Susan Mallery has once again written another amazing book! The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is a delightful, stand-alone story about two sisters, fraternal twins, Sunshine and Margot Baxter. Although these sisters seem very different, they are both beginning a new journey, both hoping to find true happiness by making better choices in their lives and ultimately hoping to find true love. After being deserted by their mother at a young age and raised by their great-grandmother, a beauty queen consultant, these two sisters forge a strong bond of love and commitment, always being there to support each other. Unfortunately, the Baxter women have never been known for their choices in men. “We are the Baxter sisters. We can’t seem to escape our destiny.” They come from “a long line of women with disasterous relationships and no staying power.” This summer these two sisters are determined to change their destiny! Thus, begins the Summer of Sunshine and Margot!

Sunshine is a free spirit with a sunny, optimistic attitude. She has worked as a nanny for many years and is wonderful with children. She’s organized and regimented with the children she works with but much to her dismay those characteristics don’t carry over to her personal life. Unfortunately, her personal life is a mess! She’s curvy and sexy and has often runaway from life and her responsibilities for a few weeks of bliss with the wrong guy. After each relationship ends, and they always end, she is left with nothing. She’s come to realize that in the process she’s also hurt many of the children in her care. Sunshine has hated herself for making the same mistakes over and over again and wants to change. This time she wants a real relationship. She’s tired of men looking at her body and only wanting one thing. She’s determined to find someone that sees the real her and she wants and needs to become a better person.

With this renewed focus, she registers for college and takes a job as a live-in nanny for a newly widowed father-Declan and his adorable son-Connor. After losing his wife to cancer, Declan has been focused on being a good father and making sure that Connor is okay. All that matters to him is Connor. However, Declan is battling a lot of pent up feelings of betrayal and is having a hard time letting go of his anger. He has been “angry for so long, he wasn’t sure who he would be if he let it out. He had to pretend everything was fine for Connor’s sake,” With Sunshine taking loving care of Connor, Declan begins to see that Connor is starting to heal and maybe it’s time for both of them to move on. Sunshine’s wonderful personality and optimistic outlook help both of them to begin enjoying life again. As she continues to put her job first, Sunshine finds herself being drawn to this little family and ultimately finds everything she was hoping for.

Margot is a stylish, conservative and very put together! She is very professional and works as an etiquette coach helping people learn to navigate different and often difficult situations. She knows all about proper behavior and in her professional life she is very organized. However, in her personal life she’s upended her life and risked her career for the past 5 years over loving the wrong man. “I’ve been stupid over and over again about the same man.” Like her sister, Margot is determined to make better choices.

Margot is hired as an etiquette coach to assist Bianca Wrey, a former movie star, fit into her fiancées world as a diplomat. Bianca is eccentric, a free spirit that is often a loose cannon and the center of attention at most social events. “ I like the attention. That’s who I am.” Margot soon learns that she has her work cut out for her. “Asking Bianca to be a staid, polite, unobtrusive person is like asking the sun to shine less brightly. Ambitious but unlikely.” In order to work closely with Bianca Margot is asked to move into Bianca’s sons home, a monastery he inherited and turned into his home. Alec is a scholar and the total opposite of his mother. He enjoys his home where he hides out in solitude determined never to become like his mother. “On a good day, Alec saw no one, spoke to no one and that is how he preferred things.” As Margot continues to work with the ever challenging Bianca, she is immediately drawn to the monastery and it’s history. As she learns more about Alec and his work she finds herself drawn to his quiet, kind personality. Slowly, she’s able to get Alec to lower his walls. Much to his dismay, Alec finds himself looking forward to and craving Margot’s company. As Alec fights these changes in himself, he discovers that there’s more to Bianca’s behavior than he expected, a past that dictates her emotional responses. Out of love, Bianca shares this very personal secret with her son to help Alec see that he doesn’t need to worry about turning into his mother but that he needs to open his heart to true love. The love he and Margot have found together.

