
Member Reviews

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
Have read a lot of other works by this author and have found the story line is usually a bunch of women get away for a while, at a beach and just hang out.
This one is so different-I like it, A LOT!
Starts with Drue and she's lost her mother, her job and gotten hurt being a kite sailboarder. Her father shows up at the funeral and he invites her to Sunset Beach-she lives on the opposite side of FL in her mother's house.
She gets a job at his law firm answering phones in hopes to get leads to new client-slip and sue lawsuits.
She has to mingle with a lot of the workers to keep good graces with her father-her new step mother was her girlfriend in high school.
There are a handful of characters and soon you learn there is a lot more to the story.
Like hearing of the relationships she starts up and how she helps others. Like the green flash at sunset sightings and how she is helped herself in reclaiming more mobility in her legs, after her injury.
It not only is about Drue but her parents when they were growing up/married. There are also other stories involving their friends during the 70's that all lead to the same outcome.
Amazing how it's all connected. SO many twists and turns and totally unpredictable. Hope the author will continue writing this style of book again.
Ends with the authors words about how the book came about and her real life with beach houses and author retreats which also includes menus and recipes.
What an all around book, it has it all-something for everyone.
Received this review copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#SunsetBeach by #MaryKayAndrews. #NetGalley

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors. I loved this book. It is a great beach read. Romance, fun and mystery all in one book. How could you not love it. 5 stars. Pick this up if you want a good read.

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews is a novel that explores family relationships and secrets.
Drue has lived for several years with her mother on the east coast of Florida while her estranged father lives on the west coast. She hasn’t seen him for years until he shows up at her mother’s funeral. He informs her that she now owns her grandparents’ house in Sunset Beach and offers her a job working at his law firm. She is at loose ends as she has no job and no place to live. She is also recovering from a kiteboarding injury that ended her dream of going pro. She decides to move to Sunset Beach and quickly learns her father is now married to her ex-best friend and the house is in major disrepair. Will she be able build a new relationship with her father and stepmother? What happens when she uncovers family secrets in the attic?
I really enjoyed this story. It is so well written it tugged at my heart many times. Drue gets herself into trouble due to her own hard headedness but finally learns who she can really trust and depend on. I found several surprises as the story unfolded; the characters thought to be the good guys weren’t always the ones to trust. I recommend this book highly and give it a solid 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a first Mary Kay Andrews read for me and I I would like to thank net gallery for letting me read in advance. Drew lost her mother lost her job as a waitress had to move back to the town where her father lived and went to work for him answering phones doing the things that will wasn't quite what she wanted to do but it was a job that made a living the only downfall was her best friend from school was now her stepmother.... I found this book to be very intriguing I absolutely love the storyline however I don't want to give away too much in my review I don't like to do that . I will definitely be picking up more books from this author I recommend this book to all .

Recently it appears that MK Andrews has ventured away from the type of writing we are used to reading, and instead, is writing mysteries that involve events both current and from the past. Both this novel and The High Tide Club touch upon an unsolved murder, with unexpected results. I was underprepared for the reveal in the murder from 30+ years earlier as well as who did it in a current case introduced through the main character, Drue, through her work at her father’s law firm. Drue is 36 years old and going through a bit of a life crisis. She suffered a debilitating injury, her mother died, and she lost a job that though crummy, paid the bills. As a result, she finds herself back in a town where she grew up, working for her father and stepmother (who just happens to be Drue’s childhood frenemy). While at work, Drue takes on a cold case and in the process, winds up disrupting her father’s business.
There are twists and turns, leading the reader down paths that may or may not be helpful in the end. I didn’t see much of it coming, which made for a good read. Four stars for me b/c Drue was not super likable at the beginning and the author also had some stereotyping that seemed unnecessary (a surprising fact that people of color like country music, for example). It just didn’t feel right or fit the characters. That stated, I still recommend the book.

