This is a lovely book about relationships and second chances. The descriptions of food and the beach settings are delightful. When celebrity chef Cliff drives his car off a ravine with a young woman as his passenger, people draw the inevitable, wrong conclusions. The story of his passenger unfolds, and her future develops with Cliff’s ex wife, into a very interesting tale.

Joanna's high profile life with her ex husband comes to a head when she finds out he's got a daughter from one of his many affairs. She decides to go back to the place where she grew up although she hadn't been back for 20 years

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I normally adore this author’s books but I’m afraid this one disappointed me . It is still an excellent read. Sarah Morgan couldn’t write a bad book if she tried. This story of divorced Joanna coping with her ex husband’s death by returning to her home town after 20 years and struggling with all the adjustments to folk in her past was well done.
The idea that Joanna took Ashley on board was harder to believe but I was able to suspend disbelief.

However……. there were definitely a couple of things about the story that I did not like and found difficult to believe. The idea that Nate had never told his twin sister the truth about his and Joanna’s breakup just did not ring true to me. The way Mel then behaved when she encountered Joanna after twenty years - also didn’t ring true. What 40 year old woman behaves like that?

Also I don’t like it when the author misleads the reader by holding back information as is done with Ashley. So that we are led up a blind alley, only to have things turned upside down later in the book.

However, this is still a great read and an absolute must for all Sarah Morgan fans. .

One of the best books I’ve read in a while. The characters were all so very well written and likable (for the most part!). I love stories centred around small towns and this was one of the best. I’d love to live in Silver Point and eat at Nate’s Place!! I enjoyed the twist at the beginning and the way Joanna learnt to love herself again. A real feel good read.

This is a fantastic book, much more in-depth and gritty than the carefree cover would lead you to believe!
I loved all of the characters - they read as multi-faceted and believable individuals, on the whole people you would enjoy meeting in a location I would love to live in.
The story, whilst with an overall feel good thread, has more depth than the average summer holiday type read with some strong emotions and nice little twists along the journet.
Thoroughly recommend!

Joanna Whitman has always shunned the limelight, but still working with her celebrity chef ex husband doesn’t make it easy. Especially when he dies in a car crash, leaving a pregnant young woman injured at the scene.
When Joanna goes back to her small hometown, she takes Ashley with her.

The town is what we all imagine friendly hometowns should be, a refuge, where everyone knows you and remembers who you were before you left. It’s a story of friendships, old and new. How no one ever knows exactly what’s going on in anyone else’s life. It shows how we all have our own perspective on life, and sometimes that you really just need a friend to talk to.
The characters in the book feel like old friends, and that we’re having an amazing catch up session. Although it starts with a death, it’s a heart warming story, showing how kindness and genuine friends can make a real difference to people’s lives, and that sometimes helping someone can bring unasked for rewards. Loved it, but I now want to know what happens to them next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This might be Joanna s story but really it's all of the characters, This feels less like a fiction book that's a story about new characters and more like sitting down to catch up with old friends.
There's so many parts of this story that I really enjoyed, even the less optimistic parts make youbfeel happy with the decisions the characters make in the moment even when you know its not what they want.

Set in California, the book is based on 3 women, Joanna ex-wife of famous chef Cliff Whitman, Mel best friend of Joanna's from school who haven't seen or spoke to each other for over 20 years and Ashley a teenager who finds out her father is Cliff Whitman.

A good quick read showing how true friendships never really die even with a 20 year hiatus, compassion and how in Joanna's case to deal with the media who hounds her every move after Cliff Whitman's death.

The End Of A Spotlight Marraige…
The end of a spotlight marriage, the diverse trappings of fame, an escape and a brand new beginning. It’s all here in the latest offering from Sarah Morgan together with family, friendships, romance and complex relationships. With a compelling narrative and a credible cast of characters this is an escapist yet thoughtful read. Very enjoyable.

Wow wow wow. Sarah Morgan at her best . A story of old love, wicked step mother, friendship, unfaithful husband. Twists of fate and the very downside of fame. It was an intense story but I loved it. The cooking bits made me laugh especially as an x chef . Got to read it. Loved it

Firstly I really enjoyed reading this book.
Joanna has been married to a celebrity chef for nearly 20 years. After divorcing him, he is killed in a car crash, so she packs her bags and escapes from the paparazzi back to her small home town.
It's a sweet uplifting romance with a bit of philosophy thrown in.

Another likely success by Sarah Morgan. Her books are all different and all very enjoyable, with this one being no exception. The story was so well written and believable that I almost felt I was there and knew the lovely characters as soon as I opened the book. Joanna had lived a life of luxury but was unhappy and lonely. Along came Ashley who had many recent problems. As the stories of these two intertwined, a lovely tale developed with some surprises along the way. I recommend this book - well worth reading.