Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Applegate

Synopsis from Goodreads: All she wants for Christmas… Summer is headed to the Keys for winter break, but what should be a fun-in-the-sun holiday is becoming unbearable. Summer hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Austin, since their summer romance fizzled, and she can’t stand seeing him at the beach with his new girlfriend….

Now Austin is everywhere she goes. She’s reminded of how much fun they had, how gorgeous he is, and what she really wants is what she can’t have. Will it take a Christmas miracle for Summer to survive this holiday season? Or will the mistletoe work its magic?

Number of pages: 208
My review: In my previous review of Tan Lines, which is the book that comes before this I had said that that specific book put my faith back in the series, but now with this conclusion I'm kinda iffy on the whole thing. So, let's review:
Summer (the first omnibus in the series) was fantastic. I've read it multiple times and is the perfect summer romance novel.
Spring Break (the follow up novel) wasn't that good. A little too predictable and perfect, and definitely wasn't one of my favorites in the series.
Tan Lines (the novel that follows Spring Break and the second omnibus) was also really good. Another good summer romance novel and something I'll probably read each summer.
Sun-Kissed Christmas (the last stand alone novel in the series, and the final book) also wasn't that good. Too perfect, and honestly you can read the first chapter and the last chapter and not waste all your time reading all the stuff in the middle because nothing really happens (seriously the first words out of my mouth when I finished were, "That's it!?"),
Well, I take that back, nothing happens with Summer herself but I liked seeing what Diana and Marquez got themselves into this time around. The one awesome character that I liked meeting was Austin's great uncle Harris. He was pretty cool and I liked the scenes where he was in the picture.
I think the main problem I had with this last book in the series was there was so many loose ends. All the previous books have sort of tied everything up nicely, but not this one. I still had so many questions and this book seriously could have been a lot longer. I felt like everything was really rushed and was pushing more the seasonal mood of Christmas more than the plot itself. Plus, you can literally read the whole book in an hour or so because it's that short, and that easy of reading.
Definitely the weakest novel in the whole series, I think. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I read it because it sort of continues the story for some points that were kinda left undone in Tan Lines, but then I was just left with more questions at the end again. And I don't think there will be another book after this. I don't see how this whole series could be pushed on any further. Sometimes I felt that I should be more infuriated with some of the characters with their actions but at this point I just said screw it and figured that this whole novel would be a repeat of the last one's with their little perfect endings and perfect lives (which wasn't totally true, but I think I've given up caring for the characters).
Anyways, I'd still check it out if you've read the other books in the series, but don't go looking for a lot of closure in this book because you won't get it.
See you soon!

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Tan Lines by Katherine Applegate

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 539
Out of the three books that I've read in the "Summer" series I think I like this one second best. The first book in the series, Beach Blondes, was definitely the most light hearted and was just a fun novel to read (with a whopping 700 pages!). Spring Break had too many issues that I didn't think we're believable (see my last review for more on that). But this one, it was good. Not great but good. It had that light hearted feel, but also delved deeper into the characters problems which was really nice. We were finally able to see some of the darker and more cynical sides of the characters, which was kind of relieving since in Beach Blondes they all seemed sort of picture perfect. Well, maybe not ALL of them...
Anyways, Summer is back in Florida for the summer and she has found an apartment with her cousin/friend Diana and her other friend Marquez. Summer hopes once again to rekindle her romance with Seth but he's all the way in California for an internship, and Austin, the guy she met over spring break is conveniently working just downstairs. Marquez is dealing with some guy issues of her own, but more importantly is dealing with some weight loss issues and her friends are constantly telling her to take care of herself and to stop losing so much weight so quickly, but in a typical Marquez fashion she doesn't listen. Good old Marquez, I wish more people were more headstrong like her. She's definitely one of the best characters in the book. If there was a spin-off series with her as the main character I think I'd like it even better than the "Summer" novels. Diana is her typical moody self, brooding when alone and being mysterious whilst in public.
There is one more book after this one in the series but I actually could see how this would be a good conclusion. The plot lines were worked out well and tied up quite nicely (although at times I felt it was tied up TOO quickly and nicely). I definitely can't wait to start reading the next one Sun-Kissed Christmas. The synopsis sounds like another crazy break from school for Summer. 
You know, on the outside she seems like the perfect character but when you really think about it, she goes through a lot with emotional family turmoil, trying to keep her friends from tearing each other's throats out, and dealing with the many boys in her life who "love" her (I put love in quotes there because I feel like all the characters throw the word around a little too loosely). 
Overall, a great ending to a few plot lines but I definitely can't wait to finish the series. After all the problems I had with Spring Break this was definitely a better follow up book and put my faith back into the series.
See you soon!
Paige

