ST. BART'S by Emme Cross

ST. BART'S 

by Emme Cross

ARC Review

Release: March 13th, 2014, Writer's Coffee Shop

My rating : 3 of 5 ⭐️







Returning to St. Bart's is bitter-sweet for Sunny O'Hara. Losing her father recently after spending most of her life traveling the world with him, she is now officially without roots and is hoping to find some in the place she was born. Her long term plans are to convert family property left to her into a few rental villas, to provide her with income. In the meantime she wants to catch up on all the things she has missed out on for years, namely a social life. 

On the island to film his latest movie, actor Sven Larsen is starting to get fed up with his partying and filandering lifestyle. When he meets a girl alone in the kitchen of a restaurant, who seems to be quite innocent and unassuming, but takes care of him and feeds him despite of his inebriation, he is intrigued by her open and direct nature, but scared of her innocence. When she turns out to be working on the movie as a translator for the director, he approaches her again.

Methodical as she is, Sunny has a list made for every experience she feels she is lacking and decides it is time she gain some sexual experience. Of course she will need someone trustworthy to guide her and decides Sven might fit that bill. Initially not willing to 'soil' an innocent, Sven tries to stay away, but when he sees the sharks circling around Sunny, he steps in and ends up being an enthusiastic tutor.

Of course, constantly being in the public eye, it doesn't take long for someone with nefarious intent to leak some damning information to the tabloids. Just as the enthusiasm of the tutoring sessions has started warming up with the heat and passion of feelings. Too many people would be put out by a love connection between Sven and Sunny, and more than one is working hard to  put a stop to their relationship. Even if they have to resort to violence.

****

Beautiful scenic setting!! Absolutely makes you want to visit.

I loved the character of Sunny, whose name was very appropriately chosen by her father. A tad naive, although not stupid and certainly well-educated. Young but not immature by a long shot. And inexperienced, but eager to learn and open to new things. She also doesn't seem to judge and has a good instinct about people, never having lived in a world of smoke and mirrors like Sven.

Sven is the more complex of the two with the greater development arc. He starts off as another typical Hollywood playboy weakling, who, in his thirties, finally is starting to figure out that this wild and messy lifestyle is not one he can perpetuate his entire life. Nor does he really want to. But the life of a star is a spoiled one and even though he doesn't consider himself as such, he realizes he has come to take too much for granted. Sunny opens his eyes to the simple pleasures, without the glitz and the glamour.

The story was an interesting one, and well written. But I am not a fan of overly descriptive novels, and this would certainly count as one. And tend to appreciate 'common' language in books, and this novel was written in a style a bit too refined to feel entirely natural to me. 

Perhaps this is why it may have felt slow to me. I found myself almost skimming over the last chapters in my determination to finish it, because I did want to know the outcome of the story, but had no more patience for anything but the pertinent information.

I don't think this is a true erotic novel, it is too mild for that by far. It is however a very interesting novel with a few subplots one of which is sexual exploration, described very sweetly.

St. BART'S is an interesting book with compelling characters and a good storyline, set in a little piece of paradise.

✨An enticing and touching story of coming home.✨

**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**