Leaving France for Italy, and a sailing trip through the Dalmatian Islands, Maddy and Leanne step into their next adventure with Bridget the poodle, and see where things lead. Driving up the Adriatic, planning to meet up with Carlo (Leanne’s crush) as Maddy leaves Erik and her new potential life with him in the rearview, as they work on creating content for the blog, and head off to a sailing adventure. Arriving to find some intriguing chemistry and underling tension in Carlo, a subtlety that Leanne completely ignored (as she is wont to do) her dreams of a ‘forever’ with Carlo, the ‘almost perfect’ model. But the trip, originally thought to be a small handful of people included Tom, a half-Irish cousin and doctor in need of some r&r, Claudia, an aunt recently returned to Florence after her second divorce and life as a ‘demi-celeb’ in the states, and plenty of tumult.

Two boats are hired, a small yacht for the women and a sailboat for Carlo and Tom and off they head. Claudia alternates between know-it-all snob and good information, she and Maddy have several discussions that send Maddy into tailspins questioning her relationship with Erik and her upcoming divorce, along with her trying to warn off Leanne from Carlo. Leanne is full-on crushing on Carlo – sopping up his attention when he dishes it out, confused when he backs away. There’s a continuation of Leanne’s rather childish behavior, and Maddy’s actual grounded and realistic view, but this is clearly a trip that is coming to a close, thankfully. One can only natter on about their windfall and ‘unexpectedly posh’ amenities for so long: there was something missing in the charm of the first story with Claudia’s ex ‘stalking them’, Tom’s story and his attraction to Leanne, Maddy and her habit and willingness to put her own dreams aside to keep the peace.

Fortunately the descriptions of the islands and small villages that they travel through added interest and beauty to the story: small islands, gorgeous foods, sailing and sightseeing and lovely insets of blog entries kept my interest, it wasn’t the characters or even an interest in where the story would lead: the trip and my patience for the thirty-something Leanne’s immaturity was at an end, and Maddy’s jumping in to ‘mother’ her made this far less intriguing than the start of their trip.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9YU/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This is the second book in the series "Maddy and Leanne" and while it can be read as a standalone, I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book. I didn't realize it was part of a series when I requested it so when I read the first chapter which was primarily backstory, I realized I my mistake.

Overall the writing is easy to read, the characters are cute and the plot is fun. I'm always a fan of stories that focus on female friendship and traveling.

Maddy and Leanne are back and continuing their lottery win holiday and have now reached Italy and Croatia and a sailing trip up the Dalmatian coast..... and it is certainly a trip of the three sss's!

Great to be back with Maddy and Leanne in a great follow up book, I visited Croatia years ago when it was still Yugoslavia and loved that coast with its pretty islands and red roofed houses. As their adventures continue it is a perfect summer beach read when you can really visualise being there

I struggled with this but then discovered this is the follow up to a previous story. There is no real introduction to the characters before it races straight into the story and I found it hard to keep track.

Would only recommend this if you’ve read the last book.

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

'A Holiday to Remember' is the long awaited sequel to Susanne O'Leary's previous novel, 'The Road Trip', so I really do recommend reading the first book before you delve into this one. There is a lot of backstory to both Maddy and Leanne, and I feel that if you don't have all of that then the rest of the story might not be appreciated in the way the author intended. Of course, that is just my opinion so if you're not the type of person to do things in order, crack on with this book first! Both books are hilarious reads so you won't be disappointed at all. Well, I don't think so.

Maddy and Leanne are on the next part of their adventure as they take to the seas to appreciate the coast of Italy and Croatia in all of its glory. However, their holiday isn't all sun, sea and......sexual endeavours, regardless of how much Leanne would want that to happen, especially when the communication between two of Leanne's new found friends hits a wall and leaves Leanne wondering why on Earth she bothers with the opposite sex.

'A Holiday to Remember' is yet another fun-filled novel from Susanne O'Leary. I loved how we were able to pick back up with the characters as though we had only said good night, instead of seeming like the individual novel that it actually is. Very seamless - brilliant.

Maddy and Leanne's endeavours had me laughing out loud and rolling my eyes more times than I care to admit, however, whilst the humour is brilliant, I felt that the previous novel was a little bit more funnier than 'A Holiday to Remember' and that is probably because there are a lot deeper situations going on this time round. I'm not saying that that is a bad thing by the way as I thought the intense elements were a brilliant addition to the author's fantastic humour. There was a good balance, making me still feel as though I was reading a light-hearted book even when there were times I was reading anything but.

I would love to see Maddy and Leanne back again, as well as Bridget! Such a fun trio to read about, I don't think I would ever get bored with their escapades!

When I picked up this novel, I was really hopeful that it would be a cute, fun, and girly read somewhat akin to a Sophie Kinsella novel.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. I think this book attempted to be cute, fun, and girly but it just didn’t work. It was a boring story, the writing was not very good nor did it seem to flow, and the ‘instalove’ was unreal. I can be a fan of cliché ‘instalove’ as well but some of the instances in this novel deemed a serious eye roll.