4 Stars: Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book!
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Drue is at a dead end. Her mother recently died, her athletic career has stalled due to an injury followed up with a horrible surgery, and her waitress job just isn't doing it. So after her estranged father shows up at her mother's funeral with a job offer in St.. Pete AND keys to her grandparent's cottage that she inherited from her mother, Drue leave Ft. Lauderdale. Yet everything is not so peachy in St. Pete and Drue finds herself with her childhood friend married to her father and 2 murder mysteries.
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What I Loved: I personally enjoyed both mysteries that went with the story. I think it kept the plot moving. If I had to choose, the flashback mystery from the 70s was really not necessary, but it was interesting. The ending of the book was absolutely great. I did not see the end coming and it did not seem forced or far fetched.
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What I did not Love: Drue. For the first 40% of the book., I found her to be a brat. I get it. Your father was not there when you were growing up, but you sure did not hesitate to take the job, furniture or anything else he was offering. Yet, she would make immature comments. You are 36, grow up. This really bothered me, and to be honest, almost made me put the book down and DNF it. But I slogged through and Drue was not as whiny as the book went on.
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Goodreads review posted 4/7
Instagram review posted 4/8
Blog review posted 4/9

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews is dual time full of secrets and mysteries. Flashbacks and mysteries from present time to the 1970’s. This is the first book I have read by Mary Kay Andrews and it was a great read. Drue the main character is a whirlwind and she involves everyone in her wild adventures. Drue is a tough as nails girl, but has a sweet spirit. I can’t wait to read more books by Mary Kay Andrews. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This is the first book I have read by Mary Kay Andrews. I must say I am officially hooked now! This story was the perfect blend of mystery and romance. She kept the story line full of surprises with many twists and turns. I highly recommend reading this book, as it is very entertaining. I can’t wait to read more of her other books now.

This was such a nice, relaxing easy to read story. It was not too heavy with romance and not too heavy with mystery...
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy. Release date for this book is May 2019.

Drue Campbell is 36 years old. Her mother just died. She is still limping as a result of a serious kiteboard accident which has knocked her out of that sport for good. At a very low point in her life you could say.
Drue and her mother have lived in Fort Lauderdale since the divorce and Drue hasn't seen her father in a very long time. When he shows up at her mothers funeral, Drue is shocked to see him. He wants to offer her a job on the east coast side of Florida at his law firm, where he is a local bigshot injury attorney. He also has a more precious gift to give her. The keys to her grandparent's cottage on a pricey stretch of beach.
Swallowing her pride and taking a low-level phone job is bad enough but to find out her father is married again and to her former bestie from elementary school! Drue and Wendy had a falling out in school and now it looks as if Wendy is doing everything she can to get Drue to quit.
But Drue meets a client and gets involved personally trying to track down a killer. As if that isn't enough she has found paperwork in the cottage attic that makes her believe her father may be not so honest after all. And may be responsible for a long cold case of a missing woman.
This was so different from what I was expecting! And I was way off base on who the bad guys were.
All of the warm fuzzies we feel with this author and a suspense/mystery! Very well done!
NetGalley/ May 7th 2019 by St. Martin's Press

I was a little skeptical about this book in the beginning when Drue and Jonah hooked up so quickly. I was afraid it was going to be romantic fluff, but I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be a good mystery. I liked how the two different puzzles connected in the end. Good book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely enjoyed Drue’s story. I love a good mystery, and this had 2, as well as having Drue dealing with the death of her mother, the reunion with her father, her knee injury, moving, etc. Normally I would say there was too much going on, but this all worked together really well.
At the beginning of the book, Drue seemed like a shallow beach bunny, but throughout the course of the story you saw more of her character and you saw her grow and develop.
All of the various mysteries are solved by the end of the book, but I must admit that I really want to see more of these characters. The various primary and secondary characters played off each other so well, and pulled the reader in so many ways.

