The Baxter sisters come from a long line of women with disastrous luck in love. But this summer, Sunshine and Margot will turn disasters into destiny…
As an etiquette coach, Margot teaches her clients to fit in. But she’s never faced a client like Bianca, an aging movie star who gained fame—and notoriety—through a campaign of shock and awe. Schooling Bianca on the fine art of behaving like a proper diplomat’s wife requires intensive lessons, forcing Margot to move into the monastery turned mansion owned by the actress’s intensely private son. Like his incredible home, Alec’s stony exterior hides secret depths Margot would love to explore. But will he trust her enough to let her in?
Sunshine has always been the good-time sister, abandoning jobs to chase after guys who used her, then threw her away. No more. She refuses to be “that girl” again. This time, she’ll finish college, dedicate herself to her job as a nanny, and she 100 percent will not screw up her life again by falling for the wrong guy. Especially not the tempting single dad who also happens to be her boss.
Master storyteller Susan Mallery weaves threads of family drama, humor, romance and a wish-you-were-there setting into one of the most satisfying books of the year!
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My Review
The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is the story of two sisters. Although Margot and Sunshine are fraternal twins, they are not very much alike. Margot is an etiquette teacher. Sunshine is a freespirit working as a nanny. The one thing they have in common is terrible taste in men. One summer, though, things change. Margot goes to work for a famous (and somewhat scandalous) actress who has a handsome son. Sunshine falls for the father of the little boy she is taking care of. Can things change for them both in the space of a summer?
I always enjoy Susan Mallery novels. She does such a good job at writing women's lives, and her characterizations are always enjoyable. I wanted to read this novel because I like her work -- and I really enjoyed this book.
Margot and Sunshine were very relatable and sympathetic characters. Margot wants to be so proper and she is really challenged by her etiquette client Bianca, who has an issue with self control. Bianca's son, Alec, a scholar who lives in a repurposed monastery and studies ancient texts, is the polar opposite of his mother; he is so restrained that he has a hard time connecting emotionally.
Sunshine is my favorite character. She is very warm and sweet natured but has a tendency to get involved much too quickly with men who inspire her to leave her everyday life, traveling or moving suddenly, abandoning responsibility. She finally has a stable job as a nanny to a little boy named Connor. Connor's father, Declan, is a landscape architect who is a recent widower. Sparks fly between Sunshine and Declan but they are both wary because of the situation and timing.
I really liked all the lead characters and couldn't put the book down because I wanted to see what would happen with these possible relationships.
There are some fascinating details in this book. I enjoyed reading about Declan's work as a landscape architect, and Alec's home (a former monastery) was especially interesting. There are secrets waiting in the attic and the cellar, and Margot makes time to explore while she is staying there.
The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is a wonderful summer read -- the setting, the characters, and the fast moving storyline make this a perfect book for a vacation or for a weekend read.
There is also some real depth to the characters of Sunshine and Margot, and their desire to break out of longstanding patterns. For this reason I also think this would make a wonderful summer book discussion pick.
#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives-family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.
1 comment:
I am so glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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