Title: All Summer Long
Series: Fools Gold bk 9
Author: Susan Mallery
Genre: Contemporary
Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But he’s frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous assets.Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a family—yet she can’t move toward the future while she’s haunted by painful memories.
Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?
This series has been a hit and miss for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and I really liked it.
Clay is one of those heroes that you want either in your bed or as one of your best friends. He knows what love is like as he had that with his late wife. Because he has had that he knows what to look for and how to stay away from it. He never expected Charlie. When she asks him to help her he can’t help but say yes.
In the previous books Charlie comes off as very hard and brash at least to me. So when she decides to get over what makes her the way she is and why. Something very bad happened in her past that has shaped the way she is and she wants to get over it so she can have a family.
Add in Charlie’s mom who shows up out of the blue to suddenly forge a relationship with her there is lots of angst to go around.
Over all I really liked this story, however the story line of Charlie and her mom and how Clay’s mom was trying to help them become closer and counsels her mom on what to do. I have to admit that for most of the story I was really irritated by this story line and felt like Clay’s mom was a giant hypocrite because of the relationship she has with her daughter. When something happens to Clay’s sister at the end of the book I have to admit I my estimation of the story went up.
Overall I really liked this book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Grade B+