I wouldn’t recommend this read even for something that is quick. There are too many books out there in the genre of ‘chick-lit’ that are done well to consider before recommending one that is less than mediocre.

**Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

A holiday to remember by Susanne O’ Leary was a cute book. The book had a little of everything, adventure, romance, and mystery. Dalmatian Island sounds like a beautiful place to visit.

4 Sailing Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Another wonderful vacation in a book... this is the continuation of Maddy and Leanne’s travels in “The Road Trip“... after the best friends win the lottery they take the road trip of a lifetime across Europe... this book finds them in Italy and Croatia... I had no idea Croatia was so beautiful, the dalmatian islands sound absolutely stunning... this book really brought the beauty of this part of the world to life I could see, feel, smell, and taste the beautiful turquoise waters! This really is the second half of Maddy and Leanne’s story so I would strongly advise you read the first book 1st...

Maddy really kind of annoyed me in the first book so I was really delighted that this book really focused on Leanne... Leeanne really needed this trip, she really needed to get away from her overbearing mother... I really loved all the secondary characters in this book they were all such eclectic, delightful, and quirky characters... seriously if I ever make it to Europe I am going to have the expectation of meeting all kinds of interesting people on my travels!

A fun book full of friendship, love, intrigue, and a dash of romance... I wouldn’t say this book was laugh out loud funny but it sure did put a big smile on my face... and I absolutely love the message of the book... to live each and every day to its absolute fullest never to settle for second-best....

This book is the perfect summer getaway, allowing you to vacation from the comfort of your couch or the convenience of your lounger.... absolutely recommend if you love books with beautiful settings, strong friendships, and quirky characters....

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

This is the sequel to The Road Trip, which I hadn't read, but the first chapter catches you up on what previously happened. The book is a nice trip through Italy and part of Croatia. The descriptions of the scenery and the food are very nice. There were a few tangents that didn't get resolved for me (was that really a fashion industry spy?) but all in all an entertaining, quick read.

Leanne and Maddy are back in this second book in this series about their travels as they continue on in their travels. The two teachers have won a special lottery and are enjoying a remarkable road trip. In this story they are expanding this road trip and are now going on a boat trip with new friends. Along for the ride is their cute little dog Bridget.

This is a sweet story where, in the first book, The Road Trip, Maddy found a love interest, and now it is Leanne's turn, although for a while she thought she might be disappointed. This was a quick read, with a light air of mystery and drama. I will say that this wasn't the side-splitting read that I expected, but it was quite enjoyable nonetheless, especially with all of the sight-seeing I was able to do from my couch. This was a delightfully engaging series that I was pleased to read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

This isn't a novel. This is a travelogue. It's apparently a sequel, and maybe the first book is better written? All I know is I was dropped into the middle of a huge info dump in the beginning, trying to catch the reader up to everything that had taken place in the first book. Which is fine, but the information could have been more seamlessly integrated and there should have been character arcs and obstacles and things that wanted to make you keep reading. Instead it was like, "Here are these cool places I've been to and this is what they're like and my characters are going to ooh and aah over them and that's the story." If you like reading travel blogs, you'll probably like this book. I was hoping for a romance, which sort of happens (and another one happened in the first book and you'll catch the tail end of it here), but it is kind of boring and doesn't really hold your attention. I had to keep forcing myself to read it because I had it as an ARC from NetGalley. I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't hate-worthy, but it wasn't great.

Leanne and Maddy work at the same school. Both feel a bit fed up with their lives so when they win some money on the lottery they decide to go on an adventure. Meeting up with some newly made friends they decide to drive and sail their way from Italy to Croatia.
Maddy is the older of the two and is dealing with the breakup of her marriage whilst trying to assess where her budding relationship with Leanne’s father Erik. She spends a lot of her time trying to keep Leanne grounded but is also determined to enjoy life in the moment.
Leanne is using the trip to write a blog of their travels which is a huge hit. She has also developed a massive crush on one of their travelling companions Carlo. The one small blip in this situation is that Carlo’s ex-girlfriend Lucilla is also travelling with them. Despite this she is sure he is the one and is determined to get him.
Maddy and Leanne are great characters and you can’t help but feel a little envious of the life they are currently leading. They have a very strong friendship and you can tell despite the age difference, they love being in each other’s company. Carlo was a bit shallow – good looking and he knows it, more interested in having a good time than anything else – no matter who may get hurt. Lucilla comes off as a bit prickly and stand offish at times but there is a reason for this that you will discover. I loved Lucilla’s Aunt Claudia, a wealthy woman who often thought some situations and people were beneath her. That being said she actually became a good friend to Maddy, giving her advice on how to deal with her dilemma.
A Holiday to remember is just that. Suzanne O’Leary has certainly woven a spell with this book. Her descriptions of the stunning locations make you want to visit them. By the end of the book you will find you have been chuckling along the way as you follow Leanne and Maddy on their travels, discovering new friends, locations and lovers and even things about themselves. It is the second book in the series but you can easily read it without having read the first one, although you will probably be missing out if you do. This is a great holiday read and one I would recommend is packed in your case to read whilst lounging by the pool.

