For the Love of Summer - by Susan Mallery

What kept my attention in this book was the struggle Erica had dealing with the second wife. It is not a position anyone wants to purposely deal with. On the flipside, the second wife Allison does not want to deal with the first wife. After all the stories she was told from her husband, she didn’t want to deal with a difficult ex-wife. Summer is the common denominator, and she simply wants to help her stepmom out of a tough spot, and she knows her mom can do anything because she is that kind of person. Watching this dynamic stretch and change is what kept mean reading til the end.

FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery is a perfect beach read. It has all the feels, great characters, real emotions, and a satisfying resolution. Erica owns a chain of salons in Seattle. By all standards she’s driven, smart, and successful. She’s also afraid she’s losing her teenage daughter, Summer, to her ex and his new wife and son. Allison loves her husband and her little boy and considers her step-daughter a lovely bonus to their family. She has no clue she’s not living in reality until she gets a collect call from prison where her husband has been locked up. Six months pregnant, with her bank accounts frozen, her rental home sold, and out of a job, she has nowhere to turn for help. Summer has the brilliant idea that her step-mother and half-brother should move in with her and Erica. Erica agrees even though she wants to run shrieking away from her ex-husband’s new family and their problems. As the women get to know each other, they discover they have more in common than the man they each married. There’s plenty of emotion as Erica realizes the depths of her wounds and other issues stemming from her failed marriage. Allison discovers she’s stronger than she ever imagined and less alone. Even Summer, who starts out pretty mature for a sixteen-year-old, learns a few lessons along the way. The ending was very satisfactory. I enjoyed this one a lot! I highly recommend it. —- I received a free copy of FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER from the publisher. This did not induce me to review it, favorably or otherwise. I just happened to really like it.

Fantastic Summer Read!!! Great story of the many twists and turns life throws your way! You will love this story of family and love.

Cute, heart warming story about finding friends - and family - in the most unexpected places. And just goes to show that first impressions arent always correct.

One of the main characters of For the Love of Summer, Erica, is a loving mother, successful business owner, and divorced. She finds out through her teenage daughter that her ex-husband has been arrested and is in detention awaiting trial. Too this off with the fact that his new wife, Summer’s stepmother, Allison, is a toddler mom, pregnant, alone, and about to be homeless. Erica steps up to the plate (note the softball sized pun there) and helps despite her discomfort. Both Erica and Allison discover a lot about their own self-worth, strength, and courage throughout the novel. One of the things I loved the most is that these characters- while going through some serious struggles were realistic, communicated through, and didn’t add unnecessary drama. They acted as adults. Would definitely recommend, in fact I already did and have loaned my copy out! Perfect read for anytime of the year, maybe try it this summer!

For the Love of Summer is about an unlikely friendship between a current wife and ex-wife of a man serving time for a crime that he claims he didn't commit. Erica and Allison seem to have nothing in common but when fate throws them together they form a family based on need and friendship because of Summer their daughter/stepdaughter who insists they need each other. A great story of women supporting each other when they need each other the most! Highly recommend!

For the Love of Summer drew me in from the very start. Erica's strength, independence, and unconditional love for her daughter Summer immediately caught my heart. The dynamic between Erica, Summer, and Allison, her ex-husband's wife, added depth to the story. Despite feeling intimidated by Allison's presence, Erica's willingness to help her daughter's family, even welcoming them into her own home, showcases her selflessness. Peter's unexpected incarceration leaves Allison facing daunting challenges as a single mother, struggling with eviction and impending motherhood. Erica's support becomes instrumental in Allison's journey toward personal growth and navigating her new role as a working mom. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I couldn't help but wish for a more conclusive ending. I wanted to know Erica's next steps in her relationship, see how Allison copes with the demands of single motherhood, and learn about Summer's future endeavors. Once again Susan has pulled her readers in with a book on personal growth and the complexities of love, friendships, and relationships. Susan, we need a sequel to the last few books you have written, please.

I loved this book, the characters, setting & everything about it! Erica found a friend in the most unusual place. Her ex-husband’s new wife, Allison, because of her daughter, Summer. Summer loved her step-family. Erica’s mother Mara seemed like a really wise, nice & caring person. Erica’s friend Killion was a true gentleman that any woman would like to know. This was a fun read with a good story line.

I have read a hundred or so Susan Mallery novels, and pretty much loved every one; Fool’s Gold: pure fun and hot honeys. The newer tomes: deeper and more wide-ranging. She plays the “what if” game about as well as any best-selling author. That said, and I’ve mulled this over A LOT since I finished reading four days ago, For the Love of Summer is my favorite Susan Mallery novel. The premise is out of left field, and she brings it along throughout the story with wile and craft. The main characters (Erika, Allison, Summer herself, Mara, and Killion (I really DO wish that “Killion” had been spelled “Killian,” though!)) are presented perfectly. Reactions to situations make sense; Ms. Mallery finds ways to work through those situations with grace (and surprises!); the growth and acceptance of friendship and love, though begrudging at times, paces perfectly; and the support that flows, all the while moving in a way that made me very unhappy any time I had to put the book down while actual life intervened. I am truly sorry that this book has ended, and I am again in “the waiting period” for the next Susan Mallery gem.

I was so excited to have a new book to take on my vacation with me. Thought for sure I would read it on the plane. I read the first couple of pages and just didn’t feel it. Tried to read it a few more times on the trip and the plane ride home. Apparently all I needed was to be free of the stress of travel because the day I got home I picked up the book again and was immediately hooked. I didn’t want to do anything else. I needed to know what was going to happen and how it ended. I am a second wife. There is no rich first wife in our scenario but I loved the dynamics between the women in this story. I usually enjoy Susan Mallory books but this is the first in quite a while that I felt like I couldn’t read fast enough. I have a pro and a con for this book. Pro:I loved that this wasn’t just another romantic book. Very good women’s fiction book. Con:Not a huge deal but I greatly dislike the cover of this book. I don’t feel like it fits the story. Not sure I’ve ever felt that way or even thought about it before. The cover really needed to have at the very least the two women on the front or just the daughter that the book was titled after.

