3.5 Stars

This is a hopeful story about three different characters and the paths they choose to take.

Mary is a forty something women who just left her fiancé and decides to go away to the beach with her daughter and granddaughter. She spends the time deciding what she wants to do next in her life and tries to mend her relationship with her daughter.

Daniel is trying to cope over his son’s recent death, who died in Afghanistan. He lives on a houseboat with his son’s three-legged dog, Tripod.

Ollie is a widower and the owner of Low-Key Inn which is run down and outdated. She’s struggling with her finances. She’s fooled by a real estate mogul who wants to buy her Inn. Will she be able to safe the inn?

Told through the three perspectives of the characters mentioned above, this is more than just a fun and light beach read. It’s a story of family conflict, suicide ideation and the unexpected circumstances life throws at you. It’s a story of finding what you want, taking chances and friendship. Overall I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the characters, the setting and the ending.

A huge thank you to St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautifully written book that you don't want to miss! The author brings the book to life with her words and you feel like you are there. It's one of those books that you hate to see end, but you just have to know what happens next. Loved it and highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras this was a brand-new author for me, and in general I enjoyed this book. Mary breaks up with her boyfriend, quits her job and heads off for a vacation with her daughter and granddaughter with whom she is estranged. Things don't exactly go as expected and what follows is a book that made me both laugh out loud at times and to cry at times. I definitely would recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and am under no obligation to leave a favorable review, the opinion expressed here are my own.

Paradise Girls, by Sandy Gingras, is a heartwarming story about life, family and love. I loved all the main characters and would love to spend time with any of them. It felt a bit too detailed, at times, but overall it's a lovely book.
Mary Valley, a writer for a home magazine, feels like she's forgotten what home really means.
Everything in her life seems so shallow and unimportant. She recently wrote about an uber expensive mansion with a moat, for goodness sakes! She’s practically lost touch with her grown daughter and granddaughter. And she's finally realizing that her relationship with her boss is going nowhere fast.
Daniel lost his son, Timmy, during the occupation in Afghanistan. Now he’s living in Florida with his son's three legged dog and taking vacationers out fishing. He's certain that his life is over and fantasizes about losing himself to the sea.
When Mary’s boyfriend cancels their plans for Christmas, she books a family vacation at The Low Key Inn. But things get bumpy before the vacation has even started. Her daughter, CC, decides to go on vacation with her boyfriend instead, leaving Mary with an unhappy granddaughter.
This is an uplifting story where things go from worse to better.

Title: Paradise Girls
Author: Sandy Gingras
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Mary Valley is in a funk. She’s a writer for home magazines, but she’s lost touch with what home means. Her life seems meaningless. The last house she wrote about was a gazillion-dollar mansion with a moat! Plus, she’s estranged from her daughter, CC and granddaughter, Larkin and mired in a dead-end relationship with her boss.

Daniel is a man adrift since his son Timmy was killed in Afghanistan. He’s living on a houseboat in Florida with Timmy’s three-legged dog, Tripod and taking tourists out on fishing charters. But his life is on the edge. He’s painting his houseboat black, and he can’t stop thinking about “getting lost at sea.”

When Mary’s boss tells her he’s spending Christmas with his ex, she books a trip with her family to The Low Key Inn, a hotel on the edge of the Everglades. But things go wrong from the get-go. CC bails out of the vacation, and Mary is stuck with an unhappy Larkin. The hotel is dated and down-on-its-luck, and perhaps its owner is a witch. Then Mary meets Daniel, casts a hook into his head and wrecks his boat.

I think Ollie was probably my favorite character in this story! I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Mary is so klutzy and accident-prone that it made me laugh, and Larkin was adorable. I wasn’t a big fan of CC, but I did like Daniel. And, frankly, the Low Key Inn sounds completely wonderful and charming and I want to go right now.

Sandy Gingras is an award-winning author. Paradise Girls is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

BOOK REVIEW: Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras
2022 Publication Date: July 5

⭐️⭐️⭐️️

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2022

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
You hold the key to your life... Even if you feel like you have misplaced it for awhile... So, turn your "house" upside down and shake it loose, if necessary... Find your key...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: Multiple narrators dive deep with a courage fueled by the willingness that "last chance" realizations inspire... This story has a relatable character for any age. So, keep reading and find "your pair of shoes" to step into.

Set near the Everglades in a Florida resort community that has seen better days but never lost its' true magic. Mirroring the journey of the characters that are each on the precipice of discovering a new path ahead if they don't want to lose their magic as well.

