Sophia Rose is here to share a review of The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan during the Harlequin Beach Reads Summer Tour. Grab an iced coffee and check out this fun road trip tale…
by Sarah Morgan
Genres: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Get swept into a summer of sunshine, soul-searching and shameless matchmaking with this delightfully bighearted road-trip adventure by USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan!
Kathleen is eighty years old. After she has a run-in with an intruder, her daughter wants her to move into a residential home. But she’s not having any of it. What she craves—what she needs—is adventure.
Liza is drowning in the daily stress of family life. The last thing she needs is her mother jetting off on a wild holiday, making Liza long for a solo summer of her own.
Martha is having a quarter-life crisis. Unemployed, unloved and uninspired, she just can’t get her life together. But she knows something has to change.
When Martha sees Kathleen’s advertisement for a driver and companion to share an epic road trip across America with, she decides this job might be the answer to her prayers. She's not the world's best driver, but anything has to be better than living with her parents. And traveling with a stranger? No problem. Anyway, how much trouble can one eighty-year-old woman be?
As these women embark on the journey of a lifetime, they all discover it's never too late to start over…
Sophia Rose’s Review
A road trip along Route 66 with an eighty-something and a twenty-something sounded all sorts of summer fun so I snatched up a copy and settled in to enjoy a journey of the soul for three women by a new to me author.
The Summer Seekers opens with Kathleen discovering an intruder in her cottage on the Cornish coast and she quickly dispenses with that danger. While this night-time adventure awakens her after years of simply going through the motions since her husband’s death, her daughter Liza doesn’t see it that way. Liza is her mum’s opposite. Kathleen is not done having adventures and determines that she is up for one more and sets off on a summer road trip across America to face a bit of her past and find her old self along the way. Going along with Kathleen is Martha, a recent divorcee who answered Kathleen’s ad for a driver.
The book hits all the emotions from humor to private pain. The story is a multi-generational, three woman point of view. Liza back in Cornwall and Kathleen and Martha in America. I confess to enjoying the vibrant Kathleen and tentative Martha’s part the best, but I was cheering on lost and unhappy Liza, too. Being closest in age to Liza, I related to a lot of her thoughts and actions, but I saw Martha as a bit of my past and hope to be something like Kathleen in my future. The author wrote these women so that their flaws and strengths made them richly developed and interesting. I have to admit that Kathleen’s neighbor, a reclusive rockstar, tickled me each time he appeared in the story, and I loved the little adventure Liza had with him. Incidentally, I think everyone who is feeling the heavy side of life should have an adventure.
I wish the road trip descriptions could have been more prominent, but I get that this was a character-focused story, so the travel adventures had to be less to develop that. Though, don’t get me wrong, the traveling side is not neglected. I thought it was hilarious that Martha applied for the job as driver and ended up driving a sports car when she’s terrified of driving. I confess this is a preference for more because I love taking road trips and have enjoyed several with family and friends over the years, though never all the way down Route 66…
All in all, this was a heartwarming and thoughtful story about people who drifted apart, lost their way, and needed to face some issues to restore life’s joy and have a little romance. The writing drew me close and left me wanting to pick up more of the author’s books. This is perfect for a summer beach read and I can recommend it to women’s fic or chick lit fans who love focus on multi-generational women characters.
The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan is perfect for a summer beach read #HarlequinBeachReads@SophiaRose #review Share on XAbout Sarah Morgan
USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy, contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and her trademark humor and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. Described as “a magician with words” by RT Book Reviews, she has sold more than eleven million copies of her books. She was nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America and won the award three times: once in 2012 for Doukakis’s Apprentice, in 2013 for A Night of No Return and in 2017 for Miracle on 5th Avenue. She also won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2012 and has made numerous appearances in their Top Pick slot. As a child, Sarah dreamed of being a writer, and although she took a few interesting detours along the way, she is now living that dream. Sarah lives near London, England, with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Rachel
I loved this story so much! I see Kathleen’s and Martha’s story were your favs, but Liza’s was my favorite. I enjoyed all their POVs, though! Yep, made me want to do a another road trip. Wonderful review, Sophia!
Nadene
Its been awhile since I read a book by Sarah Morgan. The Summer Seekers sounds fun, interesting and emotional.
Sophia Rose
Yes, it really was. It had its funny moments, but it was so much more. I want to read more of her stuff.
Rachel
I didn’t realize she was a new to you author, Sophia. I’ve haven’t read many books by her, but I’ve loved every one of them so I really need to peruse her backlist and request some from the library. I haven’t read this yet, but I have a copy. I was actually supposed to have my review up, but you know how life gets in the way! I will come back to your review when I’ve finished mine. Nice to see you enjoyed it, though!
Sophia Rose
I’ve seen her books for years and wanted to try. This was a good one for me to start with b/c I love road trips and the three generations of women. I need to get busy on her backlist, too. LOL, yep, I know how that goes with reviews.
Katherine
I love this kind of story and I’ve really enjoyed previous books by Sarah Morgan so this sounds like the perfect summer read!
Sophia Rose
These three gals are fabulous and I think you’ll get a kick out of them, Katherine. 🙂
Debbie Haupt
This is high on my shelf Sophia Rose you know Sarah is a fave of mine
Sophia Rose
Yes! Your Christmas event was the first time I’d seen one of her books and got me excited to read her stuff. 🙂 You’ll love these gals, Debbie.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café
Wonderful review, Sophia Rose? I loved this story, too.
Sophia Rose
Woohoo, a fellow fan!
Mary Kirkland
That sounds fun. The 80 year old sounds like a funny woman.
Sophia Rose
She was a riot, Mary. I want to be her when I’m that age. 🙂
Jen
I really enjoyed some of her romances from several years back, but I haven’t tried her more recent stuff. Thanks for the review!
Sophia Rose
This was my first and I definitely want to go back for others. This was more chicklit than straight up romance, but I think you’d have a good time with it, Jen.
Joyousreads
That does sound like a ton of fun! I can only imagine the hilarity. 🙂
Sophia Rose
Kathleen cracked me up so much. 🙂
Lorna
I have read 1 by this author, Miracle on 5th Avenue and enjoyed it. You make me want to maybe check this one out. It sounds good. I bet it would be a good listen too. Good review Sophia!
Sophia Rose
This was my first, but I definitely want to read more of her stuff, too, Lorna.
Lorna
I just put it on hold to listen to from my library. Thanks!
Sophia Rose
Yay for your library having it. Hope you enjoy, Lorna. 🙂
Wendy Williams
I’ve been hearing a lot about this book, and I’m anxious to read it, especially after your nice review! Also, I like that you put heat levels on your reviews, that’s a nice touch, and helps with my expectations about a book going into it.
Sophia Rose
I’ve spotted her other books getting great reviews so when I saw this one and the road trip theme, I had to pick it up. I have a feeling you’ll love it when you get the chance, Wendy. Heat levels are helpful. 🙂
Silvia
Sounds lovely! A multi-generational story always makes for quite an interesting read, and I’m glad to know this book hits all the emotions, I love that 🙂
Sophia Rose
I think so, too, Silvia. And, it still had the famial-feel even though Martha wasn’t the real granddaughter.
Melliane
Oh I usually have a good time with this author but I didn’t know about this title
Sophia Rose
I’m definitely going to read more of her stuff. Glad to put you in the know, Melliane. 🙂