Great book, wonderful author and amazing story!!!

This book has a wonderful cast of very strong women, all with big hearts who help each other out with a very strange set of situations. Erica has a small fortune that she willingly shares with any who are in dire straits. She really tries to help women find their paths in life. Unfortunately, being as driven as she is to build and maintain her business has cost her relationships, with both men and women. It was great to see how she uses her many assets to help when her daughter asks her the impossible. I really enjoyed this book and love to see women take charge and better themselves. Susan Mallery has done it again! Fabulous read!

Susan Mallery's book are fun and quick reads. But they are so much more. For the Love of Summer is about strong women helping others women to become stronger than they ever thought they could, giving them a hand up and the tools needed to see how far they can go, even when the person they are helping is their e-husbands new wife. I love how Mallery develops friendships among women, and gives us all hope that we can be strong and be there for others. Great book by a great author. Can't wait for her next book to come out.

This is the best book I have ever read by Susan Mallery! This is the story of and ex-wife, Erica, helping out the wife, Allison, of her ex-husband, Peter. Both women have these misconceptions of each other and realize how wrong they are and how they become friends. This is defintely a book you do not want to miss! When I think that Susan Mallery can't write a better book, she proves me wrong! Each one is better than the last one I read! Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down! I highly recommend you don't miss reading this amazing new novel!!!

For the Love of Summer I love Susan’s books because she creates strong female characters. Erika knows who she is and what she wants right off the bat. Allison knew what she wanted but circumstances changed, and due to that, she became stronger, more determined to create a different life for herself. I truly enjoyed the developing friendship, with its highs and lows, between the both of them. Summer, herself, asks a lot of her mother, which I think she took for granted, but realizes her mother is a very special person. Oh, and Killian, who wouldn’t want Killian in their life. I loved that his character was the calming one, the rock that was needed for this story. I am not divorced but I hope I would have handled this situation with the grace that Erika did.

Great summer read! Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors. I always read her books so fast because they’re just that good.

I think I've read every book written by Susan Mallery and I've not been disappointed in any of them. "For The Love Of Summer" is a wonderful story of friendship, love, compassion, and a strong emphasis on family. (There is no pet in this story but that's okay.) One of my favorite plots in the book is the journey of animosity to friendship between the duo of the wife and ex-wife of the "villain" in the book. An emotional read to be sure......but truly another winner of good book.

Books by Susan Mallery tend to hook me and I don't put the book down until I've finished it. This was me, hooked again. Although the book has summer in its title, it's not really about summer the season, but Summer, the daughter of Erika and her ex-husband Peter. She has a huge heart and Erika absolutely would do anything for Summer. Summer loves her half-brother Jackson and her father's second wife, Allison. She will do anything to help them through the crisis caused by Peter. In Summer's eyes, Allison, Jackson and soon to be born Bethany, are her family as much as her mom and grandmother are. A crazy plan, that benefits all of the women and Jackson, is hatched and to the amazement of them all, it works. This book is about relationships, heart, and how people completely at odds with each other when they begin, can become the close knit family that they all need. Loved it!

Upon seeing the title of this book, I thought maybe it was a summer beach read type of book. I was wrong. One of the main characters is Summer. The other two characters are her mother Erica and stepmother Allison. The other side character was Peter, who was first married to Erica and they divorced. He later married Allison. I became hooked fairly early on in the story line. At first I thought Erica was rather cold and reserved, but then I came to realize she was really looking for friendship and someone she could trust. She was just trying to protect herself and had a wall built around herself to avoid further hurt. That I can definitely relate to. Allison was dealing with a husband, Peter, who was really a criminal and very self-centered. He put himself before his wife and children. The situations Allison had to endure were really heart-wrenching. He really left her hanging and she had a lot to cope with in regards to her young child, a baby on the way, loss of her home, and her financial accounts frozen with no access to what money she did have. She was struggling to survive and Summer and Erica came to her aid. Summer kept trying to help Allison and kept trying to convince her mother to help out too. Summer was over-involved and shouldered more than she should have due to her age with regard to the adult problems. She really loved and wanted to help her stepmother though. Erica really stepped up to help Allison and that took a lot of courage on her part considering it was her ex-husband's wife. She really stepped up to the plate and helped Allison in many ways, going above and beyond what was really needed. I don't think too many people could do that under these circumstances. It was nice watching how their relationships evolved and how they really needed each other and had a sort of role reversal by the end of the story. It is a woman-power type of book and I really enjoyed the characters and story line. I would hope I would have the same kind of assistance/back-up if I was put in the same situation that Allison was in. I just can't imagine going through all that with a small child and one on the way. In the end, they all came through and needed and helped each other. This was a real thought-provoking book and I really enjoyed the characters and the story lines. It is definitely not a lighthearted summer-themed book though. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Susan Mallery for review purposes. This did not sway my opinion in any way.

hat would you do if your ex-husband is arrested by the Feds and has a long list of charges against him. Your daughter says that his wife, her stepmother has no one , no money and that you have to help her because she is family. The last thing you want to do is help a woman that you really do not like and do not consider to be family. This is the story of Erica a successful independent business woman, Allison who despite everything that has happened is slowly learning to become independent and Summer who they both love and are willing to do anything for.