BONUS: Prepare yourself to meet a charming "young girl on the rise" that has a style of her own... And has encouraged me to be on the hunt for a unicorn t-shirt as soon as possible... No judgment please. You are never too old to embrace a whimsical tee!... ✨😎✨

Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Domestic Fiction
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Florida (Everglades Region)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Suite Spot by Trish Doller
Movie: A Good Year

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A broken engagement. A ruined vacation. An adorable little girl. This unlikely combination provides the perfect opportunity for something amazing to happen...

Mary Valley is feeling "off her game." Both personally and professionally. She writes features for a home magazine, but she's lost touch with writing content for real people. Her last feature was about a mega-mansion with a moat!

Plus, she's not very close with her daughter, CC, or her granddaughter, Larkin. Not to mention her relationship with her boss — who also happens to be her fiancé — is going nowhere. Neither towards the altar nor towards the type of work she feels passionate about.

Mary has just about had enough of her boss — and now ex-fiancé — who is always choosing everyone and everything over her. So she books herself a trip to The Low Key Inn... And invites her daughter and granddaughter to join her.

All seems great until her daughter bails on their family vacation together. Now all alone with her granddaughter — who is a unicorn-loving spirit child trapped in a long list of “do’s and don’t’s” by her mother — in this quirky hotel full of charm.

Mary struggles as she sees her paradise getaway retreat turn into a series of mishaps, problems, and disappointing challenges.

Then... Mary and Larkin book a fishing trip with Daniel who shares his houseboat with Tripod, an unforgettable three-legged dog.

Daniel is a man who is struggling since his son was killed in Afghanistan. He supports himself by taking resort guests out to sea via his fishing charter business. But his mind and heart are feeling a bit lost at sea.

When each of the characters in this book enters the story, we begin to see the truth of how life itself is a love story. We all belong in this world with someone, and when we find them their lives become more precious than anything else on earth — even if sometimes it takes a little time and effort to get there!

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I enjoyed this book. Sandy Gingras is a new author to me. I was drawn into this story about friendship and relationships. The characters were likeable, except for 1 due to his attitude and what happened in the story.
I could not put this down and stayed up late reading.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.

Oh this was a good one! I loved all three of these characters and was rooting for them right from the start.
This was about making changes in life and doing the things that make you happy instead of the things that you feel you are expected to do. Overall, this was a heartwarming story about loss, forgiveness, and personal growth that I very much enjoyed reading!

A stereotypical romance novel that follows Mary Valley as she meets Daniel while vacationing at a rundown motel in Florida. Too full of tropes for me to enjoy.

This was a sweet and touching story about rediscovery, family and friendships. The characters were all likable, and the book kept my interest throughout. I found it to be a feel-good story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

Mary Valley is at a crossroads in her life. Her relationship with her boss is going nowhere and she's estranged from her daughter CC and by extension, her granddaughter Larkin. When everything comes to a head, she books a vacation to Florida and heads out. She meets Daniel, who runs a fishing charter while he tries to recover from the loss of his son.

This is a sweet story. Nothing particularly spicy, more of a Lifetime movie book but a great palate cleanser if you're like me and get worn down by thrillers and need something lighter.

3-1/2 stars rounded up to 4 because it was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance ebook of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 5, 2022

Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras made me feel like Christmas in the Summer. Even though the story takes place during Christmas, the Florida setting made this a wonderful summertime read. Paradise Girls was full of tender moments, heartbreak, humor, and warmth! Definitely recommending this read!

I so enjoyed reading this book. It is a perfect brief escape from all the issues around us. When do you know if you have had too much, sometimes it is a slow process and sometimes it happens in an instant. For Mary it happens in an instant, unfortunately her boss is also her significant other. That really complicates matters. Florida for Christmas with her daughter and granddaughter is the perfect break from reality.

But we all know nothing is perfect. But it may be just what you need. Enjoy this feel good, at times hilarious book. I found myself laughing aloud on many occasions.

Mary Valley is done with her fiancé’s fear of commitment, constantly delaying their wedding plans and always putting his daughter and ex-wife above her and her needs. She leaves him and plans a trip to reconnect with her daughter CC and granddaughter Larkin in Florida for Christmas. CC agrees to let Larkin go but has her own plans with her boyfriend. Nothing goes as planned on her trip, but yet maybe that is actually what Mary needs.

Paradise Girls is a self discovery journey for Mary and the cast of quirky, lovable characters she meets at the Low Key Inn. The story had so much potential and I wanted to love it, but I just thought it was okay.

Mary, a 42-year-old newly single and unemployed grandmother, is at a crossroads in her life. Christmas in the Florida Everglades sounds like the perfect getaway! Together, Mary and her 5-year-old granddaughter, Larkin, travel to the Low-Key Inn, where they meet Ollie, the hotel owner, and Daniel, a fishing guide. Will spending time amidst the flowers, birds, butterflies, and tropical breezes help Mary find her way home?