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Spring Break by Katherine Applegate

Read a synopsis here!
Number of pages: 211
This is the sequel to the omnibus Beach Blondes, also by Katherine Applegate, and you should definitely read Beach Blondes before reading this one otherwise you will probably get confused with the majority of the plot. Also this review may contain some spoilers if you have not read Beach Blondes.
Summer Smith is traveling back down to Florida from Minnesota so she can hang out with her two best friends Diana Olan (who is also her cousin) and Maria Marquez (who likes to go by just Marquez). Summer is also meeting up with her boyfriend Seth, in the hopes that this short week of Spring Break can help rekindle their relationship, to the amount of lust and love they felt last summer.
The entire party will be spending a week on a yacht which Diana's mom kindly borrowed from one of her friends and is lending to the girls.
On a connecting flight to Florida, Summer meets a guy named Austin Reed who jumps off the plane at the last minute, for no apparent reason. He leaves behind a book of lyrics and poems that he wrote and Summer jumps off the plane too, to go find him. By the time Summer has found Austin her flight has already taken off (with all her luggage on board) and she is stuck at the airport with Austin until later that night, which is when she can get another flight. 
Austin suggests they go to DisneyWorld instead of waiting in the airport and Summer reluctantly agrees. This is where I start to question Summer's judgement. Wandering off to DisneyWorld with a guy just because he's cute? That's seems a little sketchy, and something someone with a lot of sense would NEVER do. Also, he pays for her ticket; what a gentleman. But DisneyWorld tickets are expensive, so that's a little unbelievable too. Not to mention getting a cab to DisneyWorld and back to the airport? Austin must be very rich if he's doing this out of the kindness of his heart for Summer, but I digress.
The couple, who is not really a couple, has fun at DisneyWorld and they exchange a kiss, which Summer feels she simply cannot resist, even though, again, a girl with a lot more sense would say no firmly and declare that she has a boyfriend. Although, in Summer's defense she did say that a few times and Austin kept coming on to her, however if a strange man you just met could not understand what "no" meant then I'd be hightailing it out of DisneyWorld back to the airport if I were her. 
Once the troublesome twosome come back to the airport they land in Florida and take a cab to the marina where the yacht it docked. No where in the story is there a discussion about picking up the luggage, or luggage being lost, which would have been my number one priority. It all seemed a little to easy and perfect if you asked me. 
Summer, of course, insists that Austin stay on the boat with her and Diana (because Marquez has run away in the meantime to God knows where) and he agrees. Beats staying in a motel which was his original plan. However, that night he tries to kill himself and Summer miraculously saves him (from drowning) and brings him back to the yacht and finally asks him what is wrong. Austin confesses that his father has Huntington's; a genetic disease which slowly kills the person it affects. Austin is also unsure if he has the disease himself and is supposed to be tested for it during his time in Florida but is too scared; he's also too scared to visit his dad in the hospital. All very understandable, and Summer soothes him by letting him sleep in her bed. 
What. What the heck. Summer you have a boyfriend! 
Then the plot thickens, and her boyfriend Seth shows up a day earlier than he was supposed to and almost catches the two of them in bed together but Diana saves the day and pretends that Austin is HER boyfriend, even though Austin makes it extremely obvious to everyone, except apparently Seth, that he is in love with Summer.
After a few days Summer tells Austin he has to leave the yacht and never come back. Before that though she goes to the hospital with Austin to visit his dad, which is very kind of her. Austin becomes too close to her again and she demands that he leave. Conveniently, Seth see's the pair making out in a parking lot and mopes, cries, and accuses Summer of cheating. Seth is sort of a hypocrite though because last Christmas he got stuck in a truck with Diana and was making out with HER. Although Seth never tells Summer this. 
By this point I was rubbing my hands together manically and producing evil laughter with all the twists and turns these teens were taking.
The rest of the story...well you'll have to read that on your own to figure out what happens next. Although it is a little predictable. I do love this book, it's just a little too perfect and predictable sometimes. It's one of those guilty pleasure books for me and I can not wait to read Tan Lines which is the next omnibus in the series. 
See you soon!
Paige

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