Holiday in the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love Series #5)

Fliss and Harriet are twins and they run a dog-walking business in New York together. They are successful at what they do and enjoy working together. Fliss and Harriet are quite different from each other. Fliss is fierce, closed off and strong, while Harriet is softer, kinder and more evasive. The twins are close, they had a difficult childhood and Fliss was always looking out for Harriet. She thinks Harriet is the nice twin and Fliss is the hard, much less lovable one. However, is that really true? Fliss used to be married to Seth. Their marriage ended in a devastating way and Fliss hasn't seen Seth since. Now Seth is in New York, working for a local vet. This means Fliss has to get out of there. She needs to protect her heart, which is why she is more than happy to agree to take care of her grandmother in the Hamptons. What Fliss doesn't know is that Seth is living in the Hamptons and that he'll be back home soon. How will she handle seeing him again? What will happen when Seth is still interested in Fliss, can she give him another chance or has the past been too painful for her to ever let him in again? Holiday in the Hamptons is a wonderful romantic story. Fliss is a force to be reckoned with, but underneath the tough exterior she's actually pretty insecure. She's been through a lot and this has made her wary. She doesn't let people in, she tries to fix every problem on her own and she will never admit she needs any kind of help. She's difficult to approach, but Seth knows her really well. He failed her once, but he's determined not to let her go a second time. I was curious to find out if he could break down her walls and couldn't turn the pages of Holiday in the Hamptons quickly enough because of this. I loved both Fliss and Seth and hoped they'd get their happily ever after. Sarah Morgan has a wonderful warm writing style that makes her stories a joy to read. I can never put them down and usually end up reading them in one sitting. I love the way she shows her reader every aspect of what her characters are going through, each feeling is being carefully explored and explained, which makes her stories fascinating and multifaceted. She also knows how to write good romance and her books are always making my heart melt. Holiday in the Hamptons is no exception, it's a terrific charming, entertaining and sweet story and I highly recommend it.

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings A "sibling" book to the book I reviewed yesterday, as Felicity Knight is one of the young siblings of Daniel Knight from yesterday and she is a twin (her twin's story is tomorrow's book). Felicity Knight is one part of the owners of Bark Rangers a company the specializes in reliable dog walkers across Manhattan. She has built this business with her twin and loves the organization of it all. She has a relationship from the past that has popped back up and is the center of this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance romance! Fliss has run off to the Hamptons to help her grandmother but it was the perfect excuse for her to get out of the city. Seth follows her and the fun begins. This is full of twist and turns and so much chemistry and F-U-N it was a page turner! Great characters and world building, witty banter and animals keep it fresh and don't forget the wacky grandma mixed in. Definitely a keeper! I recommend this one. **Received this from the publisher for review**

I am a huge Sarah Morgan fan. In fact, I like her work so much that I never read her book blurbs, because I know whatever she writes I will enjoy. I liked HOLIDAY IN THE HAMPTONS. However, my expectation from the title was the complete opposite of what the story was actually about. If you were hoping that this was a holiday read, you will be disappointed. However, if you are in the mood for a story about all things related to summer romance, then this is the book for you. Felicity (Fliss) Knight and her twin sister, Harriet, own a successful dog-walking business in New York City. They grew up in the Big Apple while summering in the Hamptons at their grandmother’s cozy cottage. The sand and the surf provided a safe haven from their belligerent father, and the twins, along with their mother and older brother, relished each and every day of their summer break. Hamptonite Seth Carlyle is a well-respected and likable veterinarian. Ten years ago, he and Fliss shared a passionate encounter on the beach, which resulted in a Las Vegas wedding and a divorce only a few months later. They both still have strong feelings for each other, and Seth has made it his mission to make Fliss a part of his life once again. Now that Fliss is caring for her grandmother while she recuperates from a fall, Seth’s dreams may come true. However, Fliss’s inability to share her emotions and feelings may prevent a second chance at forever. This is the fifth book from the author’s FROM MANHATTAN WITH LOVE series, and it can be read as a standalone. Unfortunately, I found the story to be a bit repetitive at times, and it took quite a while for Fliss to come to her senses. Overall, a slightly emotional read with good characterization. LJT, Romance Junkies, 3.5 Hearts

