Hello lovelies and welcome to my Blog Tour stop for The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery hosted by TLC book tours. This book is lighthearted, sweet, and fun. It’s such a wonderful summery and relaxing beach read that will make you smile, laugh, and even melt your heart.
Expected Publication: June 11th 2019 by HQN Books
Genre(s): Women’s Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
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The Baxter sisters come from a long line of women with disastrous luck in love. But this summer, Sunshine and Margot will turn disasters into destiny…
As an etiquette coach, Margot teaches her clients to fit in. But she’s never faced a client like Bianca, an aging movie star who gained fame—and notoriety—through a campaign of shock and awe. Schooling Bianca on the fine art of behaving like a proper diplomat’s wife requires intensive lessons, forcing Margot to move into the monastery turned mansion owned by the actress’s intensely private son. Like his incredible home, Alec’s stony exterior hides secret depths Margot would love to explore. But will he trust her enough to let her in?
Sunshine has always been the good-time sister, abandoning jobs to chase after guys who used her, then threw her away. No more. She refuses to be “that girl” again. This time, she’ll finish college, dedicate herself to her job as a nanny, and she 100 percent will not screw up her life again by falling for the wrong guy. Especially not the tempting single dad who also happens to be her boss.
Master storyteller Susan Mallery weaves threads of family drama, humor, romance and a wish-you-were-there setting into one of the most satisfying books of the year!
Wonderfully Realistic, Delightfully Romantic, and Incredibly Moving Story
The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery is a delightful and charming story about family, sisterhood, healing, love, and finding yourself. With many wonderful moments of sweetness, humor, and romance, I think this is a lovely summer book that will warm your heart and leave you feeling absolutely happy.
Sisters and best friends, Sunshine and Margot Baxter have different personalities, career choices and lifestyles. When it comes to men and love… well, they both have the worst kind of luck. But, life is full of surprises and sometimes, love finds you unexpectedly. Will this be the summer Sunshine and Margot finally have their happily ever after?
This is my first book from this author and I’m happy to say that it definitely won’t be my last. Susan Mallery is an amazing storyteller and her writing is beautiful and engrossing. I really liked the pacing and while it does get a bit slow at times, the story moves along well enough. The plot is quite predictable, but well-developed with the perfect mix of emotions, family drama, and romance. I adored all the characters and thought they’re interesting, relatable, and so utterly loveable. Sunshine and Margot are awesome leading ladies. Alec and Declan are amazing love interests, but if I had to pick, I’d definitely choose Declan. I just found him more charming and swoony, but Alec is also really great. Bianca is quirky and hilarious and Connor totally stole a piece of my heart! This is such a cute and entertaining book and I enjoyed every moment.
While I found myself relating more with Sunshine, I admired and loved Margot and her just the same. They’re both strong women – determined, honest, hardworking, and smart. They live very different lives, but they’re incredibly supportive and fiercely loyal to each other. I loved their sisterly bond and all their scenes together are so heartwarming. I just really loved them both and really wanted them to find happiness and true love.
The romances are swoony and amazing. I loved the chemistry between Declan and Sunshine from the beginning. I kept wanting to read more of their scenes cause Connor is just so cute and the interactions between the three of them are super adorable! Alec is very reserved and quiet, but it’s obvious that he’s not immune to Margot’s charm and vice versa. As much as they tried to avoid their attraction to each other, their chemistry is definitely undeniable.
Susan Mallery penned a wonderfully realistic, romantic, and moving story full of laughs, emotions, and so much heart. Her writing is impeccable, the storyline is charmingly predictable and entertaining and the characters are amazingly relatable. The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is truly a lovely read and I highly recommend you pick it up right now.
I received a free physical copy of this book from the author and publisher for partiicpating in a blog tour hosted by TLC Book Tours in exchange for fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Chapter 1
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS FELL INTO TWO CATEGORIES—EASY or awkward. Easy was knowing what to say and do, and how to act. Easy was witty small talk or an elegant compliment. Awkward social interactions, on the other hand, were things like sneezing in your host’s face or stepping on the cat or spilling red wine on a white carpet. Or any carpet, for that matter. Margot Baxter prided herself on knowing how to make any situation fall into the easy category. Professionally, of course. In her professional life, she totally kicked butt. Personally—not so much. If she was being completely honest, she would have to admit that on most days her personal life fell firmly in the awkward category, which was why she never mixed business and pleasure and rarely bothered with pleasure at all. If it wasn’t going to go well, why waste the time?
But work was different. Work was where the magic happened and she was the one behind the curtain, moving all the levers. Not in a bad way, she added silently. It was just that she was about empowering her clients—helping them realize it was all about confidence, and sometimes finding confidence re- quired a little help.
She turned onto the street where her nav system directed her, then blinked twice as she stared at the huge double gates stretching across a freeway-wide driveway. She’d been told the private residence had originally been a monastery built in the 1800s, but she hadn’t expected it to be so huge. She’d been thinking more “extra-big house with a guest cottage and maybe a small orchard.” What she faced instead was a three-story, Spanish- style former church/monastery with two turrets, acres of gardens and an actual parking lot for at least a dozen cars.
