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| Erica is a successful businesswoman who owns a chain of beauty salons in the Seattle area. Her only child, Summer, is in high school and busy playing on her school’s softball team, and Erica tries to attend each game. A painful divorce has her vowing to herself never to fall in love and marry, though she is currently seeing a gentleman, Killion, who is good to her but there are no promises of love between them. Summer adores her father, Peter, as well as his wife and son. Summer’s stepmother, Allison, is pregnant with a little girl. The world seems all right…until it isn’t. It starts when Peter gets arrested by the Feds and placed in jail. Allison first realizes something is wrong when the debit card she was attempting to use is rejected. She tries to call Peter, but it goes to voice mail. Then she receives a collect call from prison. It’s Peter. He insists it is all a mistake and will be out soon. Meanwhile, their bank accounts are frozen, and Allison has a son to feed and bills to pay. Summer finds out what is going on and attempts to help. Summer finally turns to her mother and begs her to help Allison and her son, Jackson. Erica could refuse but it would only anger Summer. Besides, what Peter did (money laundering for one thing) isn’t Allison’s fault. She invites Allison and Jackson to move in with her. Erica and Allison shouldn’t like each other but they soon have a lot of respect for each other in FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery. They have something in common: they care for Summer. Erica is jealous of Allison because Summer sings her praises. Allison was told by Peter that Erica was a bitch and took everything they had accumulated in their marriage. The truth finally comes out when Allison learns that the house and the business were all acquired before Erica married Peter. Erica learns that Allison was fed lies by Peter and she is innocent in his shenanigans. Add in that there is not one, but two kids are paying the price of what their father has done, and it’s no wonder that Erica stepped in. The thaw to their relationship is slow in FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER but readers will sense that these two women will become lifelong friends. The only barrier will be what happens to Peter. Meanwhile, Summer acts like a peacemaker and helps the thawing. Summer is truly a wonderful and positive child. Unknown to Erica, Peter has lied to Summer about his marriage to her. Things are grim for Allison, and readers will root for her life to get better. As for Erica, her relationship with Killion continues, though it’s clear he feels more for her than she realizes. Will something change in this tale to upset their apple cart? FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER is the perfect vacation book to put in your tote. I found this tale intriguing and immersed myself in the lives of these characters. While we start out not knowing much about Erica, Allison, or Summer, by the end, we feel like we are part of their little circle. If you are looking for a beach read to put on your book shopping list, then be sure to pick up FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER. You won’t be sorry. Patti Fischer |
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FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER – Susan Mallery