Summer on a Sunny Island

By: Sue Moorcroft

Narrated by: Lesley Harcourt

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

The number one best seller is back with an uplifting, happy audiobook that will raise your spirits and warm your heart!

This summer, sparks are flying on the island of Malta....

When Rosa Hammond splits up from her partner, Marcus, her mum, Dora, suggests a summer in Malta. Not one to sit back and watch her daughter be unhappy, Dora introduces Rosa to Zach in the hope that romance will bloom under the summer sun. But Rosa’s determined not to be swayed by a handsome man - she’s in Malta to work, after all.

Zach, meanwhile, is a magnet for trouble and is dealing with a fair few problems of his own. Neither Rosa or Zach are ready for love - but does fate have other ideas? And after a summer in paradise, will Rosa ever want to leave?

Perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Trisha Ashley and Carole Matthews.

©2020 Sue Moorcroft (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"I love all of Sue Moorcroft’s books!." (Katie Fforde)

Fine for light and easy, but somewhat lacking

Summer on a Sunny Island is one of those books I would call light and easy--it’s ideal for a vacation read when you just want to escape. For those books, my enjoyment is usually based on the characters, the plot, and the location.

The characters are the strongpoint here--Rosa, a young British woman is at a bit of a crossroads in her life (she just broke up with her boyfriend and isn’t quite sure she wants to stay in her teaching job), so she heads to Malta to help her mother, Dory, with her cooking career. There she meets the good-looking single Zach (of course), a young British man also at a bit of a crossroads. Both Rosa and Zach are written well for a beach read--they’re realistic and you care about them. And I enjoy the supporting characters--especially Rosa’s Mom, Dory--they provide just enough relief from the main characters and are all relevant to the story.

The plot is fairly standard--boy and girl meet, problems get in the way, boy and girl solve problems. I did think the problems got a little over-the-top in this one (not so much what happened, but that they just kept piling on), but it wasn’t too cumbersome.

And, of course, Malta is an ideal location for this--it’s a sunny island with a very interesting history and a unique combination of cultures. This is probably where I struggled the most with the book, though--I wish there had been more about Malta! There are a few descriptions and a few location “name drops,” but there is just so much history there and so many beautiful sights, I wish the book had offered more of an insight into this especially unique island. (I do realize I might be a little demanding in that area.)

Summer on a Sunny Island is just fine if you’re looking for a light and easy read to take with you on vacation (I listened to it as an audiobook while on a road trip--it’s great for that, too). If you’re really looking for something on Malta, though, we’ll find you something that offers a little more.

I disliked this book

Too much drama. It was difficult to finish this book. The characters were bland and The storyline was just okay. The narration was a good fit for this book. All I can say is it is over. I enjoy a book that isnt like my life already. I need calm and serene.