From Manhattan With Love is the one series this year that I have bought all the paperbacks for, addition to having the ebooks because I love the series so much that I wanted to have them visually present on my bookshelves, as keepsakes. I guess that is a true book-girl thing... Why do I love the series - and Holiday in the Hamptons -so much? The characters are real, they are like us, like the people we meet every day and spend our time with. They live in this fairytale, yet they have real problems, real issues, relationships that are challenging, and families that not only drive them mad but shaped them to be the people they are today. The dialog is lively, it is sassy, and borderline bantering even when talking to and with their grandmom. And the dialog is refreshing, it is fun, and it is built such way that it keeps the plot flowing forward and the moment alive and vibrant, keeping the energy elevated in every scene. Each story in the series has had me completely lost in the tale, right there with the characters, feeling and experiencing life with them. I love the closeness of the friends they have, the love and support for their siblings are admirable. Felicity 'Fliss' Knight is a bit of a drama queen, she is a woman with big emotions. Fliss is the most loyal, protective, and loving to those she cares about, yet she is the master of hiding her feelings and running from the emotions that tumble inside of her heart and mind. Coming from a dysfunctional family, she is used to protecting her twin sister, she is used to standing in front of any threat towards her, might that be bullying, hurtful words, or painful emotions. At the same way, she has learned to protect herself and her feelings, hiding from the possible pain a rejection and dismissal might bring. Seth Carlyle is the golden boy, the successful, friendly, kind, considerate, handsome vet of the town, that everyone admires. He is open, honest, and a loving man and recent loss had made him realize letting Fliss go ten years ago was the biggest mistake of his life. Determination and patience are Seth's strengths, and he is going to need them to convince Fliss that trusting him, opening up to him, and learning to love him are going to be a worth the risk of pain. As much as this is a story of second chance romance, this is a story about families, the influence the growing up years has on us, and how it shapes us as people. There is always more going on behind the closed doors than anyone outside can know, there is no such thing as a perfect family. Yet the love and caring are there, the loyalty, and protectiveness is strong. Fliss has a lot to learn from the broken family of hers and she has much more to offer to people around her that she might give herself a credit for. Holiday in the Hamptons is a story about learning to trust, to be open, to share the deep, dark, scary thoughts and emotions that most would rather run away from. It is a story about learning to be vulnerable and exposed to loved ones to make the relationship work and last a lifetime. While this was a fun, entertaining, and witty story of love, trust, and families, it also has life lessons embedded in it that made me take a notice. A cleaver, smoothly flowing, humorous, and delightful tale to continue the brilliant series ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

