized with both these characters and what they had to go through at such a young age. Not once in this book did I think their reactions and miscommunication were stupid and unrealistic (probably related more because my backstory was more or less the same). All this contributed to the fact that it made the plot seemed so realistic and less cookie cutter perfect if compared to Sarah’s other books.

Also the knowledge that Fliss’s mother was trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who was obsessed with her made me feel all the feels, man. I swear, I cannot wait for Harriet’s story and she was so cute and endearing in this book. How she told her grandmother she was nervous about confronting Seth but she did it anyways because she loved Fliss and also how the Poker Princesses were nosy and kept making Fliss and Seth be together was so adorable!

I also liked how this book focused more on the relationship aspect rather than the sex between the main characters, it allowed the readers to fully revel in the sexual tension. I mean we all have been there, meeting up with an ex whom you didn’t have a clean break up with and where the relationship was just pure emotional dynamite be it good or bad, emotions will still be there and you can totally relate to how awkward Fliss was feeling and how she acted around and meeting Seth.

Another thing that I really liked was how the book started with a flashback. This flashback gives you an inkling to how intense Fliss’s feelings for Seth was and is to be honest and it just gives me all the nostalgic feelings of how I felt when I was that young and being with a boy I liked.

In this book, the characters were not perfect. Seth and Fliss made mistakes. They got angry, they lashed out, they had legit problems that love just couldn’t fix unless and until they themselves wanted to fix it. The character that had the most problem was Fliss and you can see in this book how she tries. She tries very hard to change, to be better; it showed that whilst love is great and can be a factor of change you yourself must take a step to wanting to change to be better.

All in all this is the best book I have read from Sarah Morgan’s From Manhattan With Love series (okay yeah I only read three out of all the series whatever my opinions are still legit).

Felicity “Fliss” Knight and her twin sister Harriet are the co-owners of a successful dog walking business in New York City. The two created Bark Rangers, a premier professional pet service, which caters to the upper crust of Manhattan’s society. All that changes when Fliss’s ex-husband, the handsome Dr. Seth Carlyle, fills in at a local vet clinic. Fliss and Seth haven’t seen each other since the demise of the marriage ten long years ago. Just the thought of bumping into her handsome ex-beau sends Fliss out of the city and straight to the Hamptons to care for her elderly grandmother.

Imagine Fliss’s surprise when upon her arrival she runs into Beau which causes unresolved feelings to resurface. Neither Beau or Fliss have the willpower to resist the temptation even though last time they were together, it didn’t end so well. As the summer ensues, Fliss chooses to remain in the Hamptons under the guise of helping her grandma whose health is now on the mend. Fliss’s close proximity to Seth causes her to question whether their flame is still burning or if it’s finally time to extinguish the fire.

Holiday in the Hamptons is the latest release in the Manhattan with Love series. With snappy dialogue, likable characters, and an addictive plot, she has created a contemporary romance worth the read. Within the framework of the story Morgan addresses the hardships of divorce, the impact of familial relationships, and the importance of self-worth when looking for love. This heartfelt story of one couple’s desire to rekindle a romance is a must read delight of the summer.

Toward the end of <a href="https://themeanderingreader.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-york-actually-by-sarah-morgan.html">New York, Actually</a>, we learned that Felicity Knight had an ex-husband who had turned up in Manhattan. Felicity had married Seth Carlyle when they were both too young and divorced him soon after. She has tried to face the sexy vet but has been unable to do so. Instead, she grabs the chance to leave town and head to the Hamptons when her grandmother calls for help.
Unfortunately, (at least in Fliss's eyes) Seth was only in Manhattan for a short stint before he returned to the Hamptons where he immediately runs into Fliss who panics and claims to be her twin sister.
Seth still has feelings for Fliss and is delighted to have this chance to get to know her now. If only she'd cooperate...
And, ufda, was Seth a totally bland bulldozer. We know nothing about him except that he seems to be an all-forgiving saint who doesn't want to give up on their love. He's not an alpha-hole because he does give Fliss a little bit of space but other than the fact that he's missing his father, we really don't get to know him. Nor does he have any discernible flaws while Fliss is described as being just riddled with them (and not just in her own head). At the end, I'm really not sure that these two people are getting an HEA.
I am hoping for better in the next book because I know that Morgan can write in-depth characters and fun-to-read books.

