Today, I’m so happy to be a tour stop on the blog tour for The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery. Thank you HQN Books for inviting me to participate.
Publisher: HQN Books / Harper Audio
Published: March 15, 2022
Source: Print – ARC E-copy via Netgalley / Audio – ALC via Harper Audio
Summary:
One woman discovers the beauty in chaos in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold family together from number one New York Times best-selling author Susan Mallery.
With her divorce settlement about to run out and a mortgage she can’t afford, Robyn Caldwell needs a plan for her future. She nurtured her family and neglected herself. But how’s she supposed to think when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could bring everything crashing down on Robyn’s head? So when her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane.
But it’s hard to run away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she left behind follows her across the country. Somehow, their baggage doesn’t feel as heavy in the sun-drenched, mishmash mansion. The more time Robyn spends with free-spirited Lillian, the more she sees the appeal in taking chances – on dreams, on love, on family. Life is meant to be lived on purpose. All she has to do is muster the courage to take a chance on herself.
My thoughts:
I’ve been reading Susan Mallery’s books for years, having read most of her series and just loved them. This is the third stand-alone I’ve read and I find these to be just as enjoyable as her other books.
One thing I absolutely love about Susan Mallery is her ability to write genuine, relatable characters. In this book, she really brings forth the family drama and I loved it. Our main protagonist, Robyn, is at a crossroads in her life and yet no one else in her life seems to see that she could possibly have anything other than their issues to deal with. I loved that she basically just takes off across the country to try to put things in perspective…and yet they all end up following her.
The characters in this book are the type that make you want to hug them, cheer for them and some times smack them upside the head. But in the end, there is that turning point with most of them and that is what keeps me reading. There is drama, sometimes a little over the top, but it’s fiction and it wouldn’t be enjoyable if it wasn’t! There is a sweet and, at times steamy, romance and above all, there is just a story that has some feel-good moments.
This book has such a great balance of some heavy issues with lightheartedness thrown in. As someone who is married to a vet, I appreciated that story line and all the research that went into it. It’s the perfect book to pick now or to add to your summer reading list – one that you will breeze through with it’s entertaining storyline and engaging characters. I definitely recommend it!
Audio thoughts:
I was thrilled when I saw that Tanya Eby was narrating this one. Not only is she a great narrator but she has narrated many of Susan Mallery’s books. She really gets her characters nuances and has such a way of bringing them to life, giving them their own distinct voices and personalities. This was a fun book to listen to and Tanya Eby really gave a great performance!
About the author:
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two Ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.
Authors Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
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