I absolutely loved this story! I enjoyed the special bond between Sunshine and Margot, how they depend on each other and support each other. Although they both seem so different at the beginning, they both wanted the same thing- a real relationship with someone they can count on! In true Susan Mallery form the characters in this story are well developed and completely lovable. Connor was too cute and I loved how excited he was about his ants. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Connor and Sunshine bond as she helped her new family heal and as she and Declan began to fall in love. Alec’s character was one of my favorites. His quiet and stoic charm was hard to resist as Margot slowly helped him to lower his walls. Bianca’s antics and personality are one of a kind! As you begin to understand her better, you can clearly see that she was only trying to protect herself and ultimately those she loved!

This book was wonderful. Susan Mallery is truly an expert when it comes to romance. This is a light hearted story with lovable characters that you could easily see yourself being friends with. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and I wish there was an epilogue because I wasn’t ready to end my time with these characters. I highly recommend that you read this very entertaining book! It’s the perfect book for summer!

I thank the publishers for providing me with a free copy through Net Galley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review! Much appreciated!

Light and fun

The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is a light and frothy look at life and love. Our twin heroines have not had good luck in the love department, nor did their mother or grandmother. Brought up by their Great Grandmother, who had a business coaching young girls for beauty pageants, it is obvious they had an atypical childhood and may have abandonment issues. Our two heros are both very interesting characters with their own baggage, but hot and unaware of it. Underneath all the froth are some messages we can take to heart, believe in yourself, work for what you want, don't give up... Highly recommended, great beach or vacation read. I read it on a plane in one go (long plane ride)...

Reviewed on Amazon.com; will be posted once it passes their review process

3.75/5 rounded up

This is my first book by Susan Mallery, but it won't be my last. I found her characters both relatable and likable. While the story was a bit predictable, it was still enjoyable. Sunshine and Margot both want the same thing, to find that happily ever after type of love. While these fraternal twins are different in many ways, they stay constant with their love of each other. These sisters are supportive and they don't judge the mistakes they have each made. You follow both of their stories as the learn from past mistakes and try to better themselves. They each fall for a great guy, but are second guessing themselves because of the "curse". The story keeps up with the will they/won't they throughout and keeps you interested until the very end. It was very romantic book, but was not a steamy read (there are a few minimally 🔥🔥 parts). While I enjoy a nice steamy romance, it's also nice to have a book focus more on the buildup than the bedroom bits. This book would be perfect for anybody looking for a light, but enjoyable summer read.

My review was posted this morning in my bookstagram.

Susan Mallery is a phenomenal author. I by chance discovered her just recently and love her books. Every book she writes is magical. I love the worlds she creates. In every book she writes her character's are realistic as well as their struggles.

In The Summer of Sunshine and Margot we are introduced to fraternal twin sisters Sunshine and Margot. Sunshine and Margot have their own journeys and struggles that are easy for readers to relate to. I loved the secondary characters, especially Bianca. I love the chemistry that Margot and Alec have. The relationships in this story made my heart swoon. This was more than just a romance. I was intrigued from page one. Susan Mallery captivated my heart with the magic of her words. Susan Mallery created an amazing story about friendship, family and love. I laughed and had heartswooning moments. I read this all the way through in one sitting and will reread it again. Phenomenal and a must read.

Susan Mallery has once again surpassed herself, in a book with passionate and real characters, the reader will be stuck in a light, engaging and enthralling reading. She did an amazing job letting us fall in love with Sunshine and Margot. So follow Sunshine and Margot during a summer full of discoveries.

Perfect book to read on your summer holidays. When you pick up a novel by Susan Mallery, you are guaranteed to be whisked off into the world Susan has created. The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is an enjoyable read. Sunshine & Margot Baxter have had an unconventional upbringing. Both sisters are unlucky in love. Sunshine has a habit of making rash decisions where men are concerned. Margot keeps going back to an undeserving ex boyfriend. Both sisters believe the family is cursed where love is concerned. Its time for a change for the Baxter sisters. Sunshine has found a job as a nanny and is taking classes at the local university. Margot enjoys her job as an etiquette coach. When she is hired by Bianca, to become a respectable partner for her boyfriend. When Bianca insists Margot moves in with her and her son. Alec chooses to live his life with as little contact with the outside world as popular. As they spend time with each other, it's clear an attraction is happening. Can they both work through their separate issues and find their happily ever after?
Sunshine is sick of being that girl. She wants a guy that notices more than her figure. Declan is a widower in need of a nanny for his son Connor. Declan can't help being attracted to Sunshine. But feels he cant do anything about it. Sunshine finds herself attracted to her boss,but doesn't want to screw up again. What will it take for these two to know they are made for each other?
Loved the sisterly relationship the sisters had. Bianca is a very interesting character. Double the romance too. Another five star review for Susan Mallery. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance. I requested this ARC from Net Galley and the publishers. This is my voluntary review.