4.5 Stars This was my first book by Sarah Morgan and as such, the first in this series. I had no trouble following along and actually I didn't even remember that it was a series until I started to review the book. In reading the book, I had no idea! Yay! This was a great beach read, escape story and every entertaining. I loved the bit about the twin sisters, Fliss and Harriet, and how it was hard, if you didn't know them real well, to tell them apart. It reminded me of that "Parent Trap" movie, only a lot more grownup. I sped through this book and while the main character, Fliss was going on and on about whether she should give Seth a chance and did she really have any feelings for him, yada yada yada. While some books can drive you crazy with this issue, I think the author handled it beautifully. I did not tire of the story or characters and sped right through. Thanks to Harlequin, HQN Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Holiday In The Hamptons (From Manhattan With Love #5) by Sarah Morgan-a 5/5 Star Review! Fliss Knight is moving onwards and upwards. She and her twin sister, Harriet, have followed their passions for animals and are the Bark Rangers; a dog-walking service in New York City. Their business has taken off since working with Urban Genie (shout out to Eva, Frankie, and Paige from the previous books in the series). Fliss is looking to expand the business, hire more people, looking forward. She was so determined to move forward that she is thrown off course when her past comes back for her. Seth Carlyle has followed his passion of animal welfare and has become a veterinarian. He has tried to move on in the last ten years since he let the love of his life, his ex-wife Fliss, walk out of his life. He has dated other women but no one has held a candle to her. When tragedy strikes, he realizes life is too short to not follow your passions. He followed his passion in his career, now he is determined to follow the biggest passion of his life: Fliss. I was so excited to have received the next book in the From Manhattan With Love Series for review! I have read the previous 4 books and I am pleased to state that this book was just as great! It has the grit of miscommunication, insecurity, and surviving rough childhoods mixed with humor, wisdom from supporting characters, and the cleansing purity of true love. It has the character development that is gripping and showcases that just because love is not about only the highs but how you go through the lows together. This is the fifth book in the series, however, all of these books can read as standalones. I started this series with the third book, loved it so much that I immediately dug into the first two books, and am now caught up and can't wait for the next book! The stories in the series zero in on each couple and how they develop their relationship rather than other series where the books must be read in succession in order to make any sense. In fact, Eva has a strong presence in the first few books, especially in the book all about her love story in Miracle on 5th Avenue (From Manhattan With Love #3), and I was delighted that she is mentioned a time or two in this book. Furthermore, Chase and Matilda were supporting characters in this book and I loved their romance. After finishing this book, I was hoping a book later in the series would be about how they came together. But GUESS WHAT? It turns out their love story started off this great romance series in the prequel book Midnight at Tiffany’s (From Manhattan With Love #0.5)! I was not aware of this but I am so excited to dive into that book! I am also excited to read the next book in the series which I hope will be about Harriet, Fliss’ twin sister. The readers get to know Fliss and Harriet as supporting characters in the last book as they are the twin sisters of Daniel, one of the two main characters, in the book New York, Actually (From Manhattan With Love #4). Although their rough childhood with an emotionally and verbally abusive father was described in New York, Actually, it is described in Fliss’ perspective in this book and is therefore able to be read as a standalone. My favorite character is Fliss and Harriet’s grandmother. My sister and I used to go to my grandmother’s cabin every summer and spent a lot of time together perfecting her perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

Lovely story. 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.

4.5 Stars at The romance Dish Holiday in the Hamptons is the fifth entry in Morgan’s From Manhattan with Love series. It is vintage Morgan in its blend of the comic and the poignant and in its interweaving of a sigh-worthy romance with defining family issues and their lingering effects. There is no story I love more than a believable, emotion-packed tale of reunited lovers. This one is stellar. Fliss’s past, both her childhood suffering and her history with Seth, are sufficient to explain her behavior. Readers who have always suspected there was more pain behind Fliss’s mask of sometimes flippant toughness than the difficult years she shared with Harriet and Daniel will have their suspicions confirmed. Seth’s relationship with his father, so different from Fliss’s experience with hers, makes it difficult for him to understand Fliss’s emotional reticence and, at the same time, gives him the stability to be sensitive and patient. I was glad to see him reveal some flaws, else he would have seemed too good to be true. There are some wonderfully funny moments in this book, but there are also moments that moved me to tears—and not all were between Fliss and Seth. The supporting cast, from a newborn to the octogenarian Poker Princesses to the dogs (Charlie, Gram’s beagle, and Hero, Matilda’s Doberman, plus Lulu), are terrific. I especially loved seeing more of Matilda and Chase Adams, the heroine and hero from Midnight at Tiffany’s, the novella that introduced the series. Also, Harriet’s demonstration of strength serves as a significant plot point in this book and as an ideal setup for her book, Moonlight over Manhattan (October 5), which is next. Morgan’s recent Rita® win for Miracle on 5th Avenue, the third book in this series, should signal anyone still in doubt that she is an author to be reckoned with in contemporary romance. I never miss a Sarah Morgan single-title, and she has another winner in Holiday in the Hamptons. If you love contemporary romance, I highly recommend this book.