Paradise Girls was full of tender moments, heartbreak, humor, and warmth! Even though the story takes place during Christmas, the Florida setting made this a wonderful summertime read. The Low-Key Inn may have been in need of an upgrade, but it sounded like a lovely place to escape and unwind! The time away gave Mary a chance to take a step back, reassess her life, and discover what really mattered to her. I absolutely loved the bond she formed with her granddaughter during the trip. Larkin was an adorable, sweet, and smart kid! Daniel’s furry and loyal friend, Tripod, was my favorite though! I really felt for Daniel and was so glad he had Tripod in his life. I very much enjoyed this endearing, thought-provoking, and heartwarming story about family, friendship, forgiveness, starting over, taking chances, and love!

4.5⭐️
Paradise Girls by Sandy Gingras was my first novel by her and I ended up really enjoying it. If I had to give it a one word description it would be “contemplation”.
The focus was mainly on 3 people who have lived an already full life. All three of them are contemplating everything about their life is and what will they do now. I loved hearing about their past. Some of it sad and painful. They all end up at the same physical place and find themselves in the process. I highly recommend it if you like stories about older people. Grandparents ages. It had an adorable three legged dog and a precious granddaughter who I couldn’t get enough of. Any I liked it a lot.
I chose to listen to some of this on audio while I had to work and I’m going to be honest and say it took awhile for me to warm up to Mary’s voice. I thought Daniel’s voice was good. The narrators were Elizabeth Wiley and Stephen Mendel.
Thanks Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

4.5 stars

“They had their separate sadnesses, but they were in it together (219.” Low-Key Inn located close to the Everglades was the perfect vehicle to bring together the main characters who each has a sadness to overcome. Paradise Girls is a debut novel by Sandy Gingras. I devoured this beautiful story. Everyone goes through tough times, and while everyone has a different “sadness,” the feelings everyone has are the same.

We first meet Mary Valley who is about to be married on January 3 to Ron who is also her boss. They have had a long term relationship. He lets her know just before Christmas that he plans on spending Christmas with his ex and their daughter. This is the last straw for Mary. Mary, with coaching from her friend, Joanna, decides to go to Florida and take her daughter, CC, and her granddaughter, Larkin. Joanna raised CC by herself and CC is raising five year old Larkin by herself. CC decides to send Larkin with Mary so she can go on a couple’s cruise with her boyfriend.

Ollie, a widow, owns the 1970’s Low-Key Inn which needs a good rehab, but it was the only place Mary could get a room. Wilson, her husband, won the motel while gambling. He then ran up a lot of debt while participating in online gambling and died. Ollie is left with outstanding mortgages and at risk of losing her hotel.

Daniel Dayes takes vacationers on fishing trips. His son, was killed in Afghanistan. He and his ex-wife are sharing rotating six-month custody of Timothy’s dog, Tripod, who lost one leg in the war. Mary hires Daniel to take Larkin and her on a fishing trip.

This book gave me all the feels. I laughed. I cried. I had conversations with the characters. So glad I read it. I look forward to reading a future book by Gingras. My thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Mary, Ollie, and Daniel are all at a crossroads in their lives. Somehow their paths converged and they became integral parts of each other's stories. None of their stories were happy. They were all contemplating what to do next. Mary needed to decide where she wanted to live and what she wanted to do, Ollie's was to sell the inn or not, and Daniel...his decision was more about the will to live or not. Mary forges friendships with Ollie and Daniel. They met each other when they needed someone. There was laughter and tears, fear and joy as I read the story. It was beautifully written.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Paradise Girls is about starting over and finding your true self. Mary breaks up with her longtime boyfriend and owner of the design magazine, where she worked. Mary goes to Florida for the Christmas holiday and invites her daughter and granddaughter. Her daughter decides to go on a couple on a couple cruise with her boyfriend. She leaves her daughter with Mary. There she finds herself and even helps her granddaughter. The book is slow in some parts but for the most part is an enjoyable read. This story has a lot going for it loss, forgiveness and romance. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Mary is anticipating her early June nuptials with her longtime boyfriend, Ron. But when he cancels plans to spend Christmas with her because his ex-wife and daughter need him, it's the final straw. Mary quits her job (he's her boss), cancels their wedding, and makes plans to spend Christmas in Florida.

What she planned as a family trip with her daughter, CC, and granddaughter, Larkin, becomes a trip with just Larkin, when CC decides to go on a cruise with her new boyfriend.

The Low Key Inn in Florida proves to be just that, and Mary quickly feels a connection to the people who congregate there, especially the owner, Ollie, And Daniel, owner of a local fishing charter, seems to need her help.

There are few things I enjoy more than quirky, lovable characters, so I adored this book. #ParadiseGirls #NetGalley