This was such a fun lighthearted read that followed two fascinating sisters on their very different paths in life and their own version of happily ever after.
One seems to have it all together whilst the other one is a mess trying to get the her life on the right track. Two very different men are taken by them, one a single father, the other is a scholar set in his ways. Each brings something out in the women that changes the way they see themselves and their lives and has them wanting more. Full of humor and quirky characters that will leave you satisfied, you can read it in an afternoon and you won't regret it!

This is a wonderful look into the lives of two sisters who believe that their family is cursed when it comes to falling in love and meeting your one true love. Margot is an etiquette coach who teaches her clients how to behave in certain situations be it a sit down dinner or a gala ball. Her new client is an older woman who has met the man of her dreams and she intends to marry him. Her only problem is she has always been a bit on the wild side and she doesn't want to hurt his standing with his work as a diplomat. Margot agrees to help Bianca and she moves in with her to spend the next few months coaching her on how to act and react in any situation. Margot is a bit troubled though because Bianca is staying with her son and the minute Margot met him she had a reaction to him. Sunshine has spent years jumping from one relationship to the next not really thinking about how her actions might hurt those around her. She has finally decided that she needs to take a break from men and get her life set on a proper course. She has become a nanny again, this time to a little boy who has lost his mother. She is also going back to school, she hopes to one day complete a degree and do work that she loves. Summer loves her nanny job and her young charge the only problem, his dad, she can't help but find herself attracted to him. She doesn't want to mess things up though so she does her best to push those thoughts and feelings aside. She just worries that she will revert back to her old ways and completely screw everything up. Both sisters have found themselves in situations that they love and worry about at the same time. Follow along as they each slowly walk through the mine field that is life and come out on the other end for the better. Will they find love along the way or will their family's curse be written into their lives too. This was a lovely read filled with great characters, beautiful settings, and romances that will have you believing in love at first sight.

I always thought it would be fun to be a twin. Sunshine and Margot may not have looked exactly alike, but I think there are many qualities that they share. Who doesn’t have mistakes or happenings in their history that they would just as soon forget? It does take some folks longer to grow up than others, but isn’t that what makes us individuals? Then there are those that keep themselves so tightly guarded that you wonder if they ever really relax. What about those with such a past that they will do everything they can to avoid ever thinking about it? What a group of characters in this story. I loved them! Such different personalities that all meshed together so well. Depending on your history, you may see a little of yourself in one of these folks. I wish each of the Baxter Sisters a long and happy life! I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Twins who are opposites or when you get down it they're the same under the covers and very much akin to other women who are looking for that emotional connection that makes life worthwhile. I really enjoyed how their stories intersect.
Margot prides herself on living her life on her own terms which are for the most part cold and clinical until she meets Bianca and Bianca's son. Suddenly she starts to move out of her life lived in the shadows to plunge into slow sweet romance.
Sunshine is just as her name suggests. She is bubbly, has no trouble making friends with very little sticking power. Determined to go to school and change herself for the better she tries to keep herself from jumping into bed with her new charge's sexy dad. Are the roles reversed between Margot and Sunshine and how will it all work out?
A lovely very readable story that touches out into the heart of a woman..

A beautifully woven story of romance, family and dreams! The Summer of Sunshine and Margot invites you into the lives of two sisters who are given extraordinary opportunities, and takes you on a journey you won't soon forget. Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors of all time and this book was an auto-buy that I will be reading again in the near future!

EXCERPT: Sunshine Baxter was done with love at first sight. D.O.N.E. More times than she could count, she'd looked into a pair of - insert any color here - eyes and immediately given her heart. The relationships had all ended in disaster and she'd hated herself for being so incredibly stupid over and over again, so she decided she was finished with the falling in love concept. Over it. Moving on.

Except...

ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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.