Two stars
This book comes out August 29

I loved this book. She does such a wonderful job with her settings and her characters. Waiting for her next new book

A sweet story of second chances and the mistakes we make in youth. Family damage that passes down to children and through all of that there is a beautiful sense of Hope and goodness.
I really enjoyed it.

I found myself torn with this one. The heroine and hero were not well suited and the heroine took waaaay too long to work through her self esteem and guilt issues (91% through) Yikes!

Aside from my displeasure with the couple in general, Morgan's writing is still so magical that I will read anything she releases and I don't expect to be underwhelmed again.

This book had so much potential and I was so excited to read it. As soon as Fliss runs into Sam and lies by saying she is her sister, I immediately became frustrated with the character. It became apparent rather quickly on which direction the book was headed.

I love Sarah Morgan's books and this New York series is a favorite. The covers are colorful, cute and clean (which is important to some of our patrons.) I've purchased the whole series in ebook and grabbed the paperbacks to display on my bookshelf because they are so fun.

This book was annoying. I so badly wanted to yell at Fliss, "See a therapist!" Because if ever anyone needed to see one, it was her.

I don't have much patience for books built completely on lack of communication. After one reaches adulthood, one should be able to talk things out.

Holiday in the Hamptons is THE BOOK to read this summer! It's a wonderful second chance romance and gives readers a glimpse of the Hampton'- allowing them to escape to a new place they may never have been. Had I not seen this cover (which is extremely eye catching and beautiful) I may have never read this one! So kudos for the beautiful artwork that is sure to suck any reader into the novel.

I highly recommend this one. I am not going to personally go back and start this series from the beginning. Because if those ones are as charming at this gem, I will be hooked for life!

Recommended Read!

A truly enjoyable read! I am now a fan of Sarah Morgan.

What a great character Fliss was. I really really loved her. She was both independent and insecure. I loved the romance with Seth. It was sweet and heart-breaking (yet enjoyable to the sadic reader I apparently am).
Second chance at love will always be one of my favorite trope.

Fliss and Seth's story was an excellent second book in this solid series by Sarah Morgan. It was extremely satisfying to see these two get their HEA. Cannot wait for the finale.

Loved it! I've enjoyed every book in this series and this was no exception. Touching and emotional yet still fun.

Felcity “Fliss” Knight needs to get out of New York. Like, yesterday! Her past is literally two doors down from her Manhattan apartment, so when her grandma calls telling her she had an emergency and requests Fliss’s twin sister Harriet come out to the Hampton for a few weeks to help her, Fliss pretends to be Harriet and jumps at the chance to literally escape her past.

Not gonna happen.

Seth Carlyle, Fliss’s past – as in her ex husband – is back home in the Hamptons and a chance meeting with Fliss ( under her Harriet disguise) has all those old feelings swirling in him. And in Fliss. Did she really think he wouldn’t recognize the love of his life? He goes along with her little subterfuge, but a series of events causes the truth to come out.

Fliss wants to put the past behind them, separately. Seth does, too, only he want to not only put the past away, but he wants a present and a future with his ex. Hoe he convinces Fliss to take a chance on them both is the crux of Holidays in the Hamptons.

Sarah Morgan has done it again. I read this book in a little under six hours because I could not put it down – nor did I want to. I simply had to find out of Seth could win Fliss over. Trust me, you’ll need to put aside an entire afternoon or evening to finish this book too, once you start it.
5 well deserved stars from me.

this was great. Fliss was full of expectations, surprises and feeling. Can't wait for Harriet's turn. I want to be friends with Fliss and go along on her ride of discovery.