03 | June | 2020 | Berit Talks Books

Happy happy Friday all!

This was such a fun story. The absolute perfect beach read. 🏖

Sun, Sea and Sangria

Kat swore off dating many years ago, after her marriage ended in a catastrophic mess. Having moved to the Canary Islands for a fresh start, she has never had much time for romance, channelling all her energy into managing all-male dance troupe – the Heavenly Hunks.

With golden beaches, sparkling blue water and relaxing after work with a glass of sangria – or three – for Kat, it’s summer all year round. But despite life being postcard perfect, Kat can’t help but wonder if she is missing out on the most important thing of all… love.

The dancers are all well-known for their flirtatious antics and aren’t looking for anything serious… except Jay. Sitting by the pool, watching the sun reflecting in the water, Kat feels like she can tell him anything.

Handsome, caring and a good listener, he ignites a fire in Kat’s heart that scares her witless. But her relationship with Jay should stay strictly professional… right? There is absolutely no way that she can be his boss and his date.

As the temperature rises, will Kat be able to take the plunge, let go of her past and find romance in paradise?

My Thoughts

Sun, C, and heavenly hunks. Victoria Cook never disappoints and this might be my absolute favorite from her. A delightful relatable female protagonist, a gorgeous tropical setting, friendship, romance, and hot hot men. Kat had a toxic marriage and now is living her best life in the Canary Islands. Kat is the manager of a creative exotic male dance troupe. She is not only manager but kind of a mother figure to this group of adorable good looking men. She has always abided by her rule not to get romantically involved with any of the dancers, that is until Jay joins the troupe and there is a definite spark. BUT Kat and Jay both have a lot of baggage.

Loved Kat and this colorful group of men. The setting sounded so divine I am not certain I’ve ever read a book that took place in the Canary Islands? I loved how talented all these characters were and had a lot of fun when they participated in a talent show of sorts. By the pool, on the sand, or even on your couch this is the perfect afternoon treat.

This book in emojis 🏖 🍹 🕺 🏝 🎰 🌴

*** Big thank you to HQ Digital for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Purchase Link – http://getbook.at/SunSeaAndSangria

Author Bio –

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of a career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel, ‘The Secret to Falling in Love,’ in 2016 which was selected for onscreen adaptation in April 2020.

Her third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018.

Social Media Links – Twitter @Victoriacooke10

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoriacookeauthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter

TikTok: @victoriacookewriter

Berit’s Thoughts

This book was extremely powerful and the audio was even better!

What I know: what it is like to be the only one hundred percent white sibling in a biracial family, what it is like to have national guard on your street as I was living in Long Beach during the 92 riots, what it is like to have a brother pulled over by the police for absolutely no reason other than the color of his skin. Vut what I don’t know is what it is like to be anything but a white girl in America. This book did a very good job in really bringing to light the problem of police brutality when it comes to minorities. A life matters no matter what! We will never know what choices we would make if our life offered us different circumstances and different choices. We will never truly understand our privilege, unless we go without. I unequivocally believe we should not judge people based on not only the color of their skin, but not of their life choices. We have never lived their lives, we do not know their reasons, and what we really don’t know is what we would have done in the same situation. I hope people read this book with an open mind and wanting some understanding to what is really going on, someday perhaps we could all live in a world where people pass less judgment and have more understanding, I can only hope. And I really hope the next time a man takes a knee in protest of how black men and women are treated in America, we stand up and take notice!

narration: if you do not listen to audiobooks start now! This is probably the most fantastic narration of 2017,Bahni Turpine brought so much to this already amazing story, I can’t even….💚

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.