MY THOUGHTS: I have never been a great reader of romance, but Mallery has a way of writing that grabs at my heartstrings and totally involves me in the lives of her characters. She writes with grace, humor, and a certain realism that stops well short of cynical. In other words, her books are a pure delight, and The Summer of Sunshine and Margot is no exception.

There are no great surprises, but reading a book by Susan Mallery is a wonderful journey in itself. Her characters are so very real, experiencing the highs and lows of life that so many of us are so very familiar with. Her characters could be us, or our friends, and by the time I had finished this book, I didn't want to say goodbye to my new friends.

I adored the character of Bianca, headstrong, and yet so very insecure. And I did wonder why Sunshine and Bianca's mother would call one daughter Sunshine and the other Margot....but I'm afraid that is one question that will remain unanswered.

A delightful read.

****.5

THE AUTHOR: #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin - Mira (US & Canada) via NetGalley for providing a digital copy of The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinion.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on my webpage sandysbookaday/wordpess.com This review and others also appear on my webpage

Margot is an etiquette coach. Her new student is an aging movie star, who has gotten where she is by being daring and outrageous. Helping Bianca behave like a diplomats wife is a challenge. To help Bianca she has to move into the monastery turned mansion owned by Bianca's intensively private son Alec. Like his home Alec stony exterior hides and depth that Margot would love to explore.

Sunshine has always been the good time sister. Abandoning jobs and life to persue the wrong kind of man. Now she's on the straight and narrow. She has a nanny job and is in college, and determined to not fall in love with the wrong guy, especially not her boss.


Can the sisters on there new and challenging paths figure out a balance with life and love. Or are they destined to be alone and together just the two of them. I loved this book. I was rooting for each and every character in this book.

Twins Sunshine and Margot have always had each other. THey've not been lucky in life entirely or in love. This summer, however, they both have a chance at romantic happiness, even if it isn't obvious to them (although it will be to you!). Sunshine is much like her name- she's been out and about more but now she's buckled down to be the nanny to Declan, whose widowed dad Conor is enticing but off limits. Margot, more serious, finds herself intrigued by her client's son Alex. These two deserve happy endings and well....Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very nice summer read.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery is a stand-alone combination of women’s fiction and friends to lovers romance. Sisters Sunshine and Margot Baxter have reached a crossroads in their lives that has had each of them individually saying “Never Again” and vowing to make changes in their lives. Sunshine has taken a job as a Nanny to a widowed father Declan Dubois’s adorable son Connor and started college, her vow to herself is to start finishing things and to stop screwing up, so falling in love with Declan is not on the table. Margot Baxter is an etiquette coach and she has taken on the task of helping Bianca a glamorous movie star known for her tumultuous lifestyle become more comfortable in her fiancé’s world of international diplomacy. To accomplish this she is staying at a former monastery converted to luxurious mansion owned by Bianca’s son the reclusive historian Alec Mcnicol. Her vow is to completely end a disastrous relationship with a controlling ex. I thoroughly enjoyed this book right up until the last 4 pages. Alec’s creepy attempt to show Margo that he was over his fear of being like his mother and now open to a relationship and her instantaneous acceptance did not feel right to me. The ending felt abrupt and the creep factor was high especially when I consider her vow of never again in regards to her controlling ex. Medium Steam. Publishing Date June 11, 2019 #NetGalley #HarlequinMira #HQNBooks #TheSummerofSunshineandMargot

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.75 Hearts Margot and Sunshine are siblings but are as different as their names indicate. Margot is all business and Sunshine is all play.

But this is a story about sisters and love and life more than about the difference in them it is about the life of hard knocks they have endured together.

If you have never read a Susan Mallery story, well first.... WTH?... but if you haven’t read her start NOW! Susan Mallery is honestly one of my favorite authors of all time. She is the first name I think of when someone asked me for the name of my fav author. Sure there are others but she is #1!

