I know the author from one of her Puffin Island books. And since I have enjoyed that one very much, I took my chance when I got this one offered. And what a great ride it was. Holy smokes! If you are looking for deep emotions, a female main figure who loves life, wants to be independent, loves what she does for a living, and is still as female as you can imagine, then this is a book you should definitely read. Good, I would have preferred the UK cover on the German edition way more, but the story it contains is the same. And that story took me in from the very first moment I started reading it.
Schlaflos In Manhattan*
by Sarah MorganFrom Manhattan With Love Series #1
Original Title Sleepless In Manhattan
Publisher Mira TB on February 6, 2017
Genre Novel
Pages 442
Format Paperback
Source Publisher
✶✶✶✶½
Cool, calm and competent, events planner Paige Walker loves a challenge. After a childhood spent in and out of hospitals, she´s now determined to prove herself – and where better to take the world by storm than in the exhilarating bustle of Manhattan? But when Paige is let go from the job she loves, she must face her biggest challenge of all – going it alone. Except launching her own events company is nothing compared to hiding her outrageous crush on Jake Romano – her brother´s best friend, New York´s most in-demand date, and the only man to break her heart. When Jake offers Paige´s fledgling company a big chance, their still-sizzling chemistry starts giving her sleepless nights. But can she convince the man who trusts no one to take a chance on forever?
Story
Paige is a young woman who wants to get the best out of her life as possible. After she had to live her entire childhood as if she were made of glass and was wrapped in cotton balls by her parents and brother because of her heart disease, she is now as a grown-up woman fighting to actually live. Because her parents and her brother still think that she needs to be protected and that she can´t make decisions on her own. Only Jake treats her in a different way. Good, he keeps her at bay, but he is always open and honest with her. In fact, he drives her up the walls whenever possible.
Style
This novel is a fantastic mixture of all the emotions life has to offer. Deep passion, hot sex, the loyalty only true friends, and a caring and loving family can give you and the knowledge that life isn´t self-evident. Combined with a heartwarming story that shows you a woman who takes for the first time in her life the risk to become her own boss and still be able to do what she loves and always wanted: to plan and organize events for others. Sarah Morgan shoes in a soft and sensitive way how confusing, complicated, and threatening life sometimes can be. And how hard it can become to let someone love you. Truly, deeply, and with everything that comes along with that.
But what I found the most astonishing is the tone the author uses this time. Yes, there is a lot of fun, humor, irony, and hilarious things in this novel, but also a darker tone who gives you a sensational thrill every time you turn a page and keep reading.
Characters
I don´t know how she does it, but Sarah Morgan has a gorgeous way to create her characters. No matter if the female ones or the male ones. All her characters convince you that this could easily be you. There is a depth in them, a profoundness that makes you wish you could step right into the story and be a part of their lives, knowing that this is pure fiction.
While Paige is always determined to have everything under control, Eva is the one with all the romantic stuff swirling around her head and knowing her two best friends from the insight out. Frankie is as pragmatic and hard-headed as you can imagine. Love doesn´t exist in real life and never ever get yourself a boyfriend – that means only trouble, tears, and whatever life thinks is fun for that matter.
And Jake, oh holy smokes! Sex on two legs – got the picture? He runs his own business, can choose whom he takes in as a new client and he knows exactly what he wants. Anything but love. Sex, yes, but love? God forbids. He carries around with him a lot of emotional stuff and not even his mother Maria is able to take that away from him. But when Paige confronts him with her feelings and how she is seeing things, the worst-case scenario happens. And the world is all of the sudden turned upside down – for both.
Conclusion
This book was GREAT! I didn´t expect such a dark tone when it comes to a Sarah Morgan book, but it fits completely. I enjoyed every second while reading, I had tears running down my cheeks and was a wreck when it came to the worst. This is a beautifully written novel. Thank God, I have the next one already laying here. Need to know how things will go on with those three girls. Absolutely thrilled!
Happy reading
*This book was kindly provided to me by Mira TB in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.
*This book was published Sleepless in Manhattan in the UK by Mira on March 10, 2016
*This book was published Sleepless in Manhattan in the US by Harlequin on May 31, 2016
Sarah Morgan
Sarah Morgan dreamed as a child of being a writer and although she took a few interesting detours along the way, she is now living her dream. She loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance with humor and sensuality. She has sold over 14 million copies of her books and was nominated four years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America which she won twice; in 2012 and 2013. She also won the RT Reviewers´ Choice Award in 2012 and has made numerous appearances in their `Top Pick´ slot. Together with her husband and children, she lives near London, England.