Drue Campbell’s life is not going so well. Her Mother just died and Drue injured her knee while wind surfing, something she has lived her life for as long as she can remember. With no job Drue has no choice but to accept a job offer from her estranged father, personal injury lawyer Bruce Campbell. Things only get worse when Drue finds that Brice is married to her old ex best friend, Wendy. Wendy is not happy to have Drue in the picture and proceeds to make life miserable for her. Thru her job Drue learns about a suspicious death at a nearby resort that was taken on as a liability case by her Father’s firm. Drue is convinced something isn’t right about the case and suspects her Fathers firm of wrongdoing.. No one has been arrested for the murder. There is also a decades old missing persons case that could be connected to her Father.
This book is the perfect beach read. It has romance, suspense, and a mystery all rolled into one. I felt like I was on the beach with Drue at her Grandparents old house. I wasn’t sure where the mystery was going to take me, but it was a fun ride getting there. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy. I look forward to more books by Mary Kay Andrews.

Loved this book! It is a perfect beach read. There is a little mystery, a little romance, and it is set on a beach in Florida. Highly recommended book. I couldn't get enough!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Sunset Beach in exchange for my honest review.
As a Mary Kay Andrews fan, I was a little surprised by the beginning of this book, since it was a departure from her usual style. The mystery aspect was fun and different and I really enjoyed this book.
It took me a little longer than usual to get into the story, but once it got going, I didn't want to put it down! It is a great beach read!

This was my first book by the author and I enjoyed it. I was expecting a women's fiction beach read and was (pleasantly) surprised that it was a mystery, two mysteries in fact! There were lots of twists and turns and some nice character development. I especially liked the growth in the relationship between Drue and her dad.

Believe it or not, this was my first Mary Kay Andrews book - and I really enjoyed it! Drue Campbell is 36, her life is a mess, and she's just lost her mom. Her estranged father offers her a job, and she reluctantly accepts and moves into the house on Sunset Beach that she's inherited from her grandparents. And then the real action begins - family drama, work's ups and downs, possible romance, and the amateur sleuth in Drue comes out as she struggles to solve a recent murder along with the mystery of a decades old disappearance. The story is quite predictable at times, but still a fun read with several great twists - the perfect beach read, loaded with intrigue, charm, and humor. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc. 4 stars!

This is a story about blending old with new, reconnecting with old friends and family, family secrets, a couple of murder mysteries, and hanging out at the beach with a great blue heron, waiting for the green flash as the sun sets. The mysteries were twisted and not easily solved, but it was the characters that kept pulling me in. Loved it!

It was a little slow getting started but was worth it in the end. I'm guessing it needed to set up a lot of back story in order to make everything come together. I can see a potential mystery series in the future with Drue as an investigator.
I was particularly happy to watch Drue come out of her darkest moments and really growing up at the end.
All the characters were well thought out and, in the end, turned out to be a close-knit family.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher in return for an honest review. I look forward to Ms. Andrews next submission.

Book Description
Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist.
Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth-grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.
It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.
With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing person case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.
My Thoughts
This is the first book that I've read by Mary Kay Andrews and as I never know how I'm going to feel about a new( to me, she has written other books) author, I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy this read. I'm a huge fan of mysteries but don't read much romance, so I didn't know if the mix would work for me. The main character Drue was delightfully written. Someone who has had more than her fair share of ‘downs’ in her life, but manages to find her happy place in a cottage she inherits. I would consider this a cozy mystery as Drue becomes immersed in a long-unsolved cold case as well as a more recent murder. She carries quite a lot of baggage and I was rooting for her to get a happy ending. No spoilers, but this was an engaging read and I'd love to spend some time with her again(maybe a series.)Sunset Beach will be published in May, just in time for enjoyable outside reading!
A little background on the author from GoodReads: Mary Kay Andrews is the pen name of American writer Kathy Hogan Trocheck, based in Atlanta, who has authored a number of best-selling books under the Andrews pen name since 2002.
Trochek graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree in 1976. She worked as a reporter at a number of papers and spent 11 years as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before leaving to write fiction full-time in 1991. She published ten mystery novels under her own name between 1992 and 2000 and switched to the Andrews pen name in 2002 to author Savannah Blues, which marked a change in her style to more Southern-flavored themes.
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press(thanks Beatrice) through NetGalley.