This is the first time that I have read one of Sarah Morgans books and will not be my last. I can not wait for the next book to come out. I love reading about a love lost and found again. After the years apart they are still as much in love as they were back then, they just didn't know it yet. They are trying to both move on with their lives. Seth is looking to find the love they shared in the past while Fliss is trying to forget it. I love the fact that he will not give up until he has her. This is a story about a girl with a bad childhood and a guy who had it all and wants to share it with her. I love the family bonds that they both share with their family's. Fliss with the love for her siblings that make her want to protect them no matter what it cost her. Seth with the perfect family next door that does everything together. This was a true to life story that so many people can relate to. I would recommend this book to anyone to read. I received this book in exchange for an honest review

Wow! A sigh worthy read because Seth is just so sigh worthy. I absolutely loved him. So patient and kind and loving. Fliss was a great heroine but man, she had a lot of insecurities. She comes off as such a strong person that I was hoping she'd be able to defeat her demons a little bit faster but I guess that's what kept the story going. Her interactions with Seth were cute. There were some fun times and some emotional moments but watching their relationship develop was really nice. A great second chance romance that will have you rooting for them to find their HEA this time around. *I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book*

Fliss hasn't seen or talked to her ex-husband, Seth, since their marriage ended ten years ago. So when she learns that Seth is now in Manhattan, she tries to avoid him by any means necessary. I like that Fliss is fiercely protective of the people that she loves. But, beneath her tough persona lies a vulnerability that causes her to have a hard time trusting anyone with her emotions. Will she let her guard down when Seth tries to win her back? Seth never stopped loving Fliss and he wonders if she feels the same. Can he convince her to give their love another chance? I really enjoyed their journey as they uncovered hidden feelings, misunderstandings and family secrets. I love Sarah Morgan's sense of humor that is always present throughout her books. Fliss's grandmother, Grams, and the Poker Princesses were entertaining. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.

Holiday in the Hamptons is the 5th in the From Manhattan with Love series but is also a stand alone. This story is filled with love, laughter, tears and a little bit of crazy. Fliss and her twin sister run The Bark Rangers, a dog walking service. When she learns that her ex-husband is working at the vet clinic that they use, she panics. To avoid him, she goes to the Hamptons to help her injured grandmother for the summer. Seth only filled in temporarily at the Manhattan clinic as an excuse to see Fliss, but returns home to the Hamptons. He is determined to find out what went wrong with their relationship and see if anything is still there. Because of Fliss' childhood, she doesn't like discussing feelings but Seth is tenacious and soon they start to talk, spend time together and learn that their love is real. Now they just need to learn to trust each other. A great story with a lot of heart. This ARC was provided to me for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Review: Second chance at love stories are quickly becoming my favorite trope and this book is a prime example as to why. It was so good! So much emotion...I found myself tearing up several times throughout the story. So this story... Fliss is one of three siblings. She's a twin with Harriet and they have an older brother (Daniel, I think, if I'm remembering right). They all grew up with the fear of their father, whose temper was legendary. He and Fliss were the two that got into it the most. Their summers were their escape when they'd all flee to the Hamptons, someplace their father rarely went. That changed on the twins 18th birthday. He showed up, ruining the day. Fliss escaped to the beach where she ran into 22 yo Seth. Seth was one of her brother's best friends. While he was comforting her, things got a bit out of control...and that's really all the reader knows. Because then the book picks up 10 years later when Fliss lives in NYC and runs a dog-walking business with her twin sister. She's heard from Daniel that Seth is in town, in her area of town, working at the vet clinic where she takes her client's dogs. Not cool. She cannot run into him. So, when the opportunity arises to go help her grandmother in the Hamptons, Fliss runs. What she doesn't know is that Seth was just in NYC temporarily and that he lives in the Hamptons. Oh, and he just happens to be the first person she runs into. This story was so good. My heart hurt for both characters, but especially for Fliss. She grew up learning to protect herself by hiding her emotions. To show vulnerability of any sort to her father and he would exploit that. So, she's learned to bite back her responses, never allow herself to feel. Seth knows all this. He and Fliss may not have been married for long, but he knows her better than anyone, possibly even better than her twin sister, Harriett does. Their marriage may have ended, but the feelings never did for either of these characters. Fliss ran. Seth made the mistake of not chasing after her. But he's older now. He's not planning to make that mistake again. Like I said, this book was just everything. It was emotional and sweet and heart-wrenching. I fell in love with both Seth and Fliss. I loved them, especially as they began to sort through things. Seth is the kind of guy that makes women swoon. He's going to fight for Fliss, for them, this time and that's a gorgeous thing. I loved this story! Highly recommend!! I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review, but purchased a print copy of the book to have on my keeper shelf.

