Review: The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery

Title: The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

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!

Review:

The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery is an absolutely charming novel of new beginnings, family and love.

Thirty-one year old Margot Baxter is looking forward to her newest assignment working with impulsive, quirky former actress Bianca. Margot is an etiquette coach who is tasked with helping Bianca temper her behavior so as not to harm her fiancé’s career as a diplomat. Bianca insists Margot stay with her during their lessons which is not normally an issue. However, Bianca is temporarily living with her son Alec Mcnichol who prefers the quiet life. Initially keeping to herself, Margot is surprised when she and Alec form an easygoing friendship that eventually turns into an unexpected attraction. Alec fears turning into his chaotic mother so how will he react when he has few troubling instances of out of character behavior as his relationship with Margot becomes more serious? And is Margot finally free of the one man from her past whose infrequent interruptions of her life  have spelled troubled for her after she makes impulsive choices?

Margot’s fraternal twin sister Sunshine is determined to break free of her self-destructive behavior.  She has a long history of making impetuous decisions and she is resolute as she holds firm to her commitment to change her life. She is loving her latest position as a nanny for eight year old Connor. However, her college class is not going as smoothly as Sunshine hoped. She is also fighting an strong attraction to her boss, widower Declan Dubois.  Will Sunshine trust her instincts once she realizes that she is falling for Declan and that he has feelings for her too?

The Summer of Sunshine & Margot is an endearing novel with a marvelous cast of winsome characters. Margot and Sunshine are extremely close and they have worked hard to overcome their residual issues from their mother’s abandonment.  Alec is a delightful blend of nerdy and sexy and although he loves his mother, he does not share her propensity for creating turmoil. Declan is still attempting to heal from the events that preceded his wife’s death but he is also surprisingly ready to move forward. Young Connor is a bright and loving child and his interactions with Sunshine are an absolute joy.

Susan Mallery newest release is an engaging feel-good story that will delight and captivate readers of the genre.