“Who are these people?” she asked out loud, even though she already knew the answer. Before interviewing a potential client, she always did her research. Overdid it, some would say, a criticism she could live with. Margot liked being thorough. And on time. And tidy. And, according to some, annoying.
Margot pressed the call button on the electronic pad mounted perpendicular to the gate and waited until a surprisingly clear voice said, “May I help you?”
“I’m Margot Baxter. I have an appointment with Mr. Alec Mcnicol.”
“Yes, Ms. Baxter. He’s expecting you.”
The gates opened smoothly and Margot drove through onto the compound. She parked in one of the marked spots, then took a moment to breathe and collect her thoughts.
She could do this, she told herself. She was good at her job. She liked helping people. Everything was going to be fine. She was a professional, she was trained and she was calm. Calm-ish, she added silently, then reached for the glasses she’d put on the seat next to her briefcase.
Margot stepped out of her car and smoothed the front of her slightly too-big jacket. The outfit—gray suit, sensible pumps, minimal makeup—was designed to make her appear professional and competent. The glasses, while unnecessary, did a lot to add gravitas to her appearance. She was thirty-one, but in shorts and a concert T-shirt, she could pass for nineteen. Even more depressing, in said shorts and T-shirt, she looked ditzy and incompetent and just a little bit dumb, and that didn’t reassure anyone.
She walked up the stone path to the enormous front door. Although she knew nothing about Spanish architecture, she wanted to trace the heavy carved wood doors where angels watched over Christ as he carried the cross toward a hill. Yup, the big-as-a-stadium building really had once been a monastery and apparently the monks had been sincere in their worship.
Before she could get her fill of the amazing craftsmanship, the doors opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired man nodded at her.
“Ms. Baxter? I’m Alec Mcnicol. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Thank you.”
She stepped inside, and they shook hands. She had a brief impression of two-story ceilings and intricate stained-glass windows before Alec was leading her down a hallway into a large office lined with bookshelves and framed maps of lands long forgotten.
She did her best not to gawk at her surroundings. While she was used to working with the rich and famous, this was different. The books made her want to inhale deeply to capture their musty smell and the maps had her itching to trace a path along the Silk Road.
She’d taken a step to do just that when her host cleared his throat.
She glanced at him and smiled. “Sorry. Your office is incredible. The maps are hand drawn?”
He looked slightly startled, his eyebrows coming together in an attractive frown. “They are.”
She looked at them one last time. If she got the job, she would have to ask permission to study the framed drawings. She reluctantly pulled her attention away from the distractions around her and took a seat across from him at the wide desk.
When he was settled, he said, “As I explained on the phone, you’re here to help my mother.”
“Yes, Mr.—”
“Please call me Alec.”
She nodded. “I’m Margot, and yes, I understand she will be my client.”
“Excellent. She and I decided it would be easier if I conducted the preliminary interview to see if you and she are suited.”
“Of course.”
Margot relaxed. Hiring someone like her was often stressful. Her services were only required when something had gone very wrong in a person’s life. Or if the potential client was anticipating something going wrong. Or was overwhelmed. Very few people looked around at their happiest moment and thought, Hey, I should find someone to teach me social etiquette and how not to be odd/uncomfortable/weird or just plain nervous. There was always a trigger that made a client realize he or she needed Margot’s services and it rarely grew out of an uplifting event.
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have 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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EXCERPT TOUR
Tuesday, May 28th: Sincerely Karen Jo
Wednesday, May 29th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Wednesday, May 29th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Thursday, May 30th: Jathan & Heather
Friday, May 31st: Books and Spoons
Saturday, June 1st: The Lit Bitch
Monday, June 3rd: Audio Killed the Bookmark
Tuesday, June 4th: Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, June 5th: Reading Reality
Thursday, June 6th: Romantic Reads and Such
Friday, June 7th: Broken Teepee
Monday, June 10th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
REVIEW TOUR
Monday, June 10th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Tuesday, June 11th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Reads
Wednesday, June 12th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Thursday, June 13th: Reading Reality
Friday, June 14th: Kahakai Kitchen
Monday, June 17th: Pacific Northwest Bookworm
Tuesday, June 18th: Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, June 19th: Booked on a Feeling
Thursday, June 20th: Seaside Book Nook
Friday, June 21st: Jathan & Heather
Monday, June 24th: Run Wright
Tuesday, June 25th: @libraryinprogress
Wednesday, June 26th: What is That Book About
Thursday, June 27th: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark
Friday, June 28th: Novel Gossip and @novelgossip
Monday, July 1st: Amy’s Book-et List
Tuesday, July 2nd: A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, July 3rd: Books & Bindings
Friday, July 5th: @booktimistic
Monday, July 8th: Bibliotica
Tuesday, July 9th: Romantic Reads and Such
Wednesday, July 10th: Sincerely Karen Jo
Wednesday, July 10th: Broken Teepee
Thursday, July 11th: Why Girls are Weird
Friday, July 12th: View from the Birdhouse
Monday, July 15th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Tuesday, July 16th: Treestand Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 17th: Book Fidelity
Friday, July 19th: Not in Jersey
Thanks for stopping by loves! Hope you get to meet Sunshine and Margot and don’t forget to check out the rest of the tour!
Sincerely Karen Jo 