Welcome to Romancing the Stacks. This is a series of reviews featuring one of my favorite genres: Romance Novels! Nothing is better than curling up with a good romance. This review will explore The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery

If you read my past reviews, you might know I have a past with Susan Mallery. I enjoy half of her books, and I despise the other half with all of my soul. She is a hit or miss author for me. I keep coming back to her as when I enjoy her books, I really enjoy them. I was wary of this one but it was a stand alone novel and those do tend to be more of a hit than her series books are. I liked that this book featured sisters and I am a sucker for a good romance with a sister relationship included.

The Summer of Sunshine & Margot Summary:

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% 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.

My Book Review:

I enjoyed aspects of this book. I loved Margot’s romance with Alec – that was my favorite part. I liked Bianca, the actress Margot was helping, at points. Sometimes when she did something over the top, I couldn’t help but dislike her. It is mentioned by other characters that she is selfish, but I personally always hope that it is just an act such characters show the world. For example there is a point where her son mentioned she slept with his best friend while they were in high school. I had hoped that it had just been a misunderstanding, but nope she actually did that. After learning that I kept wishing the book didn’t feature her.

I did like Sunshine’s character. She was at the point where she was getting serious for the first time in her life. I didn’t like how her job was a nanny and her love interest was her employer. Had she worked at a daycare and started to fall for the dad picking up his son, it would have been so much better. They lived together, and there was a kid involved plus a recently dead mom. I personally am not a fan of nanny and employer romances. If the summary had mentioned it I would not have picked this book up.

I did like that Sunshine and Declan’s relationship with was about them learning about each other as people first. Friends then lovers. That was nice. I liked how despite Sunshine being the irresponsible one, she didn’t have a negative relationship with her sister. Her sister loved and supported her.

I wish more went into Margot’s and Sunshine relationship. They both had a past of abandonment, and I wish they had a heart to heart about their issues instead of Sunshine just telling Margot she is in love. This is a good book, but Mallery has written better ones.

My Rating: