The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery – a Review
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Description:
Single mom Robyn Caldwell needs a new plan for her future. She has always put her family first. Now, with her kids grown, she yearns for a change. But what can she do 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 ruin everything?
Take a vacation, of course. Press reset. When her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane to sunny California.
But it’s hard to get away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she loves 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 possibilities she sees—for dreams, love, family. She can have everything she ever wanted, if only she can muster the courage to take a chance on herself.
Review:
The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery is another one of her wonderful family & romance novels. Robyn Caldwell, our heroine, is divorced and has two grown up children; she feels like everything is falling apart in her life; as she needs to make a decision on selling her house.
When her daughter, Harlow, who is engaged, insists that she wants her wedding to held at the backyard of their house, she becomes belligerent when she learns her mother is planning to sell. Robyn tries to explain that her ex-husband, Cord, wants the half of the sale and time is running out; she can no longer afford living there; but Harlow is beyond reasoning, only caring about herself. Austin, her son, just graduated high school and is working for his father. He is very close to Robyn, but she worries, since she feels that he should go to college, not depend on his father’s fishing charter business. Her ex-husband becomes involved with Harlow’s fiancée’s sister (20 years younger), and her best friend, despite her warnings, is cheating on her husband. Robyn is stressed to the max, as she always puts her family first, but now she receives a call from her great aunt, Lillian, to visit her this summer in Santa Barbara, California; it took her a day to decide this is what she needed, to get away and spend time with her beloved aunt.
Aunt Lillian, is 94 years old, and lives in a huge mansion that has secret rooms, priceless antiques, and considered a historical mansion; she also has 15 cats. Lillian was thrilled to see Robyn, and introduced her to Mason Bishop, a distant relative of her deceased husband. Mason is a former army veteran, and also writes on the side. Robyn, at first was a bit worried about Mason, but in a very short time, they became friends; as Lillian had already told them that Mason will inherit the mansion and Robyn will get all the contents (antiques, books, papers) within. Lillian keeps pushing Robyn to move to California and open her own antique store, since she will be able to sell all the valuable items in the house. Mason and Robyn begin to spend a lot of time together, and the attraction between them escalates, as they both realize that they are perfect for each other. Will Robyn allow herself to fall in love again.
What follows is a wonderful story of family; especially as each one of those at home in Florida, slowly show up at Lillian’s home to be with Robyn. She is surprised when Austin shows up, with Harlow, who apologizes on how nasty and angry she was to her mom. But it doesn’t end there, as in a short period, her ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, best friend, Harlow’s Fiancée and his sister all show up; fortunately the house was big enough to accommodate almost everyone.
The Summer Getaway was a wonderful storyline, that pushes all the buttons of a family, with emotions, drama, anger, divorce, hope, struggles and even sex. Robyn was the center of this story, and I thought she was great. I really rooted hard that she would end up with Mason. Another fantastic book that was very well written by Susan Mallery, which kept me unable to put the book down. I suggest you read The Summer Getaway.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
ONE
“I’m going to sleep with Dimitri.”
Robyn Caldwell picked up her glass of white wine and briefly thought about swallowing the entire contents in one gulp. Mindy’s statement was certainly gulp-worthy. But she knew pacing herself through lunch was the responsible thing to do. A lesson her friend had yet to learn.
“You are not,” Robyn murmured, because shrieking wasn’t attractive. Especially at “the club,” where their friends and frenemies were also enjoying Thursday’s lobster salad. The dining room was filled with forty or so women, all dressed in Florida chic—diamonds sparkling, gold or platinum charm bracelets clinking, necklaces resting on tanned and toned skin.
“I might,” Mindy Krause said, picking up her champagne. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Of course. He’s a thirty-year-old tennis pro. What else would he be?”
Mindy, a petite brunette who was six months from turning forty, sighed. “I need a Dimitri in my life.”
“You have a great husband. Payne loves you and the kids, and never has eyes for another woman. Why would you screw that up?”
“Payne would never know.”
“There aren’t any secrets in this town. Not in our social circle.”
Something Robyn had learned the hard way herself. She’d been blissfully unaware of her ex-husband’s affairs until a “friend” had oh-so-sweetly informed her.
“Maybe just some kissing,” Mindy mused. “I want a little Dimitri action. The fantasies make me happy, so imagine what the real thing would do.”
“The fantasies are safe. The real thing could destroy everything you have. Knowing you’ve cheated would devastate Payne.”
Mindy’s mouth formed a pout. “I never see him anymore. All he does is work.”
Robyn stared at her friend-slash-boss. “You two talked about how that promotion would be more work for him but that it would be worth it. You wanted this for him.”
“I didn’t know how much he’d be gone.”
The unreasonable statement grated nearly as much as Mindy’s whine. “This isn’t a good look for you,” Robyn murmured. “You’re changing the rules without telling your husband. That never ends well.”
Mindy dismissed the warning with a quick shake of her head. “I’m not worried. Besides, if he does find out, I can just move in with you.” She laughed. “You’ll soon have that big house all to yourself.”
“You have four kids,” Robyn pointed out. “If things go south in your marriage, I’d rather have Payne move in.”
“Well, that would get people talking.” Mindy held up her empty glass to the server. “More, please.”
The server obliged.
Mindy took another sip. “My sister called, swears she found a Thomas Pister chest in a tiny shop in Wales. It’s dirt cheap, so I’m afraid it’s a fake. She’s looking for someone to prove authenticity. Wouldn’t that be a find?”
“It would. I’d love to see it.”
Thomas Pister had built beautiful chests and cabinets in the late 1600s and early 1700s. His intricate designs with stunning inlays sold quickly and for huge amounts. Depending on the condition and the materials, a good-sized chest of drawers could go for sixty or eighty thousand dollars.
Excerpted from The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery, Copyright © 2022 by Susan Mallery, Inc.. Published by HQN Books.
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.
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Thanks for the great review Barb. Congratulations to Susan Mallery on the new release.
Terrific review, Barb. Looks like a wonderful story line. Thanks.
wonderful review, barb. sounds so very good.
Thanks for another wonderful review
Fantastic review, thanks Barb
Looks great, thanks.
Very nice review and excerpt.
Terrific review, thanks for the excerpt.
Wonderful review, Barb. Looks like a fun read.
Wonderful review, Barb. Sounds great. Thanks