I was thinking this would be a fun, humor filled read since its said to be a romantic comedy but I didn't see that. Okay, some of it was a bit quirky but nothing that had me laughing out loud so I didn't get that "side-splitting feeling".

What I did see was two friends on a life changing Holiday. Meeting new people, making new life alternating decision and finding what they really want out of life. The road trip/sail adventure turned into a personal a trip of personal discovery.

This is one of those feel good, grab your friend and have an adventure type reads.

I received this ARC copy of A Holiday To Remember from Bookouture. This is my honest and voluntary review. A Holiday To Remember is publication date August 15, 2018.

My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Susanne O'Leary
Print Length: 273 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: August 15, 2018
Genre: Women's Lit.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Rememb...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ho...

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Goodreads likes as of 8/9/18: 10 likes

Such a fun book. I loved this story of friends on a road trip through my dream destination, Italy. Slip this one into your beach bag today!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Leanne and Maddy (and Bridget) are back! Don't worry if you didn't read the first book= this one fully explains the back story and moves it on to new countries and experiences. These two women (and their dog) are on an extended road trip, this time through Italy and the Dalmatian Islands (well, they sail through those.). There are wonderful descriptions of the area and of the food but best of all are the characters, not just these two but those they meet along the way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the perfect book to while away a few hours- take your mind to pleasant sunny places with a happy read. Two thumbs up!

A Holiday to Remember is the second book in Susanne O’Leary’s latest series. Secondary teachers Leanne and Maddy have been struggling to make ends meet, that is until they win a very special lottery that affords them a summer of their dreams. First they rent a snazzy convertible, then travel from the British isles to the continent to find both closure and beginnings to their new adventures.

They have met with Leanne’s estranged father Erik Sandvik, now proprietor of Jan Hovden, a designer perfume company. They then move on to meet Carlo, one of Erik’s marketing reps, his partner Lucille, her aunt Claudia and cousin Tony, to undertake a memorable sailing trip through the Adriatic Sea and through the Dalmatia islands until their final destination of Dubrovnik.

During this journey, Leanne experiences so many things including visiting wonderful places and learning what love is really about. This is a very enjoyable story with rich characters and settings. I did enjoy this tale and do recommend it as a lovely summer read.

Carlo

Life is to short to let anyone tell you how to live it ...

I have read part one and I kept tapping on my Kindle because I did not want the story to end, but it did not work. So I had to count the days and now I was so happy to be able to read about the rest of the girls's journey.

It's an entertaining feel good book with a slight touch of suspense,lots of love and friendship and an emotional end.

I hope there is more to come. I am so not ready to say goodbye to them.

Thank you, Susanne O'Leary, Bookouture and Netgalley

Is there anything better than a summer filled with new chick lit??? You would think I would be getting fatigued by now but this book was a shot of coffee at the end of a long season :c) I loved everything about it :c) The kind of book that reminds me why I love the genre :c)

My review has been posted to Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

This novel is about two Irish friends called Maddy and Leanne who decide to have a touring summer holiday away from their homeland sight-seeing the gorgeous scenery along Italy’s picturesque Adriatic coastline. They are travelling in their own car and have their miniature poodle called Bridget along with them. They make friends along the way who persuade them to join in on a sailing trip to see Croatia’s spectacular Dalmatian islands. This is an offer too good to resist and the scene is set for a holiday filled with sizzling sunshine, turquoise seas to swim in, and lots of fun and new friendships, not forgetting sparkling, steamy romances. What’s not to like? Life is good and the girls are happy.
This is a perfect holiday read for lazy sunny days on the beach or basking in the sunshine of your garden. There’s plenty of fun and laughs but this well told, feel-good story also carries an important massage; live life to the full and enjoy yourself while you can. Maddy and Leanne are two fascinating characters. Their holiday is a huge contrast to their every-day lives. Leanne is in her thirties and still living at home with her Mum while Maddy is newly separated from her distant husband. But their stories are about to change massively, there will be no routines to follow and romance is in the air. This is going to be the holiday of a lifetime and it will also change their lives forever.
I received this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you for my copy which I found very entertaining. It’s a 3.5* review from me.

A continuation of the road trip taken by the girls Maddie and Leanne, this had boats and sailing in it. You got to read the previous book to know and love the characters and Bridget.

The author Susanne O'Leary has continued the travel from Ireland to Italy, to driving the red Mercedes convertible to sailing around Dalmatian Islands, while stopping at the various villages for sightseeing and food. (food and wine has been described gorgeously in this book).

This was not only a journey to places but a journey to understanding their inner selves. Both Maddy and Leanne had to take some tough decisions, though this book concentrated more on Leanne and her love life.

The story from the beginning Maddie and Leanne won the lotto, decided to leave their old life for a dream vacation the whole of summer, took a road trip, met up old love, old dad, new loves, and started blog and social media (which are instant hits). They decided to go sailing to Dalmatian Islands with this book. There were a lot of capers and additional characters, with a dog-knapping, jealous old flames, lying new flame, director turned politician, runaway wife and unexpected loves.

Maddie and Leanne's friendship continued on along with their blog posts. This had humorous moments but not the LOL kinds. Overall a good read.