A delightful read perfect for a lazy day on the beach! A short-lived whirlwind of a marriage when they were young left Felicity Knight and Seth Carlyle guarding their wounded hearts as they each went on with their own lives. Lack of communication doomed them before they even began. This is a sweet, yet somewhat frustrating reunion. Seth was easy to love, and Fliss was easy to sympathize with, but I still found myself wanting to shake some sense into her a couple of times. :) A decade has passed since Fliss and Seth were married. They barely had time to blink before it was all over and they were living separate lives. Now she's a professional dog walker, and he's a veterinarian who is crossing her path again. Will they finally be able say the things they left unsaid and have a little peace from the end of their relationship? And when old feelings flare up, will they decide they were worth a second chance?

Fliss runs from Manhattan to the Hamptons; her excuse is that her grandmother has had a fall and needs care for a couple of weeks but in actuality she can't face bumping into Seth, the man whose life she ruined when she married him 10 years earlier. Fliss and her siblings have all been affected by their childhood and their bullying father. Fliss has always protected herself by hiding (and certainly never talking about) her emotions; if someone doesn't know they have hurt you, they can't exploit that weakness. Whilst that might work with the bullies of this world, it also shuts out those people who love you. Fliss doesn't expect to find that Seth had only been temporarily in Manhattan and that he is living in the one place she has fled to. She panics and claims to be her twin; whilst Seth very quickly realises that this is not the case, it proves to him that Fliss is not indifferent to him and he embarks on a quest to win her back. Fliss goes on an emotional journey, finding out that her distorted view of herself as worthless, no good and stupid (her father's words) is not how others view her. Recommended read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Sometimes you have to go home again to figure out what’s important and what you really want in life. Such is the case in Holiday in the Hamptons, Sarah Morgan’s latest From Manhattan with Love novel. Fliss was seriously hurt by her father growing up and always felt she needed to protect her sister Harriett. A summer fling, and quickie marriage, with Seth Carlyle in the Hamptons leaves her even more gun shy then before. She escapes Manhattan, and Seth, to the Hamptons only to realize that Seth’s time in Manhattan was limited and she really hasn’t escaped at all. I love prickly characters. It is fun seeing what makes them tick and how finding their HEA gradually changes their prickliness to something less. Fliss is one such character. Seth exhibits infinite patience with her and he is justly rewarded, as are the readers. It is fun to watch her bloom and grow into the woman she was always meant to be; and the one that others see her as. As an added bonus we get to revisit Miranda and Chase from Midnight at Tiffany’s. The references to romance writers and sex scenes made me laugh out loud. Morgan combines humor, heart, and strength into a perfect package. This book will have you laughing, crying, and generally wanting to escape to the beach. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Whether this is your first book by Ms Morgan, or like me, you are a huge fan of hers, you will fall in love with this story. The previous books in the series have taken place in NYC, but for this one, we travel to the Hamptons where Fliss’s and Harriet’s grandmother lives. These twins grew up in an extremely dysfunctional family. Their father was verbally abusive to them but especially to Fliss, who was always protecting her twin. Their few happy memories were the summers spent in the Hamptons with their grandmother. It was where Fliss fell in love with her brother’s best friend, Seth Carlyle. But tragedy also ended up devastating her . She hasn’t seen her ex in 10 years and escapes to the Hamptons when he is sighted in Manhattan. But fate has a sense of humor , and she bumps into him in the Hamptons. As usual, Ms Morgan gives us a story that is filled with layers. She shows us how a dysfunctional family, and an abusive parent can do such harm, that a child creates barriers around themselves and their hearts. By doing so, they don’t allow anyone to get close. That a person might seem tough and uncaring , when in fact their feelings run deep. But , what if you find someone that is willing to show you love and trust, and will help you find that happiness that has eluded you? Will Seth be that someone for Fliss? Another winner by this very talented author. I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.