This is a keeper! Pick it up for a great summer, or anytime, read!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer of Sunshine & Margot by Susan Mallery

There are three couples that find happily ever afters in this story. One is an older beautiful actress with a backstory that causes her to act in ways she fears may not work in the life of the diplomat she loves and plans to marry. She is gorgeous, a bit outrageous and generous. Bianca feels she needs help to fit in and hires Morgot Baxter to coach her. The other two women are fraternal twins that also have backstories that impact their ability to be in a relationship that is lasting and good for them. Margot and her sister Sunshine were interesting to read about. Margot is the serene organized sleek sister who helps others in a more sophisticated way while Sunshine seems more outgoing casual and outgoing with a big heart that seems to click well with the children she is nanny for. All three women will become more aware of themselves and also of what they want in life and in so doing will find a way to their HEA with men who well suit them.

The men...well...there is Wesley the diplomat who sees Bianca and loves every aspect of her – irreverent or not. He SEES her and loves her as she is. Alec, Bianca’s son, is a reserved controlled scholar who likes routine and order in his life – until he makes some realizations that move him in a new direction. Declan Dubois: widow, parent of 8 year old Connor and landscape architect is dealing with more than the loss of his wife as he comes to terms with what he wants and needs in his future. Once he figures out what that is it will make his life so much better.

What I liked:
* The writing was well done as was the plotting of the story
* The love the sisters had for one another
* The feelings explored by the characters and the insights they gained
* The happy endings for the three couples
* That were hints and tips to those who might find themselves in similar situations – they might benefit from what the characters learned

What I didn’t like/questioned:
* I found it difficult to believe that Sunshine would be objectified/treated as she was all the time by random men...have never seen this in real life.
* The way the math TA was presented...would a TA really behave like that and be allowed to continue behaving like that within a university setting?
* I felt that story could have been pared down to make it tighter and a bit less wordy.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more books by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Like Susan Mallery’s last women’s fiction novel, California Girls (see my review), The Summer of Sunshine & Margot is about sisters and, in this case, fraternal twin sisters, Margot and Sunshine. Both sisters are disasters with regard to romantic relationships. Margot has a thorn-in-her-side called Dietrich, a self-absorbed man who expects her to drop everything when he crooks his finger while Sunshine tends to fall in love at the drop of a hat, abandon her job, and follow the new man, much to her own detriment.

As the story begins, both women have vowed that they will change and no longer fall into the soul stealing behavior they’ve practiced before.

I liked both Margot and Sunshine as well as the other characters in the novel. I was especially fond of quirky Bianca, a 50-something film star with a capricious nature, despite the fact that she’s frequently described as self-absorbed. Mallery has made her vulnerable and very likable.

The Summer of Sunshine & Margot is the perfect vacation read with enough substance to keep a reader happy while spinning a fantastic tale. However, unlike the case with California Girls, I didn’t finish the novel feeling satisfied. While I’m sure it wasn’t the situation, the ending felt so rushed as if the writer realized she’d gone over the word limit, and now the ending had to be mumbled. While there was a grand gesture on Alec’s part, which was good, I still felt a little dissatisfied. Also, something about the two graphic sex scenes felt a little off to me. Certainly in one situation, it’s because I am not a fan of reading about someone’s telephone sex. ’nuff said.

Regardless, The Summer of Sunshine & Margot is undeniably better than a lot of current romances and women’s fiction, mainly because Mallery knows how to write characters. All of the characters have depth and change, and the readers cares about them. They feel real. Sunshine and Margot are wonderful characters and I almost wish that Sunshine’s story hadn’t been so tidily wrapped up because I could have enjoyed another novel with her in it, reading about her school-life, and becoming the person she wants to be.

If you’ve looking for good summer vacation reads, you might add this one to your list.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I like to think of books like this as "Summer Romance Plus" - they are definitely heavy on the romance and fun but always include some deeper themes within them and this fits in that category perfectly. I enjoyed reading about Sunshine and Margot's experiences and the choices they made. Some of the outcomes were predictable, but that didn't damper my enjoyment of the story.

This was such an enjoyable read. You have the Baxter sisters, both unlucky in love. Trying to start over without relationships. Summer took a new job as a nanny, and starting college. She is determined to prove she can make it on her own without a man. The child she is caring for, Connor doesn't count. He already stole her heart.

Margot is teaching etiquette to a starlet who is known for her outrageous behavior. She moves into her son's home an old monastery to start their lessons. While there are many missteps, she finds that she has a lot in common with the man of the house.

The sisters have a great relationship and while unlucky before they find that maybe this time they can make it work.